Celebrating being back at school and learning in class

Readers’ Cup Individual Year level winners (L – R) Ethan Shepherd (4K), Singyuan Xue (6C) and Praj Gupte (5S). Congratulations boys! For all boys from Prep to Year 6, read on!

Wednesday 17 June, 2020

From the Head of Junior School Dear Parents This term has been challenging for teachers, for parents and for students. The success of our online teaching is attributable to the positive power of the human spirit and the determination to succeed. Our teaching staff embraced a completely new style of teaching in a very short space of time and delivered in a very fine manner. Boys between the ages of 4 years and 12 years engaged with this approach wonderfully well and the support from parents was significant. The combined efforts of staff, parents and students demonstrated we can soar in adverse times and we are now well placed to continue with a different model of education again if so required.

Emrys Rogers (1G) working on his maths problems while learning online at home.

Louis Mackintosh-Bailey (2E) working really hard with his online learning.

We will continue to face challenges in the months ahead and we will continue to work within the guidelines set by government and health experts. Over the past three weeks all classes have engaged in some online lessons while at school. This is to ensure we are well placed to continue this approach if the need arises again in the future. I thank all Junior School teachers, our leadership team, our teacher aides and our office staff for their outstanding work and contributions over the past term. This ensured the boys were provided with the very best education possible in unique circumstances. I also thank our parent community for the wonderful support ensuring so many boys were able to learn online at home so successfully. As I have said to our staff at school on many occasions, we have all discovered skills we didn’t know we needed to have. Adults, Students and Hygiene Health advice and expectations remain consistent and are obviously in place for the benefit of all adults and children. The expectations outlined below are also in place for the welfare of all staff at school. Details as follows:

• Children are not to attend school if they are unwell.

• The Government’s health advice has been very clear, asking parents not to walk into

school nor visit classrooms

• All adults are expected to exercise social distancing measures

• Staff are not to attend school if they are unwell

• Parents are asked to use the drop off and pick up zones

• Parents are asked to remain in their cars in the drop off and pick up areas

• Parents are asked to contact staff via telephone or email in preference to face-to-face

meetings

• Parents and teachers are expected to convey clear hygiene messages to children

• While school bubblers are back in use and are being cleaned regularly, the preference

is that all boys bring drink bottles to school rather than use shared facilities.

Reports Over the past few weeks, class teachers and specialist teachers have devoted considerable time to and thought with the preparation of first semester reports. Reports have been complicated by the ‘at home, online learning’ period of time and parents will find a letter of explanation at the front of the boys’ reports about the items we are able to report upon at this time. Reports were sent home with boys today. In addition, semester one academic awards were announced in class this morning.

Holidays As this is the final newsletter for the term, I would like to conclude once again by thanking Junior School staff for their ongoing, very fine work. I greatly appreciate the support of our parent community and, finally, I thank the boys for their efforts and achievements during second term. School resumes on Bastille Day (le 14 juillet), Tuesday 14 July at 8.25am. I wish all staff, students and parents a relaxing and enjoyable winter break. Kind regards Scott Campbell Head of Junior School

Good News Stories

(L – R) Lachlan Van de Beld, Matthew Kirkman, Will Gilshenan and Mark Ridgway, all from 6J, enjoyed decorating their table for Readers’ Cup.

Beau Hamilton, Hugo Tebbutt, Cooper Cook, James Fagan and Jack Mowbray (5L), won their class prize for Readers’ Cup.

Param Singh, George Clifford and Bryce Lindemann had great fun decorating their table for the last time in the Junior School for Readers’ Cup.

Nethul Manamperi, Louis Whittaker, Ben Constable and John Tinkler (6C) created an impressive display for their Readers’ Cup table display.

Aariz Imam, Hamish Brown and Tokota Mears (4G) showing off their decorating skills.

(L – R) Finlay Waring, Mrs Buchholz, Harrison Brown, Aimon Rowe, Nethul Manamperi, Alby Galbraith, Henry Geise and Isaac Whitcombe enjoying hot chocolates for their morning ensemble rehearsal.

Term 3 Co-curricular Timetable

Junior School Contact Details

• Office: 07 4687 2555

• Email: gjadmin@twgs.qld.edu.au

• After School Care: 0421 570 461

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