From the Head of Junior School

With eager faces and a great deal of excitement, our Year 5 students set off for their annual, three-day camp. Situated in Adelaide Hills, Mylor Adventure Camp provided a beautiful backdrop of wide open spaces, tall river gums and a section of the fast flowing Onkaparinga River. While the children experienced some fresh mornings, it certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of the children on camp who were simply amazing.

Within smaller groups, the children were challenged to work together team challenges, zip-lining, the ‘mud challenge,’ archery, raft-building, bridge-building, night-time nature walks and more. The children all showed such great support of each other while engaging in their activities. On speaking with the children throughout camp, it was obvious that there was a great deal of ‘first time’ experiences shared by many. Camps provide a fantastic opportunity for children to grow and be stretched out of their comfort zones, albeit, within a safe, supportive and controlled environment. Camp such as this provide a wonderful opportunity to build confidence, resilience, make new connections and deepen existing friendships. A big thank you to the staff who all attended camp and provided this wonderful opportunity of growth for our children.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of parents who trust in the care of staff to provide these opportunities for their loved ones. Watching the children return with ear-to-ear grins, tired eyes, and filled with stories to share, we know they had a wonderful time on camp. As teachers we often attest that the development of a child while away on camp is greater than its equivalent time at school. The growth we speak of is far greater than attainment in tests. It is transcendental in nature and is best described as human flourishing.

Please take note of some special events at the Junior School during Weeks 8 and 9:

Tuesday 18 June
Mid Year Reception Transition #2

Thursday 20 June
Year 5 Band Presentation
Festival of Arts Combined Rehearsals

Tuesday 25 June
Mid Year Reception Transition #3

Thursday 27 June
Casual Pyjama Day

Friday 28 June
End of Term 2

Please note the Junior School Front Office will be closed in weeks 1 and 2 of the school holidays.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually on June 5th since 1973, World Environment Day is a global platform for environmental outreach. Students at the Junior School acknowledged World Environment Day in a number of ways including a lunchtime Scavenger Hunt and a classroom activity sharing their favourite things about our world.

Caroline O'Halloran
Sustainability Coordinator Junior School