Junior School Report

Message from the

New Director of Learning -  Junior School

Hello to all our Junior School students and families. I would like to start my first contribution to the newsletter by introducing myself –  I am Rebecca Tomkins and I will be the head of the Junior School in 2023. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Next, I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to our Junior School students – you have now either completed your first year of secondary school or moved into Middle School! We all hope that your first lockdown-free year, in 3 years, was a good one, with many fun excursions, school-based activities, and camps. 

Our 2022 Year 7 students are now getting a taste of their 2023 timetables during Headstart. Next year, we have some new friendly faces – Mr Murray as the Year 7 coordinator and Miss Cichy as the Year 8 coordinator. And I am the lucky teacher who gets to oversee all our Year 7 and 8 students next year! The Junior School Team would like to thank Mr Robertson, Miss Kasiri, and Miss Paget for their continued support and hard work throughout 2022. Thank you and all the best in your new roles in 2023!

We are now in our last few weeks of 2022. Starting on Monday 5th December, students will be participating in their second week of Headstart, Personal Development Skills (PDS) week. During this time, all our students will participate in a range of activities where they will learn valuable life skills such as learning self-care, bike riding, water safety, nutrition, digital security, first aid, and much more. For the last week of school this year (beginning Monday 12th December), all students will be participating in Activities Week. This is an opportunity for students to enjoy themselves in a range of school-based activities and excursions. Our last day of school for Junior School students is Friday 16th December, and we look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 30th January 2023. 

Have a fun and safe holiday! 

Ms Rebecca Tomkins

Director of Learning - Junior School

Year 7s went to Scienceworks!

On Thursday 17th of November, we had 78 Year 7 students who travelled on the train to Science works in Spotswood! The day started with watching the ‘Solar System Odyssey’ film at the planetarium, which included identifying the stars and constellations. In the second session, ‘Electricity, Magnets and Movement’, students volunteered to demonstrate their knowledge of these forces. We also watched a simulation of lighting, which was very loud! The students had some free time at the ‘Sports and Space’ exhibition, where, unfortunately, some could compete with our superstar, Cathy Freeman! 

A big thank you to our staff, Ms Jennifer Phillips, Ms Leonie Besley, Ms Lan Pham, Ms Reia Grey, Ms Holly Parlanti, Ms Fatima Khan and Ms Olivia Smetana for joining us to help supervise and join the fun! 

Ms Smrithi Buyya, Mr Dean Goulimi and Ms Loan Luong  - Year 7 Science Teachers

Visual Arts - Year 8 'Timber Tribal Heads'

Part 2 Tribal Heads - In the October issue, you would have seen the tribal heads being pieced together with timber scraps. In the November edition, the heads have now come to life with fluorescent neon colours and bright exterior outdoor paints. The students worked endlessly to develop a range of techniques to finish off their tribal heads, which included - flicking and sponging on paint, pouring, drizzling, dripping, layering as well as outlining facial features and characteristics. 

The excitement and energy in the classroom was a moment to be captured in time. In appreciation of the artist, Anthony Breslin, the students wrote poems on selected artworks which we analysed in class. 

Enjoy the poetry and delve into the world of tribal heads!  

YEAR 8 POEMS - ANTHONY BRESLIN 

Roses are red violets are blue this picture doesn’t make sense it kind of looks like me and you

It has bright colours and it’s not right, but it looks alright

The sea is blue its not a waterloo the sticks look like bamboo

Birds aren’t flying they’re probably spying             

Don

B - Big

I - interesting

G - Great

F - Funky

R - Random

O - Obscure

G - Goofy

Allech 

A frog sitting on weezer blue 

Three toes and three fingers

It sits, writing a haiku

Flies fly and frolic 

They must be careful

Or they will get licked

Valentina

Big red lips

Ice cold water 

Giant body

Frog

Red toes

Open flies. 

Nina

A lonely pond in age-old stillness sleeps…

Apart, unstirred by sound or motion….till

Suddenly into it a lithe frog leaps

Alex

‘Wow, look at these flies

They seem about the right size

Fill my belly you guys’

• Frog

Khyber

Beautiful birds

       ArtIstic

          Radiant colours

      BirDs flying in the background

  HappY faces

Zaeemah

Frog

Red lips

Open legs

Googly eyes

Brighty 

Ms Helen Ifandis 

Year 11 Coordinator & Arts Coordinator