Junior School STRETCH Programme

Down in the Junior School, our dedicated team is reaching for the stars with their trailblazing STRETCH programme.

Nicola Boyens and Victoria Mauala have certainly taken STRETCH in their stride. With sessions every Wednesday afternoon, the forward-thinking programme is an important part of our curriculum. During the sessions, the girls approach coding, robotics, engineering and stop motion movie making, to name but a few topics.

We asked Victoria a few questions to find out what STRETCH means to the Junior School…

So, let’s start from the top! What does STRETCH even stand for?

Victoria: ‘The term STRETCH came from teachers and students wanting to stretch their learning. The name also ties in with STEM and the arts.’

You’ve likely seen many similar acronyms out there, the most mainstream being STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STRETCH adds a few more subjects into the mix, which is perhaps what makes our programme so unique.

So, how are we incorporating STRETCH into the lives of our Junior School girls?

Victoria: ‘STRETCH is a standalone subject, done on a Wednesday afternoon. This ensures that the time is sacred and isn’t taken over by other subjects. STRETCH subjects are also referenced to and woven through, other areas of the curriculum. Coding is referenced in mathematics, for example.’

The subjects learnt in STRETCH aren’t typically taught in schools at this level, but the insight that they offer into possible future careers and interests is wonderfully beneficial, especially from such a young age. Since 2015 St Cuthbert’s has offered STRETCH to Year 4 – 6, and following great success, the programme was offered to all girls from Year 0.

How have the girls responded to the integration of STRETCH into their school week?

Victoria: They love STRETCH, it is a favourite part of the week for them!

For you, what is the importance of STRETCH?

Victoria: STRETCH is a pivotal part of the Junior School. It gives students a chance to learn new areas which might not otherwise be covered in classrooms. Teachers are also able to extend their own professional learning whilst supporting students in their thinking, too.

Earlier this year, the St Cuthbert’s team welcomed teachers from around Auckland on site, to learn about this very special programme and how it can be adapted for each school. Passionate about introducing these subjects to girls from a young age, our teachers have been proactive in sharing their STEM learning experiences with others.

How are you leading the way with STRETCH?

Victoria: We are leading the way by keeping up-to-date with curriculum changes and trends. STRETCH is a reflective and ever-changing programme which considers the needs of students with a keen eye on the future.

What does the future hold for STRETCH?

Victoria: We will continue to grow and expand the current programme with new resources. We are always looking out for new topics and areas to cover in order to keep growing with our 21st century learners.

With an obvious appetite for the programme, STRETCH will remain an anchored learning opportunity for all of our Junior School girls, who so look forward to their Wednesday afternoons. Ever expanding and evolving, the STRETCH programme remains fresh and exciting. Just months ago, we welcomed a number of new robots to the Junior School on which the girls will learn coding.