Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Gifted Education Coordinator P-6
Pastoral Update
This week, I was humbled to receive a beautiful and thoughtful piece of writing from one of our Year 3 students, Jonathan Lin. His work captures the essence of our fortnightly pastoral focus, Accepting the Invitation to Create a Welcoming and Inclusive School Community. It reminds us that simple, everyday actions can have a profound impact, forming the foundation of meaningful connections and strong, supportive communities.
I hope you enjoy The Boy on the Rock as much as I did.
The Boy on the Rock
Ring…!!
The recess bell rang. My friends and I exploded from our classroom, a flock of noisy birds with one destination: my locker. It was Rubik’s Cube time, and I promised them a new Guinness record, if it went well as I imagined.
But first, I needed water. I told my friends to wait and grabbed my bottle. That’s when I saw him. The new kid, sitting on the concrete in the corner. He was curled up, face hidden, hugging his legs tight. I couldn’t see his face, but his whole body looked sad.
For a second, something clicked. That little boy was exactly me, three years ago. Same spot. Same curled-up shape. The new kid who didn’t know anyone.
I flipped back through my memory book. My first day – holding my mum’s finger, begging her to come in. I walked as slow as I could. My new teacher was kind, with a soft voice. She asked me to introduce myself. I mumbled my name, barely loud enough and sat down fast. I just wanted everyone to stop staring.
At recess, everyone rushed out, and almost every kid already had a friend. I walked along the wall and found a corner – this very corner – and sat down. I picked a spot where I could see the playground but not be too visible. Then I looked right and saw a boy on a rock, looking lost too. Finally, someone like me.
My heart pounded. I stood up, took a deep breath, and walked toward him. I stopped once, then forced myself to keep going. I asked his name and if he wanted to play. He whispered, ‘Yes’.
That tiny ‘yes’ lifted a heavy rock off my chest. From that day on, we played together every recess. We became best friends. Then I made more friends. I even started raising my hand in class. At first my words got jumbled, but slowly, I got better. School became fun, and days flew by like seconds.
At the end of the year, I got a big award. When I stepped onto the stage, I saw my best friend there too. He grinned and whispered, ‘Isn’t it amazing?’ I whispered back, ‘Yes. Absolutely.’
I blinked and looked back at the little boy in the corner. He was still there, still hiding. But I knew exactly what to do. I walked over and knelt down.
‘Hey,’ I said softly. ‘Do you want to play with me?’
He looked up. For a moment, nothing. Then his lips curled into the tiniest smile. I knew that feeling – the relief, the warmth, the hope. It was exactly how I felt when that boy on the rock said ‘yes’ to me all those years ago.
I realised something. That one small ‘yes’ changed everything for me. And now it was my turn to pass it on. A tiny act, but it made a huge difference. For him. For me. For both of us.
Jonathan Lin
Year 3
Gifted Education Update
Young voice, big impact
Congratulations to Year 3 student, Joanna Wong on being named the 2026 Environmental Champion Award (Individual) Winner by the City of Canada Bay this week. Joanna’s journey began with her ABC News in My Neighbourhood piece, Saving the Rhodes Shorefront – a letter to the local Council proposing ideas to clean up the river at Rhodes – which was published on the ABC Education website. Her initiative and commitment to turning words into action are truly inspiring. It was especially heartwarming to hear that, as she received her award, a member of the audience called out, ‘Well done, Santa Sabina girl!’
Creative Thinking in Action
A love of writing and community-minded action clearly runs in the family, with Joanna’s younger sister, Joyce of Year 1, also making her mark. In a thoughtful letter to Concord Library, Joyce suggested a creative way to help young readers navigate the children’s section through a ‘Kids Fun Book Board.’ Her idea led to her book review template being featured in the library’s eNewsletter and used to support its upcoming Summer Reading Challenge. It also inspired the library to explore the creation of ‘shelf talkers’ – book cards with short reviews or recommendations that sit beneath books on library shelves. Joyce’s initiative is a wonderful example of how thoughtful ideas can positively influence and enrich shared community spaces.
Cat Maths Results
We congratulate all Year 6 girls who participated in the CAT Maths competition this term for their excellent effort and commitment. Their enthusiasm, perseverance and willingness to challenge themselves were commendable.
A special congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Credit or Distinction – an outstanding achievement that reflects their strong mathematical thinking. We are very proud of your accomplishments.
Distinction
Marie Metledge
Aria Leung
Credit
Olivia Gan
Jingxian (Lydia) Wang
Zara Alvaro
Amara Jeyaganesh
Hannah Geussens
Jennifer Stanton
Amelia Tan
Alira Djordjevic
Elise Schojer
Soopia Chang
Claire Yang
Lauren Petroni
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Gifted Education Coordinator P-6