PRIMARY YEARS

MR PETER HOLMES, ACTING HEAD OF PRIMARY YEARS

As I write this article for our Term 3 In Hoc, our Primary boys are experiencing a number of ‘firsts’ as we come out of many of the COVID restrictions of the past two and a half years. The first of these occurred on Friday 19 August, when the College was once again able to celebrate OMAD (Oblate Mission Action Day) after an extended break. To say the boys were excited is a massive understatement.

As the day approached and they found out about the incredible number of food and drink options, the games and activities and the chance to ‘dunk’ certain staff (me included ...) the excitement became quite palpable! I don’t think the day was a let down in any way for our younger Ionians … they ate a lot, they played a lot and they dunked me … a LOT! They were incredibly well behaved given their freedom to move around the school without their teachers accompanying them. Basketball results that afternoon were a vast improvement as well - perhaps the sugar consumed during the day provided a ‘performance enhancing’ effect? On Friday 26 August, another tradition for our students recommenced after a COVID absence. We were able to welcome more than 220 Grandparents to the College. The Year 5 boys shared in a Liturgy, concert, morning tea and tour with their special guests. These moments are an incredibly important part of our connection with the extended members of our Iona community. We have also been able to return to Year 5 and 6 excursion season. Our Year 5’s have been on the ‘gold fields of Logan’, delving more deeply into their HASS content. It is a wonderful location and the boys had a great time setting up miner’s tents, scavenging for gold, baking fresh damper and interacting with ‘the bushranger’! Boys were so well behaved and attentive during the sessions.

Our Year 6’s meanwhile, have visited Fort Lytton as part of their HASS unit on migration. Fort Lytton was the very first place many immigrants experienced upon arrival in Queensland. They were quarantined and isolated from others until being ‘cleared’. The boys were fascinated that the buildings are so much like they were all that time ago and agreed that the process would have been both scary and uncomfortable for those involved. I think the boys looked forward to returning to home comforts.

At the commencement of Term 4, both our Primary year levels will once again travel to Glendalough for their camps. Hopefully fine weather will greet both groups - Week 2 for Year 5 and Week 5 for Year 6.