Junior School news

Welcome to Term 4. Junior School students have returned to remote learning confidently, enjoying seeing their peers and teachers on MS Teams. Online assemblies continue to be a success, with our Year 6 Captains working hard behind the scenes to create interactive presentations. There is some excitement in the air regarding the return to onsite learning, and we hope this goes ahead as per the current Government guidelines. We have many events to look forward to this term, some are outlined on this newsletter. We wish everyone a positive start to what will be a fun and busy final term of 2021. 

Creativity 

This term we will be focusing on our school value of creativity. At Shelford we encourage our students to respond to challenges with curiosity, imagination and innovative thinking. During last week's assembly students volunteered to share what they have been doing in this area. We were amazed at the inventive projects that are taking place at home (making skateboards ramps, finger knitting, making blankets for pets, sewing etc.). During remote learning we encourage everyone to spend time away from devices at the end of the school day and weekends, and continue to be creative with family members and enjoy learning new skills. We encourage students to email photos of their creations to their homeroom teachers throughout the term.

Footy Colours Day

Footy Colours Day is a national and community fundraising campaign held during September each year. It has been continuing to help children since it was first set up in 1995. The event is centred around raising awareness and funds to support kids living with cancer. The Junior School Celebrated Footy Colours Day on Friday 17 September, beginning the day displaying our footy colours at assembly. Congratulations to the Melbourne Football Club who won the Grand Final. Their last premiership was in 1964, so it was a long-awaited celebration. 

Pasta making mania in Years 5 and 6 

On the final day of Term 3, Mrs Barton took on the amazing challenge of teaching the Year 5 and 6 students how to make pasta online! She lovingly shared the technique her Nonna taught her when she was their age. It involved flour, water, one egg and a whole lot of rolling. The final product varied in success; Elena H’s pasta in 6B was beautifully formed but Miss Sidaway’s was quite wonky! No matter the result we all had fun and learnt a great life skill.

International Day of the Girl 

Today is a curriculum free day in celebration of the International Day of the Girl celebrated on 11 October. Activities will be run by both our Senior and Junior leaders throughout the day. All links are provided under the activity blurb.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to work in mixed age groups, selecting activities of interest. Classroom teachers look forward to hearing about the choices their students made and what they created. It is important we acknowledge these international days, and empower our girls, whilst promoting voice. We hope your daughter(s) enjoys this day – our leaders have worked very hard leading up to this occasion, providing a range of activities.

Languages in the Junior School

As you know, this year we introduced French alongside Japanese in the Junior school to reflect our Senior School programs. We are very pleased that from 2022, students in Years 5 and 6 will be able to focus on one language of their choice (French or Japanese). 

Current Year 4 students can choose either French or Japanese, and they will continue that Language for Years 5 and 6. 

Current Year 5 students can choose either French or Japanese to study in Year 6. 

The choices they make for 2022 and 2023 will not limit their options in the Senior School, as they will return to studying both languages in Year 7. It is our intention to develop Year 5–12 pathways for our languages, while offering options for beginners at Year 7. 

Parents of students in Years 4 and 5 will soon receive an email which will have a form you can use to let us know which Language your daughter would like to explore in Years 5 and 6.

Please don’t hesitate to contact our Head of Languages, Julie Devine, at jdevine@shelford.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Sarah McKenzie, Head of Junior Discovery Centre

Jacqui Sidaway, Head of Years 3–6