JS Newsletter No. 34, 5 November 2009

5 November 2009

News from Head of the Junior School

A reminder to parents that School finishes at 2:35pm tomorrow: Friday, 6 November, at which time After School Care will be available. As mentioned in previous Newsletters, all staff are participating in a whole staff professional learning session on Friday afternoon.

I always enjoy my Wednesday afternoons, as I have the opportunity to see our Year 5/6 boys ‘in action’ on the sporting field and it enables me to meet and chat with parents at the various Fixtures. This week I saw Year 6 Rugby, Year 6 Badminton, Year 5 Rugby, and Year 5 Water Polo teams competing against Kostka Hall, Burke Hall, and Carey. Their level of skill, teamwork and, most importantly, sportsmanship was most impressive. It is wonderful to see the improvement of our teams as they listen to and work hard with their teachers at training and in competition week.

I would encourage all families to support the JPG Family Picnic on Friday, 20 November from 6-9pm. Details have been sent home and RSVPs are to be returned to the Junior School Reception by Wednesday, 11 November 2009.

On Friday, 20 November all Prep. to Year 6 boys will participate in a ‘mini fete’ to raise funds for the Baraka School. The boys will organise and run various stalls/activities that they will conduct as a class. Casual clothes can be worn for the day, and boys will be asked to donate $2. Class teachers will provide further details to parents as to the stall/activity your son will be directly involved with.

Whilst we should not complain about the rain, last Friday morning’s timing was not the best for our Prep. to Year 2 Sport Carnival. Fortunately the boys were able to eventually enjoy the Carnival in the afternoon. It was wonderful to see the level of enjoyment, participation and the number of boys in their House Colours. Thank you to Mr Thompson for his excellent organisation, to our Lower Primary staff for their assistance, and to the parents and extended family members who supported their boys. Our Year 3 to 6 boys participate in their Field Events (this afternoon on the Junior School Oval), and Track Events (tomorrow morning, Duncan MacKinnon Reserve).

We look forward to the support of our Year 4 Grandparents and Special Friends joining our boys on Thursday, 12 November from 1:30-3:30pm.

Our last ‘Ute Full of Food’ will be held tomorrow morning. It is our Christmas collection, so any little Christmassy bit that could be included would add to our collection. A reminder has been put into the Year 2 to 6 boys’ Record Books. Thanks for your help in this important work.

Our ELC3 to Year 3 Swimming Program will commence next Monday, 9 November. Parents have been provided with the required details.

I am delighted to hear there are very good numbers of Year 5 and 6 parents attending Michael Grose’s ‘Help! My child has turned into a teenager!’ information evening. All parents are encouraged to attend what promises to be a most entertaining and informative evening. Further information can be found on the attached flier.

A Music Concert is being held next Tuesday, 10 November at 7:30pm in St Andrew’s Church. All Year 3 boys and those in the various Choirs, Orchestra and Concert Band are required to attend. Boys are to wear Winter uniform with a white, long-sleeved shirt, tie, and blazer. The Concert should conclude about 9pm. Boys arrive at 7.15pm except for Year 3 Strings who will be informed of their time.

Congratulations to the following boys who were presented with an Effort Card Award at this morning’s Assembly:

P.E. Years 3-4:
Derrick Thompson (3B), Jack Goodings (3W); Ryan Riddell (4B), Joshua Grelewicz (4C), and Jackson Warne (4F).
P.E. Years 5-6:
Trent Tembo-Callander (5Z), Benjamin De Worsop (5M), Andrew McGrath (5A); Harry Hill (6R), Jordan Moncrieff (6I), Michael Riordan (6E), and Matthew Evans (6D).
Japanese Years 3-4:
Max Twycross (3W), William Johnston (3B); Zachary Warren (4F), Henry Moir (4C), and Robert Tongs (4B).
Japanese Years 5-6:
Andre Pontifex (5Z), Matthew Simon (5M), Thomas Wallace (5A); Harry Hill (6R), Isaac Ng (6I), Christopher Girardi (6E), and William Chen (6D).
Art Years 3-4:
Charlie Hayes (3W), and Michael Jonker (3B).
Art Years 5-6:
Kieran Start (5Z), Brian Jeong (5M), and Thomas Wallace (5A); Sebastien Doering (6R), Ben Pickard (6I), Javin Sun (6E), and Matthew Nettlefold (6D).
Drama Years 3-4:
Anthony Benvenuto (3W), and Derrick Thompson (3B); Diellon Lihari (4F), Lachlan Dix (4C), and Lachlan Hansen (4B).
Drama Years 5-6:
Andre Pontifex (5Z), Benjamin De Worsop (5M), and Alex Nicholas (5A); Lindsay Efklides (6R), Thomas Noske (6I), Christopher Girardi (6E), and George Fry (6D).

2010 Lamont Booklists

Payment to Lamont books can be made either on the day of pick-up, 30 November in The Atrium in the Senior School, or ordered and paid for on-line.

2010 Year 7 Book Lists

These were issued to boys yesterday in addition to information relating to the Secondhand Book Pool.

Please note that the Office Max stationery forms (pink) have a return date of Wednesday, 7 October. This has been amended to Wednesday, 4 November.

Both lists are to be returned to the appropriate box in the Junior School Reception area by their due dates, please.

Brighton Grammar Junior School 2010 Prep. Transition Program

Key dates to remember for the 2010 Prep. Transition are:

Prep. Transition/Orientation Days:

Day 1 Thursday 29 October 9.15–10.30
New Boys only (does not include ELC-4 year old)

Day 2 Thursday 5 November 9.15–10.30
Current BGS ELC boys and New Boys

Day 3 Thursday 12 November 9.15–10.30
Current BGS ELC boys and New Boys

Boys are asked to bring a morning snack including a drink to all Transition Days. For those new to Brighton Grammar, we have a ‘NUT Awareness’ Policy.

On Day 3 of the Transition mornings, all parents of Prep. boys are welcome to stay and meet with Mr Tellefson, Head of Junior School, and Mrs Sheridan Coverdale, Lower Primary Co-ordinator, in the GBR Hall, while the boys are attending the Transition program on Thursday, 12 November 2009 from 9.15–10.30am.

Prep. Information Evening on Tuesday, 17 November at 7.30pm. Boys do not attend.

Thursday, 19 November and Friday, 20 November, parents and boys of New Boys only will be invited to make an appointment with Mrs Sheridan Coverdale, Lower Primary Co-ordinator, in the Junior School. A letter will be sent out next week inviting parents to make a time to meet.

Sheridan Coverdale, Lower Primary Co-ordinator

Free Parent Seminar : ‘Help! My child is turning into a teenager’

Brighton Grammar School is pleased to host another free seminar for all parents within the Bayside Community. The Seminar, conducted by Melbourne’s leading parenting educator, Michael Grose, is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, 12 November and is entitled, ’Help! My child is turning into a teenager’.

All parents are encouraged to attend what promises to be a most entertaining and informative evening. Further information can be found on the attached flier.

Aussie Pride Collect-A-Thon: Still Collecting!!!

Our School has registered to take part in Aussie Pride Eggs Collect-a-thon. Every token collected from selected Aussie Pride packs can earn the School 50 cents. The selected packs are: Aussie Pride Free Range and Cage Laid varieties, with the logo and token on the lid.

By bringing in your egg cartons, boys will also be helping the environment, as the egg cartons will be re-used in the Art Room.

Please, DO NOT cut the token off the top of the carton, as we will recycle the whole carton. So from now until Friday, 20 November, please bring all cartons directly to the Art room.

Thanks in advance for your participation.

Karen Pearce, Art Teacher

WANTED:

KNITTING NEEDLES, CROCHET HOOKS, WOOL and RIBBON: if you have any of these items at home, which are no longer wanted, or being used, please bring them to the Art room!