The Hamilton and Alexandra College Newsletter

Myrniong and ELC

Notice Distribution

  • School photos – Prep to Year 6 order
  • Dismissal arrangements – Year 5

'Music Is What Feelings Sound Like'

I had the pleasure of travelling to Ballarat on the first Sunday of the holidays to hear the Ballarat Symphony Orchestra.  Year Three student Lachlan Reid was one of three performers invited to play with the orchestra, under conductor Gyula Cseszkȯ.  Lachlan played Antonio Vivaldi’s complete Violoncello Concerto in C.  It was a sold out concert at the Ballarat Art Gallery.  Lachlan is a consummate young musician who performed marvellously well.  Congratulations to Mr Ben Singh for his work with Lachlan, and also to Lachlan’s family for the support they give his generous talents.  Well done Lachlan.

Biennial Reggio Conference

During the holidays, Early Learning Centre Director Mrs Frances O’Brien travelled to Perth for the Biennial Reggio Emilio Australia Conference.  The theme for the conference was ‘Landscapes of Transformation’.  The organising committee put forward the following notion ‘Education can and must play a central role in working to find different ways of being in the world, but to do this, educators, and education itself, must undergo rapid transformation… What does this mean; where do we start?  What transformations to the Earth, to education, to politics, are we witnessing?   What transformations are needed? Perth Reggio hopes our conference might be a generative space for thinking around these pressing concerns.’

 

Several hundred delegates attended the conference.  Frances had the opportunity to attend keynote addresses and visit Reggio schools in Perth and its surrounds.

'Tournament of Minds'

As part of our Learning Enhancement programme, Mrs Anna Robertson is working with three Year Five and Six teams in preparation for the 2019 ‘Tournament of Minds’.  ‘TOM’ offers teams of students the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork.  Challenges are set in the following disciplines: The Arts, Language Literature, Social Sciences and STEM.

 

Tournament of Minds offers real world benefits as it looks beyond academic achievement and understands that the pursuit of excellence knows no boundaries.

 

The Tournament process provides a platform for excellence and equips participants with Twenty-First Century skills and strategies.

Objectives

  • Provide the stimulation of real, open-ended challenges
  • Develop creative problem solving approaches and techniques
  • Foster cooperative learning and team work
  • Promote knowledge and appreciation of self and others
  • Encourage experimentation and risk taking
  • Expand and reward creative and divergent thinking
  • Stimulate a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning
  • Develop enterprise
  • Celebrate excellence

The teams will travel to Geelong on Sunday, August 25th for the Regional Final.

Learning Progress Meetings

In Week 3, the Junior School will hold Learning Progress meetings.  Parents of Prep to Year Six students can book 10 minute interviews with class teachers on Tuesday 30th July, Wednesday 31st July and Thursday 1st August.  Interview times run from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.  Meetings are three way discussions with teachers, parents and students.  Please contact Mrs Natalie Povey at the Junior School Reception to book a time.

Prep to Year Three Reggio Programme

Our Prep to Year Three Reggio programme has been a successful addition to the Junior School offering.  This semester, we have increased the time allocation for the Reggio inspired Inquiry sessions to 90 minutes.  These will take place on Wednesdays, between recess and lunch.  The focus for Term Three will be ‘Earth and Space’.

Pushcart Challenge Material Hunt

The Year Six students are currently completing a technology unit in which they will be constructing a pushcart. We are in the process of collecting materials and are short in many areas.  If you have any of the following materials lying around, and are willing to donate, please bring them in to the Year Six classrooms prior to Monday.

We are looking for;

  • Small wheels (bicycle, pram, mower, etc.)
  • Old seats (chairs, car seats)
  • Strong wooden planks (for body of pushcarts)
  • Axles (metal rods)

Sophie Ross and Nick Palmer - Year 6 Teachers

Artist in Residency Program

Junior School students are once again invited to participate in the “Artist in Residency Program” with Mrs Addinsall in the Myrniong Art Room. 

 

This program is offered to children in Prep to Year 6 classes and runs in three stages, during Terms 2, 3 & 4.  The first stage is now complete.  Stage 2 will commence next week and run each Thursday during lunch times and after school until 4.30pm for the duration of the term.  Parents are welcome to join these sessions.  

 

Students must re-register each term.  Please register your child’s interest with Mrs Povey.  We ask that children commit to the whole term and that parents inform us of any absences.  Children should be collected promptly from the Art Room at 4.30pm.  Art Club will continue to run as a separate program on Tuesdays at lunchtime.  There is no cost for these programs. 

Lisa Addinsall

Artist in Residence

Dates to Remember

Monday 22nd July – Year 5 Sovereign Hill Camp departs 9.00am

Wednesday 24th July – Year 5 Sovereign Hill Camp returns 5.30pm

Thursday 25th July – Year 3 & 4 Hoop Time

Stephen Nelson

Head of Junior School