Junior School News T4 W2 2021
Setting our sights high!
In our first assembly this term, I spoke with our students about the importance of goal setting so that we can strive high, learn new things, and make mistakes that help us to grow. Goal setting is an excellent tool for our kids to work on achieving things they have only dreamed of as well as a great way to keep them accountable as they feel success and grow. We watched a video that described how to set a goal and why it helps us. If you would like to re-watch the video at home together the link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4jnPQD7pO8
After we watched the video I set all students some homework, to draw, write or tell an adult what their goal will be for Term 4. Our goals could be focused on multiple areas or just one. The next morning, I already had students telling me as I walked through the playground chatting with them what they were hoping to achieve this term.
Your child’s teacher then worked through a little ABCDE Goal setting card with students to help them document what their goal is and have it up on the wall or in a special place as they work towards it. This is also a great tool that you could also use at home this term to set goals as a family or for your child. Spending time talking with our kids about what their goals are and then following up to see how it is going helps them feel connected, accountable, and important. If we continue to inspire our students to reach for the moon, they will soon realise that even if they miss, they will end up among the stars!
TERM 4 EVENTS – There are many wonderful and informative upcoming events on our school calendar. Please make sure you log into the parent portal so that you are aware of what is on and we look forward to seeing you all there!
2022 CLASSES – As you begin to prepare your child for moving to a new grade in 2022, our teachers are also beginning to prepare for the year ahead. Some of the most powerful professional growth for a teacher comes in extending and applying their teaching practice to new scenarios. Our Junior School staff are currently working through the process that we do in Term 4 each year, of sharing their passion areas and preferences for 2022 teaching year levels. This means that we will see some fresh and exciting adjustments to our year level teaching teams across our Junior School next year. Some parents have already asked about preferences for their child next year, whilst we do not accommodate specific teacher requests, our goal is certainly successful placement for all of our students. Your child’s current teacher knows what they need and how they learn best, so have confidence in their knowledge of both our staff and students as they prepare lists for 2022, at the end of this year.
PREP 2022– Our Prep Orientation and parent information session date is on today for all our new families entering the College in 2022. We are all set to have a wonderful morning where our students have a taste of what a day in Prep will look like and our parents take part in an information session and morning tea together. Our school continues to grow with many enrolments coming in for all year levels in 2022 so if you know of someone wanting to join the Faith community encourage them to do so as soon as possible so that they don’t miss out. Some of our year levels next year already have a waiting list!
FALCONS JUNIOR FUTSAL TOURNAMENT – We had a fantastic day this week at our Inaugural Faith Falcons Futsal tournament. Our students played 5 games and the day ended with an exciting final showdown. Students were celebrated at assembly today and have told us that they really enjoyed the event, and not just because of the pizza we had for lunch! Futsal is just another one of our sports that continues to grow, and we look forward to hosting an event just like this in future years for our kids to have a great competitive day as they prepare for more competitions later in the season.
STUDENT FREE DAY - OCTOBER 29 – Just a reminder that on 29 October the College has a student free day due to the rescheduled Ekka Holiday from earlier in the year. OSHC will remain open for families on this day.
BOOK FAIR - It is that exciting time of year again where we have a Scholastic Book Fair on for our students. Students will have the opportunity to write a wish list throughout the day on Friday 22 October and then it will be open for purchasing before school, during break times and after school each day until Thursday 28 October. Parents are welcome to come in with their child before or after school, we just ask that you sign in with your QR codes on entry and follow our mask guidelines of wearing a mask at any time that you are unable to be 1.5m apart from another person.
GRANDPARENTS MORNING TEA – Save the date! On Thursday, 28 October we are having a Grandparents morning. We invite grandparents (or a special person) to join us on campus from 9:00am – 10:30am to do an activity in their grandchild’s classroom/s and finish their visit with a morning tea in our Koala Gums. Students are to bring their own morning tea as normal; Grandparents will be offered a light refreshment. At 10:30am grandparents are invited to head over to the Secondary Campus for a tour or head off home for the day. We look forward to a wonderful community time connecting together.
BANDANA DAY Thursday, 28 October – Our annual Junior School Bandana Day will be on Thursday, 28 October (yes, the same day as our Grandparents morning). This is a fabulous day that raises funds for young people impacted by cancer. Our Junior School Office will have Bandana’s on sale from Monday, 25 October and students can all wear them to school on Thursday, 28 October.
Jodi Blackwell
Head of Junior School