Junior School

HOJS Forum

Last Friday, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss some of the changes to the Junior School in 2025. I truly appreciate the parents who attended the forum or shared their thoughts beforehand—your input is valued as we continue to strive for the best possible learning environment for your son. 

Co-Curricular Adjustments: Since the start of Term 2, we have made some small but meaningful updates to our co-curricular program. One key change is the relocation of the Homework Club (4:00–5:00 pm) to the Junior School STEM room. This adjustment has provided a quieter and more focused space for the boys, helping them complete their homework in a more productive environment.

Restorative Practice: Midway through Term One, we introduced a restorative practice approach to behaviour management. This system encourages students to reflect on their actions using a reflection sheet, followed by a restorative conversation. Our aim is to help boys understand that making mistakes is a natural part of learning—but accountability and personal growth are key. This approach fosters responsibility while encouraging students to learn from their experiences.

Cue to Start: To create a more efficient and engaged learning environment, we have implemented Cue to Start—an instructional tool designed to enhance attention in the classroom. When the teacher says, “5, 4, 3”, students respond with, “2, 1”, signalling full focus on the lesson. This simple yet effective strategy is helping establish a productive learning atmosphere.

Looking ahead, our next HOJS Parent Forum will be held in Term 3 Week 6, Friday 29 August 2025, starting at 1:50 pm. This will be another opportunity to discuss key developments and hear from our parent community.

Year 4’s National Simultaneous Storytime

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of joining our wonderful Year 4 students for a very special Storytime session. Together we read The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell—a charming tale that truly came to life as I stepped into character and shared the story with as much spirit as I could muster!

To make the moment even more magical, we had a surprise guest: Luna, the beloved cat of Luca Rodino (5G). Her presence added the perfect touch of authenticity—and a few well-timed meows—to our storytelling adventure.

The students were completely engaged, their eyes wide with wonder and laughter ringing through the room.

Year 4 AFL Carnival Success

Our Year 4 students had a brilliant day at the AFL Carnival on Thursday! They displayed fantastic sportsmanship, teamwork, and a great willingness to have a go. A big thank you to our wonderful parent helpers for your support and encouragement throughout the day—it was greatly appreciated. We’d also like to extend our thanks to Aquinas College for generously hosting the event. Well done to all the boys for representing our school with pride and enthusiasm! 

Year 6 Transition Information

All Year 6 parents are invited to an information session regarding Year 7. At this session, we will provide information about surrounding subjects in the Senior School, academic expectations and co-curricular opportunities. We will also provide further information on the transition experiences which our Year Six boys will commence in Semester Two. 

This event will take place on Friday 6 June at 1.45pm in the Braham Auditorium. Please RSVP via this link: RSVP Link

Visitors to the College  

As a child safe organization and as a part of our ongoing commitment to child safety we kindly ask you to use the correct toilet which is labelled staff or visitor. All student toilets are clearly labelled around the College. Under no circumstance should visitors use the student toilet. Staff and visitor toilets are available in Gibney Hall, the Cultural Center, Main Administration and the Pavilion for attending sporting events on Mann Oval.  

House Cross Country Carnival

The Junior School House Cross Country Carnival will be held on Thursday, 29 May 2025. The event will take place at the Waterford Playing Fields. Below are the details for the afternoon. 

• 12.55pm – Year 4 Race (1.6km)

• 1.20pm – Year 5 Race (2.5km)

• 1.50pm – Year 6 Race (3km)

• 2.20pm – Presentations

We look forward to seeing many spectators in attendance.

Save the Date – Year 4 Strings Concert

Please note a change in the date for our Year 4 Strings concert. Instead of being held over two afternoons (Wednesday, 18 June and Thursday, 19 June), the concert will now take place on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 only.

Date:  Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Time:  3:20pm – 4.00pm

Location:  Music rooms in Cultural Centre (Auditorium, Basile and Mary Kerr) 

More details will be sent out by the Music Department closer to the date.

God Bless,

James McPherson  

Head of Junior School

Dates to Remember