Junior School News

Teachers learning together 

This week in the Junior School, teaching staff are focusing their meeting time on moderation. Moderation is the practice of teachers sharing and developing their understanding of what learning looks like by examining different types and qualities of students’ work and comparing these with formal standards and success criteria from the Australian Curriculum.

We have been fortunate this week to be joined by our colleagues from St Virgil's College. Collaboration between our two schools allows teachers to learn from one another, ultimately enhancing learning for our students. 

It was wonderful to share this meeting with SVC and to build connections with our teaching partners across the way.

Ali Canning 

Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning 

Debating season begins! 

With sharp minds, ready voices and terrific teamwork, our Year 6 debaters have kicked off their season, going up against Year 6 students at Fahan School in their first debate earlier this month. 

Two SMC teams took to the stage to tackle the thought-provoking topic: 'It is much better to be an only child than to have siblings'. Charlotte, Harper and Miranda argued the negative, while Mia, Sylvie and Emily championed the affirmative. 

A big congratulations and well done to all our debaters for speaking with confidence, clarity and conviction. 

We are incredibly proud of their articulate arguments and confident delivery, as well as their organisation, dedication and teamwork. – Mrs Kelly Webster, Year 6 Class Teacher 

Stay tuned for more debating news and updates as the season unfolds! 

Year 5 Camp 

Our Year 5 students recently returned from an unforgettable three-day camp at Blue Lagoon in Dodges Ferry. The experience was filled with adventure, learning and personal growth. Students spent two nights in cosy cabins with their classmates, building friendships and independence in a supportive environment.

Throughout the camp, the students participated in a variety of exciting activities including damper making, beach discovery and a team-building initiatives course. These hands-on experiences not only encouraged collaboration and problem-solving but also gave students the chance to step outside their comfort zones and support one another.

A highlight of the camp was our excursion to the historic Port Arthur site. Here, students explored the rich and complex history of the convict settlement, deepening their understanding of Tasmania’s colonial past. This visit directly tied into our current History unit, bringing to life the stories and events we’ve been studying in the classroom. 

On the journey home, we stopped in Richmond to visit the historic gaol and the miniature model village of early Hobart, offering further insight into life in Tasmania before the establishment of Port Arthur.

This camp was more than just a fun getaway – it was a powerful steppingstone in the students’ leadership journey. As they prepare to step into Year 6, we saw them demonstrate resilience, initiative and a willingness to try new things. They encouraged and uplifted one another, showing the kind of leadership and teamwork that will serve them well as they take on greater responsibilities next year.

We are incredibly proud of the way our students embraced every challenge and opportunity. This experience has laid a strong foundation for their continued growth as leaders in our school community.

Year 5 Teaching Team 

Reflections on Mary | Year 3

As part of their 'Month of Mary unit', students in Year 3 have been looking at stained-glass windows representing Mary. 

Stained-glass windows in churches, cathedrals and other Catholic buildings often show Holy figures such as Jesus, Mary, saints and other religious figures. 

Students learnt that almost everything in a stained-glass window has symbolic meaning, from the colours that are used to the halos that are placed around the heads of figures. 

Pictured: Just some of the beautiful, eye-catching stained-glass windows created by artists in Year 3 Bottlebrush.

They then created their own icons, using a fine liner to outline the figure of Mary and surrounds, coloured crayons and pencils to represent the rich colours used in icons over the centuries, and vibrant watercolours to complete the artwork. 

Kinder Mother's Day High Tea 

From rainbow crowns to the sweetest fairy cakes and iced cupcakes, our Kinder Mother's Day High Tea was a magical celebration of love, colour and creativity. 

Held on 15 May in our Kinder classrooms, the Wallabies and Platypuses pulled out all the stops to spoil their queens – because in their world, every day is Mother's Day! 

A very special thank you to all our Kinder mums (and a few dads!) who popped along for the occasion and generously brought a plate to share – it was truly a lovely time spent together.