Standard+8.2

=Teachers embody the ethos and values of the school in their classroom practice, in fulfilling their roles within the school and in communication with the wider community. =

It is in my classroom practice that I feel I most embody the ethos and values of this school. I try to demonstrate my love of learning so that my students may emulate it and become life long learners and find joy in the pursuit of knowledge. It is only one’s students who can attest to our success as teachers and for that reason I have attached copies of some of the notes I received from my year [|Year 12 students].

While I am not a Christian I do believe that having a strong faith and clear knowledge of your heritage is a valuable characteristic particularly in the context of our modern society when it is often difficult for adolescents to make their way. To this end I have always made myself available to students who are [|researching different religions] or aspects of faith as a part of their Studies of Religion course.

During my time at Kincoppal-Rose Bay I have involved myself in the wider community by speaking at [|Interfaith Days] (see local [|newspaper article]), representing the school as a presenter at conferences and being involved with the local Environment networks.

In 2009 as a part of the year 11 Biology course “Evolution of the Australian Biota” we studied the environment of the school grounds specifically looking for native Australian plants and the environments in which they thrived. My students believed that they would like to design and plant a native garden to create an ecosystem that would restore the indigenous environment and increase biodiversity. To that end we put together a submission to Woollahra Council and won a $1,000 grant towards setting up the Native Garden. While the garden did not work out exactly the way the girls had planned it, they were able to distribute the native plants within the school grounds and raise the students’ awareness concerning the benefits of using indigenous plants rather than imported varieties.

I believe that this work models a “Social Awareness which Impels to Action” one of the five goals of the school