I had the privilege of hosting 20 visiting Heads of Independent Primary Schools from South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania last week. It was with great pride that I gave them a tour of the school and spoke about some of our leading sustainability programs at Investigator College. Mr Freebairn spoke about the wonderful learning opportunities offered to our students at our Currency Creek campus, and some of our students shared their passion for animals and music.
Overwhelmingly, the guests highlighted what a warm and inviting College we have. They were amazed by the student engagement as they walked through our classrooms and ELC. They also commented on how proudly the students articulated the great aspects of our College. One of my favorite aspects of my role is being able to tour visitors and share the wonderful students and staff we have. It is truly a fantastic place to work and for students to learn.
I often reflect on what makes Investigator College so special, and several key points always come to mind. As you tour the College, everyone notices that we have such positive learning environments. A lot of work is done by students and staff to create these environments. Shared goals and understanding of expectations, clear boundaries, and proactive and open dialogue with parents all contribute to a positive learning environment. This means that the students have a safe place to learn and take risks. It also means that teachers can spend their time focusing on teaching rather than being a police officer and dealing with poor behaviors, as is often the case at many schools. Katie Hills has done a fantastic job over the last few years working with staff to create engaging content and ensuring teaching best practice, and the growth in this space has certainly been evident.
Student wellbeing is another key focus at Investigator College. Mr Tenny and the staff have done a wonderful job in implementing a number of wellbeing programs and initiatives across the school that foster connection and enhance friendships. Some of these include the implementation of the URSTRONG Friendology program as well as further developing our House system. The increased focus on House fosters connections and belonging and enables opportunities to serve others, as the houses are doing this term with Anglicare. It is a firm belief of ours that if our students feel connected and have strong friendships, they will be able to focus better on their studies. The focus on service helps us develop gratitude and be thankful for what we have.
Students are also blessed with a myriad of opportunities. In the last few weeks, opportunities to participate in the Da Vinci Decathlon, SAPSASSA Netball and athletics, equestrian, Anglican School leaders events, choirs, Maths Olympiads, as well as Chess competitions, are all wonderful opportunities that make an education at Investigator truly special. Not to mention opportunities for our students to engage in a world-class sustainability program at our Currency Creek site. Our students certainly have opportunities to be their best selves.
Investigator College is a beautiful place to work and learn. Thank you to all those who contribute to making this school wonderful, including the families that send their children here and those that support the College.
