RLP 6.1

Whilst the idea of another lockdown was something nobody wanted to hear, I must commend all staff, students and parents for their part in ensuring a smooth transition was achieved. We understand the challenges faced when such news throws our usual structure and routines aside and even more demands are placed on families.

So, let’s focus on the positives and how we can support one another.

First of all, you are already amazing and doing the best that you can no matter what that looks like. Please remember, what works in one house will be completely different in another. What you are doing is the best for your family.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Set your own pace and set small, achievable goals within your family. Involve everyone in your house in the goal setting and include some sort of celebration to look forward to. Online yoga is a popular movement activity some of the staff have been joining in with. Maybe add this to your afternoon at home.

What a bonus to be able to spend so much quality time with the ones you love.

With the cancellation of our sporting events and some of our usual hobbies due to restrictions, now would be a good time to have a go at something different. Start something new as a family or with a sibling or just enjoy something you haven’t done in a while.

Make sure you take time out for yourself and do something you enjoy. Make time for relaxation and mindfulness. Being mindful is when we slow down, pause and connect with each other as well as our environment. Bringing your attention to the moment, being present and letting go of all the thoughts that are running around in your head, if only for a few minutes. Let yourself breathe. Whatever you didn’t do in that time will still be waiting for you. The world will not end if a task is not completed so please be kind to yourself and those around you.

A Message from Your Junior School Leaders

My message to the whole Junior School is, keep going! Having been through this many times before, we are practically experts now! I know that a lot of us wish that we could be at school hanging out with our friends or playing the sports we love on weekends, but try to see the bright side to this whole lockdown business; not having any buses to travel on; finishing school early and having access to the pantry 24/7! If you need something to look forward to, just remember that there are only 22 days until the end of term, 121 days until Christmas, and 128 days until 2022! Keep going Junior School. You can do this!

Thank you,

Chloe Laidlaw.

Hi everyone, I hope you are going well in RLP.6.1. Even though we are not at school together, let’s give Remote Learning a real good crack and remember to get outside, have a run around or try a brain break video. Hopefully, we will get back to school soon. Be kind to yourselves and your family and try to do one kind thing each day.

Jack Wallis

House Spirit

Please take a moment to check in to your House Teams. House Captains have some excellent ideas to support you during lockdown, so please give their challenges a go and show your House spirit. Fore example, Berry has the Berry House Lockdown Olympics!

KidsMatter

After a successful Wellness Week, the KidsMatter team have now shifted their focus to RLP 6.1. They have some exciting activities planned for you that teachers to pass on to you. Of course, these along with your House challenges, are optional but I strongly recommend you aim to join in with some of the activities. I know you are going to enjoy them, but it is also a chance for us to do something together and stay connected.

Dear All

This week in KidsMatter, we have been thinking about how to stay happy. These are difficult times and we are all struggling. However, it is important to have a positive mindset. So this week, as a fun activity, we thought you could listen or dance to your favourite song and then share with your class how it made you feel.

Just a little activity you can do while in Remote Learning 😊

Marianna Novikov on behalf of the KidsMatter Team.

Around the Classrooms

Usually, I would wander around the classrooms at the Junior School and visit the Early Learning Centre to catch a glimpse of the wonderful things that are happening in our school. Although they might be almost empty at this time, there was an excitement about entering their online world for a different view.

The Early Learning Centre are sharing stories, songs, websites and activity ideas with their families. The focus is maintaining connection and providing support to families by providing special resources packs. They have called Remote Learning ‘Piccino Choose Your Own Adventure’, focussing on families doing what works for them and sharing their happenings. I saw a lovely photo of Jack Nagorcka watching Mrs O’Brien reading a book and feeling very important having to do some ‘school work on the ‘puter’ just like his big brothers.

‘Sh’ was the sound that could be heard in the Prep classroom with ‘shark’ being the focus word. The earworm of the week was ‘Baby Shark’ and the students have had a lot of fun dancing along to the tune. We suggest that the Prep special guest practises his dance moves to show off when he arrives onscreen to read his story.

Year Four are busy entertaining each other with their Alphapuzzles. The students had to use household objects (starting letter) to spell some of their spelling words. They have been very creative in their choices. Can you work this word out?

For their morning question at roll call, the Year Four students shared the superpower they would love to have. Jessica said the power to cure all illnesses and viruses and Evie said to take pain away from people. Other responses included to be able to talk to animals, the power to shapeshift, fly, breathe underwater, read minds and take powers and talents from others. They are also making a Rube Goldberg machine. I look forward to seeing some of their videos.

The Year Six students are taking part in the Potato Olympics, creating their own potato athletes and competing in numerous events, such as Long Distance Rolling, Swimming and Javelin with strict criteria that will lead to disqualification if not adhered to.

It is also pleasing to hear that there are some excellent narratives being written in Year Six with Mr Lewis telling me the quality is so impressive he will need ‘a cup of coffee and a comfortable arm chair’ to read them.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Stay tuned next week for a look inside the remaining classrooms.

Hockey 7s

Congratulations to all the students who have represented our school in the Hockey 7s competition with both teams making the State Finals, progressing through the rounds in Hamilton and Dimboola to reach this point.

One of our young stars, Tom Templeton shares his reflection:

Last Friday, eight lucky Hamilton College boys got to represent the school and district at the Hockey 7s competition in Dimboola. Little did we know that the following day we would be back into lockdown. We feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to compete and enjoy a day of hockey together. We played two pool matches against Birchip and St. Arnaud winning 11-0 and 2-0. This progressed our team to the semi-final against Edenhope/Balmoral, winning 9-0 and making the Grand Final. We again played St Arnaud and in a competitive game we came away 4-0, winning the day and being crowned the 2021 Greater Western Region Champions. We worked well as a team, with everyone contributing to our success. We have our fingers crossed that we will be able to play for State Champions at some point, along with our girls’ team who progressed straight through. A big thanks to Mr Nelson and Mr Dave Merrin for coaching us on the day.

The team consisted of: Charlie Hiscock, Finely Hiscock, Charlie Jarvis, Harry McDonald, Harry Mercer, Rupert Merrin, Tom Templeton, and Will Templeton.

The Girls’ team consisted of: Poppy Shepherd, Poppy Edgar, Camilla Edgar, Jessica Templeton, Evie Templeton, Chloe Laidlaw, Millie Mould and Maggie Mercer

A Day In Dimboola

By William Templeton

It was a very early morning for the boys who travelled up north to represent College at Dimboola for Hockey 7s Greater Western Championship. There was one synthetic pitch and the Dimboola High School had a canteen open.

First match. We played Birchip. That’s the town with the big bull. We won 11-0. Second match. We played St Arnaud. They were a much tougher team. We beat them two nil. Thirdly we played The Brolgas to decide if we got a place in the Grand Final. We won!

Finally the Grand Final, the moment we’d been waiting for arrived. We played St Arnaud again. I played a full back. I didn’t let a goal past me. We beat them four nil. Our team was very happy about the result because no one scored a goal against us all day. The result meant we would go to State if COVID restrictions didn’t tighten. Unfortunately they did so we got a nice blue flag and that’s it!

Thank you to Heath and Sal for taking us and Dave and Mr Nelson for coaching and Ciaran for umpiring. I enjoyed the day. Everyone had fun. We got an excellent experience. And we went to Hungry Jacks on the way back.

Mrs Bernadette Milich

Acting Head of Junior School

The Hamilton and Alexandra College Newsletter

Issue 25 · 26 Aug 2021

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