Emanuel School has been recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative schools by The Educator Magazine, making it one of only 11 schools in NSW and 44 schools Australia-wide to make the 2019 List of Innovative Schools “making the most profound and exciting impact in K-12 education today”.
Adam Majsay, Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning) K-12 attributes Emanuel’s excellence in innovation to a number of key initiatives that encourage creativity and critical thinking among students, and foster authentic connections between student learning and the real world. Some of these innovation programs include:
- Hands-on digital technologies: Education in digital systems, visual programming, computational and systems thinking commencing from primary school.
- Annual Innovation Festival: A showcase of creative solutions in areas of sustainability, renewable energy, ethical eating and space exploration.
- Imaginarium After Hours Program: A research-informed initiative launched in 2019 to foster the interest, confidence and aspirations of Year 4-5 students in STEM learning, through engagement in projects with a strong social impact.
- Business Creators Program: An entrepreneurship program enabling students to connect with industry in an extended ‘brand development’ project that builds critical, creative and innovative thinking.
Mr Majsay believes part of Emanuel’s success in fostering a culture of innovation is its priority to make innovation a focus for teachers as well as students. “Teacher professional learning at Emanuel is hands-on, collaborative, exploratory and designed to shape the role of our teachers as ‘architects of learning,” he said
Emanuel School Principal, Andrew Watt, is thrilled that the school has been recognised as one of the most innovative in the country. “Our vision is to be a place ‘where the individual excels’. A future-focused teaching approach does just this, equipping our students with the capabilities to thrive for life,” he said.
Charlotte Lyons (Year 10) and Judd Karro (Year 2) explore electrical circuits in the Imaginarium.