Project Reimaginate began in 2019 with a focus on play and outdoor learning, leading to the transformation of several play spaces and a "Day Of Play" exhibition. In 2020, our focus moved indoors to transform our learning environment into bright, flexible and sustainable spaces purpose built for student-centred learning. In 2021, we turned our attention back to the outdoors, teaming up with Nature Play SA to create an outdoor classroom and Japanese Garden. We also held a nighttime exhibition of native animal sculptures called "Night Creatures" to launch our new spaces.
The definition of trust is, "firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something."
At the end of year five and leading into year six I was like the others:
Go to school; sit and work; recess; sit and work; lunch; sit and work, Hometime.
School was a series of events. There was very little opportunity to prove that I could be trusted, reliable or able to be flexible in my learning.
Moving into a student directed classroom it felt like I was able to breathe, take risks, not feel like I was under constant surveillance. It was so different from other classes. We were semi-supervised, we didn't have a set time table, and we had more say over what we wanted and needed to learn. This was the year that changed what I thought of school. I learned to be responsible for my learning. Before you can lead others, you have to be able to lead yourself.
“When we tell people to do their jobs we get workers, when we trust people to get the job done we get leaders.” said by Simon Sinek
Project Reimaginate was a project built around trust and time. Without trust we would be nowhere, we had to trust one another to get the job done. For example kids were not always supervised, they were using real tools, lifting heavy objects and working in spaces that were normally out-of-bounds. Without trusting that students could lead their own projects, the impact of the spaces we transformed would have been far less.
Personally, what I got most out of this project, was opportunities to improve my public speaking and social skills. At the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have imagined that I would have enough courage to hold a press conference with the premier of South Australia or speak in front of 100 people at an education conference.It was an unforgettable experience. I gained confidence that I can carry with me throughout my life. This project has not just made me grow as a student but has helped me grow as a leader.
By Noah, Year 7 student (2019)
We Acknowledge that the land our school is built upon is the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.
