Junior School News
Science Week sparks curiosity across year levels
To kick off National Science Week on Monday, the Year 2 Potoroos stepped into the College's Women in Science Centre for an exciting, hands-on session led by our Year 10 students.
Looking very official in their lab coats and safety goggles, the Year 2 students had an absolute blast exploring a range of scientific concepts together with their Senior School friends.
The budding scientists eagerly took part in a series of mind-bending experiments and activities, including separating mixtures, investigating soluble substances, observing creepy crawlies under the microscope and evaporating salt water.
Other highlights included witnessing a 'pop' test with magnesium and spending time sketching a beautiful spotted quoll.
This fantastic cross-year collaboration gave the Year 2 students a chance to learn about evaporation, dissolving and chemical reactions while also strengthening their connections with their Year 10 buddies. Science fun for everyone!
Spectacular science on show in St Peter's Hall
To ignite curiosity and celebrate the magic of science, our Junior School students attended St Peter's Hall today for an electric showcase of experiments and demonstrations hosted by our enthusiastic Year 6 students.
The atmosphere inside the hall was buzzing with energy, excitement and squeals of delight as wide-eyed students witnessed the wonders of foaming elephant toothpaste, dancing raisins, exploding volcanoes, disappearing drawings, giant bubbles and catapult creations.
With more than 30 interactive stations, students had the opportunity to discover, explore and experiment in the most engaging – and often suprising – ways.
Every sense was activated: from the fizz and pop of chemical reactions to the satisfying squelch of kinetic sand, and even taste bud-tingling activities like making Wizz Fizz and testing their senses with jelly flavours that didn't match their colours.
A big thank you to our fantastic Year 6 students and dedicated teaching team for bringing science to life with such creativity, enthusiasm and joy.
Our Preps are 100 days smarter and wiser!
Last Tuesday saw our Bandicoots and Possums celebrate a very special milestone – their 100th day of Prep!
It's hard to believe that just over 100 days ago, they started their journey as full-time students in the St Mary's College Junior School.
To mark the occasion, our Prep students and teachers dressed up as 100-year-olds grannies, complete with grey wigs, glasses, walking sticks and charming vintage outfits.
After many hilarious photo-worthy moments, they enjoyed a morning of 100-themed games and activities, including counting, crafting 100 Days Smarter crowns and decorating tasty cookies.
We are incredibly proud of our kind, compassionate and wonderfully wise-beyond-their-years Preps and all they have achieved this year. Here's to the next 100 days of learning, growth and discovery!
Kinder excursion | Exploring a world of wonder at TMAG
Our two Kinder classes recently embarked on an exciting excursion to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery as part of their community inquiry.
The action-packed day began with a walk from school to the museum, during which our youngest learners enjoyed spotting familiar and new sights along the way – including the thrilling moment the Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed on the hospital roof!
At the museum, the Kinders explored the Antarctic exhibition, uncovered fascinating facts about native Tasmanian wildlife, asked many questions about the mysterious thylacine
and let their imaginations run wild in Mapiya lumi (yes, the slide was very slippery!).
The day sparked endless curiosity, conversation and lightbulb moments. We're pretty sure all our Kinders slept soundly after such a big adventure!
Kinders in the kitchen garden
Last week, our Kinders swapped the classroom for the great outdoors, joining Murphy's Café Manager, Mr Phil Shanny for an afternoon in our school kitchen garden.
They explored, marvelled, played, planted, dug up worms and even tasted edible flowers and fresh veggies straight from the soil.
With muddy fingers and hands coated in coffee grounds, our curious gardeners embraced the mess and magic of learning through nature.
