It’s hard to believe that Semester One has passed. Looking back and reflecting on the past two terms, it’s wonderful that our ELC and Junior School students have this year safely enjoyed a successful period of uninterrupted learning and achievement, free from remote offerings and online classes.
Throughout next week parents will receive semester reports. These reports are a record of learning that celebrates each student’s growth and development thus far. More importantly, they provide a rich and authentic opportunity to discuss and recognise these successes. Semester reports and the constructive summative feedback also play a key role in setting personalised goals that continue moving each student’s learning forward. Reading each student's report and commenting on their achievements, I have been heartened and enthused by the students’ reflective remarks and insights. For me, their confident and well-articulated comments, as well as each teacher’s 'Student as a Learner' comment, are the highlight of each report.
Reflecting and celebrating further, we have this semester had the pleasure of witnessing remarkable and plentiful student achievements and community events — academic, sporting, creative and civic. From our winning da Vinci Decathlon and World Ethics Olympiad teams, the Year 2 billy cart races, our Easter bonnet parade, the Mother’s Day Classic run, swimming, athletics, and cross-country carnivals, drama performances and numerous music recitals, to cheering on our successful weekend netball, water polo, football, hockey, and basketball teams, our time together this year has been wonderful.
With two terms remaining in 2022, there is more to look forward to. This includes our student learning journeys, an expansion of our focused mathematics approach, the much-loved Junior School House music competition, Year 5 PYP Exhibition and the Year 6 MYP celebration, Year 2 to Year 6 camps, Wakakirri and the CGGS Fete. Our traditional GGG Day — generously supported by the Gabriel Foundation — will be held next semester. Likewise, our campus enhancement program will continue with additional classrooms, learning spaces and playground, and sporting areas, undergoing further renovation and upgrades.
Moving into the winter mid-semester break, we wish every member of our community a safe, enjoyable, and rejuvenating holiday period. We look forward to hearing about the adventures of the students upon their return in July.
Mr Peter McDonald
Head of Junior School and ELC