Primary News

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today," 

Malcolm X.

Welcome to Term 4!

Welcome back to what promises to be (and already is) an exciting and action-packed term. I hope everyone had a restful break and is ready to dive into the final term of the year. While this term may be shorter by a couple of days, it's certainly going to be full of wonderful opportunities, events, and learning experiences for our students.

What's Ahead 

Term 4 is always a whirlwind of activity, and this year is no exception. Our calendar is brimming with meaningful events and experiences that will keep our community engaged and connected.

We have already hosted our Learning Conversations, where families and teachers celebrated student progress and discussed goals for the remainder of the year. Grandparents Day has also happened and provided a special opportunity for our students to share their learning and school life with their grandparents and special friends. Our rescheduled Athletics Carnival for our ELC - Year 2 will showcase our students' sporting talents and team spirit, whilst school photos held this week have captured memories that families will treasure for years to come.

Students will also benefit from important programs including Fire Safety Education and Learn to Swim sessions, both vital life skills. We have exciting excursions planned that will extend learning beyond the classroom, and of course, we are building towards our end-of-year celebrations such as the Year 6 Final Assembly, Celebration Evening (Years 5 and 6 attendance is compulsory) and the Nativity for our younger students. 

Most importantly, amidst all the activity, there will be lots and lots of learning in classrooms every single day. Our teachers are committed to ensuring that every moment counts as we work toward all that our students have and will achieve. 

A Note of Thanks

I want to take a moment to thank you, our parents and caregivers, for your ongoing support and partnership. Term 4 can feel overwhelming with its packed schedule, and we truly appreciate your flexibility, understanding, and encouragement as we navigate this busy time together. Your involvement in your child's education makes all the difference.

Remember to Breathe

As we embark on this busy term, I want to remind everyone - students, staff, and families alike of the importance of pausing, breathing, and looking after one another. As author Anne Lamott has said:

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."

If at any time you feel worried or overwhelmed, or if you have concerns about your child, please don't hesitate to reach out to their class teacher or myself. We're here to support you and work together to ensure every child thrives. Let's make Term 4 a wonderful finish to the year - full of learning, laughter, growth, and community.

Grandparents and Special Friends Morning - A Morning to Remember

What a wonderful celebration we had at our Grandparents and Special Friends Morning.  Students from ELC through to Year 6 welcomed their beloved grandparents and special friends for a morning filled with warmth, joy, and precious memories.

The College hall buzzed with excitement as grandparents arrived, greeted by their eager grandchildren who couldn't wait to share their school world with them. Laughter echoed throughout the classrooms as students proudly showed off their work, gave tours of their learning spaces, and reconnected across the generations.

The morning featured delightful entertainment prepared by our students, who performed with enthusiasm and pride for their special guests. From story telling to musical performances and dance, every act was met with beaming smiles and enthusiastic applause. It was heartwarming to see the bonds between young and old strengthened through these shared moments.

Stories of "when I was your age" filled the air as grandparents reminisced about their own school days, comparing playgrounds past and present, and marveling at how much has changed—and how much has stayed the same. These intergenerational connections created beautiful bridges between past and present.

The celebration culminated in a gorgeous morning tea, where conversations flowed as freely as the tea and coffee. Tables laden with delicious treats provided the perfect setting for grandparents, friends, teachers, and students to mingle and chat, creating a true sense of community.

Thank you to all the grandparents and special friends who joined us, and to everyone who helped make this day so memorable. The smiles, hugs, and happy faces said it all - this was truly a morning to treasure.

Learn to Swim - Monday 27 October - Friday 31 October 

Next week our Kinder - Year 6 students will attend Learn to Swim at the Collegiate Pool.  It is important to note that Friday is the only day that parents are allowed to attend.

Please remember the following:

• bathers under their College sports uniform
• bring a swimming cap (compulsory), a pair of thongs or slides to wear to and from the pool, a towel, a plastic bag (for wet gear), underwear and goggles (optional)
• carry all items in the College navy sports bag or the College school bag
• ensure all items are clearly named
• must wear one-piece bathers
• parents are not allowed to attend until Friday

The Power of Being Present at School  and Why Attendance is Critical to Success

Learning is Sequential and Cumulative

• Each lesson builds on the previous day's work – missing days can create gaps that become harder to fill as the term progresses

• Teachers design curriculum with careful progression in mind, and absence breaks this carefully crafted learning journey

• Students who attend regularly are more confident in their understanding because they haven't missed the foundational steps

Social Connection Fuels Academic Success

• School is where friendships are strengthened and students develop their sense of belonging within a community

• Peer learning and collaboration happen in real-time, these moments cannot be fully replicated through make-up work

• Students who attend regularly feel more connected to their classmates and are more likely to participate and engage

Consistency Creates Momentum

• Regular attendance establishes positive habits and routines that support not just academic achievement but life-long success

• Being present every day builds discipline, responsibility, and time management skills

• Students develop resilience and learn that showing up, even on difficult days is an essential life skill

Every Day Holds Unique Opportunities

• Spontaneous class discussions, hands-on activities, and teachable moments cannot be captured in worksheets or notes

• Guest speakers, practical demonstrations, and collaborative projects only happen once

• The relationships built with teachers through daily interaction create mentorship opportunities that shape futures

When You're Facing Challenges - We're Here to Help

• If you're daughter is struggling with attendance for whatever reason please don't wait to reach out

• Your class teacher and I are here to support you and we can work together to address barriers and create solutions

• Early communication allows us to put support systems in place before small concerns become larger obstacles

The Case for Regular Attendance: Why Building Days in Kindergarten Matters

While Kindergarten remains non-compulsory, the transition to full-time schooling next year represents one of the biggest adjustments your daughters will face.  We have reached out to our Kindergarten families who have the option of gradually increasing kindergarten attendance throughout the term. This phased approach is an important step to help your daughter develop the stamina and familiarity with the school routine required for full-time schooling in 2026, ensuring a significantly smoother transition.

Kindergarten Transitions for 2026

Our preparations for the 2026 Kindergarten year are well underway, with transition sessions already in progress. We've successfully hosted two transition sessions for our 2026 Kindergarten students and their families, with one final session scheduled later in the term. These valuable opportunities have allowed students and families to become familiar with the kindergarten learning space and meet the dedicated kindergarten staff, while also fostering early connections among the children and their future school community. We look forward to seeing everyone at the last session on the 7th of November.

The Benefits of Building Days

Stamina and routine attendance regularly helps children build the physical and emotional stamina needed for full-time schooling. A child who attends three days per week is still adjusting to the rhythm of structured learning. A child attending four or five days has already developed the endurance to sustain attention, navigate social situations, and manage their energy across multiple consecutive days.

Social connections deepen friendships in early childhood and require repetition and consistency. Children who attend more regularly have more opportunities to move beyond parallel play into collaborative friendships. They become part of the social fabric of the group rather than visitors to it. These established relationships become anchors when they transition to compulsory schooling, which is only a heartbeat away.

Learning builds on itself in all classes but this is especially important in Kindergarten as our teaching staff carefully scaffold learning experiences that build across the days.  A child who misses days misses not just individual activities, but the connective tissue between them. Regular attendance allows children to engage with extending projects, see the consequences of experiments over time, and develop deeper understanding through repetition and variation.

Our Kinder team can support more effectively when attendance is consistent, accurately assessing each child's development, identify emerging needs, and provide timely support. Sporadic attendance makes it difficult to distinguish between a child who genuinely needs additional support and one who simply hasn't had enough exposure to the learning environment.

Building days in Kindergarten transforms the transition to school from a cliff edge into a gentle slope. A child moving from four days of Kindergarten to five days of Prep is making a small adjustment.  However, a child jumping from three days to five is nearly doubling their commitment overnight, and if these three days are not consistent with time away it makes for a fractured approach and poor habits. 

Of course, not every family can manage increased attendance, and that's okay. Work schedules, family circumstances, financial considerations, and the needs of other children all play a role in these decisions. The key is to attend as regularly as possible with a regular three days essential as the term progresses.

When February rolls around and your child starts their first compulsory school year, you'll be grateful for every extra day they spent in kindergarten. Not because those days made them academically advanced, but because they made the rhythm of school feel familiar rather than foreign.  They'll know how to navigate morning routines, manage their belongings, ask for help, work alongside peers, and sustain their attention through structured activities. They'll have the stamina to make it to Friday without struggling and most importantly, they'll see themselves as capable, confident learners ready for the adventure ahead.

Kindergarten may not be compulsory, but treating it as an important foundation, one worth attending regularly and, if possible, building upon sets children up for success in all the years of compulsory schooling that follow.

If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to reach out to the Kindergarten Staff.