Junior School Year in Review

World Kindness Day was marked on 13 November. As I sit to reflect on the Junior School ‘year in review’, I could not think of a better day or a better way to reflect on the year.

When I think about the community, staff and students with whom I spend my days at the College, the word kindness certainly comes to mind.

“I think kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity or anything else…Kindness – that simple word. To be kind – it covers everything, to my mind. If you’re kind that’s it.” Roald Dahl

It is due to the kindness of our staff and community that we are able to offer so many opportunities and events for our students throughout the year. It is always wonderful to see the full participation of students, staff and family at our sporting carnivals – athletics, cross-country, swimming and APS events. It is impressive to see the way our students embrace the attributes of the learner profile and demonstrate their understanding through events such as Global Awareness Day, Book Week celebrations, Taste of Asia Day, Public Speaking competitions, Year 5 PYP Exhibition and Afternoon of Eminence. We have budding entrepreneurs on display during the Festival of Entrepreneurship as well as the Year 5 shop initiative. The students demonstrate their love of the arts through Day of Dance, Easter Hat Parade, the Art Show, Musical Showcase and the Junior School Musical. This year, Seussical Junior entertained audiences young and old.

The staff love to organise and attend excursions, incursions and camps with our students. This year our Year 2 students enjoyed an activity day and night, which was a great success, changing from the sleepover format of previous years. For camps, our Year 3s enjoyed Tyalgum Ridge Retreat, our Year 4s had the best experience at our new beach camp venue Lake Ainsworth, Year 5 returned to Mapleton and our Year 6s' rocked the Tasmania trip. I love to share in these events to witness the kindness and great attitude on display from our students and staff in different contexts.

Semester Two saw the original Aitkenhead building demolished and a large building site positioned in the middle of our Junior School. This created class moves and restricted traffic routes around the school. I have been impressed with the positive attitude and kindness of mind, with everyone dealing with the inconveniences without fuss. Next year we expect the new build to be completed by March and it will be simply spectacular. The Junior School will be blessed with a designer building including 8 classroom teaching spaces, a specialised Music room, Technology room, Art and STEM room, as well as a new toilet block and change room space for students. The kindness and support of the College Leadership Team and The College Board make such projects possible.

Our students are kind-hearted. They demonstrate the attributes of the learner profile on a daily basis by being knowledgeable, thinkers, inquirers, and communicators. They are principled, open-minded, risk-takers, who are balanced, reflective and caring. I am proud of the way our students conduct themselves and the way they treat others. I know they are also proud to be a student at Somerset College.

Thank you to the parents of the Junior School for your endless kindness and support. It has been a pleasure sharing the journey of your child’s education for 2019. I look forward to seeing you when we celebrate the end of year with our Year 6 Dinner, the Pre-Prep to Year 2 Christmas Concert, the Christmas Service and Scholars Day.

I wish for you all an end of year and holiday break, full of kindness and joy.