This year at Renmark High we have implemented two Learning Hubs, a Junior and Senior. This term, the Junior Learning Hub is running out of A21- the same space as last year. The Senior Learning Hub is based in H Block, running in the old FLO space. As our school continues through its renovations, the two Learning Hubs will eventually come together in the (will be old) front office space, hopefully near or around term 2. You will hear more about that this term as renovations progress.

The Junior Learning Hub, similar to last year, is designed to support all students and staff to deliver high quality instruction and intervention programs for students. The Junior Learning Hub is staffed 6 out of 7 lines with a teacher this semester, and students can come into the space, on direction from their teacher, for a number of reasons. Some of these may include:

• Sitting a test under supervision
• Extra time for completion of an assignment if students have been absent from school
• A quiet space for students to work on extension work provided by the class teacher
• Students to complete a variety of online literacy and numeracy intervention programs, including Lexia (literacy), Maths online (numeracy) and BKSB (literacy and numeracy)
• A place for SSOs to deliver intervention programs eg Quicksmart, Multilit
• A place for students who need alternate timetables for social development or mental health
• The learning hub teacher delivering small group activities for students to improve their skills in a specific focused area based on the class teacher recommendation, eg. Developing comprehension skills, to improve their reading

The learning Hub staff do not replace the role of Class Teachers, rather support students to meet intended learning by designing SMARTA goals and supporting, through quality instruction, students to meet those goals.

Last year in the first semester, 70 students across years 8 and 9 accessed the Learning Hub for at least one lesson. A typical lesson in the learning hub could look very similar to the following: Learning Hub staff member explicitly teaching a small group of students’ literacy, in particular the concept of comprehension. Teacher and students could be sitting together reading and following a passage of a story, at their pace, the Teacher checking for understanding and asking questions related to the text. An SSO may be watching over 3 students at the computers who are working through online intervention programs, one on Maths Online, and two on Lexia. There may also be 2 students sitting in a different space in the room working on extension work given by their class teacher. The Learning Hub Teacher and SSO check in and assist with questions during the lesson.

Our Senior Learning Hub is set up differently, and would be seen as a standard classroom if you were to walk into this space. The Senior Learning Hub is staffed 4 out of 7 lines with a Teacher and an SSO, and each Teacher has an area of expertise to teach the students SACE subjects. This semester students are working on Essential English, Essential Maths, PLP and Workplace Practices.

As we evolve the two spaces, and more students access them, we are continually tweaking and improving as we go. This will continue into Term 2 as the two spaces come together, which will result in extra Teacher and SSO support for students. If you have any questions regarding the Learning Hubs, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the school.

Lori Sandland

Learning Hub Leader