FAQs

What occurs for my child on a normal online learning day?

• Teachers will communicate with their class via Seesaw each day.

• Class teachers will commence with a class meeting via Microsoft Teams at 8.30am each morning from Monday to Friday. They will also have a class meeting at 12.00pm Mondays to Thursdays.

• Teachers will teach online an explicit Numeracy or an explicit Literacy lesson each day from Monday to Thursday:

  • • Teachers will teach a lesson in Numeracy/Literacy, followed by an activity for the students to complete (teacher will remain available ‘online’ during the numeracy/literacy activity for any student questions or guidance).

• Teachers will also set other activities for students to complete throughout the day.

• Teachers will be available from 8.30am to 3.00pm for students to contact them via Microsoft Teams or email if the student needs support or questions answered. Teachers will regularly check these two platforms during the day to respond to student requests.

• Year groups will identify activities for students to complete to create less screen time.

• Teachers will indicate if the task or activity is ‘must do', 'should do', or 'could do'.

• On Fridays, teachers will set activities for the children, but there is no explicit teaching of Literacy and Numeracy. Activities set by the Specialist teachers should be completed on Friday for this week. On Friday, class Teachers will conduct small group chats during the morning session with the students through Teams to ‘check in’ and a see how things have been going in the week. Students can also use this day to catch up on any work missed during the week.

How will my child know how to use Seesaw and Microsoft Teams?

All children from Prep to Year 6 have practised with their classroom teachers on the use of Microsoft Teams and Seesaw. Information about accessing Microsoft Teams can be found here.

What do I need to know about Seesaw and Microsoft Teams?

Prep to Year 4 students will bring a school iPad home. This is the device they use at school during the week. Students in Years 5 and 6 will have their own device. On each device are a range of apps that can support student learning at home. The key app for communication with the class teacher is Seesaw. Students are familiar with this app and will be able to receive posts from their class teacher. On Seesaw, you may see a range of journal items they have recorded at school. Not all items will have comments or feedback from the teacher. The purpose for Seesaw during this period is to provide a simple and familiar communication platform.

The College has also set up a secure video conferencing system so teachers can remotely connect with students. On your student’s iPad is the Microsoft Teams application. To join this, students will need to open the Teams app on their iPad. These conversations may be recorded and posted on Seesaw after the meeting, for students to view later in the day if they are unable to make a scheduled time.

We will be providing a range of parent resources to assist during this time.

What will online lessons look like?

There will be more emphasis on the range of digital platforms available to ensure learning is not disrupted. This may involve PowerPoints with voice overs, recording of presentations, online quizzes, and other online resources. Teachers will not be interacting with students in a ‘live’ capacity during all of the learning time but will check student progress on a regular basis. Teachers may also set project-based learning, depending on the age of the students.

How will my child’s work be marked?

This would depend on the length of the closure and the age of the students. Where possible teachers will mark work electronically. There will be opportunities for them to provide feedback via Seesaw. Parents should check their child’s learning progress on a regular basis.

What are the expectations during the school day?

Owing to the nature of home learning, the school day will be a condensed experience, providing flexibility to complete tasks, with the understanding that teachers are contactable between 8.30am and 3.00pm. If the student's work is done by the 12pm meeting, they can enjoy the afternoon

If my child is at the College completing online learning, what does this look like?

All primary students will be working in the lower floor of the Learning Hub (library). They need to be dropped off at the Main Entrance to the College between 7.30 am and 8.30am. As part of our Covid plans students must register via the link sent to parents the day prior to attending. Class teachers will not be on campus to teach the children. Primary children will be supervised by a skeleton staff.

What does a week’s worth of lessons look like?

• The nature of lessons may look different across subjects, year groups and stages of the curriculum.

• Lesson time may be used to conduct quizzes, allow for students to listen to relevant recordings, PowerPoints with voiceovers, engage with students via their work or conduct on-demand learning activities or live conferencing forums.

What options are there for the 20-minute live interactive sessions?

• Face-to-face teaching using Microsoft Teams whiteboard or a real whiteboard.

• Sharing of documents, power points with real time or recorded voice-over.

• Setting of tasks in Canvas, while checking in on individual students/groups of students.

• Students sharing documents with verbal feedback given to whole class (applying differentiation strategies).

• Question and Answer between peers and teacher either live or through chat.

How is student engagement tracked?

• Teachers will continue to contact students and parents of their own accord.

• Members of the Teaching and Learning Team, Deans of Students and Heads of Faculty will be checking in with students and parents at random about the level of student engagement in their subjects. This feedback will be communicated back to teachers.

Will every lesson be live streamed?

Teachers will be available for the duration of every lesson through Microsoft Teams. All lessons will be recorded.

Who is coordinating the teaching and learning to ensure consistency across classes?

All students within a subject and year level will receive the same opportunities with regards to online teaching and learning. Heads of Faculty and members of the Teaching and Learning Team will routinely check in with teachers about their teaching and learning through Canvas and Microsoft Teams recordings.

Will live conferencing be conducted outside of scheduled lesson times?

Live conferencing is not required outside of a subject’s scheduled lesson times; however, students can seek and obtain assistance and clarification from teachers via email/Canvas messaging. Teachers will respond in a timely manner.

What will tutoring look like in Term 3?

Tutoring will be done through Microsoft Teams as per the tutoring timetable. Tutoring is an integral part of teaching and learning at St Andrew’s. Rosters will be compiled, and Microsoft Teams Tutoring will be set up in faculties.

What will I do if I finish my online work quickly?

There are additional resources available on this website that are designed for you to engage in activities that will interest you and expand your knowledge. In 1665, Isaac Newton had to stay home because of the bubonic plague. During this time, he developed calculus and the theory of gravity. Now is the time to do some in-depth learning that might engage you beyond your set curriculum. Reading is a great option. Your teacher librarians, Mrs Christine Sharp and Mr Peter Carnavas are happy to help you with access to online books, including the College’s collection, Borrow Box. These additional resources can also be accessed in the ‘stay home’ holidays when you are looking for different ways to pass the time.

Will exams and assignments continue?

All year levels:

• Any assignment assigned for you in Canvas must still be completed by that due date.

• Just as before, any student who does not submit their work, or submits their work later than the due date and time, will be dealt with in accordance with our Assessment Policy and Procedures.

• Formative and summative assessment tasks will be scheduled as suited to the nature of the online work that can be completed in each subject. Some tasks will be drafted while others will be completed as live online assessment.

Year 11 and 12 students:

• There are no exams at school till further notice.

Year 12 students:

• Year 12 students will be contacted by their teachers and Mr Elley if there are any changes to their exams or assignments.

Any questions about assessment should be emailed to the Director of Studies, Mr David Elley, on delley@saac.qld.edu.au.

What do I do if my teacher is away?

During our period of online learning, there may be instances when your teacher may be away sick for a single or double lesson. You will be notified via your College email each morning if this impacts you.

However, should your query be of an urgent nature, perhaps related to submission or restrictions, and cannot wait for the teacher's return, contact may be made with the Head of Faculty, Head of Year or Director of Studies.

So, what do I do on a normal online school day?

You must check each subject's Canvas Announcements every day.

Mentor time will be held Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 8.40am. Mentor teacher Live Check in via 'Microsoft Teams' Mentor Group Welcome to the Week.

Monday:

• 8.40am to 9.20am: Lesson 1 normally Assembly (now Wednesday). Start to be organised for the week. Mentor teachers may request an individual check in to see if you are ok.

• 9.20am: Lesson 2 starts, students follow their normal timetable from this point on.

Tuesday:

• Normal timetable for this day.

Wednesday:

• 8.40am to 9.20am: Chapel/Assembly to be viewed (pre-recorded)

• 9.20am: Lesson 2 starts, students follow their normal timetable from this point on.

Thursday:

• 8.40am: Lesson 1 starts, students follow their normal timetable from this point on.

Friday:

• 8.30am to 8.40am: Census roll is taken. All students must log in for mentor lesson.

• 8.40am: Lesson 1 starts, students follow their normal timetable from this point on.

Do I have to do classwork and homework?

• Yes – even from home, learning and related schoolwork will continue.

• You will be guided by your teachers as to what work is required, and the time frames to do so.

Can I contact my teachers outside of the usual lesson times?

• If you need to contact your teacher outside of the usual lesson time, you can do so using email or Canvas Messaging or Teams. If neither of these are successful then try email.

What will happen in subjects that have practical components such as HPE, Visual Art, Drama, Food Tech?

• Your teacher will adjust the course so that online learning can continue.

• The College is aware that some practical tasks will not be possible with online learning, and your teachers will prepare alternative activities from other aspects of their subject area.

I usually get extra help with my learning. How will I be helped during online learning?

• Your teacher will send you support materials and any amended tasks that you would normally receive at school.

• If you receive other types of support, the staff who work with you in that area will assist you through systems such as Canvas or email.

• If you have any concerns about your progress with the online work during a closure, you must let your teacher know.

What do I do if I miss one of the live conferencing sessions?

• Students are expected to join live sessions. However, there will be recordings available on the Canvas course for students who, unavoidably, could not attend.

• Teachers will be monitoring attendance and learning progress.

What are my online learning expectations?

• Be dressed appropriately as you would for a Free Dress day (See guidelines in College Diary).

• If you do not obey the online behavioural expectations as outlined in Secondary Students - Online Responsibilities, your access to Live Streaming will be removed for the day. If a pattern of behaviour continues, you will be contacted by your Head of Year.