Phillip Island Village School uses the Victorian Curriculum as the basis for its academic program. The school’s Philosophy and Guiding Principles outline the broader framework in which teaching and learning occur. The school’s approach has been developed and refined at Koonwarra Village School. The two schools are managed separately, but staff and students regularly work together. Our 2016 Annual Report overviews the activities and programs that occurred in our inaugural year. Our 2017 Annual Report captures the activities and programs as they progressed for our second year of operation.
At PIVS, we believe self-actualization is best achieved through freedom. Internal freedom - in thought and expression, within an environment free from overbearing authority, externally imposed rules, and unnecessarily prescriptive courses of study. Such freedoms are provided within the context of a healthy and functional school community and positive engagement with society at large. This requires a balance between effective self-management and responsibility.
There are three critical aspects of our school culture that are interwoven with freedom and responsibility. These will support students in their journey towards living fully conscious and meaningful lives. The first of these is social and emotional intelligence – allowing students to know themselves, have empathy with others, and communicate effectively. The second is autonomy and shared decision-making – ongoing opportunities to practice making decisions that affect each individual personally and the broader school community.
The third is connection – to nature, people, and the rhythms of life – through real-life activities such as spending times in all forms of nature, learning from a wide range of people – younger and older and engaging in celebrations and rituals that reflect important events in their lives.
While some of these critical aspects may seem like a significant distance from the emphasis of conventional schooling, they reflect a subtle yet profound shift in priorities. These priorities are our response to a changing world more quickly than ever before, a future that will require highly adaptive survival strategies in conditions that will provide new and wide-ranging possibilities. PIVS will facilitate this unique educational experience within government requirements relating to schools and incorporate the best of current knowledge about teaching and learning.
