Message from the 

Head of the Junior School

Welcome Back

A warm welcome back to all our families. I hope you all had a wonderful break and are feeling refreshed and renewed for the term ahead. The children have moved seamlessly back into their classrooms and are already embracing the exciting learning opportunities that have been planned. The days are starting to get a little shorter and a little cooler in the mornings. I love this time of year as the leaves change colours and as the day progresses you get to lose the many layers you started the day with as the sun comes out.

This is a timely reminder that the children are in winter uniform and coming to School in their blazers. On sport days they are in full tracksuits (tops and bottoms). A reminder when girls are wearing earrings to School, plain gold or silver studs are the earring of choice.

Term 2 brings with it many different events for the children. For our Year 6 students they will be looking forward to their trip to Canberra in Week 5. As we move into second Term, it is great to see our Year 6 leaders really growing into their roles and responsibilities. The year group have spent two days developing skills to lead the Junior School through a “Peer Support” program.  For the staff it will be a time of deep reflection as they prepare Semester 1 reports.

ANZAC Day Service

On Anzac Day, Oscar Chandler Sullivan (Year 6) and myself (Georgia Philippe, Year 6) had the pleasure and honour of participating in the march and Civic Commemoration in Robertson Park. We laid a wreath at the Memorial on behalf of all the students and staff of the Junior School in memory of the Anzacs and all those who have followed in their footsteps, serving the nation in war and peace. 

The Commemorative Address was given by RADM Ian Murray RAN. He told the story of Edward “Teddy” Sheean. Teddy was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy in the Second World War. He was aboard the HMAS Armidale when it came under attack by Japanese aircraft on 1 December 1942 and began to sink. The order was given to abandon ship. After helping to free a life-raft, he was severely wounded. Despite this, he was still able to make his way back to his gun and fire on the enemy aircraft to protect his fellow sailors who were in the water. He was still seen firing his gun as the ship sank. Many of the survivors acknowledged Teddy for saving their life. He was only 18 years old. Teddy was awarded a Victoria Cross last year for his bravery and act of self-sacrifice. His story is a reminder of the efforts and sacrifice our service men and women have made for us and continue to make for us. Lest We Forget.

ANZAC Day

Red poppy what do you say?

I am a war symbol worn on ANZAC Day.

Red poppy what do you tell?

I tell a story that many ANZACs fell.

Red poppy what should we know?

That war is terrible and you should not go.

Red poppy what do you do?

I help remember the soldiers like you.

By Angus Triggs Year 3

Red Poppy

Red poppy what do you say?

Many soldiers fell that day.

Red poppy what do you tell?

It is a secret so you shall not tell.

Red poppy what should we know?

War is terrible so you cannot go.

By Crispin Downs Year 3

Red Poppy

Red poppy what do you say?

They all remember on ANZAC Day.

Red poppy what do you tell?

They all rang the bell.

Red poppy what should we know?

War should end not grow.

By Saxon Haynes Year 3

Red Poppy

Red poppy what do you say?

Remember me on ANZAC Day.

Red poppy what do you tell?

Many men joined but sadly fell.

Red poppy what should we know?

That peace has fallen, and I will grow.

By Alice Jones Year 3

Experiences for Our Students

Throughout the year several different experiences are offered to students in addition to their class activities. In Term 2, SRC and the Year 6 Leadership groups continue to meet with Mrs Charlton. In addition, there are the musical opportunities the students have through our many bands, ensembles, and choirs. Debating, Maths Olympiad and Maths games will start in earnest for our Stage 3 students. Staff are also running a number of interest clubs at lunch time. These include chess with Mr Pritchard and Little Potters with Mrs Sharpe. After School Area 51 and Robotics with Ms Dodson and TWIG with Mrs Sharpe and Ms Holland have also commenced. 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN assess literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning through the school curriculum and the tests are constructed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate skills they have learned over time. At KWS teachers will ensure students are familiar with the testing format and will provide support and guidance. Preparation outside of the school is not required. The data provided by NAPLAN gives teachers valuable diagnostic information about your child’s literacy and numeracy which allows teachers to develop and implement strategies to help your child make progress and improvements in their learning across all areas of the curriculum.

The national testing in Language and Writing, Reading and Numeracy will take place on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 May. These tests will take place in the morning so it is essential students arrive at school on these days before the bell rings. Should your child be absent a make-up day is available on Friday 14 May. Please report your child’s absence as per normal procedures if necessary. Results from the tests will be sent to parent and the School later in the year.

I would like to encourage the students to do their best in these assessments. One of the greatest challenges of the NAPLAN assessments will be found in those questions or tasks where students are unsure of what they should do, causing a furrowed brow as they sort through their options. It is at this time that the students will draw upon the knowledge and skills developed in class. 

Some tips for our students:

• There is plenty of time to complete the test
• Underline key points
• Read everything
• Your finger is your best friend to assist with tracking
• In spelling, they are looking for understanding of rules, letter combinations. More often than not there is a letter that has been added or left out, they have not used a rule correctly. Recall this understanding when spelling. Remember your skills and strategies such as sounding out words, breaking them up, think of other letter combinations that sound the same, read the sentence so the word you are spelling is in the right tense, print clearly in the box.
• In maths, have a page to do working on. Underline what you know, what do you need to find out. Check that you have coloured in the right circle.
• In reading, locate the answers in the passage. The answer may be in two different parts of the passage.
• In writing, remember to use paragraphs, capital letters and full stops throughout your writing. Think about the type of text you are writing and who would be reading it, the audience. Try and use interesting words and think about your text structure

The National curriculum has emphasised the use of mathematical language, so that students are able to verbalise their mathematical thinking. The use of good questioning is also important, so rather than solving a difficult problem for your child, ask, ‘Can you explain your thinking to me?’ ‘Can you show me another way to solve the same question?’

A fabulous website developed by the Department of Education contains video footage of teachers providing great tips for parents to help their children at home. It can be found at Helping your child with primary school maths (nsw.gov.au).  Everyday activities such as cooking, estimating the grocery bill, planning a trip using travel timetables and playing games such as Monopoly or Sudoku are also helpful.

After School Care – Gowrie

On occasion students are not picked up in the afternoon by 3:35pm. In some instances, students are in Junior School Reception until after 4:00pm. Could I please ask that all families sign up to our Before and After School care provider Gowrie. 

There is no fee to sign up with Gowrie NSW, families would only be charged if they book a session, and they charge two weeks in advance. Families can choose to have either a casual or a permanent booking and as long as they have room, they accept bookings. Currently their licence capacity is 45, although they can potentially take bookings for over 100 children if there was a need. 

Their ratios are 1:15 and they operate with two educators each afternoon, even when below 15. For before school care they operate single staffed, with Renai onsite. However, if they have 10 children or above, they operate with two staff. 

For students who catch the late bus on sport afternoons this is a great service. In winter this is especially welcome as Gowrie provides afternoon tea when students arrive, and they would walk students to the late bus and wait with them until the bus leaves. 

Gowrie is a wonderful service in the Junior School as they accept any children who miss their bus or come to school early, or parents are delayed. The cost would be for the session, However, if parents are eligible for CCS they will only need to provide their CRN as part of the enrolment process and then link Gowrie NSW as a service provider on their MyGov account. This will automatically detract their subsidy from the fee. 

How to enrol: 

1. Go to the KWS website, and download the enrolment pack 

2. Complete the enrolment pack and also attach: 

• Child's Immunisation History Statement from Medicare (can also be accessed through MyGov)
• Birth certificate

3. Please email this pack to Enrolments@Gowriensw.com.au and our team will reach out confirm your enrolment and offer you any additional information you may need.