From the Head of Junior School

Two weeks ago, a large Lego table emerged in our Junior School building foyer. No rules were displayed on who could use the table or when, or how, it was just there to be used. What has transpired over the past two weeks has been marvellous to watch and learn from.

The Lego table is approximately 2.5m long, 60cm height and 60cm wide. Green base plates cover the top, with assorted colours of Lego arranged across trays in draw spaces below the table. There are no chairs, just floor space to sit, kneel or crouch beside.

Almost immediately, students (and some adults too) began to explore, then build. Children of all ages sat beside each other, some independent building others working in pairs or small groups. As constructions grew, structures started connecting with each other forming mini worlds across the table. This all happened within 30 minutes. Then the bell rang. Students dutifully paused working on their creations and went to classes. No fuss, no prompts.

In the break periods to follow, it was interesting to see how different students played with Lego. Some continued to build on their existing structures, others broke it down to make something new, then there were the ‘sorters’. I noticed some students weren’t building anything, rather they were collecting pieces of Lego lying around and organising them into their colours in trays and grouping certain pieces for building. I playfully referred to this bunch as the ‘sorters’. I thanked the ‘sorters’ for helping to organise the Lego (I was secretly wondering how this job was going to get done regularly), they replied “we enjoy it, and it helps everyone keep building for next time”. What a lovely response, I thought to myself.

I’ve written many times on the value of and enjoyment in learning. My observations around the Lego table over the past two weeks have reaffirmed for me the value of learning through play for children of all ages, and adults too. Some key take-aways for me, applicable for both children and adults:

Students enjoy play, usually in a wide variety of ways. This example was Lego but depending on the individual play could easily be with a ball outside, drawing or strumming a guitar. Adults too find enjoyment through play, perhaps more directed through a hobby or organised activity. We know the benefits of enjoying what we are doing supports our general wellbeing which flows into other areas of our lives.
Students form and practise social connections through play, talking to each other, sharing, problem solving, role play and having a joke together. Adults value this also for themselves.
Students learn from each other through play, they see or hear how something can be done and replicate the experience themselves. As adults we do this too, sometimes we formalise the process and call it ‘professional development’, which is important, but I’d like to advocate the value of informal learning also, for all of us.
When students find their connection point through play issues or worries can be talked through more comfortably, students are relaxed and can approach tasks more confidently, and their sense of self is supported by valuing what they are doing. Helping students to find these connection points is so important, as adults we have more experience to draw upon when navigating through complications ourselves but still appreciate the value of connection points to help us.

Play is a form of learning. Finding a connection point or multiple connection points is valuable for all of us. Play is an element that helps shape our character development as young people and as adults. It's been a delight to see students engaging with and interacting around various activities in the Junior School this term. The Lego table, reading a book, Passions and Pursuits on Friday afternoon, break time activities like role play in the cubby house and making castles in the sand pit; the diversity of children’s play is wonderful and a welcome reminder for us as adults that incorporating play in our lives has genuine value also.

With warmest regards and best wishes,

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

Primary Sport

I have been extremely fortunate this term to take various students away to compete in an array of carnivals. There has been a lot of fun, strong competition and, most of all, learning both competitively and socially throughout. I am also delighted to say that students' behaviour and representation of Great Southern Grammar was impeccable. Well done to all students who competed in various carnivals. Please find carnival reports below written by some Year Six students.

Mr Stephen Berryman | Junior Sport Coordinator

Bunbury, Cross Country Trip

In Week Five, the runners from Years Three to Six left for Bunbury to represent Great Southern Grammar in the IPSHA cross-country event. We left in the period after recess, Wednesday of Week Five, the bus trip was long; but, six hours later, we arrived at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, where we slept the night… in the gym. Before we got to sleep, we had a healthy dinner at the boarding houses and watched a movie before we slept.

The next day, we all woke up after an average – but good enough – sleep that was interrupted by the excitement and nerves of the day ahead. When we all got dressed, we had breakfast at the boarding houses and got packed up for the races. When we were all packed up, we left to the starting ground for the races. Everyone in the races did their best and had achieved so much by then, but when we were done, we knew that we had to leave for home. When we were halfway back, we had some Domino’s pizza delivered by one of the mothers of the racers on our team. The bus eventually got back to school at around 7.00pm and everyone got steadied again by the average life of a Junior School student, ready to learn again.

Evan Pretorius | Student

Katanning Netball Carnival

A few weeks ago, ten netball players from Year Six, (Flora, Abby, Gracie, Dakota, Stella, Tahnee, Isla, Ella, Menari and I) travelled to Katanning to compete in the West Coast Fever Netball Carnival. We competed against four other teams where we won all four and were so happy to get into the finals. Mr Berryman had to give us a pep talk and soon enough the whistle blows, and we were off. After five exiting games we won. We got a trophy to keep and a shield. We celebrated by singing all the way home! Thanks to Mr Berryman, Mrs Field, Mrs Deegan and Ella Mackenzie for supporting us on the day.

Flora Rogers and Harriet Swain | Students

Dockers Shield

On 26 August 2021 Albany hosted a fun day filled with AFL games called Dockers Shield (we still call it Eagles Cup). We were the people that were sent to compete against the top teams such as: Denmark, Albany Primary, Flinders and more. They were in A grade as well as us. We put our full effort on beating the other teams. Denmark was the top team to beat because they have a star ruck man.

It was mostly Year Six students but there were about six Year Five students as well, it was good to see that there were two girls from Year Five who played amazingly throughout the games. Mr Hardey our coach and our assistant coach Heath Ravenhill, a Year Twelve student, were excellent coaches. Everyone played the best they could with Mason Watkins scoring loads of goals, Samuel Osborne with some really good tackles and an amazing one from Molly O’Malley. There are so many other amazing players I couldn’t name them all. Go Grammar!

Henry Harriss and Jack Rowe | Students

Community News

Monash University Survey

Breaksea Festival

Academic Task Force