From the Head of Junior School – 5 November 2020

The recent spring weather has not only lifted our spirits but it has brought us warmer days, hayfever for some, beautiful roses and flowers in bloom in the school grounds and it reminds us that the end of the year is nigh.

There has been a lot happening in the Junior School. Preparations have been finalised for our Year 6 students’ end of year celebration on Tuesday 8 December. Parents will receive a letter home from the school in the coming week outlining details. Our Year 3 and 4 children would have gone on a camp this term. However, due to its cancellation, the teachers of these year levels have organised a fun day at school on Thursday 3 December for all these students. Parents will receive more details from the teachers in the coming weeks.

Remembrance Day Assembly

Our Year 4 students have done an outstanding job researching and presenting our Remembrance Day assembly which will be uploaded onto Seesaw on Monday 9 November. The children have shown not only great reverence but extraordinary leadership with their efforts. I do encourage you all to take the time to view the assembly as the children have woven some of our school’s history into the reflection or tribute. Thank you to their teachers, Ms McEneaney and Mrs Hallam, who have prepared the students so well.

 

House Athletics

On Thursday 12 November, all Junior School students and the Wallabies and Kangaroos in ELC will compete in the House Athletics.

Each student from Prep to Year 2 will complete in 5 events: hurdles, vortex throw, long jump, a sprint and a relay. Each student from Year 3 to Year 6 will complete in 8 events: long jump, vortex throw, discus, long jump, hurdles, a sprint, a relay and tunnelball. Our Wallabies and Kangaroos will also have 2 events to run.

Students should wear their House polo shirt on this day, bring their hat and sunscreen! Unfortunately, parents are not allowed on site this year due to COVID-19 regulations. Please know that we will endeavour to capture as much of this special day that we can through photos and video. This will be uploaded on to Seesaw after the event as soon as we possibly can.

House Jogathon

We held a Jogathon last year, an initiative by a BGS student called Thomas Battye. It proved a wonderful event and fundraiser for the school. Due to the economic impact of the pandemic, we reinvented the Jogathon this year, so it is not a fundraiser. The Jogathon will take place during Physical Education classes near the end of the term. Students will walk a course around the front of the school and gain points for their House with each lap that they complete. The House that averages the most laps will win. The House winner will be announced in an upcoming assembly. The children are looking forward to this event as well.

 

Minecraft Education Global Build Championship

Throughout October and early November, 34 students from Years 5 & 6 prepared for a championship set by Minecraft Education.

Students who chose to take part have met weekly to prepare their virtual worlds to meet the following brief: Design and build a space for humans and animals to co-exist together. The students found prompts and built areas in 5 biomes in the Global Championship World Template. Teams receive extra credit for incorporating one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We will endeavour to share some of their work with you over the coming weeks. As new opportunities become available in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), we look forward to seeing more students become involved in a variety of new learning experiences.