Junior School

Educating Generation Alpha

Inherent in our Sacred Heart philosophy is the education of each individual’s heart and mind so that they strive to be the very best version of themselves. For the successful education of heart and mind to be achieved, our students must be wellknown by their teachers. Who are our learners and how do we truly cater for their needs in our ever-changing world?

Generation Alpha is the label given to children born between 2010 and 2024 – that is, students currently in our Early Learning Centre and Junior School. This year, Kincoppal-Rose Bay staff have taken a deep-dive into learning about these students so that we can adapt our practice to better reflect this generation of children.

We learnt from McCrindle Research that Generation Alpha are more global, more digital, more social, more visual and more mobile than any generation that came before them. We also learnt that approximately two-thirds of current Junior School students will work in entirely new jobs that do not yet exist. They are a generation who will experience ongoing change in the workforce while expecting their wellbeing to be prioritised.

Educating Generation Alpha looks different to how schooling has occurred in the past. To truly engage them in their education, teachers need to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities that are relevant, practical, collaborative and multimodal. While schooling may change, their need for a strong sense of belonging does not change. So while our world is becoming more reliant on robotics, the need for strong interpersonal skills will be critical in supporting students’ future success.

Educating this generation of learners is a huge challenge that Barat-Burn teachers see as an exciting opportunity. Our teachers have reshaped learning programs in all areas of the curriculum.

One such example is the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) projects. Each year level, from Kindergarten to Year 6 engage in STEAM projects that demand increasingly advanced coding, creative and critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. In the early years, Barat-Burn students learn about visual coding using Indi Robots, developing their understanding of sequencing and algorithms to solve complex problems. In Years 5 and 6, Barat-Burn students enter the world of virtual reality, practising their engineering skills by building their own virtual world. This program promotes higher order thinking and creativity and provides students with opportunities to implement their developing coding skills to achieve endless possibilities.

Another example of academic excellence for Generation Alpha is the Barat-Burn Enrichment Program. This program consists of experiences tailored to those students whose data shows they require more challenge in their learning. As part of this offering, our Years 5 and 6 students competed in the NSW da Vinci Decathlon. They competed across 10 disciplines designed to challenge and stimulate their minds. Our Years 5 and 6 students ranked in the top four in two discipline areas, including second in Cartography and third in Mathematics. This achievement exemplifies the capacity of this generation to thrive when learning is relevant, engaging and challenging.

As Generation Alpha prioritises their wellbeing and need to belong, we have introduced various initiatives that prioritise their sense of wellbeing and positive relationships. From their first week of Kindergarten through to Year 6 and beyond, BaratBurn students learn explicit skills for making and maintaining healthy friendships. They practise the skills to navigate social challenges with empathy and resilience. Students also engage in regular mindfulness experiences where they learn the power of reflective silence.

Providing a contemporary Sacred Heart education is our ongoing challenge. We will continue to adapt our practice to best cater for the needs of whichever generation we have the privilege of educating. While our strategies will continue to change, we remain steadfast in our commitment to educating heart and minds so that individuals strive to be the best version of themselves.

Danielle Brandon Head of Junior School