Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
Last week Mrs Bath, Deputy Head of Junior School, worked with the House Vice Captains and Captains to produce a video explaining the rights and responsibilities of students at Girton. This presentation was developed with information taken directly from the Girton Grammar Student Code of Conduct which can be found on our website HERE.
The presentation was an excellent summary of student rights and responsibilities with explanations and scenarios that primary students can understand. For those parents who would like to review the presentation on the Student Code of Conduct, it is included in our Junior School Assembly from March 4 which can be found on our Junior School Astra page HERE. It begins approximately 4 and a half minutes into the assembly.
Over the coming weeks, we will be reviewing different aspects of the Code of Conduct. This week we have been focusing on Point 6 – Students have the right to enjoy the benefits of the school’s good name. The good name, or reputation, of the school, has been developed over years of having students, staff and families working hard to maintain the culture and expectations of being a Girtonian. One aspect of this is wearing the uniform correctly and with pride. This week some of our younger students have had lessons in how to tuck their shirts in when they arrive at school, return to class after a break or when leaving the school grounds. Others have learned how to use liquid shoe polish when arriving at school. A few students spoke of their parents discussing the “spit and polish” technique. Parents can support us in reinforcing this aspect of the Code by ensuring that students check and polish their shoes each night where required and ensuring that students are dressed appropriately when arriving at school in the morning.
With us all working together students will quickly come to appreciate the part they play in maintaining the good name of the school and will benefit from being part of an institution with such a strong reputation.
Mr Donald Thompson
Head of Junior School
School Pick Up
Several parents have spoken to me of their concern with traffic in MacKenzie St at the drop off and pick up times. Their concerns have not been about the lack of parking or the traffic flow in the narrow street, which is a frustration for us all, but rather with the way that some parents are interacting with each other during the heaviest traffic periods, including sounding their car horns when they feel the car in front has not moved off quickly enough or when parents stop in the middle of the road and unload their children in the street because the drive-through bays are full.
We have been working hard to educate parents that parking in the bays on MacKenzie Street is not permitted during drop off and pick up times and, for the most part, parents are respecting this essential arrangement. Please be aware that if we see parents trying to park in these bays and walk into the school, we will be asking them to return to their cars to ensure that the bays are only used for the time it takes for children to unload. Parents may need to make a lap around the block until a parking bay becomes free, but this is preferable to having children put at risk by unloading in the street. I would also ask that parents remain proactive in role modelling courtesy and patience for our students during drop off and pick up times.
World's Greatest Shave
Our eleven students have been working hard to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation and have already raised $9500.
Wednesday 16th we will watch as the staff from Jools for Jim shave these students.
If you wish to donate to any of the students please use the following link: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/GirtonGrammarJS
In the meantime, our SRC representatives have been assisting with fundraising by selling zooper doopers during Term one on Wednesday and Fridays.
We also look forward to students in Years Prep to Six coming to school with a crazy hairstyle on Wednesday 16th March as a sign of support for our shavers.
Divisional Swimming
Loddon Mallee Region Divisional Swimming Championship 2022
The 2022 Loddon Mallee Divisional Swimming Championships were conducted on Monday 7th March at the Bendigo East Pool. Large numbers of students from schools throughout this region attended the annual championships with the standard of swimming extremely high.
Girton Grammar had 36 Junior School students representing the school. Each student swam their hearts out for their school and should be extremely proud of their efforts.
The following students performed exceptionally well and some will now travel to Swan Hill to represent Girton Grammar at the Loddon Mallee Regional Swimming Championships:
9 Year breastroke – Lauren Davenport (4 Jenkin)
12 year butterfly – Octavia Yuen (6 Frew)
9 Year girls freestyle relay team
9 Year boys freestyle relay team
12 year girls freestyle relay team
Open medley relay girls team
Open medley relay boys team
Year Two News
The Year Two students are studying water this term. They are learning about the water cycle, uses for water and states of water. Last week we made predictions and conducted experiments about how ice and water behave differently in the sun and the shade. We were amazed to see just how quickly the water painted onto a hot surface evaporated!
Lunchtime Activities
This term we have started a new series of lunchtime activities, including Coding Club, Origami, Mindful Coloring, Chess Club and Junior Techs Club. We are fortunate that we have dedicated teachers who are willing to volunteer their lunch breaks to run these clubs.
Children can get involved by turning up at lunchtime to the Junior School library.
Friends of Junior School
This week was the first face to face Friends of Junior School meeting for the year. It was wonderful to see so many parents in attendance. Friends of Junior School is a parent group that meets twice per term to discuss ‘Friend Raising’. Parents are encouraged to host morning teas, plays in the park or functions to create opportunities for parents to make connections and new friends. After the last two years, Friends of Junior School meetings and functions are a lovely way to get involved and meet new people. The group also assists with events in the Junior School volunteering for things such as cooking BBQ’s at the swimming carnival, running Mother’s Day Stalls and helping set up artshows and assisting in the Second Hand Uniform Shop.
With many families commencing at Girton during the pandemic, connections and friendships are the ongoing focus for the Friends of Junior School group. If you wish to get involved, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.
Thank you to Clarissa Smith and Kim Henery for continuing on as President and Treasurer and Erin Cullino for taking on the Secretary role. We look forward to lots of events throughout 2022.
Band Program
Students involved in Band Program had their first classroom Band Rehearsal this week. Students playing wind, brass and percussion instruments have commenced individual lessons and have started their musical journey with learning three different notes and practicing the new skills learnt.
Since the weather was so lovely, we ventured outside under the shade of our iconic ‘Peppercorn Tree’. Students were shown the basic aspects of ensembles, such as where to stand, what the role of the conductor is and the importance of the conducting pattern. Rhythm activities such as ‘evil rhythm’ and ‘rhythm relay’ were played and it was terrific to hear and see what each other could do on their instruments.
It is easy to forget that some of my favourite musicians like Benny Goodman, James Morrison, Miles Davis all started in a similar way. Learning through making many mistakes with ‘squeaks’ and ‘honks’ in a supportive environment can lead the students into playing some fantastic music.
We can’t wait to see and hear how they progress over the year.
Mrs Jacqui Vine
MiC Concert Bands
Ballet
Royal Academy of Dance ballet classes are available at Girton in 2022. Classes are held after school in the Dance Studio. The teachers are Registered Teachers with the Royal Academy of Dance, with considerable experience teaching ballet.
For further information, contact Linda Arnel, lindaarnel@girton.vic.edu.au
or Frances Mills, francesmills@girton.vic.edu.au or ftmills@gmail.com
