Especean

Junior School

Year 5 2021

Last weekend the ‘Welcome’ website went live for families of students entering Year 5 2021, which included an online version of Orientation Day. Unfortunately, the typical experience of being at the College face-to-face and having a guided tour led by students was not possible this year, but we hope the incoming boys and families are no less excited. I hope you will all say a prayer for those about to begin this exciting new time of life here at St Patrick’s.

Year 6 Camp

Year 6 Camp is now almost done – nearly, but not quite. So far, here are a couple of highlights of my time at Camp Somerset:

  • sitting around camp fires and chatting with boys
  • sharing hearty meals they have helped prepare
  • seeing a boy dance for joy after hitting a bullseye in archery
  • seeing a boy flushed with pride after overcoming his aversion to enclosed spaces and the dark after crawling through the wombat hole
  • seeing boys quietly help a mate out who is struggling to pack up his gear
  • watching pairs of boys struggle and finally figure out how to steer a kayak!

So far, every plan we have in place for every boy to manage their safety and wellbeing at Camp has worked beautifully. I am truly grateful to all families who put time into helping prepare these plans. Like you, our hope and expectation is that these plans enable your sons to have a great time and get home safely.

 

As a rite of passage, the Year 6 Camp is, for many boys, their first experience of independence from their parents. This also means that it is the parents’ first ‘letting go’ of this magnitude, which can be a big deal. We appreciate the trust you place in us to take care of your boys and are pleased to be the ones to guide your boys through this part of their journey towards maturity and adulthood.

 

Before we know it, we will be pouring out of buses on Francis Street on Thursday afternoon and there will be many a story for you to hear. In the meantime, Year 6 parents can enjoy one more slightly more peaceful night.

 

Just a reminder, as per the College calendar, that Friday is Camp rest day for Year 6, but Co-curricular sport continues as normal on Saturday.  

 

God bless,

 

Ben Munday

Director of Junior School

 

Junior School Academic Excellence Awards 

Acknowledgement of academic excellence for any educational institution is important, not only for the individual but for the community as a whole. It aims to emphasise the outstanding performance in a particular subject area and celebrates the cumulative and consistent successes over a period. As such, the Junior School Academic Excellence Awards will take the following format for 2020: 

  • Class Academic Excellence Awards for Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Human Society, and its Environment and Science & Technology will be presented to students at their last Pastoral Care Period for the school year.
  • The Years 5 and 6 Academic Excellence Award for the above-mentioned subjects will be presented at Speech Day.
  • Class Academic Excellence Awards for Personal Development, Health & Physical Education (PDHPE), Music, Visual Art and Languages will be presented to students at their last Pastoral Care Period for the school year.
  • The Years 5 and 6 Academic Excellence Award for the above-mentioned subjects will be presented at Speech Day.

Daniel Fields

Junior School Curriculum Coordinator