KITE

Term 1 Reflections: Our Thriving Collaborative Culture

“Thriving schools create a culture of professional development that ensures every person has the skills, knowledge and mindset to drive progress” Lee Crockett

As a school committed to excellence, our professional learning is intentionally designed to empower teachers with contemporary research and meaningful opportunities for collaboration. With an emphasis on collective efficacy, our Middle Leaders in Action program and establishment of Kambala Learning Teams across the school focused on deepening our shared understanding of how we ignite excellence in diverse learning contexts. While Middle Leaders continue to guide strategic priorities through ongoing collaboration, all our teachers' growth areas align their practice with the Project Zero Classroom cultural forces to deepen our culture of thinking.

A core focus has been the continued rollout of our Digital Strategy. Led by our Leader of Digital Innovation and Strategy, Olga Ibrahim, staff engaged with current research exploring the impact of digital technologies on learning. The research highlights the nuanced role of ICT in classrooms. While excessive use can diminish academic performance and increase distraction, particularly through notifications and off-task behaviour, purposeful use for structured academic tasks can support learning. These insights reinforce our non-negotiable: technology must enhance learning rather than obstruct thinking. 

Our second group of action researchers in the Kambala–Ruyton Action Research Alliance, Olivia McAtamney, Jess Galpin, and Charlotte Crowley, presented their findings at Ruyton School, Melbourne, and will reciprocate at Kambala. We are also proud to announce that all three have been accepted to present at the upcoming International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Symposium in Melbourne with their Ruyton research partners, reflecting our sustained participation in this forum. Their research focused on strengthening student agency and risk-taking in the classroom, aligning with our broader commitment to cultivate courage through evidence-informed practice. Practitioners such as this group exemplify the “mindset” required to “drive progress” in a “thriving school.”

Lauren Walsh

Executive Director Professional Practice and Learning Culture (KITE)