The Vine Issue 12 – 2023

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

This week we’ve had the opportunity to welcome the new Head of Middle School, Eliza Buckoke, to our community. We are delighted that Eliza has joined Pedare in this significant leadership role. My thanks to those who have contributed to the warmth of welcome Eliza has received. 

We’ve also had a focus this week on celebrating and thanking Lauren Brooks for her extraordinary contribution to Pedare over the past five years; initially as Head of Middle School, and most recently as Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning. 

As we’ve simultaneously navigated the beginning of Eliza’s tenure at Pedare and Lauren’s final week, we’re reminded that growth and evolution require endings and beginnings. As we read in Ecclesiastes 3, there is indeed a time for all things and a season for everything; 

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

Quite symbolically, almost poetically, Lauren’s final day at Pedare coincides with the first day of Spring. And just as the seasons of the year bring a freshness to our lives that mark conclusions and beginnings, this week, we celebrate Lauren’s contribution to our community as we wish her every blessing and happiness as she prepares for her next professional chapter as Principal of St Ignatius’ College. 

We thank Lauren for the profound impact she has had on the direction and culture of Pedare. She leaves a legacy that students, staff and families will continue to benefit from for many years to come.

Happy Father’s Day to all our dads and grandfathers for Sunday. You play such an important role in the lives of your children and grandchildren. We hope you all have a wonderful day. It was fabulous to have so many fathers and grandfathers join us for our Junior School Father’s Day breakfast on Friday this week. My thanks to the team of Junior School staff who organised the event and to the families who came along to celebrate.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Mrs Mandy Hore

Assessment for Learning (AFL) or Assessment of Learning (AOL)

Given the second half of the term, students are entering the assessment period, dedicating themselves to assignments and completing assessments. Over the next few weeks, we also have Parent/Teacher Interviews scheduled. These assessments, along with the discussions surrounding them, play a pivotal role in the partnership that is education. They are essential for each student’s learning outcomes and progress.

Pedare teachers use several assessment methods, and you may wish to discuss these at your scheduled interviews and with your child(ren).

The first, Assessment for Learning (AFL), is an approach that generates feedback that aims to improve student performance. Students are actively involved in this process and gain confidence in, and understand, what they are expected to learn and to what standard. AFL aims to ‘close the gap’ between a learner’s current situation and where they want to be in their learning. Our teachers deliberately plan tasks that help students to achieve this and then engage with them to reflect on their progress and performance; they set goals and identify ways to further enhance their learning, academic growth and outcomes.

The second approach is Assessment of Learning (AOL), which provides evidence of student learning at a particular point in time. Results are used to inform differentiation and our reporting. Often known as a summative assessment, AOL helps to summarise what students know, understand or can do, against the relevant year-level achievement standard across the different learning areas. AOL takes place after the learning has occurred and ascertains if it did. Of course, this also informs future subject pathways, planning and learning programs.

Both approaches hold their significance and fulfil distinct purposes. Together, they contribute to holistic student development. You may wish to discuss this with your child(ren) at home or with their teachers at your upcoming Parent/Teacher Interviews.

Should you have any inquiries about the current assessments, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to these discussions in the coming weeks, keeping you abreast of progress and the potential for further learning opportunities.

HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Mr Josh Willis

We are thrilled to introduce and warmly welcome Caitlyn E and Liam H as our newly elected College Captains. As they step into their roles, they bring a wealth of talent, passion and a profound commitment to our College community. We are now in the process of electing Community, Sports and Arts captains. We are delighted with the huge number of applicants we have received from our Year 11 cohort, and we wish our applicants all the best through this process.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs Eliza Buckoke

It has been wonderful to join the Pedare community, starting this week. I would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the staff and students, who have made me feel very welcome!

I am very much looking forward to meeting and getting to know more about the Middle School students over the coming weeks, as we venture through the rest of this busy term together.

It is a joy to be involved in educating students. I particularly love seeing students find things they are passionate about, where they have a strong sense of belonging, and an opportunity to make a contribution to the community.

It will be lovely to meet some families at some of the upcoming events, so please feel welcome to come and say hello! You can also reach me via email (ebuckoke@pedarecc.sa.edu.au).

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mr Randall Pearce

Spring is here! We all look forward to some sunshine and warmer weather. 

Father’s Day Breakfast and Stall 

Today, we enjoyed our annual Father’s Day Breakfast and Parent and Friends Association stall. It was reported to me that many children were so excited about their Dad’s coming to school that they could not sleep and woke up very early, got themselves ready and were out the door prepared for the day.

Events such as today’s provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredibly important male figures in the lives of our students. Father’s Day is a special occasion that allows us to honour and recognise the vital role that fathers and significant males play in their children’s lives.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Junior School Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held in person next week – Tuesday and Thursday, 5 and 7 September, from 3.30 to 5.30 pm.  

These interviews are with class teachers only, and you can book a time if there is something specific you would like to discuss regarding your child’s learning. These ‘optional’ interviews are not compulsory for families as Semester One reports have been issued. All interviews will be 15 minutes in duration.

Specialist teachers will not be available; however, if you would like to meet with one of them, please contact the teacher directly to arrange a suitable time.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

NEWS, UPDATES AND RESULTS

The Pedare Extra-Curricular Team are excited to bring you a new portal, containing information and links all in one location to our Sports and Clubs program.

The Portal is updated regularly to bring you the latest news, announcements, updates, results and more of Pedare Extra-curricular activities and events.

SADNA GO Netball Carnival

The Pedare Sub Primary 2 Netball team has developed great skills and confidence over the winter season. Students were especially excited about the SADNA GO Netball Carnival on Saturday, 26 August.

In warm and sunny conditions, they took to the court with competitive spirit and determination to come away with wins in each of their four matches.

The team was an absolute pleasure to coach, and I wish the players all the best for the upcoming summer season.

Mrs Belinda Carter

Tea Tree Gully Anglican

Tea Tree Gully Anglican Church is a group of Christians who seek to serve Jesus in everything we do. Whether you are just visiting or looking for a Christian home, we aim to be a loving and supportive family for you. We meet at the church at 8.30 am, 10.00 am, and 6.00 pm in person. If you can’t join us just yet, we’ll continue to stream at 8.30 am and 10.00 am online using Zoom and YouTube  Service times are 8.30 am and 10.00 am.

Please contact Dave Brown at dave@ttganglican.org.au for more details, or check their Facebook page for links.

If you are struggling and would like to talk with someone from the church during these trying times, please phone 8264 3736.

Gully Church (Tea Tree Gully Uniting) – Banksia Markets

Gully Church hosts the ‘local and friendly’ Banksia Markets on the first Saturday of each month from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm at 600 Milne Road, Banksia Park. Stalls inside the hall and in the car park include produce, fresh fruit and vegetables, jewellery, tools, bric-à-brac and lots more.

For more information, contact the Gully Church website at https://www.ttguc.org.au/ or email office@gullychurch.org.au

Golden Grove Uniting Church

Golden Grove Uniting Church, corner of Crouch and One Tree Hill Road, Golden Grove, has a traditional service at 10 am on a Sunday.  Also, on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, we have a cafe-style church, a relaxed contemporary worship service at 6 pm in the Church hall.

Café Youth is a fun, interactive program for young people ages 14 and up looking to engage in topics of faith. Café Youth sessions start with a fun 30-minute activity based on the theme for the night, then followed by “Talk Time”, during which the group discusses a topic of faith while enjoying delicious snacks, refreshments and pizza! The cost for each session is $5.

For further information, please contact the Office at 8251 4298 or email office@goldengroveuniting.org.au  You can even check our webpage: https://www.goldengroveuniting.org.au

Please click here to visit the College Calendar for a full list of College events