The Power of Completing the Journey
I love attending the Mosman Prep Old Boys annual social events and hearing them share stories of their Mosman Prep adventures, which interestingly, are so often about their journey through Years 5 and 6.
In recent discussions with the Old Boys Committee, they unanimously highlighted how special it was to attend a different primary school in its entirety, than the secondary school they attended (they had all finished at Mosman Prep in Year 6, some 10 years ago, some 50+ years ago). The Old Boys spoke about the power of having two unique experiences, one in their primary school and the other in their secondary school, and the full appreciation they had for the specialness of each experience. They also felt they were better prepared than their secondary school peers.
Finding the ‘just right’ level of academic challenge and instruction for students is crucial in education to promote optimal learning and growth. At Prep, due to our depth of understanding of each boy, we can provide instructional materials and activities that match the abilities and needs of each student, allowing them to make progress and build upon their existing knowledge and skills. This leads to confidence, engagement, motivation, and improvement of overall learning outcomes.
Our commitment to evidence-based approaches to teaching, learning and wellbeing, and our outstanding staff and staffing ratio means that we are at the cutting edge of education and a high performing place of learning and relationships. Being a smaller school with a higher staff ratio also allows us to support Year 5 and 6 boys successfully through the challenges of puberty.
Boys who finish in Year 6 gain the full benefit of our carefully sequenced learning programs and individual support, giving them an advantage.
Educational researchers recognise the importance of key milestones for boys.
If we don’t create such milestones for them, boys will often create their own less desirable experiences. Completing their primary school journey in Year 6 at Mosman Prep allows them to engage in special and memorable milestones such as:
- The full opportunities of student leadership, with our Year 5 and Year 6 Leadership Development Days held with Queenwood, and our formal leadership program.
- Engaging with our Sailing Program.
- Benefiting from the rich experiences of the Year 5 Coffs Harbour trip, including connecting with the Aboriginal people of the area.
- Growing immensely through the highly unique Year 6 ‘pack and paddle’ on the Shoalhaven River (2 days of walking, canoeing and camping), and the Central Australian or Japan Trip, where challenges experienced lead to incredible personal growth.
- Celebrating the significant ‘end of journey’ milestone with the friends they have travelled alongside, at the ‘Valedictory Dinner’ at Manly Golf Club. Here each boy speaks about his journey at Mosman Prep, often leaving parents stirred to tears by the depth of reflection, and by their pride in their son.
All these experiences combine to provide the boys with a ‘fully rounded’ Primary School education and a confidence to embrace their Secondary years with enthusiastic immersion.
As a smaller school with rich opportunities, Prep allows boys to develop new interests and skills, and experience success, which are both vital to self-esteem. This can be more challenging in a larger school demographic. We are also able to engage all our boys in staff mentored Year 6 leadership opportunities. Unfortunately, where boys join another school from Year 4 or 5, they are often overlooked for leadership positions in their new school.
It is, therefore, a significant milestone for our boys to finish their primary school journey in Year 6 at Mosman Prep. I haven’t seen a graduation quite so special in any school, and I believe those who graduate here are better prepared for their secondary school transition. This belief has been validated on many occasions through feedback from past parents.
More and more parents are recognising the importance of their children building networks. I have the pleasure of hosting the annual Old Boys Dinner at Prep and attending a social gathering at the Buena Vista Bistro. By completing their time at Prep, those connections, and networks with boys in their year group become stronger. Our boys can consolidate friendships and network connections which will last a lifetime.
I am blessed to liaise with Prep Old Boys in their 90s. A common reflection from them is that Mosman Prep helped develop in them the character foundations so important for a confident life, more so than either their secondary school or tertiary years.
Such foundations are formed best through the richness of the complete Mosman Prep journey.
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
