Also at St Catherine’s this Saturday, we will be hosting educators from across Australia for the Festival of Better Learning and Teaching. Orchestrated by Director of Curriculum, Innovation and Development, Mr Adrian Puckering, the Festival will include three outstanding keynote addresses from:

• Professor Darrell Evans, Vice-Provost Learning and Teaching, Monash University speaking on the theme ‘Better Learning and Teaching’;
• Professor Beverley Oliver, Vice-Chancellor Education, Deakin University speaking on the theme ‘Futures Learning’; and
• Professor Gregor Kennedy, Pro-Vice Chancellor Educational Innovation, University of Melbourne, speaking on the theme ‘Learning Analytics at the school level’

Seussical Jr

Whilst this is primarily a one day conference for those working in the field of education, interested St Catherine’s community members may also attend; please contact School Reception by 3.00pm today for further details. Be Confident, Show Grit Over the course of the September holiday, I was fortunate to attend two conferences in Sydney. A keynote Address by Dr Adam Fraser, a leading Australian educator, explored the theme of ‘grit’ amongst our younger generations. Recent research now attributes ‘grit’ to be as essential as intelligence, in terms of high achievement. Fraser suggests that in addition to content knowledge and academic skills, students must develop sets of behaviours, attitudes, skills and strategies in their classes. Whilst these character traits will not be reflected in scores on tests, Fraser argues they greatly attribute to a student’s ability to achieve optimum academic performance.

It is not clear what makes people ‘grittier’ than others but it is believed grit is something people can most probably learn. We do know grit can wax and wane as well, depending on the environment. A student, exceptionally self-disciplined about their sport training or Music rehearsal, yet in their Mathematics class, can give up at the slightest frustration. Students with grit are known to persevere through situations. We as educators would be remiss not to provide challenge for our students, to push them and in doing so point out areas of strengths and weaknesses. As a School, we are the bridge between a ‘cushioned’ life of School and the harder edges of the real world.

We enable girls to run the risk of not being selected, not gaining an A, mixing with people other than their friends, learning from someone they may not quite relate to; in other words, we strengthen our students. At Assembly this week, I encouraged the girls, and in particular for the Year 12 students entering their final weeks of School, to show some grit this Term when faced with challenges, to persevere, and not lose sight of goals and to keep dreaming.

Mrs Michelle Carroll