FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Book Week: ‘Dreaming with eyes open’
This week’s Book Week learning experiences and celebrations have provided another opportunity for highlighting the importance of quality literature through the Early Childhood and Primary years. Supporting children’s access to, and engagement with, literature is extremely important for their success. We – teachers, parents and extended family – can never do enough to help students develop a love and passion for reading.
Not only is reading literature important in developing cognitive skills to help success in a school or work setting, but it is also valuable in so many aspects of personal development for young readers. Developing opinions on a wide range of issues, strengthening cognition through evaluating and analysing themes (including those in wordless picture books), building emotional intelligence, fostering social skills, growing understanding of cultural differences are all high on the list of benefits from reading quality children’s literature.
Thank you to all staff, students (including Year 12 readers) and parents who entered into the spirit of Book Week. The excitement of students right across the Campus as they discovered new books, met visiting authors or listened to readers visiting their classroom rippled through all learning spaces. The ‘dress up as a favourite character’ day made the week a very special one.
Lachie Wright
Head of Junior School
Student Led Conferences
All Year 1-5 families are reminded of the need to book an appointment time for your Student Led Conference on Wednesday 14 September. This is an important event in the school year for your child and you, and it is anticipated that every student will have a parent or family member with whom they can share their 2022 learning to date.
For Prep students, this will be a Bush Learning Conference on Monday 12 September 12 from 10.30am at the West Launceston side of the First Basin (meet near the playground).
Lachie Wright
Head of Junior School
Book Week in conneXions
Bookweek continued at the Junior school with various events personalised for year levels across the campus. On Monday, Early Learning students attended conneXions to read, dance and play along with the picture book Dancing With Memories hosted online by the National Portrait Gallery. A beautiful story featuring the main character with dementia and students connected by sharing our favourite memories with each other.
Later in the day, some Year 3-5 students joined together for a digital workshop with author & illustrator Matt Stanton, which focused on creativity and innovation. Matt has created many books, including the Funny Kid series. Students learned how Matt creates his characters and how to get started on drawing their own characters with illustration tips for drawing characters from different angles. The Dash – Matt Stanton (soc.tas.edu.au)
Tuesday saw enthusiastic Year 4 learners coming together to join with author Nat Amoore, a Sydney-based writer who is passionate about encouraging kids to read and write and explore their imagination without boundaries. Nat recently collaborated with an artist on her latest book, We Run Tomorrow and published a novel / graphic mashup. Students were guided to invent a superhero with scaffolded activities from Nat. The Dash – Nat Amoore (soc.tas.edu.au)
On Wednesday, some of our youngest learners were lucky enough to have stories read to them by members of the Student Executive team. With learners visiting and moving stations to hear from various Year 12 students, including Thelma the unicorns, conneXions was a busy place as the Junior school also hosted a dress-up day. What a lovely experience to have our older students sharing their passion for books with Early Learning, Prep and Year 2 audiences.
Year 1 Christmas, Bunker and Blair students had a special treat on Wednesday as we welcomed a local author and illustrator, Fiona Levings from Hobart. Spending time with each class, Fiona was able to personally connect with students as we explored her nonfiction picture book, Now and Then, which connected beautifully to their Term 2 Inquiry, Past and the Present. It was wonderful to see each class relating with Fiona in a small workshop space and sharing their learnings, developing new information and connections. The Dash – Now and Then (soc.tas.edu.au)
What a special week!
Use the conneXions links provided above to chat about the week with your children.
Kylie Brewster
conneXions teacher
ArtStart
Congratulations to the following Year 3 students whose ink portrait drawings have been included in the current ArtStart QVMAG exhibition: Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
Luka Uren, Zeke Yang Sun, Jessica Lowe, Thomas Mau, Maia Barritt
Their work is on show at the Wellington St QVMAG in the space surrounding the cafe.
Suzanne Crease
Coordinator Arts & Learning Environments
Upcoming events
A very special event!
We are delighted to announce the return of a Junior School production, with students performing in Disney’s The Jungle Book, Kids.
Join our Year 5 students as they tell the story of Mowgli, a boy who has been raised by a pack of wolves, who must leave the only home he has ever known, when the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan, unleashes his mighty roar. Along the journey, Mowgli meets some of the jungle’s friendly, and not-so-friendly, animals and learns some valuable life lessons.
The Jungle Book, Kids will be held in the Horton Auditorium at the Penquite Campus on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 September from 7.00pm.
Adults: $7.50 Student/Concession: $5
Book your tickets today!
An opportunity for fathers or a supportive person in our students’ lives to come together to celebrate Fathers’ Day. We’d be delighted if you could join us for a special breakfast at the Elphin Campus on Friday 2 September.
Cost: $10 per person
When booking, you will need to book for your child/ren as well as any guests attending.