Junior School
Welcome back everyone after what I hope was an enjoyable and restful summer holiday. I was fortunate enough to beat the border closures and spend some time with my extended family in South Australia. I hope all of you were able to spend quality time with your families as well, nuclear or extended depending on your circumstances. We have a number of new families joining us this year and on behalf of all of us at BMGS I extend to you our warmest welcome and hope that you enjoy being part of our school community as much as we do.
There is a buzz of excitement around the School as the year has commenced with children getting to know their new classmates and teachers. The energy is abundant and there is much anticipation about the year ahead. One of our first events is the Parent Information Evening coming up next week; Wentworth Falls on Monday and Springwood on Wednesday. Though we are having to conduct these whilst observing COVID-19 restrictions they will still prove to be valuable evenings for parents to learn about what to expect from their children’s classes this year. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
As you may recall from last year, we have really been digging down as a staff on best practice and evidence based programs to improve literacy standards, with spelling as a key component of that. Building on the evident, data driven success of the introduction of InitiaLit to Kindergarten and Stage 1 in 2020 we are now building on that achievement and introducing the Spell-It program to Stages 2 and 3. This is a daily, instructional spelling program that builds on prior knowledge gained from InitiaLit and other phonic knowledge and should lead to a better understanding of spelling rules, conventions, and how sounds work and build together to make words. Mrs Knebel, our Leader of Curriculum and Pedagogy, is the driving force behind the implementation and oversight of this program and is very enthused by what she has seen so far, as am I. We look forward to reporting on its impact as the year progresses.
Of course, literacy is only one aspect of learning and the teachers and I spent a week together prior to commencement engaged in enriching professional learning and collaboration workshops looking at how we further develop a great learning culture, building important character and learning dispositions in our students. We have all taken away some new innovations to bring into our practice and are looking forward to observing their impact.
2021 is a year full of hope. Join me in our journey towards making our wonderful school an even better one.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Mr Nigel Cockington
Head of Junior School
Student Achievement
Congratulations Noah
Congratulations to Noah Erne (Year 6) who was presented at Assembly this week with an IPSHA Social Issues Commendation Award. Noah received this award from IPSHA (Independent Primary School Heads of Australia) in recognition of his initiative in instigating a Shoes for Planet Earth drive in 2020. He and his sister Kyah collected 60 pairs of pre-loved sports shoes to donate to indigenous communities less fortunate than ourselves. Noah has exemplified a key character disposition from our Ad Altiora framework – that of love; we serve others rather than ourselves.
Well done, Noah!
Junior School Sport
Basketball Results - Term 4, 2020 - Round 7
The BMGS Dream Team played the Ball Stars. The Ball Stars won 54 to 14.
The BMGS 3/4 Red Rockets played The Misfits. The BMGS 3/4 Red Rockets won 22 to 21.
The BMGS 3/4 Golden Stars played The Wild Waffles. The BMGS 3/4 Golden Stars won 32 to 17.
The BMGS Slam Dunks played The Baskets. The Baskets won 12 to 16.
The BMGS Flames played Swish. Swish won 41 to 7.
Basketball Results - Term 1, 2021 - Round 8
The BMGS Dream Team played the Troopers. The BMGS Dream Team won 19 to 17.
The BMGS 3/4 Red Rockets played The Wild Waffles. The BMGS 3/4 Red Rockets won 42 to 12.
The BMGS 3/4 Golden Stars played The Hot Shots. The Hot Shots won 26 to 14.
The BMGS Slam Dunks played Swish. The Swish won 40 to 0.
The BMGS Flames played Lil' Gangstas. The Lil' Gangstas won 13 to 8.
Mrs Lori Gerrard and
Ms Elizabeth Christie