Last week the Year 10 celebrated their Personal Project Exhibition. On Wednesday and Thursday our students enjoyed the conclusion of the Exhibition with staff and fellow students and while parents were unable to join us this year, we did live stream the event to ensure parents could join the celebration, virtually.

The Great Hall was certainly a frenzy of creativity, passion, enthusiasm, and achievement. Our Year 10s undoubtedly excelled and were keen to share their accomplishments with those who joined them. If you managed to walk through the hall and look at the exhibits last week, I am sure you would agree the standard of presentations was simply a credit to all involved. So many standouts ranging from a magnificent artworks and artist inspired creations, busks and movie style facial masks, an incredible three-metre scale designed Lego ship, a mini piano restoration, novels, children’s books, textile blankets for paediatric wards, a wedding dress, sustainable clothing, recipe books, handmade jewellery, indigenous jersey, dress making, solar panel boat and bike, fabulous sculptures, photography and coffee table books, music compositions, architectural models, heartfelt books delving into cultural heritage, a renovated shipping container bedroom, go-karts incredible videos focusing on topics ranging from gymnastics, dancing, skateboarding and a variety of sports, 3D animated scenes, a Shinto shrine entrance, a motorised push bike, sport programmes for elite athletes, environmental service projects … the list is endless and represents the many varied interests and talents of our students.

To put this journey in perspective, the Personal Project is a requirement for students in the fifth year of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). The project itself encourages students to practise and strengthen their skills, to consolidate prior and subject-specific learning, and to develop an area of personal interest. The Personal Project provided an excellent opportunity for our students to produce a truly personal and creative product or outcome, which demonstrated consolidation of their learning in the MYP. The personal nature of the project is important given we are asking Year 10 students to complete an assessment over a nine month period – the fact that it revolves around a challenge that motivates and interests the individual student is what makes the final outcome so impressive. Most importantly, we recognise completing the project isn’t a commute. It’s a road trip, full of deviations and byways that so often become the source of true learning.

So to all those students who were standing proud next to their products on Wednesday and Thursday, who worked diligently on their online blog and willingly shared their personal stories about their journey with others, we congratulate you. We recognise it is a mighty achievement that did at times seem daunting, yet you reached the end through determination, self-motivation and tenacity. All great skills to take you forward into Year 11! We look forward to sharing our Exhibition video with our College community over the next week.

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