As we draw closer to December, our thoughts turn to Christmas. Each family will have different challenges, celebrations and holidays to look forward to. This week our students have been practising for the Christmas Concert, to be held in the Hall on Tuesday 4 December at 6pm. All Junior School students are expected to attend. Clearly, the more students we have involved on the evening, the more jovial the atmosphere. As Junior School staff members will be hosting a barbeque from 5.30pm on the evening, we are hoping all of our Junior School families can come and join in this end of year celebration. The year group that has the highest percentage of attendees will be given a special prize at the Junior School Picnic Day. Our EREA touchstone of, ‘Inclusive Community’ should be alive and well on 4 December.
At present, teachers are consumed with marking, data collection and report writing. Our message to the students is to keep pushing to the end of the year. As a Junior School staff we will be keeping our expectations high in terms of academic rigour and behavioural expectations. Sometimes, boys can lose a little focus towards the end of the year and we would ask for parental support in pushing the boys right until the end. We have a number of interesting and fun incursions occurring this week and next to ensure the students are engaged. I will share some of the details of these next week.
Debating, Homework, Coding and Chess Clubs – The last session for 2018 for all of these programs will occur during Week 7. None of these sessions will be running in Week 8.
Junior School Picnic Day – Monday 10 December. On this day students of the Junior School will attend Big Splash Waterpark in Macquarie, ACT. Students will catch a bus to and from the venue. Students may wear mufti clothes on this day. Please return your son’s note as soon as possible to his class teacher.
Junior School Presentation Ceremony – Tuesday 11 December at 9:15am. Please note that we have changed the time of our Presentation Ceremony to allow the High School to have their ceremony on the same day. The new time of our ceremony will be 9.15am – 10.30am. On this occasion award recipients (first, second and third) for each class will be recognised, along with other major awards including sportsman of the year, a music award and improvement awards for each class. All Year 6 students will receive a graduation certificate. We have had a few questions about whether family members can take their son’s out for lunch afterwards…this is of course absolutely fine. If your son will be leaving after the ceremony, please email Mrs Gray in advance.
David Kelly (Head of Junior School)