Issue No - The King's School

PREPARATORY SCHOOL
The Class of 2024
This week we started interviewing boys for entry
into next year‘s Kindergarten. (Incidentally, if you
know of any families who are keen to join us,
please have them contact us urgently!). These
young lads who will be the Kindergarten of 2012
will be the Year Twelve of 2024 (if I have counted
my fingers and toes correctly). Yes, that‘s right!
A couple of thoughts leap to mind. Firstly, I have to
admire the significant devotion of their parents who
will commit themselves to paying for thirteen years
of a King‘s School education. These are people
who have understood the value of building the
foundations correctly. Indeed some school parents
in the past have told me that they would rather pay
for the primary component of their son‘s education
than the secondary, if it came to a choice …
because they want their son‘s learning to be set up
properly.
Secondly, I ponder what teaching, learning, the
working world and the world at large will look like
in 2024 In my thirteen years at King‘s so much has
changed in our educational philosophy and
strategies, in the resources available to us (not least
technology, of course) and in the world beyond
King‘s, for which we are endeavouring to prepare
our boys. Another thirteen years could see us arrive
at another planet, educationally speaking!
In seeking to future-proof our students, we are
emphasising such enduring qualities as lifelong
learning, creative problem solving, teamwork,
tenacity and flexibility … still built on a foundation
of core skills and understandings.
The adoption of the Primary Years Programme in
the Prep School was very much about creating a
learning profile in our boys which will set them up
for success in any context. A learner who is an
INQUIRER, A THINKER, A COMMUNICATOR,
A RISK-TAKER, IS KNOWLEDGEABLE, IS
PRINCIPLED, IS CARING, IS OPEN-MINDED,
IS BALANCED AND IS REFLECTIVE has got to
be fairly well immunised against whatever the
learning viruses of 2024 may be! The PYP is a
flexible package, applicable in diverse situations.
Indeed its genesis was in the international schools
sector, where a high percentage of students are
highly mobile, moving on to new learning
institutions every couple of years. Learning
continuity and efficacy in these situations is hard to
achieve … but the PYP goes a long way towards
doing it.
What has worked well in those highly volatile
learning situations is also proving its value in the
more stable learning environment of King‘s. More
importantly, our hope is that the PYP will equip our
Kinder boys of 2012 for whatever 2024 may bring.
Keith Dalleywater
Head of the Preparatory School
Light Bulb
Learning Seminars
This year we have several interesting and relevant
events planned for our Light Bulb Learning
Seminars. The aim of seminars is to equip parents
and carers with the knowledge and skills needed to
help them effectively guide their son through his
learning journey. At this point, I must acknowledge
the work of the Prep Community Team, a group of
parents meeting with me once a term to provide
feedback on learning issues. They have made some
great suggestions for ‗Light Bulb‘ seminars for this
year.
The PYP Exhibition
Monday 9 May, 7:45am for 8:00am – 9:00am,
Music Room
The PYP Exhibition is a major learning event and
involves Year 6 boys identifying, investigating and
proposing a solution to a problem which is local or
global. It involves a synthesis of all the knowledge,
skills, attitudes and conceptual understanding
gained during his journey with the PYP. The PYP
Exhibition is an exciting but challenging learning
experience for our Year 6 boys.
I would strongly recommend that Year 5 and 6
parents attend to gain an understanding of this
landmark event in the educational life of the boys at
the School.
Introduction to THRASS
Monday 16 May, 7:45am for 8:00am – 9:00am,
Music Room
For parents and caregivers of boys in Years 1 to 6,
especially new parents or those who did not attend
the Introduction to THRASS last year. Parents of
Kindergarten will find the Literacy Seminar in
Week 2 the best place to find information.
This seminar will outline the basic tenets of the
THRASS approach including an explanation of the
framework, some of the terminology, hearing
sounds in words and orientation to the THRASS
chart.
The King's Herald Page 16 Issue No. 5 – 6 May 2011