Junior School News

From the Head of Junior School

Last week we saw our school community spirit in action at the World’s Greatest Shave Assembly. Twenty of our Year 6 students volunteered to shave their heads to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation. 

They were supported by Mrs Bath and the Student Representative Council (SRC) who also sold icy poles and friendship bands to raise money. As a school we celebrated their efforts towards this very worthy cause by having a Crazy Hair Day to coincide with the Assembly. 

Thank you to all of the students, friends and parents who have supported our brave shavers on their journey and at our assembly. Thanks once again to Stephen Mow and the wonderful staff from SM Hair Studio who donate their time to come along to our event and shave our volunteers. I know they were relieved to know that there were professionals on hand to do the job!

Thank you also to Mrs Bath who has been the driving force behind this event since the Junior School first decided to be involved many, many years ago. Her passion and enthusiasm is incredible and in no small part a reason for the success of the event. 

To read about our brave shavers please visit our news story. As of today, our shavers have raised over $40,000!

Mr Don Thompson

Head of Junior School

World’s Greatest Shave: Girton students shed hair and shatter records

My name is Madhav Prasanth Nair and last week I competed in the World’s Greatest Shave. I have been at Girton since Prep and have watched other students shave each year. I still remember when Mr Ruddick participated! 

This year was my year, and I was excited to be a part of the team.  As soon as Mrs Bath announced it, I applied.  We had to write an email explaining why it was important to us to be in the team. This is what I said:

“I want to do the World's Greatest Shave because I want to help people who have cancer and people who have been affected by it. Cancer is not easy to treat. If we help people who have been affected by cancer, they could get out of the hospital quicker because they get the treatment faster from the donations. If we do that most people who have cancer will be walking around like nothing just happened. I hope that people with cancer will have a chance to see the world instead of staying in a hospital bed.”

Being a part of the team was fun and gave me a great feeling of comraderie. Together we sold Zooper Doopers, emailed friends and family and worked hard to raise a record breaking $41,000!

The day of the shave was very exciting.  I felt a little nervous but also very proud to be one of the students in front of the school shaving. I think the Junior School students helped by encouraging us.  I hope that I have encouraged others to do something similar in the future.

I will always remember being a part of the 2026 Girton Grammar World’s Greatest Shave team.  I will remember the feeling of doing something great for those less fortunate.

Madhav Prasanth Nair (6 Aherne)

Congratulations to our brave Year 6 shavers - Ahaan Tadakamadla, Remi Faganel, Darsh Kumir, Madhav Nair, Reigan Ryan, Thomas Byron, Charlie Worme, William Jackson Sloane, Micah Plant, Meloz Pambai, Zac Argail, Harvey Starr, Spencer Thomas, Raff Creak, Felix Mason, Ewan McFayden, Quinn Wilson, Billy Knight, Jagger Naidoo and Zac Brown.

On Friday 13 March, the entire Junior School arrived bursting with Crazy Hair Day creations to cheer on our shavers. Teachers joined in with their own efforts, and gold coin donations came from every direction.

Leading up to the big day, Girton’s youngest entrepreneurs were also in full swing. Year 6 students sold handmade bracelets, the Student Representative Council (SRC) kept things cool with Zooper Dooper sales at recess, and Friends of Junior School (FOJS) sold Zooper Doopers donated by families at the Swimming Carnival. Year 6 shave participant Ewan McFayden’s Lolly Jar guessing contest had students lining up to take their chances.

Shaver, Zac Brown also demonstrated impressive entrepreneurial initiative, even selling chocolates in the staff room, and single‑handedly raised $7,500.

Long after the hair grows back, 2026 will stand as the year Girton transformed its biggest tradition into one of its biggest triumphs! 

Year 2 Bush Medicine Indigenous Art

Year 2 students explored Aboriginal culture through a Bush Medicine art unit, inspired by Rosemary Petyarre. They learned how Aboriginal people use plants as “nature’s pharmacy” to support health and wellbeing. Students experimented with a range of materials, creating layered backgrounds using watercolours, sprays and textured paint to represent the bush. Using gum leaf shapes, they explored line, shape and pattern, and finished their artworks with detailed white dotting.

Through this process, students developed their understanding of texture, colour and pattern, while building an appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal art. They also shared and discussed their work with peers.

Mrs Sharon Hocking

Junior School Teacher of Arts

Loddon Mallee Swimming Carnival

On Tuesday 10 March, a team of 16 students travelled to Swan Hill to represent Girton at the Loddon Mallee Swimming Carnival. Students competed in both individual and relay events across the four swimming disciplines, with several standout performances throughout the day. 

Many students achieved podium finishes in their respective events:

• Alex Lee – 1st, 9/10 Boys Freestyle; 1st, 9/10 Boys Butterfly
• Isabella Juric – 2nd, 12/13 Girls Freestyle; 3rd Butterfly
• James Davenport – 3rd, 12/13 Boys Freestyle; 3rd, Breaststroke
• Oskar Hall – 1st, 11 Boys Breaststroke; 1st, 11 Boys Backstroke
• Josh Purton – 1st, 11 Boys Butterfly
• Billy Knight - 2nd, 12/13 Boys Backstroke: 2nd Butterfly

Students who finished in first place will now progress to the SSV State Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre in April.

Girton also recorded some impressive results in the relay events, placing 1st in the 9/10 Boys Freestyle Relay and 1st in the 11 Boys Freestyle Relay. The team also achieved 2nd place in the 12 Girls Freestyle Relay and 3rd place in the 12 Boys Freestyle Relay. In the medley relays, the Open Boys team claimed victory, while the Open Girls team finished 3rd.

We would like to thank the parents and grandparents who supported our students with transport to and from the event, as well as those who assisted with timing and relay team organisation throughout the day.

Congratulations to all competitors for their outstanding attitudes and performances. We wish our qualifying swimmers the very best as they compete against the state’s best in Melbourne on Thursday 23 April 2026.

Mr Jarrod Epps

Teacher of Physical Education and 3M

Grade 6 Students rev up their learning at the F1 Grand Prix

On March the 5th, a group of excited Grade 6 students went to the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. We arrived at school at 7:15 and waited to board the bus. After a 2 and a half hour drive, we arrived at Albert Park in Melbourne. 

When we entered, we saw hundreds of people and lots of Oscar Piastri t-shirts and caps. After getting our bags checked, we walked through the gates towards the racetrack. The first sound we heard was the ‘Whoosh!’ and ‘Zoom!’ of the supercars on the track nearby. 

After watching the supercars, we started walking towards the STEM conventions. First, we went towards the Engineers Australia convention. There was the opportunity to code a robot, find what career best suits you and some freebies. Then we went to the Monash University convention, where we saw a lunar probe and a robotic arm that picked up a F1 car at the start of the track and dropped it at the finish line. Lastly, we went to the RMIT convention. There were some very interesting things to see here. There was a robotic dog that could do handstands and shake others hands with his paw. On the other side, there was a robot that could kick soccer balls. 

After this, we went to a grassy hill where we could eat lunch and view the super cars. Then the teachers let us roam free and see the conventions again. There was also the chance to learn CPR and play e-sports, specifically F1 26. Then we all went to the F1 store, the LEGO store and the Kit-Kat store. After buying some mementos, we saw some olden days cars and some modern luxury cars. Then we got some ice-cream and watched the supercars one more time. At the end, we were all tired, amazed and pleased as we boarded the bus. We thank Mr Leske, Mr Di Fede and Mrs Milner for taking us on this amazing experience.

Hasini Balraj (6 Riley)