JS News: 8 June 2022

From Nick Martin, Assistant Head of Junior School Learning 3-6

Experiencing the PYP Exhibition in action
As many families are aware, our Year 6 students are deeply engaged in their PYP Exhibition process. Each group has created its own framing elements to guide their inquiry. These elements include a ‘central idea’ that provides a broad focus for the inquiry. Each student has also developed their own ‘line of inquiry’ that is more specific and helps to focus their individual inquiry.

Groups are currently in the research phase, as they strive to learn more about their chosen issues. It is an exciting phase of the process as groups engage with experts in the field and expand their knowledge through excursions. Groups also require perseverance and commitment as they continue to dig deeper and deeper, by asking new questions and finding out specific information.

Each group has also been allocated a mentor who is a staff member from across Radford College. It is always pleasing to have so many staff interested in mentoring a group. The first mentor meetings took place last week. The mentor’s role is to listen, ask questions, prompt, and provide some guidance regarding possible next steps. The mentor meetings are very much anticipated and are a unique and beneficial aspect of the process.

Last week also featured a Parent Open Morning on Thursday, when Year 6 families were able to spend the morning with their child’s Exhibition group. We had a wonderful number of parents join us for the morning. Many parents expressed their appreciation that they were able to have this unique insight into the process that they have been hearing so much about at home.

With only two weeks until Exhibition Week, we are excited to see the students begin to synthesise their key understandings and represent these ideas creatively. They will also start to think about an action that they can take to make a real difference in the world, inspired by their learning through the Exhibition process. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!

A new approach to reporting

ACER Reporting Study
ACER Reporting Study

Last week, you will have seen a Nexus post informing families of a new approach to reporting. The post provided some background to the new approach, including the rationale for change and the components that make up the new approach.

The video that accompanied the post referenced a study that was undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). You can read about the study here. The study was undertaken over a three-year period and involved:

  • an extensive literature review
  • reviews of national, state and territory policies
  • analysis of reporting templates and processes from across Australia
  • surveys of key stakeholder groups about perspectives relating to reporting.

The study presents a set of recommendations for schools to improve the way that they communicate with families about learning. These recommendations have influenced our renewed approach in the Junior School. To learn more about ACER’s recommendations and our enhanced approach to communicating with families about learning – please access the previous Nexus post: https://nexus.radford.act.edu.au/news/6899

Accessing your child’s Journal through Toddle
A key tool used to communicate with families about learning is Toddle. Each student has their own Journal, and learning updates are regularly posted to the Journal. If you are not already accessing your child’s Journal through Toddle, we strongly encourage you to do so.

For instructions on how to access Toddle - please see this previous Nexus post: https://nexus.radford.act.edu.au/news/3823

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