Rosetta High School Visit - Observations

Tour of the school conducted by year 9 & 10 SRC students in the Make it Big Program: (remember Chris!). The team were blown away by the use of colour throughout the school - everyone knows that Mr Speight (Speighty) loves bright colour. Although an older style school recent renovations created a lively stimulating learning environment. The students all seem to know what Mr Speight believes about learning and the part that IT plays in enabling that learning. It was great to talk to all the ordinary kids and teachers attending the extraordinary Rosetta High School.

Our first workshop session was conducted by James Clark, the Grade 10 Coordinator, who introduced us to the the key features of the Make it Big program. He referred us to the work of Dennis Littkey "The BIG Picture" and Levine "One kid at a time" and the various writings of Alfie Kohn as important sources in the development of the program.

The "Make it Big" program evolved from the success of the established Make it Work and Make it Real programs. Grade co-ordinators developed the detail over a summer school prior to its introduction at the start of 2007. The program is focused on the principles of Relevance, Rigour and Relationship. Students in the Make it Big program (around 100 in grade 10 and around 30 in grade 9) have timetabled classes in Health & Wellbeing and an elective option (a total of 6 hours per week), the rest of their timetable is devoted to individual study determined by their Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

There are 6 Make it Big groups, each with a tutor who is responsible for the around 17 students in each group. Full learning profiles are constructed (based on tests and assessments) for each student prior to the development of the ILP. Students are required to demonstrate their learning/achievements in at least 3 "Exhibitions" over the course of the year.

Each of the 6 groups has a focus area although the boundaries appear to be very flexible.

1. Renaissance (for academically very able)
2. TAP (trade based)
3. Building and Construction
4. Outdoor Experience
5. CARE
6. MICRA (generic)

In 2008 applications to join the Make it Big program will be by letter.

Kathleen Mackintosh (Renaissance group tutor) and Michelle (Building and Construction tutor) talked to us about the ILPs. At the start of the year ILPs are developed over a one hour interview with each student (and parents). The headings are in the seven areas of the Tasmanian curriculum. Students then enter the details of their ILP into their own Study Wiz profiles.

We were most impressed with Leesa's (learning Area Leader - Health & Wellbeing) presentation about the continuing Make it Real program and the Health & Wellbeing learning area.

Make it Real: All year 9 & 10 students in the traditional stream (not in Make it Big) work for 3 hours a week with their tutor in the Make it Real program in the areas of Service, Personal Challenge, Enterprise and Work. Students are expected to be passionate and creative. their performance is linked to the school's Graduation Certificate. The program has a budget (a few thousand) to fund enterprise proposals from student participants. A committee exists to consider and determine funding applications.

Health & Wellbeing: The curriculum in this subject is based on student needs for learning and participating in the 21st century - a world away from the team sports play based curriculum offered in most PE Programs.

We attended a Make it Big team meeting after school Wednesday. We were impressed by the professionalism of the team being led by James Clark. Brendan Bolton (Yr 10 Grade Coordinator) later told us that strict protocols are followed at all Rosetta meetings: start with "awesome efforts", issues can only be raised if on the agenda, discussion is around strategies not problems.

Thursday started with a session conducted by Brendan on the "Accelerated Learning Cycle". Brendan had spent time at the Cramlington Community School in England where he had learnt the principles of this approach, previously based on the work of Alister Smith.