Student Life
Fostering Student Empowerment and Growth
At Tombolo Academy, we foster an environment where each student’s individuality is celebrated, and their personal growth is nurtured. We are committed to creating a supportive space where highly capable students with diverse needs can rediscover their passion for learning, overcome challenges, and develop resilience, empowering them to thrive academically and personally.
A Day in the Life at Tombolo Academy
Are you curious about what a day looks like for students at Tombolo Academy? Our tailored approach to education creates a positive and enriching learning environment designed to meet each child’s unique needs. We understand that every student is different, and our supportive environment ensures they feel reassured, confident, and ready to learn.
The student’s day begins with a short session alongside their Learning Mentor. This helps students smoothly transition into the day, setting a solid foundation for focused learning. These small group sessions allow students to solve problems collaboratively, build relationships, and work as a team, ensuring they feel ready to engage with their learning.
Each day is carefully structured to meet the needs of our students. We teach in a dynamic and engaging way. Our cross-curricular approach is designed to give deeper meaning to learning by connecting subjects in ways that engage student’s interests and strengths. This approach enriches their educational experience and fosters a more personalised and relevant learning journey tailored to their needs.
At Tombolo Academy, we transform how students experience education. Instead of relying on traditional methods such as worksheets and comprehension tasks, we embrace creative approaches that reignite a passion for learning.
Our scaffolded teaching approach ensures students achieve quick success, which, in turn builds their self-esteem and confidence. We differentiate learning tasks to cater to student’s individual strengths and needs, offering tailored support to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed and reach their potential. Our innovative strategies ensure that every day is exciting and fulfilling, empowering students to grow academically, personally, and socially.
Lessons are 55 minutes long and are interspersed with movement breaks, allowing students to refresh, refocus, and maintain their energy throughout the day. We use provocations to spark curiosity and encourage deeper thinking, setting the tone for active engagement. Technology is seamlessly integrated into our teaching, with interactive tools used to consolidate learning in a dynamic and engaging way.
Testimonials
See what parents and students are saying about Tombolo Academy.
Hear their stories and learn how our supportive environment, personalised learning, and dedicated staff have made a lasting impact.
Micro-Credentials
In today’s ever-evolving job market, traditional education achievements are increasingly supplemented by alternative credentials. Micro-credentials and digital badges have emerged as vital tools in this landscape, emphasising specific skills and capabilities over formal education.
What are Micro-Credentials?
Micro-credentials are short-term, stackable credentials that demonstrate mastery of specific skills. They provide a flexible way to validate learning and abilities.
What are Digital Badges?
Digital badges are visual representations of these accomplishments that can be shared online. They signal skills or achievements to potential employers and educators, enhancing visibility and recognition on platforms like LinkedIn.
Benefits of Micro-Credentials
Competitive Edge
Stand out in the job market by showcasing specific skills.
Career Advancement
Signal mastery and readiness for career progression.
Relevant Learning
Ensure up-to-date skills that prepare students for workforce success.
Flexibility
Celebrate a wide range of achievements in diverse learning areas.
Tombolo Academy’s Approach
At Tombolo Academy, we integrate micro-credentials to track and celebrate student progress, such as in the capability of resilience. Utilising the SOLO Taxonomy, we assess and recognise the progression in understanding and applying new skills and knowledge. Our ongoing collaboration with Independent Schools Victoria helps refine and expand our micro-credential program.
Framing Success for All
To explore this topic further and learn about the Australian context for micro-credential we recommend exploring the following report Learning Creates Australia.
This research report from the Assessment Research Centre (ARC) of the University of Melbourne is the third in a series commissioned by Learning Creates Australia on the topic of assessment and recognition of learning.
The report’s co-authors (Professor Sandra Milligan, Professor Peter Noonan and Anthony Mackay AM) describe how our current policies and practices are less than fit-for-purpose. It identifies changes needed with a view to establishing a single, unified, national qualification for senior secondary students to provide every school leaver with an official representation of their learning success.
Resilience
Resilience is a critical skill that students at Tombolo Academy develop through a structured approach based on the SOLO Taxonomy. This framework helps students progress from having no understanding of resilience to applying it confidently across various situations. The journey involves:
Students initially need help to understand and apply resilience, often disengaging from difficult situations.
Students recognise resilience as bouncing back from tough situations and know one strategy to cope, though they still need significant support.
Students identify multiple strategies and instances of resilience but may lack the ability to consistently apply them independently.
Students make connections between different strategies and situations, applying resilience more effectively and understanding its impact on well-being.
Students innovate and adapt resilience strategies, applying them broadly and recognising the importance of resilience in all aspects of life.
Tombolo Academy helps to foster resilience in students through a structured, progressive approach. Our program helps students transform from needing support to becoming confident and adaptable in overcoming challenges.
SOLO Taxonomy
The SOLO Taxonomy, created by educational psychologists John Biggs and Kevin Collis, provides a framework for describing levels of understanding and is a valuable tool for both students and educators at Tombolo Academy.
It helps create a shared language of learning, allowing for common conversations, reliable comparisons, and targeted support. The taxonomy presents a sequence of steps to deeper understanding, transitioning from surface learning to deep, conceptual understanding.
Levels of Understanding in SOLO Taxonomy:
Pre-Structural
No relevant ideas or understanding.
Uni-Structural
Basic understanding with one idea.
Multi-Structural
Multiple ideas without connections.
Relational
Connecting and explaining multiple ideas.
Extended Abstract
Extending and transforming ideas, linking to broader concepts.
Benefits for Teachers and Students
Teachers
Analyse learning outcomes, design targeted learning, and create appropriate activities.
Students
Understand required levels of understanding, identify next steps, and reflect on their learning progress.
The SOLO Taxonomy is instrumental in helping Tombolo Academy students build resilience and achieve deeper learning by structuring their educational journey.
Learning Spaces
At Tombolo Academy, we understand that a well-designed learning environment plays a crucial role in supporting our students’ educational journey. Our learning spaces are thoughtfully crafted to cater to the unique needs of neurodiverse students, promoting comfort, focus, and engagement.
