2 minute read
From the Principal
At Pymble, we foster a world-class educational environment that is enriched by our global outlook. Our innate interest in building connections and broadening our perspective can be seen in both students’ curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and in our teachers’ Professional Learning program. In this, the second edition of Illuminate, we proudly share with our readers insights into a number of the College’s programs and opportunities. This is a collection that highlights two key elements: our desire to learn with and from others, especially in global contexts; and our passion to make valuable new contributions to educational knowledge in a vast range of fields. From teaching STEM to our Preparatory School students, to advances in design technology in the classroom; from our ground-breaking Indigenous Scholars program, to our Upper School global exchange with Oxford and Cambridge universities, I invite readers to appreciate the diversity of projects in which College staff are participating and also, in many cases, taking the lead. Importantly, our own reflections and research, as showcased in Illuminate, make an immediate contribution to our own decision making and educational planning. A strength within the College is undoubtedly our hunger for pursuing new ways of looking at ideas and challenges, and for identifying gaps where our own research, strategy and planning readily steps forth. Likewise, creating exciting opportunities for our students is a hallmark of a Pymble teacher’s approach to his or her work. Our own Director of Research and Development has begun tracking the professional learning journey of College teacher-researchers and, unsurprisingly but pleasingly, identifies “making a difference to student learning” as a core motivation for our teachers to engage in research. You can about the results of this investigation on page 22. The ability to embrace complex challenges with courage and integrity is absolutely essential for our students as they graduate from the College and move into a portfolio of exciting careers in the future, many of which are currently unknown or emerging. We are honoured to seize the opportunity to participate in research and learning partnerships which expand our world view and improve outcomes for our own students. This is the core to which our research-based and innovative thinking returns. I commend this edition of Illuminate to readers in the Pymble community and beyond as one which will inspire and challenge all to consider what other worldwide opportunities are possible.
MRS VICKI WATERS PRINCIPAL
