Diversity

We all bring something special

What we love about our Wollert Community is the richness that can be found in both our similarities and our differences.Learning about each other and with each other is at the core of all do. Embracing the uniqueness of every individual and celebrating the strengths we all bring to our learning culture is fundamental to our learning success. Acknowledging the diversity within our community of course links directly to our intent in creating an exemplary inclusive culture that other schools can learn from. 

So what exactly do we mean by DIVERSITY? 

'Diversity is about what makes each of us unique and includes our backgrounds, personality, life experiences and beliefs, all of the things that make us who we are. It is a combination of our differences that shape our view of the world, our perspective and our approach. Diversity is also about recognising, respecting and valuing differences based on ethnicity, gender, age, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation.' DPC Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021

In simple terms, our school acknowledges that everyone is different and we accept these differences as gifts that can help us become tolerant, accepting, well adjusted citizens. Life is never boring in a school, that's for sure. This is because we all offer different thinking, different perspectives, different ideas and views. Our wide range of personalities, dispositions, character traits and values are woven through our individual family experiences, creating such a rich tapestry of human wonderment. Learning from the wonderment our diverse uniqueness brings is so special to us at Wollert. 

2022 brings a new level of learning and understanding of what diversity is as society broadens its acceptance and understanding of the varied identities and differences our communities bring. As adults,  we can become bogged down and perhaps a little apprehensive and anxious about what our children will be learning and experiencing when schools begin discussing diversity. Our own personal experiences can begin to flood our thinking and cause us to build a level of complexity around the simple learnings diversity should bring, and this is natural. 

At Wollert, we seek to ensure representation and understanding of our individual and collective identities and differences in a developmentally (cognitive and emotional capabilities) appropriate manner. We understand that themes such as sexual orientation and gender identity are usually the most challenging for families to navigate and cause the most apprehension. While sexual orientation and gender identity form a part of understanding human diversity, these do not form a part of our explicit learning with our students at Wollert. Families and educators have a joint role and partnership in developing the minds of our children and we believe key learning in areas such as this should begin in the home and extend through education platforms when children are developmentally prepared for these deeper learnings. Building understanding and thinking related to race, ethnicity, disability, cultural diversity and more builds the foundations for a natural curiosity to emerge in our children, while embedding actions that demonstrate inclusion, tolerance, equality, acceptance, dignity and respect.

At Wollert, if we play some part in supporting our children to become empathetic and kind young people who accept and embrace differences to build a more connected and peaceful future for all, then we will be very happy educators. Understanding diversity in its simplest form can help us achieve this.

Our VALUES under the microscope

Our behaviours matter and at Wollert we place a lot of VALUE on our day to day actions.

Our Be KIND value is a universal action that is easy to understand and easy to feel when it has been delivered. At Wollert, we link being kind to being inclusive and supportive of others. It is the action of expressing in some way that you care and have empathy for others around you. It is also about treating each other equally and in a positive way. Kindness makes your heart sing and your brain dance with joy...that's the wollert way.

At Wollert we actively encourage kindness in the following ways:

• Being friendly to all ('you don't have to be friends but you always have to be friendly')
• Offering a smile
• Greeting people and bidding farewell to people
• Using manners
• Expressing gratitude, appreciation and thanks
• Helping, supporting and assisting
• Sharing
• Being there to listen or notice when people need someone
• Including people when they look like they need it or are alone
• Looking after our belongings/environment - caring for things

'Wally Wollert', our is values detective is always on the look out for acts of kindness and good deeds.  Kindness really does create a positive, joyful environment and we all work hard each day to make sure we spread kindness, as it really is contagious and can be felt so richly when it's received.