Junior School Staff Values

Part of my recent holiday reading included ‘Elevate’ by Shannah Kennedy and Colleen Callander. The book looks at ways to maximise potential and invites the reader to ‘embark on a journey to transcend the limitations that hold us back, and to unleash the potential that resides within each of us. By elevating our thoughts, beliefs and actions, we can create a life that is truly remarkable.’

As a Junior School staff, we completed an activity from the book that required each staff member to drill down to the three core values that resonated with them and they believe they exhibit. They had a list of 70 values to choose from; it wasn’t an easy task. A collective ‘staff list’ was compiled, which displayed the identified values, and the highest frequency values were highlighted. Across our Junior School staff, these included Integrity, Honesty, Authenticity, Family, Respect and Empathy.

Congratulations to Mrs Jo Bell

On behalf of the Myrniong staff and our learning community, we warmly congratulate Mrs. Jo Bell on her appointment as Head of Junior School. Since joining the Junior School in 2024, Jo has made a significant and lasting contribution to our Junior School learning community. She has inspired students through her outstanding teaching of Upper Primary classes, led Learmonth House with enthusiasm and care, mentored provisionally registered teachers as a Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) mentor, and served on steering committees overseeing the implementation of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs within the Junior School. Jo has also represented the Junior School on the College's Staff Wellbeing Committee, supported hockey and netball teams, coordinated and led outdoor camps and interstate experiences, trained alongside Mrs. Anna Robertson as an instructional coach, and consistently modelled a commitment to excellence through her pursuit of contemporary professional learning and reflective teaching practice.

As Dr Horne noted in last week’s letter to parents, Jo also brings a wealth of expertise and leadership experience from her previous schools, particularly in the areas of pastoral care and wellbeing. We extend our sincere congratulations to Jo on this well-deserved appointment and wish her every success as she commences her role as Head of Junior School in 2027.

Clementine Shrive (Year 1): I think Mrs. Bell will be really good and really nice as our Head of Junior School.
Annie Barber (Year 4): I am definitely very excited that Mrs. Bell will be our Head of Junior School. She is smart, creative, kind and enthusiastic.
Maggie Wallis (Year 6): I liked having Mrs. Bell as my Year 5 teacher. She helped with every question I had. She will be an amazing Head of Junior School.

3D Printers

I am pleased to announce, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Mitchel Clode in our I.T Department, the Junior School has acquired three brand new 3D printers. The Junior School staff will be given some professional learning, and we look forward to the students working with their teachers to utilise the 3D printers as part of their Digital Technologies studies.

Devices and Bus Travel

We have a number of Junior School students utilising personal devices when travelling to and from school on buses. For the most part, students are respectful and responsible with their usage, but occasionally we need to revisit our protocols for personal device use throughout the day and between bus departures.

Devices stay in bags throughout the school day.
No devices are permitted to be used on morning and afternoon buses between the Junior and Senior School
No devices are permitted to be used at bus stops, including Senior School and the Baimbridge Bus Exchange.
All content viewed on devices should be of an acceptable nature.

Hockey

College had a Boys’/Mixed and Girls’ team compete in the School Sports Victoria Hockey 7s Hamilton/Portland round of the state-wide competition. The boys had two wins and finished the day in third position. The Girls won all their matches and progressed to the Greater Western Region Finals in Hamilton on Tuesday, 11 August.

A big thank you to our College umpires Max Cameron, Hugo Cameron, Archer Bailey and Gwyn Nettleton, and our College P&F who generously provided a canteen on the day.

Results from last weekend’s matches

Under 10s College Vikings went down 1-0 to Demons Blue.
Under 10s College Knights lost to Dunkeld 1-0.
Under 13s College Warriors defeated Dunkeld 7-0.

This weekend’s matches

Under 10s College Vikings v Demons Red – 12pm at Pedrina Park
Under 10s College Knights v Coleraine Gold – 1.00pm at Pedrina Park
Under 13s College Warriors v Demons Blue – 2.00pm at Pedrina Park
Under 13s College Chiefs v Coleraine Maroon – 2.00pm at College

The Hamilton and Alexandra College Newsletter

Enabling Confident Futures

Issue 22 · 06 Aug 2026

In this issue