Watching Year 4 students’ faces light up with curiosity and excitement as they walked through the Middle School recently was something quite special, writes Ms Sophie Fisher, Carey Baptist Grammar School’s Deputy Head of Junior School – Head of Donvale campus.
In August, the Year 4s from our Donvale and Kew campuses were invited to discover what it’s like to be a Carey Middle Schooler. It was a wonderful chance for our younger students to glimpse the path that lies ahead, and to imagine themselves growing, learning and thriving in the next chapter of their schooling.
“The Middle School is really big! The facilities are really nice. I’m really excited to have Science lessons; the Science room is really cool and I learnt what the taps are for (gas). We got to try on lab coats and science goggles, which you wear when you do experiments in the Middle School. I also really liked the Art Room. We saw lots of clay work and some amazing artwork on display. At first, I felt like I could get a bit lost, but now that I’ve had a tour, I feel more confident that I’ll know where to go.” – Olivia D, Year 4 student.
From the moment the Year 4s arrived, there was a buzz in the air at the Ian Woolf Auditorium. Friendly Year 9 student leaders welcomed the younger students with smiles, eager to share their experiences. Learning environments came alive as the Year 4s undertook a scavenger hunt of the Middle School and attempted to tick off locations in their specially designed Middle School passport.
But beyond the facilities and the impressive achievements on display, what stood out was the sense of community. Older students showed kindness and patience, offering guidance with energy to the curious younger ones, talking about the journey of growth, confidence and self-discovery that our school supports.
“I thought the chapel was beautiful, it looked big on the outside but inside it was warm and inviting. In the art studio there was a lot of cool sculptures, some of them looked really realistic and I was amazed that they had been sculpted by students. At the end of the tour, Mr Dendle showed us a ‘Google Maps virtual expedition’ which I thought was really interesting because we saw all of the different Carey campuses around Australia, including faraway places we can go to in later years. The places we saw looked really beautiful and amazing and I look forward to going there.” – Charlie L, Year 4 student.
This discovery tour wasn’t just about preparing our students for their future transition into Middle School at Carey; it was about planting seeds of inspiration in young minds. The Year 4s left with wide eyes and an insight into the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
