Junior School

Welcome back to school! 

How excited we were to welcome students back to school on Wednesday 28 July, and into the new Junior School buildings. I must admit, it was rather a struggle to hear the news that we would, once again, be in lockdown at the start of Term 3 and return to remote learning. We missed the students so much and feel the tension between the need to stay safe and having to teach and learn in a different place and space. I thank staff, students and parents for their incredible support, grace and patience during this time.

We love the new building and thank the School Council, Dr Douglas Peck and the wonderful teams who made this project possible. It is indeed a lovely space in which to teach and learn. The sound of happy children echoes throughout the building and I am appreciating the waves and smiles as students pass by my office during the day. To experience learning in such a modern, spacious and vibrant environment will be indeed a blessing to our students. We are confident that we will soon be able to invite parents into these spaces to celebrate the completion of this project. We cannot wait to take you on a tour, when allowed.

On Thursday 29 July, in live Chapel via MS Teams, we formally acknowledged the students elected to serve in the roles of Home Group Captain and Enviro Captain for Semester 2. Students received a badge and certificate to acknowledge this new appointment. We take this opportunity to thank the students who ably served in these roles in Semester 1. Their contribution was much appreciated.

Junior School Leadership 2021 - Semester 2

On Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 August, we will meet with parents for our Semester 2 Parent Teacher Interviews, albeit via videoconference. It will be lovely to see parents face-to-face over the screen – we miss seeing you all onsite too!  We look forward to our conversations as we reflect on Semester 1 and set goals for student learning in the term ahead. We value this partnership with parents.

Please watch for communications about upcoming events, as we take into consideration the guidelines for schools in managing the COVID situation.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

Sharee Gaiser

Head of Junior School

What Did You Do at School Today?

Prep

What a great start to the term! We have had so much fun meeting our friends online when learning from home. One of the highlights was practising our song for the Junior School Musical with Mr Clarke, It’s a Hard Knock Life. In Integrated Studies, we are learning about Fairness and Friendship. This week, we learnt about why it is important to follow classroom and family rules. Thank you to our wonderful families that are supporting us with our learning at home.

Year 1

After an exciting school holidays, we were surprised to be learning from home once again. However, we showed determination and resilience despite this interruption. We demonstrated this through our active participation in small group sessions with our teacher. We have become experts in IT social protocols by muting our buttons and raising our hands, showing a growing confidence in our ability to share our learning online. Our teachers are so very proud of our growing independence and ability to adapt and flourish in challenging times.

Year 2

What a fantastic start to Term 3! Although it wasn’t what we expected, we have enjoyed engaging in learning experiences at home. Each day, we have loved seeing our peers online. During video conferences, we have had the opportunity to explore new concepts and grow in relationship with each other. One of our favourite activities was creating a reading fort. Using pillows and blankets, we built a cubby house and used it as an imaginative reading space. Some of us even had a sleepover inside! We are looking forward to what the rest of Term 3 holds. 

Year 3

We began the term via online lessons and meetings and have done an amazing job. Congratulations! We immersed ourselves in our new Integrated Studies unit, Someone Else's Shoes. This involved looking at how people with a disability deal with everyday tasks and the resilience they show. We eagerly await the return of students back to their new classroom!

Year 4

We kicked off this term with a virtual tour of our new classrooms! It’s not quite the same as being together in person, but we are so excited to start using our amazing new learning spaces, as soon as we can. We have begun to investigate our new Integrated Studies topic all about social justice. What does it mean to treat others fairly? Is equal always fair? What can different people and organisations do to ensure that everyone is treated fairly? We are looking forward to diving deeper into all these questions and more!

Year 5

It has been another challenging time for this Year 5 cohort to endure, as camp was again unable to go ahead. But through the disappointment, we have seen the resilience, tenacity and support extended to one another really shine through. Thank you to every family who has guided their child through this time; you are truly raising champions! We could not be more proud of the attitude our students have shown, diving into new topics of learning all while learning from home. We have been immersed in a social justice unit in Integrated Studies that will culminate in a slam poetry presentation at the end of term. We are eager to venture into our new learning spaces and excited for all that is before us in Semester 2!

Year 6

This week, we have explored the Habit of Mind: Thinking Flexibly! Amid our daily class conferences, we have been challenged to solve problems, so that we can communicate and access information effectively and efficiently. While investigating the power of imperative verbs in Writing, we have learned to craft instructions which help someone accomplish a goal. Sometimes this is required when we need to remind our wonderful teachers to unmute their microphone, or share their screen, so they can be heard and seen by all! Can you recognise the imperative verbs in those instructions? It is so exciting to gain greater confidence in these skills, so we can collaborate with each other in meaningful ways.