Junior School, South Plympton

On this page:  Honouring those who served - Remembrance Day 2026 | Tournament of Minds unforgettable experience | Year 1/2s exploring God's world | Year 2-4 students visit Vermont Retirement Village

Honouring those who served - Remembrance Day 2026

On Wednesday 11 November, student leaders from our Brooklyn Park and South Plympton Junior schools had the privilege of attending the Remembrance Day Service at West Terrace Cemetery.

As part of this special occasion, schools were invited to place an individual remembrance poppy on each of the 4,167 resting places of Australian military personnel within the Australian Imperial Forces Cemetery. This meaningful tradition ensures that each person is individually remembered and provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with the stories and sacrifices of those who served.

For many of our young students, war and remembrance are concepts they are only beginning to understand. Experiences like these provide a meaningful connection to something they will continue to hear about, learn about and reflect upon as they grow older. Their understanding will deepen over time, but these early experiences help lay the foundations.

During the ceremony, our student leaders also had the honour of laying poppy wreaths, thoughtfully created by students and teachers across both campuses.

It was a memorable and moving experience for everyone involved, providing a deeper understanding of the importance of remembrance.

We are grateful to Adelaide Cemeteries for inviting Emmaus Christian College to participate in this important occasion and for providing such a valuable opportunity for our young leaders.

Sarah Bell

Junior School Learning Support Coordinator

What an unforgettable experience for our Tournament of Minds team in Darwin!

Representing South Australia at the International Finals, our students joined teams from across Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, tackling both a challenging three-hour Language and Literature problem and a fast-paced spontaneous challenge.

Beyond the competition, students enjoyed some incredible Territory experiences, including feeding crocodiles, holding a baby croc at Crocosaurus Cove, exploring the Territory Wildlife Park, visiting the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, and cooling off at the Darwin Waterfront Lagoon.

While the challenges were exciting, it was our students' character that truly stood out. From leading the entire South Australian contingent in the state chant, to being commended by teachers from other schools for their teamwork, positive attitude and encouragement of one another, they represented Emmaus with excellence. One special moment even saw a bus driver thank the team for "making his night" with their joyful spirit.

We are incredibly proud of the way our students embraced every opportunity, supported one another and shone brightly throughout the trip. 

Alisha Dutschke

Extended Learning

Year 1/2 students explore God's World 

This term, our Year 1/2 cohort has been exploring the wonderful world of plants, animals and their habitats in Science. Students have been learning that a habitat provides living things with what they need to survive. Through observations, discussions and sorting activities, they have compared different plants and environments and explored why some plants grow well in particular places.

Our young scientists have also been investigating what plants need to grow, including water, sunlight, air, nutrients and space. They have been making predictions and observing plants to discover how different conditions affect their growth. These experiences are helping students develop their skills in asking questions, noticing changes and recording their findings.

Art has provided a creative way to connect with this learning. Students explored the features of insects, including their three main body parts and six legs, before creating colourful insect collages. They folded and cut paper to create symmetrical shapes, then used pieces of their own painted paper to build matching patterns on each side. Our toucan artworks also connect birds with their habitats, featuring backgrounds of large leaves and tropical flowers. The accompanying photographs celebrate the children’s creativity and attention to detail.

We have also loved listening to the children’s Show-and-Tell presentations. From introducing interesting plants to explaining what plants need to stay healthy, the children have brought their interests and ideas into the classroom. Our “Nature Detective” topic has encouraged them to share discoveries such as leaves, seeds, flowers and feathers, telling us what they noticed and what they wonder about. These opportunities help students build confidence in speaking, listening thoughtfully and learning from one another.

As we explore the natural world, we are reminded of the beauty and variety of God’s creation. Through Science, Art and our shared discoveries, we are encouraging students to notice the care and wisdom reflected in all He has made. We hope this learning nurtures a sense of wonder, gratitude and responsibility as the children consider how they can care for God’s creation.

Michelle Pieterse

Junior Primary Teacher 

Year 2-4 students visit Vermont Retirement Village

On Wednesday, 21 October, the Year 2 class and 3/4 students ventured next door to Vermont Retirement Village. 

The residents were super receptive to our visit. The Year 2s came with a questionnaire. Seeing each student connect with folks a bit further along in life was a sight to behold!

They wiggled their way through the Hokey Pokey and showed the residents how to play the Kazoo like a boss! Our bean bag throwing to the beat was also a highlight. 

The Year 3/4s also came across for a visit and brought some “Rockin’ Robin” body percussion. They sang a few Aussie songs and truly did themselves proud representing Emmaus. 

Sharing our learning with our neighbours was a real treat! 

Nikki Meinel

Junior School Music Teacher 

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