PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Getting to know Mr Clark Wight , Head of Preparatory School
What is your favourite time of the day and why ? I am a morning person and love being up at the crack of dawn . This definitely comes from my days as a charter fisherman when our first trip of the day was around 4.30am . I work best in the mornings with a cup of coffee and listening to the sounds of the world coming awake .
If you were an animal , what animal would you be , and why ? An Osprey ( also called the Fish Eagle or Sea Hawk ) is a large raptor that lives near water and hunts fish . I love that they have evolved to hunt in water and they are majestic and awesome to watch fly and dive for fish .
What do you think are your strongest leadership attributes ? Curiosity as a leader is a trait which probably does not get enough “ air time ”. I think that curiosity leads to questions such as “ What if ?” and “ What next ?” I also value the leadership traits of being able to be authentic , listen and have a good laugh . I also love to work with teams and individuals to see what their potential is as leaders .
What did you want to be when you were 7 years old ? Aquaman , or a professional gridiron player , or Spiderman .
What book has influenced you the most ? I can ’ t keep it to just one . The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay and Daring Greatly by Brene Brown .
What would your superpower be and how would you use it ? Apparition – it is the magical method of transportation from Harry Potter .
What was the last collaborative project you were involved with ? Every day , as part of a family , is a collaborative project . With three kids , a dog and family in two hemispheres , my wife and I are in an ongoing , fun collaborative project . On the work front , we are working on many collaborative projects in the Preparatory School . I love working in groups as there is so much experience and wisdom found in working with a group of people .
What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self ? Don ’ t worry about what other people are thinking , it probably isn ’ t about you , and be present in each moment as it will never come again .
In what ways are you the same as your childhood self ? I love to laugh , hard and often . I love meeting people and hearing their story .
Mr Clark Wight
And I am still an optimist who sees the best in every situation .
Who is your personal hero and why ? My Dad is still my hero . He loves sports but never pushed me . He values academics , but never pushed me towards his vocation . He has always taught me through his actions the power of loyalty , trust , compassion , laughter and family . I love the way everyone he meets calls him BN ( Big Ned ) within minutes and they can ’ t wait to meet him again . I love the way he transitioned from my father to a great friend over the years , and in all that time taught me who I was through questions , time and love . Interesting that , of all the people I have met over the years , my Dad is still my hero .
to their uncanny ability to collaborate effortlessly .
In Year 3 Art class the students were looking at the concept of surrealism through examples of Salvador Dali ’ s work . Students naturally collaborated and gave candid feedback , encouragement and help as masterpieces were created . Though these were individual projects , our 7 and 8 year olds understood the necessity of seeking feedback , advice and encouragement from their peers . I heard phrases like “ Have you considered …” and “ Wow , I never thought to do it that way .” and “ Let ’ s look around to see what other ideas are out there .” These are Year 3 children ! Their deep understanding of the essential qualities of collaboration to question , seek new knowledge and highlight examples of excellence were astounding .
At the same time the Year 6 students were baking and cooking lunch using their solar ovens . Each design was unique and reflected the collaboration of individuals towards a common important goal - eating their cooked food . The underpinnings of effective collaboration could be seen in their singular and maintained focus on their purpose . They did not get distracted by anything that would detract from well-cooked food getting in their mouth . This focus on purpose is often what lacks in adult collaboration as ego , personality and ulterior agendas cloud and dissipate potential energy . End result – some outstanding pizzas , cookies and something that looked akin to meatloaf .
As a staff we watch and embrace the enthusiasm and ease with which our students engage in collaborative practice .
Our whole Preparatory School staff , coordinator teams and specialist teams have been thoroughly reviewing best practice for our students as well as what is unique and a ‘ hallmark ’ of each year level . We use the examples of our students ; their energy , passion , commitment , emotional intelligence and “ can do ” attitude to remind us of the power of outstanding collaboration and connection . It is a high bar they set .
Please , if you want a crash course in effective collaboration , join our Preparatory School students in the sandpit , science labs , sporting fields or classrooms and learn just how it is done .
Mr Clark Wight Head of Preparatory School
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