FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
School-Family Partnership
One key plank in the school-home partnership supporting student learning is opportunities for parents to share on-campus experiences with their children. Term 4 is always a special time with many opportunities for this and after two years of visitor caps and restrictions, we look forward to an exciting time ahead this year.
This weekend’s Year 5/6 Basketball Championships (and next weekend for Year 3/4) are a wonderful opportunity for parent involvement. Next Thursday, the Leavers Assembly for Year 12 students who commenced their time at the College is a special day for parents who spent much time on the Elphin Campus six years or more ago to revisit the campus. LIVE@Elphins for Prep-Year 2 classes on Wednesday mornings begin next week also with Year 1 Christmas families invited to join their children for the first of these. All Prep and Year 1 families are invited to the P-1 Sports morning on November 8. These are just the beginning with further opportunities at all Year levels for parents and families to join us for end-of-year events. The online calendar lists all of these and details of each event will be forwarded to families involved in advance.
At the same time, transition events leading in to 2023 are scheduled through the Term. The Learning Together program for next year’s new Early Learning families commenced this week, Information Evenings for parents of 2023 Early Learning, Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students are in the calendar for mid-November, as are Orientation Days for families new to the College next year later in the month.
Class teachers and the Junior School Office are able to provide further information for specific events for anybody requiring this at any time. We look forward to sharing and celebrating student learning achievements and activities together with parents and families throughout this Term.
Sun Protection
The rising daily UV levels this week (10:00 am – 5:00 pm) are a reminder to us all of the importance of sun protection for all. This is especially important for younger children. We are fortunate on the Elphin Campus to have extensive natural shade cover and Early Learning families will have noticed the shade sails which were installed again in these outdoor learning spaces during the holidays. Planning for outdoor learning activities for all Junior School students prioritises sun protection. Students’ own awareness of self-protection in this regard is also regularly promoted in class discussions. The wearing of a hat during break times and other outdoor learning experiences is a requirement for all age groups and sunscreen and sunglasses are other protective options available to all.
Lachie Wright
Head of Junior School
Illustrator workshop
Early Learning students gathered together as a large group this week in conneXions to join with author and illustrator, Renee Treml.
Renee is an American-born writer and illustrator who lives now lives on the Surf Coast of Victoria. We enjoyed a spectacular storytime and learnt about Australian animals using songs, stories and movement. Starting with her picture book, Roo Knows Blue, we went on a colour hunt, then practiced counting with her Ten Little Owls book, and finished by singing a lullaby with Wombat Big, Puggle Small. Meeting with authors and illustrators is so special for children, and using online events to learn about working and listening together are all part of the process leading up to the author workshops in the Primary years. Learn more about Renee and her beautiful stories click here.
Kylie Brewster
conneXions Teacher