National recognition
Our school has been featured in both the Melbourne Age and the Sydney Morning Herald for our innovative S.O.L.E. strategy and the development of our Community Hub, both of which have been recognised in a number of awards. The following article appeared in The Age.
|
|
Want to know what schools will look like under Gonski 2.0? Look at these ones
S.O.L.E.If you want to see what the classrooms of the future will look like under David Gonski's blueprint, go to Belle Vue Park Primary.
This small school in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north, has become more than just a school.
It boasts an on-site kindergarten with a 3 and a 4 year old program, two maternal and child health nurses (through a partnership with Moreland Council) the school has two playgroups and a "first mothers' group", geared toward creating a smooth transition into school life. "It really makes it easier for the families and mums, they don’t have to run from here to there,... everything they need is right here at the one location" says Principal Paul Kenna, who has led the school for 14 years.
Early childhood education and getting parents more involved in school life are key parts the Gonski 2.0 plan to improve Australia's ailing academic results. In particular, it argues children need to master the basics of literacy and numeracy by age eight to set them up for ongoing success.
Belle Vue Park has developed a strategy based on the teachings of TED Prize-winning education professor Sugata Mitra, called S.O.L.E. - Self Organised Learning Environments. S.O.L.E. challenges students to "find out information for themselves. This is done by by posing a creative question that is linked to the curriculum, then through a variety of classroom activities students turn that information into knowledge.", Mr Kenna says.
Past projects have asked: "Why do things become obsolete?" "How black was the plague?" and "Governments: who needs them?" An initial hour of self-directed research might spawn four or five sessions of activity including video-making and class presentations. At the heart of the S.O.L.E. initiative are skills cited by Mr Gonski: critical thinking, creativity and problem solving.
This small school in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north, has become more than just a school.
It boasts an on-site kindergarten with a 3 and a 4 year old program, two maternal and child health nurses (through a partnership with Moreland Council) the school has two playgroups and a "first mothers' group", geared toward creating a smooth transition into school life. "It really makes it easier for the families and mums, they don’t have to run from here to there,... everything they need is right here at the one location" says Principal Paul Kenna, who has led the school for 14 years.
Early childhood education and getting parents more involved in school life are key parts the Gonski 2.0 plan to improve Australia's ailing academic results. In particular, it argues children need to master the basics of literacy and numeracy by age eight to set them up for ongoing success.
Belle Vue Park has developed a strategy based on the teachings of TED Prize-winning education professor Sugata Mitra, called S.O.L.E. - Self Organised Learning Environments. S.O.L.E. challenges students to "find out information for themselves. This is done by by posing a creative question that is linked to the curriculum, then through a variety of classroom activities students turn that information into knowledge.", Mr Kenna says.
Past projects have asked: "Why do things become obsolete?" "How black was the plague?" and "Governments: who needs them?" An initial hour of self-directed research might spawn four or five sessions of activity including video-making and class presentations. At the heart of the S.O.L.E. initiative are skills cited by Mr Gonski: critical thinking, creativity and problem solving.
"It has a line of sight to the curriculum but you’re not hand-feeding information," Mr Kenna says. "It’s based on the idea of empowering kids and nurturing positive relationships and curiosity.
"They'll decide what groups they’ll learn in, they decide who does what in the group, they decide things like who presents.
They provide feedback to each other, which is a powerful way to get kids to learn about controlling their emotions and the impact they have on each other.”
Mr. Kenna says many Victorian schools are already doing the things Mr Gonski has urged, and are well-placed to implement the broader strategy - a point also made by Education Minister James Merlino.
"They'll decide what groups they’ll learn in, they decide who does what in the group, they decide things like who presents.
They provide feedback to each other, which is a powerful way to get kids to learn about controlling their emotions and the impact they have on each other.”
Mr. Kenna says many Victorian schools are already doing the things Mr Gonski has urged, and are well-placed to implement the broader strategy - a point also made by Education Minister James Merlino.
