Exhibition

We have all heard the phrase 'the world is rapidly changing' and Bob Marley and the Wailers even wrote a song about it! This year, we have certainly experienced the need to ensure we are flexible in our responses and able to meet this changing world and the challenges it brings as we have seen with the incredible uniting of minds in the bid to maintain our safety throughout COVID-19. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework which sets children on their path to becoming life-long learners, future-focused problem solvers and internationally-minded citizens recognising and acting towards the guardianship of our planet. In summary, learners that will be able to respond, act and reflect on the needs of a changing world.

Our Year 5 students finish their Junior School years and the PYP with an amazing Exhibition showcasing the incredible learning they undertake. Students are charged with taking an inquiry journey into an area that they identify as a real-world problem, one significant to themselves and one that they aspire to contribute to the solution. This exploration sets the students to go beyond the traditional subject boundaries many schools enforce and allows them to take meaningful action in their direct community giving them a voice and agency to influence the world in which they live.

The Exhibition is highly collaborative and led by the students involving a significant research undertaking through interviews, surveys and other means to delve deep into learning the key factors around their identified questions. They are guided to find information through books, online research, industry materials and interviews with key people in key industries, taking ownership and responsibility for their own learning. Student inquiries are often linked to environmental, social or human rights issues, science or humanities topics.

Once information is collected, students work to create a statement piece to display at the Exhibition. This statement piece raises the curiosity of guests and is used by the students to inform the audience of their findings and actions that they wish to inspire as a result. Students prepare for the transfer of information to guests and what they wish to next occur to initiate change and action. This demonstration of agency by the children is a key component of the culmination of the work undertaken and demonstrates critical thinking as an important outcome in this process.

Teachers, parents and students find the PYP Exhibition to be an opportunity to bring together attributes, skills and knowledge learned throughout the PYP in Junior School. Add to this, the confidence the Exhibition creates for the students in their skills, attitudes, knowledge and presentation techniques. All of these skills will become critical components in their future education and lives.

I extend my congratulations to the Year 5 students, the Year 5 teachers Miss Cirillo, Mr Wells, Miss Russo and our Junior School community of specialist teachers, staff and parents for the spectacular 2020 Junior School Exhibition.