Junior School news

Junior School Parent information webinar: The Body Bright Program

The Butterfly Foundation’s strengths-based and evidence-informed Body Bright Program teaches body positivity by promoting healthy attitudes and behaviours, so that children thrive at school and in life. The Junior School teachers will begin delivering the program this term and next. If you would like to know more about what your children will be learning, please come to the webinar run by Vicky Gemmell on Thursday 31 March at 7pm. A link to the session will be made available through Shelly closer to the date.

International Women’s Day

After the engaging and successful whole school activities session on Thursday to acknowledge this important calendar event, the Junior School also celebrated International Women’s Day in their Friday assembly. Ably led by school captain, Amy F, they explored the idea of Breaking the Bias and reflected on some important ideas:

• What do you think it means to be a woman? ​
• What do you think you’ll be like as a woman? ​
• What do you think the future will look like? ​
• What changes do you want to see in your lifetime?

 The Year 2s read Rosie Revere, Engineer as their mentor text in Week 6, which tied in beautifully with International Women’s Day. Young Rosie loves to invent, create, modify and problem solve, like a true engineer. The Year 2s donned a red and white polka dot headscarf and set to work to create something special of their own. Like Rosie the Riveter and Rosie Revere, they each faced their own challenges but carried on with a ‘You Can Do It’ attitude!

Beachside Division Swim Carnival

Congratulations to the three Shelford students who made it through to the Beachside Division Carnival. Each event had two heats, the results of which were combined to give students their placing. To make through to regionals, students had to have the fastest time out of both heats. Jane W placed 11th overall in Freestyle and 10th overall in Butterfly. Abbey M placed 4th overall in Backstroke and 3rd overall in Butterfly.

This was the first time both students had progressed through to Divisions. There was lots of nervous energy in the morning, but they represented Shelford exceptionally and should be very proud of their efforts. Unfortunately, Christina M was unable to participate as she was in isolation.

Kiva Micro-Lending Program 

A reminder that you may donate to your child’s class by clicking on the link below. Students will begin to look at the types of businesses they wish to support in the coming weeks:

• JDC   
• Year 3   
• Year 4   
• 5A   
• 5B   
• 6A   
• 6B 

If you have any questions, please contact Service Learning Coordinator, Claire Cheeseman: ccheeseman@shelford.vic.edu.au  

Easter Raffle 

At our Friday morning Chapel service, Chloe B explained the exceptional and important services provided by the Royal Children’s Hospital, the beneficiary of our Easter Raffle. The students have all received their raffle tickets to raise funds for the hospital. Please write your child’s name and a telephone number on each of the tickets you purchase, and then return the money and the stubs in an envelope to the office or classroom teacher by Wednesday 6 April.

We are also looking for Easter donations to make our up our hampers, please consider helping to fill up our Easter boxes in each classroom. 

Harmony Week Chapel

The Junior School celebrated Harmony Week during Chapel on Friday by focusing on the light we can shine out to others to help everyone feel like they belong. The theme for Harmony Week this year is ‘everyone belongs’. One student shared during Chapel that she believes ‘there is always room for one more’ and we think this is very true! Each student was asked to consider an action they could take in the coming week to be a light within the Shelford community and to make sure they are trying to be inclusive.

Continuous Reporting in the Junior School

This year we are transitioning to a model of ‘continuous reporting’. This model of reporting provides parents/carers and students with regular teacher feedback via Shelly. In these final weeks of Term 1, you will begin to see notifications of ‘Due Work’ that your child is completing in class. Some of these tasks are known as Common Assessment Tasks (CATs). When a CAT has been assessed, you will be able to access the teachers’ comments and your child’s level of achievement. 

The achievement levels we are using for these Common Assessment Tasks are as follows:

• Approaching expectations: Your child is making progress towards achieving the learning goals of the task.
• Meeting expectations: Your child has achieved the learning goals of the task.
• Exceeding expectations: Your child has achieved the learning goals of the task and gone beyond what was expected.

As in previous years, Victorian Curriculum standards of achievement will be provided in the end of semester reports.

Another important aspect of our continuous reporting model is the Parent–Teacher Conference. We are holding two more evenings this semester:

• Thursday 7 April, 3.30–6.30pm with Specialist Teachers.
• Wednesday 25 May, 1.30–6.30pm with Homeroom Teachers

Should you have any questions please contact Jacqui Sidaway (Head of Junior School – Curriculum and Innovation) on jsidaway@shelford.vic.edu.au

Junior School COVID-19 Vaccination clinic at Shelford

Shelford are hosting a second clinic for Pfizer (5–11 year olds only) on Thursday 31 March from 10am in the Pavilion. Parents will need to attend their daughters’ appointments. This is open to Shelford siblings as well.

Please book via: https://interconnect.book.vaxapp.com.au/workplace/sgg-cmiAgu

Vicky Gemmell, Head of Junior School – Student Wellbeing and Development

Jacqui Sidaway, Head of Junior School – Curriculum and Innovation