This special Life After Preshil event was organised by our Parent Education Committee so that current students and parents could learn more about experiences alumni have had and the connections they make between their current endeavours and their Preshil experiences. We were grateful to have on the panel alumni representing a wide range of professions and life experiences, and all at a variety of life stages.
Meet our distinguished panel of speakers and members of our Preshil community:
During this event, we met Pascal Barbare (Class of 2004) who fondly reminisced about his time at our Arlington Campus, and how this space fostered an expansive possibility for play and experimenting – not just with music, but with anything!
We met Dr Ben Cleveland (Class of 1992) and since his time at Preshil, he has been using his experience as a child in our aesthetically beautiful campuses as a lens to explore the connection between student agency (a social and behavioural construct) and the physical learning environment. He talked about human geography, and how the continuity and fluidity of access and movement between our Arlington and Blackhall Kalimna Campuses benefit student learning outcomes, reflecting upon the blurred boundaries between inside and outside for children.
Former Teacher, Bill Cleveland, elaborated upon the precious and enduring relationships that were created during his 25 years as a Preshil Secondary School teacher, and how at the heart of progressive schools like Preshil is the profoundly collaborative and respectful relationship between student and teacher.
We welcomed alumni and current parent Tom Birch (Class of 1994) who reflect upon the concept that entrepreneurship being a different form of creativity, perhaps incorporating the freedom of thought and being able to self-determine. The idea that, as adults with children, you might still not “know” what you want to do, and that’s ok!
The panel were asked to define the broad term of ‘success’ and generally agreed that not only is it doing something that you enjoy and finding that sense of purpose, and it is also being adaptable and having both agency and the courage to give things a go.
Recent graduates, Audrey Robinson (Class of 2020) and Poppy Phillips (Class of 2022) were asked to share their thoughts and experiences on the first years out of school, and how prepared they felt for their next steps. Poppy shared how academically Prehil prepared her for different ways of thinking and learning. Do what interests you and channel that interest during your secondary years is the key message delivered to current Preshil students thinking about their next steps. Curiosity is key and, whatever you do, don’t get bored – it’s a waste of time.
Some highlights are shared below:
