Last Thursday it was wonderful to have so many parents and guests at our Junior School assembly. Congratulations to all students who received awards on the day. Highlights included a performance by senior students ahead of the College Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, the Year 4 presentation and Byron Wright’s insight into the ACT Futsal Championships.
Bronze Medallists return – Well done to Brayden Kent, Harry Locker-Lloyd and Harry Borton (Year 7) who returned from the School Sport Australia 12/U Rugby League Championships as third place getters. The team all received bronze medals for their efforts. Well done boys.
Buddy Session – Last Wednesday during our timetabled Formation period, we were able to buddy up each student in the Junior School with our Year 12 students. The session began indoors with some questions and answers and discussion, followed by some outside activities. It was great to see our younger students mixing with our oldest students.
Olympics Unleashed Presentation – Wednesday 24 August. Please note that all Junior School students will hear from a former Olympian during our Formation session on this date. Our special guest is Seve de Campo, Cross Country Skiing (Winter Olympian, Beijing, 2022).
Footy Food and Jersey Day for House and Home – Friday 6 September. This fundraising activity aligns with the Term 3 Social Justice model of the College to raise money and awareness for the community. The Junior School has provided support for Karinya House for 18 years and over this time has developed an authentic relationship with this organisation. Since 2018, through the Sleepout, the Junior School students have started to develop a connection with Home in Queanbeyan.
The activity encourages each student to participate in one of two ways.
First option: bringing in a gold coin or note donation and wearing their favourite sports team’s jersey for the day over their school uniform (can be AFL, NRL, NBA, Rugby, Soccer, etc.).
Second option: bringing in $10 for a recess Footy Food recess meal deal consisting of popcorn chicken or chicken nuggets, hot chips, a poppa, and a surprise sweet treat. Students can wear their favourite sports team’s jersey for the day over their school uniform (can be AFL, NRL, NBA, Rugby, Soccer, etc.).
The funds raised will allow both House and Home to do good works with those they walk beside and support every day. The boys wear their uniform and bring their team jersey to school; they can wear it during the day and take it off at the end before leaving school in the afternoon. The order forms for Footy Food recess meal deal, went home on Monday and need to be returned by Friday 26 August.
Eddies Sleepout – Friday 16 September. The annual Eddies Sleepout for House and Home is being held on Friday 16 September. Boys from Yr 4-12 are asked to sleep for a night in the College Gymnasium to gain a very small insight into what it is like to sleep rough.
On the night boys will participate in awareness raising activities around homelessness. The money we raise will go towards purchasing household furniture for the mothers and babies Karinya House supports, so the places of accommodation for these mums and babies can feel more like a home, rather than just somewhere to live.
Home in Queanbeyan has requested the money goes towards purchasing healthy food for the resident’s pantry. With the rising costs of fresh produce, it has become more difficult to ensure the residents are having healthy meals, which are vital for good mental health.
Students who would like to participate can collect a permission note and sponsor card from Ms Cusack.
Pupil Free Days – Friday 9 September and Moderation Day 2, Thursday 18 August – Please note that the school has decided to enact the scheduled pupil free days canvassed by Mr Garrity in communication at the beginning of the term. The reason for these extra two pupil free days is to manage teacher workload and offer the opportunity for a circuit-breaker as we manage the ongoing challenges associated with staff shortages due to Covid-19 isolations. Teachers will be involved in professional learning on Moderation Day and planning/programming on the scheduled pupil free days.
Year 5 Camp Postponement – this camp was due to take place in Week 6 (22-24 August) this term. Given advice that this period may represent the peak (or the back end) of a Covid-19 wave, and our ability to secure another date, we have moved the Year 5 Camp to the 17-19 October (Term 4, Week 2). The new date hopefully represents better weather to assist in ventilation of the accommodation and increased enjoyment for the students, parent volunteers and staff members. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but we have decided to err on the side of caution for the safety of our school community.
BOOKWEEK (Week 6) – On Thursday 25 August all students in the Junior School will have the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character. They will then participate in a parade to celebrate books and reading. This is a fun event which everyone is encouraged to be involved in so start preparing your costume soon. The theme is ‘Dreaming with Eyes Open’.
Homework Club – Mr Kelly will be running homework club from Weeks 1-9 this term on Tuesdays/Wednesdays. Please email him dkelly@stedmunds.act.edu.au with a day’s notice should you wish to book your son/s in.
Hair Policy – Thank you to all parents/carers for keeping your son/s haircuts in line with the school’s uniform and hair policy. At times barbers may make mistakes. If they are informed of their mistake, many will fix the haircut (in line with our policy) at no extra charge. Could I please ask that all parents/carers familiarise themselves with the hair policy so that students can get about their daily work without teacher’s asking them about their haircuts. Thank you for your assistance with this.
Hair should be kept neat, tidy and clean at all times and not grown or styled into an extreme or exaggerated fashion.
Hair should be above the shoulder in length (above the bottom of the school shirt collar) and no shorter than a number ‘two’.
Students are not allowed to have lines or designs shaved into their hair nor grow long sections of hair that can be fashioned into ‘top buns’, plaits, dreadlocks, braids, ‘rats tails’, ‘mohawks’ or ‘mullets’ etc.
Hair should be evenly graded and/or blended, of natural colour, warn off the face and should not obstruct sight. Hair requiring to be tied back off the face may be necessary but only as a low bun.
David Kelly
Assistant Principal – Junior School