Term 3 has been full and successful. I take this moment to acknowledge the agility, commitment and passionate involvement of our parents and caregivers, students and staff during Term 3. Although the ‘lockdown’ seems an eternity ago, it was the beginning of this term! Thank you to all for your ability to ‘flex’ when needed, with the unwavering focus on what’s best for children driving our action during the various times of change we’ve all faced. We appreciate the feedback received in the recent Distance Learning Survey. Overwhelmingly the feedback was positive. It was presented to School Council, deeply analysed by the School’s Leadership and wider Staff Teams. We now have a range of additional strategies, resources, and approaches in place in the event we are required to move to Distance Learning again.
‘Learning By Doing’ is in Annesley’s DNA. Every week our students engage with ‘the world’ beyond the school gate, with rich experiential learning embedded throughout our Program of Inquiry. In the past few weeks alone;
- Year 1 students have been actively exploring the Adelaide Central Markets as part of their Unit of Inquiry on the workings of the Marketplace. This week’s learning intentions were ‘all things French,’ with our expert French teachers partnering with the class teachers and parent volunteers, guiding rich exploration in the Markets, including ‘French taste testing.’ These inquisitive students have had meaningful, weekly adventures here for the past month.
- Base 3 students, members of the Adelaide Zoo, were engrossed in their tour of Monarto Zoo. Not only have they been developing their Foundational Skills in Numeracy and Literacy, as well as Science and French around the zoo, they have developed key understandings of various species and habitats. Students have taken action by collecting old phones to be recycled in support of primate conservation in Africa. Students have also been using Minecraft Education to create 3D zoos that by using the School’s Virtual Reality resources, enable people to ‘walk through’ these student created 3D worlds.
- Base 6 and 7 students have hosted a hugely successful Exhibition, showcasing their learning and skill development in powerful, engaging ways. Gillingham Hall has been host to an array of immersive action projects where our oldest students have hosted the whole school to showcase their skill development across all learning areas. I have ordered a t-shirt from a student business that has sourced sustainable fabrics and processes, learnt specific information about the human impact on the species we share the planet with and been challenged to ensure that as an adult I ensure I meet my own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- Base 5 students have served and collected resources for local charity ‘Treasure Boxes.’ Treasure Boxes mandate is to prevent hardship and trauma by providing kids with critical items many of us take for granted. It’s been a meaningful and action focused few weeks, typical of every week in our blessed community.
- Base 6/7 attended the stage show ‘Amphibian’ at the Space Theatre to enable them to experience the many elements that contribute to theatrical performance.
- Our Choir have performed a beautiful rendition of ‘What A Wonderful World,’ including Auslan, the language of the deaf community in Australia, as they sang as a collective in historic Gillingham Hall.
I love being a member of the dynamic team at Annesley. It’s a privilege to have my own children as students in our caring and creative community. I feel blessed to be part of our growing and passionate School.
Luke Ritchie
Principal
