The Unsung Heroes of Our Junior Campus

As we reach the halfway point of another busy year at St Aloysius Catholic College, it's a great time to reflect on the vibrant life of our Junior Campus. We often see the incredible work of our teachers in the classrooms, shaping young minds and guiding our children's learning journeys. But there's a whole team of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring our campus runs smoothly and supports every student's experience. They are, in many ways, the heartbeat of our campus – our administration and utility staff, teacher aides, and marketing team.

These are our silent achievers, the people who ensure everything is in its right place, that our children are safe and supported, and that our school community stays connected.

The Backbone: Administration and Utility Staff

Think about all the moving parts of a school day. From the friendly face greeting you at the front office to the meticulous work of keeping our grounds pristine and our facilities functioning, our administration and utility staff are indispensable. They manage enrolments, answer countless queries, handle communications, maintain our beautiful campus, and ensure that classrooms are comfortable and ready for learning. Their dedication creates a safe, organised, and welcoming environment for every child, every day. Without their quiet efficiency, the organised chaos of a school would quickly become just chaos!

The Classroom Champions: Teacher Aides

Our teacher aides are the unsung heroes within our classrooms. They provide invaluable support to our teachers, working directly with students to offer extra assistance, reinforce learning, and ensure every child feels supported in their educational journey. Whether it's helping with reading groups, assisting students with special needs, or preparing learning materials, their presence allows teachers to focus more effectively on the diverse needs of our students. They build excellent relationships with the children and are often a comforting presence, making a real difference in individual learning outcomes.

Connecting Our Community: The Marketing Team

While not always physically on the Junior Campus day-to-day, our marketing team plays a crucial role in telling the story of St Aloysius and connecting our college with the broader community. They ensure that current and prospective families are informed about all the wonderful events, achievements, and opportunities available at our school. From putting together engaging newsletters like this one, to showcasing student successes, they are instrumental in fostering our strong sense of community and pride in St Aloysius.

So, next time you're on campus, or even when you receive a communication from the school, take a moment to appreciate the incredible efforts of these dedicated individuals. They may not always be in the spotlight, but their hard work and commitment are vital to our students' success and happiness and the thriving atmosphere of our Junior Campus. They truly are the quiet engine that keeps our school running smoothly.

As term two wraps up, we want to thank all our staff and students for their incredible hard work and achievements over the past few months. The recent report cycle and parent-teacher interviews were a testament to the dedication of our teaching staff and the impressive progress our students are making. It's truly a collaborative effort that makes these milestones so successful. To all our families, whether you're looking forward to a quiet break, resuming everyday routines, or embarking on exciting adventures, we wish you a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday period.

We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 3!

Yours faithfully 

Samuel Morey – Deputy Principal: Junior Campus

On Thursday, 5th June all of our prep students learnt about traditional palawa style lunangkatawn/bark huts. As part of this term's Design and Technologies curriculum unit about 'shelters' the children enjoyed learning from palawa author Adam Thompson, who read them his Little J & Big Cuz story: 'Stormy Night'. We then went up to the sand circle and examined a mini bark hut made by local palawa craftsman Danny Gardner. Using materials from the surrounding bush we made our own little shelters. 

Thank you to the young, caped, student helpers plus Lincoln and Harrison from Year 2 who joined us in the afternoon, along with our Deputy Mr Sam Morey, who couldn't resist getting in the hut himself.

After participating in this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime, JC students were set a special challenge inspired by ‘The Truck Cat’.  They designed their own truck for a cat or pet of their choice.  Students could be as creative as they liked, they could build, draw, construct, make a model- it was completely up to them. 

The quality of the entries was outstanding! We had detailed diagrams, trucks constructed with Lego, even trucks built with working parts, including lights. 

Congratulations to Evie (3B) and Oliver (3G) who won a gift voucher for Fullers’ Bookshop and well done to everyone who entered.