Junior School News

From the Head of Junior School

As you know, our school is committed to ensuring that our students have access to the best educational opportunities that we can offer. This is not limited to the core subjects, but also to education in the arts, sport, community and even our emotions. Our staff and students learn about how their emotions impact us and others. 

In 2011 our Junior School introduced the RULER approach to Emotional intelligence when 3 staff members travelled to YALE. Since learning about RULER, Junior School has embedded the approach in every classroom and we ensure that all of our students and staff are trained using RULER. Recently our new staff came together to be trained in the RULER approach. 

The training occurred on site and was run by Jo Christie, Kym Hogan and Vanessa Juergens. Staff were trained in the four anchors, the Charter, Mood-Meter, Meta-Moment and Blueprint. It was great to see the attendees so positive when learning about emotions and grateful to be involved in such a beneficial program for our students. This is the first training session for this year and staff could see the benefits of using the RULER approach with the students and were pleased to have a better understanding of what they have observed in their time since commencing at Girton Grammar School. 

There will be information sessions for parents later in the year. In the meantime, there is information available on Astra on the Parent Services page. https://astra.girton.vic.edu.au/homepage/5004

Mr Donald Thompson

Head of Junior School

Regional Swimming

On Tuesday 14th March, a group of 13 Girton Grammar Junior School students participated in the annual Swan Hill Regional Swimming Championships. To gain entry into this Regional level competition, they had to win first place at the Bendigo Divisional Swimming Championships.  

As the Girton Junior School contingent arrived, we were lucky enough to cheer on the final Girton Senior School relay swimmers. It was quickly evident that the Junior school students were very keen to bring home medals completing each race with determination and good sportsmanship. 

Every Junior School student was awarded first and some an additional second-place medal. This, in turn, has resulted in all 13 students advancing to the Melbourne MSAC Swimming Competition to be held early in Term Two.

We congratulate every student who swam at the Swan Hill Regional Swimming Championships. We especially applaud them for their support and camaraderie displayed on the day. 

We wish all the students attending MSAC the best of luck in the pool!  

James Davenport – 1st breaststroke, 1st butterfly

Sophie Lee – 1st breaststroke, 2nd backstroke

Stella McIntosh – 1st freestyle, 2nd butterfly

Owen Barnes – 1st freestyle 

Lauren Davenport – 1st freestyle 

Meisha Dunlop – 2nd freestyle 

1st – 10yr old girls freestyle: Stella McIntosh, Sophie Lee, Rae Anwyl, Aria Hendrix               

1st – 11yr old boys freestyle: Owen Barnes, Joshua Ashby, Digby Snell, Luca Krelle               

1st – 12 yr old girls medley relay: Emma Pomeroy, Maya Dhanapala, Lauren Davenport, Meisha Dunlop    

NAPLAN

Over the last two weeks our Year Three and Five students sat the annual NAPLAN testing. The NAPLAN testing is a National Assessment for Literacy and Numeracy held each year.  Most of the tests are now online tests. The students all took each day in their stride.

Crazy Hair, Big Hearts: Girton Junior School unites for World's Greatest Shave

Eleven Year 6 students from Girton Grammar School said goodbye to their locks today to show their solidarity with those fighting against cancer.

The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s longest-running and most well-loved fundraising campaigns. This year is the World’s Greatest Shave official 25th Anniversary and the charity hopes to raise $16 million. 

Hats off to Junior School students Olivia Wang, Flynn Radford, Ava Richards, Hughey Smith, Joe Conlan, Rafay Jeddi, Harry Kilby, Ben Bowles, Vihaan Agarwal, Bao Long Nguyen and Remy van Staveren. These incredible young people have shown they are not afraid to take bold steps for what they believe in, and have proven that anyone can make a difference, no matter their age.

A little bit of bravery and determination can go a long way, and the Girton Community's remarkable generosity played a significant role in helping our Junior School exceed its goal of raising $15,000 for charity, with more than $16,500 in donations, with more still coming in. 

The event was not only a success in terms of fundraising, but it was also a moment of great unity and camaraderie within the school. Prep to Year 6 students came together in a special Assembly to cheer on their brave peers, sporting crazy hairstyles to show their support.

Thank you to Mrs Viv Bath and Mrs Vickie Holland for coordinating this memorable event, as well as Stephen Mow Hair Studio for donating their time.

All Country Junior Championships at MSAC

A number of Junior School students competed in the All Country Junior Championships at MSAC recently. They all did well with many achieving medals at the end of the two-day event:

Semi-finalists (just missing a Finals placing finishing as an emergency)

·         Lucy Richard

·         Emma Pomeroy

·         Stella McIntosh

Finalists

·         Sophie Lee (all four strokes)

·         Owen Barnes (Backstroke & Butterfly)

·         Lauren Davenport (Butterfly & Breaststroke)

Medallists

·         William Knight (Backstroke)

·         Maya Reid (Breaststroke)

·         Owen Barnes (Freestyle)

·         Lauren Davenport (Backstroke & Freestyle)

·         James Davenport (all four strokes)