29 MAY 2025 Deputy Principal: Students

Learning Starts Before the Bell Rings

At Kolbe Catholic College, we understand that learning doesn’t begin when students sit at their desks—it starts the moment they approach the classroom door. The routines students develop as they enter and exit the classroom are just as important as what happens within it. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on our Agreed Standards—a shared set of expectations and routines designed to support every student’s learning journey.

In 2025, a key focus has been the practice of lining up before entering the classroom. This isn’t a punitive measure—it’s a purposeful routine that allows students to calm themselves, regulate their emotions, and prepare mentally for learning. It also provides teachers with a valuable moment to connect with students, gauge their wellbeing, and set a positive tone for the lesson ahead.

Our Teaching and Learning strategy for 2025 centres around Explicit Instruction and Effective Questioning. These evidence-based approaches support cognitive load by breaking down new content and encouraging active engagement. According to AERO (September 2023), students need sustained focus and mental clarity to move information from working memory into long-term memory. A calm, structured classroom environment—established from the moment students arrive—plays a crucial role in achieving this.

Dr Amy Green describes student engagement as a continuum, ranging from actively disrupting to actively driving their own learning. At Kolbe, our aim is to move students towards the latter. Our motto, Ready to Learn, captures this mindset. It helps students understand what true engagement looks like and sets the foundation for success.

In addition to being Ready to Learn, our Agreed Standards include being punctual, ensuring only one person speaks at a time, and the consistent use of the Reflective Thinking Classroom (RTC). The RTC is a space designed to support students who are persistently disruptive, offering them a chance to reflect, reset, and return to learning through a Restorative Conversation.

Ultimately, the more students and teachers collaborate in the learning process, the more invested and engaged students become. Kolbe remains committed to refining these Agreed Standards and routines to ensure every student is equipped to reach their full potential—both academically and personally.

References:

How Students Learn Best, An overview of the learning process and the most effective teaching practices. Australian Education Research Organisation, 2023

Dr Amy Green; The Engagement Continuum retrieved from https://www.engagedconsulting.au/general-6 2025

Cameron Whitford
Deputy Principal - Students