Head of Junior School 

What an exciting House Swimming Carnival we had yesterday! Congratulations to the winning House, Joyce. Thank you to all parents/carers and family members who attended and were able to support their son. Big thank you to Mrs Karryn McCullagh for organising such a successful event. It was yet another historic day for St Virgil's, as it is the first time we have held our swimming carnival at the Clarence Pool (in my time at SVC), which is now 21 years. We appreciate the efforts of all our staff members as well, who do not get a break on a very hot, noisy and hectic day. 

Congratulations to House Captain and Vice-Captain of Joyce House, Henry Joyes and Toby Sperring who were very proud of their team. At the end of the carnival, they acknowledged the contributions of the students not only in their team but all teams, as well as the efforts of all staff in the running of the day.

The final results of the day were: 

1st: Joyce House - 630 points

2nd: Doyle House -  596 points

3rd: Dwyer House -  520 points

4th: Hessian House - 501points

There was a lot of excitement for the final two races of the day. The King of the Pool Race was won by Alexander Pritchard (Year 5), against some very strong competition with Atticus Johnson Harrington (Year 6) in 2nd, William Creed (Year 6) in 3rd, and Jacob Lowe (Year 6) in 4th. The final relay of the day was between the staff and students, which was fast becoming a hotly contested event. This year the staff fielded five swimmers: Mrs McCullagh, Miss Gear, Mr Beard, Mr Sanders and Mrs Messer. They were up against four swimmers from each of the House. In what was an exciting race, the staff were the eventual winners. Some parents were talking about entering a team next year, we can't wait!

NAPLAN Years 3 and 5

NAPLAN, National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is an assessment for students across Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is designed to track how well students are progressing in literacy and numeracy during through their school years. Next week, our Years 3 and 5 students, commencing on Wednesday March 13, will participate in a Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy assessment, in that order. Each assessment will take approximately 40 minutes and will be completed online, using their school iPad, except for Year 3 writing which is still hand written.

It is important to note:

1. Your son must have his iPad fully charged each day.
2. Your son must have his own set of headphones brought to school each day.
3. If your son misses a day of school due to illness, catchup sessions will be held, up until Monday 25 March.
4. An information leaflet was sent home with your son this week.
5. Your son’s class teacher will add a note on the class See Saw.
6. It is recommended that excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not undertaken.
7. Your son’s class teacher will have prepared your son for what to expect.

Junior School Parents & Friends Committee

I would like to thank and highlight the amazing and supportive Parents and Friends Committee we have at the Junior School. The aim of the Parents and Friends Association predominately is about helping us build community. We do like to raise money for certain projects but more importantly we want all families to feel welcome and very much a part of our School community. This group of parents are wonderful at helping us achieve that.

President: Abbey Doggett (Ned Heddle - Year 5)

Secretary: Matt Gillie (Clancy Gillie - Year 5 and Sebastian Gillie Year 2)

Treasurer: Nick Findlay (Lewis Findlay - Year 5)

Committee Members: Maria Bond (Eddie Pigden - Year 5), Samm Harrington (Atticus Harrington - Year 6), Sharni Rickards (Hugo Rickards - Year 5). 

2024 New Members: Aimee Tatnell (George Everard - Year 3) and Michelle Spotswood (Judd Spotswood - Year 3)

If you would like to become involved in the Parents and Friends Association, please contact jmesser@stvirgils.tas.edu.au. 

Football Tipping Competition for staff and parents

Our Football Tipping Competition got under way with the Opening Round last tonight with the first game of the season between Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans.

It is not too late to join! Follow the link for the competition and password to join. We are asking $20 to join, payment can be made by cash, QKR or eftpos in the Junior School Office. 

AFL Footy Fun Night - Friday 15 March from 6.30pm

Watch Collingwood take on the Sydney Swans on the big screen TV kindly donated by the Junior School P&F last year in the Junior School Hall. We will kick off the night from 6.30pm with handball competitions, Collingwood and Swans themed meal deals will be available. Notification with more details on how to order these was sent via EdSmart.  Bring your bean bag or comfy chair and have fun!

Football Margin tickets are on sale and will be available until Friday 15 March for $20 each. The margin competition is for the Collingwood vs Swans game that we will be watching in the Junior School Hall, next Friday night. There is a number under each ticket. If your ticket number is the margin at quarter, half-time, or three quarter time, you will win your money back. If it is the final margin, you will win $400. Profits from the sale of the tickets will go straight to the P&F to help raise money for a new playground.

Junior School Events & Excursions

Junior School Student Football Tipping Competition

Our students run their own competition at the Junior School. It is $10 to enter where $5 for each entry is used to purchase prizes for weekly winners and another $5 per entry is used to purchase new equipment for the playground. Students may collect their tipping sheets at the Junior School Office. Payment is to be made by Thursday 21 March. Each Monday a group of our dedicated Year 6 students will mark the tipping sheets and we can follow the results on the ladder. This is open for students from Prep to Year 6.

Year 6 Leadership Opportunity at New Town Bay Rowing Sheds

Year 6 students joined the Year 12 students for a fun-filled morning of games and activities to promote leadership and get to know one another. The students were encouraged to ‘unlock’ the code of what makes them strive to be the best version of themselves as well as embrace and exemplify The Virgilian Way values in their daily lives.

Budding Buddies: Prep and Year 5

Our buddies program between our Prep students and Year 5 students commenced last week. It was wonderful to see students getting to know one another, the interactions between the students and relationships forming. 

Molesworth Excursions

Years 1, 5 and 6 have visited the Molesworth Environment Centre in the last fortnight. Year 6 students explored the qualities of good leaders through team games and activities. Year 5 students have the opportunity to enhance their Science Unit on Adaptations. Year 1 students also knew more about the habitats of pollinators as part of their Science Unit on Living Things and Habitats.

Caritas Fundraising

Project Compassion 2024: Reminder

Each year at the Junior School, we hold a Junior School House Fundraising Competition to see which House can raise the most money, as well as which House can raise the largest volume of coins when we fill our fundraising tubes.  

Each student at the Junior School has received their own Project Compassion fundraising box. We encourage families to put some coins aside during Lent to donate to this worthy cause. You do not have to fill your box - every coin helps both those in need in our world and the House competition. 

Please write your son's name, year group and House on the outside of the box, please return the box to school on Monday 25 March. 

Mini Vinnies: Easter Raffle and “Guess how many eggs in the jar” - Donations Requested

We would like to encourage families to contribute to and participate in their Easter Egg Raffle and “Guess how many eggs in the jar.” All money raised will go to the Project Compassion.

We kindly request for every student to please donate one or more eggs which will be grouped for prizes. Donations should be delivered to the Junior School Office by Tuesday 12 March.

Tickets will be on sale from Wednesday 13 March at recess and lunch outside the Library. Tickets will also be available for parents/carers to purchase from the office. The cost of raffle tickets and “Guess how many eggs in the jar” will be 50c each or 3 for $1.00. The winners of the multiple Easter egg prizes will be drawn on Thursday 28 March. 

We thank you in advance for your donations that support our students who are so keen to help those in our local community through Vinnies and in the wider world through Project Compassion. 

Mini Vinnies: Ice cream sales

On Fridays at lunch time, our Mini Vinnies students will be selling icy poles and ice cream to raise money for charity. Zooper Dooper icy poles are now 80c each and ice cream is $1.50 each. Profits from sales will be split 50/50 between the purchase of play equipment and donations to the charities the College supports.

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