1 Future Families 2021 Welcome to Future Families - - PDF document

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Future Families 2021

Welcome to Future Families of Prahran High School. We’re so pleased that you’ve taken the time to explore our website and have a look at this presentation. We are very mindful that this would be so much more helpful if the students and staff could share this with you in person, but circumstances prevent us doing that, for now. We encourage you to explore our website, this presentation and engage in a Webinar QandA when you can. Further, we encourage you to download our PHS Transition Flyer which summarises the key points our PHS Student Ambassadors share when they lead our Future Families school tours. 2

When we gather together at our school, we always warmly and respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners

• f the land beneath and around us. We pay our respects to the past, present and emerging Elders of the Kulin

Nation and acknowledge their custodianship of the land on which we meet. We also pay our respects to Elders from other communities who are part of our school community too.

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Nathan Chisholm Foundation Principal

Our Purpose: The core purpose of Prahran High School is for all students to learn and to develop the intellectual rigour and character required to make a positive impact in their world. Prahran High School is a very special place. Students are challenged and supported to learn, think and thrive. We know our students well and we value their unique strengths and challenges. We are committed to a school culture which is positive, engaging and safe. Prahran High School sets high standards and expectations in all

• ways. Our school is a welcoming place of learning where students, staff, families and

the broader community work together, side-by-side. I’m delighted to introduce myself as the Foundation Principal of Prahran High School. I’m deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lead this community as we develop an extraordinary, contemporary school for our students. As your Principal, I’m excited, grateful, ambitious and determined. I have a fundamental belief in the power of positivity, the setting of high standards and the importance of truly doing one’s best. At Prahran High School we commit to showing unconditional positive regard for the young people in our care. We work from the belief that ‘happy kids learn more’ and this belief drives our learning 4

culture. We also work from the belief that setting high standards of behaviour, manner, uniform, contribution and achievement shows our students that we are committed to them doing, and achieving, their very best. School is about learning, about intellectual rigour and academic success, and it is also about nurturing and developing children as a whole - their character, as well as their minds. As you make this important decision for your child, please take some time to browse

• ur website, join one of our regular tours and chat to us directly. I hope that once

you engage with us, you will really start to see, feel and believe, the many factors that have begun to set Prahran High School apart - the qualities that make us unique. I hope that you start to feel confident (and excited) that you now have the chance to choose a school that has the culture, beliefs and values that best match those of you and your child. I’m confident that you will. Sitting proudly in a stunning new school building on High Street, Prahran, we are positioned strongly and confidently in the heart of this community. Our students stand out in their sleek teal and grey uniforms, but they also stand out because of who they are, and they are amazing. We talk about ‘impact’ a lot at our school. ‘Make an Impact’ is our motto and it drives us every day. Young people have immense power to ‘make an impact’ in their school, community and world and I’m committed to providing them with every

• pportunity to do just that.

I’m delighted to welcome you to Prahran High School. 4

We Hope This Helps You

✓ To welcome Future Families to your possible new school and to share

• ur vision and values with you

✓ To assist you with some information you require as you the important decision about secondary school for your child in 2021 ✓ To share some important, practical start-up information with you: payments, BYOD, key dates, uniform ✓ To connect you with key contacts in the school so you can continue to engage in further conversations

www.prahranhighschool.vic.edu.au 5

Welcome from Our Students

‘It’s great to have you here with us!’ Our Foundation Students Represented by Dylan and Annie

This slide and opening sentence is from two of our student leaders who spoke at this sort of event last year. Every time we have an information session and every school tour we run is co-led by our students. Our students are our greatest advocates for their school and one of our leadership roles in our school is that of PHS School

• Ambassador. We have a team of Ambassadors who you will meet in time. They are

wonderful. 6

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What is our Mission?

Nestled in the creative, urban heart of Prahran and Windsor, Prahran High School proudly reflects the diversity, aspiration and entrepreneurial spirit of this community. At heart, our school is a school for students, in every way. Our school strives to develop positive young leaders who will graduate from Prahran High School ready to make a positive contribution to our community - locally and globally. At all levels of our learning organisation, the concept of prioritizing, valuing and measuring ‘impact’ will help shape and guide our work. In essence, it becomes a school motto, for students and staff – Prahran High School: Make an Impact! Couched within this big idea of ‘impact’ is a core set of values that underpin all that we do together as a new school. The school values that we have developed are simple, but with scope for depth and complexity limited only by our imaginations. These values are integral, as we know that leading an effective school begins by setting a clear direction and painting a picture of what the future can be for us. At Prahran High School, we have a future full of opportunity. 8

As a new, contemporary school committed to ‘impact’, the values which sit beneath this commitment are expressed as ‘pillars’, each required to ensure strong foundations, forward momentum, learning growth and achievement of our mission. 8

Our Core Purpose and Our Mission

Our Purpose

The purpose of Prahran High School is for all students to learn and to develop the intellectual rigour and character required to make a positive impact in their world.

Furthered by Our Mission

Our mission is to foster curiosity, creativity and empathy in the students in our care in

• rder to develop young leaders of character and purpose who can confidently

embrace life’s challenges and make a positive impact in their world.

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Make an Impact!

• At all levels of our school community, the concept of ‘impact’ helps shape

and guide our work

• Students are encouraged and supported to make a positive impact
• Teachers reflect on our work by analysing and reflecting the impact our

practice has on student learning

• It is our school motto, for students and staff – Make an Impact
• Our work is then underpinned by our values

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Challenge

Challenge Today’s students will learn to live, grow and work in the most challenging of times characterized by complexity, uncertainty and constant change. We will strive to strengthen resilience, resolve and intellectual rigor in our students so they will be up for the challenge. 11

CURIOSITY

Curiosity Curiosity is the doorway to exploration, understanding and the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom. We encourage our students to be lifetime learners and are inspired by what Albert Einstein once said: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” 12

CREATIVITY

Creativity The ability to think creatively and critically will be a defining trait of tomorrow’s successful young adults. We encourage creative, independent and original thinking in all aspects of our school curriculum, fostering an environment of active collaboration and exploration. 13

CHARACTER

Character Character traits including empathy, compassion and self-awareness are essential to living a meaningful and purposeful life. At PHS, we emphasize the development of sound and strong character alongside the achievement of academic excellence. 14

Language is Key to Our Learning Culture

At PHS, we have our Language of Learning:

• We have 4 x Learning Sessions each day
• We learn in various Learning Spaces
• We break for Transition and Recharge between each Learning

Session

• We participate in Life@PHS Clubs and Opportunities
• We will start to esteem mindfulness more in our learning and

school day

• Genuine student agency and input is vital to the development of
• ur culture.

We believe that the language we use helps to define our culture. We aim to describe a culture of learning, wellbeing, engagement and kindness. We also work hard to use a language of thinking. 15

What Does a School Day Look Like?

• We have 4 x 75 minute Learning Sessions each day
• There is a Transition/Recharge Break between each

session

• We don’t have bells
• Self-time management is key
• We move calmly; no need to rush
• We start at 9am and we finish at 3 05 pm
• We offer clubs from 3 15 – 4 30

Time Learning Session 8:15 am School opens Students arrive from 8 15 – 8 55 9:00 – 10:15 Learning Session 1 10:15 – 10: 20 Transition Break 10:20 – 11:35 Learning Session 2 11:35 – 11:50 Recharge Break 11:50 – 1:05 Learning Session 3 1:05 – 1: 50 Lunch Break 1:50 – 3:05 Learning Session 4 3:05 – 4:30 Clubs; out of class learning; community links; sports team training, homework club, student leadership teams, activities to be planned with students .

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"The world we have created is a product

• f our thinking. It

cannot be changed without changing

• ur thinking."

Albert Einstein

The reality is that schools and the system of schooling more broadly hasn't changed much since the industrial revolution. It should . Over the past two years, we have had the opportunity to build a bold, contemporary inner-city school for our community at Prahran. We are still very much a work-in-progress and this global upheaval spurs us on to go further, to evolve and to innovate in ways than we might not have thought possible several months ago. We will 'Make an Impact.' 17

Our PHS Vision for Learning

• Evidence based decisions and planning
• Assessment for learning is key
• Learning Sessions have clear intentions and pathways to learning
• Learning is differentiated for students working at different levels
• Learning is often collaborative but it is also sometimes

independent

• Reflection and meta-cognition is built into Learning Sessions
• Teachers understand and use High Impact Teaching Strategies

The Prahran High School Vision for Learning is our common language of learning, collaboratively developed by the Foundation team and community. Our Vision for Learning is evidence-based and influenced by the work of researchers such as John Hattie, Ron Ritchart, and Ulrich Boser, as well as the Department of Education’s ‘High Impact Teaching Strategies’. Everything we do when planning teaching and learning is influenced by our values - challenge, creativity, curiosity, character, and the desire for students to ‘Make an Impact’ with their learning. Teachers are expected to refer to these values when planning units and learning sessions, and to think about the ways we can explicitly teach students to live and embody these values. We believe in the importance for schools to have a guaranteed, clearly articulated and well-sequenced curriculum that connects learning to big ideas. We also believe in the power of ongoing formative assessment and feedback to students in shaping and guiding the learning process. Our learning sessions are shaped by our signature pedagogies - approaches to teaching and learning that are evidence based and that support high level learning to 18

• ccur. Our use of metacognitive strategies helps students to form deep and powerful

understandings of curriculum material, while our commitment to differentiated learning programs means that all students can be challenged in their learning. Our use of project-based learning and design thinking also helps students to connect their learning to the world around them, while encouraging collaboration and skills that will support our students beyond the school. We also believe in developing students as learners - teaching, modelling and supporting them to develop effective learning habits, build agency in their studies, and to adopt a growth mindset that encourages them to be effective learners both in school and beyond. 18

Our Year 7 and 8 Curriculum

Our curriculum is:

• Learner centred
• Project and problem based learning
• Personalised, dynamic and engaging
• Provide students with genuine access and agency
• Intellectually rigorous and purposeful
• True to our world: STEAM, the Capabilities, looking outward
• Complemented by our whole of school offering – Life@PHS

Our website is the best source of further information 19

Year 7/8 Curriculum Creativity and Connections

Year 7 and 8 Curriculum Outline Subject: Time Victorian Curriculum Stories, Language and Culture (SLC) 5 sessions

English Critical and Creative Thinking History, Geography, Civics, Econ

• mics

Intercultural Capability

Mathematics Skills and Problems

4 sessions Mathematics Critical and Creative Thinking

The Ethical Scientist

2 sessions Science Ethical Understanding

French

2 sessions Languages

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

3 Sessions HAPE Personal and Social Learning Respectful Relationships

Design/STEAM Lab 4 distinct terms/cycles

2 Sessions x 1 semester Design and Technology Digital Technologies

Food for Life/Future Food

2 Sessions x 1 semester Design and Technology

Art and Design / Art and Innovation

2 Sessions x 1 semester The Arts

Take the Stage

2 sessions x 1 semester The Arts

Each year across the Middle Years (7-9) our curriculum is framed around an

• verarching theme, leading to a substantial year of leadership and

community/business engagement in Year 9. Year 7 is about Curiosity and Connections 20

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind – SPORT!

• PHS Gymnasium
• PHS active terrace
• Victorian School for the Deaf oval
• Prahran High School Basketball Academy
• Partnership with Prahran Football Club and Toorak Park
• Swimming program at the Prahran Pool
• After-school Clubs and inter-school sport

I would usually take a few minutes here to talk about sport. At Prahran High School, students will be active, they will have every sporting opportunity possible, they will have inter-school sport, they have the opportunity of the PHS Basketball Academy, they will learn in our subject Healthy Body, Healthy Mind three sessions per week. We value sport highly and believe deeply in the proven connections between mental and physical health. 21

We share the oval with our friends at the Victorian School for the Deaf. 22

The Performing Arts

• Strong commitment to the Performing Arts
• Our community values the Arts and our school reflects that
• Performing Arts taught as an integrated learning experience in Years

7 and 8, built around the concept of musical theatre

• The ‘Winter Shorts’ was our very first dramatic performance in 2019
• Instrumental and ensemble music program has begun strongly in

2020

• Commitment to an inaugural school production in 2020

We have begun auditions for our inaugural production, scheduled for August this year at Chapel off Chapel but we are not unsure if it will go ahead. We will be performing “High School Musical” when we can and there is a LOT of excitement about this at school. In Instrumental Music this year we are teaching guitar, drums, vocal and beginner

• piano. All students participate in ensembles, along with their small group tuition.

This is an optional program and has a cost attached. 23

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Life@PHS

‘School Doesn’t End at 3 05’

✓French Club ✓Art and Design Club ✓Book Club ✓Homework Club ✓Health and Fitness Club ✓Writer’s Workshop ✓Leadership ✓Tournament of Minds ✓Choir ✓And…more to come!

When we think about the experiences our students have at Prahran High School, we don’t just think of the in-class time. That’s vital, but school is more than that too – it’s what we call Life@PHS. When we refer to Life@PHS we’re thinking about the

• ther opportunities that students have at our school which enrich their experiences

beyond the traditional school day. 25

Student Wellbeing Is Key

‘Happy Kids Learn More.’

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Student Wellbeing

• All students and families connected with a significant Mentor

Teacher

• Assistant Principal and Student Wellbeing leadership team

leading our work

• Development of our PHS unique Vision for Wellbeing in 2020,

including our PHS Wellbeing Hub

• Mental Health Practitioner
• Learning Support Team to support students with complex

learning, social and emotional needs

• Small group and 1:1 interventions
• Strong connections with external agencies

At Prahran High School, we believe that “happy kids learn more”. We are committed to a school climate of genuine positive wellbeing for all of us, as we know that we achieve better results when we feel welcomed, supported, safe and cared about. We also believe that that student wellbeing and learning are deeply inter-woven, and that student wellbeing is the responsibility of all members of our school

• community. We also believe that the wellbeing of our staff is paramount for the

success of our students, and that this needs to be supported in an explicit manner. At Prahran High School, we strive to provide a positive, safe and supportive school environment so that each child can reach her or his personal best. We take a whole school approach to wellbeing with our Positive Behaviours protocols and

• expectations. Our approach is preventative and proactive, through our culture, our

commitment to unconditional positive regard and the programs that are embedded in our curriculum. There are also times when we need to provide high-level support for students with complex needs. From 2020, this support will be led by our Student Wellbeing Team, comprised of our Assistant Principal (ROB), Student Engagement and Wellbeing Leader (DOM), Student Wellbeing (IMM) and Student Learning and Wellbeing Support (THO). The work of the Student Wellbeing Team will be supported by our 27

connections to relevant external agencies and services nearby. Staff will be provided with a referral process as the 2020 year begins. This process will outline how, why and to whom student referrals to the Student Wellbeing Team can, and should, be made. Mindfulness practices help build individual mental health and wellbeing through positive, pre-emptive tools and activities. Scientific research has proven that mindfulness meditation: · assists with the management of pain and stress · helps build resilience and compassion · improves focus at work and in the classroom · helps with creativity and collaboration. As Prahran High School develops, a planned approach to esteeming mindfulness will take shape, through Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and as part of our school culture. 27

Wonderful, Diverse Prahran

• We a proud, inner-city community school, built for our students and their world
• We value diversity and embrace the range of experiences, perspectives and

challenges that our young people bring to their school

• We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of every young person
• Students might be experiencing personal challenges – we try to meet them at their

point in their journey

• We are committed to showing unconditional positive regard to our students,

colleagues and families; we hope for that to be reciprocated

• Bullying, teasing, excluding or treating others in a way which aims to diminish them

has no place at Prahran High School

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PHS School Uniform

• Our uniform is compulsory for students, every day of school
• Students wear full uniform and the garments are their choice, but in

accordance with the way our policy sets out

• Summer Term 1 start-up: dress, shorts, shirts, jumper, ties, shoes; sports

and school bag

• When students have Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, they wear sports

uniform all day

• Blazers are optional but are important and the students love them

Our community have been clear in their desire for a smart, modern and distinctive Prahran High School uniform. Together we have created a uniform which students wear each day at school. In our signature teal school colour, our students stand out brightly and proudly in the community. We are driven by a commitment to students being able to choose and wear the specific garments they prefer and by a common-sense approach to uniform

• guidelines. For example, students wear their sports uniform all day when they have

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and should students want to wear their uniform dress shorts in the winter months, they’re perfectly able to do that. 30

We love our signature PHS teal and are so proud of our kids when we see them looking amazing out in the community proudly wearing their uniform. 31

School Uniform

Some items of uniform to give you an idea of how we dress for school. 32

Camp 2021

We’re excited about our transition trip to Camp Adanac! Booked to begin our Year 7 experience together, to support transition The purpose of our camp is connections, strengthen relationships, build school pride, work collaboratively in the great outdoors and to have fun! We can’t wait to be sailing these around the lake with you!

We have a camps program at our school and it begins with a transition camp in Year 7 to the Yarra Valley. We then offer a significant tour of Tasmania in Year 8 and a leadership camp in Year 9. We are in the process of exploring some further more personalised, bespoke camp/tour options for Year 9 and beyond as well. 33

School Preferred Device – Yoga 11E

• In 2021 all students will be required to bring a notebook to school for use in classes.
• Accessing the School Preferred Device Program (Yoga 11E) allows your child to

meet these goals.

• Our curriculum is on-line, using Microsoft OneNote and Teams and our approach to

learning and teaching is supported by the 1:1 School Preferred Device Program

• The Lenovo Yoga 11E has been selected by the school as our preferred device

to ensure a robust, effective, cost-efficient and flexible solution.

• The device is available to be ordered through Learning with Technologies
• Setting a standard device enables students and teachers to learn

collaboratively in the most efficient and effective way.

This is the sort of learning environment we’re committed to establishing at Prahran High School and to do this, we’ll expect students to have a notebook device with them each day. We weighed up the pros and cons of allowing students to bring a device of their own choice, with doing the research ourselves and setting a School Preferred Device for students. We’ve decided on this approach and we’re confident it’s the best, most effective and most equitable way to begin learning together. At Prahran High School, with the support of the Council, we’ve now set a School Preferred Device to ensure 1:1 access for kids in a consistent, meaningful and robust

• way. We've decided to set the Lenovo Yoga 11E as our preferred device for learning.

We provide a purchase option through an unique portal with a reputable supplier. 34

Our Pledge: All of Us

As you explore your new school for the first time, or again, please reflect on this pledge. Will you do this with us?

• Be curious
• Think creatively
• Develop my positive character
• Embrace challenge

Make An Impact!

Student Values and a Pledge/ Student Challenge: I challenge myself to think creatively, speak respectfully, engage empathically and act courageously to make a positive impact in the world around me. 35

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