From the Head of Junior School

Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival - Reminder

Our usual venue for this event, the NSW Academy of Sport at Narrabeen, is currently closed for school bookings due to the upgrading of their fields and facilities. As a result, we have found and secured the use of Bannockburn Oval in Pymble as the alternate venue.

Because of the distance we need to travel and the fact that the running track at Bannockburn Oval is a 6-lane grass track, we have determined that we will only require the Years 3 to 6 students to travel to Pymble for the Athletics Carnival. Therefore, a Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival will now take place on Wednesday 14 June at Bannockburn Oval.

A new date for the Years K to 2 Athletics Carnival to be held on our School Oval will be arranged for Term 3.

If your child is in Year 2 and is turning 8 this year, they can qualify for selection in the HICES Athletics Carnival if they place favourably in their age events at the Years 3 to 6 School Athletics Carnival on 14 June.

These students will still be able to participate in the K-2 carnival at School in Term 3.

If you, or they, would like them to participate in the 8-year-old events, at the Years 3 to 6 School Athletics Carnival, would you please complete the ‘Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival Transport Form’ in the EFORMS button on the App under ‘Transport’ as we will need to add their names to the event sheets and make arrangements for transportation on the day.

Family Week

We are most grateful to Mr Nunura for encouraging us all to engage in ‘Family Week’; to STOP, consider, and take store of the joy and beauty of family and friends and spending valuable time together. Research shows that if you spend time looking after your mental, physical, and emotional health then you may experience greater success across all aspects of life.

As you know, we take Wellbeing very seriously here in the Junior School. Usually, such special times are restricted to Saturday and Sunday when we are also time poor to fit in the variety of engagements pushed outside of the working week. We hope that this week you have been able to focus on revitalising the mind, body and spirit as well as engage in some special indoor and outdoor activities with your children. 

Homework has not been set this week and Mr Nunura has been dancing up a storm with the students before school.

Reconciliation Week  

National Reconciliation Week started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities. In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week.

In 2001, approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of National Reconciliation Week-and subsequently across bridges in cities and towns-to show their support for reconciliation.

Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in workplaces, schools and early learning services, community organisations and groups, and by individuals Australia-wide.

In the Junior School the SRC under the guidance of Mrs Treloar, is running an Art competition where students are encouraged to unpack the theme "What stories will you dream?"  Mrs Holmes has also organised many books in the library for students’ reference. It will be wonderful to see these artworks on display.

House Connections

Always looking for opportunities to bring the Junior School students together with their Senior School friends, family and House mates, the House Leaders are organising opportunities to enrich their bond and at the same time raise funds for a variety of charities. 

On Friday June 2, Morgan House will be hosting a BBQ – Iman and Hugo will assist School House Prefects Hannah and Lachlan, on Friday 2 when Years 5 and 6 students from all Houses are invited to buy a sausage sandwich for $5 or a vegie patty for $6. The funds raised will support the Arranounbai School.

Next week, Orrock House will be holding a bake sale - Billy and Harper will support School House Prefects, Ryan and Shontelle, on Tuesday 6 June during Lunch 1. 

The food offered for sale will be baked by Senior School students as part of a baking competition.

 All Junior School students from each House are invited to purchase baked goods.

Note: Corresponding information and flyer in this editions of Senior School News.

Cross Country

Last Tuesday the Junior School Cross Country Team travelled to Bathurst to compete in the gruelling HICES Cross Country event. A crisp early start had the students wide awake at 6:30am as they boarded the bus, and the glorious sunshine and rigorous exercise prepared them well for bed as they arrived back at school at 6:30pm.

The students were wonderful ambassadors for the School, as they competed with all their might and cheered each other on excitedly. 

Thank you to the students and the proud parents who were able to accompany their child to Bathurst. Five students will race as part of the HICES team next week at the CIS Cross Country.

Junior Chess Competition

On Thursday 18 May, fourteen Junior School students competed in the Sydney Academy Chess tournament.  It was a thrilling day with all students playing seven highly competitive games. 

Our team performed incredibly well, placing 4th overall.  

Xavier (P1) and Manning (P3) received a medal for being the top scorers in their age group. Xavier was the youngest student in the entire competition and still managed to win three games against students a lot older. 

Borayuth’s (P6) final game was a nail biter, but he won with a check mate and was placed 3rd in the whole competition.

A reminder that Chess Club is offered in the Junior School as an Extra-curricular activity after school and is a wonderful opportunity for students to put their problem-solving and strategic skills to the test. There are also chess sets in the library and a giant chess set in the playground.  Students can ask to play with these any time.

Year 3 – Fitzroy Falls Excursion

Year 3 have recently returned from their first 3 day/2 night program at Fitzroy Falls.  

Students completed a variety of activities in small groups. These activities included team building initiatives, bushwalking, low ropes, the giant swing and a flying fox.

Each session supports students to further their confidence in the outdoors, and all activities are designed to foster teamwork and co-operation.

It is hoped that over the three days students will support and motivate each other to overcome personal challenges and grow as a group.

Staff were very impressed with all students for their positive attitudes, bravery resilience and co-operation.