As yet another school year draws to a close, it is a time of both reflection on the year that has been, as well as holding a forward-looking focus ensuring we are prepared for the year that is to come.

This year has been another dynamic, complex and successful year in our Junior School, with us commencing in the most unusual of ways—not in person, but in an online learning environment. While this seems like a lifetime ago and the enforced restrictions related to COVID-19 have diminished, we have still had a year largely influenced and altered by the pandemic and all that is has brought. We have had to maintain our ability to be flexible and pivot in our planning for events, camps and simply in the way we work and come together. I am proud to say that we have worked hard to achieve a balance between the safety of our community and ensuring that the experiences for our girls are rich, memorable and focussed on their learning growth.

Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to celebrate excellence in our Junior School at our Prize Giving and Year 6 Graduation Assembly. Our prize winners were recognised for their consistent effort and application across the school year, as well as their engagement that ensured both their progress and success. Writer, historian and philosopher Will Durant said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” The girls recognised at our assembly demonstrated just this. Excellence is not achieved with one great lesson of engagement, one great project or test result or one high-scoring match. It is achieved with consistency of application, with ongoing effort and, as Durant said, then it becomes a habit—something that becomes part of who and how we are. It was wonderful to present our prize winners to our Principal, Mrs Belinda Arnfield, and to acknowledge and congratulate them as a Junior School community.

Junior School Awards

• Art Prize: Sacha Feeny (Year 6)
• Caroline Verco Memorial Prize for English: Miao Miao Zhu (Year 6) and Sirui Tang (Year 6)
• Digital Technology Prize: Reese Liu (Year 6)
• Drama Prize: Sky Jeffries and Scarlett Desyllas (Year 6)
• Humanities Prize: Evangeline Lee (Year 6)
• Junior Debating Prize: Selin Cinar (Year 6)
• Junior School Chess Prize (highest score): Alice Gao (Year 4)
• Languages Prize: Asha Dan (Year 6)
• Old Scholars’ Prize for Junior School Mathematics: Sharon Zhai (Year 6)
• Parents and Friends Prize for Music: Evangeline Lee (Year 6)
• Principal's Junior SRC Prize: Evangeline Lee (Year 6) and Saskia Kuchta (Year 6)
• Science Prize: Nidhi Sinhal (Year 6)

Values Awards

• Adventurous Learning: Edie Lydeamore (Year 6)
• Nicholson Prize for Responsible Citizenship: Ariarne Galbraith (Year 6)
• Respectful Relationships: Clementine Waltham (Year 6)
• Sarah Hayward Prize for True and Courageous Self: Selin Cinar (Year 6)

Sport Awards

• Australian Rules Prize: Addison Munt (Year 5)
• Basketball Prize: Matilda Kennedy (Year 6)
• Cross Country SAPSASA Prize: Asha Dan (Year 6)
• Hockey Prize: Rachel Chisholm (Year 6)
• Netball Prize: Matilda Burns (Year 6)
• Rita Curnow Prize for Tennis: Rachel Chisholm (Year 6)
• Soccer Prize: Linah Kafagy (Year 6) 
• Swimming SAPSASA Prize: Ivy Dowd (Year 5)
• Teeball Prize: Fatima Muazzam (Year 4)
• Touch Football Prize: Addison Munt (Year 5)
• Volleyball Prize: Tara Salerno (Year 6)
• Prize for Effort & Enthusiasm in Sport: Edie Lydeamore (Year 6)
• Harris Cup for Best All Round in Junior Sport Prize: Linah Kafagy (Year 6)
• Wynnie Brown Shield for the Top House Aggregate – Top House 2022: Cedar

We also had the joyful opportunity to celebrate and farewell our Year 6 leaders as they completed their Junior School journey and prepare to enter the Middle School. The 2022 Year 6 cohort have been an exemplary group, having brought such diversity in their skills, talents and personalities, with each individual playing their part to contribute to the whole. It has been both a joy and a privilege to watch them grow from the very little girls, who joined us either in our ELC, Reception or at various stages along the way, into the confident, well-prepared and articulate girls who graduated this week. We thank our Year 6 girls for all they have contributed throughout their Junior School journey. Their influence has truly made a positive difference to our community and we wish them the very best as they continue to learn and grow in the Middle School and beyond.

“Look around girls, it seems like yesterday that we were graduating from Annies and singing ‘What A Wonderful World’. Fast forward seven years and our Junior School journey is ending with countless memories to savour.

Many of us sitting here today started our journey in Mamies those seven years ago. Wide-eyed and full of hope, we entered the Mamie house with our huge backpacks to start our adventure through the Wilderness. Although we started small, many friends have joined us along the way and we have formed an amazing bond.

The memories that we have created will stay with us for a lifetime. Countless laughs, camps, adventures and a whole lot of learning. It hasn’t always been easy, but we are so proud of the grit we have shown throughout our Junior School ride.

As Dr Seuss once said, “Sometimes you will never know the value of something, until it becomes a memory.”

On behalf of the Year 6s, we would like to thank all of our Junior School teachers who have guided us through the years. A special thank you to Mr Kieran Jackson and Ms Laura Sieradzki for making our final year such a memorable one, and to our parents for the opportunity to experience this amazing school.

In 2028, we’re sure the world will have changed a lot. We, however, will be standing in a similar position to this, graduating from our final year of Wildy. So, girls, let us enjoy the rest of our journey as we’re sure the next six years will pass as quickly as a click of the fingers.

And I’m thinking to myself, what a wonderful world.” - Saskia Kuchta and Evangeline Lee, 2022 JS SRC Presidents

Year 4 Camp - Walking the Boundaries

In Week 6, both Year 4 classes had the opportunity to stay in Douglas Scrub and participate in a camp based on the Jackie French novel Walking the Boundaries. 4R went on Monday and stayed until Wednesday, while 4Z travelled to the camp on Wednesday and returned on Friday.

After arriving and getting familiar with the beautiful environment, playground and dorms, the girls went on bush walks within the campgrounds to explore the environment using all their senses. They also participated in an exciting drama production. On the first evening, after enjoying a delicious dinner, half the girls got comfortable in the tents and half settled into their dorms.

The next day, the girls were transported to Onkaparinga River National Park to do an entire day of hiking through the spectacular bushland. The girls were rewarded with lunch by a running waterfall and a spot of yabbying. The girls got to see amazing native animals and plants. In the evening we had an informative and fun session learning about Ngarrindjeri culture and country led by members of the Deadly Nannas group, Aunty Pauline Walker and Aunty Georgina Trevorrow. After this session everyone was quick to get ready to sleep in the dorms and tents.

In the morning, the girls quickly packed up their sleeping bags, ate breakfast and cleaned the campsite. The final activities included candle making and a tour le by Jan Forest, learning about the wonderful animal nesting boxes. These have been placed high up in the gorgeous gum trees for various animals as a replacement for natural tree hollows that the animals find harder to locate in our modern times due to land clearing. The girls were shown these boxes and even what was living inside them through the powers of technology. Finally, Jan Forest encouraged the girls to make a pledge to be an advocate for the environment.

All the girls were able to reflect on something that they were challenged by on camp and how they walked their own boundaries, learning about resilience and how we can support ourselves and one another to overcome challenges.

Celine Zammit
Year 4 Teacher

Year 6 Outdoor Education Bike program

During Week 7, the Year 6 students had another exciting experience in the outdoors on their bikes, riding along the Linear Park trail following the Karrawirraparri (River Torrens). The students rode from Henley Beach to Lochiel Park and return, stopping for many playground adventures, paddle boating, Green Belt creating, painting, creating bee hotels and climbing at Mega Adventure.

The students explored their own backyard, learning about the local flora and fauna, Kaurna history and how important the river is to the community. The students worked collaboratively with each other, supporting and encouraging one another along the way as they immersed themselves in the experiences and enjoyed the sunshine.

"I believe that cycling across Linear Park in small groups instead of a large one allows you to collaborate and develop your patience, which is a skill you will need throughout your lifetime."- Asha Dan

Rosie Smith
Outdoor Education Teacher

2023 Booklist

We wish to remind you that the booklists for Junior School students are now open via Box of Books for you to complete your order.

2023 Reception to Year 4 Parents:
Please note that to ensure orders are delivered to the School before the end of the year, Box of Books are asking you to complete your orders by Friday 9 December 2022. Please select ‘delivery to school’ to ensure that your order is sent to Wilderness School. Any orders for Reception to Year 4 made after this date will be delivered to your home address (please ensure this is included in your information). You will need to bring the books and stationery items to school on the first day of Term 1.

2023 Year 5 to Year 6 Parents:
Orders must be made by Friday 9 December 2022 to guarantee delivery before the beginning of Term 1, 2023. Box of Books will do their best to deliver orders made after this date before the beginning of term, however they are not able to guarantee it.

Please click here to view the steps to order.