From the Head of Junior School

Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming one of our past students back to the school as a visitor. Milly was the Junior School Captain in 2008 and was elected as Senior School Captain in 2014. Her visit was an excellent opportunity for me to speak with the Junior School students about what legacy they wanted to leave when they moved on into Senior School and beyond. How would they like to be described by their friends and peers?

Milly was an excellent student and an excellent leader. This was evident in her being selected by her peers to lead the school twice. Since leaving school Milly has studied at University, both in Australia and overseas. She has worked internationally with her most recent position working in foreign policy and strategic communications for the British Government.

While we are all very proud of Milly’s professional success, it is her nature and her approach to others that we remember with the most admiration. When Milly was at Girton she was a kind and caring person, a great friend who always looked after others. She also had empathy and put the needs of other people before herself. Milly embodied servant leadership.

At assembly it was wonderful to be able to speak to our Junior School students about these qualities in the context of what makes them special, and how they want to be known or remembered. Do they want to be remembered as the best runner, best swimmer, smartest student or do they want to be described as a great person, a great friend, someone who is kind and will look after others? Of course we can be excellent at sport and a good person, but what do they want people to think of first when they think about them? At Girton we strive to develop young people who care about themselves and others.

This week I was also pleased to see our Year 12 students coming back into Junior School to spend time in the Junior School classes. One of the nice things about being a Prep to 12 school is that our younger students have great mentors. On Tuesday, I went out to see Willow and Claire spending time with our Prep students. Our Prep students love the opportunity to interact with the older students and our Year 12s love the respite from study and the opportunity to share in the joy that the Preps exude when playing with their friends.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

World's Greatest Shave

This year, the Girton Grammar Junior School has 11 brave students who will have their hair shaved for the World’s Greatest Shave. We would like to thank Stephen Mow hair salon for their support.

The Junior School students are encouraged to come to school on the day of the shave with a crazy hair style. This could include wearing a wig, using gel to make your hair look unusual or arranging their hair in a ‘crazy’ style with hair ties and clips.

Online donations for the Girton Grammar School team can be made at: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/GirtonGrammarSchool

Your support for this cause is much appreciated.

Junior School Swimming Carnival Gallery

In the last issue of eLink, we reported the results of the Junior School Swimming Carnival. Please enjoy footage of the Spirit Cup and images of the day's activities.

Divisional Swimming

Congratulations to the 24 Junior School students who represented Girton Grammar School at the recent Divisional Swimming Carnival. The carnival was held at the Bendigo East Swimming Pool where our School Swimming Carnival had been fought out the week before. The students all did Girton proud, supporting each other and competing with great effort.

It is always great to see the camaraderie of the Girton community, cheering each other on and enjoying each others' company. The relay teams worked well together with three teams making it through to the Regional Championships next week – 10yr old girls, 11yr old boys and 12yr old girls. Girton will also be well-represented in the individual events across freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

We wish all the students well in Swan Hill.

Freestyle: Stella McIntosh, Lauren Davenport, Owen Barnes

Backstroke: Sophie Lee

Breaststroke: James Davenport, Sophie Lee

Butterfly: James Davenport, Stella McIntosh

9/10yr old girls freestyle relay team: Stella McIntosh, Sophie Lee, Rae Anwyl, Aria Hendrix

11yr old boys freestyle relay team: Owen Barnes, Joshua Ashby, Digby Snell, Luca Krelle

12yr old girls medley relay team: Emma Pomeroy, Maya Dhanapala, Lauren Davenport, Meisha Dunlop

Murphy

Murphy has been working with our Year Six Murphy Monitors to train so that they can assist with caring for our Girton pup! Yard duty calls! And a bit of admin work in between jobs!

Books in Bare Feet

Every two weeks the Prep students remove their shoes and socks and enjoy a session of “Books in Bare feet”. Some weeks we might explore a certain genre, an author, non-fiction books or we invite a guest to read us a story. This week we invited Hannah’s dad, Tim, to share a beautiful story about being yourself. Tim graciously removed his shoes, much to the squeals and cheers of the children, and read the story “The World Needs Whoever You Were Made To Be”. It was a fabulous experience for all.

Year One Teddy Bears Picnic

Isaac: My Teddy Bear has glassy black eyes. It has furry ears and fluffy arms. My teddy has two strong legs and the colour of my teddy is peachy. My favourite part of my teddy bear is his clothes. I love my teddy because he supports me.

Eamon: My Teddy Bear has slippy eyes and flappy ears. My teddy has delicate legs and the colour of my teddy is yellow and green. My favourite part of my teddy bear is all the trees on his pattern. I love my teddy because he sits on my shelf so then I know he won't be lost.

Angus: My Teddy Bear has black crossed eyes. It has small black fluffy ears and long fluffy arms. My teddy has two big floppy legs and the colour of my teddy is white and black. My favourite part of my teddy bear is he is cute. I love my teddy because he does everything I love.

Bella: My Teddy Bear has cute and fluffy eyes. It has two furry ears and strong and fluffy arms. My teddy has cool and fluffy legs and the colour of my teddy is brown and red. My favourite part of my teddy bear is his bowtie. I love my teddy because I can hug it.

Holi The Festival of Colours

On Saturday 4th March 2023 the whole community got together for Holi-Festival of colors. The Indian Association of Bendigo (IAB) organised an amazing and colourful Holi event at the Golden Square Pool.

Holi is about making and repairing friendships and relationships. You have fun by throwing coloured powder and water at each other.

About 1600 people attended the event and there were dance performances, DJ, food, games, speeches and more!

Keshavi Grover (4 Millward)

Parent and Student Notices

Conveyance Allowance