From the Head of Junior School

Our well being topic this term has focused on Kindness. I have been so encouraged with the close consideration of this topic by teachers and students, and the creative ways that kindness has been shown. Our Springwood students took on a “Caught being Kind” challenge and many children are proudly wearing badges to congratulate them on their kindness to others. At Wentworth Falls, classes have “Spread kindness like confetti” and collected food for charities and books for local street libraries. It’s wonderful to see the staff and students embracing our well-being topics and taking action on this. Thank you to Mrs Mackin and Mrs Spohr who have coordinated assemblies for us this term.

Pre K at Wentworth Falls are finishing up their “30 Days Wild” learning. This programme has seen Pre K learning outside every day, purposely exploring the bush on our campus and beyond. They loved a visit this week from Year 11 drama who came dressed up as fairies to lead drama activities with the children amongst the trees. The students learned to make dandelion tea and made sculptures to decorate the trees. It’s been a busy and wonderful time in Pre K.

Students at Springwood campus combined learning and fun this week with a water play day on Wednesday. The weather has been unseasonable warm this week so out came the hoses, buckets and measurement containers! Staff were impressed with how the children managed their excitement and worked together to have fun. We hear they worked particularly hard together to make sure Mrs Ratcliff was drenched!

Our highlight this week was the Stage 3 Showcase. Both the Birrong and Yarramundi classes showed just how hardworking, creative, collaborative and thoughtful they were in the learning on display. The Showcase is designed to share the amazing learning taking place with parents and the broader community. It’s also an opportunity for our Year 4 students to come along and find out which stream they’d like to elect to be in – Discovery or Performing Arts. We hope to accommodate everyone’s first choice, but we’ll see what the numbers say! 

Congratulations to all Stage 3 children on their outstanding work and a HUGE thank you to Mrs Spohr and Mr Forbes for their teaching of these classes.

Mrs Rachael J Newton

Head of Junior School