Junior School
Awards & Notices
Kindergarten News
The first term of school has been very busy indeed as Kindergarten reconnect with friends, forge new friendships and become familiar with the new routine. They have settled in beautifully and, as you can see from the photographs, have been hard at work both inside and outside the classroom.
In Maths we have been learning to sort by one or two attributes and learn our numbers to five. Our Literacy lessons have focused on beginning to develop students’ phonemic and phonological knowledge through the Initial Lit program. We have been looking closely at rhyme and syllables in words. There have been lots of practical experiences to reinforce these crucial early Literacy skills. In Science we have started to learn about living things, thinking about what we humans need to survive. We have been learning about the world as a special place in Geography and the primary colours in Art. The children have really enjoyed their Library, PE and Music lessons and our talks with Reverend Clarke. They are getting to know their way about with the help of their trusty Year 6 buddies! All in all the children have made a great start to the year!
Marlo Robson
OSHC – Gowrie NSW
Our Outside School Care Service will be offering holiday care throughout the Easter holidays, daily from 6.30am to 6.30pm. From 1 April to 17 April they are offering a great range of fun experiences for our students to enjoy. Download the flyer below to find out more.
Term 2 Dates for Your Diary
31 March – Term 1 Concludes
1 April – KWS Pupil Free Day
2 April – Good Friday
3 – 5 April – Easter
5 – 16 April – School Holidays
20 April – Term 2 Commences
Area 51
Lifeworthy Learning
Prof. David Perkins, a research Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education has spent a lot of time exploring the concept of lifeworthy learning. He asks people to reflect on their first twelve years of education and estimate how much of that knowledge matters in our lives today. To judge what is lifeworthy for students is broad and subjective. It is hard to predict where knowledge will take learners in their lives, however, as educators we can continue to prepare students for the future through multi-disciplinary approaches and evidence-based teaching practices.
Area 51 was introduced with lifeworthy learning in mind. The 2021 program was designed to spark curiosity and wonder across a range of topics. In Term 1 we discovered the science behind the magic. Students from K-6 had the opportunity to learn about transpiration, saturated solutions, static electricity and chemical reactions.
If you ask most teachers what one of the most rewarding parts of their profession is, you will likely hear, “when you see that penny drop”. It’s a moment of understanding that sweeps across a student’s face. You see excitement, happiness and relief all at once. It is a fleeting moment for the child, but often with a lasting impact in their learning. There have been many ‘penny drop’ moments in our new Area 51 extra-curricular program this Term. In Term 2 our program will be based on film making and stop motion film. In Semester 2 the focus will turn to skill development in coding and engineering.
Amanda Dodson
Coordinator of Teaching and Learning K-6
Year 5 create a song to support Harmony Day, 2021, Everyone Belongs
“Raise Your Voice as one”
As part of their library lesson during Harmony week, Year 5 students researched to find out the purpose of Harmony Day. They looked at a range of books about Australia’s cultural diversity and how we can and should treat each other with respect. One of the favourite picture books that provided much inspiration was I’m Australian Too by Mem Fox.
The children then broke into groups and brainstormed in groups any phrases and words they could use to create a Year 5 song. The children were able to incorporate two of their Junior School core values Respect and Inclusiveness.
They spent their Music class time to combine their ideas and compile a collaborative song that contains a chorus, a touch of rap and some very strong and powerful messages. Creating a tune to accompany the words took many hours of hard work. Using their iPads, the children listened to the music as they individually recorded themselves singing the song.
Each recording was airdropped to Mrs Sinclair who had the onerous job of putting them all together to create a magical choir.
Year 2 allowed Year 5 to use their amazing classroom display “Everyone belongs” as a backdrop to a group photo. Year 2 had each traced their hand and joined them together in a circle. During their Library time, Year 2 had drawn self portraits in a jigsaw puzzle showing how we are the same yet different and emphasising the fact that everyone belongs – we are all together in harmony.
After the photo shoot, Year 5 grabbed the opportunity to sing their song to the very polite Year 2 audience.
Assembly Awards
Merit Awards
KR: Week 10 – Dinithi Nanayakkara, Anoushka Kotasthane, Ayush Prasad, Beau Pigot, Albert Johnston, Harriet Gibson, Allegra Lawson-White, Elke Sawtell, Layla Frecklington, Ivy Chapman, Henry Volkofsky, Amelia Canning, Fatehjit Singh.
1E: Week 9 – Mackenzie Austen, Edward Chapman, Robert Fatai, Imogen Flowers, Kayley Lett, Mezen Jalal, Grace Monaghan x2, Arthur Mullins, Nicholas Rourke, Alexander Stewart, Darcy Thomas, Morgan Zinga. Week 10 – Mackenzie Austen, William Barrett, Edward Chapman, Adeline Delbridge, Michael Gurr, Lilly Kilby, Sophie Kerdic, Grace Monaghan, Madeleine Russell, Phoebe Westcott, Lulu Widauer.
2C: Week 9 – Olive McLaurin, Isabella Zhang, Thomas Gibson, Dylan Cutter, Angus Boyd.
2S: Week 9 – Alexander Coleman, Lachlan Hunt, Sophia Martin, James Proudford-Nalder, Digby Volkofsky, Marlon Zielinski.
3M:Week 9 – Lucie Chambers, Harper Purvis. Week 10 – Prayan Dulal, Daniel Hayward.
3R: Week 9 – Daniel Kerdic, Sebastian Marquez, Jessica McGreal, Mya McLachlan, Georgiana Saran, Leopold Wade, Andie Zinga.
4P:Week 9 – Suzie Dale, Vivian Meates, Cassandra Philippe, Janette Proudford-Nalder, Adelaide Swift. Week 10 – Aston Lett, Adelaide Swift.
5T: Week 10 – Amelia Lawrie, Hunter Stacpoole, Chloe Caro.
6S: Week 9 – Ava Sutherland, Kaydn McLachlan, Rohan Kotasthane, Lily Moe, Mischa Lawson.
Courtesy Points
Lovely Manners: Week 9 – Sophie Kerdic, Darcy Thomas, Grace Harvey, Charlie Haydon. Week 10 – Lilly Kilby, Adeline Delbridge, Louis Blyth.
Lovely Greetings: Week 9 – Alby Kimmins. Week 10 – Zaro Jalal.
Thinking of Others: Week 9 – Reginald Caskey, Daniel Kerdic.
School Values: Week 9 – James Proudford-Nalder, Anna Kenny, Crispin Downs. Week 10 – Milla O’Toole, Disha Prasad.
Citizenship Points
Helpfulness: Week 9 – Adeline Delbridge, Phoebe Westcott, Lulu Widauer, Grace Monaghan, Mezen Jalal, Andie Zinga, Henry Brannigan. Week 10 – Michael Gurr, Sophie Kerdic, Lilly Kilby, Madeleine Russell, William Barrett, Cassandra Philippe.
Being Kind: Week 9 – James Robson.
School Values: Week 9 – Nicos Cassimaty, Finlay Simpson, Joshua Westcott, Liam McCormack, Disha Prasad, Daniel Hayward, Janette Proudford-Nalder.
Week 10 – Daniel Hayward, Prayan Dulal, Lachlan Turnbull.
CWA Speech Competition
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. In 2021 we welcome all students who would like to participate in the CWA Speech Competition to express their interest through the sign on sheet at school. It is anticipated students will write their own speeches over the term break using the skills developed this term in class. We value the CWA contest and the opportunity it presents for those students who are keen to further their skills in public speaking.
The competition allows for one student per grade to represent the School. To this end, students who would like to participate will present their speeches to a panel of judges from the Senior and Junior staff on the following days:
- Years 5 and 6 Thursday 22 and Friday 23 April
- Years 3 and 4 Thursday 29 and Friday 30 April
Should your child be successful in representing the School, a parent will need to accompany them to the CWA Competition. The Competition details are outlined below.
2021 Topics
Year 3
- I must eat my vegetables
- If I were a bee
- What’s happened to my kitchen?
Year 4
- My hidden cave
- Do we need trees?
- My life as a school bus
Year 5
- Water
- From where does Carbon come?
- The day the teacher overslept
Year 6
- Saving native plants
- Hello!
- Growing your own
We wish students all the best and are looking forward to seeing students’ speeches.
Emma Charlton
Literacy Coordinator
For more information, download the note below.
Swimming Notice
There will be NO SWIMMING for Transition, Mini and Pathways squads in the school holidays. The last swim day will be the Thursday March the 25th. We will return Tuesday 27 April.
This applies if your squad is on at 3.40 through to 4.30.
Kim Taylor
Swim Coach