Dear Somersfield Families,
 
After the disruptions of the first weeks of term, I am happy to report that we enjoyed our first ‘normal’ week with all year groups in school. Simple pleasures.
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This past Wednesday and Thursday morning, I had the privilege of participating in the CIS (Council of International Schools) Virtual Summit of University and School Leaders. I have been a part of this group of educators since it was formed in 2019. The invitees have been identified for their interest and expertise in holistic education issues common to schools and universities. We have convened 4 times (twice in person and twice virtually during Covid) with smaller working groups meeting regularly to keep the momentum going between summits. Five areas of shared interest have been identified - Engagement, Achievement, Mobilities, Sustainability and Wellbeing. As a member of the Wellbeing group, what energises and excites me about our work together is that we have representation from across the world and equal numbers of secondary and tertiary leaders, offering varied and insightful viewpoints. Research confirms that diverse groups make better decisions and the richness of our diversity shines through time and again as we re-imagine education and learning pathways for the 21st century.
 
A highlight of this summit as we brought the working groups together again for the first time in a year was our recognition of the overlap between the various work strands. In this latest iteration, I participated in a hybrid group called ‘Belonging’ which explored the overlap between Engagement and Wellbeing and the idea that to engage with a community you need to feel well and to feel well you need to feel engaged. A virtuous circle. We explored how wellbeing skills and community building skills are also employability skills and that while one may need only one ‘hard skill’ to secure a job, a person inevitably needs all or most of the ‘soft skills’ to be successful. A quick google search identifies the following as the ‘top’ soft skills in 2021 (see https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/6-soft-skills-employers-are-looking-for):

  1. Creative problem solving and innovation
  2. Communication skills
  3. Time management
  4. A growth mindset 
  5. Emotional intelligence 
  6. Collaboration
  7. Adaptability
  8. Active listening
  9. Leadership
 
These are all teachable skills but not ones tested in traditional assessment models, even relatively progressive ones like the IB. As you will likely have heard me say, I believe our focus should not be on summative assessment but rather on the learning journey as each student works to realise their unique promise and potential through curiosity and discovery. It is on this journey that soft skills, so necessary in life, will be developed - think of it as their hero’s quest! And for those of you thinking of your student’s transition to university, you will be interested to know that the university leaders affirmed that they will be looking increasingly for evidence of these ‘soft’ skills in their selection processes with the knowledge that social and emotional intelligence are intimately connected to resilience, positive learning outcomes and university success. 

Our challenge and obligation at Somersfield is to ensure that we foster and protect a learning ecosystem that promotes and develops these skills. Exciting times.
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Thank you to everyone who is participating in the antigen testing trial. The Minister of Education was in touch yesterday asking us to share our approach so that they may consider how to build their testing system. I feel there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel and your support in the trial has been instrumental in changing the conversation. I include a very interesting article from the BBC this week - ‘Covid: Lateral flow tests more accurate than first thought, study finds’ (see https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58899612). Momentum is definitely building.
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Finally, I would like to share an open letter written by the leadership of the University of Toronto’s Institute for Child Studies Laboratory School to the Ontario government. I know the school well as two of my children had the privilege of attending ICS when we lived in Toronto. I think it captures beautifully the importance and magic of in-person learning (see https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/jics/ontario-school-closures/).
 
Wishing everyone a wonderful long weekend in celebration of Flora Duffy!
 
Peter
 


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