From the Head of the Junior School
Dear Parents and Friends of the Junior School,
I thank the boys and staff of the Junior School for being wonderful hosts to many visitors to our campus over the last week. We had many prospective families visit on Wednesday to hear about and witness for themselves the extraordinary calibre of our boys, teachers and the learning they undertake. Our leaders were wonderful greeters and tour guides, and the boys’ welcoming of our guests into classrooms and other learning spaces was well-received. One guest volunteered the following feedback…
“I attended today’s Junior School Open Day…I left very impressed by everything I heard and saw today. The greatest impression however was that which I received on meeting the Junior School Officer who greeted me in the most professional and respectful manner and directed me to the Open Day event area. If this young lad’s professional behaviour was all I was to experience about Trinity today, it alone would have convinced me this is the place I’d like to send my son.”
We often impress upon the boys the significant impact they can have on others through their kindness, courtesy and consideration…it is affirming to not only witness it first-hand every day but know that occasional visitors quickly notice and appreciate it as well. Well done, Trinity boys! The families of Year 5 students enrolled for 2024 will be our next guests and have the chance to tour the Junior School tomorrow. Unfortunately, this visit coincides with sporting games and these guests will miss the best bit…the boys! It is not just future parents who get to glimpse the boys at work and play. I reiterate my encouragement to current parents to make the most of every opportunity to take in every game, concert, and classroom experience that you can. The boys cherish your interest. As we move into Semester 2, there will be many more opportunities where parents will be invited to be an audience and co-learners as the boys showcase their achievements, expertise and development. Watch this space and you won’t miss any of them!
Last Friday marked the commencement of National Reconciliation Week. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The concept of reconciliation fits well with our GROWTH theme for this term, ‘Growth as Learners’. We learn from our own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Boys are always encouraged to recognise that the mistakes we and others make can cause hurt and break relationships, and that part of growing is learning to intentionally act to restore relationships by saying sorry and treating others with renewed care, kindness and respect. In Australia, this lesson is particularly, but not exclusively applicable to our community’s relationship with our first citizens. Reconciliation is also a principle that we all need to apply in our personal relationships from time to time. We want our boys to grow into young men with an understanding of indigenous perspectives, with determination to value, protect and restore personal relationships, and with the desire and courage to act for individuals and groups who have been hurt by others.
We have now been notified of results in the ‘Hello Mandarin’ Competition in which 77 of our boys competed a fortnight ago. Following the judging of students of all ages from many schools, we are delighted that three of our boys won their age group championship, and 35 others received 1st, 2nd or 3rd prizes across a range of individual categories. Our class groups also performed with distinction. A most pleasing aspect of these results is that our students from Mandarin-speaking families as well as those who learn Mandarin exclusively at school are excelling in their language development. Special congratulations go to:
- Age Champions: Mimo Kim (Year 2), Jordan Buultjens (Year 6), William Saunders (Year 7);
- First Prizes: Asher Buultjens, Raphael Karlos, Andrew Chen, Zihao Ji, James Saunders, James Fang;
- Group Champions: Year 3 to 6 Mandarin Speakers
World Environment Day is today and the Junior School will focus on environmental activities throughout next week to shine a light on the issue of sustainability and develop our boys’ awareness and capacity to act as positive, influential global citizens. Home Learning for all boys will include the challenge to incorporate individual and family actions under the banners of: re-think/re-invent; re-cycle, re-generate; and re-educate. Please get involved with your son as there are many initiatives that, whilst not too difficult, will require your support if they are to yield a sustainable significant change of mindset and habit. On Friday, the entire Junior School will undertake a series of fun and environmentally-friendly learning activities during the pre-recess session and the boys will be able to wear Mufti (with a brown and green hue), donating a gold coin for the privilege that will be passed onto Planet Ark’s Seedling Bank.
The next meeting of the Junior School Auxiliary will be held on Thursday at Café Envy commencing at 9am. On the agenda will be feedback on this term’s events and planning for Term 3. All parents are welcome to attend. Thank you to the Auxiliary for facilitating today’s Pizza Day. You may have noticed Year 6 boys proudly kitted out in very smart commemorative polo-shirts this week. Thank you to the Auxiliary for providing a shirt for every boy in Year 6 which they will be able to wear each Thursday as part of their sport uniform.
Each week, the attendance of Junior School boys at sport is excellent. Occasionally, a boy needs to be absent due to a clash of events or illness on the day. Absences caused by overnight illness or late (unexpected) circumstances should be phoned in, emailed or texted directly to Mr Robinson as early as possible on Saturday morning, as he is in contact with all coaches and sometimes replacement players can be organised. Unfortunately, messages left via the App are inaccessible to him until Monday morning when the games are long passed!
Part of developing independence in the boys is having high expectations of them (not you!) in regards to uniform, although they do need your help in some aspects. Mr Hassall and I will be keeping our eyes close to the ground in coming weeks with a particular eye for polished (or un-polished shoes). It is our expectation that each boy’s dress shoes be well-maintained and that boys in Years 3-6 participate in that maintenance…although it is never too young to learn. No doubt, we will need to run some tutorials at school for those whose shoes have been particularly neglected but we do ask parents to teach your son how to polish his shoes and build the habit of shoe maintenance into his weekly routines. At a minimum, shoes should be shined weekly and the weekend usually provides ample time to attend to this task so that shoes are in top shape for the week ahead.
A plush and very green re-surfaced No. 2 Oval came back on-line today after considerable weather-related delays. We are very grateful that our primary boys have their space back to run, chase and kick a ball at breaks as well as for sports training.
Mark Dunn | Head of the Junior School
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
