Blog

Learning a musical instrument enhances our junior students’ literacy skills We are introduced to music and singing right from the start of life and we use music to process stories, language and rhythm. Singing also strengthens neural connections for reading. If a child can hear it, they can say and sing it, and then read it and use it in more advanced written and spoken language. According to The Music Advantage, “It is easier to hear nuances in song because the rhythm is slower than speech and…

Advice for students taking their first career steps What will the workplace look like when our Junior School students turn 18 in 2030? Will university still exist? Will robots be doing our work? The short answer is - we don’t really know. What we do know is our students are planning their careers in a tumultuous landscape, unseen by previous generations, thanks to advances in technology and globalisation. Our grandparents prioritised job stability and prestige when deciding upon a career. To…

How will technological advancements affect careers of the future? Many of today’s occupations will no longer exist by the time this year’s Prep students have finished their education. Having a STEM-skilled workforce is the foundation on which the Australian economy will prosper. Technological advancements continue to accelerate, and skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, analytic capabilities and curiosity are necessary to succeed. "In the last 20 years alone, employment in STEM…

The importance of facing challenges head-on is a fundamental theme in our children’s learning journey, particularly from Kindergarten to Year 4. As educators and parents, we need to allow for teachable moments which provide opportunities for our children to navigate these pivotal experiences and lessons. Positive mental health hinges on the balance of protective actions such as providing a stable environment and modelling healthy coping mechanisms vs. risk factors that encourage adversity. Our…

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…

While it appears that we are now on the path to overcoming COVID-19, the disruption of the pandemic has caused many parents to revisit the question of education and schooling for their children. In looking to provide your children with the best chance to learn, grow and thrive, we must consider what these ideas mean to us in the post-COVID-19 world. The new school year is approaching, and 2021 is set to be a year shaped by a ‘new normal’. But the most pressing questions come from how that new…

The way to change the world, or at least your world, is to dare to be ambitious. Because when you dare to dream big, you challenge the status quo and give yourself the opportunity to pave your own way forward and make a difference. For many young females, embracing ambition is uncomfortable. More so than their male counterparts, females cast doubts in their own minds and feel the pressure to succeed differently. For many, it is not passion nor skill that holds them back, it is the fear of…

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…

What is unconscious bias? Conscious bias is becoming more easily recognised in today’s culture and tolerance for conscious discrimination in our community is at an all time low. On the flip side, unconscious bias, in its subtlety, often goes unnoticed. In particular, unconscious gender biases often happen habitually as part of historical societal norms, and can be present in both females and males. As an independent girls school, Toorak College is acutely aware of the gender biases that affect…