Students Transition to Online Learning
Tuesday, 31 March 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Lauriston transitioned students to Home Learning on 17 March. By the end of term, all students from Kindergarten to Year 12 were using a range of technologies, many of which they already use in class, to continue their learning.

Junior School students are using Seesaw (an online student engagement platform) and Google Docs to complete a range of learning tasks. Senior School girls are using Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) and Schoolbox, our online learning management system, to continue with their daily timetable. Although the girls may be learning from home, they are still expected to be dressed (pjs are not acceptable!) and ready for roll call as per a typical school day. The girls as a group have embraced this new style learning which covers the full gamut of subjects – English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Arts, PE and Music. Music is one of the areas where both teachers and students have displayed great ingenuity.

To help our community remain connected our Music Captains came up with the idea of offering the Lauriston community a series of virtual performances. A number of these performances have been uploaded to the OLA and School Facebook pages, watch Amanda’s performance of ‘The Clown’ athttps://www.facebook.com/LauristonArmadale/videos/216355786144526/

Despite all the positives associated with online learning, we are very aware that our girls are missing personal interaction with their friends. Some of our students, particularly our Year 12 girls, are also anxious about exams and assessments. Like all Victorian schools we continue to liaise with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority for VCE students and the International Baccalaureate Organisation for IB students to plan how to run assessments for the girls which ensure the health and safety of the community and comply with learning requirements.

To help support students during this period, teaching staff remained focus on providing each student with a high level of pastoral care. The decision as to when to resume classes at our Armadale and Howqua campuses will be made by taking into account Victorian and Federal government guidelines and the needs of our community.In the meantime the educational and pastoral care needs of our girls remains our highest priority.