Head of Junior School 

Thank you to all families who attended their respective Parent Information sessions and the P and F Welcome barbecue. It really was wonderful to see so many families and staff members in attendance. We were blessed with wonderful weather for the evening. Thank you to those who brought a dessert or a salad, and to our energetic group of volunteers who helped organise, prepare for, and assist on the night. Thank you also to Mrs Graves for her help in setting up tables, chairs and all else.

Each year we encourage all students, and in particular, the Year 6 boys, to exemplify the values of Blessed Edmund Rice and St Virgil’s College. They are the leaders in the Junior School. The younger boys look up to the Year 6 students for guidance and in many ways model their own behaviour on what they observe. The staff also look to them to lead with exemplary behaviour and school pride. We have positions of leadership and responsibility for all Year 6 and SRC students. On Wednesday of this week, those students were commissioned and leadership roles recognised. We would like to congratulate them and wish them the best for the year. As a staff we look forward to guiding them and mentoring them in their respective roles. They are as follows:

School Captain:      Thomas Brown

Vice-Captain:          Lucas Ravani

SRC Representatives:

Year 6:          Angus Lockhart and George Lennon

Year 5:          Edward Hickey

Year 4:          Panayioti Hiras

Year 3:          Hugh Johns

Year 6 Leadership positions:

Choir Captain:                     Patrick Moloney

Mini Vinnies President:    Oliver Cooper

Chess Captain:                    Micah Couacaud

Flag Raisers:                        William Creed/Hamish Young

Library Monitors:                Max Headlam/Ethan Powell

Notice Monitors:                Archie Pringle/Flynn Barton

Sports Equipment:             Atticus Johnson Harrington/Will Parker

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Last Tuesday, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake Tuesday. Pancakes were on sale at morning tea for $3.00 each with a range of toppings available: plain, lemon and sugar or jam. A big thank you to our Junior P and F members Matt and Olivia Gillie (Clancy and Sebastian, Yr 5 and 2), Maria Bond (Eddie Pigden, Yr 5) and our newest member, Aimee Everard (George, Yr 3) for helping out on the day. Thank you also to Mrs Graves for lending a hand. 

On Ash Wednesday the whole Junior School participated in a prayer service in St Mary’s Cathedral with Fr Truc from the Passionist Community at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.  Fr Truc reminded us about how much God loves us and wants us to share his love with others.  A special mention must go to our Kindergarten students who participated so well on their third-ever day of school!

Project Compassion 2024

Each year at the Junior School, we hold a school house fundraising competition to see which house can raise the most money, as well as which house can raise the largest volume of coins when we fill our fundraising tubes.  

Each student at the Junior School has now received their own Project Compassion fundraising box.  We urge families to put some coins aside during Lent to donate to this worthy cause.  You do not have to 'fill' your box - every coin helps both those in need in our world and the house competition.  

Please write your son's name, year group and house on the outside of the box, and return the box to school on Monday 25 March. 

Mini Vinnies: Ice Cream Sales

On Fridays at lunch time, our Mini Vinnies students will be selling icy poles and ice-creams to raise money for charity. Zooper Dooper icy poles are now 80c and ice creams are $1.50. Profits from sales will be split 50/50 between the purchase of play equipment and donations to the charities the College supports.

Junior School Parents & Friends Committee

On behalf of the Junior School Parents & Friends Committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all new parents and students joining the school in 2024. If there is anything we can do to help you settle into the school, please do not hesitate to let us know.

We would also like to thank all the parents and students who supported our school community events and fundraising activities in 2023, where we raised funds to purchase a new TV for the Junior Hall, a PA system for the school, a dishwasher for the staff room, and organised and paid for a survey plan to support a new playground.

There is no rest in 2024! The start of the 2024 school year has seen the Junior School P&F Committee and staff actively cooking and selling pancakes for the boys on Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day! On Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, it is traditional to make pancakes before the solemn season of Lent begins, and by all reports the boys enjoyed them! Last night the Junior School P&F Committee cooked sausages and hamburgers for students and parents attending the Parent Information Evening and Welcome BBQ. 

If you would like to be involved in helping the Junior School P&F Committee run school community events or in raising funds to invest back into the school, please come and speak with your friendly committee members. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

In 2024, one of the major aims of the Junior School P&F Committee is to establish a sub committee with the right mix of skills and experience to raise funds for, and commence the development of, a new junior school playground. If you are interested in being part of this subcommittee, please contact me at juniorpf@stvirgils.tas.edu.au. 

P and F: First Fundraising Event: 2024: AFL Footy Fun Night: March 15

Watch Collingwood take on the Sydney Swans on the big screen tv in the Junior School Hall, (kindly donated by the Junior P and F in 2023). We’ll kick off the night from 6.00pm with handball competitions, bbq, pies and saveloys for sale etc. Lookout for more details on Facebook and on your email.

Football Margin tickets were on sale last night and will be until March 15 for $20 a ticket. Under each ticket, is a number. If your ticket number is the margin at quarter, half-time, or three quarter time, you will win your money back. If it is the final margin, you will win $400. Profits from the sale of the tickets will go straight to the P and F to help raise money for a new playground.

Abbey Doggett 

P and F President 

Music: Year 5 and 6 Bands

We were thrilled to warmly welcome Mrs. Gabrielle Ball, our new Director of Music, to the Junior School this week. With great enthusiasm, Mrs. Ball led the very first rehearsal for the year for our Year 5 and 6 Concert Bands on Monday. It was remarkable to see the dedication and skill of our students, especially considering the long break they've had from playing their instruments. The Year 5 students were bubbling with excitement as they received their new instruments, met their tutors, and experienced their very first lesson. It's wonderful to witness such eagerness among our young learners.

Junior School Choir

We would like to extend a warm invitation to all our budding musicians and vocalists in Years 4-6 to join our Junior School Choir this year. Led by our Junior School Music teacher, Mrs Norton, the choir offers an incredible opportunity for students to explore the joy of singing whilst reaping a host of cognitive, emotional, and social benefits.

Research has shown that engaging in singing activities can enhance various aspects of cognitive function, including memory, attention, and language skills. Singing involves coordination between different brain regions, stimulating neural pathways and fostering cognitive growth.

Furthermore, singing has been linked to improved emotional well-being. It releases endorphins (the body's feel-good hormones), promoting feelings of happiness and reducing stress and anxiety. As students express themselves through song, they develop greater confidence and self-esteem, laying a strong foundation for their overall mental health.

Participating in the Junior School Choir offers students a supportive and inclusive environment to explore their musical talents and build friendships at school. Through weekly rehearsals and exhilarating performances, students develop essential skills such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. 

Choir rehearsals are held every Monday from 8:15am - 8:45am in the Hall.

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