The Griffin Way

Griffin’s first year was full of intentionality, collaboration, 'cherry picking' best practices, questions, long hours, grit, celebration and sheer joy. At times it was a hard slog, but we were propelled from within by purpose, our collective vision and the unique opportunity we’d each been given – the chance to build something extraordinary from the ground up. A chance to rewrite the story of school.

On Monday, 25th of January 2016, Griffin State School opened its classrooms to 243 learners and their families. Staff greeted each learner at the door, excited for the adventure ahead to finally begin. ‘Tea and Tissues’ at the Resource Centre welcomed caregivers with open, supportive arms post drop-off; a chance to connect and forge relationships.

We understood the true meaning of ‘many hands make light work’ during our first year, and still recognise this valuable cultural marker today. Getting in and helping out, doing more than your bit, and noticing a colleague in need is just part of 'the Griffin Way'. Through pitching in and collectively building our new school community, we’d stumbled across a second family – our Griffin family.

Decision-making was collaborative from the get-go and leadership shared. Teachers relished the opportunity to fit in and stand out, to be Tall Poppies, and bring their knowledge and talents to the forefront. With an instructional leader at the helm, ideas and motivation were given fertile soil in which to grow.

During our first year, an understanding of 'the Griffin Way' became entrenched, a term to define our emerging culture and our commitments to it. The Griffin Way is a state of being, a way of operating, a thought process, a set of Normative Behaviors; a critical element of our powerful school culture. It aligns vision with action and signifies our community coming together, no matter the cause.

The Griffin Way feels like inclusion and warmth, sounds like joyous doing and celebration, and looks like collective responsibility and intentional collaborative action. Our school song, Hearts and Minds, was collaboratively composed during our first year and encapsulates our way.