We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to share our vision for the Junior School this year with you at our ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening.  Our commitment in ensuring at least ‘one year’s growth for every child’ is our core focus. As outlined, our new structures, which include block out times for Literacy and Numeracy across the grades, will allow for flexible groupings, targeted programmes, the careful tracking of students and the use of data to make decisions. This approach provides the capacity to be flexible and responsive, creating optimum conditions to achieve growth.

Our Learning Enhancement team will assist in providing this programme, delivering targeted small group learning during key times.  As described in the presentations on Monday evening, a number of programmes have been launched including a new spelling programme ‘Words Their Way’ in Year 3 to Year 6 , NWEA MAP – Measures of Academic Progression, Renaissance Reading in Year 3 to Year 6, and Seesaw – digital online portfolio. The staff and I are very excited about the possibilities and look forward to providing you with opportunities to learn more about these programmes in the coming weeks.  We encourage you to attend information sessions and learn more about these programmes and ways to best support your child at home.

You can gain further insight into the digital online portfolio SeeSaw in this Introductory video. This tool will be used in Year 1 to Year 4 to commence the year.  More information will be provided shortly.  This will be officially launched in Week 6 of this term.

The swimming carnival was a huge success. The students and families of Year 3 to Year 6 had a wonderful day on Tuesday.  Our House Captains led their first official event with enthusiasm and confidence. The weather was spectacular, and equally was the atmosphere.  It was wonderful to receive feedback from Unanderra pool staff who shared that they had held many carnivals over the past few weeks and that our carnival had a lovely, encouraging, respectful and community ‘feel’ about it.  I want to thank our students for their care of each other and the environment, our families for their encouragement of their own and others’ children and for our staff, who ensure that our students have a fabulous, memorable experience.  A special thank you to our incredible PDHPE and Junior School Sport staff, Mrs Kylie Dribbus and Mrs Jane Martin, who organised a simply fabulous carnival as well as our Senior School Year 10 PASS student helpers and Mrs Lyndal Cassidy who made a significant contribution to the carnival.

Congratulations to Wolgal house on winning the House Championships and the following Age Champions:

8 Year Girls: Zali McIlwraith

8 Year Boys: Jayden Wang

9 Year Girls: Madeleine MacKay

9 Year Boys: Luca Attorre

10 Year Girls: Sophia Johnson

10 Year Boys: Oliver Percival

11 Year Girls: Tahlie Oxman

11 Year Boys: Alexander MacKay

12 Year Girls: Annaliese Brunskill

12 Year Boys: Alexander Mumford

A team of 35 students have been selected to represent TIGS at the NASSA carnival to be held at Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre, Homebush on Tuesday 25 February.

Our Year 6 students spent this week in Canberra.  This excursion provided the opportunity for our students to see their learning in action, connecting this to their Unit of Inquiry and their study of government and leadership.  The three days were filled with meaningful experiences that allowed students to learn more about Australian history and how this influences their own identities.  Year 6 students enjoyed the time with each other, making many fabulous memories.  We thank our incredible Year 6 staff Mrs Dorothy Segar, Mr Andy Carroll, Mrs Suzanne Mammone, Mrs Karen Wallace and Mrs Anna Carswell (Stage 3 Coordinator) who organised a brilliant experience and ensured the superb care of our Year 6 students.

Congratulations to our Year 6 captains and leaders who have taken on their roles with confidence and gusto.  It is fabulous to see them working together to identify areas of improvement and begin planning for many initiatives that they will lead.  They will draw on their peers, who will play a pivotal role, as Year 6 leaders, in the execution of these.

I look forward to seeing many new and existing families at TIGS Parents’ Evening on Friday evening.  If you have not had a chance to connect with your class representatives, please contact our Junior School admin team, who will provide these details.  I encourage and thank you for your involvement and look forward to seeing you at our Junior School parent events and P&F meetings.

Duty of Care – Before and after school

We have allowed a few weeks for families to settle back into the school routine.  Beginning Week 4, any child that arrives before 8am will be taken directly to PEAK in the morning and at the conclusion of the day, after the conclusion of carline at 3:30, or at the end of their after school activity.

Thank you for ensuring that your child is supervised at all times.

JUNIOR SCHOOL AWARDS

Congratulations to all students who have achieved awards. A full list is available on the Junior School Awards page of OLLE.