Junior School
Junior School Embraces full Coeducation 2022 sees the Junior School reaching full coeducation after being the first section of the School to begin the transition back in 2018 with the arrival of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten girls. The Junior School now has 33 classes, every one of them with girls'. Together in learning, together in life is alive and well and the students have embraced the changes over the last four years. The percentage of girls in each year group has been increasing each year and we now average 40% of girls across the Junior School. In Kindergarten and Year 1, we currently have just over 49% of girls in each grade which augurs well for the future. Barker's Enrolments team have done a remarkable job in such a short space of time. The first Year 6 cohort of seven classes, also provides the first Junior School female leaders. This is a significant milestone. Captains – Emma Lukell and Henry Brown Vice-Captains – Tia McIntosh and Cooper McNaught Each of the six Houses also has a coed leadership team. Byrd – Bree Hirst and Oliver Toy Flinders – Ivy Wu and Tristan Tilley Hillary – Amelia Huang and Jericho Alley Mawson – Matilda Davy-Griffiths and Zack Yerbury Scott – Angela Li and Thomas Griffiths Tasman – Ines Lai and Tom Evans The face of Junior School sport has also adapted to the changing environment with Netball, Girls’ Football, Hockey, Girls’ Basketball, Girls’ AFL, Girls’ Touch Football and Girls’ Tennis all joining the list of IPSHA sports on offer to female students. Additionally, many girls have chosen to play traditional Junior School sports alongside the boys, a number of those girls playing in the top team.
Barker Dance provides access to auditioned competition groups within the Junior School for boys and girls. There are also programs for all levels of dancers from beginners in the Ignite Co-curricular program. K-2 Hip-Hop, Theatre Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical Dance and Years 3-6 Hip-Hop are all options for our enthusiastic dancers. We are working in partnership with REDed (Raw Energy Dance Education), and last year we entered online eisteddfods and competitions with the auditioned troupes. Hopefully, our groups will be able to compete face-to-face this year. Coeducation is a powerful strategy to foster equity, justice, kindness and respect amongst students. It is the future of work and of a more cohesive society. It provides full access to the Barker experience for all students and their families in one place, promoting harmony and a rich and vibrant academic and cocurricular life for our students. The journey to full coeducation may have been realised, however, we want to continue to develop and evolve, ensuring that we offer experiences for all students that allow them to develop their skills and passions in a safe, supportive environment. We want to celebrate growth and achievement and continue to build a respectful and compassionate community where young people grow up together and appreciate the differing viewpoints, knowledge, understanding and giftings that each other brings. I am confident that we are making tracks in this direction in the Junior School. Martin Lubrano Head of Junior School
Autumn 2022 • Issue 134 • The Barker • 5
