Junior School Report

Message from the

Director of Learning

Junior School

Ms Jessika Cichy

It’s been an eventful and rewarding few weeks here at Westall! From engaging excursions to hands-on learning experiences and wellbeing projects, our Junior School students have fully immersed themselves in learning both inside and outside the classroom. With only two weeks left in the term, we’re grateful to everyone who contributes to making our school a positive and caring environment. Wishing all our students and families a restful and refreshing break!

Recap of the Term So Far:

Year 7 Excursion to Melbourne Museum

Our Year 7 students recently ventured to the Melbourne Museum on the 26th of August, where they had the opportunity to put their Ancient Australia knowledge to the test. Exploring the museum’s rich collection of artefacts and exhibits, they were able to make direct connections between what they've studied and the treasures on display. The students’ curiosity and respectful behaviour made the day even more enjoyable, and we are proud of how they represented our school!

iCreate Masters of the Metaverse ACMI Excursion

Our iCreate Masters of the Metaverse students from Years 7 to 9 also had a fantastic experience during their excursion to ACMI in the city. Collaborating to create stop-motion animations, they explored the world of visual storytelling, visited the ‘Moving Picture’ exhibition, and gained insight into the history of the moving image. From sampling iconic video games to understanding the hard work behind everyday media, the students worked exceptionally well together and produced an incredible stop-motion video that truly showcased their teamwork and creativity.

Junior School Reading Corner and Stock-Up Station

In collaboration with Miss Grey, the Literacy Team and the help of some of our wonderful Junior Students, we’ve launched the Junior School Reading Corner and Stock-Up Station! Recognising the importance of both organisation and reading, we’ve created a special space where students can borrow, swap, or take home a book, as well as responsibly restock their classroom supplies. Reading has immense benefits for young learners, including enhancing vocabulary, improving focus and concentration, and fostering empathy. We hope this initiative will encourage a love of reading and organisation skills in our students and continue to highlight our Westall values of Care. A big thank you and shoutout to our Literacy Coordinator, Ms. Binder, who helped find all these amazing books for our students!

Heading into the Holidays: Mindfulness

Over the term, our Year 7 and 8 students have been diligently participating in the Resilience Project through their wellbeing classes. Last week, we focused on mindfulness - the ability to be calm and present in the moment. It is a powerful tool you can use at home over the break to strengthen your family bonds while also promoting the emotional wellbeing of your children. Mindfulness helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves focus, and teaches kids to manage their emotions more effectively. Taking a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness as a family can create a sense of calm and connection, helping everyone feel more balanced and refreshed. Here are some simply ways to add mindfulness into your day-to-day routines:

• Mindful listening: Go for a walk outside or sit quietly and notice all the things you can hear, both near and far. This could be the sound of your own breath, birds in trees, other people, and so on. Notice when your mind begins to wander and draw your attention back to what you can hear when this happens. Do this for 2+ mins.
• Box Breathing: A simple deep-breathing technique that involves inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, exhaling for four seconds, and then holding again for four seconds. This practice helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and improve focus by regulating your breathing and promoting relaxation.
• Origami or Sudoku: Origami and Sudoku can be mindful activities as they require focused attention and concentration, helping to calm the mind and reduce stress by keeping you fully present in the moment.
• Moment of Gratitude: A simple gratitude activity could be going around the table at mealtimes and having each person share one thing they're grateful for that day, fostering positive conversations, reflection, and connection while eating together.

These small actions can really help improve your child’s well-being, which is important for doing well in school and staying focused. When we support their emotional health, we give them the tools to learn better. Thank you for helping make our school a positive and caring place for all students. If you have any questions about your child’s well-being or schoolwork, feel free to contact me, their coordinator, or our Junior School support staff.

Warm regards, 

Miss Jessika Cichy

Director of Learning - Junior School