Junior School

An Attitude of Gratitude 

Article by Nicola Treacey, Head of Junior School

An Attitude of Gratitude is a mindset that encourages us to recognise and appreciate the positives in our lives, whether they are big or small, even when things may be difficult.

On Friday 9th  October,Canowindra students will celebrate Gratitude Day, taking time to reflect on the people, experiences and things they are grateful for. The initiative is taking place across the Campus where students from both Junior School and Year 9 have been involved. Year 9 students were given the opportunity to design the Logo for this initiative and Junior School students busied themselves placing tags into envelopes. It certainly has reflected the connection that flourishes across the campus. 

Students will have the opportunity to share something meaningful with their classmates and consider how expressing gratitude can make a positive difference to others. Many examples of what students are grateful for are displayed in the P-2 Building, they are shining examples of how fortunate we are to have so much to be grateful for. 

As part of Gratitude Day, we are once again supporting Anglicare’s Christmas Gift Giving. Monetary donations from our community will be used to purchase Christmas gifts for children and teenagers that may otherwise experience hardship during the festive season.

The Junior School Student Representative Council, SRC, and Year 9 students will  have the opportunity to shop for these gifts in Term 4, turning the generosity of our community into thoughtful presents for others. This initiative provides our students with a meaningful opportunity to put gratitude into action, sharing joy, thinking of others and contributing to our wider community.

We invite families to support this Canowindra Campus initiative through a monetary donation. Every contribution will help our students spread kindness and Christmas joy to others. We thank the families that have already made generous donations. Monetary donations are to be returned to school in the envelopes provided. 

Thank you for helping us nurture an Attitude of Gratitude and for supporting our students to make a positive difference in our community.

Canowindra Connections – Story Time with Year 9

Article by Shona Bullingham, Deputy Head of Junior School

In line with the College Strategic Intent, Year 9 and Junior School students have been working towards creating a sense of student belonging through participating in shared and collaborative opportunities across the campus throughout this year. This term, to celebrate Book Week, a group of Year 9 students spent lunchtimes sharing stories with the Junior School students. After listening to the stories, the students completed craft activities related to the books shared. 

While completing the craft activities the older students spent time assisting with more difficult parts of the task and chatted with the younger students. It was wonderful to see students from a variety of age groups purposefully collaborating on a shared task. 

Providing these opportunities for the students to work together allows them to build strong social connections across the Canowindra Campus. These connections are not only important because the children enjoy working together but also because they support them to experience acceptance, social security and a sense of belonging. All of which are, according to Maslow, pivotal when dealing with stress and general wellbeing.

Year 4 Chinese Museum Excursion

Article by Abby Du, Junior School Mandarin Teacher

On Tuesday 8th  and Friday 11th  September, Year 4 students visited the Chinese Museum in Melbourne to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture, history and the experiences of Chinese Australians.

During the guided Museum tour, students explored a range of fascinating exhibitions. They watched the One Million Stories exhibition, which featured a captivating video showcasing 200 years of Chinese-Australian history. Students also explored the Finding Gold exhibition and learned about the lives and contributions of Chinese people on the Victorian goldfields during the 1850s.

At the Han Dynasty exhibition, students discovered remarkable inventions and innovations from Ancient China, including the wheelbarrow, negative numbers and an early earthquake detection device. One of the highlights of the visit was the Dragon Gallery, where students were amazed by the impressive Millennium Dragon.

In addition to the museum tour, students participated in a Chinese Knotting workshop. They learned about the history and cultural significance of Chinese knots and discovered how this traditional art form developed over time. Students enjoyed learning different knotting techniques and creating their own knotted bracelets to take home.

The excursion provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with authentic cultural experiences. It was a wonderful day of learning, creativity and discovery, enjoyed by both students and staff.

Year 2 Blast Off into Space!

Article by Stephanie Gao, Junior School Mandarin Teacher

To reinforce understanding of the science-related Cross-Curricular Learning Unit, “The Solar System comprises the Sun, moons and planets,” Year 2 students recently embarked on an exciting journey into space through the Earth & the Milky Way incursion with Mad About Science.

The hands-on workshop provided students with the opportunity to explore our Solar System and discover more about planets, moons, stars and galaxies. Students used interactive software to simulate the night sky and observed how objects in the sky appear to change over time.

Working in groups, students created a scale model of the planets, comparing their sizes and distances from the Sun. They also explored a range of hands-on activities that helped them investigate space exploration, seasons, moons and the surfaces of different planets.

The excitement continued with demonstrations of rocket propulsion and thrust, helping students understand how rockets generate enough force to overcome Earth’s gravity and travel into space. Students also explored the important roles of rovers and satellites in helping humans investigate and learn more about our universe.

The incursion provided a wonderful opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world science. Through interactive activities and demonstrations, Year 2 students developed a deeper understanding of Earth’s place in the Solar System and the fascinating world beyond our planet.