Christian Education

Fairholme Junior

MRS ERIN TONSCHECK, HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

2020 provided much to reflect upon – challenges, successes and opportunities to contest the status quo.

The Fairholme Junior School community showed much resilience and I am proud to be able to share with you some of our many successes.

The academic program continued to build rigour across all learning areas, with English as the specific focus. Staff focused upon the development of a rigorous writing analysis process as well as embedding a strong synthetic phonemic program across the early years. Attention now turns to strengthening number sense within the early years Mathematics program and we look forward to the flow on of even stronger Numeracy results through the middle Junior School.

Extra-Curricular Academic pursuits included Chess lessons, Creative Minds Club, Maths Olympiads and OptiMINDS this year. Each required some alternative thinking and we are pleased that our girls were able to access these opportunities via online, as well as in face-to-face delivery throughout the year.

Sporting opportunities continued to abound in the Junior School, with our girls involved with Clubs and Associations in Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country, Netball, Touch and Basketball. We continued to be a strong presence in the Andrews Cup Association. Whilst numbers of attendees were restricted due to capacity limits at events, we were pleased to be able to continue competing across seven out of seven possible sporting competitions this year. This was a great achievement and one that very few schools, clubs and associations were able to achieve in 2020. The range of experiences and depth of specialist support is a feature of Fairholme Junior School’s sports and physical activity provision.

A huge range of additional training and other after-school activities were very ably supported by specialist coaches and sports Development Officers. A global pandemic was unable to contain the Junior School’s love of health, sport and fitness, with involvement in the Fairholme Cross Country COVID Cup as well as weekly fitness challenges and training programs offered via myJunior Fairholme during the Learning from Holme period.

Fairholme Junior School’s wide-ranging Creative and Performing Arts offerings continued in 2020. Whilst Sing Out and the Toowoomba Eisteddfod were not able to proceed, the girls were able to continue with Chorale, Junior String Orchestra and Junior Band, with filming of performances for parents to enjoy. During the Learning from Holme period, some girls were able to continue with small-group lessons online – a steep learning curve for all! Classroom music, dance and drama lessons continued, as did the wonderful Junior School Musical and Christmas Musical, albeit in adjusted formats. We are grateful for the creative thinking

of our staff, who ensured that great opportunities to express creativity and be part of performances continued.

Fairholme Junior School’s focus on inclusivity, of building connection and feeling a sense of belonging was never more evident than in 2020. A global pandemic that required social distancing, Learning from Holme, support for the families of essential workers; all this was embraced without question, for the greater good. This resulted from the strong commitment of staff, students and parents to be involved, to work hard and to move through this time together.

‘Come what, come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.’

- Macbeth

I am thankful to have been part of Fairholme Junior in 2020. The dedication and support of each and every member of our community shone like a beacon in the dark – I am grateful for the year that was, and hopeful for blessings continuing in 2021.