From the 

Head of Junior School

Welcome back to Term 4

Welcome back to Term 4 - it is going to be a busy few weeks that will go extremely quickly! We trust you have enjoyed the last few weeks with your children and have had opportunities to build memories together.  This term is going to go extremely quickly with only 9 weeks until the end of the school year. The students have settled well upon returning to school this week and we are looking forward to a productive and positive term ahead. We are pleased to welcome several new students in the Junior School. We hope they settle in quickly and feel very much a ‘Kinross Kid” in the next few weeks. 

While a short term, it is an important time of the year for all students. Term 4 is an active term in relation to learning and assessments, reports, extra-curricular activities, sport, transition and orientation activities, whole school events and the end of year event schedule, including Celebration of Learning. There are events scheduled for all students in the School and the Term 4 summer sports program has begun in earnest. Please refer to the proposed dates schedule published on The Hub, marking dates in your calendar and your child’s diary. 

Friday 13 October is a special occasion in the Junior School as we welcome families for Grand Friend's Day. Celebrating grandparents, grand-friends, relatives, and those who take on the role of a grandparent within their family or community. We are looking forward to taking a moment to give thanks for the contributions these wonderful family members make to our lives, our families, and our communities.

Tut Tut the Musical

Over the Term break the School received a beautiful letter from a local school who attended our Stage 3 production of Tut Tut the Musical. The letter expressed how much the students enjoyed the experience and how thoughtful it was for the school not only to gift tickets but to provide transport. The children returned to school singing and dancing, inspired by the performance, staging and costumes. The students were particularly struck by how into their roles the students were. They liked that even when students were not performing, they remained on stage as part of the show. A highlight for the students and I think for all of us were the camel traders and their camel.

These sentiments have been echoed by many of our students in the Junior School. They have excitedly talked about when they will get to take to the stage. They were in awe of how students were able to remember their lines. They loved how the cast engaged with the audience and there were local references in the dialogue. Our student audience felt they were part of the show. The many comments reflect how wonderful it was to have so many students from across the Junior and Senior School attend the performance. To be inspired by their peers and excited as to what they will be involved in in the years to come. It is not often that a young student gets to perform in such a professional environment. A wonderful highlight for our students in 2023.

Experiences like this do not just happen without the passion and drive of a team. It involved many months of planning and work led by Mrs Sinclair, our producer and director without whom we would not have had a show.  Her vision and drive, high expectations, passion, and leadership. Mrs Caro, for her endless dedication, enthusiasm, energy, and commitment in producing seamless choreography and guiding students at every rehearsal.

A team of staff were key to ensuring our students looked amazing in their costumes. Thank you to Mrs Ryan and Ms Hazelton for their many nights of sewing and sourcing materials. Mr Whitehead for not only sourcing many of the props used in the show but their actual construction and his all-round ability to fix things.  To Mrs Seedsman and Mr Tyack. Thank you for your dedication, tireless support, and motivation in keeping students focused and on time over the last term.

Over the course of the production week all members of the Junior School staff were involved in the show. Our staff who led verse speaking items with Kindergarten to Year 4 students. Our wonderful program sellers to the may staff assisting backstage. To parents who assisted on the night with makeup and last minute tasks. Thank you for providing the space and expertise to create a wonderful experience and memory. 

Outdoor Education

There are many ways we share and celebrate our learning in the Junior School and in Term 4 a highlight are our outdoor education camps. Learning occurs in many forms. It is always ongoing and, as such, in the Junior School we provide both formal and informal opportunities for students to learn. Outdoor Education experiences in unfamiliar outdoor settings stimulate personal development and foster an understanding between people. Whilst often challenging, outdoor experiences seek to inspire confidence, self-reliance, teamwork, compassion, community service and care for the natural environment providing students with the opportunity to:

• Obtain a feeling of self-worth, regardless of academic standing within the classroom;
• Safely acquire skills in a range of challenging outdoor pursuits which can become the basis for a lifetime of enjoyment;
• Develop skills which permit students to function more effectively in teams and guide various team members in achieving effective team leadership;
• Increase the awareness of a healthy lifestyle and its ongoing benefits;
• Appreciate the natural environment and allow them to explore it with confidence and respect;
• Socialise effectively whilst co-habitating under conditions in which mutual respect is necessary to ensure the welfare of all;
• Experience the consequences of making a decision, which often affects not only them but those around them.

The Junior School offers a series of outdoor education programs from Kindergarten to Year 6. Within each program students are guided safely through a series of experiences, but ultimately face challenges by choice. Therefore, students inevitably must make numerous decisions themselves, within the framework of a group activity. Encouragement is given to allow all students to meet with success.

Students undertake day and overnight trips, in addition to shorter incursions and excursions, throughout the school year. In Term 4 all students in Years 3-6 undertake extended overnight outdoor education experiences. In the lead up to camp all students will participate in URStrong lessons on Friendology at Camp. For many students this will be their first school camp and may mean the fun of camp is overshadowed by concerns. For some students attending camp overnight may not be the best camp experience. In these situations, parents are invited to talk with their class teacher about their child attending during the day. In turn class teachers may contact families. Student concerns in attending camp may relate to:

• Sleeping away from home in an unfamiliar place
• Responsibility for self-care, in absence of parents
• Medical needs
• Who they will share a room with at camp
• If they will like the food at camp
• Feeling homesick or lonely

These are all very natural concerns for a child, no matter if it is their first or tenth time at camp.  To support your child please:

• Talk to them regarding their concerns to assist in reducing the sense of the unknown
• Have sleepovers
• Practice independence skills 
• Pack together – don’t overpack
• Talk with the class teacher

Students will be attending the following camps in 2023:

• Year 3 – Lake Burrendong Sport & Recreation Centre Monday 6 – Wednesday 8 November
• Year 4 – Blue Gum Lodge Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 October
• Year 5 – Camp Yarramundi Grose River Hawkesbury Valley Tuesday 24 – Friday 27 November
• Year 6 –Port Hacking Youthworks Monday 27 November – Friday 1 December

Celebrating Children's Week

Children’s Week is happening across Australia from 21 to 29 October 2023. It’s an opportunity to recognise that all children have the right to relax, play, and participate in activities they enjoy. The eSafety Commissioner continues to support families as they celebrate Children’s Week and saying YES to safe online play through providing resources to help bring play to online safety conversations. Here’s where you can start: 

• Read – Online safety picture book and song.  
• Do – Story puzzles with Swoosh and Glide.
• Play – Activities to introduce basic online safety concepts.

Encourage your child to share their online experiences with you.  

Grandparents in the digital world

Grandparents across Australia provide hours of care to young people every week. During this time, they often watch, share, and play with them on devices. Engaging in the digital world allows grandparents and children to learn from each other, building children's confidence and self-efficacy as they teach their grandparents about their online activities. While it's educational, it's also important to be safe. The eSafety Commissioner Online safety guide for grandparents provides advice about online safety issues affecting young people. It includes a range of practical tips to help them talk about issues and manage them. 

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.