Message from the 

Head of the Junior School

Contextual, Experiential Learning at Windermere

The Regional Engagement Enterprise (TREE) is a Kinross Wolaroi School initiative aimed to provide contextual, cross curricular, community-based learning experiences for all students from Pre-Kinder to Year 12. We value the importance of providing real life opportunities for our students to consolidate their understanding of concepts learnt in the classroom through hands on, practical experiences. In so doing our goal is to ‘Future Proof” our students by teaching transferable skills they will put into practice outside of School. 

We know our students need to be able to adapt to change, have an entrepreneurial spirit and be excellent communicators if they are to succeed in an ever changing and developing workforce. For this reason, our approach to learning is moving towards experiences that are deliberately structured to develop the whole person so each child can grow and flourish and discover their abilities and passions in life, to be the best they can be. 

As part of a Pre-Kinder – Year 12 school, the Junior School is aiming to set a new standard for holistic, contextual learning through The Regional Engagement Enterprise (TREE), Round Square partnership and the facilities available at our School farm: Windermere. Through contextualising the curriculum, developing student agency, and strengthening our bonds with the local community, the Junior School aims to create multiple opportunities for our students well into the future.

This journey has commenced this term as we have begun to access Windermere on a weekly or fortnightly basis for all grades. Our experiences at Windermere are well supported by the TREE department led by Mrs Sue-Ann Gavin and members of her team Ms Jo Howarth, Mrs Bernie Sharpe and Ms Amanda Dodson. These staff support classroom teachers through collaborating on curriculum aligned program development and working with students while on site at Windermere.

In 2022 Ms Dodson’s role in the Junior School will continue to focus on providing real life opportunities for students to consolidate their understanding of concepts learnt in the classroom through hands on, practical experiences. Her role will see her continuing to work with all members of the School community, devising and delivering effective programs to promote student and staff learning. Working with key staff, Ms Dodson will continually revise and adapt the School’s frameworks and programs to ensure they deliver to staff, students and parents key messages and information necessary to support the academic development of our School community. 

Ms Dodson will be responsible for building a learning community and developing a holistic curriculum reflecting the School's commitment in providing a challenging, enriching, inspiring and supportive education environment for students and teachers. Consistent with the School’s Strategic Plan, Vision, Mission and Values, Ms Dodson, alongside the Leader of Learning and Wellbeing will lead the development and implementation of a school-wide vision for learning. In her role she will undertake a systematic and strongly evidence-informed approach which supports the School’s values and strategic objectives. A key aspect of her role will be the evaluation of the effectiveness of programs to ensure consistency and quality for all students and staff. 

Over the coming term please talk with your child about their experiences at Windermere and what they have been learning. Below are a few examples of the types of experiences your child may have already encountered this year or may do in the year to come.

SHELTERS: Recently Jo has been sharing videos of all the different animals at Windermere.

• Visit the livestock and help design shelters for them based on their needs and season.

• What type of shelter is a green house used for?

EARTH AND SPACE: Identify daily and season changes.

• Make a rainstorm in a jar

• Use wool to glue into a ‘window frame’ template showing the different shapes of clouds.

• Make a weather station for the farm

• Place rain gauges to collect data

MATHS ANGLES & POSITION LESSON Orienteering scavenger hunt. Use a compass, your knowledge of direction and angles to find hidden items. Eg. Head north for 20 steps, turn 90 degrees anticlockwise and move forward 40 steps. Collect the hidden item and follow the next set of clues to another object.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (FORCES): Discuss how wind and solar can help to power items at a farm as well. Give example of solar power pump for dam. Demonstrate solar energy by making a solar power boat to travel across the dam. Resource: Art Star Make A Solar Powered Paddle Boat

STEAM Science Kit - Riot Art & Craft (riotstores.com.au)

Design a boat that can travel across the dam at Windermere. Consider different increase or decrease forces to make your boat move, the structural design of the boat to move through the water.

WE NEED FARMERS: Farmers rely on natural and man-made materials to look after their farm. Take a tour of Windermere and list all the important things Farmer Jo has to do to look after the farm. Natural resources help to keep things alive. Discuss what farmers do to protect their land: plant out a tree belt to provide shelter for animals and native fauna, help move livestock to a new paddock to allow our pasture to regenerate.

Discuss how wind and solar can help to power items at a farm as well. Where would be a good place for us to build a windmill? Use an anemometer to measure the wind at different points of the farm.