Westbourne Grammar School fosters a “you can do it” attitude.
Principal Meg Hansen says the school aims to engage completely with its new vision statement: Shaping learners who inspire the world.
“They’re not just sweet words written on paper. We’re putting them into life,” she says.
The school is training staff in new approaches to learning that it believes will translate into children knowing they can learn rather than thinking they can’t do a particular thing.
“We want to encourage a growth mindset in our children and staff and we have developed an extensive teacher tool kit to assist with this,” Ms Hansen says.
“That’s coupled with the notion of mindfulness, which relates to how children think about themselves and the world.
“We’re trying to teach them those simple skills of mindfulness because it fits so beautifully with the growth mindset in the classroom.”
Westbourne Grammar operates from two campuses: early learning to year 12 at Truganina and prep to year 3 at Williamstown.
“On Open Days, the whole family can come, including grandparents and close friends,” Ms Hansen says.
“For school tours we prefer only parents and older children to attend.
“People get a strong sense of our children and how they behave in the school environment and how the community feels. We want them to pick up that we take teaching really seriously.
“Kids have a lot of fun, but it’s also a place where we take learning seriously. The children do, too, and they expect their peers to as well.”
The school places great importance on children’s physical, emotional and intellectual safety.
“Parents want to know the school recognises how important that is and, yes, we have bullying and behavioural policies, but parents want to know exactly how we address these issues and their questions can be answered easily and well,” Ms Hansen says. “Although Westbourne might be seen as conservative in the respectful behaviour teachers expect of the children and the approach they take to learning, staff are conversely contemporary and innovative in their teaching methods.”
Westbourne Grammar School, 300 Sayers Road, Truganina. Inquiries: 9731 9444 or www.westbournegrammar.com
