Junior School 

From the Head of Junior School 

Collaboration – a process where two or more people, or entities, are working together to achieve a goal, product or outcome. 

Of all the Learner Attributes we are profiling this term, I feel ‘collaboration’ or being collaborative has enjoyed the most significant impact to our lives over the past 10-15 years. Big statement! Next time you open your internet browser, search for ‘collaboration software’. I’m confident you will find a long list of familiar software tools, many of which you are likely to be using on a daily basis I imagine.

The emergence of Web 2.0, interactive read-write capabilities in the early 2000s, opened up a new world of interaction influencing how we communicate, work, purchase goods, learn etc. It sounds so matter-of-fact now, but using collaborative software enables us to simultaneously work on documents, share material and produce a product without us even needing to be in the same physical space. Navigating through 2020 successfully has been, in-part, due to our ability to collaborate using these tools.

Being collaborative existed pre-2000s of course, and will be a valuable attribute beyond the next technological change also, whenever that may be. It’s a truly valuable approach to learning and working, in all its forms and capabilities. 

Our students learn collaborative skills from their earliest years. Working on projects together, sharing resources, building on each-others ideas, complementing different strengths and diversity of thought. Whilst we all benefit from working on our own for certain things, a significant amount of our learning and work is in collaborative environments, particularly in schools, as we are essentially a social learning environment. 

In my own personal experience, my work has been enhanced when collaborating with others. This doesn’t mean it was easier, in fact at times I’ve found it harder to collaborate but the process has been extremely valuable for all involved and the outcome has benefitted from everyone’s contribution.  

Last week on Year Four camp, there were many opportunities for students to collaborate towards shared goals. Whether it was unpacking, setting up activities, problem solving together, designing a game to play or baiting a hook and fishing. These were tangible, low tech applications for collaborative skills to develop and grow. The student recounts below will highlight the range of experiences they enjoyed at Camp Quaranup over the three days.

Over time, with continued opportunities to practice, students will further develop their collaborative skills and more ably transfer them across different areas of their lives in later schools years and beyond.  

With warm regards,

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

Year 4 Camp - Student Reflection

On Wednesday 19 May 2021, Year 4G class went on camp to camp Quaranup for two nights! This was our first camp.

We went to the museum and saw where the convicts sailed. They sailed from England to Portsmouth to Rio De Janeiro to Cape Town to Sydney. Then we went on the Brig Amity. We had to walk in chains onto the ship. We saw where the officers and the convicts slept.

Once we arrived at Quaranup a local Elder, Larry, told us about the bush. He showed us about how some plants can be helpful and some tools that was used around two thousand years ago including dinosaur teeth, special stones, crystals, etc.

At mealtimes, we had groups (Scarbough, Friendship and Charlotte) to set up and clean up. 

On day two we visited The Gap and The Blowholes. Mrs Gordon talked with us about the rock formations and how they have changed.  Everyone said that they saw some whales at The Gap. We had a quick look at the Blowholes.

We went to the Discovery Centre at Whale World. We enjoyed two tours of the facilities and learned about how the whaling process worked. The old whaling oil tanks were now made into a cinema. We were given some 3D glasses to watch the short film with some whales and dolphins showing the different sizes and different abilities they have. We got to have a talk to Stuart who used to work in the engine room on a whaling boat, he showed us some pictures, then let us have a look around. 

On Friday morning we walked to Point Possession. We shared the carrying of bags and helped each other on the walk. We spent some time on the top of the headland and then walked back along the beach. It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. We started splashing around and our clothes got wet and went swimming in the waves.

It was a fantastic camp!

Jessie Rotoff, Blythe Marmion and Max Gavin, assisted by the Year Four class.

Coming up

Science Day – Monday 31 May

Students in Pre-Primary to Year Six will enjoy a Science day together with this year's focus being ‘Biodiversity’. Mrs Gouldthorp, Year One teacher and Science coordinator of the Junior School, has designed a day to explore and investigate the different elements of biodiversity in our local environment as well as more broadly in the field of Science.