Junior School

Welcome back to Term 4

We hope all of our students and families are back feeling refreshed after the holiday break. We love hearing about the sporting and family adventures our students were able to experience over the break, whether it be here in Victoria, interstate or overseas. 

We have hit the ground running and students have settled in nicely for the term. Our uniform is looking terrific and students have been considerate of ensuring devices are put away during the school day promptly at 8.50am. It has been lovely to have a hint of sun at times this week and we look forward to a positive start to the term. 

Upcoming Interim Reports & Planner Use

We would love to remind all students that in Week 4 teachers will be writing their interim reports with feedback on work ethic, behaviour and academic progress. The Sub-School Team are working with students to help set achievable but challenging academic goals to help improve their GPA across this report period. We are available anytime to chat this through with students who would like this support. 

In light of this, there is no time like now to start working hard to ensure all set tasks are complete every lesson. Strategies that we would love you to discuss at home include encouraging the use of our student planners every lesson. Junior school students must have their planners with them every session to ensure all key tasks are recorded in the last 5 minutes of class time.  These habits will assist our students to feel in control of their work and upcoming assessments and will assist them in being able to see what work is still required to be completed. These are great habits for us to encourage prior to moving into Middle School. 

Victoria Police Visit & Presentation

We were very lucky to secure a presentation this week by Senior Constable Amanda Hall and Senior Constable Chris Owen from the Caroline Springs Proactive Policing Unit for all Year 7 and 8 students. Many topics were covered that are vital to understand as a teenager living in our day and age. Topics included how our digital footprint can impact our employability in the future, bullying and cyber bullying, consent, assaults and the importance of not being a bystander. Students were provided with a clear message to only send photos/make comments that they would be happy to show their teachers or parents/guardians and to use this as a guide in future. They were also encouraged to delete any photos or materials that may not meet this guideline. Students were reminded that they should collect evidence by taking screenshots and recordings, note usernames and display names if this happens in the future prior to blocking or unfriending anyone that makes them feel uncomfortable or targeted in this way. In light of recent events in the surrounding western suburbs, the constables discussed the importance of reporting suspicious behaviour and provided tips on how to report a crime anonymously through Crime Stoppers Victoria. 

If there are concerns about bullying or issues that may come up in relation to any of the topics mentioned, we would like to encourage students to please speak to a trusted family member, coordinator in the Junior School Office or Leah White in Wellbeing just next door - the best thing to do is speak up and get help. They can also report harmful content to the eSafety commissioner and to Victoria Police. Support services are also available in both Kids Helpline and Lifeline. 

We would love to publicly thank both Amanda and Chris for giving up time in their busy week to come and speak to us about such important issues. 

Tasmania Camp Update

We are so looking forward to the upcoming camp where we will have four teachers and 39 students joining us across Year 7 and 8 in November. 

Students who are attending the Tasmania Camp can email Ms Collins at rachel.collins@education.vic.gov.au to send through their room buddy preferences this week or visit her in the Junior School Office to discuss. Preferences for rooming need to state if you prefer a triple or double room and the names of students wishing to be included. This will be confirmed once all students have placed their preferences at an upcoming camp meeting. 

Sporting Achievement

A huge congratulations to Alison Feely in Y7 for her success at the 2024 Australian Short Course Championships in September where she was awarded Gold in the100m butterfly with a 7 second PB. This breaks the S19 Short Course U13 Australian record!

Alison also achieved: 

• Bronze for 200m individual medley with a 6 sec PB and her first time under 3 minutes.
• Silver for the 50m freestyle
• Silver for 100m individual medley
• Silver for the 200m freestyle with a 2 sec PB
• Silver for the 100m freestyle