Brescia House School is a sisterhood of balanced, brave and brilliant young minds

Brescia House School has been recognised as a Microsoft Showcase school since 2013.

During this time, teachers and learners have developed, extended and honed their skills using Microsoft applications. Effectively integrating technology into our learning is what we do at Brescia and in our classrooms is where the real magic happens.

Learners from Grade 4 to 12 have their own laptops as part of the school’s one-to-one device programme; our learners are very familiar with using Microsoft Teams to access and submit their work online for assessment. The Covid-19 pandemic allowed us to shift gears and take our classrooms and learning to the next level.

Without the Head of Innovation and ICT, Lyneth Crighton and her passion for integrated learning, and upskilling of staff and learners alike, this would not have been such an easy task. “Regular IT training has been on the timetable for teachers which has enabled staff to develop their skills and understanding of a wide range of applications and tools for use in the classroom. We’ve been gearing up for a situation like this for some time,” said Crighton.

Brescia House School has been on a forward trajectory when it comes to leveraging technology to optimise the learning space. The school’s Innovation Committee brings together a range of teachers who have an interest in IT and its application in the classroom.

Made up of teachers from the different phases as well as subject specialists, these like-minded educational professionals have spearheaded the facilitation of our dynamic classroom and learning spaces through a range of initiatives, ideas and pedagogies.

This process has been a whole school initiative, making our school exactly what young girls need to optimise their learning in our digital age. We have worked hard at growing, digitally discerning and innovatively charged young minds.

Last year was a very exciting time for the Brescia House School community. Loredana Borello, Head of the High School said, “I am in awe of our teachers and our students. What they have achieved in such a short space of time is quite remarkable.” From the moment lockdown commenced until the physical reopening of schools, no academic time was lost.

As a Microsoft Showcase School, Brescia House School has had the best players on our field and Microsoft Teams has been key to this. It provides a secure platform for learners, parents and teachers to interact. Girls from Grade R to matric are using this daily and seamlessly to engage with their learning.

This is a learner-centred platform which has been used in conjunction with other Microsoft products, including OneNote and the Office 365 suite. Not only have our lessons been able to shift gears and spaces, but the use of technology has enabled us to stay true to our Catholic ethos facilitating assemblies, services, meetings and prayers all through the Teams platform.

It has been business as usual on campus and the school operations team led by the School Covid-19 and Operations Manager, Paul Matthews, has worked continuously to keep our school safe and sanitised. A monitoring and information-gathering system has been put in place, and an internal Covid-19 education programme linked to our school app has continued to assist learners, staff, parents and suppliers in our continued journey through this pandemic. Sanitising stations are installed at every entrance, every classroom, bathroom and office, and a strict cleaning routine and awareness has become part of our DNA and social evolution.

We know it is through these efforts that we have managed to continue to be together in the same physical space. This notion is central to our educational successes as being together on campus – our home away from home, encourages team spirit, helps shape listening skills and facilitates other important communication skills.

Learners are more likely to engage in lively discussions when in a physical classroom with their classmates and are also able to engage in collaborative learning.

The school’s understanding and implementation of an integrated approach offers the best of both educational paradigms. Keeping our sisterhood central to our Serviam and pedagogic ethos, Brescia House School has achieved the balance of face-to-face contact and blended learning, leveraging technology to prepare our learners for navigating the ever-changing, digital and social complexities of the 21st century learning landscape.