Head of Campus
2020: an electric year
At the beginning of another decade, it is a joy to be involved in this new season of Preshil’s narrative as we celebrate our recognition as an IB World School with the full continuum of Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.
For our campus in particular, last year yielded the stories of grit, challenge and achievement of our recent DP graduates. We are so proud of them, as we are grateful for their stalwart leadership in this time of transition. It is lovely to reflect that the next stage of their journeys is pursuits of exciting and individually-crafted aspirations.
For those still among us in the everyday, we have our own exciting initiatives brewing.
As you will have heard via email from our Year Level Coordinators, we are embarking on two distinct Student Orientation Days this Thursday and Friday in an attempt to focus our students on the pleasures of achievement through learning and becoming properly immersed in Preshil’s unique culture and climate. The Wellbeing team has organised a range of experiences for students, including the organisational, communitarian and ethical. But this wouldn’t be Preshil if we didn’t prioritise student agency, and so spearheading our programs is the inaugural Student Voice Project, where students are trained to become change-makers with a global perspective.
Incorporated into these days is the launch of our Independent Learning Agreements. It seems so absurd in schools around the state how much ‘education’ is performed upon students, rather than by them. We are seeking to lead the way of facilitating genuine student agency to articulate perceptions of student strengths, needs and student-crafted goals for learning. We are excited to feature these in future discussions with your children, including at the Three-way Conferences later in the term.
More immediately, we have our Parent Information Nights coming up on the following dates. We look forward to these precious opportunities to be with you, recognising the privilege and power of strong community connectedness.
Years 7 & 8
- 6pm Monday 3 February (upstairs Kalimna)
Years 9 & 10
- 6.30pm Monday 3 February (Library)
Years 11 & 12
- 6pm Wednesday 5 February (Library)
Here’s to an electric year of being and becoming magnificent together!
Dan Symons
Head of Campus