MYRNIONG WOODLANDS PLANTING DAY

Saturday 5 November dawned a beautiful spring day, with warm sunshine and a cloudless sky. 40 plus Early Learning Centre and Junior School families visited Myrniong and planted River Gum and She Oak trees on the western hill and the eastern side of the oval. The Myrniong Woodlands is up and running. Families who were unable to make the planting day are most welcome to make a time and come in to plant their trees. If you so desire, contact the Junior School and we can organise for your tree to be planted by Junior School staff and students. Thank you to Nick Dopheide, Alana Brown and Ashley Quinsey for all their work behind the scenes to make the Myrniong Woodlands project happen.

SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL CAMPS

Congratulations to our Year 5 and Year 1 and 2 students who both enjoyed wonderful school camps in the last two weeks.

Our Year 5s travelled back to 1854 and were students at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum Ragged School at Sovereign Hill for two days. All our ‘orphaned’ children were excellent actors and actresses, playing their parts superbly. Congratulations to Elsie Brown on winning the Sovereign Hill medallion for the most accomplished student during our two-day program. Well done to Camilla Edgar and Dru Mayfield for being selected for employment at the Jones sister’s Criterion store in Sovereign Hill.

Our Year 1 and 2 students had their first school overnight camp to the beautiful southern Grampians. It was a jam-packed two days of outdoor adventures. The students were remarkable with their ‘have-a-go’ attitude and their resilience. Due to two years of covid and remote learning, this was our young Collegians’ first overnight camp.

A special thank you to Ms See, Mrs Callinan, Miss Brabham, Mrs. Kelvy and our Gap student Zahria for their endless support and encouragement of our students on camp. We are very lucky to have staff at College that look to do more not less.

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE STAFFING

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Rebecca Walker to the Early Learning Centre team in 2023. Ms Walker joins us from Ballarat Grammar where she is a teacher in their Early Learning Centre 4-year-old program. Ms Walker will cover Mrs Frances O’Brien’s four days of teaching, with Mrs. Silvina Werner covering the Director of Early Learning Centre component of Mrs. O’Brien’s role. In the coming weeks we will announce the full 2023 staffing schedule to our Early Learning Centre families.

YOUNG HOUSE SERVICE

Congratulations to the Young House students and Mrs Kelly on an excellent House Service on Wednesday. Their theme of resilience was a timely one. The sharing of thoughtful resilience quotes, the telling of the ‘The Little Engine That Could’ story, singing of resilience songs and Pastor Mike Lewis’ engaging story of Nedd Brockmann and his 4000km run across Australia to raise money for the homeless all made for an entertaining and reflective House Service.

UNITING CHURCH CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

An important connection to our local Hamilton community is the Junior School’s annual support of the Uniting Church Christmas Hamper Appeal. We ask all College families to assist us in helping make Christmas a little easier for marginalised and less fortunate members of our local community.

The following items are requested:

Canned ham, fruit, vegetables, mince tarts and plum puddings
Packet biscuits, nuts and sweets
Long life fruit juice, milk and custard
Pasta and sauces

Please, no alcohol or dumping of unwanted items from the pantry. Each class will have a ‘Christmas Hamper Box’ in which items can be placed. The final date for donations is Monday, 5th December.

JUNIOR SCHOOL PARENT OPEN MORNING - THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER

Next Thursday from 10.00am to 10.50am, Junior School classrooms are open for all parents to visit and view the learning in the Prep to Year Six classes. Please note our Year One class will be participating in the St John’s First Aid course at this time.

Stephen Nelson

Head of Junior School

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Sophie Satchell was selected through the Hamilton Golf Club to participate in the recent Golf Victoria Division Tournament which was held in Warrnambool. Sophie played beautifully to win her age-group division. Congratulations Sophie on this wonderful achievement!

Louise Patterson

Head of Junior School PE

Dates to Remember