Cross-curricular Mentorship
Our Year 5 students demonstrated the rigour of their learning by hosting an impressive transdisciplinary exhibition for parents, peers, and staff.
Held in East Commons, the 2025 Year 5 Showcase represented weeks of sophisticated inquiry into the Unit, How We Express Ourselves. Each girl selected an area of personal interest and a mode of expression. She then engaged in a detailed exploration of how humans discover and articulate ideas, feelings, values, and beliefs, producing high-quality creative works (from poetry to dance and 3-D models) and written pieces outlining the intellectual journey.
The Showcase format also provided what educational research consistently confirms as crucial for deep understanding and retention – an authentic audience. Year 5 Teacher, Mr Sjoerd van den Bosch, noted: "The audience of parents, teachers, and peers gave the students greater purpose and added status to the event they were all working towards."
The high quality of work also reflected the collaborative approach between classroom teachers and specialist mentors. While our Year 5 teaching team provided the foundational guidance, an impressive array of cross-campus experts offered masterclasses and ongoing feedback:
- Head of Dance, Mr Peter Fares, led explorations in dance expression
- Technological and Applied Studies Teacher (TAS), Ms Jan McNally, guided textile and dressmaking endeavours
- Head of TAS, Mr Craig Jeffery, introduced special effects makeup techniques
- Digital Learning Leader, Mr Laurens Derks, mentored animation projects
- Visual Arts Teacher, Ms Yvette Lewington, shared her photography expertise
- Kindergarten Teacher, Ms Carlie Plummer, explored significance through artistic media
- Year 5 Teacher, Mr Dean Pomfrett, taught the fundamentals of filmmaking.
This integration of diverse expertise mirrors the interdisciplinary approach valued in higher education and the workplace. In addition, the impact of the Showcase extended beyond Year 5, with younger students touring the exhibition to receive inspiration and understanding for their own future Primary Years Programme experiences.
The students’ explorations were a reflection of Wenona’s mission to empower young women. Through comprehensive inquiry, creative expression, and the work of helping to plan and execute the exhibition, the students developed both subject knowledge and the collaborative skills essential for future success.
A heartfelt thanks to the entire Year 5 teaching team and specialist mentors who made this remarkable educational experience possible.