From the Leadership Team
Lucas Collins, Head of Junior School
Relishing the learning journey at Kilvington
As our students progress along their respective academic and personal journeys, they are constantly adding skills and strategies to their ‘learning toolkits’ in classrooms throughout the School.
Our educators’ primary focus is to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help them to best achieve their potential. We believe that this is only possible if we also recognise the fact that thinking and learning are often not straightforward, nor linear, experiences.
To help our students understand the critical role their attitude plays in relation to their learning, we frequently discuss and explore the notion of employing a ‘growth mindset’.
EMPLOYING A GROWTH vs. FIXED MINDSET
Professor Carol Dweck, the American Psychologist notable for her work on mindsets, describes learners with a mindset of growth as 'those who believe their talents can be developed, through hard work, good strategies, and input from others'.
In education, as in many areas of business, the notion of being a constant learner; one who is more interested in the journey and the possibilities (the process) than they are in the end-product or outcome (the result), is widely agreed to be a desirable, and even an aspirational state, that promotes ongoing growth and achievement.
Several scientific studies also indicate that the adoption of a growth mindset lowers inhibitors of overall wellness and wellbeing, including feelings of anxiety, stress, and a fear of failure.
LEARNING PATHWAYS AT KILVINGTON
Accordingly, our learning pathways at Kilvington are intentionally designed to differentiate experiences, and to support our students to challenge themselves in personally significant ways.
In relation to their learning, we encourage students to use language that helps to promote a growth mindset, such as ‘attempt’, ‘not yet’ and ‘thinking hard’, as opposed to words that denote a fixed mindset, like ‘failure’ and ‘can’t’.
We reflect, rethink and goal set in response to initial learning attempts that are not completely successful, and alongside this, we encourage appropriate educational risk-taking.
We support our students to step out of their comfort zones and scaffold ways for them to accept that things may not go exactly to plan at their first attempt. As the automotive great, Henry Ford, once said, 'The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing'.
As I move around our School, from VCE study supervision to supporting our Junior School choirs and sports teams, to joining our lower primary students during learning time in their classrooms, I’m both heartened and inspired by the way our educators and students are putting the concept of growth mindset into practice, and feel immensely fortunate to be a member of such a positive community of learners.
WISHING YOU AN ENJOYABLE TERM-BREAK
Wishing all members of our Kilvington community a safe and enjoyable third-term holiday break. We look forward to seeing all students back at School on Monday 3 October.
REFERENCES
Staff news
At end of term, we farewell the following staff members who have been replacing staff members on leave:
- Alison Kershaw - Senior School Science and Digital Technologies
- Kirsten Robinson - Senior School Art and Design
- Libby Olifiers - ELC Co-educator
- Skye Restorick - Junior School Learning Support
We will welcome back from Long Service Leave in Term 4:
- Matt Brinson - Head of Senior School (thanks to Martine Walls for her work as Acting Head of Senior School in Matt’s absence).
- Alice James - Head of Teaching and Learning (thanks to Kirsty Watts for her work in Teaching and Learning in Alice’s absence).
- Rosie Busuttil - Academic Dean of Visual Art (thanks to John Knap for his work as Acting Academic Dean of Visual Arts in Rosie’s absence).
- Maxine Delaney - ELC Co-educator