At the end of last term, we were delighted to welcome three students now in Year 10 back to the Middle School to be recognised for their sustained excellence in learning.
Olivia, Rose and Kate (feature image, along with Meredith Plaisted and David Martin) were on hand to receive Middle School Triannual Academic Excellence Awards from the Head of Middle School, Ms Meredith Plaisted, and myself. This rare accomplishment is given only to those who achieve Middle School Academic Awards for their academic achievement in Year 7 and Year 8 and Year 9. Attaining such an award is a meritorious accomplishment in itself; to do so for three consecutive years is exceptional. Academic Awards celebrate those whose results in all summative assessments across the year place them in the very top of their cohort and these are handed out at a special assembly in Term 1 of the following year. We wish Olivia, Rose and Kate well as they continue their pursuit of excellence in the Senior School over the next three years.
This year we are introducing several additional ways that we recognise learning in the Middle School. First of all, we have launched Academic Credits. Teachers can nominate students who show growth in their learning, in line with our emphasis on growth as a Carey value. This is not necessarily growth as shown in a grade on a test, however. Rather, we envisage that teachers might nominate a student who, for example, overcomes shyness to deliver an oral presentation to class, or one who proactively forms a study group with peers prior to a summative task. There are numerous ways that students can show growth in their learning every day. Once a student receives a certain number of nominations from teachers they will receive an Academic Credit.
We are also exploring ways of publicly acknowledging learning from Semester 1 as a whole. To that end, we will look to develop prizes to be awarded at the beginning of Term 3. For these, we will again seek to reward both achievement and growth. We will communicate more about these awards and how students can achieve them in due course.
Like all schools, we strive to develop a culture in which learning is valued. You at home are an essential part of this as we work together in partnership – students, teachers and parents. Conversations about learning, fostering a culture of reading books rather than scrolling devices and encouragement to wonder about the world all help students to see that learning happens throughout their life. Ideally, this should be true for all of us and not just young people. Lifelong learning is a worthy aspiration for all.
David Martin
Deputy Head of Middle School – Student Learning
