LEARNING TODAY Responsible for teaching teams working across the Middle and Senior Years, our Learning Area Coordinators share how each team has evolved with the growth of the College and the changing needs of students.
CELESTE CAMERON THE ARTS
RUTH WICKSON CHRISTIAN STUDIES
In 2022, we have a team of seven staff delivering our Middle and Senior Years Arts program, starting with Visual Art, Music and Drama in Year 6 with the addition of Media, Creative Arts and Photography in Years 8 to 10 and finally Studio Arts in VCE. I was lucky enough to teach the inaugural Year 7 Art class in 2011. Since then, we have grown to offer a rich selection of performing and visual arts, which is constantly growing and evolving according to student need.
Christian Studies teaches students values that they can take forward in their lives, an understanding and empathy of other religions, the love that God has for them and the free grace He gives them. In the school’s early years, Principal Roger Schwarz taught Christian Studies every Wednesday afternoon, with help from his wife Marie. We now teach an inquiry-based program called the ‘Christian Studies Curriculum Framework’. Student learning centres around four key themes: Christianity in the World, Christian Beliefs, Christian Living, and the Christian Church. As per the policies of Lutheran Education Australia, every teacher in the Junior Years teaches Christian Studies in their classroom, while the Middle and Senior Years have specialist teachers. Christian Studies is at the very heart of what GNLC is all about.
TRACY WILLIAMS ENGLISH
DANIEL MANI MATHEMATICS
With the College’s growth, we have developed a strong VCE English curriculum and robust academic standards. It has been so exciting for our team of 12 teachers to see constant improvement in our NAPLAN and VCE scores. Every job requires the ability to communicate clearly in both spoken and written form. We are privileged to be part of developing strong communicators, not only for their time here at school but also for their future careers and personal lives.
In my 10 years at the College, staff collaboration and encouragement of students has seen a real increase in engagement with Mathematics. Our team of 13 delivers General Mathematics from Years 6 to 9, with the addition of Advanced Mathematics in Year 9. Through the IB MYP, we set investigation tasks that connect mathematics with real life situations. In Year 10, students can choose Pre-General Mathematics or Pre- Mathematical Methods, in preparation for their VCE, when they can choose from General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods and Further Mathematics. The College has taken the initiative to participate in a number of mathematics competitions, with keen interest from students and impressive achievement. In 2021, our Year 6 Mathematics Games Team qualified for the National Finals, after being the overall Metropolitan Winners. Every year, we see many students achieve high distinction ICAS awards.
BROOKE PETERS HUMANITIES
We have a team of 13 teaching Humanities from Years 6 to 12, including avid historians, expert geographers, deeply ethical philosophers, broad legal minds, meticulous accounting brains, passionate human rights advocates and industry-experienced mentors. From Years 6 to 9 we teach Individuals and Societies, as part of the IB MYP. The MYP has pushed our focus on critical thinking and giving students a forum to discuss ideas. We have some great evaluators and analysts in our classrooms! In Year 10, students study Humanities and can also take up a VCE elective. Our VCE offering includes Accounting, Business Management, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Industry and Enterprise, and History: Revolutions.
JENNIFER STAFFORD DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
DANIELA BOEHME GERMAN
The Technology Department was introduced in 2011 as part of the Arts and Technology Department. Since then, the team has grown to seven teachers and two support staff. GNLC’s dedicated Technology building is equipped with a state-of-the-art laser cutter, a large metal workshop and a woodworking room. The textiles room was renovated in 2021 and the College has a well-established food tech kitchen. We are dedicated to delivering a holistic and versatile education for all learners at GNLC. Year 6 students study Design and Technology and Digital Technologies. We offer Product Design, Textiles, Food Studies, and Digital Technologies from Years 7 to 10, with the addition of Engineering in Years 9 and 10. Our VCE subjects are Digital Technology, Product Design and Food Studies.
German has been part of our College history from the very beginning. The language arrived in Australia with the Lutheran immigrants from Germany in the early days of settlement and has been treasured and maintained in Lutheran churches and schools. While the school started with just one German teacher, we now have a team of five teaching German from Prep to Year 12. The German department has established a reputation for academic achievement throughout Victoria, Australia and globally. Each year, across all year levels, GNLC students participate and achieve outstanding success in competitions such as the German Art and Poetry Competitions, the Education Perfect Languages World Championships and the German Choir Competition.
DANIEL YAMADA HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
PETER MCCARTHY SCIENCE
A dedicated team of 10 staff teach Physical Education, Health, Exercise Physiology, and Health and Human Development. Physical Education is a key component in our students’ school journey. They learn lifelong healthy activity habits, and valuable social and collaboration skills. Sportsmanship and inclusivity teach our students how to accept others and how to act with grace and dignity in both victory and defeat. Good News joined the District School Sports Association in 2007, giving students the opportunity to compete against other schools in the western suburbs.
Science generates solutions for everyday life and helps us to answer the great mysteries of the universe. In other words, Science is one of the most important channels of knowledge. It has a specific role, as well as a variety of functions for the benefit of our society: creating new knowledge, improving education and increasing the quality of our lives. Our team of eight is passionate about teaching Science and inspiring students to see themselves as scientists. We teach General Science, Biology, Forensics, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology across the Middle and Senior Years. We also offer Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology in the VCE.
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