Junior School

Welcome to 2026

Happy New Year.  I hope the holiday break has been rewarding and refreshing for you and your families.  As we begin a new school year filled with promise, I warmly welcome our returning families and extend a sincere greeting to all new families joining the Junior School learning community for the first time. 

We have 19 new students in our Prep to Year 6 classes, and they have all enjoyed a great start to their Junior School journey.  The year ahead brings many exciting opportunities, and the Junior School staff and I look forward to partnering with you over the coming twelve months to support your children’s learning and growth.

Staffing 

We welcome Ms Tzu Winstanley back to the classroom. Ms Winstanley is covering Mrs. Bernadette Milich’s long service leave through to Friday 27 February. We also welcome UK Gap students Arabella Lloyd-Edwards and Eddie Ricketts to the Junior School. Arabella and Eddie will support in Junior School classrooms throughout 2026. 

Holiday reading

The highlight of my holiday reading was ‘2025 Australian of the Year’ Neil Daniher’s ‘The Power of Choice’. It was an inspirational read, depicting the challenges of living with MND (Motor Neurone Disease) and navigating life’s challenges through intentional decision-making. The final chapter is a heartfelt letter Neil has written to his six grandchildren. In it, he lists some choices he hopes they will make in their life’s journey.

• Choose curiosity when an old belief no longer serves you.
• Choose ownership when blaming others feels easier.
• Choose honesty with yourself when pretending would be simpler. 
• Choose to live your values when talking about them takes less effort.
• Choose to contribute when sitting on the sidelines feels safer.
• Choose meaning over comfort when life asks what really matters.
• Choose habits today that your future self will thank you for.
• Choose courage when fear tries to hold you back.

Intensive swimming

Intensive swimming commences next Monday, 9 February. Students will have daily 30-minute sessions in the HILAC pool. They are requested to wear their PE uniform for the week. Students are asked to wear their College bathers under their PE uniform, and to bring towels, goggles, a bag for wet clothes and a change of underwear.

Crocs/slides/thongs can be worn poolside, but students must wear sports shoes to and from school. Thank you to Mrs. Patterson for all her hard work in organising this important component of our Physical Education offering.

Parent Information Sessions

A reminder that Dr Horne and Mr Cameron will conduct a ‘parent help’ session for Toddle (our new Learning Management System) and Paperly (replacing Operoo) on Wednesday 11 February at 2.45pm in the Myrniong meeting room.   

Following this, our Junior School classroom teachers will hold parent information sessions at the following times.

• 3.30 pm - Prep and Year 2/3
• 4.00 pm - Year 1 and Year 4

• 4.40 pm - Prep, Year 5 and Year 6

   

In these sessions, classroom teachers will discuss expectations, procedures, routines, timetables and program outlines. Each ELC and Junior School class requires a parent representative to help welcome new families, attend Parents’ and Friends’ meetings and organise class social events. If you are up for the challenge, please give your names to classroom teachers.

House Swimming - volunteers needed

The House Swimming Carnival will be held at the Hughan Park Outdoor Pool in Hamilton on Wednesday 18 February. This is a wonderful culmination to our Swimming Intensive Program. Further information will be sent through the ‘Paperly’ app, so please keep an eye out for this. 

Parent helpers would be greatly appreciated as timekeepers on this day. Please contact Louise Patterson if you are interested in/able to help: lpatterson@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au

House Athletics - change of date

Several factors have influenced our decision to bring the House Athletics forward by one day, to Tuesday 3 March. This will also allow our ELC 4 students to join us. We are looking forward to a great day.