Head of Junior School

It has been a busy and highly productive semester in the Junior School, marked by strong connections, purposeful learning and a continued focus on nurturing the girls. Our community has embraced many initiatives designed to strengthen communication, enhance teaching practice and support our students as confident, capable learners.

Strengthening communication with families

A key priority this semester has been improving our communication with parents and caregivers. We have been delighted to introduce regular curriculum updates, providing clear insights into what students are learning in the classroom and how families can support this learning at home.

Within these updates, we have highlighted the implementation of our Prep to Year 6 phonics program, which provides explicit and structured instruction in reading. This approach ensures that all students build strong foundational literacy skills through consistent and evidence informed teaching practices.

Our Open Mornings have also been a highlight, offering families the opportunity to step inside classrooms, see learning in action and engage directly with teachers. These events have reinforced the importance of partnership in education, and we have greatly valued the conversations and connections that have come from them.

In addition, the updated new semester reports have provided a more comprehensive and meaningful reflection of each student’s progress, capturing both academic achievement and personal growth.

Showcasing learning through ePortfolios

This semester, we have further embedded the use of ePortfolios, allowing us to share learning moments with families in a timely and authentic way. These snapshots of classroom experiences provide a window into the day-to-day learning journey, celebrating achievements, growth and the joy of discovery. It has been wonderful to see the girls take pride in sharing their progress and reflecting on their learning.

Building professional collaboration

We were excited to welcome our Curriculum Coordinators, who have played a significant role in strengthening collaboration across the Junior School. Their leadership has supported greater consistency in teaching practice, ensuring that all students benefit from high quality, aligned learning experiences.

Through shared planning, professional dialogue and a collective focus on best practice, our staff have continued to grow as educators, ultimately enriching the experience for every learner.

Supporting growth and wellbeing

The girls’ wellbeing has remained at the heart of all we do. This semester, we introduced a new wellbeing program focused on developing students’ social and communication skills through our UR Strong program. This program equips our girls with the tools to build positive relationships, navigate challenges and grow in confidence, skills that are essential for both school and life.

Parent-school partnership

A key focus has been supporting parents in understanding how to best support their daughter. A particularly meaningful initiative included an evening with fathers in Years 4 to 6, creating opportunities for connection and conversation as the girls approach the next stage of their development. We have provided online sessions for parents in our Talking the Talk and UR Strong program and parent meetings for our school camps. This partnership with parents is designed to ensure parents have been communicated with in timely fashion with a focus on what they can do to support their daughter’s growth and development.

Looking ahead

As the semester draws to a close, we reflect with pride on all that has been achieved. From enhanced communication and strong community engagement to innovative wellbeing programs and improved teaching practices, it has truly been a term of growth and connection.

We thank our students, staff and families for their continued support and commitment. Together, we are building a vibrant and nurturing Junior School where every child is supported to thrive.

A busy and productive semester indeed, and we look forward to all that lies ahead.

Dr Brendan Kean

Head of Junior School