Myrniong - ELC to Yr 6
Notices Sent Home
Year 6 Camps
Year 2 Strings
Year 6 Leadership
Year 1 Home Reading
Prep to Year 2 Swimming sports
2022 - A Year of Celebrating Learning
A very warm welcome to 2022 to all in our Junior School Learning community. I trust your holiday break was a relaxing and enjoyable one. On taking our dog for a walk last week, I spied a quote outside the Hamilton Florist- ‘The secret to success is to make your vacation your vacation.’
We welcome the following students to the Junior School.
Prep- Annie Barber, Sanvi Bhutani, Harry Broeren, Will Diprose, Herbie Dyer, Tobias Hilsdon, Jack Nagorcka, Evie Pickford, Campbell Reid and Charles Wall
Year 1- George Robertson and Chelsea Pickford
Year 2- Hazel Johns and Lachlan Pickford
Year 4- Oliver Duffy, Ada O’Brien and Hugo Toma
Year 6-Will Cameron, Abigail Henderson and Harriet Stacy
It has been a positive and vibrant start to the school year. Intensive Swimming has successfully commenced and there has been a tangible sense of excitement in the Prep to Year 6 classrooms. Our new Chinese teacher, Mrs. Lori Rong, has settled in nicely and Mrs Christie is enjoying her new teaching space in the Vines building.
Junior School COVID-19 Protocols
The College is adhering to Victorian Government Schools ‘Operations Guidelines’.
*Masks are mandatory for all students in Years 3 to 6. They are recommended for students in Prep to Year 2 classes. Students who use College and local bus networks must wear a mask.
*Free RAT (rapid antigen tests) went out to all Junior School students and staff on Wednesday. Staff and students will be required to test twice weekly on non-consecutive school days. The choice of testing days is up to individual families. We recommend testing in the morning.
*We ask parents to keep unwell children at home. If a student presents unwell throughout the school day, they will be isolated in our meeting room, and parents contacted and asked to come and collect.
*Where a Junior School student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) parents must inform the school and isolate for seven days. Classroom teachers are not able to provide a hybrid program of ‘at school and Remote Learning’. Some revision work will be provided to be completed at home.
*Parents are permitted onsite. They must wear a mask, be fully vaccinated and if entering Junior School buildings, QR sign in on entry.
*We will adequately ventilate our classroom and teaching/administration spaces. Outside areas will also be used for some lessons.
* Classroom teachers will continually emphasise good hygiene protocols and social distancing
Changes To House Competitions
Over the last years we have been monitoring our student numbers in each of our Junior School Houses. There are sizable differences between each of the four houses. Some Houses are unable to field relay teams in certain age groups. This year we are trialling a new system for the Junior School House Swimming, Athletics and Cross-Country competitions. Berry and Young Houses will combine their points and students, as will Laidlaw and Learmonth. We hope this will make for a more equitable and closer competition. A reminder that parents are welcome to attend House Swimming on Friday 11 February.
New Flag Poles
We have erected two new flag poles at the Junior School. The poles are on the lawned area outside the Early Learning Centre. This will enable us to proudly fly the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, the Australian and College sesquicentennial flags.
2022 House Captaincy Selections
Interested Year Six students will deliver prepared speeches to their House teachers and fellow students next Wednesday morning. This will be an important public speaking opportunity. Students have been given a role description for the position of House Captain and will address the criteria in their speeches. Students and teachers in each House will vote. These votes will be tabled at a staff meeting in Week Two and our 2022 Captains will be announced on Thursday 10 February. At College, we are honest and upfront about seeking the best students to fill leadership positions. Our new arrivals to Year 6 have every opportunity to deliver a quality speech and be considered to lead a House. The eight elected House Captains will join Junior School Captains, Amelie Shrive and Lachlan Reid, in a 10-strong leadership team. Best of luck to all Year 6 students.
Junior School House Swimming
Parents and friends are invited to join us at our annual Junior School Swimming Carnival which will be held on Friday, 11 February at the outdoor pool. For the younger students this is a celebration of the skills they have developed and confidence they have gained throughout the swimming program. For our senior students it is a chance to compete for the Myrniong House Swimming cup and also to potentially qualify for the School Sport Victoria Division Championships in Warrnambool.
We are very mindful that some children feel anxious about racing their peers in the water, whilst others are particularly confident. The focus of this event is House participation, having a go, encouragement and enjoyment while being safe in the water. Helpers are welcomed on the day of the sports. If you would like to help at the carnival, please advise Nat Povey.
Mrs Louise Patterson
Junior School PE Teacher
Stephen Nelson
Head of Junior School