"The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Welcome to Term 4! October is a big month for camps and excursions in Junior School. The Year 4’s went to Halls Gap last week and the Year 5’s went to Sovereign Hill this week. We are so grateful for these experiences, especially as they have not been available to our children in recent years. Students have been very brave and have shown great resilience as many of them have never spent a night away from their own families. We are so grateful to God for the peace that He gives us in our times of need.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing staff who cater so well to the social, emotional and physical needs of our students as they care for them on camps and sleepovers. The Preps to Year 3 students are very much looking forward to their various sleepovers and excursions in the coming weeks. We pray that they too have a wonderful time together and create lifelong memories.

As a school community we like to acknowledge the achievements of our students both at school, as well as the extra curricular activities they participate in. We wish to congratulate our Year 6 students, Ashaan and Jack, for their amazing season of soccer, playing for the U12 Warrnambool Rangers. They remained undefeated and came away with the grand final win. They received further awards on their presentation night with Jack receiving the 'Coaches Award' and Ashaan receiving 'Most Improved'. Well done boys. We are really proud of you both!

In addition, we would like to highlight that our Year 6 students recently entered the Lion's Rotary Peace, "Lead with compassion" Art competition. Congratulations to Mia (Year 6) for winning the overall award and also to Zara (Year 6), who received an honourable mention. Students’ work was displayed at Gateway Plaza during the recent school holidays. Mia’s artwork will now be judged at an interstate level.

Thanks to God for a wonderful start to Term 4.

Alex Burgess

Head of Junior School

Prep

Last week, the Prep students did some wonderful writing about sharks!

Eden Agnew

Prep Teacher

Year 1

As a class we have been focusing on thinking of others. We discussed ways we can be kind to others and the importance of showing kindness. Last week the Year 1 class made posters congratulating our Year 12 students for completing their journey through school. The children added their posters to a display for our Year 12’s in the Senior School and have taken time each day to pray for the Year 12 students.

Kerry Snook

Year 1 Teacher

Year 2

We have some very talented artists in Year 2. This week we created 'Leaping Lizards' in Art using a mosaic technique. Students showed great perseverance as they cut and pasted small colourful squares to size and created an effective design. Mrs Ballinger and Mrs Burgess both think they have a room full of lizards climbing on the wall...they look very life-like! Well done Year 2!

Jess Ballinger

Year 2 Teacher

Year 3

A few photos from the Year 3 class this week:

Christine Burford

Year 3 Teacher

Year 4

What an exciting start we have had to Term 4! Our Year 4 camp wasn't without a little drama and an awful lot of rain! There was a lot of hanging out inside with our friends watching movies, playing table tennis, singing and lots of laughs. We managed to get to the Volcano Centre on the way to Halls Gap and visit the Halls Gap Zoo on Thursday. By all accounts everyone had a great time.

Steve Griffin

Year 4 Teacher

Year 5

The Year 5 students were very excited to head away on their first school camp to Sovereign Hill this week. They had been studying the history of the Goldfields in Term 3 and were able to consolidate their learning with educational sessions, exploring Main Street, Panning for Gold, seeing the AURA Sound and Light Show and seeing the Eureka flag.

Students had also been learning about the Solar System and were fortunate to visit the Ballarat Observatory seeing Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope. There were lots of gasps and wow moments.

Thank you to Mrs McDonald and Mr Wakim for helping make camp such a wonderful experience for Year 5.

Here are some of Year 5's favourite memories:

"I enjoyed watching how the lollies were made". - Lil, Elizabeth & Lily

"I enjoyed the Sound and Light show and the candle dipping". - Tilly

"I enjoyed the Ballarat Sound and Light show and having free time". - Gracie

"I had lots of fun and found lots of gold flakes. I even found fools gold in a rock in the creek". - Max

"I really enjoyed watching the lolly making and getting to taste them". - Lottie

"I enjoyed the toy store". - Micah

"I loved pushing the roof that held the telescopes and panning for gold". - Eli

"I enjoyed the lolly making demonstration and the AURA Sound and Light

show". - Heidi

"I enjoyed eating breakfast at the café. It was so yum!" - Phillip

"I enjoyed the Sound and Light show the most because we got to wear 3D glasses which reminds me of a VR". - Kathy

"I enjoyed the Sound and Light show because of how realistic it looked with the 3D glasses and the use of technology". - Ryan

"I enjoyed the mine tours and the pitch black in the tram. I also enjoyed the candle dipping and Grill'd". - Fraser

Christie Stephen

Teacher

Sport

WD Summer Sports