Junior School
Week 6 Events
Last week was certainly event-filled in the Junior School! Other than the Year 5 STEM Day event which was highlighted in last week’s edition of the Especean, our entire cohort of Junior School students all took the opportunity to join in the fun and excitement of our annual Book Week character parade, which was open to parents/carers to also experience for the first time. It was truly a spectacular occasion as SPC2 turned into a sea of colour with nearly every book character imaginable gracing the field. Most pleasingly, I’m also delighted to report that despite the large number of wands, swords, and all manner of other potential costume hazards, no one was injured in the pursuit of Book Week fun! Stay tuned…our Junior School librarian, Mrs Gibson, has already indicated that plans are afoot for a book character costume category for parents/carers next year…so start your planning now!
Last Friday 25 August, our Year 6 students were given their own special experience in recognition of National Science Week as they travelled to Santa Sabina for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Gala Day. This was the first time that the boys and girls had been involved in such an event as both schools sought to further build on the collaborative nature of their relationship that already exists by providing all students with unique learning and personal development opportunities.
The day began with a number of ‘icebreaker’ activities which helped to ease any initial awkwardness and nerves that some students may have had as they met their other group members who they would be working with and got to know them a little more. A number of guest speakers then presented to the students, highlighting various examples of STEAM projects that are operational not only throughout society today, but also some of those currently occurring in space!
After sharing recess on the field together, all student groups were assigned a particular case study and each member of the group was given a specific role to carry out as the boys and girls worked through their set challenge together with the materials provided to them. Some of the final designs created were truly innovative and it was wonderful to hear the creative thinking and problem-solving that underpinned the solutions made by the students.
The day also provided an opportunity for a selection of boys and girls to partake in two friendly games of mixed football which were an obvious highlight for those involved...and proved to be just as much fun for the spectators watching too!
Our boys certainly rose to the occasion and the added responsibility they were given on the day, conducting themselves maturely and respectfully throughout the event. As such, congratulations are most definitely in order to all of our Year 6 boys for their behaviour! We hope that our students enjoyed this unique excursion, and we look forward to providing the boys with additional opportunities to collaborate with their peers from Santa Sabina in meaningful ways linked to our combined educational goals.
Social Media Age Restrictions
In today's digital age, social media plays a significant role in our children's lives. It is therefore essential for all parents and carers to be aware of the age restrictions that are put in place on various social media platforms. These restrictions exist for valid reasons; to ensure our children's online safety, protect their privacy, and offer age-appropriate content. As a school, we urge all of our families to refer to these age restrictions indicated in the image below and most importantly, enforce them. From Facebook to Instagram, Snapchat to TikTok, each platform has age limits aligned with the content being offered. Additionally, we encourage parents/carers to prepare your son for appropriate use when he does meet these age requirements by having open conversations with him about responsible online behaviour.
As part of our collective effort in equipping students with appropriate online safety knowledge and skills, we also recommend conducting regular social media audits. This involves reviewing your son’s online presence, discussing his interactions, and ensuring he adheres to the terms of use for each platform that he accesses. By actively participating in your son’s digital world, we can jointly create a safer and more positive online environment for him by working together to empower our children with the understanding and tools they need to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. Your guidance and support honestly make a world of difference in shaping his online experiences.
Ultimately, the decision for when a child joins certain social media platforms is at the discretion of parents and carers. However, from my experience in dealing with recent incidents when underage social media usage has gone wrong, I urge all Junior School families who do allow their son/s to join prior to meeting these age requirements, to carefully examine their stance.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (glenn.stephenson@spc.nsw.edu.au) or phone (8705 9247) and I will endeavour to assist you in any way that I can.
May God bless you,
Glenn Stephenson
Director of Junior School
Book Week Parade 2023
Last Tuesday morning the Junior School came alive with all manner of creatures, emerging from trains, buses, and automobiles. Students had let their imaginations run free!
There were ‘Oompa Loompas’, ‘Where’s Wallys’, ‘Harry Potters’ and ‘Gangsta Grannies’ around every corner. The boys were especially inspired by the brilliant works of Roald Dahl, Emily Rodda, David Walliams, Dr Suess and J.K Rowling.
The following students were ‘Highly Commended’ for their efforts in dressing up:
Archie Ackland, Charlie Ackland, Will Gotsis, Justin Lee, Marcus Gregory, Kane Kassis, Isaac Gill, Greg Giotis, Ryan Lee, Zac Nissirios and James Aoun.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the parade, and we encourage everyone to start planning for 2024!
Below are some thoughts from our students:
“Book Week was a fun event where we explored the wonderful land of books and their characters. With Loraxs and Wallys galore, the parade was one to remember, especially when the teachers joined in.”
Flynn Mihaljek
“For me Book Week was super fun! Seeing people wear different costumes and getting to dress up yourself.”
Lucas Lieu
“Amazing costumes and lots of fun during Book Week.”
Angelo Staikos
“The costumes were amazing and the commentary was entertaining.”
Ryley Salakas
“The Book Parade was fun. In the morning there were a lot of cool characters. We all walked around SPC 2 as the parents cheered us on. I hope we do it next year!” Aidan Toal
Helen Gibson
Westcourt Teacher Librarian