Light Her Path

Classrooms for our Future

Imagine walking into a large, airy History classroom and seeing groups of students so engaged in their work that they don’t even notice you arrive! As you walk around, you see one group is in the middle of a giant Google Virtual Walking Tour around ancient Cyprus. It is projected onto one wall and the students are currently arguing over whether the town appears more Hellenistic or Roman at the time. The next group is using a universal translator to read original reports sent from Cyprus back to Rome about the politics of the time and the economic impact of the discoveries of copper on the island and the production of bronze. You move along to the next group … at first, they seem completely off on a tangent – viewing simulations of moving tectonic plates and looking at the devastating effect of earthquakes. Isn’t this a History class, you think to yourself? But as you listen a little closer you realise that they are uncovering the influence of the geographical and environmental features of Cyprus – and what this meant for the development of the towns on the island 1800 years ago. And throughout this time, you observe the teacher moving quietly from one group to another – prompting, guiding, answering questions, pointing to the instructions written on the wall and reminding the girls that they only have 25 minutes left until they need to come back and report their findings to the whole group.

In the almost 100 years since Wilkinson House was completed, the former apartment building has served the school well as a boarding house and most recently as classrooms, but its small spaces, some in obscure shapes are extremely limiting and its ability to accommodate future technology even more so. A lesson like the one described above just doesn’t quite work … there is no room to separate groups, there is no flat wall to project onto, the technology has been added in afterwards … and even moving around the small classrooms when every desk is occupied is tricky! The re-development of Wilkinson House allows us to keep the beautiful streetscape of Forbes Street while transforming the interior of this much-loved building – generous learning spaces, the infrastructure to support an evolving curriculum and the opportunity to provide contemporary and creative lessons and the most efficient and effective tools that educational technology has to offer.

The past 18 months have reinforced the importance of technology in our society, and in education too. During the pandemic, the School has worked hard to ensure learning is uninterrupted.  But the tools which allow teachers to convey ideas and concepts from screens and enable work to be submitted, marked and returned, remarkable though they are,  were developed to supplement rather than replace in-person learning. 

Post-pandemic, technology can return to its rightful place – as just one of the tools that a teacher may use as they design and build engaging, creative and inspiring lessons. There is no doubt that relationships are at the heart of a great teaching and learning experience – between teachers and students and between the students themselves. Face-to-face instruction and attention from dedicated and committed teachers is paramount. While learning has been delivered in our homes, we have also seen the longing in our children for the classroom interaction with teachers and for the jostling, robust company of friends. The redevelopment of Wilkinson House positions the school to capture the best of both worlds: the personalised engagement of in-person teaching, the activities that allow the girls to work together and the benefit of all the tools – technological and otherwise – that allow each girl to strive to achieve her best.  

The Light Her Path Capital Campaign is about equipping the school with the tools and resources to meet the future demands of education and to capture the full benefits of these new and exciting educational facilities.

The Light Her Path Capital Campaign is seeking to raise $20 million:

• $12 million this year to ensure we can bring the new designs for Wilkinson House, melding heritage and function, to life; and
• a further $8 million to expand SCEGGS’ scholarship program from the 35 girls currently supported by means-tested scholarships.

We invite every person in our community to give as generously as they can.

See the proposed plans for Wilkinson House on our website.  You may also pledge to the Light Her Path Capital Campaign or call the SCEGGS Development Office on (02) 9332 1133.

The Light Her Path Committee