We have two special performances coming up to conclude Term 2. Next Tuesday’s Instrumental Concert is largely an individual achievement. Each student has been practicing their instrument outside school hours, often without an audience, and in many cases this concert is their first opportunity to play in front of one. The Upper 1st and 2nd Class Shakespeare Festival, the following week, asks something different. These students have been rehearsing together all term, and what they are bringing to the stage is genuinely collective. This is their first standalone class play and the preparation has been considerable. We look forward to welcoming families to both. Julian Wilcock …

We threaded the needle with fine conditions for Open Day last weekend, and fingers remain crossed for similar luck next Friday at our Athletics Carnival. This year the carnival will be held at John Colet School. With major maintenance works at Narrabeen Sports Centre leaving significant areas off limits, the distances involved in moving between available spaces were neither practical nor, in our view, safe for the children. It was not a difficult decision to make. What has taken some doing is making our own grounds work for the day, and our Head of Sport, Mrs Davey, deserves real credit for the effort that has gone into the planning. With the full support of staff, we are confident it …

At our ANZAC Service yesterday, we welcomed Peter McAskill and Kevin Leary from Forestville RSL. They spoke at the service and then stayed to speak further with the students at greater length. Our students were engaged and appreciated the chance to ask questions. We also thank Mr Bruce Hellmers on trumpet, Mr Miles Mackenzie on pipes, and our school choir, whose contributions gave the occasion its gravitas. Our thanks too to Mr Dan Ricketts, who took care of the sound and technical arrangements, and who will be doing the same for our P&F Movie Night on Saturday 9 May. As our term value is Respect, it was fitting to begin the term this way. The manner in which the …

A warm thank you this week to our Parents & Friends Association, whose energy and generosity continue to enrich life at John Colet in so many tangible ways. Hot cross buns were delivered today, and tomorrow sees the inaugural Easter Family Day, which has sold out completely. Our thanks also go to those organising next week’s Walkathon, one of the most popular events on our school calendar. The funds raised will go towards a rain shelter at the student pick-up area, a practical project that will make a real difference for students at the end of the school day. Due to the public field being unavailable this year, our Walkathon will be held on school grounds. Julian Wilcock …

NAPLAN testing began this week for our 3rd and 5th Class students. We wish them well. A standardised test measures certain things on a certain day, and those things have their place. But a John Colet education is built on something broader: the development of curiosity, character, attention, and a genuine love of learning. The great educators of the Renaissance understood that a person was more than the sum of what they could recall under pressure, and that tradition runs through everything we do here. As in previous years, we do not practise NAPLAN content and we do not recommend external tutoring to that end. We use the results as one piece of evidence among many in evaluating both …

Each week in our Infants and Primary Assemblies, we take time to explore our school value for the term, which this term is Truthfulness. Having begun by reflecting on our school motto and school pledge, this week our discussion turned to why truthfulness can sometimes be difficult. There are moments when something weighs on us, and we explored the importance of recognising those moments and having the courage to seek help. Students were invited to identify five people, at school, at home, or in the wider community, whom they would feel comfortable approaching. We encourage you to ask your child about their five people, as it can open a meaningful conversation at home. Julian Wilcock …