From the Head of the Junior School

Our school is uniquely positioned within a World Heritage area. Our students live and learn in an incredibly significant place; a place that was always important to the Dharug and Gundungurra people, and important to those who’ve come here ever since.

One of our newest programmes in the Junior School is ‘Wild Ed’. Wilderness Education is well established in our Senior School and it’s a leader in this area across the state. My vision has been to run ‘Wild Ed’ from Pre Kindergarten and last year was all about preparing to do this well.

We have had teachers visit Tudor House in Moss Vale to see their outdoor education programme, we have had teachers undertake research, we have had staff work alongside our Senior School colleagues to learn about this pedagogy. Importantly, two of our teachers have undertaken extensive training to be Forrest School leaders. They have learned why wilderness education is crucial to young lives, what it can look like, and how to do this with safety and appropriate risk, so that all children can take part.

Mr Luke Carr and Mrs Laura Fox have led the charge in Wild Ed in the Junior School. On Thursday afternoon our ‘Little Wildlings’ from Pre K – Year 2 are all learning outside. If it’s raining, we don’t care – the children have brought in rain coats and gum boots and out we go for learning and fun anyway. The children have been exploring the Adventure Playground, as well as ‘Sticktopia’ and are becoming confident, caring and collaborative outdoor learners.

The children use sticks and rocks to create and build things. They are learning to make shelters and art and fun, all with the things they find. They have been taught how to safely use things like sticks and tools and how to be respectful of our outdoor spaces, and of each other. Staff are using this time to complete rich learning in PDH, Geography, Maths and Science….and in just about every learning area there is.

Primary classes are getting involved too – Mr Carr’s class have been whittling sticks and creating artworks, they have been learning to tie knots and create huge 3D structures, which they then measure in Maths. Throughout these activities they are learning to care for and appreciate the environment and to value each other and work together in teams.

Mrs Spohr’s class have begun a working relationship with Sydney Zoo and we now have a tall water tower in ‘Sticktopia’ to attract animals, which the Stage 3 Boobooks will monitor and gather data, to be used by real scientists at the zoo. They have become passionate advocates for koalas and are focusing in on learning in this area – inside and outside.

Mr Forbes’ class have taken on a Wild Ed project that fits with their flair for the dramatic – they are creating a bush theatre at our school for outdoor performances. I’m really looking forward to seeing drama and music performances in our beautiful area. As they create this, they are learning to appreciate the bush – learning about weeds and native plants and working together to create a beautiful outdoor learning space.

And now the Springwood campus are beginning their journey too. Classes at our lower mountains campus have been exploring their own outdoor learning environment and outdoor area. Last year and this year Mrs Walker’s class have created many outdoor learning experiences for Art, History, Geography and Maths.

Mrs Gerrard and her class created a project last year that saw them exploring the creeks at the back of Springwood and they forged a working relationship with the Council and Sydney Water, deeply interested in water conservation. They have also been keen gardeners, which those parents lucky enough to buy their produce know.

Additional to this class time learning are sport and PE opportunities with our Senior School teachers and students. For sport, many of our students have been canoeing on Wentworth Falls Lake or rock climbing, taught by very capable Senior School students. We are looking forward to doing this again this year.

Our staff are working together to look for even more opportunities across both of our campuses, and in the beautiful areas surrounding our school. Mr Carr and Mrs Fox will be working with Springwood staff to share their training in this unique location. The P&F at both Wentworth Falls and Springwood have funded some of the equipment we have needed to develop these programmes and we are really thankful for these.

Please ask your children about their experiences in Wild Ed and remember – if they come home covered in dirt with leaves in their hair – it’s probably evidence of a terrific day of learning and fun!

Mrs Rachael Newton

Head of Junior School

Stage 2 Maritime Museum Excursion

On Monday 26th February, the Stage 2 students from Springwood and Wentworth Falls Campuses travelled to the Maritime Museum in Sydney for a guided tour of the Duyfken and various self-guided tours of exhibitions related to the topic of ‘Explorers’, which is what we are learning about in Term 1 of our History and Geography unit.

They participated in a ‘Navigators’ workshop where they learnt about the interaction between the Dutch sailors, who worked for the Dutch East India Company, and the Indigenous Australians. There were many exhibits that displayed artefacts from the 1600s, and they even saw a replica of Dirk Hartog’s plate, that he left when he was navigating the west coast of Australia.

It was a beautiful day in the city and wonderful to be able to see so many artefacts and to experience lots of ‘hands on’ activities.