Head of Junior School 

Welcome to the Mesfin Family

This week, we welcomed a new family to our College Community. Natnael (Natie) and Aleshaday Mesfin have joined Year 2 and Kindergarten, respectively. The family also has a daughter commencing in Year 7 at St Mary's College, and another daughter attending Year 11 at Guilford Young College. I know you will all join me in making them feel welcome in our community.

Lantern Lunches and Science Week Collaborations

This week has been a wonderful collaboration between St Virgil's College and St Mary's College. Our Kindergarten students shared a Lantern lunch with SMC Kindergarten students in Murphy’s Café. They all sat together in the new outdoor eating space, enjoyed a healthy meal, and engaged in lots of conversation. This is one of many activities we share, including Bush Kinder and excursions. Additionally, the boys and girls were served by some of our Year 4 SVC and SMC students.

Meanwhile, our Years 5 and 6 students participated in STEM activities for Science Week with their SMC counterparts. This collaboration will continue in the coming weeks, with the opportunity for more shared lunches and our combined House Athletic Carnival on Friday 6 September.

Virgilian Olympians

As the 2024 Paris Olympics has now finished, we acknowledge the efforts of two Old Virgilians who represented Australia. Jacob Despard, half-brother of Will Parker (Year 6), was in the men’s 4 x 100m relay. This was the fastest time posted by an Australian men's relay team. Had they raced in Heat 2, they would have won, putting them into the final. Alas, they were in the fastest heat and did not qualify. As mentioned in the last edition of The Star, Maximillian Giuliani qualified for the final of the men’s 200m, placing 7th. Max was also the first leg of the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle team, which finished 3rd, earning the team a bronze medal. We look forward to welcoming both of our Olympians back to St Virgil’s when they return.

Mini Olympics

Our Mini Olympics and Opening Ceremony were a huge success. Boys in Prep to Year 6 enthusiastically engaged in Horsey Hurdles, Bionic Beanbag, Snail Roll, and Rapid Running. The aim of the activities was to have fun and encourage participation. Spot prizes were awarded for various outfits and participation, and there were some inspired outfit choices by many. Thank you to all families who assisted your sons in preparing for the day.

Mary Rice Free Dress Day

Thank you to all parents/carers for your very generous donations towards Mary Rice Free Dress Day. Currently, the Junior School donation, including staff contributions, is totalling around $1,000. We are still accepting donations in the Junior School office if you are still able to contribute or forgot to send in a donation on the day.

Book Week - "Reading is Magic"

Next Tuesday is one of those we eagerly anticipate all year! Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are invited to dress up on Tuesday 20 August. We encourage students to let their imaginations flow and think of a book involving magical creatures, wizards, or magicians. Alternatively, your son may choose to come as a favourite character from any book. The possibilities are endless.

The Book Week Parade will be held at 9.00 am on the Junior School Futsal Court. Parents/carers are welcome to attend. All students who wish to dress up may wear their costumes to and from school, and prizes will be awarded for all year levels. Any students who are involved in basketball after school will need to bring their PE gear to change into at the end of the school day. Students in classes with Physical Education on that day will need to have comfortable clothes for PE, including sneakers.

Reminder: Names on Student Items

This is a friendly reminder to please ensure that your son’s name is on all items he brings to School, in an easy-to-find location on the item. This is especially important for uniform items, lunch boxes, and drink bottles. Every day, we are faced with unnamed items left in the playground and bag locker areas, with no way to know to whom they belong. We are sure you find it equally frustrating when your son comes home without his lunch box, jumper, etc., and you are faced with replacing it. If it has his name on it and is left in the playground or around the school, it will almost always make its way home to you after a day or two. Please periodically check that the name has not washed or rubbed off. We thank you for your cooperation.

Science Week in Kindergarten

In Kindergarten during Science Week, we have been exploring mixtures, material properties, and chemical reactions. We created Alka-Seltzer-powered lava lamps and made slime! We investigated how the ingredients combined, changed texture, and moved in different ways. Students enjoyed developing their science knowledge through hands-on, engaging activities!

Choir

Music Choir rehearsals have been rescheduled to start a bit later on Monday mornings: 8.30 am - 9.00 am in the hall. Students in Years 3-6 who are interested in singing are welcome to attend at any time. We are having fun learning contemporary songs this semester.

Years 5-6 Combined Band Day

On Monday 26 August, our Years 5 and 6 Bands will have a full day of music-making with the St Mary’s College Year 6 Band. They will have small group tutorials with our fantastic tutors and perform in the Nagle Centre at 2.00 pm. Our Year 4 students will attend the performance, and we invite family members to come along and listen too.

Choomalaka Art Festival

The Choomalaka Art Festival is on Friday 20 September at the Austins Ferry Campus. Every class in the Junior School has begun preparing their class item. It is expected that all students will attend and perform, as well as practice their parts at home this term. We will have a dress rehearsal in the Joyce Performance Centre during the week of the festival, and our Head of Art, Montgomery Wilson, will give a talk to our Junior School students at an assembly this term regarding performance preparation and how to tackle feelings of nervousness.

Junior School Parents and Friends Association News

Father’s Day Breakfast

Our annual Father’s Day breakfast will be held on Wednesday 28 August from 7.30 am. Look out in your EdSmart notifications for all the relevant information. Helpers, if you are able to be at school at 6.30 am on the day, please let us know.

Football Margin tickets are on sale and will be available until Friday 27 September for $20 per ticket. The margin competition is for the AFL Grand Final on Saturday 28 September. If your ticket number matches the margin at quarter, half-time, or three-quarter time, you will be rewarded with $50. If it is the final margin, you will win $400. Profits from the sale of the tickets will go straight to the P&F to help continue raising money for a new playground.

Upcoming Events

Book Week Parade: Tuesday 20 August at 9.00 am 

Alex Gadomski Cup: Wednesday 21 August at 11.00 am (streamed live on Duff TV) Combined SVC/SMC Band Concert: Monday 26 August at 2.00 pm

Father’s Day Breakfast: Wednesday 28 August at 7.30 am

Combined SVC/SMC House Athletics Carnival: Friday 6 September (whole day)