Enrichment Program

LEARNING SERVICES

Learning Services encompass three distinct areas of student support:
- supporting students who are having difficulties with their learning
- extending the more capable students
- designing pathways to support students who are following a vocational education option

Learning Services includes students from Prep to Year Twelve. The department is designed to assist students meet learning outcomes that they would otherwise find difficult in a normal classroom setting.

In the Learning Services area, students from Years 7 to 12 work on pre-vocational tasks, Distance Education assignments and other standard curriculum assessment tasks while mingling freely with students from the Primary School striving to achieve their best in:
- Mathematics
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Spelling
- other multi-age enrichment tasks such as the Robotics Club



Extension Students
Students identified as needing extension and enrichment also have their learning needs catered for in the Learning Services area.

Gifted and Talented education has a range of dimensions. The multi-dimensional and flexible identification process at St Andrew's adopts a broad definition of giftedness:
- recognising multiple forms of intelligence
- using multiple criteria to determine suitable student candidates
- promoting inclusiveness (not exclusiveness)
- using authentic assessment tasks
- being aware of cultural differences in the nature of "giftedness"
- basing identification on student needs
- creating links between identification and instruction
- promoting openness between all sectors of the school community

Through using such a thorough and rigorous identification process, the College aims to cater for our full complement of differing abilities, personality traits and environmental factors that contribute to the wide range of gifts and talents exhibited by our students.

At St Andrew's Anglican College, a balanced inventory of identification procedures is in place and includes informal methods of data collection as well as recognition of more formal indicators of student achievement and potential. The identification process includes:
- pre-tests
- teacher checklists
- standardised achievement tests including PAT Mathematics, Online Placement Instrument, South Australian Spelling
- parent interviews
- referrals and nominations (from parents or staff or peers)
- teacher observation of learning behaviours, creative and critical thinking, problem solving skills, motivation and social interaction
- psychological assessments
- student profiles (a cumulative, descriptive record of a child's strengths and achievements)
- standardised measures of intelligence, achievement or creativity to identify student's who score at the 90th percentile or above
- student interest inventories
- work samples
- student interviews
- checklist of traits

Extension students are mentored and individually programmed. They are involved in extension programs and participate in a variety of activities for groups and individuals. Such enrichment and extension activities include:
- Opti -Minds (Years 2 - 6)
- subject-based tutorials
- oratory competitions e.g. Legacy Public Speaking, Rotary Public Speaking
- Spelling Mastery challenges
- Robotics
- state-wide, national and international competitions e.g. ICAS, Australian Mathematics competition, Maths Olympiad
- Buranga Camp (Year 6)
- Mentorships
- online learning tasks
- lateral thinking puzzles and Mind-Benders
- one-to-one learning opportunities
- introduction to Habits of Mind

Vocational Education Students
Students involved in school based traineeships and apprenticeships are assisted with catching up work missed during vocational training and provided with assistance for their distance education vocational subjects (Prevocational Mathematics and English Communication).

Already a number of students have found this environment conducive to finding success at school.

Success is our Focus
The Learning Services Department is a very dynamic area. The key to our success is based on flexibility and our wish to best cater for our students. It is a very dynamic part of the school where all educational alternatives are considered.

If you require further information or assistance with regards to the programs, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it