HIGH QUALITY LEARNING

ACADEMIC LEARNING CO-CURRICULAR LEARNING

Learning Alongside One Another

Across the School, 2022 was a year filled with rich learning and growth. Most importantly, it was a year of learning and connecting onsite together again. As Ivanhoe Learners we celebrate difference and recognise that learning success comes in a wide variety of forms. We believe that each student makes a unique contribution to our learning community. We value learning together and celebrate the achievements of all of our students with great pride. Students physically returned to campus in November 2021, just as the new academic year commenced for secondary students. Our primary students had just a short time before graduating to the next year level. Our learning environments are a critical factor influencing student learning success and wellbeing. As students returned to campus, everyone embraced the opportunity to re-establish great onsite learning routines, keep building upon our newly established digital skills, and wholeheartedly re-engage in the wide spectrum of learning activities that Ivanhoe offers. With an emphasis on student ownership and connection to school, our academic lessons deliberately involved increased opportunities for rich classroom discussions, sharing thinking, hands-on learning and collaborative group work.

Beyond A Traditional Curriculum

Academic Learning at Ivanhoe involves much more than a traditional curriculum. We aspire to develop Ivanhoe Learners, with character attributes that enable each young person to have a positive influence upon their contemporary surrounding community and their future world. As such, our learning programs continue to embed Global Citizenship Education and to grow students’ capacity for living, working and learning with emerging digital technologies. To be future-ready, having the approaches and skills for continual learning is vital. Therefore, at each stage of schooling our academic programs aim to stretch students’ ability to reflect upon their own learning, think critically, research independently, problem solve and collaborate.

Our learning and teaching activities are deliberately varied. We contend that high quality instructional practices take many forms and that variety is essential for learner success in the short and long term. Underpinned with core guiding principles, Ivanhoe has articulated a set of key practices and models of learning that best support student growth. Explicit teaching and guided-inquiry are our main instructional models, with experiential learning, immersion, concept and problem-based learning all having a role to play. Our return to onsite learning has also brought back immersive incursions, guest presenters, excursions, theatre workshops, fieldwork, class performances and specialist workshops.

Developing Agency

Our Middle Years academic programs explicitly teach the skills and values of an Ivanhoe Learner. Our flagship programs at University Campus guide students to develop skills and adopt the benefits of owning their own unique learning journey. Immersion and experiential learning, guided-inquiry and periodic specialist out-of-class programs are designed to help students to recognise and realise their own passions and strengths and build independence. As young adults in the Senior Years, students are able to specialise further and elect their studies.

Developing student agency, voice, critical thinking and creativity continue to be important objectives throughout our academic programs. Therefore, our programs have included mock election campaigns, student debates, expos, global citizenship activities and advocacy, as well as drama and music performances. Through this learning, students develop the skills and dispositions required to make a difference in the world.

We Achieve Together

As I reflect on 2022, I am filled with admiration for the way in which our learning community worked together. I am very proud of the passion and dedication of our staff, and inspired by the abilities, energy and determination demonstrated by our students each and every day. The School is very appreciative of the outstanding ways in which our families support their child’s learning journeys. It is this connection and support that makes such a difference to the possibilities and achievements of our school. We achieve together.

Carmel Fry Director of Academic Learning

Ivanhoe Grammar School is committed to providing a well-rounded education that encompasses academic excellence and co-curricular programs. These programs are integral to our students’ personal growth and development, and in this report, we aim to highlight their impact on our students and the wider community.

Our sports program is designed to enhance our students’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With almost 30 sporting options, we offer a range of participation levels to cater to each student’s individual interests and abilities. We require our students to participate in the AGSV/APS summer and winter seasons to ensure their comprehensive development. The positive impact of sports on our students’ discipline, teamwork, leadership skills, and overall health has been evident. In 2022, we celebrated three premierships won at Firsts level by our Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball teams and our inaugural Girls’ Basketball premiership.

The Theatre program is an opportunity for our students to develop their creativity, communication, and performance skills. Annual and bi-annual productions are held across the campuses, for which the participating students rehearse for many months. Our students have consistently received recognition for their outstanding performances, and some have gone on to pursue careers in the performing arts industry. Unfortunately, due to pandemic restrictions, the Ridgeway Campus musical could not be staged during the initial rehearsal stage, but a successful musical was staged at Plenty Campus and Buckley House. The Ridgeway Campus cast is rehearsing eagerly for their 2023 production.

Our Music program offers numerous opportunities for students to develop their musical skills, including choir, ensembles, and individual instrument lessons. We hold concerts and competitions throughout the year, with More than Words and the Piano and Instrumentalists competition being the standout events. In 2022, the standard of play from our students was better than ever, and it may have been the only program to benefit from the pandemic!

The Cadets program is overseen by the Australian Defence Force and offers students an opportunity to develop their leadership skills, discipline, teamwork, and outdoor skills. With the largest cadet unit in the state, many Ivanhoe students are gaining these benefits. Our cadets participate in training camps, field exercises, ceremonial duties, and a celebratory dinner. Our cadets have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community, and some have gone on to pursue careers in the defence force. In 2022, the Cadets program was able to operate at full capacity throughout the year.

Our Debating program provides an opportunity for our students to develop their critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills. Our teams from all secondary campuses compete in the Debaters Association of Victoria competition, with many progressing beyond their regional competition to the finals period. Our most significant achievement, however, is our strong participation in the DAV competition. We are also proud to have returned the Greenway Cup to its preferred side of Lower Heidelberg Rd.

The community service and outreach programs encourage our students to develop empathy and compassion for others by participating in various service-learning activities. In 2022, we were able to re-establish our partnerships with Big Group Hug, 300 Blankets, Open House, Whittlesea Food Collective, and BANSIC. The Cambodia Service Project will return in 2023, and pleasingly the School has been able to continue supporting our partners in Cambodia during our time away. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this program has been slower to regain momentum.

Outdoor Education had to run in a reduced capacity in 2022 due to concerns regarding isolation requirements. Our Year 7 and Year 8 camps were only three days in length, while our Year 10 Journeys were only one night. Despite the reduction in camp length, the students were still able to appreciate the beauty and significance of the Australian bush and be challenged by completing familiar tasks in a different environment, which is essential for developing resilience, grit, and self-efficacy.

In 2022, our co-curricular programs have played a vital role in our students’ personal growth and development. We have seen the positive impact of these programs on their physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. Our students have consistently demonstrated outstanding performances and made significant contributions to the wider community. We will continue to provide opportunities for our students to excel in these co-curricular programs and achieve their full potential.

Chris Branigan Director of Co-Curricular Learning