This year is all about culture
Our one-word theme for this year is ‘culture’. In his book The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle states that culture is derived from the Latin word cultus, which means care.
With many new boys joining us this year, this is an opportunity for us to develop and reinforce what makes our Boys’ Junior School, in the Tintern Parallel model, such a unique place, and one where we have a culture that does indeed provide and promote care, support, individuality, togetherness and safety. Investigating, discussing and learning from groups who have created a successful culture is something that we will be focussing on throughout the year, complementing our focus on the Tintern Compass Values.
We will also be using the eight cultural forces, as represented in the circular outer ring of our logo, to further promote a ‘culture of thinking’, with a specific emphasis on questioning, challenging our boys to push themselves.
This theme, and how it is immersed into our Boys’ Junior School, is directly related to Cultures of Thinking, one of Tintern Grammar’s key strategic projects, premised on the idea that ‘learning is a consequence of thinking’. I am excited that culture, the Tintern Compass and Groick will complement our Boys’ Junior School staff’s expertise when it comes to providing boys with an environment where they can be ‘the best they can hope to be’.
ELC – Year 6 Foundation Service
Our ELC – Year 6 Foundation Service last week was a wonderful reminder of the history of Tintern Grammar, its 148-year journey of stability and change, and how it continues to adapt to provide the best education for our children and community.
This story of evolution from 1877 to now is unique, especially the move to Ringwood East, the formation of Southwood Boys Grammar School in 1999 to provide a ‘Tintern Education’ for boys as well as girls, and then the ‘coming together’ on the one site in 2014, is one that I hope our boys and families know and understand.
The Year 6 Induction Assembly last Monday was an opportunity for us to acknowledge our Year 6 boys as leaders of our Junior School, while also hearing from four of our Year 12 school leaders. Arya, Jack and Brayden (who have been at Tintern since Prep), and Grace (who joined Tintern in Year 7) all shared stories of their Junior School days, and gave advice regarding the fun times that lie ahead.
Adam Kenny | Head of Boys’ Junior School
