From the Head of Junior School: Jasmine Taylor

It has been a wonderful start to the school year! I am delighted with the energy and enthusiasm that our students and staff have demonstrated upon their return.

Commissioning of our Junior School leaders
On Friday 29 January at a Commissioning Service led by our School Chaplain, Father Theo McCall, all Junior School student leaders affirmed their promise to fulfill their leadership obligations faithfully and to lead the student body with wisdom, courage and compassion. During the service, I reminded our Junior School Captains to reflect on the School Prayer as they carry out their roles. It is important to recognise that leadership is not only about being strong and assertive but is also about loving and caring for one another. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, is quoted as refusing to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong whilst leading. I completely agree with Ms Ardern’s statement and encourage all of our students to remember this when demonstrating leadership.

COVID safe check in
All adults (including staff and parents) must check-in by scanning the QR code or completing the paper recording log template when entering the campus. You can find QR code posters at the main entrances and on classroom doors. A paper copy of the check-in form is located at the front desk.

Junior School Swimming
Years 5 and 6 Swimming has commenced this week ahead of the Years 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival to be held on Monday 1 March. Swimming shorts are an option in addition to the traditional Speedos. We now also have long sleeve rash vests available for sale as a swimming uniform option.

Mathematical Mindsets
As mentioned in my welcome letter, our homeroom teachers have commenced a Mathematical Mindsets course through the Stanford Graduate School of Education. It has been encouraging to see teachers across the School launching into discussion around growth mindset, particularly in the area of Mathematics. In a class I visited this week, a teacher asked the students what they thought a mathematician looked like. One student responded by saying ‘a mathematician could be anyone and look like anything’. This is exactly the message we want our students to believe; there is no such thing as a ‘Maths person’ as everyone has the capacity to develop and grow as a mathematician.

The following article explores how the messages we send to our children can influence their academic achievement.

Parents’ Beliefs about Math Change Their Children’s Achievement

Diary updates
The Junior School online diary, found in Keystone via the My Diary tile, was introduced in 2020. The Keystone development team has launched a number of updates to the My Diary tile based on feedback from students, staff and parents over the course of 2020. The updates include the following:

•   Wellbeing: students can now enter three ‘what went well’ reflections under this heading each day
•   Reading log: has been updated so that Premier’s Reading Challenge entries can be added
•   Coming up: under this section you can now toggle between events, which include individual lessons and group music rehearsals, calendar dates, and co-curricular tabs

The online diary aims to streamline organisation and communication between home and school. Your feedback and suggestions to guide further updates is always welcome.

Drop off and pick up
Thank you for following the drop off and pick up routines. We expect the congestion in the car park to ease as before school music rehearsals and after school sport practices commence.

Staff are ready to welcome students in classrooms from 8:15am.

Parents are not to leave their cars when using the following drop off zones:

•   Sports Centre/Uniform Shop car park
•   The Avenues
•   Junior School car park

Junior School staff will help students make their way to their classrooms.

To avoid congestion at the main entrances students will continue to use external doors to enter their classrooms. Reception students should enter via the Junior Primary courtyard, Year 4s should enter Bickersteth via the western entrance and Year 5s should enter Bickersteth using the eastern staircase.

Parent Information Sessions
It was wonderful to have so many parents and guardians attend our information sessions this week. As we seek to make informed improvements for future sessions we would appreciate you taking a minute to complete the Feedback form to provide your thoughts on what was well presented and what areas could be improved.

Dates for the Diary:
If viewing on a mobile, swipe left to see the full table.

Please remember my door is always open and I always welcome your feedback and questions.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Jasmine Taylor
Head of Junior School