ACTING DIRECTOR OF JUNIOR SCHOOL, MS GABRIELLE BRANSBY
From Acting Director of Junior School, Ms Gabrielle Bransby
The end of the year is fast approaching. It is hard to believe we only have a few weeks left of school for 2020. This Saturday marks the end of our Summer Sports competition. I hope the boys soak up every last minute and enjoy being part of their team for one last time. I want to give Mr Matthew Ryan a huge thank you for the amazing job he has done this year in organising and running all our sport and for his dedication to our boys. We have many events coming up in the next few weeks and I have listed key dates below. I am looking forward to a busy but exciting end of the term.
Key Dates
Friday, 20 November – Year 7 2021 Orientation Day
Thursday, 26 November – Year 6 Farewell at the school Chapel. This will be live-streamed.
Monday, 30 November- Year 6 Excursion to Manhattan Bowling – 6 Indigo, 6 White, and 6 Orange
Tuesday, 1 December – Year 6 Excursion to Manhattan Bowling – 6 Red, 6 Blue, and 6 Gold
Friday, 27 November – Junior School Reports Home
Wednesday, 2 December – Presentation Day Years 5, 7, & 8 – 9 am – This will be live-streamed.
Wednesday, 2 December – Final Day of Term 4
Robotics Program
This term, Year 6 has been part of an exciting program called Robo Bricks. Robo Bricks expose students to the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), equipping them with the necessary skills for the economy of the future, all while having fun with LEGO®. This program is run by a company called Young Engineers. They offer unique STEM enrichment programs which involve students building various motorized LEGO® models and teaching them logical thinking and coding using LEGO®.
Robotics Program
During each lesson, students employ mechanical engineering skills to build a robot and software engineering skills to code the robot to perform the desired tasks. The boys are completing this program as part of their Science and Technology Unit – Designing our Future. This program focuses primarily on the Digital Technologies content strand whilst still creating robots that fit in with the Material World content strand.
Students work in pairs to solve complex projects based around a kitchen mixer, conveyor belt, and scarecrow. These lessons include the following activities and skills;
Program Subjects
- Algorithm planning: Understanding what an algorithm is and how to write one.
- Pseudocode: Understanding what pseudocode is and how to write one.
- Flow chart: The understanding of flowchart in programming.
- WeDo programming: Learning the WeDo programming language.
- Input and Output: The purpose of input and output, and understanding when one is required.
- Loops: The use of loops to achieve similar processes multiple times.
- Multithreading: Synchronous and asynchronous code.
- Sensor applications: The use and programming of sensors to achieve tasks.
Valuable Skills Gained
- Algorithmic and procedural thinking
- Develops the ability to devise logical processes
- Familiarisation with technology
- Improve information system and media literacy
- Strengthens social aptitude and develops communication and teamwork ability
- Expands horizons and general knowledge in mechanical engineering and technology skills
There has been wonderful feedback from the students who have been part of the program so far. I’m looking forward to hearing more feedback once all Year 6 have taken part in this deep learning experience.
Learning Hub | From Literacy and Innovation Teacher, Mrs Natasha Zivanovic
Sneak Peek… Building LEGO® Competition
I am in awe of the critical and creative thinking behind these outstanding designs and builds. The challenge was to create a setting from a favourite book with bricks. It is very clear that the boys’ critical & creative thinking played an important role in the design and build aspect.
Building LEGO® Competition
By allowing our boys to practice critical thinking, we are allowing them, not only to solve problems but also come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical thinking allows the boys to analyse ideas and adjust them accordingly. The judge has a difficult decision to make. Judging is currently underway and the winners will be announced Monday morning.
Building LEGO® Competition
A huge thank you to all the boys that entered!
Borrowing for the holidays
The holidays are fast approaching and it is vital we encourage the boys to read as much as possible during them.
The current Year 5 students will be permitted to borrow books for the holidays. There will be new titles for the boys to pick from.
Borrowing for the holidays
Music and Drama | From Specialist Music and Drama Teacher, Ms Michelle Rollins
It has been a very challenging year for our music ensembles due to Covid-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, four of our Junior School music ensembles were able to perform yesterday to a very small audience of their fellow students.
Junior School Band
The Junior School Concert Band, under the direction of Mr Dan Williams and supported by Mr Chris Blenkinsopp, started with a performance of Eye of the Tiger and Chillaxin followed by the Guitar ensemble playing Jazzy and Yesterday. The Guitar Ensemble is directed by Mr Nick Yatsev and with Mr Jesse Johnston also joining in the performance. The Stomp Ensemble, directed by Mrs Michelle Rollins, was next to perform with their own composition The odd one out!. Finally, the Junior School Rock Band, directed by Mr Sean Windsor, entertained the audience with Danger Zone from Top Gun.
The Stomp Ensemble
Special thanks to Mrs Keiran Kossenberg for her continuous support of all things musical in the school, Mr Bishoy Wasef for filming our concert which will be available for viewing next week and all of the tutors who help our Junior School musicians participate in ensembles.
