PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL
Create thrive
At the conclusion of Term 3 this year the
entire staff of the Preparatory School
gathered for one of our regular weekly staff
meetings. The agenda for the meeting was
simple - for each member of staff to come
prepared to answer two questions based on
their year to date.
How have you grown personally
and/or professionally this year?
Can you give an example of seeing a student,
parent or colleague ‘thriving’ this year?
What ensued was one of the best meetings
of educators I have witnessed in a very long
time. As individuals shared their personal
and professional growth and as they shared
stories or examples of others thriving in our
GGS community several themes become
vividly apparent to all.
Firstly, there was a theme amongst the
staff of “giving new ideas a go”. Stepping
outside their comfort zone to create new
and different opportunities for their students.
In doing so, teachers across the Preparatory
School discovered new ways to make
learning for students relevant and engaging
and gave students the chance to solve real
complex problems and to work in teams. “I
gave it a go” became a bit of a catchphrase
as story after story detailed small to large
scale initiatives in classes at all levels.
A second theme which became apparent in
this meeting was the power of reflection and
sharing both the successes and the failures
inherent in these initiatives with students,
parents and colleagues. Through reflection,
communication and modification these
initiatives and new ideas have become even
more powerful as teaching and learning
opportunities for our students. This Forward
magazine is full of examples of these creative
projects, initiatives and student engagement.
By creating opportunities to innovate through
an Inquiry Approach our focus and methods
created the conditions for deep learning not
just to pass the next quiz or test – but to
thrive. To thrive allows us to shift the focus
from not only what children need to be
allowed to experience at school and beyond,
only developing a set of abstract skills;
but to also enhance and further develop
necessary interpersonal, collaborative and
creative skills necessary for their future. It
also allowed students to see their teachers
being courageous, vulnerable and creative
as necessary capabilities of an adult in our
world. This is incredibly powerful.
The final part of our staff meeting involved
stories of other people thriving. Using our
Preparatory School-wide themes for the
year of growth and kindness, staff shared
stories of one another, of people within our
community and of students of all ages. In a
world too often dominated by sound bytes
and twitter feeds, we are all reminded of the
power of authentic stories spoken from the
heart about others. In sharing these stories
it was incredibly apparent that we are in fact
living our school purpose;
Inspiring students to achieve personal
excellence and to be outstanding
citizens who work to create a just,
loving and peaceful society.
lens that we view the student experience.
When you see GGS Preparatory School
students, whether at home or over the
holidays please take a moment to ask them:
How have you grown personally
this year?
Can you tell me a story about
someone else at the School
thriving this year?
Sit back and relax, as our students do like to
chat. Enjoy their answers and ask them to
reflect on how they want to thrive next year.
Inspiring students for personal excellence
and giving them opportunities to thrive as
outstanding citizens and classmates is at the
core of every lesson, every decision and in
every interaction. And, as always, these pages contain a
snapshot of the Preparatory School. Please
know you are always welcome to come visit
and see us in action. We would love to give
you a walk around to meet students and
staff challenging, questioning, struggling,
smiling, engaging and working together as
we live our purpose.
Although the above focuses on the staff
experience this semester it is through this Mr Clark Wight
Head of Preparatory School
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