Head of Junior School 

Mrs Jo Messer

I would like to extend a warm welcome back to Term Two to all families. We hope you have all had a relaxing break in the school holidays and were able to spend some quality time with your son/s. It was lovely to see so many of you on Monday for Parent Teacher Interviews. Thank you to all the parents who made the time to touch base with your son/s class teacher or teachers. Open lines of communication between school and parents is important to ensure there is transparency between both.

 

On April 25, the nation commemorated ANZAC Day. As is tradition, a large number of SVC boys from Prep through to Year 12 gathered in the city to participate in the ANZAC Day march. We were very proud of all our boys who turned up to represent SVC and pay tribute to those who served or gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.

 

Please read the P & F information below as there is important information regarding our upcoming Mother’s Day Breakfast, the barbecue and cake stall fundraiser we are hosting for the Federal Election this Saturday 3 May. As always, we require, and appreciate, your valuable assistance and attendance to help make these occasions a success. 

 

Mission Accomplished: $4272.50 raised for Project Compassion!

I am so incredibly proud of our Junior School Community. By raising and donating money for Project Compassion, our students have gained a deep sense of empathy and global awareness. Our specific aim for our fundraising was to raise at least $4000 which would provide a 10,000L water tank for a primary school in Samoa, where there is often no clean water, meaning the children would be sent home early. Our boys learned the importance of clean water as a basic human right and saw firsthand how their efforts could make a tangible difference in the lives of others. The experience has helped them understand the challenges faced by schools and communities in less developed regions and fostered a sense of social responsibility. It has also empowered them to be active contributors to positive change, reinforcing values like compassion, generosity, and teamwork.

 

I would like to thank you, our Junior School Community, for assisting the boys in their fundraising efforts. Our Walk for Water was a definite highlight, with each boy bringing their own bucket, filling it with water and walking the perimeter of the Junior School for 20 minutes as a symbolic gesture. The other highlight was the coinline competition. Congratulations Joyce House for having the longest line and donating the most amount of money.

 

Edmund Rice Feast Day - Friday 2 May

This Friday, the Junior School students from Prep through to Year 6 will join with our secondary students to celebrate an annual event, Edmund Rice’s Feast Day. Beginning with mass, long serving staff members will be recognised for their years of service. Afterwards, boys will participate in House run activities and share a sausage sizzle together. 

 

Years 3 to 6 House Cross Country - Thursday 8 May, Austins Ferry Campus

We are looking forward to a House spirit filled day next Thursday for our annual House Cross Country event. Please remember we are departing the Junior Campus at 8.50 am, so we can commence our first event at 9.30 am. Each of our class groups will complete a cross country course around our secondary campus. We will be back in time for lunch. Boys are required to wear their sports uniform and must wear their house shirt as well as any other ‘house themed’ outfits they would like to wear to add to the House spirit on the day. Parents are welcome to come along to watch and support the boys. 

Whilst running may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the day is about participation. Boys may run, run/walk or walk the course. Every student who participates receives a richly deserved point for participation. How the scoring system works: If there are 30 boys in a class, the first student over the line receives 30 points for their team, second receives 29 and so on. 

 

Reminders about Uniform 

This term, as we move into cooler weather, our expectations change to keep our boys warmer on cooler days.

The formal uniform is required every day, except when your son has PE or training for a ‘Junior School’ sport training or game day. We highly recommend that the boys wear the grey school jumper to school with the formal uniform, as the mornings here are very chilly. The soft shell jacket may be worn over the jumper but not replace the jumper or the blazer. 

On PE days, boys are encouraged to wear their full tracksuit to school for additional warmth. The House shirt is required under the polo shirt. The boys may also wear the school beanie with their PE uniform NOT with their formal uniform. Beanies are not to be worn inside or at recess and lunch times.

 

Junior School Parents & Friends 

Fundraising event - BBQ and cake stall – Saturday 3 May 2025 Federal Election

The Senior Campus will be hosting a polling booth on Saturday this week from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm for the Federal Election. The combined Junior and Senior School P&Fs will be running a cake stall and sausage sizzle on the day. 

 

Last year our Junior School Community was extremely generous in its donations of home baked goods for the cake stall. We are asking for your assistance again! If you are able to donate an item, could you please either drop these off to the Junior School prior to Friday 3.00 pm or directly to the stall at the senior campus on Saturday. Additionally, if you are able to donate your time, cooking or selling please let us know! If you need to vote, or even if you are transporting your boys and girls to their sporting and other commitments on Saturday please call in for an egg and bacon roll, sausage, hamburger or to buy some of the delicious cakes that will be on offer – it all helps raise much needed funds that goes back into the school. 

 

Mothers Day Gift Stall - Friday 9 May

One of our annual fundraisers is our Mother’s Day Gift stall. Boys will attend the ‘shop’ in their classes, which will be set up in the library on Friday morning 9 May. P & F members will be selling ‘an array’ of beautiful gifts. Each gift is $5.00. It is not compulsory to purchase a gift. Some boys may like to purchase more than one gift, for a grandmother or step mother, or another special female in their life. 

 

Mother’s Day Breakfast -  Monday 12 May 

We are looking forward to celebrating our fabulous mothers, grandmothers, and the special women in our Junior School community with our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast commencing at 7.30 am on Monday 12 May. 

 

Breakfast will be an egg and bacon roll along with fruit platters. Gluten free and vegetarian options will also be available. Our wonderful secondary school baristas will be making coffees for our mums and hot chocolates will be available for our boys. 

 

If any Dads can help in the morning from 6.45am please let the Junior School office know.

 

Mother’s Day Raffle - Donations Required Please

For Mother’s Day, we will have a Mother’s Day Raffle. If you are in a position to donate a raffle prize, it will be most gratefully received. If these could be sent in to the Junior School Office by Friday 9 May, it would be most appreciated.