From the Head of Junior School

Walk a Mile

Thank you to the families who joined together to ‘walk a mile’ around the campus early on Friday morning in support of those experiencing homelessness. It is important to recognise that service isn’t always about giving money and can also be about raising awareness about issues, and being involved in and with our community.

R U Okay? Day

Last week, many a boy would have noticed staff members talking over a Kit Kat. It was ‘R U Okay? Day’, a National Day of Action, reminding us to ask each other how we are getting on and to start a meaningful conversation with someone who might be struggling. Staff members were invited to start a chit chat with a Kit Kat, and the chocolate caught the sight of the students, leading to an opportunity to further the conversation with them.

When I meet students in the car park in the morning, or visit classrooms throughout the day, they demonstrate excellent manners, responding to the question ‘how are you today’ with a confident ‘well, thank you.’ I am so proud of the students, even some of our youngest 3 and 4 year-olds, who are able to make eye contact with confidence whilst politely greeting adults.

However, although we expect impeccable manners from our students and each other, we also care deeply about how boys are feeling. R U Okay? Day was a reminder for us to make sure we check in on our friends, our colleagues, our teachers, our families, and really listen to the answer we are given to make sure we notice when someone in our community isn’t okay. For further information on what do if your friend is not okay, visit headspace.org.

3 Way Conferences

It has been a joy to see students discuss their performance and progress with parents and teachers at 3 Way Conferences over the past week. Professor John Hattie identifies “student self-reporting as the most significant indicator linked to raised student achievement.” Dylan William says, “the process of students reflecting on their learning through effective questioning that promotes the articulation of student thinking, is integral to classroom and assessment practices that enhance student learning”. This is why we involve our students in reporting to parents about their strengths and goals. We also love sharing the spaces the boys spend so much of their time in with their parents!

Have a lovely weekend.

Jasmine Taylor
Head of Junior School

Dates for the Diary

Important Dates for Term 4