Around the Junior School

 Year 2 Science

Year 2 students recently visited the Senior School Science Lab with Mrs Gibson to learn about the rock cycle. Using jellybeans, students modelled how sediments are compacted and cemented to form sedimentary rock, and how heat can change rocks into metamorphic rock. It was a fun and engaging way to explore how rocks change over time.

Mrs Libby Chapman 

Taking a Deep Breath: Year 6 in the Senior School Science Labs

As part of the Throughlines Project, Year 6 students visit the Senior School Science laboratories each week, providing regular opportunities to explore science in a practical learning environment. Linking with their Human Body unit, students recently investigated the respiratory system and how the lungs help keep our bodies functioning.

Students explored how the lungs and diaphragm work together to allow us to breathe and how oxygen travels through the body to support life. They examined key parts of the respiratory system, including the trachea, bronchi and the tiny air sacs called alveoli.

A highlight of the lesson was the hands-on task where students constructed their own working models of the lungs. Using simple materials, they recreated how the diaphragm helps the lungs inflate and deflate, allowing air to move in and out of the body.

These weekly sessions strengthen the connection between Junior and Senior School learning while inspiring curiosity and enthusiasm for science.

As this semester-long study of the Human Body continues, Year 6 look forward to making further connections between the body’s systems through both practical and theoretical science learning experiences.

Pre-Kinder

Pre-K had a very special visit from The Storytelling Lady, who captivated the children with her wonderful and imaginative stories. Her stories were engaging and invited the children to join in, encouraging them to listen carefully and contribute their ideas. This experience supported our early literacy learning, highlighting the importance of the spoken word and storytelling as a foundation for literacy. Marnie has a special talent and it was fun for everyone. 

Kindergarten visit Hillside Harvest

Kindergarten had a wonderful time at Hillside Harvest as part of our Science unit on the senses. The students enjoyed an early morning walk through the orchard where they had the opportunity to smell, touch and taste a variety of fruits, expanding their descriptive vocabulary along the way. They were fascinated by the different types of machinery used around the farm and listened eagerly as our guide explained how each one worked. Our Kindergarten students represented the school beautifully, they were well‑behaved, attentive, and full of thoughtful questions. It was a fun and engaging morning of hands‑on learning!

Why Reading Aloud Still Matters

We were delighted to welcome so many parents to our recent Parent Information Evening and to share in the discussion around the importance of reading aloud with your children. It was wonderful to hear your thoughtful questions and reflections about how best to support reading at home.

In Year 4, students are reading longer and more complex texts across all subject areas. As texts become more challenging, strong reading skills are essential for success, not just in English, but across the curriculum.

Reading research shows that skilled reading develops as multiple skills work together, including accurate decoding, growing reading fluency, expanding vocabulary and building background knowledge and understanding of how language works. In Scarborough's Reading Rope, these skills are described as being woven together over time to create confident readers.

By Year 4, most students can decode successfully. However, fluency, reading accurately, smoothly and with expression, continues to strengthen. When your child reads aloud at home, they build this fluency. As reading becomes more automatic, students can focus more deeply on understanding ideas, making inferences and justifying their thinking using evidence from the text.

Australian literacy researcher Jennifer Buckingham explains that strong comprehension relies on both accurate word reading and rich vocabulary knowledge. Research by Keith Stanovich also shows that the amount children read matters enormously. Students who read more are exposed to significantly more words each year and, over time, this builds vocabulary, knowledge and confidence.

You can support your child by:

• Listening to them read several times each week
• Encouraging smooth, expressive reading
• Asking questions such as “What clues helped you work that out?”
• Continuing to read to them, even as they become more independent
• Even 10 minutes of consistent reading each day makes a meaningful difference.

Mrs Emmah Klein 

Year 4 Teacher

Global Recycling Day 2026

Kinross Wolaroi School students proudly took part in Global Recycling Day 2026, joining a worldwide initiative that encourages communities to “think resource, not waste”. Across the school, students were engaged in a range of hands-on sustainability activities that encouraged them to think carefully about the resources they use each day. From creative recycled arts projects, trench composting and even drama lessons, students discovered different ways to help our environment.

Stage 3 students played an important leadership role by helping to monitor the school’s recycling bins each day. They worked alongside other students to ensure materials were sorted correctly and used the opportunity to teach their peers more about what can and cannot be recycled. Their efforts helped build greater awareness across the school community and encouraged everyone to take greater responsibility for waste management.

Students explored sustainable practices through trench composting, turning food scraps into nutrient-rich soil that supports the school grounds and our Garden Club. This hands-on process helped students understand how organic waste can be returned to the earth to benefit plants and soil health.

Many students embraced the idea of bringing “nude food” lunches to school. By packing food without single-use plastic packaging, students reduce waste while learning simple habits that can make a big environmental difference. This initiative encouraged families and students alike to think about sustainable choices beyond the classroom. We are proud that our Kinross Wolaroi students continue to build their understanding of recycling and sustainability while contributing to a global effort to conserve resources and care for the environment.

Year 4 visits Cowra Japanese Gardens

Year 4 students recently enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the Cowra Japanese Gardens as part of their Science unit exploring Earth’s systems and habitats. The visit provided a rich, hands-on opportunity for students to observe how the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere interact and support a variety of habitats within the gardens.

Throughout the day, students participated in a fun and engaging systems discovery hunt, where they searched the gardens for examples of water, landforms, plant life and weather influences. Working both collaboratively in small groups and independently, students recorded observations and discussed how these systems connect and influence one another in a living environment.

The peaceful setting also provided the perfect moment for students to pause and reflect. Many students took the opportunity to sketch and create artworks, inspired by the flowing water, carefully placed rocks, and beautifully maintained plants found throughout the gardens.

The excursion was filled with curiosity, teamwork and creativity. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of Earth’s systems while enjoying the natural beauty and cultural significance of this remarkable garden space. '

Assembly Merit Awards for Week 8