From the 

Head of Junior School

Diversity in Learning

In a few short days the Junior School has sprung into action for Term 2. As we begin a new Term I am in awe of the achievements our students have made in their first term, not just in one area of life at Kinross Wolaroi School but in all aspects. 

We have seen championship level performances in multiple sports, on land and in the water. We have seen new friendships flourish with a focus on open-mindedness and social skill development. We have seen incredibly hard work in the classroom, with wonderful examples of deep learning in the products the children have created. We have seen sensational musical performances at both informal and formal events. And our brand-new Pre-K and Kindies have adapted to life at school with such incredible ease – it’s like they’ve been here for years! All of this jam-packed into 10 weeks of effort, hard work, and persistence; a demonstration of students trying new things, experimenting with their learning, and putting their absolute best effort out there. Bravo to our students and our dedicated staff! I am looking forward to seeing what the term ahead brings.

Schools, rightly so, are most often associated with subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics. However, we provide much more than this as we know diversity in learning experiences and staffing is crucial for the holistic development of children, equipping them with a broad range of skills that are essential for personal, social, and emotional development. Through a diverse offering students have a chance to explore interests, build social skills, and develop leadership qualities. In this way we not only develop knowledgeable students but well-rounded individuals.

Through diversity our aim is to engage students. Engagement refers to the level of involvement, enthusiasm, and investment students have in their academic work. We know engaged students are more likely to be motivated, persistent, and achieve success in their learning endeavours. There are many factors that influence student engagement, including their relationships with school, curriculum, and pedagogy. Our Learning Enhancement Team, Area 51, our Music program, art, PDHPE, Christian Education, Library and social emotional learning are just a few of the diverse experiences our students engage with each week alongside reading, writing and mathematics.

Social Emotional Learning

Relationships are the heart of everything we do in the Junior School. We value the importance of positive relationships with all members of our community.  In the tradition of the Uniting Church, we aspire to develop our values of courage, respect, inclusiveness, resilience, and commitment through the lens of our wellbeing program. We know student wellbeing is enhanced through a connected, supportive environment which manifests in an individual’s ability to fulfil their personal goals and contribute meaningfully to society.

There are several ways we support student wellbeing in the Junior School. Firstly, through a well-planned and sequential Personal Development, Health and Physical Education curriculum that develops the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes important for students to take positive action to protect and enhance their own and others’ health, safety, and wellbeing in varied and changing contexts.

We provide our students with opportunities to mix horizontally and vertically across age groups through our sports house muster events, regular assemblies, fortnightly visits to Windemere and national days of celebration.  Extensive options in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities provides students with exciting opportunities to explore their personal areas of interest. For example, in Area 51 students can explore their passion in STEM, games club encourages students to play together and be inclusive, chess, dance, art and debating are just a few of the extra-curricular activities that we provide to enhance student wellbeing. 

We are excited to be continuing to train all teachers, students and parents of the Junior School community in the URSTRONG program. This program focuses on a whole school friendship strategy that is informed by emerging wellbeing research and introduces students to strategies that they can use in the classroom, playground and out of school to navigate friendships. 

We work as a team to provide support for all students in partnership with parents in order to foster positive, respectful relationships to support children’s wellbeing. I would like to strongly encourage all families and their children to attend our upcoming parent and student URSTRONG workshop. Through empowering our students with skills to create a culture of kindness we hope that together we can support children to have healthy, feel-good friendships. Parent participation with their child at the workshop will assist in embedding this philosophy.

Each week students engage in social and emotional learning with the goal being to fill student’s toolkits with skills and strategies they need to access throughout life.  They are taught in a safe and happy environment so when they need to draw on these strategies, they are confident and capable to do so. There are many components taught within social and emotional learning organised under five main headings: 

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills and
• Responsible decision making

Social and emotional learning complements the core teaching of the PDHPE curriculum. Research tells us an education that promotes social and emotional learning has a positive impact on a wide range of outcomes, including academic performance, healthy relationships, mental wellness, and more. In turn this supports children to be lifelong learners who contribute to a caring and compassionate world. 

The Learning Enhancement Team 

Students in the Junior School all benefit from the Learning Enhancement Team who work to ensure all students optimise their learning across all aspects of the curriculum. The beginning of the year saw a restructure and name change to the team. However, their flexibility, professionality and sense of fun has not changed. 

Learning Enhancement Aides, LEA’s, work in the classroom alongside students to ensure they are accessing the curriculum at point of need. Their aim is to provide targeted support during Literacy and Mathematics activities. Alongside these subjects, LEA’s provide support during choir, sport and swimming lessons, Science and HSIE. Our LEA’s are involved in all aspects of school life.

Boost Groups provide targeted reading practice and have been a huge success in Term 1. Students, through participation in small groups have consolidated and developed their reading skills using researched based programs such as MiniLit and MacqLit.

The Learning Enhancement Team helps to assess students so data can be used by teachers to inform learning intentions. During Term 1 LEA’s helped with Mathematics screening, spelling tests and DIBELS reading assessments. 

The Learning Enhancement Team participates in professional learning opportunities alongside classroom and specialist staff. Experiences include Cyber Safety, Personal Safety of Students and input into TREE activities. 

Strong respectful relationships are key in the team, both with each other and with the students they support each day.

Area 51

Area 51 is always a very busy place with diverse experiences linked to in class programs. In Term 1 devices were distributed to all classes, eSafety lessons were delivered and digital technology was authentically integrated into class units. Minecraft Social club during lunchtimes provides an opportunity for students to take passions inspired in the classroom further. Students develop connections with their peers as they plan and develop their worlds.

In Term 1

• Kindergarten explored the Earth using Google Earth as part of their Term 1 Geography unit. 
• Year 1 students received new iPads, which they will continue to use in Year 2. The iPads were used extensively as they worked through the Build With Bees Minecraft lessons in line with their Science unit.
• Year 2 worked enthusiastically to create LEGO Stop Motion Nursery Rhymes.
• To assist with the transition from iPads to laptops as their main device, Year 3 worked through Laptop Bootcamp, navigating the laptops and developing skills in accessing programs on this device.
• The Junior School 1-to-1 device program expanded this year to include Year 4, who received new laptops that will follow these students through to Year 6. Year 4 explored the Micro:bit Global Goals and then used the micro:bits to help a sustainability issue. 
• Year 5 studied digital networks. This unit included a demonstration of computer components from Mr Pearce, the school’s ICT Manager, and a presentation on artificial intelligence from Mr Triggs, a professional currently working in this industry.
• Year 6 developed the skills to create an interactive poster using Makey Makeys, including switches, sound bites, gifs and clips.
• Students in Years 3 to 6 participated in a travelling workshop from Questacon, working on a design project in small groups. These year groups also had a presentation from the very well-informed and respected Cybersafety speaker, Susan McLean.

As Term 2 commences Year 4 has already completed a Robotics workshop, where students modified their robots and using block coding to give instructions for doing the Hokey Pokey dance. Starting soon Area 51 will host a LEGO Masters lunchtime club.

Cocurricular Music Program

The Junior School co-curricular music program got off to a flying start in Term 1. We were delighted to welcome our new Junior Strings Coordinator, Lindsay Irik, who oversees our strings program including Year 1 string classes and Junior String Orchestra. The Junior School String Quartet has demonstrated excellent progress under Lindsay’s tutelage as seen at the Windermere Open Day in Term 1.  Players in the Beginner String Ensemble are now developing their sightreading skills with new and exciting repertoire and are excited to welcome some new players in Term 2.  

Junior Concert Band has been refining their ensemble skills and developing their range of repertoire as they tackle well known pieces like Funky Town. This has given our newly expanded percussion section lots to do! In the classroom, Year 4 have been busily learning new skills on various band instruments, with students progressing well and demonstrating great enthusiasm for playing. We are looking forward to students continuing with individual lessons once the program concludes.  

Students involved in Koristers (Year 5-8 selective choir) have been busily learning a range of repertoire for a busy term ahead and many of our Year 5 and 6 students have demonstrated their enthusiasm for singing, during the auditions for the Stage 3 Musical Tut, Tut. This will be staged at the Civic Theatre in September this year. We are looking forward to seeing all our students involved in this fun and energetic production. 

Don’t forget the Junior School Performing Arts Festival on June 1 5.30pm in the DPA to see all our ensembles, including all stage Choirs, dance ensemble and performances in Speech and Drama.  

Kinross Wolaroi Students making their Mark 

At Kinross Wolaroi School 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.

Orange ANZAC Day Remembrance Service

ANZAC Day in Orange is a special experience. It has been wonderful to see the number of students marching and attending the service in Robinson Park grow over the last few years. Our students proudly represented Kinross Wolaroi from the moment the bells tolled at 10:30am, when a hush fell over the students, to the final notes of the last post.