It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the school year. As we reach the end of Term 2, we would like to thank our students and families for what has been a productive and rewarding semester. It has been wonderful to see our students grow in confidence, embrace new challenges and consistently demonstrate our school values in both the classroom and the school community.
The term has been filled with many learning opportunities, events and achievements. The growth we have witnessed across the Junior School is a credit to the dedication of our students, the support of our families and the commitment of our staff.
As we approach the end of Semester One, families will soon receive their child’s academic report. These reports will be available via the Schoolbox Parent Portal. We encourage all families to take the opportunity to download and save a copy of the report for their records.
Semester reports provide an opportunity to celebrate growth, recognise achievements and reflect on areas for continued development. We encourage families to take the time to read and discuss the report with their child, acknowledging the effort, persistence and progress they have demonstrated throughout the semester.
We would also like to extend our appreciation and thanks to our amazing teaching staff for their hard work, dedication and care throughout the semester. Their commitment to supporting every child academically, socially and emotionally, is greatly appreciated and plays a significant role in the success of our Junior School.
Thank you for your continued support throughout Term 2. We wish all students, families and staff a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday break and look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed for an exciting Term 3.
Melanie Morton – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Maddingley)
Sally Savic – Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Maddingley
Milo’s Birthday Surprise
The Prep students enjoyed a fantastic day celebrating Milo Monkey’s birthday and showcasing the impressive phonics knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the semester. The students enjoyed a range of party games including Pin the Hat on the Monkey, Pass the Parcel, and Musical Statues. They also reflected on the Little Learners Love Literacy characters that they have met throughout the year and enjoyed sharing their favourites with the class.
Throughout the day, students celebrated their growing phonics knowledge and reflected on the progress they have made since the beginning of the year. It was wonderful to see them confidently sharing their learning and enthusiasm for reading and writing.
A special highlight of the celebration was coming together as a whole Prep cohort for a picnic. It was a wonderful day filled with excitement, friendship and plenty of fun as we celebrated Milo’s special day and acknowledged the fantastic phonics learning that has taken place across the semester.
Maddingley Prep Teachers
Junior School ICT
Throughout the year, students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar complete Touch Typing on many different platforms. Touch typing is an important skill for children because it helps them develop speed, accuracy and confidence when using computers.
As technology becomes increasingly integrated into education, children are expected to digitally complete NAPLAN, assignments, research projects and assessments. Learning to use correct finger placement and building up the skill of typing without looking at the keyboard allows students to focus on their ideas and learning rather than on finding individual keys.
By mastering this skill early, children are better equipped to engage effectively with modern learning environments. Keep up the wonderful typing Junior School.
Imogen Smith – Teacher
Woodlea
Junior School House Day
On Thursday 24 June, students across the Junior School took part in a highly engaging and creative House Day themed Building CASTLES. Throughout the day, classrooms were transformed into vibrant construction spaces as students worked collaboratively within their House groups to design and build their own castles. Using a range of materials, students demonstrated impressive creativity, teamwork and problem solving as they brought their ideas to life, from detailed towers to strong and imaginative structures.
The day provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect with peers across year levels, strengthen House spirit and foster a strong sense of belonging within our school community. Importantly, the theme Building CASTLES also reflected our commitment to creating Calm and Structured Teaching and Learning Environments, reinforcing the consistent approaches that support student success across the Junior School. Aligned with our school values, the experience encouraged students to show cooperation, resilience and creativity as they worked towards a shared goal.
Our Year 4 House Leaders took on the role of judges, carefully reviewing each creation and celebrating the effort and enthusiasm shown by all students. It was a joyful and memorable day, with many outstanding castles showcasing the talent and collaboration within our Junior School.
Courtney Williams – Deputy Head of Junior School (Woodlea)
Year 4 Highlight
Throughout the term, the Year 4 students have been studying Birrung, the Secret Friend by Jackie French as part of their Reading program. During this unit, students explored themes of cultural diversity, resilience and friendship, thereby developing their understanding of how historical events can shape people’s experiences and relationships. They applied a range of comprehension strategies including inferencing, summarising, visualising and making predictions about the text.
To showcase their visualisation skills, students designed and built model huts inspired by the home of the characters Barney and Elsie. Using natural materials, they carefully planned and constructed their creations, demonstrating both creativity and attention to detail. The students proudly displayed their huts during our Junior School Open Afternoon, where they shared their learning with families and explained the connections they had made to the novel. It was wonderful to see students speaking so confidently about their work and celebrating their achievements with pride.
Ashlee Taylor – Head of Year 4 (Woodlea)
Making a Splash in Year 4 Science
Term 2 Science was very hands on as we dove into the wonders of the water cycle! Students explored how water moves through our environment by using a mix of modern science experiments and ancient Indigenous knowledge.
Here is a look at the fascinating, hands-on activities our young scientists completed:
- Water Cycle in a Bag: Students drew landscapes on zip-lock bags, added blue-tinted water, and taped them to a sunny window. They watched real-time evaporation, condensation as droplets fogged up the plastic, and precipitation as the water rolled back down.
- Cloud in a Jar: By combining warm water, shaving foam, food dye and ice cubes on top of a jar, the children created actual, visible clouds. This experiment helped them visualise how water vapour cools and traps particles to form clouds in our atmosphere.
- Gnamma Holes Exploration: We connected our Science unit to First Nations history by studying Gnamma holes—natural granite rock holes used by Aboriginal Peoples to harvest and store water safely in arid environments. Students built models to test how narrow openings and custom covers made of bark and leaves effectively block solar evaporation and protect water from wildlife.
Lisa Crossley – Teacher
