Making a Difference

The Year 4 ‘Make a Difference’ projects invited our students to respond to authentic problems and take action in the community. This was an opportunity to apply their learning to the real world.

 Working in collaborative groups, the students identified and investigated an issue. They generated solutions and then implemented an action plan to address the problem. The learning exhibition was the culminating experience where students shared their final projects with peers, staff, parents and community volunteers. 

Participation in this process has fostered teamwork, independence, leadership and problem-solving skills as well as meaningful community engagement.

We are extremely proud of the way that each group successfully enacted their unique visions for community improvement.

• The ‘Senior Savers’ made quality cards for elderly people in aged care settings to combat loneliness and anxiety.
• The ‘Wildlife Warriors’ sewed pouches for joeys injured or abandoned in bushfires in Australia.
• The ‘Green Go Getters’ redesigned the wasted Banksia Reserve parkland to make it more useable for families and the elderly. They created a model and presented to Banyule City Council.
• The ‘Happy Hospitals’ made a video message to send to Austin Hospital staff to lift their spirits and thank them for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The ‘Earth Bubble Team’ restored the relationship with our Westgarth Buddies by creating terrariums to brighten their social centre.
• The ‘Ivanhoe Cook Squad’ created and published a recipe book for people who suffer from life threatening food allergies.

Ms Ellen Cameron and Mr Tom McBurney
Year 4 Classroom Teachers and Glyn Howitt,
Junior School Individual Differences Teacher

Leadership in the Junior School

Junior School prides itself in encouraging and nurturing leadership in every student; this begins with the opportunity to be a Very Important Prep (VIP) leader of the week, and continues throughout Years 1 to 5 with the role of Class, Library and Social Service Leader.

In Year 6, every student fulfils a leadership role to support the Junior School, including Ambassadors, who influence the decisions of prospective families in joining the Junior School community. Each year, in Term 4, Year 5 focus their learning on leadership to develop a greater awareness and understanding of themselves to help them consider which leadership roles would most suit them in Year 6.

Mrs Helen Moore
Head of Junior School

Ginny, 2022 Junior School Captain - A leader is someone who encourages people to believe in themselves and achieve their best. They need to be good listeners, great role models, creative thinkers and strive to include everyone and their ideas. The role of Junior School Captain has taught me that being a leader is not about making all the decisions but working as a team to find the best possible outcomes.

Ada, 2022 Junior School Captain - I applied for Junior School Captain because I wanted a role where I could contribute to our team in the best possible way, where I could listen to other people’s ideas, and where I could help put them into action. I think that’s what leading is about, that and aiding with example, imagination and care.