From the Head of Junior School
Welcome back to the start of Term 3. I pray your break was restful and that you had time with family to refresh after such a busy end of Term 2. I remember too that many families were dealing with sickness, so let’s hope for a healthier Term 3.
On Tuesday, Junior School staff worked with Dr Beveridge from ‘PETA – Primary English Teachers Association’. We learned more about the new English syllabus, already in use K – 2 and due to be implemented for Years 3 – 6 in 2024. The new syllabus really balances the essential skills for literacy, so essential for young learners, and the broader concepts of English which truly produce students with a love for literature and language. Staff are excitedly writing English units of work that are based on a plethora of rich, quality texts and I’m sure you’ll hear about the great learning happening in class.
Later this term we’ll have Book Week, and we will continue to celebrate reading. Have you been talking about costumes in your house? I’m beginning to think about who I might dress up as, and have been enjoying looking through my children's books along with the staff. We look forward to seeing parents come along to our Book Week celebrations and will give you lots of notice so you can come and be involved.
Another important event this term is our Whole School Concert. This will involve all the children from the Junior School, along with Music students from the Senior School and will take place on Friday, 18th August. Communications will be available very soon on MyBMGS, but I ask you to earmark the date and come along to a wonderful evening celebrating Music.
Our Stage 2 class at Wentworth Falls campus have been working on a very exciting Maths inquiry task. They have been creating a ‘frog bog’ and pond down in ‘Sticktopia’, below the Adventure Playground. This inquiry task has attracted a Woolworths Landcare grant and we are very excited about this. Mr Carr and his students have become passionate about Maths in the world around us, and how it can be used to solve environmental problems. Their frog habitat is already attracting local species of frogs and their work is improving the natural environment in Sticktopia!
Mrs Rachael Newton
Assistant Principal - Head of Junior School
Junior School (Wentworth Falls) Awarded Junior Landcare Grant
Junior Landcare is an initiative, sponsored by Woolworths, with Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis as its Ambassador. The program encourages children to become the next generation of Landcarers; to get out, get active and make a difference in the environment around them.
Last term, Mr Carr's Stage 2 class received the exciting news that the Junior School had been awarded a Landcare grant.
The students' earned this grant for their plan to protect a vulnerable frog population in the Blue Mountains. The children were involved in the planning, design, and construction of the habitat area they affectionately call 'The Frog Bog". The (environmental and educational) outcomes of the project included learning experiences that encourage students to apply their mathematics, science, geography and literacy skills to solve real world problems.
Congratulations Stage 2 on this wonderful acknowledgement of your hard work!