Head of Junior School 

Junior School Class Teachers 2023

Who can believe that this will be the last newsletter for 2023? What a fabulous year we have had in the Junior School. I would like to thank you, our parent community for your ongoing support of your boys here but also for the teachers, LSOs, office, and maintenance staff. We are very much an ‘Engaged, Connected and Caring Community’ which is evident in everything we do.

To our Year 6 families, we are sad to see you go but know that you won’t be far away. We all enjoy running into the Junior School ‘old boys’ at the Senior School campus, particularly when they give us a smile and say hello. The same can be said for you, our parents. We have formed wonderful connections over your time here. Some of you will remain, as your son may have a sibling here, so we look forward to re-connecting next year. For others, we look forward to seeing you at sporting events, school events and so on. 

In our recent newsletter, I thanked our very supportive Parents & Friends Committee. Next year we look forward to welcoming new members and build on the relationships we have formed and the community we engaged with.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone in our community who contributed to the Junior School in some way. Our boys could not participate in as many sporting events without you dedicating your time to assist with coaching or managing a team, volunteering to go on an excursion, cook a sausage sizzle, make fairy floss, be a member of the P&F and so on.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the school holiday break and festive season. Remain safe and we very much look forward to welcoming you all back on Wednesday 7 February. 

St Mary's College Farewells Boys

This week SMC farewelled the last Year 2 boys to attend SMC as students. In attendance at the beautiful liturgy and farewell ceremony were SVC boys from Year 3 through to Year 12 and beyond, who had attended SMC themselves. What a beautiful fitting tribute and legacy the boys will leave behind. I was very proud of our boys as well as the Year 2 boys who will be joining SVC Junior School in 2024.

Pictured top: St Mary's Year 2 boys with...

Year 3: Gus Hardaker

Year 4: Ned Heddle

Year 7: William Anderson

Year 8: Edward Huigsloot

Year 9: Charlier Cubit

Year 10: Lucas Dunnewijk

Year 11: Harry Manning, Darcy Berry, Tadhg Morgan

Year 12: Charlie Banks

Tom Messer

End of Year Assembly

On Monday of this week, we gathered in the Nagle Centre of SMC for our annual End of Year Assembly. What a special morning this was. From musical interludes including our Year 5 & 6 Combined Concert Band, to the Junior School Choir performances, our whole song and even our Kindergarten singing their prayer. Congratulations to all boys who were awarded certificates. It was a fitting end to the school year.

Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain 2024

Congratulations to Thomas Brown and Lucas Ravani who were announced as our Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for 2024. I look forward to working alongside these boys in 2024, mentoring them in their leadership. The official ceremony handing over the leadership, will take place on Monday 11 December in St Mary’s Cathedral at our annual Year 6 Thanksgiving and Awards Evening.

Year 6 Thanksgiving and Awards Ceremony: Year 3 to 6 Expected to Attend

We are looking forward to a packed Cathedral on Monday evening at 6.00 pm for the annual Year 6 Thanksgiving and Award Ceremony. Traditionally, our Year 3 to 5 cohort of boys have attended this event but not in recent years due to the closure of the Cathedral in 2022, and prior to that, COVID. All boys are to meet with their class teacher outside the Cathedral and will walk in together. Our Year 3 to 5 parents are invited to attend but it is not expected. The evening will be completed by 7.15 pm.

Camps and Canberra

Last week, our Year 5 and Year 6 cohorts had very different ‘camp’ experiences. Our Year 5s headed to Orana for two nights, venturing down to Port Arthur on the middle day. Our Year 6s went further afield, on our annual four-day educational trip to Canberra. One cannot thank the staff, who organised and attended both experiences, enough. Many hours are dedicated to the planning, seeking permissions, booking of activities, organising food, administering medication and so on. We play adjudicator, bus driver, mother, father, nurse, maid, first aid officer on camps and the list goes on. We also, take time away from our own families to ensure your son has this experience. If you haven’t already done so, could I please encourage you to thank the staff who were responsible for your son in the last week. Thank you sincerely to those people who have already expressed their gratitude. Social media and Seesaw groups were flooded with posts, so hopefully you kept up with all the events.

Kinder Nativity

This week our beautiful Kindergarten class held their annual Nativity at St Joseph’s Church. Always a treasured and special event. Thank you to Mrs Mazengarb and Mrs Priest for rehearsing the boys, organising and making costumes, Mrs Graves for transporting the boys and Mrs Norton and Miss Meredith for rehearsing the boys with their musical items.

Year 4 Outing

Last Thursday, Year 4 took the opportunity for an excursion to Risdon Brook Dam. The boys were excited to see all parts of the water cycle they had been learning about in science, while simply spending a lovely day together. They spent the day building dams in a small stream they found, playing cricket (thank you Mr Matt Gillie for umpiring!) and taking a stroll around the dam while chatting with their friends. A great day was had by all. 

Bethlehem House

This week we walked the remainder of our donations to Bethlehem House. Thank you for your incredibly generous donations which support such a worthy cause. I particularly loved the hand decorated bags that each of our boys took much thought and time to create in Art. We have been supporting Bethlehem House for 14 years now. I know that on Christmas Day when the residents receive their special packages, they will be thinking of the generous spirit of our SVC families.

Year 3 /4 Basketball Representatives

It was remiss of me in the last newsletter to not mention the efforts of our Year 3/4 representative basketball team. The boys represented SVC with pride and never gave up in any of their games. Thank you to Mr Aaron Debnam who gave up Wednesday mornings to train the boys as well as Mrs Nicole Read. Without their assistance and volunteering, this would not have been possible. Boys in the team were: Edward Gray, Archie Bugg, Nate Debnam, Lochie Johnstone, Edward Hickey, Yousseff Assi, Angus Saunder and Archie Argyropolous.

Parliament And Civics Education

Students from our school have recently undertaken an education tour of the nation's capital. Students have been given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of  $300 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Prep Students Create Art About The Nativity

Pinocchio Pantomime at Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Year 6 Amazing Race with St Mary's College