From the Head of Junior School

At last week’s assembly, I spoke to the Junior School students about being kind and including others. I discussed the power of kindness and the importance of making everyone feel welcome. Including others is not just a nice thing to do; it’s essential for creating a happy and supportive school environment where everyone can thrive.

Our students heard that when we include others, we show that we value them. The simple act of smiling and saying hello or asking someone if they would like to join in with us can make a huge difference in someone’s day. Imagine being new to a school or feeling left out during recess. A friendly smile, an invitation to join a game, or a simple “Hello” can turn things around completely. Including others helps everyone feel like they belong and are an important part of the school community.

Inclusion also teaches us about diversity and acceptance. Each of us is unique, with different backgrounds, interests, and abilities. When we include others, we learn to appreciate these differences and understand that they make our community richer and more interesting. It helps us build empathy and respect for one another, which are important skills both in school and in life.

Including others can also make activities more fun and exciting. Whether it’s working on a group project, playing a sport, or simply talking with each other at lunch, having a variety of friends brings new ideas and perspectives and new opportunities. This can lead to better teamwork, more creativity, and a lot more fun for everyone involved.

Our school and our students have a very good reputation in the community for being caring and inclusive. When we practice inclusion, we set a positive example for others. Our older students look after the younger students as well as looking out for each other. When we have students visiting or new to the school, there are always plenty of students willing to help show them around and make them feel welcome. This helps create a culture of kindness that benefits everyone. As we enjoy time with our families over this long weekend, it would be a good opportunity to discuss the theme of kindness and inclusion and how it is enacted at school, at home and in the broader community.

Zone Cross Country

Congratulations to the following students who represented Loddon Mallee at the Zone Cross Country in St Arnaud last week.

Alice McIntosh, Lauren Davenport, Will Martin, Sophie Lee, Stella McIntosh and James Davenport.

Lauren Davenport and Alice McIntosh were successful in placing at St Arnaud and will now progress to the State Finals in Melbourne.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

2024 Junior School Cross Country Carnival

The Junior School Cross Country Carnival was held on Friday, 24th May, at Beischer Park in Strathdale. In conditions perfect for running, students from Preparatory through to Year Six participated in the event with enthusiasm and vigour. They huffed and puffed their way over varying distances ranging from 1km through to 3km. It was wonderful to see so many parents, grandparents and carers who came along to volunteer their time at checkpoints as well as supporting and encouraging students throughout the day. In addition, our students and staff were supported by a large group of Year 8 students from the senior school. They were perfect role models for their junior counterparts and the carnival could not operate without them. A big thank you goes out to all involved in the day.

Congratulations to Frew House on winning the Cross Country Cup!

Results

PREP

	Girls	Boys
1st	Frankie McManus	Tex Lee
2nd	Stella Norman	Ted Crameri
3rd	Ingrid Campbell	Charlie Weston

YEAR 1

	Girls	Boys
1st	Neve Armour	Henry Beal
2nd	Matilda Thomas	Benji Donaldson
3rd	Anaisha Nair	Teddy Alexander

YEAR 2

	Girls	Boys
1st	Sophie Collier	Alexander Lee
2nd	Anni Rao	Coen Tuang
3rd	Zara Syed	Campbell Martin

9 YEAR OLDS

	Girls	Boys
1st	Lilly Smith	Ronny Epps
2nd	Hildi Ramm	Joshua Purton
3rd	Billie McManus	Nate Burnett

10 YEAR OLDS

	Girls	Boys
1st	Maddy Canobie	James Davenport
2nd	Felicity Ford	Edward Esposito
3rd	Hanah Jalal Thumpalasseril	Billy Knight

11 YEAR OLDS

	Girls	Boys
1st	Sophie Lee	Peter Smith
2nd	Stella McIntosh	Conor Elliot
3rd	Rae Anwyl	Otto Chapman

12/13 YEAR OLDS

	Girls	Boys
1st	Lauren Davenport	Elijah Willits
2nd	Alice McIntosh	William Martin
3rd	Priya Lewis	Joshua Ashby

New Equipment for the Sports Shed

The Junior School Student Representative Council (SRC) would like to thank the Friends of Junior School for their kind and generous donation to purchase new equipment for the Sports Shed. This money was used to purchase new soccer balls netballs, footballs, soccer balls and basketballs.

Special thank you to Chloe Jesser and Ruby O'Rielly who selected the equipment to be ordered.

Mr Jamie Turner

Teacher of 6V

Girton Wellbeing Dogs, Murphy and Nina, Celebrate Birthdays with Students!

Students at Girton Grammar School recently gathered at a short Assembly on Wednesday 6th June, to celebrate the birthdays of Murphy (2 years old) and Nina (4 years old). As a special treat, Mrs Barnes and students prepared delicious meat and yogurt birthday cakes for the dogs and also wrapped some gifts to show their appreciation. The atmosphere was filled with joy and celebration as the school community came together to honour their beloved furry friends.

Happy Birthday, Murphy and Nina!

Camp Australia

Community Notices