PNG Martyrs Chapel Service Junior School Disco …10

PNG Martyrs Chapel Service

Junior School Fluro Disco

Head of Junior School (Acting)

A busy term It is hard to believe that Term 3 has come and gone already. Before we know it the busyness of Term 4 will have taken hold and the Christmas holidays will be upon us. I would like to thank our students, staff and members of the community for their hard work throughout Term 3. It has been both an action packed and enjoyable term filled with learning and new experiences. As always, it has been an incredible term of all round achievement and success, with students showcasing their skills in the classrooms, in visual and performing arts, and by participating in a variety of sporting events. The Junior School Disco and ‘What I want to be when I grow up’ free dress days were both a hit and it was great to see students enjoying themselves outside of the classroom. I am very proud of each one of our students; their commitment to learning and the respect they have for themselves, their peers, adults and our School.

Year 6 Canberra Experience Year 6 students recently travelled to Canberra for an educational tour of our national capital. Students were afforded the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital, as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. Under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program, the Australian Government provides funding of $225 per student to assist in reducing the travel costs for this educational experience. We thank the government for their support, and look forward to receiving the rebate which will be paid directly to the School in the coming weeks. On behalf of the Year 6 families, I would also like to thank the ASSG Parents and Friends Association for their donation of $50 per student, which also helped reduce the overall cost of the trip for families. We have a dedicated staff and a wonderful school community who all share the same core purpose of providing the very best educational opportunities for all our students. There are always engaging learning experiences occurring in the Junior School. Experiences such as the Canberra Trip help stimulate, authenticate and reinforce classroom learning. When students take on personal challenges, strive to meet or exceed them, the sense of accomplishment and pride is well founded and worthy of recognition. The Year 6 students are to be commended for representing our School with great pride at the many venues they visited. For many students there were a few firsts, including; flying, travelling interstate and being away from home for an extended period. We were proud of how brave they were at accepting these challenging firsts. Thank you Miss Clarke for preparing the students with the knowledge and understandings that enabled them to answer many of the tour guides’ questions and engage in informed discussion. It is very affirming to receive the positive feedback from the tour guides acknowledging how well behaved, courteous and knowledgeable our students are.

There were many highlights for the students (and staff) including visits to the Australian War Memorial, Government House, the old and new Parliament House, the High Court, the National Museum, CSIRO, and Questacon. They also enjoyed their evening activities at the Canberra Reptile Zoo, Rock Climbing and IceSkating. The Year 6 students fully embraced all aspects of their Canberra experience and were able to absorb information by listening and talking to guides and observing their surroundings intently. I’m sure all students have a wealth of knowledge, many stories they can share with others, and experiences they will recount as a group for many years to come. Our students also paused to remember Queen Elizabeth II during a once in a lifetime 96 gun salute at Parliament House on Friday evening. I am sure that this is something they will remember for many years to come, and I was incredibly proud to hear that they were respectful and conducted themselves with pride on this very important occasion.

Thank you Miss Clarke, Mrs Dickson, Mr Turner, and Mr Lee for sharing this experience and taking the responsibility of supervising the students during this trip. I know they all slept well after they returned on Saturday evening. Parent Teacher Interviews Many parents have had the opportunity to meet with their child’s teachers this week. These meetings were at the request of the teacher and to pass on areas for further development and reinforcement both at home and into Term 4. There is no written report for Term 3. A semester report will be sent home at the end of next term. If you have concerns about any aspect of your child’s learning or development, please do not hesitate to make contact with their class teacher.

Junior School Support Group Earlier this week families received a flyer (sent home with your eldest Junior School child), advertising our wonderful Junior School Support Group. This group is an integral part of our small School and helps our Junior School staff to provide a range of fun events and resources to support our children's learning at School. We are hoping to host a small family fun event in the first couple of weeks of Term 4, followed by the annual Junior School Support Group Shopping Spree in the last week of term. It would be great to see some new parent involvement although there is certainly no compulsion to attend regular meetings or organise whole events; many hands make light work. I look forward to hearing from any parents who are willing to give their time and skills. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Happy Holidays As this is the last Junior School newsletter before the holidays, I would like to sincerely thank everyone for your support and understanding as I navigated the change in my role this term and settled into the routines of the Junior School. It has been great to meet with a range of parents and have discussions about how we can continue to enhance your child’s learning and development. I hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful break. I look forward to seeing you all in Term 4.

Karen Storey

Year 6 students outside Parliament House, Canberra