Junior School

Year 5 Grandparents' Mass Video - Request for Photos

A reminder that all Year 5 families are invited to send a photo of their child with his grandparent/s to sarah.tatola@spc.nsw.edu.au for inclusion in the Grandparents Mass video. 

Sarah Tatola

Junior School Teacher

Year 5 Grandparents’ Mass

As Mrs Tatola has communicated to Year 5 families, the Year 5 Grandparents’ Mass and morning tea, a highlight of the calendar, has had to be changed to an online video liturgy. We deeply regret that both Year 5 and Year 6 have missed this important event due to restrictions, but we are sure you will understand and want to do everything possible to care for your elders. 

Please be sure to respond to Mrs Tatola’s request for photos today so she can prepare the liturgy for this Friday 23 July.

Remote Learning Feedback

I am pleased to say that the feedback Junior School leaders and teachers are getting from families and students is very positive indeed. I am glad because this validates our efforts to support your children, but more importantly, because it means that children and families are doing well under what may be difficult circumstances. Also, families reaching out in this way shows that they understand the wisdom of expressing gratitude. In uncertain times, when much is beyond our control or influence, we can choose to view life and circumstances from a paradigm of gratitude, which tends to have a positive impact on wellbeing and our social connections. So, may I encourage and request you to keep the feedback coming to the teachers who are working so hard for your children.

On the other hand, we have received a small number of reports of boys needing help to make better decisions. This might be because they made an untoward comment in the ‘chat’ section of Teams, akin to call out and speaking over the teacher, for example, or posting a meme that is not age appropriate. It has been a pleasure to support the families and class teachers in managing these matters because, as I have mentioned before, such events give us the chance to make the College’s and your family’s values clearer, and for young boys to grow and refine their moral compass. I might also add that parents would be wise to keep an eye on students’ social media platforms that are beyond the College’s systems, as things do get said and shared that are beyond our sphere of influence that you might like to be aware of for follow up.

Junior School Semester 1 Academic Excellence Awards

The Junior School Academic Excellence Awards were scheduled to be handed out at College Assembly and respective Pastoral Care Periods. As this is not possible at this point in time, we wanted to announce the recipients here for the students receiving the Year 5 and Year 6 Academic Excellence Awards across nine Key Learning Areas. The other class-based Academic Excellence Awards will be announced at a later date. Congratulations to the following students for their diligence, work ethic and exceptional demonstration of their knowledge, skills and understanding:

Ben Munday

Director of Junior School