From the Principal

Dear BMGS Community,

I am thrilled to share a transformative experience that I and three of our Early Learning teachers, Rachael Newton, Dani Mackin, and Katie Walters, recently had during a professional learning opportunity with the team at Leighland Christian School in Ulverstone, Tasmania. Our focus was on the concept of "playful learning"—a theme that is both simple in its beauty and profound in its impact.

During our time in Tasmania, we also had the unique opportunity to have dinner with Ben Mardell, a principal investigator at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. With 40 years of experience in early childhood education, Ben has profoundly influenced this field, providing insights that underscore the importance of joyful learning in the foundational years of education. He has essentially written the book on early learning.

Our discussions were especially compelling as we asked an important question: in our pursuit of educational excellence, have we inadvertently transformed early learning into a system overly focused on data collection? This introspection was inspired by the knowledge that one of the leading indicators of academic success in middle and senior school is the happiness and joy experienced by students during their early learning years.

To frame this challenge, Alex Elliott Lockhart's Educator speaks in his TEDx talk and invites us to recall our own childhood play experiences. He asks us to consider the simplicity and joy of play and questions the increasing tendency to complicate this natural activity with adult-centric concepts and measurements.

At BMGS, we are excited to continue on this journey that reevaluates and possibly redefines our approach to early learning. Reflecting on our experiences and the insights gained from experts like Ben Mardell, we are inspired to ensure that our educational practices promote academic excellence and the wellbeing and intrinsic joy of our students.

This brings us to an important question: Have you ever noticed how we play up to a certain age, then stop when we become adults, only to seek playfulness again upon retirement? Why do we wait? Childhood is fleeting, and adulthood is already serious enough. Let's not deprive our youngest learners of the opportunity to play, explore, and be children.

This continues to be an exciting journey for BMGS, and I am passionate about our teachers and team exploring it further. Please engage with this dialogue and reflect on how to collectively foster an environment where playful learning is encouraged and celebrated.

Thank you for your continued support as we explore these vital aspects of education together. Let's make sure that the joy of learning is not just a part of childhood but a lifelong pursuit.

Warm regards

Steven Coote 

Principal