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In 2021, Ms Cara Mearns, formerly the Head of Fintona's Early Learning Centre (ELC), was appointed Head of Junior Campus (ELC to Year 4). In this article, Cara shares her vision for Fintona's Junior Campus.
Fintona’s Junior Campus is a very special place, and I have enjoyed nearly 14 years as a member of this wonderful community.
The size of the Campus provides teachers with opportunities to get to know every student and watch as they develop and learn across their journey of up to seven years. It has been a pleasure for me to lead the team in the Early Learning Centre for a decade, and now in my new role as Head of Junior Campus, I am delighted to work more closely alongside our Junior School teachers and specialist teaching staff. As a collective, we work in collaboration to ensure the experiences our students have are relevant, thoughtful, rigorous, and of course, fun.
My vision for the Junior Campus is simple and has always been at the forefront of my work here at Fintona; to provide the highest quality education and care experience for our students and their families.
Fintona has a long history of educational excellence, and I stand on the shoulders of great women that have come before me as leaders at Fintona. It is both a privilege and a joy to be part of this new era of educational leadership as the Junior Campus evolves and creates new and exciting opportunities for both students and teachers.
This year I am enjoying the opportunity to spend time with the Junior School students and learn more about the wonderful experiences the girls have every day.
It has been a pleasure to reconnect with children and families who attended the Early Learning Centre, and I am grateful for the enthusiasm and kindness that the students and families have shown me as I settle into this new role.
I am also enjoying my time with the ELC children, and I look forward to my weekly K3 library lessons where I spend time getting to know our newest and youngest learners.
Semester 1 has proven to be a hive of activity on the Junior Campus. The ELC and Junior School students have been involved in a variety of Units of Inquiry, including learning about animals, the solar system, persuasive writing, sustainable practices, families, and ourselves. After a year without special events and visitors, the students have enjoyed incursions with animal handlers, drama specialists and science experts, with some students also venturing out on excursions and camps. We welcomed and hosted our mums for Mother’s Day Breakfasts, held our annual ELC Family Picnic, the House Swimming Carnival and we have recommenced a myriad of extra-curricular activities. It has been wonderful to see our community back onsite and involved again in the daily life of the School and I most am grateful to be a part of it.
