Learning Support 2020

It has been another busy year with many changes for Learning Support. This year we welcomed Mrs Andrea Fray, Mr. Horan Vaifale, Mrs Lesley Instone, Mrs Robina Jorgensen into Learning Support. These amazing people joined our Teacher Aide team, to provide support for certain students inside and outside the classroom. It is great to see Learning Support becoming the vibrant place it once was. More and more students are coming up to seek support and guidance on their learning, which is pleasing to see.

As usual, a lot of hard work from the students went on this year. The Learning Support team were very busy assisting boys with their school work and helping them to achieve their goals. Learning Support provided support in both literacy and numeracy, gave guidance to students working on their NCEA assessments, took small groups and tested students to better identify their needs. Time was also spent on helping some of the junior boys with their latest Connected projects. Many boys also came up to complete their Te Kura work, ably supported by Mrs Julia Winton. We are always impressed by how hard our students work and the positive attitude they have towards improving their learning. It helps that staff are dedicated and thoughtful and always have a cheerful approach and are willing to go the extra mile to help the boys out like going shopping for resources and materials to help out with projects.

We are very fortunate that we have such warm, caring and compassionate staff who always go the extra mile to help our students succeed. Mrs Cranefied and Ms Ferguson go far beyond what they are required, in order to support our boys. Also Mrs Megan Heather, who has done some amazing things within the Senior school to support our students to get the absolute best out of their learning. We are very lucky to have each of them both at STC and I know the students appreciate all they do as well.

The use of technology today does provide so many more tools in our repertoire to support students with their learning. These range from the assistive technology tools that will read and write for students. Students today have lost the desire to pick up a book of interest and read it. This does influence outcomes in literacy as reading is something that needs to be done on an ongoing basis.

In 2021, Learning Support will continue to aim to provide a space where any student feels comfortable asking for help with their work. We eagerly await the challenges of next year and the opportunity to support more students with their learning. We welcomed Mrs Rachael Langley, who has worked in Learning Support as an ORS Specialist teacher. In 2019 She has done an amazing job and built some amazing relationships with our young men. We hope all our students have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday so that they will be refreshed and ready for learning in 2021.