From the Head of Junior School

As we prepare for the holiday break and all of the festivities of the season I would like to take the time to commend our students and thank our school families for how well they managed the end of year events.

Carols Service holds such meaning with each House once again presenting thoughtfully and with respect to the tradition. Our Junior School Speech Night, back face-to-face at Ulumbarra Theatre, was a wonderful celebration of academic and performing arts achievements. I sincerely thank all of the staff involved in the planning and coordination of this event. The back stage logistics were carried out calmly and efficiently to ensure that all of our students were presented at the correct place and at the correct time. This no easy task when you consider that we were moving nearly 300 students backstage, many of them multiple times. Our students were wonderful and went through the different logistical requirements and, although they were quite excited, managed the movements calmly and efficiently.

Congratulations to the students who achieved DUX of their year level.

Year Three - Rithvik Sasalu (3 Frew)
Year Four - Gracie Seipolt (4 Riley) and Noah Kroschel (4 Riley)
Year Five - Rafay Jeddi (5 Millward)
Year Six/Junior School - Charlotte Thomson (6 Aherne)

Congratulations to Norah Rao (5 Riley) and Archer Yuen (5 Frew) for being elected as our 2023 Junior School Captains.

I would also like to thank our students for the way they welcomed students who are new to our school on Transition Day. Many of our students were nervous about finding who their new teacher was and which friends they were with but they put those feelings aside and went out of their way to ensure that our new students felt welcomed. This selflessness was certainly appreciated by the new students and their families who went away from the day feeling like they were coming to a school where they were welcomed and where they too could belong.

At this week’s Assembly I discussed with our students what strategies they could use when faced with new situations that might make them a bit nervous. For me it was walking into a meeting or conference where I didn’t know anyone. A simple smile or, “Hello, how are you, my name is Don,” and the ice is broken and a new connection made. Asking a new acquaintance where they are from, what brought them to the meeting, what their interests are, etc, are good prompts for starting a conversation and also shows that person that you are interested in hearing about them. Similar strategies are also helpful for those students who are nervous about starting at a new school, or perhaps just being in a class with people they haven’t worked with before. Each time our children face uncomfortable situations and practice these strategies, they learn that they do have the skills to overcome their nerves and to succeed. Small successes in a supportive environment help build resilience.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday period. I look forward to seeing our students and staff return next year, refreshed and ready to embrace the new learning adventures that 2023 will bring.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Japanese Classroom Challenge

Throughout Semester 2, all Year3 to Year 6 students participated in a Japanese classroom challenge. This involved all students forming a group based around their tables, hence the name, "Table Challenge". Students worked incredibly hard to score points for their tables and especially enjoyed the double and triple-point opportunities throughout this period. The culmination of this challenge was last Friday when the prize-winning students were awarded a surprise Onigiri lunch with Sensei in the Japanese classroom. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their hard-earned Japanese lunch treat!

I look forward to hosting exciting new Japanese classroom challenges in 2023!

Sensei Maria Krelle

SRC Christmas Table Donations

SRC students rallied the Junior School classes this week to support Bendigo Foodshare. Donations of non-perishable items for a Christmas table were collected and gathered together. Donations included: Christmas bowls, plates, serviettes, bonbons, chips, drinks, juice, ham in a tin, custard powder, fruit cake, lollies, shortbreads, tinned fruit, mixed nuts and pretzels. We are proud to be able to support Bendigo Foodshare who are supporting the Flood Relief families in our community.

Friends of Junior School

Thank you to the Friends of Junior School (FOJS) for their wonderful ongoing support across 2023. This year in particular was so important to reconnect and build new friendships after COVID. Friends of Junior School worked tirelessly to host year level morning teas, cook sausages, host parent and family functions and be involved in the Girton Junior School.

Of particular note was the Girton’s Got Heart Parent function that was hosted in conjunction with Girton Parents and Friends. A special thank you to Clarissa Smith, President of FOJS, who co-ordinated this event, after two postponements, to come together in August of this year. Thank you also to Nicole and Glen Walker from Chateau Dore for their support of the evening. The event was held to raise not only friendships within the Girton Community but also raise funds for Sisterworks, whom the school has a long-standing relationship with. Sisterworks is a not-for-profit organisation empowering refugees, asylum seekers and migrant women through work and entrepreneurship.

At the end of the year, the FOJS and Junior School parents put on a wonderful staff luncheon to say thank you to the staff. Thank you to all the parents involved. The staff are truly grateful and appreciative of the gesture.

Not to leave out the students, FOJS once again donned their aprons and cooked a sausage sizzle for all the Junior School students and staff in the last week of school. Students enjoyed a sausage in bread and a zooper dooper to finish off their excursion to the Bendigo Cinema.

Thank you to each and every Junior School parent who volunteered their time. Every morning tea, every storybook read, every sausage cooked is truly appreciated by the Girton Grammar Junior School Staff and students.

Year Six Presentation

Friday 2nd December saw our 2022 Year 6 students celebrate their Junior School years. It was lovely to see the students all dressed up and enjoy a meal together. Thank you to Old Girtonian, Alessia McCaig 2021(Jenkin) for sending in a video to be played to the students at the dinner. Alessia spoke to the students of her journey through Girton Grammar School and her achievements that come from hard work and dedication. Following dinner, the students were joined by families in the John E. Higgs Hall to be presented with their Year 6 certificates.

We wish the Year 6 Classes of 2022 all the best for the next chapter in their lives.

IMPORTANT DATES 2022/2023

School Reception closes Friday 16th December

School Reception opens Monday 9th January

Book Collection Day Friday 20th January

First Day of School for students Monday 30th January

Meet the Teacher Evening Thursday 9th February

Junior School Swim Carnival Friday 24th February

Junior School Athletics Carnival Friday 24th March

Important Dates

(Subject to change)

Term Dates 2023:

Important Dates