Junior School update

NAIDOC Week

Although Term 3 is off to an unexpected start, it was lovely to see our students happy and eager to learn! Last week we celebrated NAIDOC Week in the Junior School. Students from Prep up to Year 6 completed a range of activities around this year’s theme, Heal Country!

In the JDC, students were asked to answer the question What does Country mean to me?

Students in Years 3 and 4 read Finding our Heart – A story about the Uluru statement for young Australians by Thomas Mayor. 

Year 3 students made hearts with promises of how they would Heal Country! 

The Year 4 class also read Respect by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson. They created respect hands to honour and recognise the traditional custodians of the land.

In Year 5 and 6, students watched parts of the film 'The Final Quarter'. This led to a discussion about this year’s theme and the importance of acknowledging the true history of Australia to Heal Country. Each student then wrote a message of healing on a piece of fabric, which was sewn together to make a special flag.

Values awards

All Junior School teaching staff nominate students who consistently display these values for an end of semester award. Certificates are presented to four students by Mrs Brennan at the final assembly of each semester. 

Congratulations to the following girls for demonstrating the school values in Semester 1!

• Respect: Grace D, Year 1
• Integrity: Ruby B, Year 6
• Passion: Misha P, Year 3
• Creativity: Francesca W, Year 5

Book Week author visit

On Tuesday 24 August, RA Spratt, author of The Peski Kids, Friday Barnes and The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, will spend the morning inspiring our Years 3 to 6 students. If you are interested in ordering any signed copies of her books, please see the attached flyer for further details.

MS Readathon

Junior School students are invited to participate in the upcoming MS Readathon.  MS Readathon has been igniting a passion for reading in children, all while helping people with Multiple Sclerosis. The rules are simple. Read whatever you like, as much as you can, throughout the month of August. An email will be sent to parents to register their child. Homeroom teachers will encourage students to participate, although it is not compulsory.

Bebras 2021

Bebras is an international initiative to promote Informatics and Computational Thinking among students. The second round of the 2021 Challenge begins in August. This is an optional competition that students from Years 3 to 6 may register for. Mrs Thibou and Miss Sidaway will run lunchtime practice sessions each Wednesday beginning 28 July. For further information, and to register your daughter please follow this link.

Gymnastics achievement

Milly W and Zara M had their first gymnastics competition of the year, bright and early on Saturday 10 July at Niddrie Gymnastics Centre. They were part of the Chamford white team, coming 2nd in vault, equal 1st bars, 1st beam, 1st first floor and 1st overall! Congratulations to our superstar Level 3 gymnasts.

Sarah McKenzie, Head of Junior Discovery Centre

Jacqui Sidaway, Head of Years 3–6