Reflection is Key to Learning

Written by Mr Craig Rodgers (Deputy Principal)

24 September 2026

Reflection is key to learning.  It’s what makes learning stick. 

As we near the end of term, I am reminded of all that our children have achieved as well as how our staff and parents have learned and contributed too.

The difference that personalised teaching makes has been demonstrated through the Prep students 100 Days Brighter celebration to Year 12s counting down final days of their VCE.  

I recall the organised chaos of our youngest students in February who, one hundred learning days later, are what confident communicators they are, excited by inquiry, supported by teacher-led routines. 

Our seniors are also focussed on final learning, developing skills and confidence through targeted teaching to successfully complete assessments and prepare for external examinations. 

I invite students, parents and teachers to think back to what your children knew and could show at the start of the year to what they know and can do now.

This term the College relaunched Microcredentials for Secondary students, purposeful skill building experiences in each of Agriculture, Digital Technology, Hospitality, Media, Performing Arts and STEAM.  We awarded our first achievement certificate too.  

Each microcredential has four compulsory components:

• Induction and safety training
• Skill teaching and learning over at least one school term
•  30 hours of learning, practice and application of skills
• Demonstration, presentation, performance of skill mastery in an authentic work environment

There are seven specific competencies that develop skills and practice for each microcredential area.

Aitken is proud to offer these unique qualifications that develop skills as well as adding to resumes for future work, leadership positions and learning beyond school.  We are looking to expanding these opportunities and to develop Microcredentials for Primary students too.

Like our parents and students, our staff are ambitious too.  Not satisfied with microcredentials for students, we have launched the Aspirant Leadership at Aitken developed by teachers for our staff.  You know and we know, that we have highly accomplished, motivated and talented teachers at the College who, like children, are eager learn and develop skills to meet next level leadership standards and implement world-class programs.  We want Melbourne and the world to know that Aitken is a school that values leadership and helps grow leaders.

Learning and wellbeing go hand in hand.  We are delighted to have secured Mrs Natasha Rae as our Director of Wellbeing from the start of this term. She is a champion of wellbeing, working with students, leading counsellors and collaborating with teachers on strategies for whole school wellbeing. 

I hope your children shared experiences from the College’s RUOK Day on 10 September which included in class activities and lunchtime positive chalk messages and bead bracelet making. 

Our Wellbeing Committee is in the pre-launch phase of the Aitken College Wellbeing Framework, a tool which shares how students, parents and staff can care for themselves as well as working collaboratively, respectfully and effectively with each other. We will use this tool for self-assessment of how we are achieving wellbeing for all as a College community.

Speaking of parents, I want to share a special thank you to all our parent volunteers, our Parents and Friends leadership team, to everyone who participated in our Father's Day Breakfast and who attended our concerts, our online parent-student-teacher interviews and who make our school community stronger every day.

I am sure you have many other memories of all you and your children have achieved this term.  Cherish and share these over the term break. 

I look forward to meeting with you again in Term 4.