Letter to Family and Friends

Dear Pilgrim Families,

The Pilgrim Student Attributes are the values and skills we endeavour to develop in our students over their time at Pilgrim School. Since Term 4 2022, I have written short articles for the newsletter focused on each of the five attributes and this article will unpack the final attribute: Be engaged thinkers and active learners. 

Our definition of Be engaged thinkers and active learners is God created us to be creative and logical thinkers. We are to be passionate, discerning, reflective learners, who strive to achieve our best. This attribute is closely connected to the school value Explore.

To develop this Attribute in our students, teachers aim to:

• Build strong literacy and numeracy skills in students
• Provide open ended tasks for diverse thinking
• Teach and encourage the use of creative and critical thinking skills
• Publicly acknowledge and reward engaged thinking
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and provide motivating activities 
• Provide both indoor and outdoor activities to engage and encourage students’ creative thinking 
• Encourage and provide for opportunities for reflection
• Ask open ended questions that require higher order thinking
• Differentiate to accommodate all learners and scaffold as required
• Employ a ‘gradual release of responsibility’ model to encourage student efficacy.

Some of the verses in the Bible that closely link to this Attribute are: 

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Proverbs 1:5

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18:15

Throughout the children’s journey at Pilgrim School, our students are encouraged to: 

• Extend and expand their thinking
• Be inquirers, risk takers, be self-directed and independent thinkers
• Reflect on their learning
• Consider ethical implications
• Think of multiple outcomes or possibilities
• Think critically and creatively
• Use a range of tools to demonstrate their understanding
• Achieve to the best of their ability
• Implement teacher feedback to improve their skills.

Our annual Principal Awards will take place in Tuesday’s Assembly in Week 8 for Foundation to Year 5 students, and in Week 9 for our Year 6 students. These awards are based on the Pilgrim Student Attributes. Several students from each class will be recognised for the way they have grown in, or the way they have displayed, one of the Attributes this year. 

Blessings,

Julie Wicks

Deputy Principal