Junior School

I hope that the Year 7 and 8 students enjoyed the long weekend – and a shortened Week 5. Throughout the term, the messaging to the boys has been to “finish well” – simply, they’ve enjoyed a good year and deserve to finish it positively. Furthermore, finishing productively will support the boys in beginning the 2025 school year with a positive disposition. The boys can ensure they end the year well by:

• Wearing uniform as expected (suit coat to and from school, PE uniform only on days where they have PE etc)
• Being punctual to class – including the correct materials
• Interacting respectfully with peers and staff
• Contribute to the College’s co-curricular program
• Respect all facilities and resources; and
• Have fun with their school mates

Year 8 Retreat

It was pleasing to hear that the Year 8 students enjoyed their Retreat Day last week. I was able to get out for a couple of hours early in the week and was impressed with the way our boys engaged with the staff and the activities. The theme of the Retreat Day was ‘Life Choices’. Students were invited to appreciate more fully their own worth and dignity and that of those around them. Students were able to reflect that good decisions were ones that value both themselves and others. Thank you to all the staff involved for making this a worthwhile experience for the boys.

Year 7 Laurie Larmer Cup – Badminton Tournament

Last Tuesday, there was enormous uptake among the Year 7 students as they battled it out for the Laurie Larmer Cup. Hosted by the Year 11 VM students, the gym was packed as the boys took to the badminton courts throughout the lunch break. During the year, the Year 7 cohort has demonstrated a passion for getting involved in everything and last week's event was no exception. Thank you to the Year 11 VM students for their organisation of the event as well as to the staff for overseeing it all. 

Pastoral Care

One of the highlights for Year 12 students on their last day of school is opening up the letter they wrote to themselves back in Year 7. Being a Year 12 Homeroom Teacher a number of years ago allowed me to see first-hand, the joy it brought the boys. Over the past fortnight, our Year 7 students have been penning their letters to open in five years' time. The students were given a range of prompts and examples to work from such as:

• People in my life: who do I really respect at the moment? Who is my best friend? Who would I like to know better etc?
• Look at today’s date, what is happening in the world today?
• What hopes do you hold for yourself in the future?

The boys had a great time writing to themselves and were encouraged to try and write at least a full page.

This week in our Pastoral Care lesson we also focussed on Positive Coping – specifically Self Talk. Students explored the different types of self – talk and investigated ways that they could think and speak positively to themselves when faced with a challenge. Why did we discuss self-talk? Because:

• Resilience research shows that use of positive self-talk is associated with greater persistence in the face of challenge, whereas negative self-talk is associated with higher levels of distress, depression and anxiety.
• Those who use positive self-talk about how they will approach and manage challenge are more likely to succeed. 
• Positive self-talk includes a more realistic appraisal of capacity, circumstances and effort. It includes acknowledging and being grateful for the positives, recognising personal strengths and positive intentions, and realistic attribution of responsibility. 
• Positive self-talk can be learnt or strengthened through practise.

Coming up

Exam marking day – November 22: No scheduled classes

• Please be advised, as per the College Calendar, that there are no scheduled classes on November 22. 

Lion King Jr Matinee Performance for Year 7 – Wednesday, 27 November 

• The Year 7 cohort have been invited by the Lion King Jnr crew to view their matinee performance. The show will start at 1.50pm which means the students will have an altered timetable for Lesson 4 and Lesson 5. The students will be briefed on theatre etiquette to ensure maximum engagement and respect for the show and the cast.

Summative assessment tasks – various days throughout Week 7 and Week 8

• Junior School students will be completing their end of term assessment tasks throughout Week 7 and Week 8. We acknowledge that the students will be challenged during this time; however, know that this will serve them well in the long run as it prepares them well for their exams in their later years of schooling. Homeroom and classroom teachers continue to work with the students on demonstrating good practice when it comes to the most effective ways to revise and prepare for assessment tasks.

Thanks as always for the support offered by students, families and staff to all matters of the Junior School. Please never hesitate to make contact should you have a query to discuss.

Tom Nash, Head of Junior School

Margie Dodd & Jacinta Burge, Year 7 Coordinators           

Sam Cue & John Hearn, Year 8 Coordinators