Junior School News

The Prep students have well and truly settled into daily school life. The children have been thriving as they become more confident with our classroom and school routines. Our days are filling up with more and more learning and we love seeing their proud smiles as they reach new understandings and achieve learning goals.

A major reason for this smooth transition has been the continued success of our Buddy Program.

The Buddy program is designed to give the younger children a school support person and to allow the older children to experience the opportunity to take on added responsibility and leadership. It has been a privilege to observe the Year 5 students take on the responsibility of being a Buddy. How they instinctively demonstrated care, empathy and compassion towards their new friends, has been such a pleasure to witness. It has been lovely to see the Year 5s visit the Prep classrooms during the mornings, to not only say a friendly good morning, but to also help settle them into the day by playing a game or reading them a story. 

So far this term, the Year 5s have accompanied their buddy to their first School Mass, supported their buddies to find friends on the schoolyard, and enjoyed regular buddy picnics at recess or lunch eating times. 

To celebrate the Preps after their first week of school, the Year 5s wrote their buddy a card and decorated a gift bag containing a special toy/present, selected after having spent time with their buddy and learning their interests and personalities. 

After each Buddy experience, the Year 5s return to their classrooms and share funny and endearing stories about the games and tales their buddies have shared with them. The Year 5 students speak about the Preps with such respect and warmth. It has been such a rewarding way to see these leadership qualities shine through so early in the year. 

Please read on to hear from the Preps and buddies themselves, as they share some of their favourite moments of the year so far!

Maddy T: ‘I really enjoy our picnics together! It is nice to spend the time outside and chat.'

Laine: 'I love having a buddy. Iris gives really good hugs and I try to make sure I go to the Prep classrooms each morning to say hello.'

Matthew and Henry: 'It was really exciting to find out we both go for the Saints!'

Charlie and Bill: 'We both go for Collingwood and he always makes me laugh!' 

Kira: 'My buddy, Eloise, makes me laugh all the time, which makes me happy. I’m learning more and more about her every day.'

Phoebe: 'I love playing with my buddy, at recess and lunch. Sailor comes up with some very creative games. '

Lisa Mclean

Junior School Leader