From the classroom to the playground, students from St Joseph’s Primary School Corinda are helping to shape their education experience.
A group of Year 6 students recently took the lead in a project to design a new playground.
St Joseph’s Primary School Corinda Teacher Lani Cummings said the playground project was a whole school effort.
“A group of Year 6 students formed a Playground Committee tasked with gathering feedback from students from across the school and liaising with the architects to share these ideas,” Lani said.
“The students were able to take ownership of their play spaces and feel really positive about the outcome as they knew they were going to enjoy it.
“It is part of our school community that students are encouraged to share their ideas with their teachers and make decisions about their learning, their play spaces, and in the classroom.”
St Joseph’s Primary School Corinda, Year 6 student Sajag said the project was great fun due to the collaboration skills and teamwork from the Committee.
“I loved working with the architects and bringing the ideas from other students in the school to make the plan even better,” Sajag said.
"The playground isn't for teachers or adults so students have to have a say in what they like - if they don’t like the playground, they’re not going to use it.”
St Joseph’s Primary School Corinda Principal Kim Davis said the playground project was one of the most positive experiences she’s had as an educator.
“Listening to the way that the students interacted and engaged with the architects at such a high level, and provided such constructive feedback was a joy to be part of,” Kim said.
“And the Playground Committee saw that their perspective, their ideas, and their influence was really valued, genuinely impacting the changes that were being made to the project,” she said.
The school was one of two BCE schools recently named as a finalist in the Australian Council for Student Voice Awards in the Student Voice Impact category for the design of a new playground.
Kim said the whole school is so proud to be recognised in the Student Voice Awards.
“Students are the heart of our school, and listening to their perspectives and voices has impacted our community in a really significant way,” she said.
“We can see that in our school environment, in our learning environment, and in a number of projects we’ve undertaken where students are leading those projects.”
BCE Student Protection Lead Carolyn De Witt-Ryall said the playground project was a great example of what can be achieved through genuine student engagement.
“Empowering students to have a say in decisions that impact them not only leads to far better outcomes but contributes overall to a safer school environment,” Carolyn said.
“When students feel safe, valued and heard, they are more likely to seek help when needed.”
Student Voice is at the centre of Standard 2 of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, which mandates that children and adults are safe, informed and participate in decisions affecting them, and are taken seriously. It outlines the importance of providing students with information and opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives.