From the Deputy Head
Music recitals
Mosaic garden
Physical Education
JSPA
Forthcoming events

26 October 2001 No. 30

From Head of the Junior School

A number of activities have occurred across the Junior School this week and it never ceases to amaze me at the diversity of things in which our boys participate. Year Four continued to enjoy their Bike Education program, the Preps had a marvellous excursion to a farm, Year Three explored the Point Cook Wetlands and several boys were interviewed by Channel Nine after our special P-6 Assembly today, where we heard more about 'The Alannah and Madeline Foundation'. The School and Vice Captains, represented all Year Six boys at Parliament House this morning, joining with over three hundred children from other independent Junior Schools from around Victoria in an activity packed day around the theme of 'Student Leadership'. The boys were fine representatives of the College and I am sure they will be eager to share their experiences with the rest of the Year Level. Add in a wonderful Year Three to Six Chapel giving thanks to God for His gifts to us on Thursday and what was to be a reasonably quiet week has turned out to be very busy indeed!

Next Tuesday, many Upper Primary boys will perform at various music recitals and I wish each musician well for his final practice sessions and for a successful performance. Year Three will journey to Cowes on Thursday and I know that this exciting two day camp will be enjoyed by every boy! The 'Occasional Choir', which has been rehearsing on a regular basis, will give their debut performance for 2001 to members of the Ewing Memorial Church on Thursday afternoon. Previous Headmaster of the Junior School, Mr Garth Tapp, invites us each year to participate in this concert and I know the boys enjoy it just as much as the audience does!

Good luck to all!

My theme this week has been "Forgiveness".

The boys were reminded that everyone makes mistakes, but it is important that we take responsibility for those mistakes! We also discussed that we need to share our feelings without seeking retribution, to stop giving uncaring people the chance to hurt us, to take action in correcting mistakes and know that we can receive God's forgiveness, when we ask for it.

I reminded the boys of the words from the Lord's Prayer seeking God's forgiveness and Matthew's Gospel, which tells us,

"If you forgive others the wrongs they have done against you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you." (6:1)
The boys were left with the following affirmation on which to focus on during the week:
I am forgiving of myself and others. I can learn from my mistakes.
I have the power to keep changing for the better.

This week I leave you with a reminder from Martin Luther King...

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude."

Guy B Mason

From the Deputy Head

Congratulations to William Lester, Charlie Gamboni, Edward Hamer, Callum Maxwell, Benjamin Chan and Nathan Su, Year 5 boys who provided the prayer and readings for our Years Three - Six Chapel Service on Thursday. They read with a great deal of confidence and maturity and were very well supported by the music of Andrew Rawlin of Year Six (and School Vice Captain). A special mention to Simon Black who attended rehearsals and helped prepare the prayer for the Service in anticipation of stepping in for one of our readers who had been away sick. Revered Buchanan's message of God's Gifts To Us was indeed a very enlightening one and ensured that we all spent time thinking about how fortunate we are to be living in such a wonderful country.

A reminder to parents that only Scotch hats are appropriate for our boys to wear at school and to please ensure that all articles of clothing are labelled. There are items in our lost property basket that are not labelled, which makes it very difficult to return them to their respective owners.

Week Four includes the final week of Bike Education, with 4I taking to their bikes and tackling to obstacle courses and balancing drills, while Year Three - Six Recitals will be held on Tuesday evening. The Year Fives will participate in a discussion from the Department of Minerals on Wednesday and the Year Three classes are already excitedly preparing themselves for their adventures at Cowes when they depart on Thursday for their two day expedition to Scotch at Cowes. Following my harrowing encounters at the Year Six camp earlier in Term Three, I look forward to a less traumatic time with the Year Threes! On Thursday as mentioned previously Ms Allen will also be taking the Year Six choir and a group of instrumentalists to perform at the Ewing Memorial Church in Malvern, while Year Two will be travelling to Point Cook to tour the RAAF Museum to complement their class work on Flight. Week 4 will conclude on Friday with Mr Robertson taking a group of talented public speakers to a workshop at Ruyton Girls' School.

Have a great weekend!

Rodney McKinlay

Music Recitals

All students who learn an instrument either at school or outside school should have received a letter this week inviting them to perform in the Junior School Music Recital series. Due to the large number of students involved, there are several concerts held in different weeks and venues.

Please note the following:

Years 3-6 Pianoforte, Guitar and Vocal Recital - 6.45 pm - Tuesday 30 October - Junior School Assembly Hall

Years P-2 - 2 pm - Tuesday 20 November - Suzuki students in Assembly Hall, all other instrumentalists in Lower Shergold

Years 3-6 Strings - Tuesday 20 November - Yrs. 3+4 - 6.45 pm; Yrs. 5 & 6 - 7.45 pm - Lower Shergold and Junior School Assembly Hall

Years 3-6 Brass Recital - Yrs. 3, 4 & 5 - 6.45 pm; Yr 6 - 7.45 pm - Wednesday 21 November - Junior School Assembly Hall

Years 3-6 Percussion and Drumkit - 6.45 pm - Wednesday 21 November - Lower Shergold

Years 3-6 Woodwind - Yrs. 3, 4 & 5 - 6.45 pm; Yr. 6 - 7.45 pm - Fraser Smith Lecture Theatre

Please discuss your son's performance with his instrumental teacher and do not hesitate to ring me if you have any queries.

Wednesday After School Performing Choir

Wednesday after-school choir rehearsals have ceased for the year as boys join the Junior School Choir for rehearsals during school hours in the lead up to the Junior School Concert on Tuesday, 13 November.

Jenni Allen - Head of Junior School Music

150th Mosaic Garden

The Mosaic Garden is now complete and I do hope parents find time to have a look at the garden with their sons. It is situated alongside the short path leading from the entrance to the school towards the oval. Many boys have made individual tiles and I have listed the classes and topics below to help parents and boys find their tile on the wall or on the ground.

On the brick wall of the Access Unit in Terracotta Clay-

Prep D Numbers 150 left hand side below the Burning Bush

Prep K Cross of St Andrews middle below the Burning Bush near the left.

Year 1R Torches middle below the Burning Bush near the right.

Year 1N Crowns right hand side below the Burning Bush

Year 2C Ships either side of the Burning Bush

Year 2H Stars above the Burning Bush

The Junior Primary boys interpreted parts of the Scotch symbol.

There are staff tiles at the very top above the Burning Bush.

On the ground are the Mosaic Tiles with an Australian animal theme.

3W Fish

3C Wombats

4M Koalas

4K Platypus

4I Kangaroo

Their tiles are in rows of each animal and grouted in blue around the bird bath.

The Bird Bath has been a group project with Year five boys making frogs, lizards and birds. These creatures are all over the pillar and bowl of the bird bath and it looks quite spectacular.

The main feature of the Burning Bush in mosaic tiles was a piece of group work by Year Six boys on the brick wall. This glass and ceramic tiles picture took a considerable amount of time to make and grout. The boys did a wonderful job on this project.

I do hope parents enjoy the 150 Mosaic Garden and it will remain a lasting reminder of this special year in the life of our school.

Susan Ferres - Art Department

Physical Education

Mr Hawkins is interested in hearing from any keen cricketers from Years 4, 5 and 6 who wish to join a cricket training squad after school on Monday evenings (3.30pm - 5.00 pm). Further details will follow depending on the number of boys interested.

Please add your name to the list on the notice board next to the tuckshop by Wednesday, 31 October.

Peter Hawkins - Head of Sport

JSPA

The ladies who attended the Spring Fashion Luncheon held last week at Match were treated to a beautiful showing of Jenny Hoo's Spring Collection - street wear, race wear and more were paraded in style before delighted Scotch Mums and friends. Some outrageous Fashion on the Field anecdotes from Phillip Rhodes, the milliner, had the ladies laughing and giggling all afternoon. It was a merry crowd at Match despite the weather! Thank you once again for supporting us.

The JSPA is organising a farewell morning tea to say thank you and good-bye to Mrs Anne Kimber and Mrs Elizabeth Dawe, the details of which are in the flyer with the newsletter this week. Everyone is welcome to the Farewell Morning Tea.

Several vacancies are available for the 2002 JSPA committee. The JSPA committee organises functions for the school, across all year levels. The JSPA has 10 committee meetings through the year and meets on Friday mornings two or three times a term. It is typically a three year commitment although some members have not been able to fulfil the entire three years. Please ring me on 0411 142 475 by Friday, 2 November if you are interested in joining the 2002 committee.

Alice Chan - President, JSPA

Forthcoming Events