Electives for Term Two
Our Electives Program - The Value of Cross Age Connections
The electives program has started in earnest with the first week of term being a time for learning about the offerings, and the second week having the children join their new elective. The program offers children from the Fives (Grade Prep) to the Elevens (Grade 6) an opportunity to enjoy something a little different and do so with a different group of children.
One of the truly special things about Preshil is that our children make meaningful and enduring connections with peers of all ages. This has been a feature of the Arlington community for generations. Our electives program is built to support this and so is our Biggies and Buddies program which has children from the Tens (Grade 5) connect with the children in the Kindergarten, and children in the Elevens have a special buddy in the Fives.
Our teachers understand the benefits of the cross-age connections as well as the fragilities around power imbalances that may sometimes arise, and they are alive to the needs of all children engaging across ages.
Recently there has been some wonderful dramatic play in our Bush Nook, the Pines, where children of all ages have played together to act out scenarios of battles using our rather lush and ever available bamboo. While this play can at times give us grown-ups cause for concern, our teachers are on hand as part of our yard duty obligations to quickly step in when needed. We have been celebrating this play as a vital part of our children's growth, and as an example of how older children and younger children can be playful together.
Our older children are not only helping to create a safe way for the younger children to act out knights and ninjas, but they too are safe to take risks and let themselves get swept up in dramatic play.
Cressida Batterham-Wilson
Head of Arlington Campus