From the Head of Junior School

I am sure students are looking forward to the Easter break and the school holidays after a very busy ten week term. We have had events from Swimming and Athletics to Shave for a Cure and Odd Sock Day. It has certainly been a productive term. I would like to thank our students and staff for their commitment throughout the term, both in the class and out. I trust that they will all enjoy some time with their families. The Easter break is a lovely time of year in Bendigo. I am certainly looking forward to a Bendigo Easter that is much closer to those that we have experienced prior to last year. I look forward to welcoming everyone back after the break for another productive term.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our students who competed in the Inter-house Swimming and Athletics Carnivals this term. While there are many who receive individual honours on the day it is also important to recognise all those students who swam, ran, jumped and threw to the best of their ability. Even though many did not receive ribbons or individual medallions they were competing with all their heart and earning points for their respective Houses. House achievements are a result of the efforts of every competitor. I look forward to seeing every student competing to the best of their ability in the Interhouse Cross-country next term.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Athletics Carnival

On Friday 12th March, the annual Junior School Athletics Carnival was held. We were graced with a gorgeous sunny day and it was great to see all the students compete with pride. The students competed for themselves and of course for their House across all the field and track events.

Year Three to Six had a busy morning rotating around all the field events from High, Long and Triple jump to Discus and Shot put. The afternoon was then focused on the track events of 100m, 200m and 400 or 800m depending on the age group. There was also an opportunity for Hurdles and House Relay events.

Preparatory to Year Two students arrived during the day to show their support for their House. They competed in jumping, throwing and sprinting events which all contributed points towards their House totals. The day was full of colour and enthusiasm culminating in each House presenting their House Chant for the Spirit Cup. For those who missed it, please enjoy footage of the Spirit Cup below.

Riley House were the big achievers of the day taking home both the House and Spirit Cup!

Congratulations to our Age Champions:

9year old Owen Barnes Lauren Davenport

10year old Benjamin Bowles Maya Dhanapala

11year old Hugh Casey Sophie Mahony

12year old Thomas Seipolt Stephanie Ingram

Year Six Camp

Year Six students recently attend school camp in our National Capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. We wish to thank the Australian Government for recognising the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributes funding under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion and applied towards the cost of the Year Six Camp.

Please enjoy the below recount of the camp by Shanali Wickramasinghe (6 Riley).

On Monday the 15th of March I woke up knowing that I was about to depart Bendigo on camp. I was excited, but also nervous, because I had never been away from home for so long, but with my friends beside me I knew I would have an excellent time. The whole of year six went to school at 6:15 am in preparation for a 6:30 am bus ride. We stopped in a couple of towns before arriving at the Leumeah Lodge in Canberra. We then enjoyed a fun trip to Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre.

On Tuesday we represented the school at the Australian War Memorial, where we learnt more about past Australian soldiers. After lunch, we went to Parliament House, which was my personal favourite part of the camp. We also visited the House of Representatives and the Senate, where we even caught a glimpse of our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. At the end of the day we visited Mount Ainslie, which offered a bird’s eye view of Canberra - the view was spectacular. We ended that day with an amazing karaoke night and sang our favourite songs.

I woke up very happy on Wednesday because I knew we were visiting many exciting places that day. Firstly we went to Government House, where the Governor General lives. Halfway through the tour, we met the Governor General’s wife, her Excellency, and she asked us to sing our school song for her. I think we were all pretty amazed at that point in time! Then we took a trip to Old Parliament House which is also known as the Museum of Australian Democracy. Later on, we went to the Royal Australian Mint where we learned about how coins evolved and are made. I even printed my own coin! It was terrific! At night we had team trivia which was incredible, especially because I love trivia!

On our second last day, we started off by arriving at our bike riding destination. Whilst our group was waiting for the ride to start we did an Australian of the Year Walk. We were soon riding around Lake Burley-Griffin, which was named after one of the people who designed Canberra. We then stopped at the Australian Institute of sport a.k.a. the AIS. There, we played soccer and European handball. Then later on we had a look at some of the interactive indoor activities. Afterwards, we got into groups and had fun at the Zone Bowling. We all had a great time there! In the evening we watched the first footy match of the season, it’s not exactly my thing but I enjoyed watching it with my friends.

On Friday we had an early start. We loaded the bus and had breakfast before we set off on the road. We watched some movies and stopped for morning tea and lunch. I kept thinking about when we were going to get to Bendigo, I was constantly checking my watch! When the bus pulled up next to the school I hopped out and saw my mum. I gave her a big hug. I think our parents were all very happy to see us. It’s fun to go away sometimes, but it’s always better in the place you call home.

National Day of Action Against Bullying

As part of the National Day of Action against Bullying, we made friendship bracelets at lunchtime in the library. Photos attached. It was hectic and so much fun.

Year Four MND Fundraiser

A group of Year 4 children, led by Bella Canobie (4 Jones), are busily making bandanas for our four legged friends. These will be for sale next term and the proceeds will go directly to FightMND - Motor Neurone Disease.

To keep costs down, the group are looking for donations of material to make the bandanas. If you have any material, no smaller than 40cmx40cm, please leave it at the Morey Building Reception or Junior School Reception for Year 4.

Michael Grose – Parenting Ideas: Connecting with Boys

Teaching and raising boys has long been a fascination of mine. As a primary teacher, it was boys who provided me with the most joy and the most headaches.

As a father of a boy and two girls, it was my son who provided the most sleepless nights, although all children gave me my fair share.

As a parenting educator I always field more queries about raising boys than girls. Questions about boys have usually focused on learning, lack of confidence and poor or aggressive behaviour while queries about girls have often had a relationship or mental health or focus.

Fortunately, there have been some great boy champions in this part of the world who have shown the way for parents, teachers and other professionals. Steve Biddulph, Dr Tim Hawkes and Maggie Dent are personal favourites. While each comes from a different background and offers a diverse perspective, they each share the same belief that adults must form deep connections with boys if they are to influence them, especially in adolescence.

The need for approval

Retired psychologist and esteemed parenting educator and author Steve Biddulph emphasises the importance of adults liking boys and feeling comfortable in their company. Teachers in particular will experience success, he maintains, if the boys believe that they genuinely like and approve of them. Conversely, boys shut down and won’t try for teachers who don’t understand or like them. Approval is at the heart of successfully teaching and raising boys.

The place of banter

Esteemed educator Dr Tim Hawkes, author of Ten conversations you must have with your son, maintains that banter and small talk are essential elements in conversations with boys. He busts the myth that ‘boys don’t talk’ wide open and says that fun, trivia and jest are the foundations for more serious, significant conversations that a parent will have with their sons.

Dr Hawkes encourages parents to have serious conversations with boys about the things that really matter such as values, health and sex, rather than hope that their sons will develop their own ideas by osmosis, or worse, from peers and social media.

Dr Hawkes revealed a communication gem in his book. He wrote that family banter is the secret ingredient that allows parents to hold meaningful conversations with teenage boys. He’s on the money, as fun and laughter provide parents with permission to take their children to some serious spaces for enlightenment and learning.

Avoiding shame

Parenting author and educator, and former teacher and counsellor Maggie Dent reminds parents and teachers that many boys battle both their physiology and a sense of shame when they move into adolescence. Contrary to popular opinion, teen boys crave connection with significant adults. Our clumsiness and unease in their company often become a barrier. Dent’s experience of raising sons, as well as her professional work with teen boys has taught her that adults need to show compassion, commitment and communication smarts if they are to connect with boys.

Ask what they think to find out what they feel

In my many years of experience in teaching and parenting boys, I’ve learned that if you want to find out how a boy is feeling, ask him what he is thinking. For instance, if he experiences rejection at school and he is obviously unhappy, ask him what he thinks about the situation rather than how he feels. He will actually tell you how he feels in the process. It is important that parents understand this and put this knowledge to good use if they want an entry point into their son’s emotional life.

In closing

Helping tween and teen boys navigate the world is challenging parenting territory. It’s tempting to put off the conversations that we need to have because they seem too hard to initiate. As the experts above state – each in their own way, the key to communication lies in our ability to form deep connections with the boys in our lives.

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