28 August 2015

What really matters...

 All Principals of Independent Public Schools were called into Central Office this week and while everyone was enjoying the Book Week Assembly I listened to a lot of things about School Reviews and inputs and outputs and NAPLAN and outcomes and a bit more about reviews... Hmmm.... Not the most riveting of material.

It got me thinking about what matters, and about what really matters. And it's kids that matter, and it's what they are learning that really matters.

Last week one of our teachers told me that while on duty he had observed Bradley in tears on the ball courts. He saw that Jenny and Suzy had just spoken to him so he asked them what had happened before he then spoke with Bradley himself. Jenny told him that Bradley had been left out of the boy's soccer game because they had even teams already and didn’t want uneven teams. (This seemed a bit mean but to be fair to the boys, Bradley was playing a different game before wanting to join their game). Before the teacher could even say anything in an attempt to resolve the situation – Suzy pipes up and says, 'Maybe I should offer to play too; that way there’d be even teams?' So, off the girls went, called Bradley over, joined the game and everyone was happy.

This is what really matters. We are teaching kids to solve problems peacefully, to walk in the shoes of others, to be inclusive. And every day we see they are getting it.

This kind of learning leaves inputs, outputs and reviews for dead!

(I've changed the names but I bet these lovely kids could identify themselves if they read this.)

14 August 2015

Only in the Springs...

I called into the pharmacy on the way home this afternoon, and as I'm paying for my items Pete Ashenden, the community-minded pharmacist at LiveLife, said 'Oh, Gwen - I was just going to ring you - we've run a raffle on the school's behalf. I'm sorry we didn't tell you!'

 'And you are apologising??!!' I was a bit baffled.

'Well,' he said, 'we probably should have told you - we'll send a cheque to the school - it's not much - about $350.'

I drove home with a smile on my face - I mean, where else do people open their hearts with such generosity and just send you $350 without batting an eyelid?

Thanks, Pete. Your thoughtfulness will be put to good use in our school and will benefit our kids and their families.

Happy weekend, everyone!

09 August 2015

Learning about electricity and hydraulics is the best fun

The switch activates the propeller
'Turn out the light!' my parents would yell from the lounge. It was the refrain I dreaded every night. As a kid, I'd be tucked up in bed, buried in my latest book and being swept away by the Famous Five or huddling in a wardrobe waiting to get to Narnia, and then 'clip' - out would go the light. It was usually at a good part too!

My teacher in Year 5 saved me from this torture when he showed me how to make a light from a battery, a bulb and some strategically placed wire. At night the bedlamp would go out, and I'd be buried under the blankets reading by the feeble light of a home made torch. Goodness knows what it did to my eyes, but I will always remember my Year 5 teacher.

There has been a lot of tinkering and 'making' going on in Year 6 lately, and I can't help myself. I keep going in to see what they've made, and more importantly, what they are discovering through their 'making'. Electricity and hydraulics make everything so much fun...and so very rewarding because they make stuff actually work.

One thing I'm waiting for is the application of Riley's cardboard plane - I'd love to see this be able to get off the ground. Imagine that! I've been wanting some aerial shots of our school for a while -  I wonder if he could make a drone...


02 August 2015

What a difference a generation or two makes!

I know - I've said it before. I say it often actually... but I'm going to say it again - I love Assembly! Friday mornings are just great. It's the end of the week, the school is buzzing, everyone troops excitedly up to the Indoor Sports Centre, and for that one time a week, we are all together. 

And then there's the class item. This is my favourite part. There are dress ups, music, dancing, humour, and usually a multimedia presentation all cued up. Last week we also had placards and protests!

The messages in the presentations are often familiar as teachers cleverly link the performance and the practice it takes to perfect the choreography to the curriculum. This week's message was about reducing, reusing and recycling.

4M dressed in sixties and seventies flamboyant fluoro gear and staged a mock protest encouraging us all to take a good look at our environmental practices. I was horrified at some of the statistics 4M have unearthed - like 1000 sheets of paper equalling one tree and six billion plastic bags ending up as landfill EVERY YEAR. 

During their performance I reflected on and compared the issue with some of the placard protests of mid-to-late last century. In those days such protests focused on wars, the draft, free speech, and land rights. We still protest on those issues and we've also added a few others about caring for our planet. 

We are unlikely to solve those issues with placards - these days we teach children to be social activists. Protests are most effectively staged with information and communication skills. And it doesn't hurt to add a bit of fluoro and placard waving to get attention to start with. Good job, 4M!