From the
Head of Junior School

Mrs Denise Hayward

A diversity of experiences contributes to the richness of our School

Kinross Wolaroi in the Community

Our Kindergarten teachers Mrs Robson and Mrs Chapman and our specialist staff conducted our second Try-Kinder Day earlier this term. This experience was open to all members of the Orange community who have children commencing in Kindergarten in 2024. Families were immersed in what it looks, sounds, and feels like to be in Kindergarten at our school.

The morning started with classroom visits as our current Kindergarten students undertook their literacy block. This focused on the introduction of sounds, word, and letter formation. The group then moved to the library to engage in storytime, with a focus on engagement as well as vocabulary development. The music experience with Mrs Sinclair was a real highlight as the children sang and moved. A wonderful warm-up for their gross motor activities with Mr Jones. The morning finished as our current Kindergarten students joined the group for morning tea and a practical lesson with Mrs Fatai on coding using the Beebots.

Following this experience Mrs Chapman joined a panel of experts at the Willows Pre-school. The evening was an opportunity for families to ask specific questions on how to know if their child is ready for kindergarten.

If your child or you know a family who has a child entering kindergarten in 2024 and you would like to know more about our offering, please contact Junior School Reception junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au.

Spelling at Junior School

This year in the Junior School teachers have directed their professional learning towards the delivery of best practice learning in spelling. Spelling is a fundamental aspect of language which helps us to be effective communicators. It can enhance writing and reading abilities, equipping students to express themselves effectively and confidently.

As an element of writing, spelling is unpacked through three lenses:

Orthography (word-level language using written symbols in conventional sequences)
Phonology (representation of speech sounds)
Morphology (the word parts that signal meaning and grammar)
(Garcia, Abbott & Berninger, 2010)

This semester, we have been fortunate to work with Dr Tessa Daffern, who has been directly involved in the writing of the new K-6 English Syllabus. Dr Daffern spent an intensive day with Junior School teachers, focusing on the explicit skills and strategies to teach orthography, phonology and morphology within a classroom setting.

This Semester, Amanda Dodson, our Assistant Head of Junior School – Academics has been co-teaching in classrooms from Years 3-6 to deliver a new approach to teaching spelling. This approach aligns with the new K-6 English Syllabus and is supported by the research of Dr Daffern.

Some key features of teaching spelling in Years 3-6:

Explicit and inquiry-based activities are delivered over a 6 lesson cycle
Students use explicit linguistic terminology to articulate word formation
Spelling lessons are meaningful and linked to vocabulary being used in other subject areas

We look forward to inviting parents to join us for a spelling information evening later in the year to learn more about our approach to teaching spelling in the Junior School.

CWA Speech Competition

A big thank you and congratulations to the students that chose to participate in the CWA speeches. Ms Dodson, Mr Barrett and Mrs Seedsman were very impressed with the presentation of all our speakers. The speeches were entertaining and well-presented and clearly showed the passion the students had for their chosen topics. This made judging quite difficult.

The students chosen to attend the CWA speeches are:

Elizabeth Milliken – Year 3

Janagan Kandeepan – Year 4

Georgiana Saran – Year 5

Harry Kensit – Year 6

Art

Students in Years Pre-K to Year 4 over the last 18 months have been most fortunate to have Mrs Alicia Holmes as their art specialist. Students attend art once a week where they express their creativity and explore their imagination whilst developing artistic skills across an expansive range of artistic mediums.

We know art is a key component of the curriculum as it can improve cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial awareness. These skills are then transferable to other subjects. In the Junior School art lessons are used to increase cultural awareness and understanding, as students learn about different art forms and styles from around the world.

A key component of art is appreciation. Parents are invited to pop into the glasshouse before or after school to view our ever-changing art gallery. This exhibition provides a sense of accomplishment and pride for students as their work is showcased. Over the weekend we showcased student artwork at the Orange Show. Our K-2 display won first prize.

PDHPE

Swimming is a valuable skill that not only provides a fun recreational activity but can have significant health benefits. As part of physical education lessons, swimming can help children develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, and endurance, while also improving their coordination and flexibility. Additionally, swimming is a low-impact activity that can be enjoyed by children of all abilities and can help to reduce the risk of injury.

In Australia, where water is an integral part of our lifestyle and culture, the ability to swim is particularly important. According to the Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 276 people drowned in Australian waterways in 2022, which is a 5% increase compared to the previous year.

As part of the Junior School curriculum at Kinross Wolaroi, PDHPE plays a crucial role in promoting physical activity and healthy habits among children. In addition to swimming, PDHPE lessons include a range of activities such as team sports, individual physical literacy, and gymnastics. These activities not only promote physical fitness, but can also help to develop social skills, teamwork, and self-confidence.

The inclusion of swimming as part of the Junior School curriculum at our school is both important for promoting physical activity, developing important physical literacy components, and reducing the risk of drowning. At Kinross Wolaroi we believe it is important that children are taught how to swim and remain safe in and around water, and this is included as part of the broader aim of the PDHPE curriculum in the junior school in igniting a lifelong love of physical activity from a young age.

Mother’s and Significant Others Day

Over the weekend many families across the region came together to celebrate Mother’s Day. The day is called Mother's Day as it is intended to honour and celebrate individual mothers and their contributions to their families and society as a whole. The apostrophe in "Mother's" indicates that the day is meant to honour each mother, rather than mothers as a collective group. This contrasts with days such as International Women's Day which is more broadly focused on celebrating women in general. The use of the singular possessive form "Mother's" emphasises the individuality and uniqueness of each of our mothers and recognises the specific ways in which mothers contribute to families and communities.

At Kinross Wolaroi we know family groups take many different forms. It was wonderful to welcome over 140 mothers and significant others for a light breakfast and an opportunity to share in playground games, catch up with friends and experience classroom life with their children. Events like this are important in the life of a school community. TWIG students were wonderful servers throughout the morning. Our school photographer captured many images from the morning https://kirstencunninghamphotography.pic-time.com/-KinrossMothersDayBreakfast

(Please choose a few images to include from in the classrooms)

Cyber Safety

In Term 1 we were most fortunate to have Susan McLean lead the school community on raising awareness of issues students may encounter while engaging in online experiences. In the Junior School students regularly engage in learning about how to stay safe online and act in a responsible manner. The Education | eSafety Commissioner website is a wealth of information for parents to continue the conversation at home.

The latest eSafety's express learning series provides parents and carers with practical tips and advice on common online safety concerns. The videos are 5 to 10 minutes long and cover four important topics, including:

- Setting up parental controls

- Digital technologies and mental health

- Cyberbullying and online drama

- Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse.

These resources can be accessed through the learning resource link.

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.