Significant conversations

Our second year has got off to a flying start; we welcomed over 250 new students, many new families and 30 new SISQ staff. Our student numbers are almost at 550, which is a 75% increase. Significantly, this growth includes two new grades, 9 & 10. The addition of these older students has been remarked upon in very positive ways by many, and as the year progresses we look forward to the leadership they can bring to the student community. A group of them have already founded a Model United Nations (MUN) chapter and are working hard to make a big impact in their first year.

Paulo Coelho remarked that:
"The most important thing in all human relationships is conversation".

The context for his comment was not education; however, within a school community conversation is an essential component of quality learning. To learn, the brain needs to make connections or neural pathways. Establishing new connections and strengthening existing connections requires the learner to revisit facts, ideas and concepts and link them to prior knowledge and understandings. Of course, high quality conversations play an important role in the learning process at school and at home.

The best learning conversations are typically open-ended, non-judgemental and reflective; the more voices that can be heard, the more we learn. As adults we have an important role to play in facilitating reflective conversations and in school we work hard to structure activities where students can learn from each other and from adults.

A carefully crafted culture of questioning allows learners to display or explain their ideas in public arenas so they can be exposed to comment, critic, suggestions and ideas. A polished, finished product is not necessary and students need to feel safe making mistakes. As I visit classrooms from PK to grade 10 I see plenty of evidence that our learning culture is promoting these important opportunities for all our students.

Welcome to the new school year and welcome to the conversation.

Philip Bradley, Head of School