FROM THE PRINCIPAL: End of Term 4 2022

Dear Preshil Families,

At Preshil, student voices are celebrated. 

This year, I have had the privilege of working with our students and learning about what motivates them. It is clear to me that we attract students who care about making a difference in the world. Our community of learners is encouraged to question and Preshil works to foster an environment where students can discover their purpose and develop tools to make an impact within the School community and beyond.

Next year, we’ll be focussing on student agency and changemaking across our programs and campuses. Building on the many things that Preshil students are already engaged in, we will look to provide opportunities to support our students to develop the skills, dispositions and attitudes needed to address issues they care about.. We want our students to be supported to challenge ideas, question conventional wisdom, form their own opinions, and set their own goals.

At Arlington, students will engage in an inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organisations; societal decision-making, economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.

Within this Unit of Inquiry, children from Prep to Year 6 will join a committee that focuses on a particular issue at Arlington. Teacher Mentors will support the children in these groups. Here are some examples of what their topics of investigation and research may be:

• Animals at Arlington
• Public Art
• Branding and Signage
• Events and Fundraising
• Sustainability
• Grounds, Gardens and Sports
• Library and Games
• Huts and Cubbies

Children will consider issues and problems related to their area and, using design thinking, will explore ways to resolve issues and contribute to our community. Committees will bring their problems and designed solutions to Whole School Meetings for consideration. There will be an emphasis on the interconnectedness of these committees. Utilising the design cycle, students will be developing the following skills; Thinking (critical thinking, transfer and application of knowledge, creative and novel thinking, evaluation within design and reflection on design efficacy); research (formulating, planning, gathering and recording), social, communication and self-management skills will be extended in all groups.

This unit of inquiry will connect students to each other, their school community, and help them see the ways in which they all have an impact at Preshil.

At Blackhall Kalimna, we are excited to be introducing programs and opportunities in 2023 that support our students to build design thinking aptitudes, whilst affording them opportunities to actively demonstrate the IB ATL skills of Service as Action (a foundational and requisite element of the IB MYP). This will continue to foster an environment where our students can develop into independent, lifelong learners, who make a positive contribution to their local and global context.

We hope to provide opportunities for our students to develop the skills, dispositions and attitudes needed to challenge both emerging and entrenched social and environmental issues – both internally within the Preshil environment and externally through the development of impactful projects that contribute to the betterment of the lives of others ‘outside’ of the school community.

Through their participation in service, students can become more confident and effective learners and take action by:

• Appreciating and promoting intercultural awareness and developing a sense of respect towards people in the community
• Developing altruistic attitudes through interaction with their community
• Using their creativity to develop personal insight into local and global issues
• Working collaboratively and developing the skills that will enable the students to work effectively with others
• Demonstrating the skills, knowledge, and discipline required to complete an innovative project, with tangible outcomes
• Communicating complex ideas effectively, to effect positive and sustained change.

I look forward to sharing with you future updates on the projects that BK students will be working on in the new year to affect change.
 

Preshil students don’t need to wait until they graduate to make a difference in the world. They are eager to act on their passions and test their ideas, rather than just following established norms. They have the courage to reimagine a better future. They are out there now, actively engaging with leaders and influencing change, and I’m pleased to share with you some recent examples:

Cultural diversity and International Mindedness are an integral part of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools. In an increasingly diverse and challenging world, it is critical that schools incorporate a culturally responsive curriculum. It is important for schools to remember that while each individual is unique, we need to recognise and understand our differences. By including opportunities to explore our varied cultures and acknowledging our diversity, we hope to promote awareness, tolerance and acceptance in our students.

Preshil’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
This term, our Aboriginal Reconciliation Action Team has met on a regular basis to discuss and explore ways of embedding Aboriginal culture and history through the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Our vision is to authentically support and provide opportunities for the Preshil community to develop a sustainable, ongoing awareness and understanding of ATSI cultures and history, in the spirit of Reconciliation. Preshil is committed to the ongoing development of processes and policies that reflect our moral imperative as a school, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) history and culture are embedded into all aspects of school life.
 
As a school, we aim to embed ATSI knowledge, past, present, and future, throughout our curriculum. We want our students to grow up with a respectful and heartfelt understanding of what land they are on, and importantly, understand the diversity and cultural nuances that pervade on the country they reside on.
 
We believe that imbuing ATSI perspectives are imperative in creating a more unified and inclusive society. We want to place a greater emphasis on ATSI perspectives in our classrooms and within the wider Preshil community. As a school community that acknowledges we are on Wurundjeri land, we will demonstrate our support and encouragement for Indigenous Australians through word and action, not only to those in our local community but also to all ATSI communities.

The Aboriginal Reconciliation Action Team is pleased to report that we have established short-, medium-, and long-term goals that are already underway. Some short-term action items include the introduction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at the Blackhall Kalimna Reception and starting the 2023 school year with a smoking ceremony. Some long-term action items include considering cultural competencies and inviting Elders and Traditional Owners to share their stories and speak to students and staff.

If you would like to know more about what a RAP is, we invite you to watch the following video: