Learning Across the 

Junior School

Message From the Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School

Head of Junior School for the day – Acacias Ball Auction Prize

It was a pleasure to hand over the reins to Grace-Mary Lenzi, who proudly stepped into the role of ‘Head of the Junior School for the Day’—a prize won at the Acacias Ball. Grace-Mary embraced the opportunity to experience school leadership firsthand. Her day included a meeting with Ms McCullah in the Acacias, a tour of the Senior School grounds, an interview with our Marketing and Digital Communications Manager, and a lovely lunch at the Felicity Café. She concluded her day by overseeing the Junior School assembly. This was just a glimpse of her busy schedule, but the experience was undoubtedly both memorable and lots of fun!

Sport Updates

There was a buzz of excitement during the last week of term as our Year 2 and 3 students took part in their swimming carnival at the Norwood Indoor Pool. The energy and enthusiasm were electric as the girls swam and cheered loudly for their teammates. A big thank you to our House and Sports Captains for their support on the day, and to Miss Edwards for coordinating such a fun-filled event.

Last week was the beginning of our winter sports program. It is fantastic to see so much participation amongst our girls.   A big thank you must go to all our coaches that are supporting and guiding the teams this season.  

Sacrament of Reconciliation

On Thursday evening, it was wonderful to see some of our students make their First Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Loreto Chapel, led by Father Chris Jenkins SJ. The girls have been diligently preparing for this special event, and it's a testament to their hard work and the guidance of their teachers, and our Religious Education Coordinator, Ms Isabelle Roberts. It was a truly reverent and meaningful occasion for all, and we're immensely proud of the way the girls conducted themselves. 

Building Positive Relationships: Restorative Practices 

On Monday 28 May, our staff took part in a Professional Development Day focused on Restorative Practices. This workshop gave our teachers and support staff important skills and knowledge to help students build positive relationships and support strong, respectful behaviour.

During the day, staff learned that children feel happier, work better with others, and are more willing to make positive changes when adults work with them, rather than doing things for or to them.

Through hands-on activities like 'circles'—an important part of restorative practice—staff had the opportunity to practise new ways of guiding conversations and helping children restore and strengthen their relationships with others.

We are excited to continue building a caring and supportive school environment where every child feels heard, valued, and connected.

Neurodivergence Wellbeing Summit

Last Friday, Carolyne Carey (Enrichment Coordinator), Corinne McKee (School Counsellor), and I had the opportunity to attend the Neurodivergence Wellbeing Summit: Unlocking Potential Together.

This evidence-based summit brought together leading experts in neurodevelopmental science to share practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent children and teenagers in their learning, emotional wellbeing, and social development.

Throughout the day, we explored a wide range of topics including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing differences, and emotional regulation. A key theme across all sessions was the importance of recognising and supporting each child’s unique strengths and needs.

The knowledge and insights gained from the summit will further enhance our ability to provide inclusive, compassionate support across our school community—and strengthen collaboration between educators, families, and health professionals.

Lisa Sexton

Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School

A message from the Micklegate Library

Dear Families

We are very excited to share that we will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this year at Loreto College Junior School.

The Scholastic Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity for our Junior School and helps our community in three ways:

•  Raises the profile of reading in Junior School and create excitement about books.
• A wonderful opportunity for our families to expand their home libraries or as a gift opportunity.
• All purchases from the Book Fair earn our Junior School rewards which we can spend to improve the range of books in our library which the students can borrow, and which teachers can use to enhance learning opportunities.

Our Book Fair will be held from Friday 23rd of May and conclude Friday 30th of May and will be hosted from the Micklegate Library. Open times will be communicated closer to the event.

All students will have a chance to look at the items for sale and fill in a wish list prior to the Fair commencing. This wish list will be sent home to share with you.

Thank you for your encouragement of your child’s reading and your support of our Junior School library through Scholastic Book Club and through the Book Fair.

Please note:

While Loreto College supports the Scholastic Book Fair, we cannot vouch for the age-appropriateness of content in all the books available for purchase.

Rachelle Kirk

Junior School Information Integrator 

Science in Junior School

In Term 2, our students have been diving into exciting hands-on science investigations aligned with the Australian Curriculum (ACARA 9.0). Year 5 students began exploring the fascinating world of states of matter by creating the non-Newtonian fluid, Ooblek. Year 6 delved into the principles of electricity, constructing and testing electrical circuits which will build towards understanding how energy flows and how simple components function within an electrical system. Meanwhile, Year 4 students began their examination of food chains, observing the development of living things and comparing different species to understand how animals and plants interact within an ecosystem. These engaging activities will continue to deepen students’ scientific understanding and inquiry skills in real-world contexts. 

Looking ahead, our younger scientists are also diving into exciting new topics this term. Year 3 students have begun investigating rocks and minerals, exploring their properties and learning how they form part of Earth’s surface. Year 2 students are starting their unit on Earth and space, discovering how the sun, moon and Earth interact. To bring this learning to life, we are excited to announce an upcoming excursion to the Planetarium, where students will deepen their understanding of the solar system and the movement of celestial bodies. Meanwhile, Year 1 students have kicked off their exploration of physical forces by making playdough—a fun and tactile way to investigate how objects can be moved through pushing and pulling. Finally, in Reception, our youngest scientists began their learning about the features of plants and animals. These rich learning experiences are designed to spark curiosity and build foundational scientific knowledge from the earliest years. 

Jessica Twelftree

Junior School Science Specialist Teacher