Junior Primary
Access Unit
Reading Book Returns
Sport
President's Report
JSPA
Year 6
Forthcoming events

5 December 2003 No. 37

From Head of the Junior School

Last Friday night saw over 240 people attend the Year Six Dinner, celebrating the conclusion of the primary years of education for the Year Six classes of 2003. This was a wonderful evening enjoying haggis, fellowship and personal reflections of Junior School.

I extend thanks to Mrs Barbara Hurley and her team of parents for the organisation of this terrific function and to the boys for their efforts in ensuring a memorable evening was shared by all.

Several excursions and activities have occurred this week across all levels of the school and I hope boys have enjoyed each event. Particular highlights were the annual Wungle Bungle Birdman Rally held by Year Two and the Year Six visit to the Cuckoo Restaurant, concluding their LOTE studies. The staff are to be commended on all they have provided at this very busy time of the year.

Speech Night was held last night and I thank the boys in the way they participated at this very formal occasion. I again extend congratulations to the award winners announced during proceedings;

Head of Junior School's Award - Nicholas Jarman

J R Balderstone Award (Citizenship) - Tom Browne

Joint Dux for 2003 - Adrian Li and Nicholas Watson

I was also pleased to announce the 2004 School Captain and Vice Captains. Congratulations and best wishes for 2004 to:

School Captain - Mitchell Wong

School Vice Captains - Charles Kemp and Francis Ravida.

Other 2004 leaders will be announced during our Assembly next Monday.

Best wishes are extended to Ms Dandie, the Junior Primary Staff and especially, the Junior Primary boys who will present the Junior School Christmas Service at 2.00pm next Tuesday. This is always a wonderful presentation and all families are welcome to come along, sing some carols and enjoy the festive atmosphere of this very special event to be held in the Memorial Hall.

Today, a representative from Anglicare attended our Assembly and was overwhelmed by the generosity displayed under our Giving Tree. So many families will enjoy a special Christmas this year and I sincerely thank those who have given so freely to enable this to happen. It is wonderful to receive gifts, but even better to give to those less fortunate. Thank you all again!

Well, another busy year has almost come to a close and with only a few days of school next week, this will be the last Newsletter for 2003.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all families for their support and encouragement of boys and staff during the year. It is critical that the home and school continue to work closely with each other, placing the boy as the highest priority. This aim will continue in 2004.

I thank Miss Rebekah Harvey, Miss Jo Dean and Ms Alexandra Gerdenitsch who will leave us at the end of the year. Their efforts during the year have been sincerely appreciated and I wish them all well for their exciting years ahead.

I hope all families enjoy a very happy and safe Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus and His life.

In wishing you a safe holiday period and in looking forward to welcoming the boys back in 2004, I leave you with the following as my final thought for the year.....

I
think
that we
shall always
see, God's
gift upon our
Christmas tree.
You cannot touch
them with your hand,
yet they are there at your
command. There's joy and faith
and hope renewed. There's laughter
for a happy mood. There's gratitude for
each new day; a time to think a time to pray.
The Christ has come with holy light to shine and make
your pathway bright. All these are there if you can see
God's gifts
upon your
Christmas Tree.

May God richly bless you all.

Guy B Mason

Junior Primary

Last Friday saw all of the Junior Primary Department and 18 staff heading to the Melbourne Zoo. In multi-aged groups we strolled around the zoo, enjoying the wide variety of animals, investigating new enclosures like the highly publicised new Elephant Enclosure, making new friends and enjoying some delicious treats. Despite hot conditions we had a most enjoyable day and will look forward to our 2004 J.P. Day Out.

Following our trip to the Zoo, the Year Two boys experienced their first school sleep over. It was a great night with the boys enjoying their pizza, film and night walk before settling down in the hall for a well earned sleep. The boys were fantastic and will look forward to their first camp next year. A special thank you must go to Mrs Barton and Miss Coggins for their organization, to Mrs DiNatale for staying with us over night and to Miss James, Miss Harvey, Miss Dean and Mr Strempel for assisting with activities in the afternoon.

It has been a particularly busy week for our Year Twos as they also had their Wungle Bungle Competition on Tuesday. This was a fantastic activity involving all boys in Year Two and most of their parents. The Year Threes and I enjoyed the spectator aspects of this activity, as I am sure did the many parents whom came to watch, the maiden and sometimes final voyages of these crafts.

As the 2003 school year draws to a close I would like to thank all who have supported the boys in Junior Primary. The Junior Primary Staff have done a wonderful job, caring for the boys in their class and guiding their academic and social progress. I have appreciated all their efforts and also those of the specialist and ancillary staff who cater for these boys each day.

Best wishes are extended to Miss Dean who will return to Sydney next year and to Miss Harvey who will be travelling the world, after assisting us with some relief teaching in Term 1. Thank you both for your contribution to Scotch and in particular, the Junior Primary Department.

As a parent group you have assisted us in many ways. From helping in the Art Room, guiding groups in P.M.P. sessions, assisting on excursions or in classrooms, donating materials, participating in JSPA events, sewing and preparing costumes, being part of our Chapel services, Music recitals, listening to your child read each night, and

the list goes on, you have allowed us to provide a range of activities and opportunities for the boys that wouldn't happen without your interest and involvement, and I thank you for that.

I have really enjoyed my first year at Scotch and have greatly appreciated everyone's support and encouragement throughout the year. I would particularly like to thank Mr Guy Mason for his guidance and members of the Junior School Executive and Office Staff for their invaluable assistance.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our final Junior Primary and Scotch event, The Junior School Service on Tuesday and wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and safe and happy holiday.

Until 2004....

Bronwyn Dandie - Director of Junior Primary

Access Unit

My Year Four Extension Maths students have been researching challenging and enjoyable Maths websites in recent sessions. They have prepared the following reviews to encourage others to visit these websites over the Summer holidays.

If you're looking for a mentally stimulating activity then listen up! Maths Car Racing is a fast thinking game that changes in difficulty according to your ability. It is also a fun game! There are a few equations on each line (depending on which subject you choose). Select the one with the correct answer to move your car. For more information, go to www.funbrain.com. Anthony 4K

In the Lemonade Game, you have to sell as much lemonade in 30 days as possible. You have to buy lemons, sugar, cups and ice. At the end of the day you always lose something. The customers can say "Yuck! Mmmm! Too Hot! Too Pricey!" etc. If you want to play the game, log into www.lemonadegame.com. Have fun! Elwin 4M

The Maths game I recommend for most people is called 'Maths Mysteries'. You will find it on the internet site www.mathsyear2000.org. In the game you have to work out number patterns. Andrew 4M

The Maths website I recommend is www.mathsyear2000.org. On this site I recommend you play a game called, 'Who Wants To Be A Mathionair'. It's like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire but with some differences. You have to answer a question from 4 choices of answers. You get given 3 lifelines. The three lifelines are use of a calculator, 50/50 and ask an audience member. The aim is to keep getting the questions right until you reach one million dollars. Duncan 4M

During the weekend, I explored the website www.coolmath4kids.com. This site is very easy to access and navigating your way through the site is simple. Bright colours and interesting graphics will keep your eyes entertained. Some of the games on the home page are Brainbenders, Jigsaw Puzzles, Coolthings, Geometry and my favourite, Lemonade Stand. Eric 4P

Hey kids! Sick and tired of boring old internet games? Well www.mathsnet.com is a good one! Click on Puzzles and you should find lots of games. One of them is called boxes where you make boxes. Bridges is really hard...you have to make a bridge without the computer crossing over or through your bridge. Jonathan & Francis 4P

These are just a sample of the boys' reviews. See the notice board outside the Access Unit for full reviews and many others! While you're there, have a look at the photos of Year 6 boys playing their game, IPA Scrabble!

Jane Beams - Educational Support

Reading Book Returns

Dear Parents,

Could we please ask you to do a thorough check at home and return any 'Take Home Reading' books that you might find. Many books have gone missing this year and we would like to be able to purchase new books instead of replacing the ones that have been lost. Your help and support in returning these books is very much appreciated. Please note that all reading books should be returned by Friday 5th December.

Connie DiNatale - Head of English

Sport

On behalf of the School I would like to extend my appreciation and applaud all those students, staff and parents who supported the programme this year. It has been a very enjoyable and successful year.

Summer Holiday Sports Camps

There are a number of these Camps publicised on the Sports Notice Board. These include Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Basketball and Soccer. Please ask for a specific flier for your chosen camp from Mrs Geremia or Ms Craven in the Office.

Ian Leith - Head of Sport

President's Report

The end of the school year comes all too quickly and already the JSPA Committee is planning for the start of the 2004 school year!

Here are some dates you may like to put in next year's diary already.

Welcome Coffee Mornings are held at the start of Term One on the following dates:

All will take place in the Junior School Staff Room, commencing at 8:30am. Everyone is welcome to attend, including any younger brothers or sisters.

Social Evenings

The JSPA also run Cocktail Parties for the various year levels during February. The dates for these are as follows:

Invitations to these Cocktail Parties will be posted out in due course, with RSVP slips and monies to be returned to the JSPA box at Reception.

Class Representative Meeting

Another reminder to all 2004 Class Representatives that there will be a meeting on Monday 8th December at 8:30am in the Junior School Staff Room.

Class Representative Guidelines will be distributed and discussed at this meeting, as well as outlining the JSPA program for next year. After this, we will need to address the Cocktail Party invitations so please come along - the more, the merrier!

A big thank you must be extended to Gill McGlade, from the Swap Shop and her team of helpers who put together a fabulous Christmas Stall on Thursday. There were lots of happy boys making Christmas purchases for their family members.

Finally, on behalf of the JSPA committee, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Scotch families a very Happy Christmas and safe holiday period.

Look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year!

Jennifer Jarman - President JSPA

Year 6

New textbooks and materials for Year 7 2004 can be collected from the Junior School Assembly Hall on Monday 8th December at 3:15pm.

Junior School Office

Forthcoming Events