Scotch College

A hive of activity in the Junior School

During the third term there has been a host of different activities occurring at the Junior School.

These many and varied events offer the boys a full and exciting educational programme. Each of them developing the boys in different ways, whilst making the process of education a happy and enjoyable one, where the students are hopefully drawn into being active participants.

The Preps, following on from their Grandparents' Day, have had a number of visiting performers in and have recently visited the zoo as part of their general studies.

Year 1 boys have been working on a technology unit looking at toys. As part of this study they have visited the Toy Factory.

Year 2 study of flight

The Year 2 students have just completed a major study on flight, which not only involved studying and making planes but also included a visit from Year 1 parent Captain Stephen Grover, who spoke about flying the various jets in the QANTAS fleet. One of the highlights of this unit was the flight day, where their various planes were launched off the top balcony outside the library. This proved to be most spectacular and worthwhile.

These boys have also been involved in a social exchange with Lauriston Girls' School. This interactive activity is most important in ensuring the students develop appropriate social skills.

Year 3 students recently performed their German songs and plays to a large and appreciative audience.

In the senior area, the Year 4 and 5 boys have recently been designing and testing their cars and boats as part of their technology studies. The Year 5 classes have also enjoyed a most successful study on gold, culminating in a visit to Sovereign Hill.

Year 6 boys have been working on a unit on Parliament. During the unit they have conducted their own elections and had Members of Parliament visit them. They have also completed a study and visit on the Dandenongs.

A number of intra-school activities have also occurred which have involved all the Senior boys. There have been inter-house debating, Trivial Pursuit, cross country and chess competitions along with sporting games such as football, soccer, hockey and basketball.

Senior classes have also had input from a number of visiting artists and performers. These have included such people as cartoonists through to Aboriginal dancers.

Life at the Junior School certainly is a very full and exciting one!

Parent support programme

This year the Junior School Parent Support Programme was extended throughout all year levels and is being implemented most successfully.

The year commenced with an information session for all volunteers and this was followed by a training workshop for parents interested in helping with the reading and writing programmes from Prep to Year 6. In the class programmes, parent support is mainly involved in English and mathematics. For English, boys are either given individual tuition in reading and writing or work in groups to take part in literature discussion and activities. In mathematics, parents supervise small groups of boys involved in games for reinforcement of concepts and problem solving investigations. Parents also assist with the lessons in the Art Room by preparing materials and helping boys with projects.

Within the Resource Centre and the Access Unit, parental support is directed towards assisting with a range of resources that includes processing and covering of books and the maintenance and development of teaching resource materials.

The motor skills programme for Preps in the gym has been successfully implemented for many years with the regular support of the Prep parents.

Occasional volunteer help with excursions, working bees, typing of stories and making classroom resources continues to be a much appreciated contribution to the overall success of school and class programmes.

The regular commitment of parents in all of these programmes helps to strengthen the ties between staff, parents and the boys and facilitates the successful outcomes of the year's work.

The parent support programme is now an integral part of the school curriculum and is greatly appreciated by the staff and students,