QUEST FEEDBACK 2020

 Each year I ask Quest kids (year 3 and up) to give me feedback on Quest - what they like, what could make it better, what they'd tell others about Quest.

I love hearing from kids as they are so honest! The feedback is anonymous, unless they choose to add their name to their comments. It's really just to give me an idea if I'm on the right track and give them a chance to be heard and make suggestions.

Firstly - what they like about Quest... stand-outs here were the new learning, and fun / exciting learning.

Next - ideas for improving Quest. These were more varied. The most common suggestion was that we have a classroom and don't do Quest in the library - easily fixed as we are back in a room next year - yay! Other suggestions were for more time outside, more choice time, and longer at Quest. We also had suggestions for learning about things such as history, dinosaurs, animals - which I will try to add in next year. Some hopefuls suggested lollies and food could make it better!

I loved some of the things they would tell others about Quest...

"you should go to quest to because it's good for your brain and you'll learn a lot of things"

"that its amazing and really fun and that its really cool and we learn about different things every time"

"Quest is awesome - there is sooo much fun education!"

"quest is a fun place that you can go to learn more about the world in a fun way."

And finally... "it is fun and you learn a lot there even though it just seems like fun." This makes my heart sing! Isn't this what learning should be all about? I think if children have an interest in a topic they will be more motivated to learn - that's one of my aims at Quest. So nice to hear such positive feedback from the kids.

And my feedback about Quest?

I am the luckiest teacher around as I get to learn constantly from the kids I work with. I work with kids who love to learn, have great senses of humour, ask wonderful questions, and share so many ideas, as we all stretch our thinking together.

Have a good Summer break everyone - see you in 2021.

2020 farewells

 2020 leavers

To my wonderful year six Quest students,

I want to leave you with something to think about as you go on your way to college. I hope that at Quest you have learnt many skills that will help on your continued journey at school and into the future.

You have been blessed with an ability to think well, but that does not mean that life will always be easy. You will need to work hard and not be afraid to give things a go. You may need to ask for help sometimes, and at other times you may help others. And sometimes you will come across a block in the road, or a problem that seems too difficult to get past. 

The obstacle in our path - a story

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

YOU are the one in charge of choosing how you deal with problems - what will you choose? Will you moan and groan and blame others, or will you try to solve the problem? Remember, you can always ask for help if problems seem too big for you. 

Go out and grab those opportunities, give things a go, and make your own path. Surround yourself with good people who will support you and who you can support. I know you all will have wonderful lives ahead of you if you take the opportunities that come along.

Have fun at college. I have loved working with you all and I wish you all the best for the future. Keep in touch - I love to hear from past students!