Learning Across the 

Junior School

From the Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School

Music Makes Us Move

Last week, our students from Preschool to Year 4 delighted our community with their wonderful performance, Music Makes Us Move. A special thank you must go to Mr Tom Hamnett for coordinating the performance with such care and vision. The dances showcased throughout the evening grew from our Physical Education program, led by Ms. Edwards, and highlighted not only the students’ developing skills, but also their ability to collaborate, support one another, and create something truly magical together.

Each class’s vocal performance demonstrated the power of teamwork as music and classroom collaboration came together to produce beautiful harmonies.

As our community gathered for this very special occasion, it was clear that an enormous amount of creativity, time, and dedication had gone into bringing the performance to life. Both our talented students and our committed staff worked tirelessly to create a memorable celebration of the performing arts.

Preschool to Year 2 Sports Day

Today we celebrated a special milestone with our very first Preschool to Year 2 Sports Day, held on Loreto Marryatville's Cotters Green Oval. The morning was filled with fun, energy, and plenty of cheering as our youngest students participated enthusiastically in a variety of events.

A highlight of the day was the support provided by our Year 6 students, who assisted the younger children with their activities and encouraged them along the way. The event was coordinated by our talented Physical Education teacher, Ms. Jess Edwards, whose planning and enthusiasm ensured the morning was such a success.

The program began with an opening ceremony and spirited house cheering, reminding students of the important role that house spirit plays in our school community.

It was wonderful to see so many families come along to share in this special occasion. We look forward to making this Sports Day an annual tradition in our school calendar.

Lisa Sexton

Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School

Building Language Skills and Cultural Connections

In Junior School, our students have been enthusiastically engaging with Chinese language and culture. Learning a second language at an early age helps children develop strong listening and memory skills, as well as a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.

This term, the focus has been on building vocabulary around everyday topics such as body parts, pets, numbers, colours and clothing. Students have been learning to recognise and write key Chinese characters, practise speaking in simple sentences, and participate in interactive activities that bring the language to life.

In the Reception, students have enjoyed songs, games, and stories to introduce them to numbers and body parts. Our Year 1 and Year 2 students have been exploring pets through Bingo games and writing practice, while Year 3 and 4 students have been extending their knowledge through word searches, sentence-building activities, and using digital resources such as the ELLA app.

A highlight for many has been the chance to connect language with action. For example, students have practised saying “我在夏天穿短裤” (“In summer, I wear shorts”) or “我在冬天戴帽子” (“In winter, I wear a hat”), combining vocabulary with drama, games, and classroom discussions about clothing and the seasons.

Through these activities, students are not only developing language skills but also gaining confidence, creativity, and cultural understanding. We are proud of the enthusiasm our Junior School learners bring to their Chinese lessons each week and look forward to continuing this exciting journey together.

Magdalene Kho

Language Teacher/International Student Coordinator