From the Head of Junior School

This week, students from Pre-Primary to Year Six have commenced their two week In-Term Swimming programme at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre (ALAC). We start each day with normal class routines in the morning, then around midday students board the buses to swimming with their buddy classes. It’s been wonderful to see our senior students in Years Five and Six supporting the younger year levels through the process of traveling between school and ALAC, organising their gear for swimming once we’re at the pool and assisting after the lessons to get ready again for returning to campus. This peer support is tremendous for their leadership skills, but also a wonderful help for all the teachers and parents who are looking after the younger year levels.

Holding swimming lessons in the final two weeks of school has been a lovely activity to close out the year and the slightly warmer weather has been a blessing too. Apart from the fun of swimming, this programme is vitally important for all students to develop their swimming proficiency and survival skills in water. Water is such a big part of our lives, particularly at a young age where students often visit the beach with their families or swim in a pool on holidays or at a friends house. Having fundamental swimming skills helps students keep themselves safe or know how to signal for support if they are struggling in the water.

In time, when its age appropriate for your child, but for parents also, I would encourage every family to develop their skills further to include surf swim safety and rescue like a Bronze Medallion course which can be accessed through Surf Life Saving Organisations, and basic First Aid courses inclusive of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In my role as a teacher I have attended both of these courses annually throughout my career and still see incredible value in them each time I undertake the training.

Year Six Learning Exhibition

Next Friday 3 December, our Year Six students host their families for a showcase of their final unit of inquiry exploring – ‘Who we are’, an inquiry into our sense of self as young learners in transition from Junior School to Middle School. This will also be a lovely moment to recognise and celebrate the end of their Junior School learning journey.

The Year Six students are still preparing the final components of their inquiry for exhibition over the next week and half, which includes a learning portfolio exploring their character development with writing pieces (journal entries, information report, persuasive piece) together with character profiles from a book report on Wonder by R. J. Palacio. Students have also prepared a creative piece of their own choice that they feel represents their character best at this particular stage of their lives. Interestingly, many students have chosen the medium of video to demonstrate this, but some have chosen a totem or creating an item that expresses who they are as a young person. All of these elements will be displayed in the Junior School building with Year Six students standing beside their display to explain to their families the different components of the inquiry. I have to admit, I really enjoy this final inquiry in Year Six. I think it’s a perfect moment to help students reflect on where they are at this point in their lives, encouraging them to explore the different interests, strengths and qualities they have and how this has shaped their sense of self. It’s a lovely moment for families too, whilst they know their children well, there are always elements that surprise and impress parents about their children. It's wonderful as a school to help discover these moments for families.

I spent some time speaking with two Year Sixes this week about their inquiry projects, and a particular line of inquiry they were exploring (a question they designed to research further), they were happy for me to share some of their learnings through the Anchor.

Flora has been exploring ‘how social media can influence our personalities’. She researched the different types of social media, how they are used, who they are directed at and the aspects of their use young people should be aware of. In discussions with her teacher mentor, Mrs Diletti, they talked through Flora’s findings and added the context of how their peers use these mediums. Flora could see both the values of connection and sharing via social media helping to enhance personal development, but also the potential complexities that can arise when social media is used negatively between people. Listening to Flora talk through a balanced perspective on the topic she was tremendous, and will be of great value to her as a young person for the future.

Scarlett has been exploring ‘how growing up on a farm has influenced the person she is’. Scarlett began by defining the farming world she has grown up in, comparing that to experiences other children may have had living in a town or city. She explained the different aspects of farm life that her family is involved in and what that means to her family and herself. Scarlett talked comfortably about the elements of farming life that bring her joy, like the sense of space and freedom. Her ability to articulate the skills and values of growing up on a farm was impressive, and how they can help her for the future as well.

My brief discussions with Flora and Scarlett are typical of the diversity amongst the student group in the range of interests and learnings they have explored. Some of the other lines of inquiry students have been exploring include the topic areas of sports, music, technology and creative arts. I’m looking forward to seeing their final displays and speaking with them all next Friday afternoon/evening.

Families of Year Six students are invited to attend a short presentation of Year Six in the Hall at 4.00pm, where we will recognise their ‘graduation’ from Junior School, before moving to the Junior School building to view their Exhibition learning displays.

Events Coming Up

Saturday 4 December | Albany Christmas Pageant (for Years Five and Six)

Year Five students have been working with an artist in residence – Cecile Williams to create a Christmas Float for the City of Albany Pageant. This years theme is ‘Sparkle’. We are looking forward to seeing what our Year Five students have created.

Students from Year Five and Year Six are invited to walk with the float for the pageant, and all families are invited to attend and watch the wonderful event to get into the Christmas Spirit.

Monday 6 December | School Christmas Service with class parties in the afternoon

At 10.15am in the Multi-Purpose Sport Complex, School Chaplain Mrs Naomi Cooper will lead a Christmas Service for the whole school, from Pre-Primary to Year Eleven. Families are invited and most welcome to attend this event. In the afternoon, during school time, classes will be holding an informal class party. Class teachers will send specific information regarding this directly to families, but this usually involves each student bringing an item of food for the class to enjoy together.

Tuesday 7 December | Junior School Awards and Christmas Concert (final day of the year for Junior School students)

As a culmination of the year, all Junior School students will attend a morning ceremony to recognise special achievement awards throughout the year. We will also recognise and celebrate our Year Six students' final day with the Junior School and thank them for their contribution and leadership of the Junior School this year. Families are warmly invited to attend this event.

Following the awards ceremony, after morning recess, the much-loved Junior School Christmas Concert will be held, with performances from every class throughout the Junior School, and a staff item as well! Families are welcome to attend this event, it will be a lovely community occasion to share and celebrate a wonderful 2021.

It’s a busy final few weeks of the year, but each event has its own significance to the groups involved and their families. I look forward to sharing these occasions with you all in the weeks to come.

With warmest regards, and appreciation,

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

Year Six Scoliosis and Colour Blindness Information

Pamphlets on scoliosis and colour blindness are being sent home. Parents are asked to read them and seek assistance from a health professional if there are any concerns.

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine is curved sideways. It is more common in girls, but boys can also have this condition. It becomes noticeable in early adolescence (9 to 13 years) and parents are asked to follow directions in the pamphlet to check their child for this condition. If you find any of the signs listed, get a re-check from your family doctor, as treatment may be required.

Colour blindness is a genetic condition of the eye. Many tasks are colour coded and some occupational groups will not allow a worker who is colour blind to do certain work. This brochure outlines what parents can do to assist their child with this condition.

For further assistance, please contact your school’s health nurse on 9844 0319.

Sue Rout | Community Health Nurse

Child and School Health

WA Country Health Service, Great Southern

From the Canteen

Week Eight Specials

Daily Specials