Background Information

Linkages some reflections…

2000: Late in the year a new regional consultant visited and addressed staff. We were introduced to the Departments Linkages program. Stage 3 & 4 teachers from our Community of Schools met and began planning how we could more effectively understand and contribute to the continuity of learning outcomes across these two stages. As a group we decided that we would link our professional learning to a task undertaken by all Year 6 and 7 students in our Community of Schools. Each year since our Community of Schools has worked together to develop, carry out and celebrate a task that enhances student learning outcomes.

As the years have progressed we have used BST, ELLA and SNAP data to guide the choice and design of each task and evaluate our success.

2001: Open ended research task. Focusing on the research cycle. An opening night was held for our first Linkages Expo. It was held in conjunction with the Year 7 Parent Evening and was followed by a week long display in the library. Students responded to the open nature of this task and many skills and talents came to the fore.

2002: Biographical recount. An opening night was again linked to Year 7 Parent Evening and followed by a week long display in the library. This task was marked by Year 11 English who learnt how to apply criteria.

2003: Picture Books. Focus on visual literacy and social purpose. A grand opening was again linked to Year 7 Parent Evening and followed by a week of engaged reading by students and adults of all ages. We were blown away by the creativity, social conscience and visual literacy skills of our students.

2004: Spoken exposition. A single night of speeches, videos and debates. The school was packed and alive with discussions. Convincing arguments about a broad range of topics demonstrated just how aware our students are of significant issues in the world in which we live.

2005: Film review and poster. A display was again created in the High School library. Teachers really valued the professional learning provided to help them effectively guide their students through this task.

2006: Games… numeracy elements introduced into the task. An action packed day and evening in the hall. The creativity and fun (not to mention the noise) again blew us away.

2007: Pulling Strings. Creating puppets using recycled materials and writing play scripts. We booked the auditorium at the Moss Vale Services Club and took a huge of variety of puppet shows, briefly, on the road.

2008: The Games Begin… ICT skills, research and persuasive texts. This site has been created to support our 2008 Linkages Task.

Linkages is an important aspect of professional dialogue and learning in our Community of Schools.

We have responded to data and contributed to improving outcomes in literacy and numeracy tests.
It is integral part of our transition program which is being recognised as best practice.
It has been recognised by three educational awards.
Our students look forward to being part of the Linkages projects.
It has created friendships.
It has been sustainable.