Message from the 

Head of Junior School

A new way of doing things

There have been many changes to the way our community and school operate over the last 2 months. Many have caused hardship, some have caused frustration but we have all understood the premise for change be it in our workplace, home, our town or our school. 

With all the changes there comes some new ways of doing things. We have not had a morning assembly this term with students moving straight to class and learning starting immediately. We add up all those extra minutes and it will make a difference. It is even more important now to make sure children are at school ready for the 8:55am start. 

With the drop off, all our younger students have had to make their own way to the classroom, unpack their bag and be ready. They are becoming independent far more quickly than before and this is exactly what we desire. In the afternoons, they carry their own bag to the destination be it the car park or bus bay – again being independent. I know some parents believe it is terrific in that they can drop off and go immediately and it will be actively encouraged from now on. For some students it was challenging but they are exhibiting our values of courage and resilience. 

I mentioned previously that the Semester 1 reports will be completed this term with a mail out on the final day of term. Our parent teacher interviews have been postponed till Term 3 enabling the staff extra weeks to write on the progress of your child. More information for parent teacher interview dates and any change to format will be forthcoming. 

Our co-curricular program for sport and performing arts has been impacted enormously with further details in the Sport section. We are looking at running sport internally every Monday and Wednesday afternoon for Term 3.

For Performing Arts, we are very keen to resume ensembles and choirs in a manner which is safe for all students and staff. Staff are currently drawing up plans to reignite our co-curricular program in Performing Arts and Sport and details will be fully published in the coming weeks. 

Term 3 has featured our drama and musical performances for students from K-6. Again, without clarity on workshop areas and audiences these have been postponed to Term 4, and we are again looking at a different format. 

Staffing

Miss Emily Burton (Kindergarten) will be leaving KWS at the end of term to pursue other interests in the business world. We are most pleased to welcome Mrs Louise Bromley for the remainder of the year on Kindergarten. Mrs Bromley has worked here on a casual basis and is well known to the students. She is very experienced having worked with younger children at both Kambala and SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

Car Park

Thank you for your patience whilst collecting your children after school. There are many more families collecting their children at this time than before so we have an extra staff member now on duty to assist. 

There will always be a queue as over 200 children are being collected at the same time and our younger students are generally not as quick to enter a car as a teenager or adult. 

There is also a point of congestion at the gym where the traffic meets from Cox Avenue and the main school drive. We hope to have a ‘traffic cop’ there daily to keep the flow on a one for one basis for the lanes merging towards the Junior School. Your help is sort as we keep both lanes moving. 

Long Weekend

As noted previously, there is no pupil free day on Friday 5 June.

Monday 8 June, however, is a public holiday. 

Student Awards

Over recent weeks we acknowledged the following students:

• Ingrid West - Commitment to Learning
• Charlie Haydon - Displaying School Values

Keep safe and healthy. 

Mr Rob McLean

Head of the Junior School