Junior School

Junior School

Today’s schools are facing enormous challenges. We live in an increasingly complex society where technology has a major impact and is evolving at a frenetic pace.

Mr Mark Hackett (’75) Head of Junior School

Family dynamics are constantly changing and teachers are faced with the relentless task of keeping abreast of these changes and providing a differentiated curriculum to accommodate the many different needs of their students.

The role of today’s modern educators has become more diverse with the expectations of teachers increasing with demands from various management authorities, assessment systems and a curriculum that is constantly developing. I believe there is, however, one constant in a world of change. The key to optimising student performance is skilful teaching pedagogy and the challenge for school leaders is to provide systems and procedures that support continuous teacher growth and improvement.

The Junior School has achieved a great deal of success in 2013. A priority has been striving to realise the College Mission of providing a holistic education, as well as developing a culture of respect based on Gospel values.

Providing comprehensive differentiated learning programs that cater for the various abilities and learning styles of the students has been a focus with pleasing results.

As staff, we have focussed on the benefits of delivering authentic learning experiences that encourage our students to assimilate and connect knowledge, enabling them to apply learnt concepts to real-life situations. Collaborative learning techniques have also been embraced in the classrooms, enabling students to work together to complete tasks and solve problems. The benefits of creating collaborative learning opportunities in the classroom are numerous as they give the students skills to work cooperatively and support each other. Collaborative learning activities help create effective teamwork and communication skills that are so important in all areas of the curriculum.

The benefit of reflective learning has also been a priority in enabling the students to learn from their previous experiences and develop responsibility for their own actions. The art of thinking about and analysing what has occurred in the past is a valuable life skill and is also interwoven into our pastoral care policy. The boys are regularly reminded to treat others as they wish to be treated and the reflective learning process complements this important life skill.

Academically we have consolidated curricula in numeracy and literacy, assisting students at both ends of the learning continuum with both support and extension programs. Our mathematics extension program in Years 5 and 6 has been extremely successful and will be extended to Year 4 in 2014. Providing engaging literacy activities for students continues to be a focus and professional development for staff in this important curriculum area has been a focus this year.

Sport in the Junior School is extremely popular and the Thursday interschool competition has provided opportunities for the boys to hone their skills and showcase their talent in the various sporting codes. The summer season was very successful with strong performances in the basketball and cricket teams. Water polo has become very popular in the Junior School and this was reflected in the strong performances in the pool. In winter the football and

Students who performed at the IPSHA concert

soccer teams had excellent seasons with the hockey teams the big improvers. All our sporting teams have performed well due to the skill and tenacity of our students and the dedicated support and coaching from our staff, Old Boys and parents.

The Fundamental Movement Program has continued to provide support and skill development to a number of students who have improved their sporting proficiencies and interest in physical education. This program is particularly important in today’s society as computer technology entices people to engage in more sedentary pursuits lessening their ability to develop their physical skills. In 2012 beep tests were introduced for all boys in the Junior School to monitor student fitness and aerobic capacity. The purpose of these tests is to collect longitudinal data with the intention of researching the impact of Information Computer Technology on general student health and fitness levels.

Teaching the importance of physical health is a crucial part of the curriculum and so too is the significance of emotional wellbeing. The Aussie Optimism Program undertaken in all year levels has helped to promote positive thinking skills and provides the students with strategies to regulate their emotions, think positively and solve social problems. Teachers used a variety of techniques including role-play, small group discussions and key focus questions to enhance student resilience and self-esteem.

The Junior School enjoyed a very busy and rewarding year in the performing arts and entertained audiences at both the Catholic and Independent Primary Schools Heads’ Association (IPSHA) Festivals. For the first time the Junior School Year 5/6 Choir combined with the Year 6 Choir from Perth College to present a medley of Mary Poppins songs at the IPSHA Performing Arts Festival. The choirs performed at the Perth Convention Centre in a variety of song and dance routines and received rave reviews. In the Catholic Performing Arts Festival the Year 4 and Year 5 Choirs received Honourable Mentions for their performances and the Junior String and Junior Vocal Ensembles performed admirably in their particular sections.

The Junior School choirs have also had the privilege of working with two Australian composers Paul Jarman and Celia Christmass. They worked with the boys to produce choral works that were performed at the Concert and Presentation evening. The high participation rates in the choirs and general enjoyment of music has a common denominator in the form of a wonderful music teacher, Ms Natasha Rich. Natasha has the gift of being able to inspire her students to strive for excellence and realise their potential in the realm of music. She makes music fun!

I sincerely thank all members of the Trinity College community for the wonderful support they have given me in my time as Head of the Junior School. It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding time for me and one of which I will always have fond memories. I have been privileged to witness the progress of many young men through their schooling and often spectate with a great deal of pride at the senior speech nights the tremendous accomplishments of the many students who commenced their journey at Trinity College in Year 4 as fresh faced nine year olds.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff – past and present – as well as the students and parents who have been so generous with their talents and friendship over the years and helped to make my experience at Trinity College a very rich and fulfilling one.

Mr Mark Hackett (’75) Head of Junior School