I would like to introduce myself. My name is Kirk Thomas and I am the newly appointed Director of Teaching and Learning here at Hume Anglican Grammar. Prior to my appointment to Hume Anglican Grammar, I was Deputy Principal of Granville Boys High School in South-Western Sydney where I held this position for almost two years. Prior to my Deputy Principalship, I was Head Teacher English at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in the inner-west of Sydney for six and a half years. Prior to this, I held the position of Head Teacher English at Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus for eighteen months and Head Teacher English at Bossley Park High School for four years. Prior to my promotion to Head Teacher, I was a classroom teacher at Dubbo College Senior Campus in regional NSW for a little over four years. I bring nineteen years of Teaching and Learning and leadership experience to Hume Anglican Grammar and the role of Director of Teaching and Learning.

I am very excited to be in the role of Director of Teaching and Learning here at Hume Anglican Grammar. As a part of my portfolio, I will be leading the Teaching and Learning Leadership Team at the school where will be working on a whole-school vision for Teaching and Learning. Our aim is to support staff and students in becoming the best teachers and the best learners that they can be. In the 21st Century, a quality, future-focused education is the key to a functional and fulfilling life. Thus, Hume Anglican Grammar aims to provide an exemplary education that equips its graduates with the knowledge, skills and values to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The formulation and writing of Hume Anglican Grammar’s vision for Teaching and Learning will be done with the involvement of the staff, student and parent bodies of the school. In the coming weeks and months, the School will be reaching out for feedback and information from all of its stakeholders about what they see as fundamental to a vision for quality, future-focused Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century. I thank you in advance for your support and assistance.

Quality teaching and learning requires vision, strategy, reflection and innovation. The 4Cs – Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication - are also crucial to cutting-edge Teaching and Learning in 2022 and beyond. Here at Hume, this is our focus – facilitating Teaching and Learning that fosters the 4Cs in all Teaching and Learning experiences.

With this in mind, for 2022, there are five Teaching and Learning priorities that the school will be focusing on with staff Professional Learning and as strategic directions for Teaching and Learning improvement across P - 12. These five priority areas are:

• Improving student literacy
• Supporting a diverse classroom
• Refining assessment and Feedback
• Using data to raise student achievement
• Empowering student voice

Thank you for your support of Teaching and Learning and our priorities for 2022 at Hume Anglican Grammar. I look forward to working with you in 2022 and beyond. May all of our “colours shine” this year.

Kirk Thomas - Director of Teaching and Learning