Junior School

With songs soaring, imaginations taking flight and one extraordinary motor car leading the way, our Junior School students swept audiences into the high-flying adventure of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. Across the Wednesday matinee and two evening performances, the stage was filled with music, laughter, colour and excitement as the much-loved Potts family and their remarkable car came to life. Our students performed with wonderful energy, confidence and joy, creating a memorable experience for everyone who attended.

At the heart of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a journey filled with unexpected challenges and powerful themes of family, courage, hope and rescue. This connects beautifully with our 2026 College theme, Following the Way, based on Jesus’ words in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Just as the Potts family must decide whom they can trust when facing seemingly impossible circumstances, we are reminded that Jesus does not simply point us towards a better way—He is the Way. The Gospel tells us that God, in His great love, sent His Son to rescue us from sin through His death and resurrection. In Jesus, we find forgiveness, a relationship with God, and the true freedom, hope and courage we need for life’s journey.

A production of this scale represents far more than what audiences see on stage. It is the result of months of planning, rehearsing, designing, sewing, painting, organising and problem-solving. A very special thank you goes to Mr Jeffrey Clarke, whose passion for the Performing Arts, creative vision and extraordinary commitment guided the production from its earliest preparations through to the final performance. His investment in our students enabled them to grow in confidence, develop their gifts and experience the joy of creating something remarkable together.

We are also deeply grateful to Ms Monika Kapusi for the many hours she contributed in supporting Mr Clarke and assisting with the production. Mrs Jayne Coney and our generous parent volunteers did an outstanding job preparing the wonderful costumes, while Mrs Merryn Burt brought order and creativity to the enormous task of sourcing props and coordinating the backstage crew. Mrs Jacqui Kelly, with the support of Mrs Claudia Weller, once again shared her artistic talents through the beautifully painted sets and imaginative cast makeup.

Our sincere thanks also go to the lighting, sound and technical teams; Mrs Tufania Stewart, Mrs Faye Anderson and the Secondary School ushers for managing ticketing and Front of House; and our Maintenance Team for the countless practical tasks completed behind the scenes. I am equally thankful for our Junior School teachers and Learning Support Assistants, who supported rehearsals, supervised students and willingly stepped into the many roles required throughout Production Week.

Most importantly, congratulations to every student who participated, whether performing beneath the lights or contributing behind the scenes. We are enormously proud of the courage, enthusiasm, teamwork and perseverance they displayed. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. was a joyful celebration of our students’ gifts and a wonderful reminder of what can be achieved when our College community works together.

We are delighted to congratulate our students who received the ROAR Award this term. These students have demonstrated outstanding qualities of Respect, Obedience, Acceptance, and Resilience in their learning and relationships at school. We are very proud of their efforts and achievements.

This term’s ROAR Award recipients are:

The school holidays provide a natural opportunity for families to pause and consider whether screen habits have begun to crowd out time for relationships, creativity, rest and play. In its article, Embracing the Screen-Time Reset, Focus on the Family Australia encourages parents to begin by reflecting on their own screen use and modelling the habits they hope to see in their children. Rather than attempting an unrealistic, all-or-nothing ban, the article recommends introducing small, achievable changes, such as phone-free meals, keeping devices out of bedrooms at night, reading the Bible before checking a phone, or setting aside a regular period each day when the whole family is screen-free.

Importantly, reducing screen time works best when it is replaced with something enjoyable and worthwhile. Families might organise a picnic, scavenger hunt, bike ride or backyard obstacle course; bake or prepare a meal together; play board games; complete a puzzle; begin a family reading challenge; build an indoor cubby; create music or artwork; or undertake a small project to help a neighbour or relative. The goal is not perfection, but to use the holidays as an opportunity to reset, reconnect and rediscover the enjoyment of spending time together.

To accommodate Melbourne’s changeable spring weather, students may wear either the summer or winter uniform during the first two weeks of Term 4. Students should wear one uniform in its entirety, rather than combining summer and winter items. We encourage families to use the holiday break to check that uniforms still fit correctly and meet College expectations. In particular, girls’ summer dresses should be hemmed to the bottom of the knee. Please also ensure that students’ hair, girls’ earrings and socks comply with our uniform standards. The beginning of Term 4 also marks the return of hats. Students must bring and wear their College hat each day, with our No Hat, No Play rule applying throughout the term. Further information about our Student Uniform Standards can be found on pages 14-15 of the 2026 Student Diary.

2027 Class Placement 

At the commencement of Term 4, plans will begin for the 2027 school year. It is now that parents are provided with an opportunity to communicate in writing to the Head of Junior School any specific information that could have a significant impact on their child’s class placement for 2027 (e.g. cousins, neighbours in the same level, etc.). As situations can change, requests made in previous years are not taken into consideration. Please understand that these requests are not guaranteed but rather considered in the full picture of student placements. Staffing for each year level is not yet confirmed, so specific requests for teachers will not be considered. All correspondence should be addressed to the Head of Junior School, marked confidential, by Friday 9 October to be considered.

As Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to thank our families for your continued support and partnership. It has been an exceptionally busy and rewarding term, filled with opportunities for our students to learn, grow, serve and share their gifts. The encouragement you provide from home plays an important part in all that we are able to achieve together. I pray that the holiday break will provide families with an opportunity to slow down, enjoy time together and return refreshed for the final term of the year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4 and continuing to encourage our students as they follow the way.

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:8 

Mrs Amy Liddle

Head of Junior School