As an educator, it is very important to understand the school context for your teaching. School context refers to the location of the school, the major family background the school is serving, the school philosophy and the school schedule (Queensland Government, 2014).
The place where I have my placement is called Kingswood Primary School. It locates in Dingley Village. This is a location in which no trains or trams service provided. The only public transport supported is buses. Most of the students who study in this school, as a result, live in this suburb. It is known by the data collected from the school activity- walking to school- which records who do not use any fuel supplied vehicles to go to school every day to promote the environmental friendly concept to students. In Dingley Village, Kingswood is not the only school for villagers. There are also St Marks Catholic School and Kingswood Primary School in this suburb. I guess this suburb is an educational area where schools are built near-by.
Kingwood primary school is own by governmental. Although it is a government school, given that my mentor told me that most of the students are from the middle class, it runs its school policy as a primary school. This school cares about not only academic result and sport performance, but also the discipline of students. Students are required to wear standard uniforms when they come to school, unless a special festival notice is given. Students who are late are asked to go to the office and explain the reason why they are late. Then, a ‘Late arrival card’ is received. Students who are late need to give the card to the class teacher. Although there are no actual punishment for the late arrival, students who keep coming late will be sent by the school to the educational council to talk about the late arrival problem. Also, students who come to the classroom, even if they are not in that grade, students are asked to say greeting words to the teacher of the classroom before telling or asking for anything. Furthermore, students are normally free to play at the playground. Nonetheless, if they keep having accidents, for example, getting hurt three times a week, the class teacher will ban that student not to play in the playground for the next whole week to remind him the importance of the safety when playing.
As Rosemary (2014), the principal of Kingswood primary school, puts it, the educational philosophy of the school are based on ‘Foundations for Success’ and to make a ‘Positive Difference’ to students. Only when the individual talents of the students are discovered and the ‘environment where they want to learn and where they can discover their true passion’ is provided, can they enjoy the school life and eager to success in every aspect of their lives.
Rosemary (2014) also suggests that the Habits of Mind is the ideology practised in the curriculum. Habits of Minds means the ability to use skilful and mindful technique to solve problems. While ‘Kingswood implements 'Visible Thinking' protocols from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’, Habits of Mind and Visible Thinking are the means to illustrate students how to tackle problems and overcome difficulties. By keeping practising the Habits of Mind, more intelligent, optimistic and successful students are hoped to be trained.
Apart from the educational philosophy and the curriculum ideology, school values and beliefs play a crucial role in the school context as well. Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, and Commitment are the cores of the school values (Rosemary, 2014). The four cores are run in five beliefs:
1. We are here for the students
2. We are leaders in education
3. We thrive in a team culture
4. We are safe, friendly and organised
5. We engage our community
Reference
Queensland Government. (2014). Department of education, training and employment: School context. Retrieved from <http://deta.qld.gov.au/about/induction/eq/state-schools/school-context/index.html>.
Rosemary, C. (2014). Our School - Principal's Message. Retrieved from <http://www.kingswood.vic.edu.au/teachers.php?id=3>.
The place where I have my placement is called Kingswood Primary School. It locates in Dingley Village. This is a location in which no trains or trams service provided. The only public transport supported is buses. Most of the students who study in this school, as a result, live in this suburb. It is known by the data collected from the school activity- walking to school- which records who do not use any fuel supplied vehicles to go to school every day to promote the environmental friendly concept to students. In Dingley Village, Kingswood is not the only school for villagers. There are also St Marks Catholic School and Kingswood Primary School in this suburb. I guess this suburb is an educational area where schools are built near-by.
Kingwood primary school is own by governmental. Although it is a government school, given that my mentor told me that most of the students are from the middle class, it runs its school policy as a primary school. This school cares about not only academic result and sport performance, but also the discipline of students. Students are required to wear standard uniforms when they come to school, unless a special festival notice is given. Students who are late are asked to go to the office and explain the reason why they are late. Then, a ‘Late arrival card’ is received. Students who are late need to give the card to the class teacher. Although there are no actual punishment for the late arrival, students who keep coming late will be sent by the school to the educational council to talk about the late arrival problem. Also, students who come to the classroom, even if they are not in that grade, students are asked to say greeting words to the teacher of the classroom before telling or asking for anything. Furthermore, students are normally free to play at the playground. Nonetheless, if they keep having accidents, for example, getting hurt three times a week, the class teacher will ban that student not to play in the playground for the next whole week to remind him the importance of the safety when playing.
As Rosemary (2014), the principal of Kingswood primary school, puts it, the educational philosophy of the school are based on ‘Foundations for Success’ and to make a ‘Positive Difference’ to students. Only when the individual talents of the students are discovered and the ‘environment where they want to learn and where they can discover their true passion’ is provided, can they enjoy the school life and eager to success in every aspect of their lives.
Rosemary (2014) also suggests that the Habits of Mind is the ideology practised in the curriculum. Habits of Minds means the ability to use skilful and mindful technique to solve problems. While ‘Kingswood implements 'Visible Thinking' protocols from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’, Habits of Mind and Visible Thinking are the means to illustrate students how to tackle problems and overcome difficulties. By keeping practising the Habits of Mind, more intelligent, optimistic and successful students are hoped to be trained.
Apart from the educational philosophy and the curriculum ideology, school values and beliefs play a crucial role in the school context as well. Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, and Commitment are the cores of the school values (Rosemary, 2014). The four cores are run in five beliefs:
1. We are here for the students
2. We are leaders in education
3. We thrive in a team culture
4. We are safe, friendly and organised
5. We engage our community
Reference
Queensland Government. (2014). Department of education, training and employment: School context. Retrieved from <http://deta.qld.gov.au/about/induction/eq/state-schools/school-context/index.html>.
Rosemary, C. (2014). Our School - Principal's Message. Retrieved from <http://www.kingswood.vic.edu.au/teachers.php?id=3>.