A Message from Sandra Gray
It has been a busy start to Term 4 with boys involved in a multitude of activities both at Wyvern and beyond the school walls.
ORIENTATION MORNINGS
Last week we held our Orientation mornings for those boys joining us at Wyvern in 2018. I was most pleased to receive many positive comments about the warm and welcoming way our boys greeted the new boys and the impeccable manners they displayed. There will be another opportunity to meet our new friends on One Up Morning on 30 November.
LEARNING SHOWCASES
It was wonderful to see such a large turn out to the recent Learning Showcases for Years 2 and 5. We are most appreciative to parents for finding time in their busy schedules to attend these mornings as the boys relish the opportunity to showcase their learning and hard work and such opportunities help strengthen the partnership between home and school.
THANK YOU MORNING TEA
This morning we held our Parent Helper morning tea. This is our way of saying thank you for all the many ways parents assist Wyvern. Whether it be in the uniform shop or canteen, accompanying classes on excursions, in the art room or with the making of props or costumes – thank you. We greatly appreciate your assistance and know your sons love having you involved.
STUDENT LEADERS 2018
At this time of the term we consider which of our current Year 5 students have the potential to undertake a number of specific student leadership positions next year. We believe that leadership is firmly based on good character, sound values, high virtues and service to others. I am delighted that many of our students display such qualities. We discourage and disapprove of any sense of entitlement or expectation that a certain boy should be selected as a School Leader; this mindset runs contrary to the qualities we wish to see in our School Leaders. As there is a selection process for a limited number of named leadership positions, I understand that some very good boys may miss out; but we run the process without fear or favour, inviting input from all staff members and the students in Years 3-6. It is a very similar process to that used in the Senior School and I believe it serves us well. We use the following criteria to help us form our judgements.
- Care for others
How the student has demonstrated a service ethic and a capacity to think of others: e.g. selfless behaviour, assistance provided to others, capacity to work as part of a team; in other words evidence of ‘servant leadership’. - Capacity as a role model
How the student conducts himself on a day to day basis in relation to our values, standards and behavioural expectations as well as a positive contribution to the co-curricular life of the school. - Presentation skills
The ability of the student to speak confidently and persuasively to different audiences: e.g. large and small groups of peers and adults, in both formal and informal settings and within prepared and impromptu speaking situations.
Students also have an opportunity to nominate themselves for a leadership position. Students who do so will be required to give an impromptu speech to other students from their House on a topic provided by their teacher: Note, we intentionally do not disclose either the topic or the date of the speech.
It is important to stress that I do consider all Year 6 students to be our school leaders and role models for the rest of the school and as such I have extremely high expectations about their conduct and behaviour. A leadership training day for the whole Year 6 cohort is planned in early Term 1, 2018.
Sandra Gray
Acting Head of Wyvern
