Principal Report

Principal’s Message Week 5 Term 1 2020

We have all read the headlines and the figures that state that it is estimated that in five years’ time 20% of today’s jobs will not exist and it makes me wonder what that means for us and our children? How are we best going to support and prepare them to thrive in a very different world to which we have been brought up in. A world where a university degree may no longer guarantee a well-paid job and where things are rapidly changing to such a degree that we just can’t predict what lies ahead.

During the holidays, I came across a term that I had not heard before, the “adaptability quotient”.

A recent study asked students and parents what are the crucial skills that students need to prepare for the future and, besides academic, social and emotional intelligence, it was agreed that AQ, adaptability quotient, was essential.

AQ can be loosely defined as the ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-changing environment and is taking its place alongside established quotients like IQ and EQ when it comes to determining an employee’s value.

Dr Selina Samuels, author and educator, states that AQ is an important skill to develop within students in order to future-proof them for what lies ahead. “We must help students hone their AQ abilities so they can face changes with confidence. Pure rote learning won’t set students up for success,” she said. “Children need to become continuous learners who can adapt to a rapidly changing professional marketplace”.

What then characterizes AQ and sets it apart from IQ and EQ? Those with high AQ keep an open mind so they see the world with fresh eyes and remain open to possibilities. They keep an open heart, so they can try to see any situation through another person’s eyes. They keep an open will, letting go of identity and ego to sit with the discomfort of the unknown. And they tend to be more motivated by curiosity, widely exploring the world around them. Adaptable individuals seek out diverse skill sets and information knowing that it will better prepare them to handle the unknown events of the future.

As I researched further into AQ, I couldn’t help but see the direct link to the IB Learner Profile which the children have been focusing on this term. As IB learners we strive to be: open minded, principled, thinkers, communicators, caring, risk takers, inquirers, reflective, balanced, knowledgeable. These 10 attributes are the foundational for IB World Schools, which value and believe that these attributes can help not only individuals but also groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities. If we wish our children to succeed in the future world of work, then it seems more important than ever to also develop these personal capabilities; affording them the best opportunity for success and the ability to participate in what lies ahead. Change is inevitable but in the end, it will be how we react and adapt that will define our success.

Cybersafety - Alannah and Madeleine

Thank you to Natalie Cromie for organising the Cybersafety incursion, parent evening and professional learning for staff last Tuesday. A lot of very useful information and tips were passed on by Judy during her presentations. I was taken aback by some of the figures she presented but not surprised. On the way home after the parent presentation, I heard a discussion on ABC radio about adolescent mental health. The number one concern is cyberbullying. Every point Judy raised during her session to parents, was reinforced by the experts on the radio. This is why our school places great value on, and invests in providing parent education on important topics such as cybersafety.