Head of Junior School 

Dear Parent Community,

It is important that we bring to your attention and remind you of some important dates and events occurring between now and the end of the term. They will help with planning and preparation during a busy school term. 

Student Free Days and public holidays provide opportunities for rest and family time, while key academic dates such as the release of Mid-Year Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews are valuable moments for parents to engage in their child’s learning journey. 

Our Annual Mid-Year Assembly on Monday, 15 June, is a special occasion when we celebrate the ‘Music and Arts’ at the Junior Campus as well as recognise the efforts of the boys in their academic and other endeavours. It will include performances from our Junior School Choir, Year 5 and 6 Band, and other Year level items. 

Class and Specialist subject certificates will be awarded to Kinder through to Year 6 students. Our Kinder class will begin with the Acknowledgment of Country followed by the Prep class leading us all in Prayer.

Keeping these dates front of mind ensures families can plan ahead and make the most of these important school events and opportunities for communication. 

• Friday 5 June: College Student Free Day

• Monday 8 June: King's Birthday: Long Weekend

• Monday 15 June:  Mid-Year Assembly: Kinder to Year 6. Time: 1.45pm-2.45pm

• Friday 19 June: Speak Up Stay Chatty Shorts Day: Prep to Year 6: gold coin donation

• Friday 3 July: Mid-Year Reports Released

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Shorts Day: Friday 19 June

At our Junior School, the boys already wear shorts every day, so supporting SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Shorts Day is a natural and meaningful way for us to join an important community conversation. By taking part, we are helping raise awareness about mental health and encouraging our students to understand the value of speaking openly, supporting others, and showing kindness. 

Shorts Day reminds us that even simple actions can spark powerful conversations and help break down the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Together, our Junior School community is proud to stand with Stay ChatTY in promoting connection, courage, and care for one another. 

Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation 

On Sunday, Alex and Jacob Hill, Bryan Wara and Elijah Whitfield, celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Mary’s Cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Tony Ireland. It was a special occasion shared with family, friends, and members of our Catholic and St Virgil’s College community. 

I am always interested in the stories behind why our students choose particular saints as their Confirmation name. They were many and varied and each student was able to give a detailed and meaningful account of their choice and how their particular saint inspired them.

The highlight of the celebration was Archbishop Tony’s sermon. He recounted taking away a group of Deputy Principals on pilgrimage to Italy. He asked the Confirmation candidates, 'What would be the first question they would ask when they arrived in the hotel?'. Whilst one candidate thought it may have been, ‘Is breakfast included?’, the answer actually was, ‘What is the wi-fi password?’ He then went on to compare what he called the ‘Divine wifi’ with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God. 

The sermon made the message of faith both engaging and relatable for the boys and congregation alike. Our boys will now begin their sacramental preparation for their First Eucharist in Term 3.

Creativity, Collaboration and Higher Order Thinking at Senior Campus 

Seven of our Junior boys were able to participate in a Learning Enrichment Day face-to-face with students from other schools at the Senior Campus. The activities are designed to foster curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and higher-order thinking through engaging, high-interest topics. 

Boys who participated were: Year 4: Thomas Canning, Lucien Cui, Archie Ashelford, Samuel Young, Patrick Hughes and from Year 6: Panayioti Hiras and Max Free. Gus Hardaker was unable to attend due to illness. It was also wonderful to see so many of the SVC Senior boys running the activities. Thank you to Mrs Jacqui Hardman for her organisation.

From Multilit to Medicine: Sean Colrain’s Inspiring Story 

Dr Sean Colrain, a third generation Old Virgilian and now an intern at Cairns Hospital visited the Junior Campus this week to talk to the boys about his journey from the gates of SVC to becoming a doctor and now, author.

Sean, who has been working in emergency and orthopaedics wards, said he had treated 

far too many young patients for head injuries following crashes and falls from bicycles, 

e-scooters and skateboards.

The doctor has illustrated and written a series of self-published children’s books, featuring Australian native animals providing and following health advice. The Doc Croc & the Three Cockies series follows the adventures of a playful koala, a medically qualified crocodile, and three cockatoos as they dispense wisdom about wearing a helmet, sun safety, and even first aid.

Sean recounted to the boys that he struggled with both reading and writing in Primary School and received additional support with programs such as Multilit. He also reflected on how much he always loved art, and now he has been able to combine his passion of medicine and art as well as sharing very important health messages.

Most of the characters in Sean’s books are based on people that he knows, or grew up with in Tasmania. The three cockies are his Nan and her sisters, particularly the way they used to speak to each other. There is also a very Far North Queensland-inspired character, Doc Croc, who has a medical degree, and is happy providing health advice to the koala Jamesy and his friends, as they go about their daily activities.

Sean read his book, Doc Croc and The Three Cockies: Wear a Helmet on a Bike, You Cannot Risk a Headstrike, to the Preps to Year 2s in one session and Years 3 to 6 in another session. It was wonderful to see so many of our boys listening so intently to Sean and his important messages, particularly about wearing helmets on bikes and e-scooters!

He has kindly donated four signed books to the Junior School Library. 

His books are available to purchase through Amazon.

Outdoor Education Brings the Water Cycle to Life for Year 4

Our Year 4 students recently enjoyed an engaging Outdoor Education excursion along the Pipeline Track, around Fern Tree and the Waterworks Reserve in South Hobart. 

Supported by the St Virgil’s College Outdoor Education team and Junior School staff, students explored the water cycle in a real-world setting and investigated how water moves around the planet before being supplied as drinking water for Hobart. Throughout the day, students demonstrated curiosity, teamwork and enthusiasm as they connected their classroom learning with hands-on experiences in the natural environment.