The excitement of onsite learning continues to pervade every corner of our school grounds. From the moment students arrive in the morning till the time they head home from our multiple entry and exit points, there is nothing but a sense of engagement, joy and connectedness that the students are experiencing firsthand and face-to-face with their peers and teachers.
The modified camp program extending from Year 3 to Year 6 at both the Kew and Bulleen Sport Complexes has provided the students in those year levels with wonderful opportunities to experience some of the joys of the Outdoor Ed camp program and given the Year 3 students an opportunity to taste some of the delights that will be on offer for them in Year 4 when they visit Mount Evelyn in 2021.
With many musical ensemble groups permitted to recommence practice, it has been wonderful seeing the students turning up with instruments and a positive attitude to join in the fun and exciting learning at practice sessions both before school and after school.
Students in Year 5 and Year 6 have had the opportunity to engage in non-competitive fun sport-based activities at our Bulleen Sports playing fields. Students have participated in swimming and diving activities, touch football, ultimate frisbee, athletics and modified fast-paced cricket games. These opportunities will continue across the next four weeks of the term for Year 6 students, while the Year 5 students will participate for a further two weeks before shifting their focus to the Year 5 Drama Performance, building on their experiences from the monologues they devised and performed last week.
Changes to the way we run our Ready Set Go Program for new parents of students in 2021 has seen a move to an online delivery of information which has hopefully been of benefit to students and parents. This provides them with an overall understanding of the structures, curriculum opportunities and wellbeing practices that provide for the safe engagement of all students in the Junior School.
As we approach orientation for 2021, we continue to consider individual student class placement and the transition process for 2021 to familiarise students with their classes and teachers. We hope to host external students and current students together at Carey on the Orientation Day on Tuesday 24 November.
The process for current Year 5 students for 2021 Leadership positions has commenced. It has been overwhelmingly affirming hearing from the students who self-nominated and were shortlisted by their peers about what they see as essential attributes of leadership, namely listening, supporting, encouraging and working with their peers to achieve the best result and that they will continue to display these qualities and characteristics even without a formal leadership position. The School is indeed in terrific student hands.
This Friday 6 November sees Carey’s Junior School Athletics carnival continuing, albeit in a modified year level-based manner. Students will be participating in a variety of individual and relay races, both at our Carey Kew campus for students in Prep to Year 2 and at the Bulleen Sports Complex for students in Years 3 to 6.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank parents for their ongoing support of the School’s operating procedures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and look forward to being able to speak to parents when restrictions ease further.
Please read this message from OSHCare, our after-school program available to all students in the Junior School, for information pertaining to their operations for the rest of the year.
With just over one month of school remaining for 2020 I wish you all the very best for a safe and connected Christmas and holiday period and look forward to a significantly different 2021.
Alby Ingles
Deputy Head – Student Welfare
