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We live in an age where social media is synonymous with adolescents' lives. Platforms like TikTok offer young girls a space to express themselves creatively, connect with others, and explore various trends. These formative experiences are not new experiences for this generation, they are just being explored in broader, less filtered and more responsive ways than the Dolly magazines, Plaster Fun Houses and Blue Light Discos of my era. However, as parents, it's essential to understand the impact…

The Path to Scholarships - A Guide for Parents Q - Should my child sit for a scholarship at a school? A - Sitting for a scholarship is a really personal choice and it comes down to what you are hoping to achieve. A scholarship may increase the school options available to you, making some schools more accessible to more families. Other families may want to sit them as a means of gaining more external data on their child’s progress, increasing the ability to target focus areas. Some families may…

How to work with neurodiverse women in the classroom I was recently asked the question by someone intrigued by the world of education, ‘What has changed the most in your role as a teacher over time?’ I found this question really interesting to reflect on and I am sure the answer I gave will resonate with other educators. Early on in my teaching career I would acknowledge different types of learners and learning styles in the classroom and over 20 years later, I am still differentiating. I am…

Should the ATAR stay or go? How challenging traditional methods of reporting will open real industry pathways for students. I commenced my teaching career in 2000, at the beginning of the century (that sounds both momentous and frightening simultaneously). This time not only marked the beginning of my career but also a time of change in the world, where the students I taught learnt the meaning of the word terrorism through world events and not just fictional texts. With any kind of change it…

The Importance of Successful Transition to High School At the beginning of a school year, students, parents and educators alike, have a large focus on transition. We understand the importance of transition for two important reasons: A successful transition to high school instils self-confidence and develops social competence, which allows for new connections and friendships to be forged, and it enables new beginnings to be created, allowing for goals and plans to be made that direct a young…

How will ChatGPT alter the world of education ? Just when we thought we could be returning to a sense of normality in schools in 2023, our next wave of disruption comes crashing down, right before those gates open for a new school year. ChatGPT has crept into the world right when we were unplugging for a few weeks and finally reading books for pleasure, watching a TV series and enjoying the luxury of having nowhere else to be. If you are not already familiar with ChatGPT it is a language model…

How to support your child’s return to school As we prepare our children for the return to school, while it is a very exciting time for many, for some it can bring with it feelings of unease, uncertainty and trepidation. Those butterflies in the stomach are completely normal as we face challenges or change, and it is important to work with those feelings, not against them. Whether it be concerns around starting a new school, a desire to explore new friendship circles or being away from parents…

A new era of growth, character and resilience emerges. The time that we are living in poses challenges for us all. One question borne out of this time is, how will it shape us? This is particularly pertinent when looking at the experience of young people. During adolescence our brains create more new neural connections, and have more capacity for change and adaptation, than at almost any other stage in our life. We recognise that for young people to use this potential and to achieve their best…

With the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) underway in Glasgow it is only fitting that we as a school reflect on the role we play in educating, delivering and innovating sustainable practices. Media coverage around our climate crisis continues to be amplified and while we look to global leaders to support widespread initiatives, we must understand the integral role each of us plays in creating a more sustainable future. One of our priorities at Toorak is to consider our…