From the Head of Junior School

Our RULER skills got a workout this week, as the work on Higgs Hall required some moves at very short notice. With our Year 2 to 4 classes and After-School Care relocated to other classrooms in C Block, J Block, the Junior School Library and the d’Helin building, our students arrived on Monday morning to find their desks and learning materials moved into their temporary classrooms.

Rather than frustration or nervousness, we were greeted with students who were upbeat and ready to help. They settled into their classes quickly and established new play spaces around their new classrooms. Our teachers also took the moves in their stride. Many arrived early on Monday morning to assist with the move and then got on with their lessons to ensure it was business as usual for their students. 

The disruptions were not limited to the classes in Thomas Building. Many of our Specialists were also impacted, as was our Inclusive Education department. Even though the moves have created inconvenience for our staff and students, everyone has banded together and supported each other to make the best of the situation. We are hoping that the moves will be short-lived but, regardless of the timeframe, it is great to know that we can thrive together wherever we are learning.

Returning to my opening reference to our RULER skills, as a school we are very proud of the investment we have made in emotional intelligence education. I have no doubt that these emotional skills are a large part of the reason why our students and staff can cope so well with unexpected changes. Of course, the emotions are still there, but being able to recognise, understand, label, express and regulate them means our students know that they can manage them. A recent study by Queensland University of Technology found that students entering high school who completed social and emotional education programs in primary school were linked to increased NAPLAN scores (8-20 percentile points). This fits in with other research that shows “students with strong self-awareness and self-management are more confident about achieving academic goals and more engaged and focused on their learning”. 

We know that the evidence-based RULER approach is an invaluable pillar of our Junior School curriculum, and this research backs that up. 

Foundation Day service

Thank you to all the parents who supported our annual Foundation Day service last Friday night, which is a significant cultural event for the school held in a breathtaking venue. 

The voices of our Year 3 to 6 choir were superb, as was the reading of the 'Prayer for the Children' by our Junior School Captains, Grace and Ryan. 

Mr Don Thompson 

Head of Junior School