From the Head of Junior School

This week I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Canberra to join our Year Six students on their Year Six Camp. It was a pleasure to spend time with such a great group of young people. Travelling to the Australian Capital Territory and learning about our Federal government, our history and what it means to be an Australian citizen was both exciting and educational for the students. I am always amazed that, even after 20 years of attending this camp, I still learn new facts at each of the activities we attend. This year I had the time to read the citation at the Longstaff painting entitled Menin Gate at Midnight at the Australian War Memorial. After reading the citation new features of the painting appeared to me, as if magically. I was able to direct one of our groups to read the citation and then look at the painting again to see their reaction. It was one of amazement. It is moments such as this that reinforce the value of actually visiting such places while on camp. We could read about the painting but to see it in front of us, to witness the size and proportion and the way the light worked off the oil painting is invaluable. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/90th-Anniversary-Menin-Gate-at-midnight Some of us had a similar experience at Parliament House when one of the security guards pointed out the Tom Roberts painting of the Opening of Federation at the Royal Exhibition Building in 1901. To be able to see the painting, which is over 3 metres high and 5 metres wide, in person was incredible. To hear the security guard speak about the history of the painting and some of its hidden features was inspiring. He obviously had a passion for sharing the painting as it would have been very easy to walk past it without looking up. Many of the children with me have seen the copy we have at school but were amazed at the size of the actual painting and how well each person was depicted.

While it was wonderful to see these examples of learning in action, what impressed me the most was the enthusiasm, behaviour and friendship displayed by all of our students. We know that Girton students are well respected in our own community but, having seen the exemplary behaviour of our Year Six students in Canberra, I can see why they are well respected wherever they go. From our bus drivers to the camp staff and volunteers or employees at each of our venues the common refrain was how polite and well behaved our students are. Thank you to Mrs Bath, Mrs Moss, Mr Di Fede, Mrs Henery, Mrs Vernon, Mrs Rice, Mrs Barnes and Mrs Milner who travelled to Canberra to facilitate this camp. With so many students to care for they had plenty to do and were always on duty. I have no doubt that the success of the camp was in no small part due to their professionalism, commitment and caring approach with our students.

We would also like to thank the Australian Government for their contribution in supporting this programme through the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER). This provides a subsidy for each student to part fund our trip to the National Capital. Finally I would like to thank Mrs Peter and Mrs Burge for stepping in to run Junior School Assembly in my absence. It is good to know we have such talented and reliable staff who can and will step in when needed.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Please click on the above image to view a video

Girton Students Brave the Shave

On Friday 15th March, a group of students from Girton Grammar Junior School shaved their heads to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia Foundation, and other students played their part with crazy hairstyles.

Head of Girton Grammar Junior School, Mr Don Thompson, said that the school has a long history of raising money and awareness through the World’s Greatest Shave event.

“Both our Senior and Junior School students and staff have supported this event for thirteen years.

“The Junior School alone raised over $10,000 for the Leukemia Foundation last year, and the Senior School this year raised more than $25,000.

“It is quite moving to watch young children pledging their commitment to supporting Leukemia research in this very personal way.

“Their understanding of the problem being bigger than themselves is profound for such young people,” Mr Thompson said.

Jools for Jim hairdressing is donating time and providing hairdressers for this event.

Please click on the images above to view the gallery

Student Pick Up

A reminder that any Junior School students not collected by 3.45 pm will be taken down to After School Care and can be collected from there. If you do find that you are unavoidably detained please contact Junior School Reception on 0354403050 and we will escort your child to After School Care. This is particularly important for our younger students who can become quite upset if they are left at the gate for longer than usual.

Parenting Tips - Morning Routines

Mornings are often chaotic, particularly in households where both parents work or in the homes of sole parents. Both parents and children generally have a great deal to do to prepare for the day. It is also important that children get to school on time so they can make the most of their learning experiences. Attention-seekers and dawdlers often find mornings are ideal times to keep their parents busy with them. Many morning difficulties arise due to a lack of understanding of the roles to be performed. Most children, even young ones, are capable of doing their morning tasks

without parental interference, yet we so often take those responsibilities away from them.

Some home ideas to get the morning working for you:-

Establish a clear routine. With your children’s help, work out an order of activities that everyone understands.

Place the morning activities on a chart or even a photo chart. Charts help younger children and boys who are ‘organisationally challenged’ to go through their routine activities.

Identify the jobs that you and your children are to do. Children should be able to do routine tasks that directly involve them, such as preparing their cereal, clearing dishes away, dressing, washing themselves and preparing school bags.

Slow starters can prepare the night before. They can lay their clothes out or just make sure their bag is packed with everything they need for the next day.

Be aware of possible distractions and get rid of them. Some children become absorbed in television, some spend an eternity carefully choosing their clothes, others dawdle over just finding something clean to wear. Television, if it’s to be watched, can be turned on when children are ready for the day. Clothes can be chosen and laid out the night before.

Avoid covering for children’s misbehaviour. If you are suffering due to their refusal to co-operate, or because they are moving slowly, then put the responsibility for misbehaviour where it should be, with the children. Stay out of their way in the morning and refuse to be drawn into their arguments or nag them to hurry up. Allow them to experience the consequences of being late to school or even having to dress at school.

(Taken from Michael Grose - Parenting Ideas)

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