HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Welcome back to Term 4!

Currently, we are a Primary Year Program (PYP) Candidate School. During the candidate phase, the school takes actions necessary to fulfill the International Bacclaureate® (IB) requirements for authorisation. Embedding international-mindedness across all aspects of the Junior School has been a priority across the year. An example of this is our Junior School Leadership Program.

This term, students in Year 5 will participate in a leadership program in preparation for their transition to Year 6. In 2022 all students will be involved in a variety of exciting events, activities and important decision-making processes through Student Voice initiatives and the work of our Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects.

The purpose of the Student Leadership Program centres on building leadership capacity in our students and empowering them to make a positive influence in the world. Students are immersed in experiences aimed to develop the four general capabilities and IB Learner attributes. The IB Learner attributes have been embedded into the four general capabilities, which are critical and creative thinking (inquirer, thinker, knowledgeable), ethical (principled), intercultural (open-minded), personal and social (caring, courageous and resilient, (balanced, reflective). The IB learner profile represents ten attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes and others like them can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

The Junior School Leadership Team consists of Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects who are elected each year. Year 5 students are invited to nominate for these positions after completing the Junior School Leadership Program. These nominees then present their views on how their leadership would benefit the Junior School. The Junior School students and staff then vote for the selection of the Junior School Leadership Team.

The Junior School Leadership Program includes activities designed to build students’ skills in working with others and developing a sense of community and pride in their learning community. Through this program, students identify what it means to be a leader and have the opportunity to nominate their peers for a role to recognise those students who display excellent leadership skills in all areas of college life. Our students are immersed in diverse experiences that provide opportunities for global engagement.

I am very excited to announce that in 2022, the Student Voice Program will be introduced to the Junior School. This involves leaders from Kindergarten to Year 4, where students work collaboratively with the Junior School Leadership Team to respond to student, school, local and global community needs. Student Voice Leaders conduct many activities throughout the year to raise money for the College and House charities. Classes from Kindergarten to Year 4 hold regular class meetings to address items on their class agenda. Class meetings allow students to learn how to conduct meetings successfully as they experience the various roles such as time-keeper, minute taker and observer. Ideas and other issues raised during class are taken to the Student Voice Leadership meeting and shared with the Junior School Leadership team.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our current Junior Leadership team for their continued service to the Junior School. It has been an absolute pleasure watching leadership skills develop among the students. The students should draw on the skills they’ve developed and bring them to the forefront during their transition to secondary school and beyond.

I look forward to another wonderful term of learning and strengthing connections within our learning community.

Kylie Chacon | Head of Junior School