From the 

Head of Junior School

This week I am attending the APPA (Australian Primary Principals Association) Conference. The theme this year is Refreshing Leadership and Inspiring Futures. A timely conference, tying in well with work over the weekend with our Senior Management Team on the next Strategic Plan for the school. 

The conference was opened and facilitated by James Castrission who is known as a modern-day Australian Explorer who constantly pushed the boundaries of human endurance. In 2012, he made history by completing the longest unsupported polar expedition of all time, alongside his best mate, Jonesy. In 100 years of polar exploration no-one had EVER walked from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance. Many had tried, none had succeeded. After 89 gruelling days they made it back to the coast after having skied 2275km with everything they needed to survive in the harshest environment on Earth. With our focus on explorers in the Junior School, we may well find a class named after him in 2024.

Throughout the conference we heard from many leaders in their field. Speakers who are within school or in sectors that support schools including Dr Simon Breakspear, a researcher, advisor and speaker on educational leadership, policy and change. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia’s highest profile psychologists, author, broadcaster and specialist in parenting, children, adolescents and mental health. Nathan Wallis, whose professional background includes early childhood teacher, child therapist, social service manager, university lecturer and neuroscience trainer. His presentation on the first 1000 days of life was thought provoking.

The conference provided time to engage with colleagues from across Australia and New Zealand and from all educational sectors. 

Cyberworld

Upcoming parent webinar: Online boundaries and consent

As parents and carers, it's essential to support young people in developing skills that protect their privacy and boundaries online. Learn how you can help build these skills at our upcoming Online boundaries and consent webinar.  

The 30-minute webinar is for parents and carers of young people in primary school and covers a range of topics, including: 

• why talking about consent with primary school-aged children is so important 
• easy ways to explain online boundaries and consent 
• opportunities to discuss and model consent through discussions, scenarios, and practising helpful phrases for saying 'no'.  

Register now for the webinar and visit esafety.gov.au/parents for more eSafety resources for parents and carers. 

Helping your child build respectful relationships

Parents and carers play an important role in helping young people build self-respect and understand how to respect others. 

Using our respectful relationship resources, you can help prepare your child by having open conversations about what a respectful relationship is, how to be respectful, and exploring identity and inclusivity. 

Our respectful relationship resources, developed in collaboration with SBS Learn, are for high school students and include: 

• Being in a respectful relationship
• Creating positive change 
• Giving and seeking help in relationships 
• Power and gender in relationships

See all eSafety resources for young people at esafety.gov.au/young-people. 

Kinross Wolaroi Students making their Mark 

At Kinross Wolaroi we value and strive for academic rigor. Students have a myriad of opportunities to engage in enriching learning experiences which in some instances the school provides or facilitates student access to them.  Please share with us your child’s interest, passions, and achievements by emailing junioroffice@kws.nsw.edu.au.

This year in the Junior School our before school fitness program has focused on athletics and cross country. Many students have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by staff to develop their overall fitness and athletics skills. 

Marlon Zielinski in Year 4 has been a keen participant of these opportunities in addition to the work he has put in outside of school. Marlon ran admirably for CIS and our school. At the recent State Cross Country Carnival he set a new PB and came fifth in the CIS crew (one better than at CIS). He came an admirable 47th in the State and left nothing in the tank as the photo above demonstrates.