Growing Curious, Creative, and Resilient Minds

At St Joseph’s, we believe learning is more than remembering facts. It is about thinking deeply, asking great questions, and exploring new possibilities. Critical and creative thinking is a skill we nurture in every year level, across all subjects.

When students think critically, they learn to ask “Why?” and “What if?” They weigh evidence, consider different perspectives, and make thoughtful decisions. When they think creatively, they use their imagination to design solutions, tell stories, and see problems in new ways.

These capabilities are closely linked to resilience and persistence. When faced with a challenge, students learn to keep trying, adapt their approach, and see mistakes as opportunities to learn. Critical and creative thinkers are more willing to persevere, experiment, and try again. These are important qualities for both learning and life.

These skills are reflected in student reports through comments about how children approach challenges, work collaboratively, show originality in their ideas, and persist with tasks even when they are difficult. You might see feedback on their ability to explain their thinking, apply problem-solving strategies, or explore different possibilities before settling on a solution.

Families can foster these skills at home by:

• Encouraging curiosity with open-ended questions like, “What do you think would happen if…?”
• Involving children in real-life problem-solving, such as planning a family meal or building something together.
• Providing opportunities for imaginative play, art, storytelling, or designing and creating projects.
• Praising persistence and effort, not just the end result, so children learn that sticking with something is an achievement in itself.
• Talking openly about mistakes as stepping stones to improvement.

Together, home and school can grow confident, adaptable learners who have the curiosity, creativity, and resilience to face challenges and embrace new opportunities.

Nicole Charnock and Zoe Parish
Primary Coordinators