Junior School: Brighton

JUNIOR SCHOOL

BRIGHTON

Our school motto, ‘Vincit qui se vincit’ (One conquers, who conquers oneself), inspires students to conquer themselves and their challenges and to embrace possibilities. 2022 has certainly been a year of possibility, as we celebrated the first full year at school since 2019! One of the ways in which we support students to embody the School motto is through the intentional focus on skills that are transferrable across contexts – Thinking, Research, Self-Management, Social and Communication.

Social Skills

Our outdoor education program provides a wonderful opportunity for students to develop positive interpersonal relationships and collaboration skills. Early in the year, our Year 6 students explored Melbourne as part of their inquiry into democracy and leadership. The Year 5 students visited the Philip Island Adventure Camp and Year 3 and 4 spent three days at the spectacular Waratah Bay Beach Camp, while our Year 2 students enjoyed their overnight stay at Scienceworks.

Thinking Skills

The ability to generate novel ideas and to consider new perspectives is an important part of the Destination Imagination program involving students from Years 4–7. As part of this program, students meet weekly to collaboratively solve a problem, using technical, engineering and scientific knowledge and skills. Students work on a challenge for several months, with the opportunity to test theories, create, evaluate and refine. The students presented the solutions to their challenges at the inaugural Victorian Destination Imagination Tournament hosted at Firbank in November.

Communication Skills

The annual school musical, performed by our Year 5 and 6 students, provided the opportunity for students to demonstrate their capacity as effective communicators. Students rehearsed for several months as part of their inquiry into ‘How we express ourselves’.

Self-management Skills

This year, we launched the ELC–Year 6 Conquerors Program as an opportunity for students to explore passions, connect with community and take action with their learning. As part of this initiative, the students have been supported to plan short- and long-term tasks, set goals that are challenging and realistic, set time effectively and appropriately and share responsibility for decision making.

Research Skills

It is a joy to observe as our students develop their ability to ask relevant questions, devise plans for finding information and then gather, record, categorise and share data. This year, students have explored big ideas such as diversity, change, responsibility and sustainability.