The Anchor

Junior School 

From the Head of Junior School

Year Six Camp

This week our Year Six students travelled to Rottnest Island for their school camp. 

This is a significant culmination experience for Year Six, after camps to Pemberton in Year Five (four days), Quaranup in Year Four (three days), Castle Rock and school sleepover in Year Three (one day/night). Each camp experience from Year Three to Year Six incrementally builds independence, organisation, resilience, teamwork and social skills. For some students new this year though, this is their first camp of any kind and for some their first large trip away from families. For all students though, travelling to Rottnest for camp is a milestone moment and a lovely way to culminate their Junior School years. 

Year Six students are away for a full school week, staying four nights at the Kingstown Barracks on Rottnest Island. They have been blessed with wonderful weather this week, perfect for bike riding around the island and activities in the outdoors. The activities have included:

  • Seal Colony Trek 
  • Beach activities
  • Snorkelling
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Shipwreck tour
  • Oliver Hill Tour

Rottnest Island is a historical landmark in WA, for students to experience the natural features of the island together with some of the historical aspects they will have a deeper appreciation for the island and its significance to WA. 

At the time of this publication, the Year Six students are enjoying their final afternoon/evening at Rottnest. On Friday they catch the ferry to return back to Albany by the afternoon. It's been a tremendous experience for the students, who have lots of stories to share with their families over the weekend. My sincere thanks to Year Six teachers Mr Osborne, Mrs Gordon, with PE teacher Mr Berryman and Staff assistant Jasmine Butterworth for their coordination of the camp for students.  

Community Wild Space Walk

Next week, on Thursday 27 October 3.30pm to 4.30pm, all families are invited to join us on a Community Wild Space Walk. We will begin in the ECC foyer for a quick briefing about the walk before walking down to the far Wild Space beyond Boarding houses, then along the edge of Oyster Harbour finishing at the short Wild Space behind the Pratten Centre. It’s a lovely walk to share with your children and friends.  

Junior School BBQ and Dads In Great Southern (DIGS) event update

As these events were scheduled on the same afternoon, we’ve decided to combine them together. Next Friday 28 October 4.00pm to 6.00pm, all families members are welcome to join the Frisbee fun and BBQ at Eyre Park. This combines the social element of the Junior School BBQ with the family connection activities that DIGS had organised, best of both worlds. 

Quality Improvement Plan

The Quality Improvement Plan or QIP as its often referred to, is self-assessment tool that is composed each year for our Early Childhood Centre classes, Pre-Kindergarten (Djinda) to Year Two. All Early Childhood providers complete a QIP each year to review their service annually and plan for incremental improvements. Miss Claire Hard, Early Childhood Centre Co-ordinator, has created a display in the ECC foyer to provide an overview of the QIP standards and a feedback sheet for families to offer any comments against the standards that we can include in our review process. ECC teachers meet throughout the year to review each of the standards and discuss which aspects can be improved to meet the needs of our students, families and broader community. It’s a good process to work through and a lovely opportunity to recognise our efforts and to consider what next steps we can take. For more information regarding the QIP, the link provided will take you to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority website who oversee the QIP process.  

 

Warms regards, and appreciation,  

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School