Junior School Update

It has been a busy and enjoyable couple of weeks in the Junior School, with plenty happening both in and out of the classroom. We've had some lovely opportunities to welcome families into our school, celebrate the talents of our students and see them develop new skills. I'd like to share a few highlights from the past fortnight.

Grandparents' Day

It was wonderful to welcome so many grandparents and special family members to our recent Grandparents' Day celebrations. We began the morning with our Junior School Chapel, where it was particularly lovely to have so many grandparents join us. Hearing some of them share what they enjoy most about being a grandparent was a special part of the service and brought plenty of smiles to the room.

Following Chapel, our visitors had the chance to view the amazing art display in the Art Room, visit classrooms and spend some time seeing what a typical school day looks like for their grandchildren. There was a lovely atmosphere around the school throughout the morning, and it was clear just how much the occasion meant to our students. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We know how important grandparents and special family members are in the lives of our children, and we always enjoy having you visit.

Junior School Music and Art Evening

Our Junior School Music and Art Showcase Evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work, creativity and progress of our students throughout the year.

For some, it was one of their first experiences performing in front of an audience, while others showed just how far they have come with their singing or chosen instrument. It was particularly pleasing to see the confidence students have developed, with each performance reflecting the time and effort they have put into their music. Performing in front of family and friends takes courage, and every student involved should be very proud of their efforts.

The Art component of the evening was equally impressive, with a fantastic collection of student work on display. Mrs Rooney did an exceptional job preparing the Art room for the occasion, transforming it into a gallery that gave families the opportunity to appreciate the creativity and artistic talents of our Junior School students.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Chmiel, our instrumental tutors, Mrs Rooney and everyone involved in preparing students for the evening. We are fortunate to have such dedicated staff who encourage our students to explore their interests, develop their skills and take pride in what they create.

Foundation–Year 6 Swimming Program

Our annual Junior School Swimming Program has kept everyone busy over the past fortnight, with students from Foundation through to Year 6 taking part in daily lessons at Barooga Aquatic & Recreation Centre. I had the opportunity to spend some time in the pool during the program, and it was terrific to see the progress students were making, even over a relatively short period.

Naturally, students began the program with different levels of swimming ability and confidence. Some were working on becoming more comfortable in the water, while others were refining their strokes and developing more advanced skills. What stood out was the willingness of students to listen, have a go and keep working at things they initially found challenging. Friday's final session was particularly valuable, with students participating in practical water safety and rescue activities. These are important skills for all children, especially living in a region where spending time around pools and waterways is such a big part of summer.

A program of this size takes considerable planning and organisation, and I would like to sincerely thank our staff, instructors, volunteers and Year 9/10 Sports Academy students for their efforts. Thank you also to our families for helping students arrive prepared each day. Most importantly, well done to our Junior School students. It has been pleasing to see the improvement in both their swimming ability and confidence in the water.

Fluro Party 

Looking ahead to this week, we have our Junior Fluro Party on Friday evening. This is always a lot of fun and I encourage you to purchase a ticket, come along and join in on the fun.

You can purchase tickets online here.

Thank You

Finally, I'd like to thank our families and staff for their continued involvement in Junior School life. Whether it's attending a school event, helping children prepare for an activity or simply encouraging them to try something new, your support makes a real difference.

It's been a busy fortnight, but seeing our students enjoying these experiences, building confidence and taking pride in what they achieve makes it all worthwhile.