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Mindful coloring was one of the FUN Day activities.
Mindful coloring was one of the FUN Day activities.
A FUN Way to Connect
In a world where remote work has become more common, finding ways for staff to engage with each other has become more challenging for workplaces. For Executive Director, Research and Innovation, Lauren Sayer, this challenge was answered simply by asking Melbourne Girls Grammar staff how they wanted to engage across diverse teams.
At the beginning of each term, MGGS staff come together to learn and prepare for the term ahead. Following these staff days, Lauren gathers feedback to improve professional learning opportunities for all staff. After the first staff day of 2022 and another year of multiple lockdowns, she knew she had to shift her approach, leading to the creation of the MGGS FUN Day.
"The idea for MGGS FUN (Freedom, Understanding, Networking) Day was born out of the feedback we received that staff wanted time to interact and engage with each other," she said.
"There also was a strong need for belonging and wellbeing moving out from two years of remote/hybrid learning and working.”
"We reached out to The Eventful Learning Company, an expert in the development of educational and learning-focussed events, to support the architecture of the Staff Day.”
"Each year, staff have a professional learning text; this year it was Jim Knight's Better Conversations."
"The MGGS FUN Day was designed with choice of place and pace, low technology and high connection, understanding through discovery, and a legacy and trail of learning as its key principles. It also focused on having conversations."
At the beginning of each term, MGGS staff come together to learn and prepare for the term ahead. Following these staff days, Lauren gathers feedback to improve professional learning opportunities for all staff. After the first staff day of 2022 and another year of multiple lockdowns, she knew she had to shift her approach, leading to the creation of the MGGS FUN Day.
"The idea for MGGS FUN (Freedom, Understanding, Networking) Day was born out of the feedback we received that staff wanted time to interact and engage with each other," she said.
"There also was a strong need for belonging and wellbeing moving out from two years of remote/hybrid learning and working.”
"We reached out to The Eventful Learning Company, an expert in the development of educational and learning-focussed events, to support the architecture of the Staff Day.”
"Each year, staff have a professional learning text; this year it was Jim Knight's Better Conversations."
"The MGGS FUN Day was designed with choice of place and pace, low technology and high connection, understanding through discovery, and a legacy and trail of learning as its key principles. It also focused on having conversations."
At the beginning of each term, MGGS staff come together to learn and prepare for the term ahead. Following these staff days, Lauren gathers feedback to improve professional learning opportunities for all staff. After the first staff day of 2022 and another year of multiple lockdowns, she knew she had to shift her approach, leading to the creation of the MGGS FUN Day.
"The idea for MGGS FUN (Freedom, Understanding, Networking) Day was born out of the feedback we received that staff wanted time to interact and engage with each other," she said.
"There also was a strong need for belonging and wellbeing moving out from two years of remote/hybrid learning and working.”
"We reached out to The Eventful Learning Company, an expert in the development of educational and learning-focussed events, to support the architecture of the Staff Day.”
"Each year, staff have a professional learning text; this year it was Jim Knight's Better Conversations."
"The MGGS FUN Day was designed with choice of place and pace, low technology and high connection, understanding through discovery, and a legacy and trail of learning as its key principles. It also focused on having conversations."
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Lauren said the day's activities had to showcase the School's and local spaces.
"We also wanted to showcase our amazing staff and their talents and so carefully curated activities which did just that," she said.
"We asked for expressions of interest to run events, and our MGGS staff responded in droves. Along with a few external presenters brought in by our event partner, we ended up with 22 activities that staff could choose from across the day."
Some activities included getting into the Artemis Centre gym for a workout, hitting the Yarra to learn to row, patting dogs and chatting, cooking, singing and art classes.
Lauren said the day was a success and a learning experience for everyone.
"I learned that we have an amazingly talented staff across MGGS who have skills and passions well beyond teaching and learning," she said.
"Staff embraced getting out of their comfort zone to try something new!”
"We also identified that we all have different preferences for our wellbeing time. For some staff loved the collective bootcamp sessions whilst others enjoyed the quiet options of mindful colouring or Lego. It was wonderful to learn more about the people we work with daily."
Lauren said the FUN Day demonstrated that the needs of the staff are recognised and valued by the School's leaders, fostering both goodwill and collaboration.
She added, "When workplace wellbeing is supported, everyone feels more secure, valued and committed to their work and organisation."
Lauren said, days like the MGGS FUN Day are very beneficial and allow staff to recharge, reconnect and ensure they retain a positive mindset.
"The strong physical health aspect, which included healthy cooking and activity, reinforces the need for physical and mental wellbeing," she said.
"Staff told us it was great to learn new skills in a relaxed environment, putting them in a great frame of mind to start the term. They loved the variety of activities and the challenge of stepping out of a usual learning situation.
Lauren said the day's activities had to showcase the School's and local spaces.
"We also wanted to showcase our amazing staff and their talents and so carefully curated activities which did just that," she said.
"We asked for expressions of interest to run events, and our MGGS staff responded in droves. Along with a few external presenters brought in by our event partner, we ended up with 22 activities that staff could choose from across the day."
Some activities included getting into the Artemis Centre gym for a workout, hitting the Yarra to learn to row, patting dogs and chatting, cooking, singing and art classes.
Lauren said the day was a success and a learning experience for everyone.
"I learned that we have an amazingly talented staff across MGGS who have skills and passions well beyond teaching and learning," she said.
"Staff embraced getting out of their comfort zone to try something new!”
"We also identified that we all have different preferences for our wellbeing time. For some staff loved the collective bootcamp sessions whilst others enjoyed the quiet options of mindful colouring or Lego. It was wonderful to learn more about the people we work with daily."
Lauren said the FUN Day demonstrated that the needs of the staff are recognised and valued by the School's leaders, fostering both goodwill and collaboration.
She added, "When workplace wellbeing is supported, everyone feels more secure, valued and committed to their work and organisation."
Lauren said, days like the MGGS FUN Day are very beneficial and allow staff to recharge, reconnect and ensure they retain a positive mindset.
"The strong physical health aspect, which included healthy cooking and activity, reinforces the need for physical and mental wellbeing," she said.
"Staff told us it was great to learn new skills in a relaxed environment, putting them in a great frame of mind to start the term. They loved the variety of activities and the challenge of stepping out of a usual learning situation.
Lauren said team building days like MGGS FUN build trust, mitigate conflict, encourage communication, and increase collaboration.
"Effective team building means we have more engaged staff, which is great for the whole MGGS community," she said.
Lauren added the School connects and builds relationships amongst its staff in various ways. Staff Association activities, trivia nights, a Wine Appreciation Society, exercise classes such as yoga and bootcamps, weekly dedicated professional learning and even a choir, which was born from the MGGS FUN Day, are some of the ways the staff community connects.
But what makes MGGS's staff community unique compared to others?
"The MGGS staff community is highly relational and collaborative, forming a key part of the broader MGGS community of students, parents, and Old Grammarians," Lauren explains.
"Days like this strengthen and renew this essential element of our unique MGGS staff community.
"The Eventful Learning Co team commented that MGGS staff are willing to give things a go, to make sure nobody was left behind and approached the day with genuine enthusiasm.
"The social, optimistic and curious nature of our staff really shone brightly on our FUN Day in."
Lauren said team building days like MGGS FUN build trust, mitigate conflict, encourage communication, and increase collaboration.
"Effective team building means we have more engaged staff, which is great for the whole MGGS community," she said.
Lauren added the School connects and builds relationships amongst its staff in various ways. Staff Association activities, trivia nights, a Wine Appreciation Society, exercise classes such as yoga and bootcamps, weekly dedicated professional learning and even a choir, which was born from the MGGS FUN Day, are some of the ways the staff community connects.
But what makes MGGS's staff community unique compared to others?
"The MGGS staff community is highly relational and collaborative, forming a key part of the broader MGGS community of students, parents, and Old Grammarians," Lauren explains.
"Days like this strengthen and renew this essential element of our unique MGGS staff community.
"The Eventful Learning Co team commented that MGGS staff are willing to give things a go, to make sure nobody was left behind and approached the day with genuine enthusiasm.
"The social, optimistic and curious nature of our staff really shone brightly on our FUN Day in."
Lauren said team building days like MGGS FUN build trust, mitigate conflict, encourage communication, and increase collaboration.
"Effective team building means we have more engaged staff, which is great for the whole MGGS community," she said.
Lauren added the School connects and builds relationships amongst its staff in various ways. Staff Association activities, trivia nights, a Wine Appreciation Society, exercise classes such as yoga and bootcamps, weekly dedicated professional learning and even a choir, which was born from the MGGS FUN Day, are some of the ways the staff community connects.
But what makes MGGS's staff community unique compared to others?
"The MGGS staff community is highly relational and collaborative, forming a key part of the broader MGGS community of students, parents, and Old Grammarians," Lauren explains.
"Days like this strengthen and renew this essential element of our unique MGGS staff community.
"The Eventful Learning Co team commented that MGGS staff are willing to give things a go, to make sure nobody was left behind and approached the day with genuine enthusiasm.
"The social, optimistic and curious nature of our staff really shone brightly on our FUN Day in."