Junior School

Gratitude: Building Healthy Habits  

During our student briefing on Monday morning, a number of boys shared something that went well for them in Week 1. It was refreshing to hear their reflections: new friendships formed, parents dropping them off, reconnecting with their teacher, or discovering a favourite subject. These small but meaningful moments remind us of the joy and energy that comes with the start of a new school year.

In 2026, the Junior School will once again partner with The Resilience Project to continue supporting the wellbeing of both students and staff. This social and emotional learning program is built around four key pillars, Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness, and Emotional Literacy, all of which your son will explore throughout the year.

Each Term, we place a whole‑school focus on one of these elements. For Term 1 (Weeks 1–5), our focus is Gratitude. As The Resilience Project teaches, gratitude is simply paying attention to the things we have. In these early weeks, many boys will come home excited about new friendships, challenges they have tackled, or experiences they have enjoyed. At the same time, some boys may still be finding their place, adjusting to new routines, or missing their previous school and friends. This is completely normal and part of the transition for many students.

A daily gratitude practice, such as asking, “What three things went well for you today?” helps shift attention to the positives. Research suggests that after 21 days, this practice begins to form a lasting habit. I encourage you to build this into your family routine, whether it is during the drive home, at the dinner table, or on the way to sport training.

For families wishing to learn more about the program or to further develop these habits at home, The Resilience Project offers a Parent/Carer Hub. The Hub can be accessed via the secure link below, with no account setup or login required: 

Co- Curricular

All Co-Curricular clubs commenced on Monday of Week 2. If your son did not get into a club of his choice, a reminder that all boys are welcome to homework / after school club from 3.20pm- 4.00pm (Monday – Thursday). You do not need to sign up for this club.

From Tuesday, 9 February, the 4.00pm - 5.00pm Homework Club will take place in the Junior School STEM Room. If you need to contact the supervising teacher at homework club between 4.00pm – 5.00pm, you can call directly on 08 9219 1113. Due to the Parent Information Evening, there will be no 4.00pm – 5.00pm Homework Club on Monday, 9 February. 

Parent Information Evening

A reminder that the Junior School Parent Information Evening will be held on Monday, 9 February, 5.00pm in the College Sports Centre. Following the presentation in the Sports Centre, year level presentations will take place in Junior School classrooms. The evening will conclude by 6.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there. 

House Swimming Carnival

Our Junior School House Swimming Carnival will take place on Tuesday, 10 February. All boys will be notified of their events by Monday 9 February by their classroom teacher.There will be three sessions throughout the day. Please see below for times of each year levels carnival. 

• Year 4: 8.30 - 10.30am 
• Year 5: 10.30 - 12.30pm 
• Year 6: 12.30 - 2.45pm 

We look forward to the boy's sportsmanship, resilience, and athleticism on display. We hope to see many spectators there to support the boys. 

God Bless,

Mr James McPherson

Head of Junior School

Upcoming Events