As the effects of COVID-19 reverberated around the world last year, schools acted quickly to keep students engaged and connected.
When campus gates closed, virtual classrooms opened; as physical events were cancelled, important milestones were marked in creative new ways; and as we all adapted to a new normal, staff and students rallied together to support each other and lend a hand to the wider community.
With a new school year now well underway and the hallways full of chatter once again, schools are using the experiences of 2020 as a springboard for innovation.
Mindfulness and gratitude are being practiced daily as part of wellbeing programs designed to foster resilience, with the simple act of connecting recognised as a powerful tool in calming young minds and lifting spirits. Beyond the classroom, co-curricular activities – from aerobics to chess – are providing a multitude of benefits to students’ emotional, physical, cognitive and social development.
Inside state-of-the-art “Makerspaces” and “STEM laboratories”, students are developing their critical thinking skills by tinkering, coding and problem-solving, while hands-on social and environmental programs are opening their eyes to real-world issues and equipping them with the skills to rise to the challenges of our times as compassionate and confident future leaders.
In this edition of Domain Review’s Independent Schools Guide, we explore how Victoria’s independent schools are adapting to our rapidly changing world and setting up their students for future success.
