FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Welcome to Term 3
Welcome all students and families to the new Term. The excitement of this week’s Early Learning Erina Celebration of Learning (thank you to all parents and families who joined their children for this) exemplified the impetus for learning flooding the Junior School campus in Week 1.
The words of the oft-quoted Kath Murdoch are pertinent for us all as teachers and parents as we launch into a new Term. ‘How we teach not only influences learner achievement, it also shapes the way learners think about themselves as learners and the way they think about the nature of learning itself….Our teaching can steer [our children] towards being risk-averse, competitive, and compliant or towards adventurousness, collaboration and enthusiasm…. Amongst other things, we must keep perseverance, critical thinking, curiosity, open mindedness, empathy and a healthy scepticism to the fore.’
Everybody entering the campus from Elphin Road this week will have noticed the garden, play space and fencing work done during the holidays – another element of the new beginnings that a new Term heralds and jump-starting the seasonal change that Spring brings to the Elphin Campus in a physical sense as well as in our mindsets.
We are now more than 20% of the way from the winter solstice to the summer solstice!
Next week our Prep students will celebrate their first 100 days of full-time school. Science Week and Children’s Book Week are approaching quickly, and the calendar for the next 10 weeks is full of engrossing learning experiences and exciting events for all Junior School learners.
I trust that all school families had an enjoyable mid-year break and wish everybody well for a productive and fulfilling Term 3.
Lachie Wright
Head of Junior School
Tree Planting
On a trip to the Wetlands for Bush Learning in Term 2, Early Learning Erina students noticed trees being cut down due to a disease. They asked what could they do to replace the trees. Today was National Tree Planting Day and the students were able to do just that, revisiting and helping to plant replacements with the help of some senior students and our amazing grounds staff. A great student-led initiative by our youngest students.
Rob Bastick
Coordinator of Sustainability