Here comes Winter! The temperature is dropping and there is a real crispness to the air. I hope, like me, you have been savouring the beautiful run of blue skies and sunshine we have been enjoying of late. It has been such a pleasure to watch the Junior School students running and jumping, skipping, playing handball, battling in chess (on the outdoor board) and generally enjoying fresh air and sunshine after many weeks confined to the indoors.
There is a hive of activity happening in classrooms all over the school with much rich and deep learning occurring. Our Buddies program is finally underway and the Year 5 and 6 students are thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to bond with their friends in Kindergarten and Year 1. Years 3 and 4 are exploring an integrated unit of study ‘The Earth is there to Share’, a topic which has readily captured the interest of many students – as well as their teachers!
As much as it pains us to do so, we have decided not to hold an onsite Grandparent’s Day event in 2022. The current prevalence of COVID-19 infections amongst our staff and broader parent community makes such an event extremely high risk. Instead, the organising team are currently developing a plan for a video package of musical and classroom activities specifically prepared with our hundreds of Grandparents in mind. An update will be provided mid-term with the goal being to publish the material to all Junior School parents in the last week of Term 2.
For Term 2, we are asking parents who wish to attend our regular school assemblies to please check in via Front Reception (Billa Rd). No prior registration is necessary. For larger, special event assemblies such as our recent ANZAC Day assembly, we will send out information regarding booking a ‘ticket’ to attend so we can continue to manage numbers safely.
Can I urge all parents to review school uniform with the following in mind:
- No mixing of old and new uniform items
- Blazer is always the outer garment coming to and leaving from school (jumpers under blazer or put on once at school / removed prior to going home)
- Boys shirts to be tucked in
- Ties are still compulsory for all boys in Years 3 to 6
- White ankle socks to be worn with sports uniform (not anklets / short sports socks)
- No bangles / rings / necklaces / ankle bracelets / friendship bands etc.
- Top buttons of blouses (girls K to 6) and boys (Years 3 to 6) are to be done up
Finally, best wishes to all our music students who are performing in the two Peripatetic Concerts taking place on Monday and Wednesday evening this week. And a reminder that students in Years 3 and 5 commence their NAPLAN online assessments as from tomorrow morning (Tuesday 10 May).
Mr Andrew Coote
Head of Junior School