Head of Junior School 

Two weeks of swimming is almost over! We have been incredibly proud of the way the boys have handled the last two weeks, particularly the walk to and from the pool. Fortunately, it is only a 1.3 km walk to the pool, which has been averaging each class about 20 minutes. This trek has been made daily by our Year 3 to 6 boys, whereas, we have transported the Prep and Year 1s in our bus each day. Along the way to the pool there have been rich and lovely conversations taking place between the boys and staff. Their behaviour at the pool has been exemplary, and the Collegiate Pool staff have noted how well organised, behaved and respectful our boys have been over the two-week period. Well done everyone! 

Arrival Before School

It is concerning how many students are being dropped off well before 8.15 am. I would like to remind you all that the Junior School gates do not open until 8.15 am, which is when teacher supervision commences. Almost daily the driveway is used for garbage collection and College vehicles. If you do not have an alternative, please enrol your son at before school care with CatholicCare. Visit the school website or contact the school office for details.

Silent Disco 

The St Virgil’s College Junior School Parents & Friends Association is hosting a Silent Disco for SVC and SMC Prep, Year 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 students on Friday 17 November in our Junior School Hall. A silent disco is a disco at which children dance to music that is transmitted through wireless headphones rather than played over a speaker system. It is a lot of fun! Times and dates for the discos are:

Prep – Year 1: 1.45 pm – 2.30 pm

No cost for admission

Show bags available for $5.00

Years 2 (SMC), 3 and 4: 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm 

$5.00 for cost for admission

Show bags available for $5.00: payable at the door

Years 5 and 6: 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm

$5.00 for cost for admission

Show bags available for $5.00: payable at the door

Details

Entry of $5.00 can be paid by cash only at the event. A showbag containing a lolly bag, glow stick and small bottle of water will also be for sale at the event. This is an optional purchase for $5.00 (cash only). Teacher supervision at the event will be provided. We ask that parents be available to collect their child promptly at the end of the event.

Year 6 Thanksgiving and Award Ceremony

A rich tradition and an evening we look forward to in the Junior School is our annual Year 6 Thanksgiving and Award Ceremony. The evening will be held on Monday 12 December at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s Cathedral. This year, as well as our Year 6s, we will be inviting our Year 5s, 4s and 3s to attend. This is a night of thanksgiving, gathering as a community to celebrate and congratulate our Year 6 boys. The evening also includes the ceremonial handing over to the new Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain for 2024. A letter detailing requirements for attendance will be sent early next week.

STCPSSA and JSSATIS Athletics Carnivals

Congratulations to all our athletes who participated in the STCPSSA Carnival last week and are participating in the JSSATIS athletics carnival today. Thank you, Mrs McCullagh and Mrs Read who have accompanied the boys on both occasions. Their behaviour, participation and efforts has been exceptional.

Early Years Athletics Carnival

We are excited about the upcoming Early Years Athletics Carnival on Monday 20 November. To foster a unique bond, we will have our 2024 Year 11 and 12 students from the Senior School campus onsite helping on the morning. The Carnival will be held here in the morning at the Junior School on the futsal court. Parents/carers are welcome to watch.

Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain 2024

This week I met with the Year 5 class to talk about Year 6 leadership opportunities for 2024. I am looking forward to receiving their applications and meeting with the applicants next week. On Tuesday, these boys will deliver a speech to the rest of the Junior School, explaining the reasons why they should be voted in as School Captain. From these votes, Captain and Vice-Captain positions will be determined. The Junior School Captain and Vice-Captain will be announced on Monday 12 December at our Year 6 Thanksgiving and Award Ceremony in the St Mary’s Cathedral.

Orientation Day: Monday 27 November

This week we distributed a letter containing information about all events which are on the horizon. Orientation Day is a system wide day which all catholic schools will be hosting. It is an opportunity for us to welcome all our new students into the Junior School, so they can meet their respective teachers and fellow classmates. Our current Year 6 boys will be spending the day at the secondary campus for their Year 7 Orientation Day.

End of Year Assembly

A reminder that our annual End of Year Assembly is Monday 4 December in the Nagle Centre at St Mary's College between 9.30 am and 11.30 am for all Junior School students, Kindergarten to Year 6. Family members are welcome to attend.

Excursion to Molesworth Environmental Centre

Prep threw themselves into the activities at Molesworth Environmental Centre this week, with a focus on team building.

Playground Fun

Year 1s got their hands sandy in the Junior School playground this week, creating ‘Xavier Island’. 

Principal’s Tours

On Monday 13 November, the Junior School will be hosting College tours between 9.00 am – 10.00 am. If you have friends or family members who have ben thinking about St Virgil's for their son, please encourage them to register online and attend.

CARITAS Just Leadership Day

Next week here at the Junior School, we will be hosting the annual Caritas Just Leadership Day with many students from other catholic schools. Caritas Australia runs Just Leadership Days to engage students with social justice issues, and to encourage them to be ‘just leaders’, in their schools and in their communities, for both local and global change. Throughout the day, the students will participate in several activities run by Caritas, Vinnies and Catholic Mission while getting to know peers from other schools. As Justice is one of our Virgilian Way values, this is a wonderful opportunity for our boys to participate in. Several boys from Year 5 have either volunteered or being nominated by their teacher to participate in the day.

Making Jesus Real (MJR)

By Marty Ogle

Recently I had the pleasure of working with the Kindergarten to Year 5 classes and we explored how we can be kinder at school and at home. The Kinders and Preps even sang a beautiful song to the wonderful ladies in the front office, which made their day. We looked at special moments that we described as ‘Spirit of Jesus’ moments and again the focus was on trying to make someone’s day better.

One of the questions I asked the older classes was ‘Who back chats or talks back at home?’ Sadly, a large number of students put up their hands – some even thought it was funny which I quickly assured them that it definitely wasn’t funny and that it can easily become a hard habit to break. One student asked me what they can do to break this habit. Here are a few steps that families might undertake if this is a problem at home.

1. I firstly stated that being a parent is difficult and children need to recognise this and appreciate that they can help alleviate the stresses at home.
2. I said to the children a) ‘Who loves their parents?’ b) ‘Who wants to make them happy?’ 100% of the students answered YES to these questions.
3. If they really want to break the habit, I advised the students to go home and ask the adults at their home ‘Can you please help me to stop talking back?’ 
4. By recognising that they are doing this, they are half way to solving the habit. So parents/carers please sit with your children and work out a plan to stop this habit. This might mean creating a sign (click of the fingers, a finger in the air or a simple clap) every time they back chat. 
5. Then reward them when they try and stop – work out a reward between you when you sit to discuss trying to break the habit.

It will take time and sadly some teachers stated that the habit is starting to emerge in the classroom. I must say that all the classes listened so attentively and I pray that hopefully, when you ask your children to do a chore, go to bed, get off their computers or iPads or put things away, they will say ‘Okay’ – with a smile. 

I look forward to catching up with the older classes in the next few weeks and we will be focusing on handy hints for high school with the Year 6s as a number of them can get anxious about this next step in their education journey.

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