Dear parents,

As we come to the end of a busy and rewarding term, I would like to wish all members of our school community a safe, restful and enjoyable two-week holiday break. I hope this time provides an opportunity to relax, recharge and spend quality time with family and friends. I look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting term ahead.

I would like to sincerely thank our families for their generous support of Project Compassion this term, particularly in the context of the current economic challenges many are facing. Your willingness to give so generously is deeply appreciated and speaks volumes about the strength and spirit of our community.

As a St Virgil’s community, we are always mindful of educating our boys to be “men for others”, and this was clearly reflected in the way our boys approached our fundraising efforts this term — with enthusiasm, compassion and a genuine desire to make a difference. Your support has helped bring this important message to life in a very real and meaningful way. This term, as a total, we have raised in excess of $3,500, with an average of about $16 per Junior School student. Thank you.

Term Break: When do we finish? When do we return?

We break this Thursday 16 April and return on Tuesday 5 May ready for Term 2.

Staffing Updates

At this time, we say farewell and thank Mrs Eleanore Taylor, who has been serving in the role of Prep teacher since the commencement of Term 4, 2025. We are grateful for the care, dedication and enthusiasm she has brought to our youngest learners during her time with us. Mrs Taylor has made a valued contribution to our Junior School, and we thank her for all she has given to our community. We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

We are pleased to announce that Mr Ben Farrell has been appointed to the role of Prep classroom teacher for the remainder of the year. Mr Farrell is already familiar to the boys, having taught Health across all year levels, and has begun building strong relationships with the boys. We look forward to the enthusiasm, care and expertise he will bring to this role.

We wish Miss Amelia Daun all the very best as she embarks on her upcoming European holiday during her Long Service Leave. We hope this is a wonderful opportunity for rest, travel, and new experiences.

During this time, we are pleased to share that Mrs Caroline Conallin will take on the role of Year 3 Classroom Teacher from Monday 4 May to Wednesday 10 June. We warmly welcome back Mrs Conallin, who has previously taught at our campus and whose sons both attended St Virgil’s College. We are delighted to have her rejoin our community.

Every Step and Coin Counts: Coin Lines and Walking for Water

Project Compassion Day was always going to be a fun and memorable occasion, from the Willy Wonka-style purple hats, purple berets, Hurricanes merchandise, purple star glasses to the way in which the Junior School staff and students embraced the day with passion and enthusiasm.

The much-anticipated House Coin Line competition did not disappoint. It was a nail-biting wait to see who had the longest line and which team had raised the most amount of money. The boys were full of energy as they carefully lined up their donations along the Futsal court. The result was incredibly close and had to be measured, with Dwyer just taking the win for the longest line and Joyce raising the most amount of money.

Longest Line Competition

1st: Dwyer House: money raised: $623.55

2nd: Hessian House: money raised: $524.15

3rd: Joyce House: money raised: $659.25

4th: Doyle House: money raised: $254.20

This gave us a total of $2061.15 raised on the day.

The 'Walk for Water' activity in the afternoon was a powerful experience. Watching our boys, from our youngest Kindergarten students upwards, enthusiastically carry buckets of water up and down steps and slopes for a full 30 minutes was inspiring and eye-opening.

Our wonderful talented music tutors and teachers, including Mrs Ball and Mr Young formed a staff orchestra and played during the 30-minute walk.

Well done to all involved for making the day such a meaningful and joyful success.

Southern Primary Schools Basketball Competition

Our Year 3/4 Basketball Team represented SVC with pride, sportsmanship and determination over the weekend at the Southern Primary Schools Basketball Championships.

Winning three of their four games, the highlight for me was the way they played as a team, never giving up. Thank you to coach Kate Cunliffe for her efforts in mentoring and coaching the boys.

Team members: Patrick Hughes, Levi Briggs, Samuel Young, Sullivan Stride, Teddy Johns, Elijah Whitfield, Oliver and Flynn Cunliffe.

A Day of Japanese Fun and Discovery

It’s always interesting to learn about other cultures and languages and Japanese Day gives all that — without having to travel anywhere!

Junior School students and staff came together for the entire day to learn all about Japanese traditional games and toys and have lots of fun doing it.

There were indoor and outdoor games, including Ohajiki (Japanese marbles), and ending in Taketombo (bamboo dragonfly). The players had to actually construct their own taketombo and then fly it outside. The boys had great fun seeing who could fly it the greatest distance.

Thank you to Sensei Alison Wignell for organising such a great day.

Year 5 Camp Adventures at Port Arthur

Year 5 boys had a wonderful two-day experience on the Tasman Peninsula.

Despite a slightly chilly start, the sunshine was out as the boys cruised the harbour and visited the historic Isle of the Dead. They stepped back in time while touring the penitentiary and even had the chance to make their own convict bricks, bringing history to life in a hands-on way. The day finished on a high note with a classic camp dinner of sausages and hamburgers, followed by a well-earned dessert of brownies and ice cream.

Day 2 continued the excitement with outdoor exploration and new challenges. After visiting the Remarkable Cave, the boys walked out to magnificent Crescent Bay, ascending the sand dunes with enthusiasm. The day was filled with fun, laughter, and the joy of spending time together.

Thank you to all our staff, Mrs Coleman, Mr Farrell, Mr Zeeman, Mr Jarvis and Mrs Messer, who organised and attended the camp, enabling the boys to have such a positive learning experience.

A reminder: Help Us Keep Access Clear and Safe

Please be mindful not to park over the driveway entrance to the Junior School or within the Cathedral car park entrances. Over the past week, we have had several instances of cars being parked in these areas, obstructing access and creating safety concerns. We appreciate your cooperation in helping keep our community safe and ensuring smooth access for all families.

The Star

A Connected, Engaged and Caring Community

Term 1 2026 Ed 5 · 17 Apr 2026

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