From the 

Head of Junior School

Experiences in and beyond the classroom

Over the last fortnight much has been happening in the Junior School. Not a day goes by when a staff member or student is not sharing with me an experience they have been engaged in or an idea they would like to implement. 

Year 6 Leadership

I have been especially impressed by the leadership of our Year 6 students. On Friday they led the School in a House Muster, an afternoon of games which they planned and enacted with students from Kindergarten to Year 6. What was impressive about this experience is it was all student initiated, planned, and enacted with staff acting only in an advisory capacity. 

Our leaders have been eager to give their time in support of the school. In the lead up to Open Day on 25 March, students have been talking with members of the community about their experiences at Kinross Wolaroi. 

On Friday 18 March we will be acknowledging our student leaders for 2022 as we formally induct them into their roles. In 2022, all Year 6 students have a role to play in leading the School. We are excited to invite all Year 6 families to attend this presentation, which is our first onsite School function for the year as COVID restrictions start to lift. We are looking forward to coming together as a community to celebrate a significant milestone in the life of a Year 6 student.

As the year has commenced, we have begun the process of developing our future Junior School leaders as twenty Year 5 students put their hands up to become Round Square Champions this year. Working with Year 11 students and Mr Ben George from Round Square they have started to explore the ideals of this framework and what they mean for our School. 

Mr Tim Harris – For the Love of Writing

Our author in residence, Mr Tim Harris joined the Junior School staff last week. He spent time with staff in analysis of student writing, looking for specific writing skills we need to focus on. We were fortunate to have Tim launch his latest book at the Junior School, Bambuckle’s Remarkables Join Forces. Our students were treated to a wonderful reading of the novel with Tim entertaining students with many hilarious anecdotes on how he developed his characters and where he gains inspiration from. The students are looking forward to Tim working with them in class as he returns next week to inspire and guide our students in developing a love of writing.

COVID

Over the last few weeks our community has received notifications in regard to COVID cases in the School. For some students the symptoms have been mild while for others it has left them feeling quite drained. It has not only been students who have had COVID that are affected but their siblings, who are COVID free, who need to isolate at home. These students have missed the day-to-day structure and friendships School provides them. The extract from a student letter I received this week is an insight into what this pandemic has been like for our kids.

I am in quarantine, and it feels so hard to do schoolwork at home instead of being at school. At school there is pretty much nothing to distract me but at home it is like how much longer until I can play Nintendo?  ……..is still very sick and getting worse. She always goes into moments where she can’t stop coughing and it is scary because she can’t even breathe.

I still can’t wait to get back to school to see my friends. I do not know when I will go back but I hope it is soon. When we are out of quarantine, I really want to see you.

If you are asked to isolate for an extended period and your child is well enough to continue with schoolwork at home, the following resources are accessible: 

• Microsoft Teams Year group page with outlines of activities completed at school each day
• On request, digital resources linked to learning at school that day (if applicable)
• Online subscriptions: Mathletics, Sunset Maths, Wushka and Wheelers
• In some circumstances, it may be possible to listen to the introduction of a lesson at school via an organised Teams meeting. Please refer to the class timetable for lessons times and email the classroom teacher to arrange access to the lesson.

Swimming and sport carnivals

This week swimming staff, Mr Jones and Mrs Fatai supported our swimmers at the HICES carnival with many fine results. We have a strong team who are now progressing to CIS. This year attendance at the carnival went beyond making it into the team as our families battled the weather, road closures, landslides, and traffic to get to the carnival. Thank you to the many families who persevered through a lengthy trip to Sydney.

Our house carnivals at School, HICES and CIS are important events on the school calendar. They are a celebration and an opportunity for students to challenge themselves and do their personal best. Carnivals provide an opportunity to support teammates and friends throughout the day, watching as race participants congratulate each other and show great team spirit. It is a time where student leaders step up, encouraging students to participate and do their best. We look forward to sharing the excitement and colour of our athletics carnival on Thursday 7 April, subject to the weather and COVID playing along with our plans.

Sport carnivals are important in the life of the School. They are an opportunity for all students to participate in some way, with everyone contributing to the overall team result. They are about the interactions between different year groups in each House and watching new friendships form. They are a time to celebrate and respect our students’ diverse talents and readiness.

Athletics Carnival

In preparation for our upcoming athletics carnival our last summer sport afternoon is Wednesday 16 March. From Monday 21 March and continuing on every Monday and Wednesday afternoon until 6 April, all students in Years 2-6 will be participating in trials and events. All students in Year 2 are encouraged to attend, particularly students who are turning 8 this year and looking to compete in the athletics carnival as these afternoons are used for preliminary placement into events.

URStrong

Over the last weeks of 2021 and as we have returned to School we have noticed our students at times struggling with developing and maintaining healthy relationships with each other. Our teachers and School Counsellors have been upskilling students on what it means to be a friend and on developing and maintaining healthy relationships. I have been working with various grades in recent weeks on how we can have a happy and safe playground and what we can do when things are said or done that we do not like.

Over the coming year we are working with URStrong Home | URSTRONG, to further support our students. All staff and students will undertake specific training as we continue to work together on creating a culture of kindness.

Contacting your teacher

This week you will have received information about our upcoming parent teacher learning conversations. These are a time for us to pause and reflect on how our students are settling back into the routine of school. Conducting interviews so early in the term has a defined purpose. We have information gathered from teacher-to-teacher handover and previous academic and pastoral tracking documentation. Information from classroom observations help to build on this understanding of how our individual students learn. Parent conversations help complete the picture as they highlight changes from year to year or critical events that may have occurred over the long summer break and may impact learning.

While these interviews are scheduled twice a year, at Kinross Wolaroi we encourage parents to contact class teachers as the first “port of call” throughout the year if you would like to discuss your child’s learning. The class teacher has the best knowledge of your child. If you would like to make a time to chat, please either send a note through the diary or contact your child’s teacher via email.

Student arrival at School

As we near the middle of the School term and many experiences become available for our students before and after school we have noticed a number of students arriving at School well before there are staff on supervision. Students arriving for an activity are asked to go straight to their space to wait for the staff member. 

As a parent I know morning drop off is often structured around work commitments. If you are dropping your child before 8:20am please consider Before School Care. While a student may be happy to sit for 5 minutes in the undercover area, this is not the case when they are arriving 30 minutes before a staff member is on duty.

Uniforms

Over the last few weeks many bags have been arriving from the uniform shop. It has been wonderful to see so many students who have transitioned to the new uniform and are wearing it with great pride. A significant difference has been the boys who have their shirts tucked in, without even being asked to do so!

One of the challenges for parents is knowing what days to wear sport uniform. Students in Years 3-6 who have sport training after school on a Monday and Wednesday wear sport uniform to school. For some students on these days they will come in their dress uniform as they may not train on that day or undertake swimming as their sport.

On PE days students in Years 3-6 also wear sport uniform. Students in Years K-2 do not need a separate sport uniform for PE days. Their new, play-based uniform is sufficient, all that is required is for them to change shoes at school and they are good to go!

On Windermere days students need a pair of long track pants with them. In many cases these are something that can be pulled on over shorts or under dresses.

A reminder earrings are plain gold or silver studs.

Kinross Wolaroi Students making their Mark 

At Kinross Wolaroi we value and strive for academic rigor. Students have a myriad of opportunities to engage in enriching learning experiences which in some instances the School provides or facilitates student access to them.  Please share with us your child’s interest, passions, and achievements by emailing junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au.

Over the weekend of 26 February, Pixie Harmer and Zoe Strahorn in Year 6 and Claire Wood in Year 7 represented the u13 Western Stars at the NSW Centre of Development Regional Challenge held at the Newcastle International Hockey Centre. 

Teams from over 11 regions across NSW competed with a fantastic standard of hockey. The carnival had a brilliant atmosphere and was a great opportunity for the girls to continue to build on their hockey skills.

Stuart Bell has been playing cricket with the Orange City Warriors team this season. He’s had several good games, with some solid bowling last week. He got 6 for 2 (all clean bowled) from 2 overs and two direct hit run outs from the outfield! Last game this week!

Mrs Denise Hayward  

Head of the Junior School