Head of Junior School 

The time has come to end the 2024 academic year. It is always a time of poignancy and a time to reflect on the year that was, the successes we had, the moments we shared and to give thanks to those who helped make it all happen. On behalf of everyone here at the Junior School, we wish that everyone stays safe in the holiday period and can spend time or connect with friends and family members who play a pivotal and important role in our lives. We look forward to welcoming all families back to the Junior School in 2025. Our Prep to Year 6 students commence on Friday 7 February and Kindergarten students commence on Tuesday 11 February (after Royal Hobart Regatta Day long weekend).

Year 3 Teacher 2025

Many parents have been wondering who will take on the role of Year 3 class teacher now that Miss Lack will be departing the Junior School. It gives me great pleasure to announce that Miss Daun will be taking on the Year 3 role in 2025. 

A Vote of Thanks

I would like to thank each and every one of our family members for your contributions to the School this year. There are so many ‘moments’ that I reflect on fondly: our Mother’s, Father’s and Grandparents Days are incredibly special. I love it when we have a whole School community event. I am thankful for the day the P&F helped out all day, on a Saturday, for Election Day, cooking a BBQ and selling generously made cake donations. I am thankful for the number of parents/carers and family members who manage, coach and support our sporting teams. I am thankful for the most amazing, hardworking and talented staff one could hope to work with. I am thankful for being able to witness, and lead the Junior School, now a Kindergarten to Year 6 Campus.

I would like to extend a vote of thanks to our wonderfully supportive P&F, led by Abbey Doggett. This year, from the Committee, we farewell Samm Harrington, as Atticus moves out to the Senior Campus, and thank him for his many years of unwavering support, not to mention the supply of handballs! One of the great initiatives this year was the whole College Community Footy Tipping Competition, managed by Matt Gillie. This created a lot of banter and a few laughs among many adults and we look forward to reaching the milestone of 100 participants in 2025. Our vision, and the road to a new and refurbished playground has begun. This year many discussions have occurred about this process and how we can make it happen. Our P&F are committed to making this become a reality.

This year, we farewelled three long-standing staff members. Mrs Moate has been at the College for 22 years, 18 years on the Junior Campus. Michelle has been the go-to office person for many of you, making calls about forgotten uniforms, and instruments, passing on messages, providing first aid to the students and so much more. This farewell was tinged with great sadness but rest in the knowledge she is not far away.

Farewell Miss Lack. Mikayla commenced her teaching career here 10 years ago. In her time she has taught Years 5 and 6 but has added so much more. She has coached basketball, water polo, football, tee ball and more, in her desire to get to know and support all boys from all year levels. She is a passionate and committed teacher who has spent tireless hours creating an engaging curriculum and classroom environment. We wish Mikayla all the best for her move to Immaculate Heart in a teaching and curriculum coordinator capacity.

Thank you and farewell Jill Norton. Jill has taught music here for 12 years. Jill is an inspiration, dedicated to her craft. Under her tutelage, the students have thrived in their ability to not only enjoy and appreciate music but also to read music and play a multitude of instruments. We wish her all the best as she returns to playing her flute, supporting her husband in his business venture as well as mother to her two daughters.

Speech Night

Thank you to all students and family members of students who attended our first-ever Year 3 to Year 12 Speech Night. Congratulations to all Outstanding Academic Achievement, Academic Merit and Academic Effort recipients.

Congratulations to the following Year 6 Major Award recipients:

Junior School Edmund Rice Award: Thomas Brown

Junior School Virgilian of the Year: Jacob Lowe

Junior Sportsmanship Award: Jacob Lowe

Junior Music Award:  Patrick Moloney

St Peter’s Award for Year 6 Dux of the Junior School: Angus Newsham-West

Other Year 6 Awards: announced at Junior School End of Year Assembly:

Head of Junior School Award: Ethan Dixon

Award For Writing:  Angus Newsham-West

Japanese Award: Thomas Brown

Art Award: Patrick Moloney

Civics and Citizenship Award: Angus Newsham-West

Junior School Leaders 2025

School Captain: Reuben Schaller

Vice Captain: Lochie Johnstone

SRC:  Louis McKay, Oliver Wagstaff

Doyle 

House Captain: Ned Heddle

Vice-Captain: Nate Debnam

Aussie Sport Leader: Lachlan Northeast

Dwyer

House Captain: Archie Argyropoulos

Vice-Captain: Youssef Assi

Aussie Sport Leader: Liam Hazi

Hessian

House Captain: Angus Saunder

Vice-Captain: Edward Gray

Aussie Sport Leader: Logan Skinner

Joyce

House Captain: Hugo Rickards

Vice-Captain: Silas Young

Aussie Sport Leader: Eddie Pigden

Band Captain:  Eden Britten

Choir Captain:  Clancy Gillie

Junior School Kindergarten - Year 6 Thanksgiving Liturgy and Year 6 Graduation

On Wednesday evening our students from Kindergarten through to Year 6 gathered in the Cathedral for our annual Thanksgiving Liturgy and Year 6 Graduation. It was a wonderful evening of celebration, giving thanks for the year as well as farewell to our Year 6 students. Thank you to all the family members who came to support the evening.

I have asked the boys today, from all year groups, what their favourite part of the evening was. I have also received many comments from adults in attendance. Favourite moments ranged from the Kindergarten students handing the Year 6s their pennants, the story of the two Charlies: Charlie Rhodes (Prep) and Charlie Lennon (Year 12), the singing and Patrick Moloney’s playing of the flute.

Play St Playground Consultation

This week we completed our consultation phase with Play St. Miriam Shevland and Lou Goodall consulted with a group of boys representing Prep to Year 6 in the final phase. They spent an hour together which involved walking around the playground garnering the boys' thoughts and ideas. I was so proud of our group of students. They had wonderful, practical and realistic ideas. Play St will now report back to us with a draft version of our playground when we return in February 2025.

Final Hurrah For Our SRC

Thomas Brown and Lucas Ravani (both Year 6) have held their heads high as wonderful leaders of the SRC this year in their respective capacities as Junior School Captain and Vice Captain. Ably supported by George Lennon, Gus Lockhart, Edward Hickey, Panayioti Hiras and Hugh Johns they have been very hands-on in their role. This year we held a couple of milkshake days, and a hot chip day, raising a sum of money. I am pleased to see that we ‘re-invested’ this money into purchasing our own milkshake makers and paraphernalia. This week, we treated the Junior School to milkshakes made by our very own milkshake makers. It's the small things that count!