The above statement is the header from our website that introduces Investigator College’s Vision, Mission and Values.
Our five values are Excellence/Creativity/Community/Respect/Sustainability.
All five are equally important, but for me when I think about Investigator College, I think about the word ‘Community’. I have been privileged to be a member of this community as both a parent and staff member for 17 years! It is a community that my family and I fell in love with when returned home to South Australia from a military posting. We just knew this was the right place to raise our young family. At the end of this year my daughter will graduate from the College, following my son’s graduation in 2022. My children both speak so fondly of the Investigator community and we know it will be a big part of their lives moving forward.
One of my regular duties as our Head of Secondary School is to run tours for prospective families to the college. The word I frequently use is community. So why is this so important?
Community plays a crucial role in schools, shaping the environment where students learn, grow and thrive. A strong sense of community fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and belonging, leading to better educational outcomes and personal development.
We show community in so many different ways – coffee mornings for families, Dogs in the Quad, Mothers’ Day Breakfast, Grandparents’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Currency Creek open days, the school musical, fundraising for sporting teams and events are just a few.
This week I am incredibly proud of our Year 11 Food Technology class, led by their teacher Emma McDonald as they are hosting the Australia’s biggest morning tea on site to raise money for Cancer. They have already raised hundreds of dollars in the lead up to this event and have invited families in to share in this occasion. So many of our families are impacted by cancer and we hope we can make our contribution count in raising awareness and money, but also recognising the impact it can have. That is what community looks like to me.
However, I see it everyday in the way our students and staff interact. We currently have young calves onsite in our agriculture area and so many of our people have stepped up to share the feeding roster, including early on Saturday and Sunday morning.
I know we will continue to foster a sense of community within our college as it has so many benefits, such as:
- Promoting wellbeing – A connected school community helps students feel supported emotionally and socially. This contributes to a positive mental health environment and reduces feelings of isolation.
- Encouraging respect and inclusivity – Schools that prioritise community teach students the value of diversity and respect. They cultivate environments where everyone feels accepted regardless of their background.
- Building lifelong connections – The relationships formed in a school community often extend beyond the classroom. Friendships, mentorships and networks built during school years can last a lifetime.
Thank you all for continuing to be a part of this wonderful community. Investigator College is truly a special place to learn and work and we look forward to more exciting times ahead.
