Junior School
Term One Reflection
Term One has not only been full of exciting new and rewarding opportunities, but it has also been long and extremely hot. I congratulate all boys on a positive and rewarding Term.
Throughout the Term we have witnessed outstanding displays of sportsmanship at our various JPSSA fixtures and swimming carnivals. Experienced exciting learning opportunities both in the classroom and at external competitions, such as the Solar Car challenge and Have Sum Fun competition.
We have seen boys' resilience and courage tested on Year 6 camp, and their faith understanding deepened through our Year 4 and Year 6 retreats.
Most importantly we have observed the TC Spirit and notion of brotherhood developed by the way in which our 114 new Junior School boys have been welcomed to the College.
The Spirt of Community is evident within the Junior School, in the way boys treat one another and staff, in their words and actions. The sense of school and personal pride is a highlight for all Junior School staff to witness each and every day.
Over the holidays, it is important for us to unwind and recharge. As important, is the ability to continue to look after ourselves. Sometimes in the holidays, where there is less structure and routine, we forget to practice gratitude or take a moment for our wellbeing. The Resilience Project parent hub provides some useful resources to support you and your son at home, please see the link below.
Walk for Water
On Friday, 11 April the Junior School boys and staff participated in a Walk for Water. Throughout Lent, boys have been learning about the impact they can have on those less fortunate, by donating to Project Compassion. Students completed ten laps of the College oval, taking turns carrying a 10L container of water. It was lovely to see the smiles on the boys' faces as they enjoyed the beautiful weather and an active start to their day. A huge thank you to Mrs. Allen for all her work coordinating the event.
e-Safety
Throughout the Term all staff have emphasised the importance of online safety and the possible negative consequences of online gaming chatrooms, social media and the internet. We understand that the school holidays provide more opportunities for the boys to be on their devices compared to the routine of the school Term.
The Australian Government Online safety | eSafety Commissioner provides useful tips and resources to assist parents and children to have safer and more positive experiences online. By accessing the kids tab, you and your son will be able to find strategies for being safe, curious, kind and secure online.
To assist parents, all Junior School devices will remain at school over the holiday break. If you require further information regarding advice, cyberbullying or parental controls, please access the parent information section of the Australian Government website.
Junior School Easter Raffle
The Junior School students have been eagerly anticipating our Easter Raffle, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our Year 4 families for their generous donations of Easter Eggs for the raffle prizes.
A special thanks also goes to our Year 4 Parent Representatives, who kindly volunteered their time to wrap the prizes. With so many prizes, we had countless happy winners!
Brother Ollie’s Wheelchairs Charity
Did you know... Our Year 4 students in TCEC are leading the way in collecting pull tabs from cans to support the incredible work of Brother Ollie’s Wheelchairs, a charity that helps provide wheelchairs to those less fortunate, both locally and overseas. These small pieces of aluminium might seem insignificant, but when collected in large amounts, they can be recycled to raise funds for wheelchairs and mobility aids. It’s a simple way to make a big difference in someone's life!
You can drop off your pull tabs any time, just pop them in the blue collection bin located in the STEM room!
One student who has truly embraced this initiative is Chase in Year 4. Inspired by the mission of Brother Ollie’s Wheelchairs, Chase has gone above and beyond by reaching out to his local community to support the cause. He’s even created a special pull tab collection container near his home, encouraging his neighbours to drop their pull tabs in as they walk by!
What an amazing example of student initiative and community spirit! Let’s follow Chase’s lead and keep those pull tabs coming in. Every little bit counts!
Mother’s Day Mass and Morning Tea
Save the Date!
Our Mother’s Day Mass and Morning Tea will take place Friday, 9 May. Mass will commence at 8.40am in the College Chapel. Junior School students will attend Mass only with their guest; after Mass, students will return to class while guests enjoy Morning Tea in Gibney Hall. Due to capacity limits, we can only accommodate one guest per student. For Catering purposes, we kindly request RSVPS via the link below.
Mother's Day Mass and Morning Tea
Reminder - Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews
A reminder that Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews will be held on Monday, 28 April. All the relevant information has been sent to families. Term 2 will commence for all students on Tuesday, 29 April at 8.30am. On behalf of all Junior School staff, I wish you a safe and happy Easter.
God Bless,
James McPherson
Head of Junior School