Senior School

Head of Senior School

SHARRON FRAME

Head of Senior School

What is “student voice”? It is not just a program or listening to the loudest individual. It is not about complaining or noise from discussion with no resolution or goal. It is the sharing of thoughts, ideas, beliefs and opinions in a safe environment, built on respect and trust by communities. It could be considered the latest fad in educational thinking but if students are not involved in change and do not have the opportunity to offer their own realistic suggestions, how can they accept responsibility for not only what they say, but also for what needs to be done? Innovation and change must have balance and input from all stakeholders. That means students need to be more than passive onlookers or noise makers complaining about things. They need to listen and learn from the differing views of others and then actively participate in determining an action that could lead to change.

We encourage our students to be part of the discussions, but many are reluctant to become involved; some because their focus is too narrow, others because they don’t wish to understand or simply because they are afraid of what someone else will think.

The first step in achieving a strong student voice is the willingness of individuals to become involved and accept the responsibility to be a part of the conversation and offer their views. Teachers need to encourage students but also need to step back, listen and allow students to lead discussions. We can guide and organise things but, until students own their part in the conversation, any mooted changes, in either thinking, processes or actions, will not take place because there is no ‘buy in’.

I often say my door never shuts during the school term. However, it is pleasing to note that more and more, it opens to find students willing to talk and, more importantly, to offer a good solution or ideas without prompting. It is in these moments that student voice is meaningful, purposeful and wonderful to be part of, especially when it results in confident and articulate discussion with students.

Monash Youth Forum

Last week two of our Year 10 SRCs represented Oakleigh Grammar at the Monash Youth Forum, run by Monash Youth and Family Services. The aim of the Forum was to provide an opportunity for students from different schools to come together and lend their voices to the development of actions that could potentially change their future pathways through education and into careers.

Congratulations to Anastasia Anastopoulos and Claudia Ciempka who attended the Monash Youth Forum on Friday April 20 to join their voices with like minds.

ANZAC Day

Despite a cold start to the day, students from the Senior School Student Leadership team accompanied me to the Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Oakleigh. Tomas Smith, Eva Demergelis and Christina Gougoussis represented the School and laid a wreath at the service on behalf of the school community.

Year 12 Jackets

The swapping of blazers for the traditional Year 12 jackets took place at the start of Term 2. Year 12 students are permitted to wear the jacket instead of their blazer each day except for formal functions such as assemblies or church services. The current cohort do look both smart and comfortable in their new jackets.