The Anchor

Junior School 

From the Head of Junior School

This week, each class has recognised and celebrated languages from across the world. Some classes have plotted on a map where different languages originate from and are predominantly spoken today, others have learned new phrases and enjoyed using translator apps to speak a different language. The world of words and languages is fascinating at any age but particularly for young children as they are often discovering this for the first time, making connections between words that are familiar in other cultures. Language learning has immense value for students, well beyond speaking skills alone and more broadly in developing cultural awareness and interests for future adventures perhaps. 

 

Whilst not strictly a language, the Reggio Emelia approach to early childhood education references the 100 languages of children as a core philosophy. 100 languages represents the value and importance of providing children with 100 ways of communicating and sharing their thinking about the world around them. Again, whilst not specifically a language in the traditional sense, I thought the essence of the Reggio-inspired approach resonates with Languages week beautifully. Embracing a world of language, in all the forms they take. 

 

Pre-Primary have been exploring cultures from around the world all term, and have some wonderful reflections to share.

Pre-Primary

This term, the Pre-Primary class are on an exciting adventure around the world! 

 

Each week we board the plane with our passports and land in a different country. To celebrate the cultural diversity in our class, we are travelling to countries where students' families and heritage are connected to. So far, we have explored Australia, India, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Turkey. 

 

We began our travels in Australia, learning about our First Nations People. In Week Two, the aroma of incense and Indian spices greeted each student as they entered the classroom. Zayne & Saakhi's family taught us all about the Golden Temple, music, henna, traditional dress, and how to make naan bread! 

 

The beats and colours of Africa filled our classroom in Week Three, as we danced through Ghana and moved like animals in Zimbabwe. We tried traditional foods such as Boflot (Ghanaian donut), Plantain (Ghanaian fruit) and Biltong from Zimbabwe. We then travelled to Turkey and enjoyed a Turkish feast of Turkish delight, baklava and kofte. 

 

This week we are in Italy, and we will then travel to Germany, Poland, and the USA. We would like to thank all the families who are taking the time to visit our classroom this term and for sharing their culture with us. It has been a privilege to gain different perspectives and learn about family traditions, celebrations and religions. We have also learnt, that whilst we have many differences, we also share many similarities.

Father’s Day

Today the ECC invited fathers and father figures into classrooms for the morning. For children, having a parent in the classroom where the child can share their ‘school world’ with them is truly magical. The excitement of the morning with our dads and father figure friends was such a treat for our students. They enjoyed showing Dads around the classroom, talking about their learning and playing with the activities together. These moments are long-living memories for both children and their fathers.  

 

At Great Southern Grammar, we have a parent group of fathers called DIGS (Dads in the Great Southern). This group organises informal catch-ups for fathers and shared activities for Dads and children to enjoy together. DIGS supports the Fathering Project, an organisation founded in 2013 by Professor Bruce Robinson in Western Australia, with the aim of supporting fathers, and father figures, to be the best parent they can be so their children can thrive. Linked below is a wonderful article from the Fathering Project website to highlight the value of fathers and father figures in a child’s life. 

 

Why fathers matter - The Fathering Project

 

My genuine best wishes to every family for a wonderful Father’s Day this weekend shared with loved ones both young and young at heart. 

Book Week Parade

Following up from last week's celebration of reading and books, our Junior School students culminated the week with a dress-up parade. Students came dressed as their favourite book characters, or dream theme with their class. Some just took the perfect opportunity from the Book Week theme ‘Dreaming with eyes open’ to wear their pyjamas throughout the day, which was my choice. 

 

Thank you to all the students and their families for supporting this wonderful week, and occasion on the day with dress-up costume design, cheering and fanfare. It was a lovely morning.

 

With warmest regards, 

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

You Can Do It!

Our ECC students have been practising their social emotional keys through our You Can Do It! Programme. Each week, our leaders are blessed to meet with our ECC cohort to hand out certificates to those who have stood out as addressing our focus key. Since our last update, the students have focused on showing the skills of confidence and resilience. 

 

Well done to our Stars and Social Emotional Key Heroes!

 

Confidence

  • Jax
  • Ava
  • Kaveh
  • Poppy

 

Resilience

  • Banjo and Ava
  • Jaxon and Alexandra
  • Jax and Mrs Webster
  • Stephanie and Kaidyn

 

Stars of the Week

 

Week Five

  • Leah
  • Hannah
  • Hamish
  • Max

 

Week Six

  • Lailey
  • Rose
  • Louis
  • Amelia

 

Week Seven

  • Aila
  • Louis
  • Lucie
  • Fraser

 

Mrs Leah Field | Assistant Head of Junior School

South West Netball Carnival

On Friday 5 August 2022, Netball WA Great Southern held the annual West Coast Fever Primary School Netball Cup at the Katanning Leisure Centre. In its 29th year since conception, sixteen schools took part in the event this year, nominating a total of 32 teams from throughout the Great Southern Region. Great Southern Grammar nominated two netball teams, one boys and one girls. All students had a great time with many playing the sport competitively for the first time. The trip to Katanning was loud and vibrant with a lot of excitement for the day ahead. 

 

Both teams did very well and competed valiantly throughout the day. The girls started with two tough games, narrowly going down against some strong opposition. Getting stronger as the day progressed, they finished the day in good spirits with two wins and three losses. 

The boys managed to go undefeated throughout the whole day coming up against Mount Lockyer Primary School in a good-spirited Grand Final with the boys coming out 17 - 3 winners. Stand out performers were André De Giambattista, Billy Hick and Samuel Osborne who did a fantastic job no matter what position they were placed in.

I would like to express my thanks to Jasmine Butterworth (Girls Coach) and to Katie Hartzell and Gabrielle Poole (Umpires) for their help and expertise throughout the day.

 

Well done.

 

Mr Stephen Berryman | Junior School Teacher and Sports Coordinator