Junior School, Brooklyn Park

The First Fleet in Year 3/4

In our Year 3/4 classes at Brooklyn Park, we have been learning about The First Fleet. At the beginning of our unit, we investigated Captain James Cook and the Endeavour ship. We made and drew pictures of boats and of Captain Cook. Our investigations then led us to explore and describe the reasons why England went to the extraordinary effort of sending prisoners to a new land and we learnt about the Industrial Revolution. We learnt about why a new penal colony was established and compared their lives to our lives today. 

We investigated prison hulks and convict life, mapping their journey on a world map. A significant focus of our studies was looking at the impact of European arrival to Australia on our Indigenous population. This coincided with Reconciliation Week where we were able to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

On Friday 2 June, we had a special event called “First Fleet Exploration Day”. In the morning, Nature Play SA came and ran a cubby building incursion for us. They brought branches, sticks, dowels, stick-lets (silicone connectors), leaves, hessian and rope. Our students learnt traditional methods for building shelters, as well as a variety of Kaurna words. They helped us build on our understanding of Aboriginal culture and its connections to our school site. This activity helped us imagine we were in Australia many years ago and how shelters may have been built. It also developed gross motor skills, risk-taking, problem solving , persistence and team work. After that, we made and tasted “hard tack” biscuits that may have been eaten on the ships. We then designed and made paper boats with Aboriginal symbols on them. So far we have loved learning about the First Fleet and can’t wait to continue our unit this term!  

Emily Sanders

Year 3/4 Teacher

Sport on the Map for Brooklyn Park

It was so wonderful to experience another milestone for our Brooklyn Park campus in Week 5. We saw our first SACSA sporting teams head out, alongside South Plympton, to compete against other schools. As we shared with our students, it was an important step to take, paving the way for future events as Brooklyn Park continues to grow as a part of Emmaus, but also in shaping its own identity in the community.  

Thank you to our community for their involvement. We appreciate the support and encouragement those that were able to attend on the day offered to our students! Your cheers go a long way!

We're sure many children came home, expressing disappointment at not winning many (any) games. We get their disappointment, but the wins will come, and we will celebrate!  However, we focused and prepared our students to celebrate and share with others what we're about here at Emmaus. The effort, sportsmanship, positive attitude and joy each of our students demonstrated at their event was in abundance and it did not go unnoticed by our coaches and other schools.   

There were many wins on both days, if not many on the scoreboard, both in sportsmanship and heart! My favourite being both South Plympton and Brooklyn Park girls coming together, chatting and playing circle games, before enjoying a friendly scratch match with one another when both had played all their games for the day. This displayed a wonderful unity and closeness that our Colleges enjoy as one Emmaus.

Richard Heath

Deputy Head of Junior School

End of Semester Awards 

To be able to receive an award is an important achievement and needs to be acknowledged as such. It is also important to ensure that they are well-deserved and the specified criteria is clearly met. A part of developing resilience and a healthy attitude towards achievement means ensuring that we have emotional rigour around achieving awards. Not every child will receive an award during their schooling. That is to be expected and it is OK.  

As a staff, we have reviewed our awards, and decided that at the end of Semester One we will award two Citizenship Awards for each class. This certificate is awarded in demonstrating a servant heart and being a positive role model during the semester. 

At the end of the year, there are additional awards for consistent improvement in work effort and merit certificates for effort and diligence throughout the year. Year 6 students have additional awards which are recognised at their Year 6 graduation. 

End of Semester One Awards are recognised at our Week 10 Assembly. Junior School Assemblies are held in Adelaide West Uniting Church on a Monday at 9am. Parents are always welcome. If your child is receiving a Citizenship Award you will receive a special invitation to that assembly. 

Marni Greenwood

Head of Junior School, Brooklyn Park