Head of Junior School

Term 1 Week 8

Be Safe. Sometimes it amazes me how teachable moments pop into our lives. Maybe this is because I am a teacher, and this will always be the default position of my heart and mind. Our reflection this fortnight on ‘Being Safe’ could not be better timed as we watch the news and see a world hurting.  

I urge you to read this article from UNICEF, titled ‘How to talk to your children about conflict and war’. Whilst the article relates to conflict, the same principles apply to the flooding situations, COVID, grief and loss.  

UNICEF Article: How to talk to your children about conflict and war

These are the eight tips it recommends, when talking to children, to support and comfort them: 

1. Find out what they know and how they feel
2. Keep it calm and age-appropriate
3. Spread compassion, not stigma
4. Focus on the helpers
5. Close conversations with care
6. Continue to check in
7. Limit the flood of news
8. Take care of yourself

Welcome Parents!

We are overjoyed that parents are now allowed on campus! 

• Parents are welcome at our Friday Assemblies each week, please sit behind the students.
• Parents are welcome in class for classroom activities – teachers will appeal to you as events and activities arise. 
• Parents are allowed to pick up and drop off at the classroom. Although consider how settled your child already is and whether this is necessary with the great routines we’ve already built. 
• Parent volunteers will be called upon for class excursions. 
• Please do not use the gravel car park for drop off or collection, it is unsafe for younger children who cannot be seen. With the anticipation of a new carpark, we will wait until it is finished before we make new arrangements for its use with Junior School students. 

The Week in Review: 

It was such a great pleasure to witness the incredible performances of each of our Calrossy swimmers at HRIS last week. It poured with rain all day and yet still our swimmers gave everything to their races and conducted themselves in a manner which made me so proud. They represented our school with pride and passion, and we came away with some amazing results. Thank you to Mrs Mooney, Mrs Simm and Miss Wall who endured the rain and supported our team. 

I loved being a part of our Teddy Bear’s Picnic on Friday night. The rain stayed away, and our children enjoyed games, races and a picnic with their teddys. It was a wonderful way for the youngest students in our school to come together with their families and enjoy an evening out. Thank you to all our families and staff who supported this event. 

The Junior School Disco was a great hit! We are pleased to be able to run fun events for our students to connect and socialise across the year groups. Thanks to everyone involved. 

Hot Tip: Dinner time is a great place to discuss what has occurred during the day. Sit around the table and give each person time to speak. This is a much better place for reflection, than just as your child’s head hits the pillow. 

Have a wonderful week. 

Claire Dalziel 

Head of Junior School