Junior School News

From the Head of Junior School

As you will all be aware from Dr O’Rielly’s regular communications, we are working hard as a school to ensure that our students are safe, well cared for and have as normal a school experience as we can provide for them.

Our classroom teachers have maintained a regular teaching program and have adjusted some of the elements to ensure we minimise the chance of social transmission as much as they can. They are also preparing units for online learning and, as much as is possible during the day, are providing work for those students who are remaining away from the school setting. I sincerely thank the teachers for their efforts above and beyond what is expected so that we, as a school, can minimise the disruption to student learning.

It was great to see the children working this week to engage with the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. Mrs Bath has spent the last fortnight developing activities and working with the SRC to prepare activities. The students have loved each activity and seeing the cooperation and joy exhibited during the activities has been a  welcome reminder that we can still enjoy our learning while following the necessary restrictions that have been put in place.

Mrs Peter has provided below a brief overview of our online preparation for any potential school closure. There is also some very good information for parents on how to support their children emotionally.

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Girton Students Braved the Shave

On Wednesday 11th March, a group of students from Girton Grammar Junior School shaved their heads to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia Foundation, whilst other students played their part with crazy hairstyles.

Twenty students, including two girls and a female teacher, took part in the annual fundraiser and representatives from World’s Greatest Shave attended the event.

Mrs Viv Bath, Deputy Head of Girton Grammar Junior School and passionate advocate for the event, said that the school has a long history of raising money and awareness through the World’s Greatest Shave event.

“Both our Senior School and Junior School students and staff have supported this event for fourteen years.

“Last year the Junior School and Senior School raised a combined total of more than $35,000 for the Leukemia Foundation.  This year Junior School have raised $19,500 and the figure is still climbing.

“It is quite moving to watch young children pledging their commitment to supporting Leukemia research in this very personal way.

“Their understanding of the problem being bigger than themselves is profound for such young people,” Mrs Bath said.

Jools for Jim hairdressing donated time and provided hairdressers for this event.

Please click on the images above to view the gallery

Junior School Athletics

On Friday 13th March, the annual Junior School Athletics Carnival was held at the Flora Hill Athletics Track.    All our students competed with enthusiasm and passion.  The weather held off for us and all events were completed.  All students should be proud of their participation and encouragement of each other.  It is always wonderful to see students looking after their peers and being genuinely happy for each other.  

The House Captains once again rallied their Houses to perform their House Cheer with Jones taking out the Spirit Cup and Jenkin House for winning the overall House Cup for the day.

Congratulations to all our students and especially our age champions:

9 year old           Maya Dhanapala             Benjamin Bowles

10 year old         Ruby Flanagan                 Oscar Worme   

11 year old         Lily Georgeos                   Charlie Black / Will de Vries

12 year old         Audrey Jackson               Axel Drummond

Please click on the images above to view the gallery

National Week Against Bullying and Violence

Friendship Tree

The Junior School marked National Week Against Bullying and Violence by constructing a 'Friendship Tree', where students from Prep to Year Six posted their ideas about the value of friendship and of caring for one another.

The Year Five students coordinated this lunchtime event that ran all week, from the 16th to the 20th of March.  Each day, representatives of the three Year Five classes met their peers to assist with fastening the leaves and flowers to the peppercorn tree, aka 'Friendship Tree'.

In class, each had student decorated a leaf or flower template and composed messages about the importance of being a good friend. Students wrote from the heart and kindly shared their thoughts for others to read and to reflect upon.

The Friendship Tree reminded us that friendships should be nurtured and are a powerful force for good.

                   “It’s not enough to be friendly. You have to be a friend.” —R.J. Palacio, Wonder

Nicola Matthew

Year Five Teacher

Please click on the above images to view the gallery

Friendship Bands

During Week 8, Year Six have been helping in the library to make friendship bracelets with the younger students for Bullying No Way Day on Friday the 20th of March. We have all enjoyed making the bracelets and getting to know some of the younger students.

Sarah Crosby (6 Riley)

Posters made with Senior School buddies

During Week 7 and 8, Year Six students made Anti-Bullying posters, with two tips for other students and a nice photo of themselves. The posters were placed around the Junior School to educate younger children on how to cope and stop bullying.

Bullying is a terrible thing some people do that is used to make another person feel sad, depressed or to make the bully happy. If bullying goes unhelped, it can cause depression, sadness, movement of schools or jobs, and the question of life and worst-case scenario suicide.

But Bullying can be stopped if bystanders speak up against the bully. Victims can do this too. If you get bullied speak to a trusted adult or teacher or talk to a trusted friend. These Posters help bullying victims do things to stop bullies from bullying. They are also giving advice to victims, from friends, who may have been bullied before.

Mitchell Clark (6 Aherne)

Superpowers – Year Four

Year 4 children focused on using their superpowers to become upstanders.  They learnt about the importance of being an upstander not a bystander. Students will learn how to stand up to bullying with these four superpowers:

1) Be a Buddy    2) Interrupt   3) Speak out      4) Tell someone

We talked about how it takes courage to be an upstander and that upstanders are people who do something that prevents or reduces the bullying they see or helps others who are being bullied by showing them kindness. 

Junior School Online Learning

In the event of a school closure, the Junior School teachers and Specialists will provide a home learning programme. This programme will cover the same curriculum outcomes as our existing lessons.  We are committed to ensuring continuous and meaningful learning for all. 

We are currently working on what course delivery will look like.  All lessons will use Astra as a central point of delivery.

In the meantime, you may like to prepare for possible online learning by checking that your children have access to:

• an internet connected computer (or device)
• a printer and ink supplies
• a means to scan work samples (scanner or digital camera/ phone to take photos of work)
• a supply of printer paper
• basic stationery supplies (coloured pencils, glue, scissors, writing pencil)

To support you during the period of home learning we will provide you with relevant information and suitable learning tasks for your child to complete. We encourage you to assist your child with the learning tasks and we are happy for you to modify the task according to your child’s individual needs.

We encourage you to email your teacher every few days to let them know how your child is progressing. Your child may also like to communicate with the teacher directly or just send an email to say hello. We will certainly miss seeing them each day.

This is a new experience for us all and we understand that there will be constraints. Thank you in advance for your support.  This is an unusual situation we are all facing, and we will be working to ensure where possible all content and learning is as close to normal as possible.

Mrs Tabatha Peter

Head of Junior School Curriculum