2 Issue 57 – October 2016 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
From the Principal
Carol Craymer
On the home page of our website is a 90 second
video. Shot at the end of last term over two days, this
gives a lively overview of the College. The film crew
focus was on the girls, recording footage of them
purposively engaged: setting up an explosive science
experiment; using a digital laser cutter; performing
in the auditorium; playing basketball in the Hobson
gymnasium and swinging on the Neptune climbing
frame. Beyond the College grounds, in a long shot,
QMC girls in a coxed four can be seen rowing on
Wellington Harbour in the early morning. Although
the spotlight in the video is on our students, in a few
shots you can also see teachers in the background,
providing the all-important guidance and support.
As technology transforms every aspect of our
daily lives, one thing is clear to me: in this connected
world, the role of the teacher has never been more
important. A recurring and naïve idea debated in
the media is that in the future computers will replace
teachers. This shows a complete lack of understanding
of the breadth and complexity of the job teachers
perform. High-quality teachers guide their students
through activities that stretch them to analyse and
apply what they have learned to the real world.
They provide personalised feedback so that students
develop their critical and creative thinking. They
build a classroom culture that intrinsically motivates
students. In the future, although technology will have
a significant part to play in education, the passionate,
knowledgeable teacher will not be replaced by a
machine.
For the past
eighteen months,
we have focused
on gaining
authorisation
from the IBO for
the Middle Years
Programme (MYP)
delivered in Year
7-10. This student-
centred educational
approach is a superb programme specially designed
for the unique needs of Middle School girls who
need to develop self-confidence, good learning habits
and a thorough understanding of their academic
subjects. In preparation for the verification visit by
IBO representatives in September, our teachers,
led by Head of Middle School, Rena Day and MYP
Coordinator, Helen Wright, have worked hard
redesigning lesson plans, rewriting curriculum
documents and learning new teaching strategies.
I applaud the staff for their professionalism and
commitment to delivering high quality education.
In this edition of QMCalling, you can read of the
outstanding successes of many girls. I acknowledge
our students’ fabulous achievements but also applaud
the passionate, motivating teachers behind the
scenes.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: Anthea Yiappos, Alice Egerton and Mikayla Wratt, from the Junior School Writers
Group, reading their story “Professor Lara and the Magical Wings” with Principal Carol Craymer.