OPENING OF THE PRE-PREP CENTRE Monday, 4 February, 2008 saw the beginning of a new era for Townsville Grammar, as the new Townsville Grammar Pre-Prep Centre opened its doors for the very first time.
A completely new building with specialty work and play facilities has been designed and built at Grammar’s
The Grammar Pre-Prep Centre operates from 7am until 6pm each day and offers long day care. Pre-Prep will provide an ideal preparation for Prep the following year and the best start to the students’ educational careers. Our inaugural Pre-Prep class
Year 3 Strings Programme Year 3 students are being given a unique opportunity in 2008. The Junior School has purchased 53 violins and violas and each student is being provided with an instrumental lesson by one of Townsville’s finest Strings Tutors, Ms Heidi Newell.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day Grandparents and Special Friends Day is a celebration day for Junior School students to invite their special friends and grandparents “back to school” for the morning. On the 3rd of April this year, grandparents and special friends arrived in droves, many from other cities, a number from interstate and some even from overseas, to be part of this fun day with their grandchildren. Guests enjoyed a classroom visit during which they were able to spend time in their grandchild’s classroom. Shortly after, all guests, teachers and students were invited to take part in a morning tea. With 350 grandparents and special friends attending, this was certainly a very large morning tea! A concert of musical items was performed by the Year 6 Boys Choir, the School Band and the Year 3 Strings with Choir performances by each year group, from Prep to Year 6. This gave the opportunity for every child to perform and every grandparent was able to see their grandchild on stage.
Head of Junior School, Mr Noel Nethery has been “instrumental” in implementing the Year 3 Strings Programme, “Making this decision to implement a strings programme was not a difficult one. Children who learn a musical instrument, even for only a year, learn and absorb so much, that they can then make use of in other areas of learning,” Mr Nethery said. “Our Year 3 parents have also been extremely supportive of this initiative – encouraging their children to practice at home, and coming along to the little concerts we have been organising to display their skills.” Head of Music, Mr Samuel Blanch, has also supported the programme, “At this age, children have a genuine curiosity about musical instruments and they are mature enough to understand the need for practice and to read their music.” The Year 3 Strings Programme will certainly capture the students’ imagination and develop a long term love of music.
It is a very special day for staff, students and guests alike with all involved looking forward to Grandparents and Special Friends Day next year. BELOW Jack Dunn, Ruby Ioannou, Eliza McKay TOP and BOTTOM Students enjoying their grandparents and special friends’ company
6
Junior School
Pre-Prep at Grammar is for children who turn 4 before the 30 June that year – in other words, exactly one year prior to Prep.
Annandale campus, providing a single room facility for these lucky children each day. Work began on the building in September, 2007, and despite the remarkably wet January weather, opened in February.