Junior School News
‘They’re Calling on You’ Phone Recycling Campaign
Year 3 have collected 21 broken and damaged mobile devices for recycling; diverting some metals from landfill to help save the gorilla’s habitat. We are still accepting donations until Friday 21 August. Please drop off your donations to the Junior School Reception before Friday 21 August. Thank you for all your support!
Year 3 Students
OOSH ZONE: Boarders' Long Weekend
OOSH Zone will be operating over the Boarder’s Long Weekend on Friday 21 August and Monday 24 August.
If you would like to take up this offer, please contact OOSH Zone on mobile: 0467 866 256 Email: stgregs@ooshzone.com.au
College Photo Days
- 1st day – 4 September (Boarding, Years 7-12 Homeroom and portrait photos, K-12 Siblings)
- 17 September - Junior School Photo day
Year 3 Excursion - Howard Park and Cunningham Park
This Term as part of their Inquiry Unit ‘How We Organise Ourselves,’ Year 3 have been learning about how the natural environment influences how humans develop their community. The Unit began with students exploring various states, capital cities and communities throughout Australia using Google Earth. Mr Perna from the Senior School visited Year 3 and introduced them to Google Earth Projects. The students are currently designing their fly-around of Australia inspired by Alison Lester’s book ‘Are We There Yet?’ with Mrs Cosentino during Library lessons.
The Unit then focussed on the role local Councils play in the designing, planning and constructing of facilities to serve the needs of the community. As part of the Unit, Year 3 participated in a Zoom meeting with a member of Camden Council who discussed the rules, regulations and processes involved in constructing several local community facilities including parks, playgrounds and community centres.
As part of their learning, both Year 3 classes visited Howard Park and Cunningham Park in Gregory Hills to observe the natural and man-made features and facilities, present in each park. This information would then assist them in designing their own playground for St Gregory’s College Junior School.
Below is a recount of the excursion written by Mikayla Faro and Ava Langham from 3M.
On Thursday, August 6th, Year 3 went on a walking excursion through Gregory Hills visiting a number of parks. After leaving the school, we walked through La Valla Park for a while until we got to Howard Park. Whilst at the park we filled in a booklet where we had to identify the target audience, draw an aerial view of the park and list the features and facilities both in and around the park.
After visiting Howard Park, we continued on our walk to Cunningham Park where we again answered the same questions. Whilst at Cunningham Park, we had our 2nd lunch break and got to play on the grass field. We also saw a special monument that was built to commemorate the importance and history of sports at St Gregory’s College. We then quickly made our way back to school in time for buses in the afternoon. We had so much fun!
Mr Benjamin Fuser, Year 3 Teacher
Spelling Bee
On Wednesday 12 August, some students from the K – 2 classes at St Gregory’s Junior College competed in the first-ever “Great St Gregory’s Infants Spelling Bee”. The students were asked to nominate themselves and it was very pleasing to see that we had twenty-four Kindergarten students, twenty-eight Year 1 students and nineteen students from Year 2 compete. The word list was created using the Ants in the Apple program, which is an integral part of the teaching and learning of spelling in the Junior School.
The spirit displayed by the students was wonderful as they cheered each other on. Each grade group was whittled down to six finalists.
Congratulations to these students! They will compete again next Wednesday to find the overall Spelling Bee Champion!
Kindergarten
- Amelia Nguyen
- Harrison Sacca
- Indianna Dredge
- Alessia Siracusa
- Ella Morrison
- Harper Stassen
Year 1
- Arabella Green
- Emily Scott-Glassock
- Emilia Balan
- Mia Stevens
- Reuben Tucker
- William Quinn
Year 2
- Jacob Gordon
- Thomas Foley
- Caitlin Palmer
- Mitchell Hayes
- Evie Simpson
- Taylah Kenney
Mrs Louise Limbrey, K-2 Team Leader
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) Closing Soon!
The PRC closes on Friday 28 August 2020. This will be the last day for students to be able to log their books online. Please ensure that their records are up to date by this date to make certain that they will receive their Certificate in Term 4.
Mrs Borg’s Year 4 class is still in the lead for our PRC Class prize. This prize includes a pizza party and fun afternoon for the class with the most students completing the Challenge.
Students can visit the Library at First Break for the next three Tuesdays to get assistance with logging their books online.
Rachael Cosentino
Teacher Librarian/Literacy Specialist
Reading Rockets have read over 1,000 books!
The Junior School’s Annual Reading Rockets Challenge has become very competitive! This year we have many students not only adding their Reading Rocket Challenge books to their PRC record but also posting photos to Seesaw of all of the books they have read along the way.
Together, they have read over 1,000 books! I can’t wait to see how many they will read by the end of the Challenge on Friday 28 August 2020.
Rachael Cosentino
Teacher Librarian/Literacy Specialist
Religious Education in the Junior School
On Friday 7 August, we had a lovely Mass with Year 5 and Kindergarten to celebrate the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop. Due to COVID-19, we have not been able to celebrate as many Masses as we usually would, so it was a wonderful opportunity to take the students up to the Chapel. I was so very impressed with the reverence shown by our Kindergarten and Year 5 students.
There is some wonderful learning happening in Religious Education at the Junior School!
Year 1
Year 1 have been learning about the Bible as our sacred scripture that tells us all about the Kingdom of God. The students learnt about the ‘Parable of the Treasure’ and described the
Kingdom of God in a couple of words.
Georgie – The Kingdom of God is very precious.
Liam – The Kingdom of God is a special place.
Zachary – The Kingdom of God is full of love and joy.
Year 2
Year 2 have been learning about God’s commandment of love and were asked to write
about people they know that live out this commandment every day.
Year 3
Year 3 have been learning about Mary MacKillop. They read old articles and learnt
about her achievements and good deeds that she did in her life.
Year 4
Year 4 have been learning about the commandment of love. They wrote cards of kindness to each other and included prayers of thanks for their friendship.
Mrs Ashley Mazzo
Junior School Religious Education Coordinator