Head of Junior School – Week 2

Ms Shannon Rosewood

French Day 2017

How exciting that we can again be all things French at our French Day in Week 4.  Ooh la la! Thursday, 2 November will be a fun filled day of games, songs and activities designed to promote our fantastic AIM Program. Come dressed as your favourite French character in a stylish and ‘chic’ outfit!

Good luck to our Year 6 leaders!

How would you like to be remembered? It is traditional for Year 6 to leave a memento of their time at St John’s. This term the Year 6 will be working towards raising their funds through a Year 6 Fundraiser Day.  This fun event will be held on 17 November so look out for the flyer later in the term.

Students from Transition to Year 5 will have a brilliant time. Year 6 students are already coming up with ideas to ensure that is it is a successful day. Experiences such as the haunted house, face painting, Lob a choc, ‘a minute to win it’ and a lolly guessing competition are just some of the offerings under discussion.

The students will then consider a suitable gift for the school. In past years we have built on our collection of STEM equipment such as the chessboard and playground clock.  Year 6, 2017 donated our beautiful Lone Pine bronze plaque.

The Year 6 Final Assembly will be held on the afternoon of 5 December at 2 pm. I hope all of our Year 6 parents will be able to attend this special event.

Spell@NEGS Week 2017

An area of educational focus within the Junior School has been the growth of the students’ spelling skills.

This year we will be holding our inaugural Spell@NEGS Week in Week 6. We see this as a fun way to

• better literacy skills for individual students
• build House spirit within an academic forum

Girls and boys are encouraged to focus on their personal best. Each class from Kindergarten to Year 6 will spend the week focusing on spelling activities appropriate for their year level. The students’ results will contribute to House points for Term 4 and the House with the highest average will participate in a House reward activity such as a Pool Party.

Class teachers will work in class with students but will also allocate some additional Homework time as fluency occurs through repeated practice on a daily basis. We hope that all students achieve their goals.

Communication with parents

NEGS Junior School continually re-evaluates the effectiveness of their communication with the community.  The school diary is the best form of daily correspondence with your child’s class teacher.  The newsletter is an important information source for important dates and school events. A phone call to Reception (the Junior School can be contacted directly from 8 am on 6774 8737) can also assist parents with understanding the term calendar that was sent home at the beginning of the term.

Downloading the NEGS School Days App is another way parents can keep up to date with events. Regular emails from staff to parents also ensure that weekly schedules and changes to routine are provided.  Schools are busy places. It is the nature of a dynamic institution that dates change and new initiatives are pursued.

We would like to make sure parents have the information that they would like about their child’s education experience.

Term 4 events to add to your calendar

• Fridays Swim and Survive
• 19/20 October Year 5/6 Frog Dreaming camp
• 20 October Assembly (Years 3/4 presenting)
• 31 October Oorala Open Day – Year 1/2 excursion
• 2 November K – 6 French Day
• 3 November Thalgarrah Kindergarten excursion
• 3 November Year 1/2 Sleep out!
• 6 November Infants’ swimming begins
• 10 November UNE Far Our Science Year 5 excursion
• 17 November Year 6 Fundraiser Day
• 21 November K – 12 Assembly (K-2 presenting)
• 28 November Transition Celebration of Learning
• 30 November K – 6 Celebration of Learning
• 1 December Junior School Xmas Pool Party
• 3 December Year 6 Lunch
• 4 December St John’s Activities Day
• 5 December Year 6 Final Assembly
• 5 December End of Term 4
• 5 December NEGS Carols and P and F Family Christmas Party

Year 1/2 will enjoy an overnight experience at the Year 1/2 Sleep out!! So exciting to have an overnight adventure at NEGS on the 3 November.

Transition students will celebrate their year at a Transition Graduation Ceremony. This will be held on 28 November at St John’s.

Celebration of Learning will be held for Kindergarten to Year 6 on 30 November at 6  pm. This will be a wonderful way to congratulate our young learners. All students are expected to attend this formal school event.

Join us for our Junior School Pool Party on 1 December. This is a family event and children must be accompanied by their parents.

All St John’s students will be excited to hear that plans are afoot for the Activities Day at the end of the year. This will take place on Monday, 4 December. Plans are being made for an exciting day. As we have in previous years, DRESS Red for Red Cross will be the theme.

NEGS Carol Service will be held on the evening of 5 December. Years 3 to 6 will be performing (and Year 2 Vocal Ensemble and Handbells). Infants children are invited to attend but it is not compulsory. Afterwards, all families are invited to the P & F Xmas Party.