Junior School

From the Head of Junior School

We’ve turned the corner in the term, now into the back half and the weeks certainly feel like they are moving along quickly. Just this past week we enjoyed a number of events, with more to follow, in what is typically a busy phase of the school year.

Year Two Celebration

Last Thursday 3 November, we held our first Year Two Celebration, an occasion designed to recognise the transition point for these students and their families moving from the ECC into Year Three. Whilst it only seems like moving along one year, which it is, there is a significant shift for the students physically, organisationally, educationally and symbolically. Physically, the Year Two students have matured where they now more comfortably play in the ‘bigger’ playground with the older students, they also physically move buildings with the Year Three classroom across the path into the Years Three to Five building. Organisationally, the world opens up to the incoming Year Threes with more activities to join for sport, music and camp, they also take greater responsibility for their own materials and organising their day. Educationally, they have finished their Early Childhood phase of learning and now enter broader curriculum that will see them journey all the way through school. Finally, symbolically, is it a milestone for students and their families to mark as Year Three is the next stage of their growing independence. In the ECC families are very involved in the daily life of the school and this is important for children to have that support. Moving into Year Three, we still enjoy a close connection with families however students are increasingly able to organise themselves and have the desire to manage this with more independence.

To mark all of these transition moments thoughtfully, the Year Twos presented a short ceremony for their families with reflections from their time in ECC. Miss Claire Hard, Early Childhood Centre Coordinator together with Ms Amelia Dempster, Year Two teacher shared some key messages for students and families to thank them and wish them well on their way to Year Three. Each student was presented with a book as a memento of their ECC experience before the students of the ECC, together with their parents formed a guard of honour stretching from the ECC building to the Year Three building for children to walk along to applause and cheers. Waiting inside the Year Three to Five building were all the students from the upper Junior School to receive the Year Two’s and welcome them to this part of the school. It was a lovely occasion, the Year Two’s felt very special and welcomed, and families were grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with their children. Thank you to all the teachers and educational assistants of the ECC for their efforts in preparing for the occasion, and families for your support of the event, it was wonderful.

Year Three Excursion and Sleepover

Last Friday 4 November, Year Three together with Year Four travelled to the Porongurup Range area to climb Castle Rock. Typically, this is just a Year Three event although last year the weather was too wet to make the journey so last year’s cohort (current Year Four) joined to complete their experiences too. This excursion and sleepover are the first stage of the Outdoor Education camps programme, with Year Three staying overnight at school, Year Four staying two nights at Camp Quaranup, Year Five staying three nights at Pemberton and Year Six staying four nights at Rottnest Island. These progressive steps grow their independence, organisation, teamwork and social skills incrementally, preparing students for their next stage into Year Seven to Year Twelve.

The Castle Rock excursion was perfectly timed, we had a break in the wet weather for a few days allowing the track to dry out and clear skies for a warm hike. Students easily walked up the trail for 45min, reaching the rocky summit area for the scramble to the lookout tower. The rock scramble is narrow and does require teamwork to climb up using the handles and footholds for support. Each student made it up through the rocky passage and climbed the final ladder framework to the very top to see the glorious view back to Albany and the surrounding district. It’s a wonderful climb, significant for their age but also in that students can see a large section of our Great Southern region from that vantage point.

On return, the Year Fours departed home whilst the Year Threes remained at school for the sleepover component of their camp experience. They enjoyed afternoon games together and the strange sensation of being at school when no one else was around, which is truly bizarre for students who are normally used to the familiar sounds and movements of busy hallways and playgrounds. Mr Geoff Hardy, Year Three teacher together with Mrs Leah Field, Assistant Head of Junior School joined the students for the overnight component, and we thank them very much for supporting these students through a night away from their families. In the morning, the Year Threes walked to the Boarding houses where Endeavour House had prepared a magnificent breakfast for them with waffles, cereal, toast, fruit and juice. It was a wonderful way for Year Threes to see a little insight into the Boarding houses and how students live away from home during the school term. Thank you to the Endeavour House students and Mrs Tara Ball, Head of Endeavour House for hosting the Year Threes.

Interschool Athletics Team

Congratulations to the Junior School Interschool Athletics team for their impressive results at this week's carnival on Tuesday 8 November. A squad of 40 students travelled to the North Road Athletics fields to compete with three other schools, St Joseph’s, Bethel Christian School and the Australian Christian College. After a full day of competition, our squad won the overall Championship Shield and numerous individual Age Champion medallions.

Well done to all the students for their athletic efforts and excellent representation of Great Southern Grammar in all respects, and to the individual students below our congratulations for your achievements.

Age Champions

Year Three Girls – Elora

Year Four Girls – Ruth

Year Four Boys – Robbie

Year Six Girls – Ysabella

Year Six Boys – Andre

Age Champion Runners-up

Year Three Boys – Kaidon

Year Four Boys – Kobi

Year Five Boys – Thomas

Year Six Girls - Molly

Looking ahead into next week...

Orientation Day

Next Friday 18 November, all students in the Junior School will enjoy an orientation experience in the morning to prepare them for moving into the next year level in 2023. All classes will begin the day with their current class teacher in their current classrooms, once the roll is marked each class will move into the next year level for the morning block and spend time with that year-level teacher learning about all the features of that year and enjoying a little experience in that classroom. New students to GSG for 2023 have been invited to join the classes on this day also so they can begin to form some friendships ahead of next year. After morning tea, all the classes will return back to their regular classrooms and teachers for the remainder of the day, new students will stay with their classes for the whole day in Years Three to Six, new students joining in the ECC will be collected by their parents after recess.

Orientation Day is designed to give students a little ‘window’ into next year to help them get ready. Class letters will be sent to each family before the end of Term Four to formally introduce each student and their family to the next year level and share who their teacher will be for the following year.

In-term Swimming Lessons

Further ahead, later in the term all students from Pre-Primary to Year Six will be participating in daily swimming lessons over a two-week block from Monday 21 November to Friday 2 December. Students will start the day at school, have a regular timetabled morning before travelling by bus to the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre (ALAC) for their lessons, either at 12.45pm or 1.30pm before travelling back to school in the afternoon. More information around specific class times for their lesson will be shared in the coming week. Parents are welcome to collect their child directly after their swimming lesson at ALAC if that is more convenient.

Warms regards, and appreciation,

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School