Junior School News

From the Head of Junior School

Last week we celebrated the annual Foundation Day Service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. In the 140th year of Girton as an educational institution, I was very proud to see our students acting with reverence as they attended the service. I would like to thank those students in attendance for their excellent behaviour and their fine vocal performances. We are very fortunate to have access to a venue as awe-inspiring as the cathedral, and it was wonderful to see that our students' behaviour was befittingly respectful.

Last week I also led our Year 1 classes through a tour of Girton House and gave them some small insights into the school’s history. They were very interested in the original founders of the school, particularly those who had Houses named after them, and they enjoyed hearing about the naming of the most modern Houses. It was wonderful to see, through both of these activities, how interested and invested our younger students are in the history of their school.

Parking

Thank you to those parents who have been following the parking and drop-off restrictions in MacKenzie Street each morning and afternoon. Unfortunately, we still have parents who are trying to park in the bays and walk their children into school or who are not moving up to the highest parking bays available. This is causing frustration for other parents who are trying to quickly drop off or pick up their children. We are also having issues with parents responding aggressively to staff when asked to move on. I would ask all parents to please remember that our staff are trying to ensure smooth and timely traffic movement while keeping our children safe. 

Student use of mobile phones in Junior School

Mobile phones have become an important and invaluable part of our modern lifestyle, and we understand that there are times when possession of a mobile phone can provide a sense of safety and security while travelling to and from school. However, mobile phones are unnecessary during school hours as a method of communicating with students given the primary school setting. There are also concerns about the misuse of mobile phones in a school environment – for example, causing interruptions and distractions in class, inappropriate photography and bullying. The school aims to provide a happy, safe and stimulating learning environment for all students, which includes ensuring that mobile phone usage does not disrupt the learning environment. 

In general, students should not bring valuable items such as phones to school as they can be easily lost or stolen, which is often distressing for a child. However, if a mobile phone is required for safety reasons when travelling to and from school, or for specific medical reasons, students are required to leave their phone in their school bag or on their class teacher’s desk until the end of the school day. Parents, carers and students are advised that in bringing mobile phones to school, they are doing so at their own risk. It has always been the school’s practice to pass on important messages to students throughout the day. This can be done by phoning the school reception on 03 4408 5919 and requesting that a message be given to the child. 

The Student Mobile and Electronic Personal Devices Policy can be found in Astra.

Parents are also asked to be mindful of their own use of mobile phones while on the Junior School campus, particularly with regards to photography, videoing and the use of social media. It is not appropriate for photographs or videos of other students to be distributed, even if they have been captured incidentally while photographing or filming your own child.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Mother's Day

We hope all our mothers have a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday and are spoiled by their families. Thank you to our Friends of Junior School representatives and the parents who volunteered to help organise and wrap gifts for our Mother’s Day stall, and those who came in and helped run the stall on Friday. It is always wonderful to see our children come into the room and carefully go over all the offerings to decide what special gift they are going to pick for their mothers.  

Dr Marc Brackett visit

Girton Grammar Junior School is pleased to announce that Dr Marc Brackett, a leading expert in emotional intelligence and the founding director of the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, will be visiting our school.

On Thursday 16 May from 6 to 7pm, parents will have the opportunity to listen to Dr Brackett present 'Permission to Feel: The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Raising Happy, Healthy and Productive Kids' in the Naunton Family Building Lecture Theatre.

This a ticketed event and numbers are limited. Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your place.

Lisa Chesters Visit

On Friday 26 April, the Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, came to our school and spoke to the Year 6 students about Parliament House and the Federal Government in Australia. Ms Chesters explained the role of the Federal Government and all the jobs she has to do as a politician. The students then had the opportunity to ask her questions about her time at parliament. It was very interesting to hear all the things she needs to do!

At the end of the talk, Ms Chesters gave each Year 6 student a memento certificate from their visit to Parliament House in Canberra during our Year 6 Camp.

We would like to thank Ms Chesters for visiting our school.

Steel Austin (6 Millward) and Izzah Hadi (6 Frew)

Teddy Bear Hospital

On Monday 29 April, the Prep students participated in an activity coordinated by the Monash Teddy Bear Hospital. Second-year medical students led students through activities in small groups, teaching them about various aspects of medicine and health. They experienced making plaster for fractures, role-playing x-rays, classification of healthy food choices, asthma education and various other aspects of medical care. The children each cared for their own teddy or soft toy throughout the afternoon.

Mrs Josie Beks

Teacher of Preparatory M

Divisional Cross-Country

Our students experienced a wonderful day of cross-country racing out at the Bendigo Racecourse. Congratulations to all the students listed below who represented Girton Grammar School. 

District Competitors

A big congratulations to the following students who will go on and represent our school at the zone cross-country at St Arnaud later in the year:

Zone Representatives 

Alice McIntosh - 7th, 12 Girls

Lauren Davenport - 3rd, 12 Girls

Elijah Willits - 5th, 12 Boys

Will Martin - 9th, 12 Boys

Sophie Lee - 6th, 11 Girls

Stella McIntosh - 11th, 11 Girls

James Davenport - 6th, 10 Boys

Notable results 8/9 age group ( 8/9 do not go to Zone level)

Ronny Epps - 4th, 9 Boys

Lilly Smith - 8th 9, Girls

A special thank you to the four students who gave up their day to help Mr Doherty with marshalling: 

• Rigg Sharma (6 Jenkin)
• Milan Shetty (6 Jenkin)
• Lilly Hetherington (6 Riley)
• Anna Dai (6 Frew)

Mr Paul Flanagan

Camp Australia