Head of Junior School 

Dear Parent Community,

A Change of Pace for Six Weeks

I will be taking six weeks of Long Service Leave from Friday, 19 June. I am very much looking forward to some exciting travel plans and to spend time with my family and friends overseas. I will return at the beginning of Week 2 of Term 2, ready to embrace the winter months. 

In my absence, I am very pleased to share that Mrs Sue Burrows will step into the role of Acting Head of Junior School. Mrs Burrows is our Head of Learning Enhancement as well as Assistant to Head of Junior School, so this position is not new to her. I thank you in advance for your ongoing support during this time and know that our students are in excellent hands.

This week, we welcome back Miss Amelia Daun into the Year 3 class after her wonderful vacation visiting many countries in Europe. We look forward to hearing more about her adventures. We thank Mrs Caroline Conallin for teaching our Year 3 class in Miss Daun’s absence. Mrs Conallin will be teaching Health in all year groups from this week.

Making Our Driveway Safer

To improve safety for students, staff, and families, in the coming weeks, we will be painting a designated pedestrian pathway from the gate down to the sidewalk. This clearly marked route will help guide students and visitors and encourage safe movement through the area.

We will also be applying a road base to the driveway surface. During wet weather, the driveway can become slippery and greasy, creating a potential safety risk. The addition of a road base will improve traction and drainage, making the area safer and more accessible in all weather conditions.

We ask all students, families, and visitors not to use the right-hand side of the driveway (closest to the office wall) when accessing the school. Due to the steep incline in this area, it presents a greater risk of slips and falls, particularly in wet weather. Please use the designated pedestrian pathway at all times to help ensure everyone's safety.

Mid-Year Assembly: Showcasing Music, Arts & Achievement

A reminder that this coming Monday is our Annual Mid-Year Assembly. This is a special occasion when we celebrate the Music and Arts at the Junior Campus as well as recognise the efforts of the boys in their academic and other endeavours. It will include performances from our Junior School Choir, Year 5 and 6 Band, and other year level items.

 Class and Specialist subject certificates will be awarded to Kinder through to Year 6 students. Our Kinder class will begin with the Acknowledgment of Country followed by the Prep class  leading us all in Prayer.

Here are some reminders of other dates to note:

Monday 15 June: 

Mid-Year Assembly: Kindergarten to Year 6 

Where: SMC Nagle Centre 

Time: 1.45pm - 2.45pm

Friday 19 June: MND Beanie and Speak Up Stay Chatty Shorts Day: Prep to Year 6

Friday 3 July: Mid-Year Reports Released

Monday 27 July: (Day 1, Term 3): Student Free Day: Mid-Year Parent Teacher Interviews

Beanies, Shorts for Important Causes

Get ready for a fun and meaningful week at our Junior School. Next Wednesday, 17 June, we will be selling MND Beanies for $25. These beanies are not only warm and colourful but help raise awareness and support for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). We encourage everyone to get behind this important cause and grab one while stocks last. We only have 50 for sale. They will be sold by our Mini Vinnies boys to the first 50 customers: cash or card will be accepted.

On Friday 19 June, we’ll be bringing together two important initiatives for a Combined Awareness Day:

• 🧢 Wear your MND beanie to show your support

• 🩳 Rock your craziest shorts for Speak Up! Stay ChatTY Day, promoting positive mental health and open conversations

   

This special day is all about:

• Raising awareness of MND
• Encouraging meaningful conversations about mental health

• Supporting one another as a caring and connected community

   

We can’t wait to see the creativity and enthusiasm on display, whether it’s bright patterns, bold colours, or your wildest pair of shorts!

Supporting Our Students Through Clear Expectations and Positive Reinforcement 

At St Virgil’s College Junior School, staff have been working together to strengthen the way we teach, model, and reinforce positive behaviour across the school.

Our new Behaviour Expectations Matrix outlines what it looks like to be Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and a Learner in different school settings, including the classroom, playground, transitions, whole-school gatherings, and all settings.

A key part of this work is the belief that behaviour is teachable. Just as we explicitly teach reading, writing, mathematics, and social skills, we also teach students what positive behaviour looks like, sounds like, and feels like at school. This means we do not assume that every student automatically knows what is expected in every setting. Instead, we teach the expectations clearly, practise them regularly, reinforce them consistently, and praise students when they demonstrate them.

Each week, classes have a whole-school focus on one expectation from the matrix. Teachers explicitly teach this focus in class, using age-appropriate examples, discussion, modelling, and practice. The purpose is to increase predictability across classrooms and school spaces, so that all students experience consistent language, clear expectations, and positive support throughout the day.

Staff will also be looking for students who are demonstrating the expectations in action. Students who are “caught” being respectful, responsible, safe, or ready to learn may receive a merit card to acknowledge and celebrate their positive choices.

This matrix is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a calm, inclusive, and supportive school environment where all students are known, encouraged, and able to succeed.