In October, The Educator revealed Australia’s 5-Star Innovative Schools of 2021, recognising the education trailblazers who are superchaging teaching and learning in classrooms across the nation.
One of the schools recognised was Hymba Yumba Independent School (HYIS), which first opened its doors to students as the first Indigenous school in the Ipswich suburb of Springfield in 2010 and has been inspiring young people through some truly powerful project-based learning initiatives ever since.
At HYIS, “jarjums” (the word for ‘children’ in the local Bidjara language) are engaged in their learning from the moment they walk through the gates in the morning – and from a quick glance at the school’s programs, it’s easy to see why.
The school’s high-quality project-based learning programs are putting students in the drivers’ seat of their learning, but in a way that is more compassionate than academic, and more inspiring than instructional.
HYIS’ principal, Peter Foster, said his approach to innovation revolves around exploring, creating, analysing and applying cutting edge practices that prepare students for the world in the next decade and beyond.
“To look at things differently, from a collaborative perspective for the greater good of humankind. Innovation has no limits to the imagination and should be focused on the ‘why’ without the inhibition of the finer points of the ‘how’,” Foster told The Educator.
“If you really would like to make a difference and achieve wonderful outcomes beyond the imagination, then through persistence and creative thinking this will occur. Elevating all of the young people in our ‘educational care’ to levels not yet seen.”
HYIS’ full refurbishment has included the creation of 18 ’21st Century learning spaces’ that include 2.14m touchscreen computers that can share classes globally as well as improve the teaching and learning to a level that HYIS aspires to.
“A digital learning strategy that will not incorporate learning with our Jarjums, but also expand and improve our business development as a school, creating a higher level of community engagement and functionality,” Foster explained.
In the year ahead, Foster said learning at HYIS will expand beyond the boundaries of a school day, school week or even school term and become “an endless inquiry into the world”, creating pathways for the young leaders of the future.
“They will lead in both their culture, holding it close to their heart as they lead in tomorrow’s world.”