Head of Junior School 

Dwyer House Triumph

This week, students in Years 3 to 6 took part in the annual House Swimming Carnival at the Clarence Pool. The morning session featured competitive trials for our strongest swimmers, which will help determine the members of our Representative Team.

The afternoon began with the exciting 'King of the Pool' event, where the top eight swimmers from Years 4, 5 and 6 competed for the title. After an incredibly close race, Hessian Captain Winston Whittle claimed the crown, with Panayioti Hiras and Oscar Lumley finishing close behind.

The remainder of the day focused on fun and participation, with students enthusiastically supporting their Houses. The competition came down to a thrilling finish, with just one point separating Dwyer and Hessian heading into the final relay events. After an action-packed series of relays, Dwyer House secured first place. Hessian House finished a close second, narrowly ahead of Doyle House in third, while Joyce House placed fourth. 

Dwyer Captain and Vice Captain, Harrison Siddall and Panayioti Hiras, were very proud of their team's efforts.

Faith in Action: A Day of Servant Leadership and Sustainability

Last week, our Year 6 boys enjoyed a meaningful day-long retreat at the Senior Campus at Austins Ferry. With the campus unusually quiet, it was the perfect setting for reflection, learning and connection. The theme of the day was 'Servant Leadership and Sustainability', a fitting focus during the Year of Francis of Assisi — a man of prayer, service and deep love for creation. The retreat began with prayer and an introduction to St Francis, setting the tone for the day ahead. 

The program unfolded through three engaging rotations:

• Prayer and Reflection: Students spent time with Leanne Prichard exploring what it means to lead through service, deepening their understanding of faith and responsibility.
• Sustainability with Bushy: Out around the beautiful grounds of the Senior Campus, the boys visited the vegetable garden and enjoyed tasting the abundant blackberries, learning about caring for the environment and living sustainably.
• Men of Service: In the kitchen, the boys rolled up their sleeves to bake chocolate chip cookies — a hands-on reminder that service often begins with simple, practical acts of kindness.

A highlight of the day was learning about Loui’s Van. Youth Engagement Officer Jody shared how the van, run by St Vincent de Paul Society, supports those experiencing homelessness through regular food runs and practical assistance. The boys had the opportunity to step inside the van and see firsthand how it operates, bringing their understanding of service to life.

The retreat concluded with time for personal reflection and goal setting, as well as the development of shared group goals — encouraging the boys to consider how they can be servant leaders within their College and broader community. It was a rich and rewarding day, empowering our Year 6 students to lead with compassion, faith and care for creation.

NAPLAN 2026: Important Information for Years 3 and 5 Families

In 2026, testing for the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will occur between 11 and 23 March. 

All NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 will be completed online, with the exception of Year 3 writing, which will be a handwritten assessment. All other tests are adaptive where individual students are presented with questions of higher or lower complexity, depending on their performance during the test. 

To allow students to become familiar with this style of testing, as well as the format of the NAPLAN online environment, we recommend students and parents visit the NAPLAN Public Demonstration site. This test allows you and your son to become familiar with the type of questions and functionalities that are available in the NAPLAN online environment. The results of this test are not recorded.

NAPLAN data is one of the sources of feedback the College uses to inform us of individual student strengths as well as areas for further growth and development.

Please note that to undertake NAPLAN testing, all students must have their own earphones to be able to access the auditory functions of testing. Students will also need to be prepared with a fully charged iPad for the day’s testing.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Further contact details are provided in the information sheet should you have more general queries about NAPLAN. Further resources can be found in the official National Assessment Program website.

Parent–Teacher Meetings: 10–11 March – Appointments available via PAM

These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to discuss progress, settle in, and any questions you may have. All parents are requested to make time to visit their son’s teacher. 

Interview Schedule: All class teachers available Tuesday 10 March and Wednesday 11 March 

Time:  2pm – 6.15pm 

Last appointment:  6pm 

Interview duration:  15 minutes

Specialist Teacher availability:

Wednesday 11 March: 

PE:  Mrs Karryn McCullagh:  2pm – 5pm

Japanese:  Mrs Alison Wignell:  2pm – 5pm

Art:  Ms Jan Stary:  2pm – 5pm

Baking a Difference: United Against Poverty

This week, our Year 6 boys and Mini Vinnies group proudly hosted a Cake Stall to raise funds for Project Compassion. Thanks to the generous supporters of Caritas Australia, every donation made to Project Compassion on Wednesday was matched dollar for dollar. 

Our Mini Vinnies boys sold delicious baked goods before school, at recess, lunchtime and after school. We raised $330, which means $660! 

Thank you to everyone in our wonderful community who generously supported this cause. Your contribution will help us make a meaningful and lasting difference.

Easter Egg Raffle!

We have a very special Easter raffle from our P&F Committee with an enormous chocolate hamper to be won. Tickets are on sale from $2 each, available from the Junior School Office or through QKR!.