A Year of Wonder and Growth in Junior School
As we reach the end of another vibrant year in our Junior School, we celebrate the remarkable growth of our students, not only as learners but as individuals created in God’s image. Throughout the year, our young learners have embraced curiosity, creativity and resilience, developing the skills and confidence to think deeply, collaborate with compassion and express their ideas with clarity and purpose.
From exploring new concepts in the classroom to engaging in enrichment opportunities beyond it, our students have discovered that learning is more than acquiring knowledge, it is about growing in wisdom, character and faith. Each experience has helped them better understand the unique gifts God has given them and how they can use these to serve others and make a positive impact in the world.
We look forward to celebrating this incredible growth together at our upcoming Celebration Assemblies on Tuesday, 9th of December.
Inquiry and Imagination: Celebrating Junior School Discovery and Creativity
This term, our Kindergarten scientists have been busy discovering the magic of Push and Pull! Using toy cars and Spheros (our fun robotic friends), students experimented with different ways to make objects move. They pushed cars across smooth and rough floors and even programmed Spheros to move in exciting directions.
What made this activity truly special was the curiosity and teamwork on display. Children shared ideas, asked thoughtful questions like “Why does the car stop?” and “What happens if we push harder or softer?”, and even began exploring the concept of friction – noticing how some surfaces slowed the cars down while others made them zoom! It was wonderful to see their faces light up as science came alive through play.
Our Year 6 Extension Writing group has been working on something truly creative – Ekphrastic Poetry, where words are inspired by art. Students chose artworks by celebrated Australian landscape artists and explored how these pieces tell stories through colour, texture, and composition.
To deepen their understanding, students collaborated with Mrs. Newington, one of our Senior School Visual Arts teachers, for a session on visual arts analysis. They also researched the artist’s life, uncovering how cultural, historical, and global events shaped their work. This rich background knowledge helped students craft poems that not only describe the artwork but also capture its emotion and meaning.
We are so proud of the way these young writers have combined research, creativity, and imagination to produce powerful pieces of poetry. They have been working hard to develop a beautiful example of how art and literature can come together to inspire deep thinking and expression.
Poetry Comes Alive: Harry Laing Inspires Year 1 and Writers
On Tuesday, 11th November, Australian poet, children’s author and creative writing teacher Harry Laing visited our school for a lively poetry performance and hands-on writing workshop with all Year 1 classes.
Students were captivated as Harry brought poetry to life through energetic rap, humorous storytelling, rhythmic songs and playful rhyme. His performance not only entertained but also helped deepen students’ understanding of how poets use language, sound and imagination to create meaning.
After the show, Year 1 students returned to their classrooms for a special creative writing session led by “Mr Harry.” He guided students through fun writing activities that encouraged them to experiment with words, build confidence as writers and discover their own unique poetic voices.
The excitement in each classroom was unmistakable, with many students eager to share their ideas, perform their lines and ask Harry questions about how authors create their work. It was a memorable visit that inspired our budding writers and celebrated the joy of poetry across Year 1.
Bouncing Into Success: Year 2 Learns the Game
What an exciting and productive term it has been in Year 2! Our students have been working incredibly hard across all areas of learning, and it has been wonderful to watch their confidence and curiosity continue to grow.
During Weeks 2–7 of Term 4, Year 2 students have enthusiastically participated in weekly sessions aimed at developing their basketball skills while fostering a genuine love for the game.
Students have been developing their basketball skills this term through explicit instruction and engaging, purposeful practice. They learned the fundamental rules of the game and were carefully guided through key skills such as dribbling, pivoting, passing and shooting. With great enthusiasm, students participated in a variety of mini-games and drills designed to help them refine these techniques. From dribbling relays to Rob the Nest and Golden Child, each activity supported students in mastering the art of controlled movement while dribbling and understanding how to avoid travelling. Their effort, focus and growing confidence on the court have been wonderful to see.
Innovation, Inclusion and a Good Laugh: Year 4’s End-of-Year Highlights
Year 4 have ended the year with some fantastic learning. In science, students have had the opportunity to develop their coding skills with the Sphero robots. Students made use of infrared communication functions to enable their robots to interact with one another.
In PE, students were introduced to the world of adaptive sports, highlighting the importance of inclusion, accessibility and innovation in physical activity. Through hands-on experiences with sports like sitting volleyball, boccia and adapted tennis, students developed empathy, teamwork and an appreciation for diverse abilities. These lessons culminated this week when students were able to adapt a sport of their choice enabling it to become more accessible.
Year 4 have ended the year in a laugh through Literacy lessons. This term students have read a variety of humorous literature and identified the specific features used by the composers of different texts. They then drew upon what they have learned from these humorous examples and have drafted, edited and published a range of funny texts sure to tickle a rib or two.
God bless,
Mrs Kathryn Watkins
Deputy Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning