Prep School

Value of the week: compassion

Compassion is understanding and caring when someone is hurt or troubled, even if you don’t know them. It is wanting to help, even if all you can do is listen and say kind words. You forgive mistakes. You are a friend when someone needs a friend. Understanding is using your mind to think clearly and paying careful attention to see the meaning of things. An understanding mind gives you insights and wonderful ideas. An understanding heart gives you empathy and compassion for others. Understanding is the power to think and learn and also to care.

Attribute of the week: knowledgeable

When you are knowledgeable, you explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, you acquire in-depth knowledge and develop an understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

On Friday 8 March the first of our four interhouse carnivals kicked off with a friendly competition in the pool. The day began with our Years 1 and 2 boys showcasing their skills and talents in the freestyle and backstroke events, with some very close races across the morning. These boys exhibited outstanding determination and commitment to kick that little bit faster or dive that little further to get the win against their peers. It was terrific to see all the boys in Years 1 and 2 cheering on their classmates as they swam down the pool.

After morning tea, the competition went up a notch, as our Years 3 and 4 boys began racing for points for their houses. It was a very tight contest across these year levels with Angles taking a slight lead at the end of this carnival. Boys raced in three strokes and competed in a mixed Years 3 and 4 relay that was the highlight of the morning.

Finally, the Years 5 and 6 boys had the opportunity to demonstrate their speed and talents in the pool. With Saxons dominant in the Year 5 races, it brought the competition a lot closer. In their final year of Prep School, Year 6 led superbly, racing fast and hard as well as cheering on all their mates as they raced down the 50 m pool.

Angles maintained their close lead, heading into the final three relays of the day and with double points on the line, the boys had everything to swim for. Once again with some very close racing, Angles managed to win two of the three relays and come out victorious in the first of our interhouse carnivals.

Congratulations to all boys on your efforts across the day, it was fantastic to see the sportsmanship and healthy competition amongst our Prep School. Thank you to the many families that came out and cheered on the boys, it made for a terrific atmosphere.

We look forward to our next event, Interhouse Cross Country on the last day of Term 1.

Adam Fry
Head of Prep PE

Year 6 camp

From Max May (Year 6).

On Wednesday 13 March, 6B and 6D left for an adventurous three-day camping trip at Stradbroke Island (Minjerriba). It was a wonderful experience as we went all over the island, bonding as classmates and as a cohort.

Day one

We left Churchie at 6:30 am to get to Cleveland. We had a long, three-hour trip: first a bus ride, then a ferry ride across Moreton Bay, and a short ride to our campground, Adder Rock. Once we arrived, we pitched our tents and set out on a big hike along the coastline, hiking through beautiful rock formations and white sandy beaches. Once we arrived at our destination we set up and went for a dip in Cylinder Beach’s lagoon. At nighttime, we had a moving talk by one of the Quondamooka rangers. He spoke to us about the history, culture and meaning of Stradbroke and Minjierriba.  

Day two

We went to many places, including Myora Springs and Brown Lake. We trekked to the mouth of the spring and walked out to where the freshwater met the ocean. Before this, we had hiked to Brown Lake and built makeshift rafts. We paddled around the lake and raced to find objects scattered around it. When we arrived back at camp, we had a fun nighttime activity we had to sneak past the teachers and catch a fake light-up koala.

Day three

We had to pack up our stuff and had enough time for a few fun activities before we headed home weary but happy!

VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ON PIXEVETY

Year 3 Reader of the Week

Congratulations to Alex Bridge on being Reader of the Week.

Year 2 buddies

Students in 2A and 6E met for buddies this week. The boys created a ‘Six Thinking Hats’ activity where the Year 6 buddies asked their Year 2 buddy questions related to different ideas to find out more about each other. They quickly learned about their buddies’ strengths and hobbies. 

We look forward to more interactions with our buddies. 

Shay Thomas
Year 2 Teacher

Fathers Sausage Sizzle

The once-a-term Fathers Sausage Sizzle will take place at lunchtime on Friday 22 March. Please pre-order your sausage here. Please note that no other food options are available on sausage sizzle days for lunch. No late orders can be taken on this day. Please see the Prep Tuckshop menu on myChurchie for details.

Winners of the Prep Support Group Raffle

Prize	Winner
Queens Plaza experience	Adrian Lam
James St experience	Liyan Huang
JB Hi-Fi gift card	Carmel Townsend
Bunnings gift card	Hugh Macdonald
Westfield gift card	Kate L’Estrange

Congratulations to the student who sold the most books of raffle tickets, Matthew Fung in RB who was presented with his gift card of $500 this week.

Easter service

The Prep School’s Easter Service at St John’s Cathedral will be on Monday 25 March from 6 to 7 pm. The service is compulsory for all Years 4 to 6 boys. A roll will be taken in the evening. The formal uniform of a white shirt and tie is to be worn by all students attending. Boys with special tasks at this service will travel to the cathedral during the day of the service to rehearse. All families are welcome to attend.

Prep Support Group

The next meeting of the Prep Support Group will be in JB Adams Library at 6 pm on Thursday 21 March. All Prep School parents are welcome to attend.

Billy Cart Grand Prix

The annual Billy Cart Grand Prix is a time-honoured event held on Oaklands Parade. This year the grand prix will be on Thursday 13 June. All boys in Years 4 to 6 are encouraged to enter a team comprising one driver and two pushers. We encourage the creation of homemade billy carts; it is a fun exercise for boys and their families.

Early childhood playground

I ask parents and carers to note that boys are not to play running games in the early childhood playground before school. This rule applies across the whole Prep School, from Reception to Year 6.

Before school, boys may play handball and other games that don’t involve running. This ensures that boys are not physically overwrought at the start of the school day. Please remind your boys of this rule.

Safety around the School

Please travel carefully and at a speed that will allow you to stop safely at a crossing if needed. Drive slowly in school zones:  Stay alert: be mindful of pedestrians, bike riders and other motorists and look out for crossings.

Care must be taken at all times when in the vicinity of the School. Particular care must be taken in the morning before school and in the afternoon after school. During peak periods (7:55 to 8:25 am and 3 to 3:30 pm), only the designated crossing points are to be used to cross the road.

When parking in the streets surrounding the school precinct, please observe all parking signs, and do not block the driveways of local residents. It is unsafe and illegal for cars to even slightly impinge on no parking, bus or no standing zones, or driveways.

I encourage you to set the right example to keep our children and the rest of the community safe.

Term dates

The final school day for this term is Wednesday 27 March. Term 2 commences on Tuesday 16 April.

Mark Wyer
Head of Preparatory School