Junior School
From the Head of Junior School
It has been lovely to see, and hear, the energy and excitement around campus with students returning from break, sharing their holiday stories and reconnecting with friends. I equally enjoy seeing these same interactions between our Junior School staff when they return on campus, and then again as they greet students on the first day of Term. Young people and adults alike, we all enjoy reconnecting and sharing our stories together.
Over a break period I tend to have a couple of books ‘on the go’ and I was particularly inspired by one that shared a story of a Principal who wanted to experience (again) how challenging the process of learning can be. Rather than undertake something somewhat familiar, he chose learning to ride a unicycle. The Principal recounted the frustrations and spills that inevitably followed, together with the short-lived micro successes and glacial like progress before finally feeling competent, and suitably impressed with himself! The story reaffirmed for me how challenging the process of learning can be, particularly when the context is completely unfamiliar, yet wonderfully fulfilling when efforts are maintained and progress is experienced, or once you have come to enjoy the pure ‘process’ of learning itself.
Our Junior School learner attributes describe dispositions which support the learning process and are transferable in any context. We value these learner attributes highly and draw connection to them with our students across all aspects of their learning.
As there are 11 Junior School learner attributes, and 11 weeks this term, it felt fitting to profile each of our learner attributes in an Anchor edition for Term Two with examples from students in how these dispositions are lived-out in their learning.
Learner Attributes
- Flexible Thinkers
- Reflective
- Responsible
- Open-Minded
- Confident
- Resilient
- Collaborative
- Respectful
- Persistent
- Inquirers
- Organised
To begin with, much like the unicycle riding Principal (almost), I will share my own efforts in demonstrating one of our learner attributes – Persistent.
We (teachers) ask our students to write a draft, seek feedback and make amendments prior to completing a final copy. If I’m honest, it’s been a long time since I wrote a hand-written draft. Typically, everything is typed now and I tend to make editorial changes as I go. For this weeks Anchor article though (the one you’re reading now), I wrote a series of hand-written drafts, edited by Year Six students and Ms Christina Hitchcock – Junior School Student Services, prior to submitting the final copy. The drafting process definitely called on my persistence, but I could see how each stage enhanced my writing. I think the Year Sixes enjoyed casting their editorial eye over my work, and Ms Hitchcock (a professional copywriter) was suitably impressed with their suggested amendments.
Year Four – Maddie: "I wrote a book review for ‘The goat who sailed the world’. My draft helped me get my ideas on to the paper, like why I liked the book and who I would recommend it to. Then editing the writing helped me notice things I didn’t get quite right like punctuation and spelling, so I could improve that in my final copy.”
Year Three – Sorcha: “We were writing with persuasive texts and mine was about my favourite place. I shared my writing with the class, and they gave me some feedback to use descriptive words to help the activities in my writing sound more exciting. I added in the descriptive words and it made a big difference.”
This term, honouring the learner attribute of ‘persistent’, Junior School students will be encouraged to display their drafts and work progress as proud exemplars of their learning process. There is much we can learn from ourselves and each other when we take the time to enhance our work with persistent effort, drafting is one example of this.
Best wishes for a wonderful term ahead;
Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School
Upcoming events
Wednesday 28 April
- - Junior School Cross Country carnival
Thursday 6 May
- Walk to School Day
- Early Childhood Centre Mothers’ Day morning