FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL

Promoting a culture of learning

Across the Elphin Campus, our students have been leading the learning culture through our Student-Led Conference process.

It is rewarding to witness the self-confidence, organisational skills and communication methods that our students develop during the lead-up and delivery of their conference.  It also provides a rare, uninterrupted time for families to be present with their child one-on-one.  The sense of ownership and trust developed between student-teacher-parent is a positive by-product of the time invested and it certainly helps to create a sense of clarity of the level of understanding that our learners have about various concepts, skills and goals.

The central point for these conferences for our community is to highlight ‘how’ we learn and not what we are learning.  Feedback is a crucial part of learning, the conferences provide a chance for families to provide feedback to their child and also to the teachers. This is always received openly as it enables continued growth, celebration of achievement and clarity of future learning.

The week ahead provides the chance for the Prep community to participate in their very unique Student-Led Conference, with their Bush Learning program in the Cataract Gorge.  What a setting for connecting to learning concepts in the outdoors, I am sure it will be a highlight for many, students, staff and parents!

Ben Green
Deputy Principal – Elphin