Admissions Handbook 2011 - The Southport School

Admissions Handbook 37
Round Square
The Southport School offers students of the school wonderful opportunities that are facilitated by the
association the school has had since 1974 with The Round Square. Acceptance as a member was the turning
point in the direction of the school. It facilitated the development of vision outside the confines of the state or
the country, making the school and its members, past, present and future, part of the world of education and
a much broader experience.
TSS, for 17 years, was the only school accepted into the organisation in the Southern Hemisphere. Our
association has seen many members of our community be involved with aspects of the organization impelling
new experience, connections and friendships. TSS is the environment of today, with comprehensive and
inclusive programmes thanks to its membership of Round Square and adoption of Hahnian educational
philosophy.
Round Square offers a clear philosophy of education which includes six pillars — the foundation of the
development of creative, responsible, caring people. The Pillars of Round Square facilitate experiences that
are pursued for the sake of knowledge and building character. These include International Understanding, an
important quality for the times we live in as understanding builds a base for real tolerance. Democracy and
democratic processes — in the organisation of the school it affords students the opportunity and forum to
question what is happening in their environment and with grounding in Leadership skills and opportunities
for positions of responsibility, empowers students to make change in their environment.
Environmental Understanding challenges the students to accept responsibility for their physical environment
both school and wider afield. The school has a thorough Outdoor Education programme. Beginning in Year 3
the students are impelled to develop skills, accept challenge and adventure through the grades with
developmental degrees of difficulty in each year group. This leads to the self organised camp in Year 11. In
Round Square schools, challenge is everywhere. Students are not only expected to do well in conventional
ways, but to serve and to lead. Leadership is encompassed in the previous four areas with many of the
students offered leadership opportunities. The last of the foundations is Service. This is striving to achieve
balance between self-improvement and self-denial in the interests of others. This is all combined with the
formal skills of education. The school, through the Round Square philosophy and Mission Statement of the
school addresses the whole person not fragmented parts.
Much of what your sons experience, or are impelled into, in their years at the school lay a foundation for their
future. The reward of this education will become part of your sons’ lives in their future. There is immediate
benefit from involvement in all of the activities the school offers, yet the reality is that years down the track a
real understanding of the Hahnian philosophy will sit comfortably and be a strong foundation. As your sons
grow into manhood they will create new ways and visions not only for themselves, but potentially for the
whole human race.
To understand our involvement with Round Square and the opportunities available outside those that are
interwoven into the operating of the school, I present a concise account of Round Square.
Round Square Mission Statement
Round Square is a worldwide association of schools which share a commitment, beyond academic excellence,
to personal development and responsibility through service, challenge, adventure and international
understanding.
Round Square’s member schools are widely known; but the common bond they share is less recognised and
understood. This bond is important, however, and powerful; for Round Square is an organisation that
embodies one of the twentieth century’s foremost revolutions in education.
This revolution led to the creation of dozens of outstanding schools, and to Outward Bound, the United
World Colleges, the Duke of Edinburgh awards, and other innovations. It continues to influence education in
many countries, and inspires educators at each Round Square school. As of 2005, there are 51 member
schools, with eight in Australia and a number of regional schools.
Kurt Hahn’s philosophy of education inspired the vision of the Round Square, with quotes such as “in your
disability is your opportunity” and “Plus est en vous” and “There’s more in you (than you think)”. You can
see that he was driven to inspire and impel youth into learning experiences to develop the whole person.