Junior School

Fairholme Junior

MRS ERIN TONSCHECK, HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

2021 has been an amazing year. Our academic achievements, cultural performances and sporting pursuits have each embodied one of our five core values, Striving for Excellence. I have been immensely proud of our students and staff; their determination to achieve their best, to prepare, perform and celebrate speaks to the heart of what Fairholme Junior is.

Fairholme Junior School staff have worked with both national and state education authorities to review and provide feedback on the latest version of the Australian Curriculum. Leading the process of curriculum mapping via Scope and Sequence reviews, interrogating the changes and shifts in curriculum discipline knowledge has not only provided genuine feedback to the education authorities, but has also given our teaching staff a great opportunity to consider implications for the future learning episodes that we will ready for the implementation of Australian Curriculum Version 9 in January 2023.

At the completion of the school year, we farewelled and acknowledged Mrs Belinda Eldridge, our wonderful Music Teacher. Belinda has inspired our students with her love of performing arts, music and our God for 20 years. We are very grateful to have been the benefactors of such a rich and vibrant teaching program – the gifts of faith and music will remain with us all. presentations this year. Thankfully, Fairholme Junior staff have been determined to continue the provision of rich and varied experiences for our students.

We are pleased to present the following highlights:

INCURSIONS, EXCURSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

The following is a snapshot from 2021 of the many excursions, incursions and presentations this year in the Kindy to Year 6 classes:

Kindy

• Kindy Welcome Picnic • Getting Ready for Prep Kindy 3 Day into Prep orientation visits each term • Kindy Kid for a Morning each term for prospective students • Facilities Department morning tea • Evergreen Puppet Theatre performances ‘Rainforest Experience’ and ‘The Ocean’ • Kindy Information Evening, Term 4 • Mother’s Day Pampering morning • Father’s Day Breakfast • Bushwalk at Duggan Park • Laurel Bank Park Spring Picnic • Excursion to building site

Prep

• Picnic to Peacehaven Park with TGS • Prep Kid for the Morning • Prep information Evening, Term 4 • Under 8s Activity Morning with TGS and The Glennie School • Excursion to Darling Downs Zoo • 100 Days of Prep Celebration

Year 1

• Scientists-in-Schools with Dr Joanna Turner from USQ • Assembly presentation • Digital learning with OSMO robotics and iPads • Picnic to Peacehaven Park with TGS • Under 8s Activity Morning with TGS and The Glennie School • Excursion to Pioneer Village at Highfields • Book Launch for parents Term 2

Year 2

• Better Buddy activities with Prep and Year 5.2 • Scientists-in-Schools with Dr Joanna Turner from USQ • Digital learning with Ozobots robotics • Under 8s Activity Morning with TGS and The Glennie School • Excursion to Pioneer Village at Highfields • Incursion – Fairholme Heritage Trail with Mrs Jenny Noble - Archivist • Year 2 Strings Program • Year 2 Eisteddfod performance

Year 3

• Digital learning with Ozobots robotics • Sleepover at Fairholme College • Scientists-in-Schools with Dr Joanna Turner from USQ • Year 3 into 4, iPad meeting via Zoom • Creative Writing Workshop

• Night Sky Gazing Incursion with USQ Astronomers

Year 4

• Two-night camp at Alexandra Park, Sunshine Coast • iPad program commenced • Scientists-in-Schools with Dr Joanna Turner from USQ • Digital learning with Lego Mindstorms robots • Bastille Day Luncheon • Year 4 Maths Day at Fairholme College with TGS and The Glennie School • Friendship and Resilience sessions with the Wellness Coach • Cobb & Co Museum excursion - Women in Games (STEM)

Year 5

• Two-night camp at Alexandra Park, Sunshine Coast • Scientists-in-Schools with Dr Joanna Turner from USQ • Lego robot coding with Mr Shane Buckley • Leadership activities in preparation for Year 6 • St Johns First Aid session • Science Day at TGS with The Glennie School

Year 6

• STEAM Project rescue from the Daintree • STEAM project – Claymation • Leaders Induction Ceremony • Chapel Service and Graduation Dinner • Transition into Middle School days • Year 6 Social with TGS and The Glennie School • Year 6 Quiz Afternoon with TGS and The Glennie School • Mayoral Morning Tea for Junior School Leaders • Five-day trip to Cairns • Robots - Lego robots with Mr Buckley • Coding in IT Lessons • IPSHA Leaders Dinner • IPSHA Ecumenical Service • Qld Parliament House excursion • Government House excursion

Multiple Year Levels

• ICAS - English, Mathematics and Science competitions • Book Week Activities: Theme - New Worlds, Old Worlds, Other worlds • Book Week Parade Prep to Year 6 • Grandparents and Friends Day Kindergarten to Year 6 • National Science Week: Food - Different by Design • National Science Week activities: visits from USQ Scientists in Schools program • National Simultaneous Storytime: Give Me Some Space by Philip Bunting, Kindy to Year 2 • Life Education Van for Prep to Year 6 • Fairholme Girl for a Day x 4 • Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Stall organised by FOJS • Clubs including Bee-Bots, Ozobots, Chess, Club G, Garden Club, Craft Club, Creative thinking • Toowoomba District Primary Schools Teams Chess Championships ‘Best AllFemale Team’ • Visiting Author Deano Yipadee P -6

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

• Parents Welcome morning • FOJS Welcome on the Lawn • Parents Information Evening • Restorative Behaviour through Circle Time sessions in Prep to Year 6 • Focus on Circle Time and Social Skills • Better Buddies Prep to Year 6 • Bounce Back Year 1 to Year 6 • FOJS Ladies and Lassies High Tea • FOJS Build and Brunch – Father’s Day activity • Jeans for Genes Day – casual clothes day • Breast Cancer Awareness– casual clothes day • Riding for the Disabled Qld – casual clothes day • Spring Festival Donations • The Alannah and Madeleine Foundation’s Better Buddies • Operation Christmas Child • Share the Dignity donations • High Tea for ex-Junior School students in Year 12

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS ICAS - International Competitions and

Assessment for Schools for Years 2 to 6 for interested students only. Participants: English 22 18 received recognition Mathematics 23 13 received recognition Science 22 11 received recognition

Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiad:

13 Year 6 girls participated in the Australasian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads this year. We were able to complete all five Olympiads without COVID-19 interruption. It was a very successful year for the team with a total of five students within the top 50%. Two students, Alicia Yap and Ashton Hamblin, were within the top 20% and received a cloth badge each in recognition. Our highest-placed participant, Aemilia Moar, was ranked in the top 2% and received a Maths Olympiad pin in recognition. All students approached the year of training with enthusiasm and learnt much about problem solving.