Head of Junior School 

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our boys, families and staff to the 2023 school year. We especially welcome our new families in Kindergarten, Prep, and Years 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. I would also like to extend a welcome to our new members of staff, Miss Connie Abate (Year 1), Miss Stacey King (Prep), Mrs Alison Wignell (Japanese) and Mr Will Sanders (Learning Support Officer). 

It has been a very exciting start to the year, with the boys finding their new classrooms, catching up with their old friends, making new friends and meeting their teachers. 

Thank you to all our staff who have worked very hard to prepare learning areas, curriculum, resources, play areas and grounds in readiness for the busy start to the year.

Parent Information Evening and Welcome BBQ

Last night we welcomed our parents and families back in-person for our annual Parent Information Evening. This year, we combined this event with our Welcome Barbecue for Junior School families. 

It was lovely to see such a wonderful turn-out to both the information sessions and the barbecue and to have the opportunity to see so many of our families back on the school site with parents, sons and siblings. Thank you to the Junior School P&F who coordinated the Welcome Barbecue. 

Please refer to the P&F Association newsletter page for details about the upcoming College Quiz Night on Friday March 3 and other information about the P&F Association.

Kindergarten

We welcomed our new intake of Kindergarten students on Monday. As you would all appreciate it was a daunting day for many, not only for the boys but also their parents. I can report that they are already thriving in their new Kindergarten class and adjusting to their classroom environment. It was lovely to be able to greet them and see them settle down so well in to their first year of St Virgil’s College.

2023 Junior School Leaders

I would like to introduce you to our 2023 Junior School Leaders.

School Captain: Hamish Bewley

Vice-Captain:  Jesse Mackey

Year 6 SRC:  Ben Pigden and Hamish Deveraux

House Captains, Vice Captains and Aussie Sport Leaders:

Doyle: Mitchell Banks, Jacob Hayes, Kieran Bosworth, Charlie Todd

Dwyer: Harrison Nadler, Bradley Muia, Charlie Bugg, Bailey Siddall

Hessian: Charlie Booth, Rhys Pinnington, William Lowe, Ryder Vagg

Joyce: Oscar Henley, Xavier Houston, Finlay Child, Jack Lemm

Leaders will be commissioned at the Whole School Commissioning on Friday February 24. We look forward to commissioning our students into these leadership roles and encourage all students to understand the importance of being a leader on campus as well as embrace opportunities to support and help all boys and staff. 

Boys considering to be an SRC Representative in Year 5, 4 and 3 are required to hand their application to me by 9.00 am Tuesday February 14. I will interview the boys and ask them to prepare speeches which they will deliver to their class cohort.

Swimming Team Trials & House Swimming Fun Day 

Students in Year 3-6 will participate in two inter-school swimming carnivals in Term 1 - JSSATIS and STCPSSA. To enable a team to be selected for these carnivals we will be conducting Representative Swimming Trials on Tuesday February 21 at Glenorchy War Memorial Pool. Participation in the Representative Swimming Trials is not compulsory. Please note only boys who can confidently swim 50 metres at a reasonable pace should nominate for these trials. Students who do not nominate for the trials will have class at school as normal.

Students will be transported to and from the trials by bus, accompanied by a teacher, leaving school at 8.50 am. They will be returning at approximately 12.00 pm. Students will then return to normal classes for the remainder of the day.  

The Junior School House Swimming Fun Day for Year 3-6 students will be held on March 3, also at Glenorchy War Memorial Pool. The focus of this day is participation and fun. 

Please note the House Carnival will only have 25m races.  For students who participate in the Trials, for whichever stroke/s they do trials for, they will be able to participate in 25m races either in a separate division or with a short time handicap to even the playing field. Students will accumulate points for their House at the Trials and the House Carnival. Parents are welcome to attend. The winning House will be awarded the trophy at the end of the carnival.

Junior School Sport Sign-Up

Registrations are now open for Term 1 Junior School Sport. Registration links can be found on the EdSmart email that was sent to all families on February 2. Sport is a wonderful way for the boys and parents to get to know each other outside of the classroom. We encourage all boys to participate in at least one school sport per year.

Mini Vinnies: Ice Cream Sales

Commencing this Friday at lunch time, our Mini Vinnies boys will be selling icy poles and ice-creams to raise money for charity. Icy poles are 60c and ice creams are $1.50. 

Chess Club

We are very pleased to be able to offer Chess Club again. Chess Club is for players of all ages and abilities. Students receive fun, quality chess lessons from Black Square Chess, who pride themselves on offering the best chess coaching in Tasmania and who work in schools all over southern Tasmania.  

Chess Club is held on Friday afternoons in the Junior School Library from 3.00 pm until 3.50 pm. This term's lessons will start tomorrow, Friday February 10.  A term of eight chess lessons costs $60.  

If you would like to sign up your son, please go to the Black Square Chess link here:

https://blacksquarechess.com/products/st-virgils-junior-chess 

Pelase direct any enquiries to James at blacksqaurechess@hotmail.com.