Learning With

February 26, 2020 at 7:09 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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Students are learning with. We’re learning with. And the teachers are learning with. Facilitation is definitely not solely participants learning from. It’s absolutely a shared journey of growth and development.

We love hearing connections made by the participants within a program day. Students will within a session, and also during breaks or after the day has finished, come up and articulate how the experience, and others with it, has impacted them. But it’s been conversations with teachers lately that have also shown us the depth of ripples being created.

It’s so incredible when teachers tell us about what they’ve learnt about their students by stepping back and observing, listening and celebrating the various strengths/areas for growth they notice within the day.

It’s so incredible when teachers tell us about how much the themes, perspectives and activities inspired them to think about leadership differently, and how they wish other teachers in their school got to also hear and see this.

It’s so incredible when teachers tell us about how much they enjoyed and learnt from the way we interact with and facilitator for the participants.

Participants, teachers and facilitator, we’re all learning with.

We’re privileged to support school communities also with Staff Develoment experiences. We’ve got two locked in for next term, and are currently talking with other client schools about how we can assist them in this space as well this year and next. We love the art of facilitation. Mainly because we’re so lucky to be learning with such inspiring students, educators and school communities. We’re constantly reminded of the purposeful power and influence unleashed when the quote below is brought to life.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash

Scars

February 19, 2020 at 5:20 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

As I was walking up a set of stairs recently a complete stranger behind me made a statement that had me quickly turning around. It wasn’t rude. Or offensive. It was in truth just a simple sentence. And surprisingly correct.

“You’ve had achilles surgery”.

My first thought was how did they know. Secondly I began thinking was I walking a certain way that would of showed this. Then the aha hit, my scar.

The simple comment turned into an interesting conversation. Moments of connection that wouldn’t of been there if I was wearing longer socks. The scar was visible. And this person chose to be respectfully curious, emphatic and honest.

How often do we miss opportunities to deepen connection, with self, others or the world around us, because of our scars? Not all scars are visible. And not all scars are up for discussion with those who haven’t earned the right to hear about them (love Brené Brown’s work, and the way she uses that phrase of earnt right). But we’re constantly inspired by those who choose to let their humanness lead them to making a difference. As the quote below says, they’re real hero’s.

‘Your scars are witnesses that you never gave up. You are a hero.’ – Najwa Zebian

Scars. We’ve all got them. Some visible (like on the back of my leg). But many are invisible to others. I guess that’s why they say, ‘be kind, you never know what someone is going through’.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

Never Lost On Us

February 12, 2020 at 5:17 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The 2020 school year is here. Well actually, we’re now two weeks in. Each program day so far has seen us reconnecting with existing client schools. We’re looking forward to also welcoming some new client schools as the term goes on.

To start the term it’s been great to catch up with so many teachers, support and adminstration staff we’ve now known for years. As well as plenty of new students to support, we’ve also been lucky enough to work with again students who’ve now moved into Year 6 (some client schools offer our program experiences for Year 5 or 6 separately, while some have the whole of Stage 3 together). What an inspiring two weeks it’s been. So many moments of participants bringing real leadership to life.

It’s definitely never lost on us though:

That sharing a message we believe so strongly in is a real privilege.

School communities creating time and space for us to facilitate for their cohorts within the fullness of their school calendar is a real privilege.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with students and staff in their and our learning and leadership journeys is a real privilege.

The list could go on and on. The passion we share with our client schools for building leaders who inspire through the difference they make for and with others reminds us of this powerful quote below.

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – Margaret J. Wheatley

We can’t wait to continue exploring the possibilities, discovering potential and acting authentically with our clients this year. Thanks for going on this adventure with us!

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

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