Pedare - The Vine Newsletter Issue 13 for 2022
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The Vine Issue 13 – 2022

September 16, 2022
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COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

 

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-living and longest-serving monarch in British history. 

She ascended to the throne at the age of 25 as the result of a twist that would shape not only the course of her life, but the history of the world. Upon the abdication of the throne by her uncle King Edward VIII in 1936, her father became King, making Elizabeth heir. Queen Elizabeth II reigned from 6 February 1952 until her death last week; a total of 70 years and 214 days. God has a plan for us all.

Perhaps the most impressive quality of her enduring leadership was her steadfast commitment to serve. As a young monarch, Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to the service of God, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the family of nations. Her unwavering commitment to this promise, to her very last day, was extraordinary. For most of us, she is the only British monarch we have ever known. For all of us, she leaves the legacy of a life from which we can learn much.  

The following prayer is courtesy of the Church of Scotland following Her Late Majesty’s passing.

Lord,
 Your kingship surprises
 for it is found in a manger and on a cross
 and in this light all earthly monarchs
 may find the wisdom to rule
 as Your servant, Elizabeth, did so memorably.
 Enable us to value her ministry
 in the way we serve one another
 that she who reigned over us may live gloriously with You
 through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord – Amen

Image Credit: Vanity Fair


DEPUTY PRINCIPAL / HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Mr Andrew Whiteman

 

‘I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’

This famous quote from Thomas Edison is one I reflect on often when I work hard at something and don’t succeed. The idea of starting over or trying another way often fills me with dread, as if anything I try just won’t work. It takes courage to keep on trying, and sometimes despite all of the efforts, things just don’t work out as I had planned. Being at school is hard; teachers always remind students to keep going, do their best, put their best effort in, and we know it’s not easy. The saying goes, if everything was easy, the sense of joy in achievement just wouldn’t be there. 

We know that at this stage of the term, students are tired and that they can feel the end of the term is near. We must keep motivating and encouraging our students to do the best they can and to keep going all the way to the finish line. This term, in particular, has felt long, and we know there has been a lot of sickness across a number of year levels. We are very proud of the students’ efforts, and they are to be congratulated as we become close to the holidays. With just two weeks remaining, we all have one last effort to go before we can take a break. We hope our spirits will be lifted with a little sunshine, as they were this past week. We all feel better when there is some sun! 

We look forward to our Parent/Teacher Interviews taking place on Monday and continuing that partnership with you on your children’s educational journey. It will be our first face-to-face parent interview night in some time, and we look forward to welcoming our parent community back together. If you are unable to make the evening, please contact your children’s teachers to arrange an alternative time. 

This past week our Year 10 students heard from PROJECT ROCKIT presenters about the importance and value of diversity in our community. Pedare is a reflection of society, and we welcome people of all races, faith and walks of life. They explored the idea of privilege and how some people are disadvantaged through no fault of their own. Having an awareness of others and seeing the world through others people’s eyes can only make our community a better place. Our students were engaged and valued the time spent focusing on some very important world issues.


HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

 Mr Callum Iles

 

The potential of technology is something that continues to blow my mind. From the development of Quantum Computing to the exploration of space, from the creation of nanotechnologies to the creativity of the VEX Robots, the possibilities of technology are endless. Technology has lifted billions of people out of poverty and made life much easier for many in our world. Still, for each technology, there is a dark side that humanity must navigate as well. Technology development will be a constant in the development of humanity, and it is our role as educators to ensure that young people can navigate it ethically and intelligently.

Martin Luther King Jr., in his book The Trumpet of Conscience, says that ‘Nothing in our glittering technology can raise man to new heights, because material growth has been made an end in itself, and, in the absence of moral purpose, man himself becomes smaller as the works of man become bigger.’ This shows that even in the 1960s, people understood the double-edged sword that technology could be.

The internet and all its iterations are an incredible space. There are a million great things about this cyber-space, such as the opportunity to connect and share life with like-minded people, to create content and share it with others. But there are also a commensurate number of dangers such as comparison, consequence-free communication and the unknowns around who you are communicating with. Therefore educating young people about how to navigate this complexity is essential.

To help guide our young people in the digital age, Pedare invited the PROJECT ROCKIT team to work with Years 6 to 9. Year 6s participated in the SYNC Workshop, where they worked through some key tips on using apps safely and creating a digital world that improves our self-esteem rather than detracting from it. Year 7s and 8s participated in the Dot.Com Workshop, which focused on building empathy for others and implementing this in our interactions online. They also set the challenge to recreate the internet from scratch and try replicating it in the real world. Year 9s were challenged through the RALLY Workshop to appreciate diversity and understand how to grow as leaders in areas they are passionate about.

A few student testimonies were:

“This workshop was a great way for our cohort to be reminded of the diversity within our Year level, and how we can embrace each other rather than letting our differences divide us. The conversations were helpful and can be taken into account not only in our school lives but at home, with friends and in future workplaces. If we all work together, this kind of conversation will ensure that each student will feel safe and comfortable within the school walls. We can continue to provide a community where respect and empathy are the key attributes that characterise all students at Pedare.” Emily S, Year 9

“We’re grateful for having this opportunity to try new things and broaden our awareness of the positives and negatives of the online world, and we will work to ensure that Pedare continues to provide a safe place for all students.” Sophia C & Indiana S, Year 7

Overall, it was an engaging few days, and students walked out of the workshops with a toolkit of ways to engage healthily with the online environment. The future will be challenging, but by engaging so well with these sessions, Pedare students will have the knowledge to navigate these spaces with empathy and respect.

PROJECT ROCKIT Workshops, 8-9 September


HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mr Randall Pearce

 

Wellbeing conversations 

This year, R U OK? Day was held on Thursday, 8 September 2022. It is the national day of action that supports the wellbeing of all Australians.

This is a great opportunity to use this year’s theme, ‘You don’t have to be qualified to ask R U OK?’, as a prompt to reflect and focus on your own wellbeing, check in with those around you and talk about wellbeing with students.

Wellbeing conversations can be held with anyone, at any time — not just on R U OK? Day.

According to the Department of Education and Training, wellbeing comes from physical, mental and emotional health.

For children and young people, there are many things that build positive wellbeing. Wellbeing can come from: 

  • Understanding and managing their emotions 
  • Having good relationships 
  • Experiencing a sense of accomplishment 
  • Using our strengths 
  • Taking part in healthy activities, getting lots of sleep and eating well. 

 

There is a range of things you can do at home to help build and sustain your child’s wellbeing:

Praise, encouragement and positive attention

Praise helps your child feel good about themselves, which boosts self-esteem and confidence. It can also encourage good behaviour. You can: 

  • Give your child praise when they behave in ways that you want to encourage 
  • Give your child attention. Play a game with them, do an activity together, send them a friendly text message, ask about their interests 
  • Praise your teenager for their strengths
  • Let your child know you are proud of them.

Positive self-talk

Self-talk is the way we talk to ourselves with our inner voice. Positive self-talk is when we say positive things to ourselves. Self-talk has a big impact on how we feel and what we do.

 

Encouraging your child to talk to themselves in a kind and positive way can help improve their wellbeing and help them manage stress. When you hear them speaking about themselves that isn’t kind, you can: 

  • Draw it to their attention 
  • Ask them if what they are saying is true 
  • Get them to think of a more helpful thought 
  • Encourage your child to ‘speak’ to themselves the way they would speak to a best friend
  • Regularly remind your child of their strengths and accomplishments.

Maintain good relationships

A positive relationship with your child is critical to supporting wellbeing. 

  • Share family memories and stories together 
  • Try to eat a meal together each night 
  • Establish and maintain family rituals and routines 
  • Social connections are vital for your child’s wellbeing. Helping your child stay connected to friends is important.

Accessing Support

If looking after yourself is challenging and you have concerns about how you and your child are coping, support is available. Talk to someone you trust, contact your general practitioner (GP), a counsellor or psychologist or visit a hospital emergency department. You can also access external help through: 

R U OK? Day, 8 September



COLLEGE NEWS


‘Future You’ Exhibition
Wednesday, 5 October – Saturday, 5 November 2022

Have you been to Gallery 1855? Did you know we have a local Art Gallery in the City of Tea Tree Gully?

Located on Haines Road in Tea Tree Gully is our local Art Gallery. It is a creative hive with a vibrant exhibition schedule and numerous workshops for children and adults. Workshops are posted in the cabinets outside the Art Studios; everyone is welcome to visit.

https://www.teatreegully.sa.gov.au/Places-Council-parks-facilities-and-venues/Arts-and-performance-centres/Gallery-1855

 

At GALLERY 1855, in late September and into October, Pedare will be contributing to the first community initiative to curate an exhibition for a collaborative project with local schools. It is something that will continue and grow each year. Our College’s Art team is incredibly excited to be selecting 25 artworks to represent our Art program and student achievements during the ‘Future You’ exhibition. Students and their families will be informed via email and encouraged to attend the Exhibition Launch Night on Thursday, 29 September. The evening will be an excellent opportunity to meet with local artists, network with the creative society and be involved with the community. We are delighted that Pedare Music students will be showcasing their skills and adding to the atmosphere. Our wonderful Food and Hospitality team will be catering for the event, and it is a great way to see the wonderful Pedare students shine their light on our wider community. I hope you will all join me in celebrating this exciting opportunity.

Emily Kenny – Learning Area Coordinator, Arts


STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

One+ Science Fair & Science Investigation Awards
Monday, 5 September

In Science, Year 7-9 students competed in the annual One+ Science Fair earlier this term. This yearly competition runs across the three schools, Pedare, Gleeson and Golden Grove High School, and involves students conducting an experiment of their choice, analysing the results and presenting the findings to a larger audience. Pedare was successful across this competition, winning each Year level.

Congratulations to:

  • Year 7 – Ashton F, Harry T and Krishna N
  • Year 8 – Nathan M and Oscar E
  • Year 9 – Callum R

The successful students went on to the Royal Adelaide Show and presented their projects at the Science Investigation Awards. Year 7 project ‘Stoked by Coke’, an investigation into soft drinks’ ability to dissolve food, was further awarded second place, and the overall ‘Best Food and Fibre Project’.

Dylan Gale


Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee
Year 6

This year, a number of our Year 6 students had the opportunity to enter the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. This Australia-wide competition involves students spelling a list of 30 words that are delivered orally through an online platform. Students are graded on both their accuracy and speed.

Three of our students, Lainie E, Aaren G and Natalie P, made it to the state finals, placing them in the top 100 students in South Australia.

Natalie achieved a score that placed her in the top 3 students in South Australia and was invited to participate in the national competition. At the end of the competition, Natalie came 13th in Australia.

We congratulate these students for their excellent achievements.

Sarah Bloomfield


Lexile 1000 / Literacy Pro Millionaire Certificates

Reading is such an integral part of learning and relaxation. We are so thrilled to celebrate with the following students who have worked so hard to achieve Lexile 1000 or reading one million words this year to become a Literacy Pro Millionaire. Congratulations to the following students.

Lexile 1000 Award

  • Lucy L
  • Jasmine W
  • Della M
  • Lukas H
  • Dean S

Literacy Pro Millionaire

  • Benjamin W
  • Oscar H
  • Naksh P

LEARNING
HIGHLIGHTS


VEX IQ Competition

Years 3-8

Pedare hosted the first VEX IQ Tournament for the season on Monday, 12 September, seeing schools from across the state compete for a spot at the Australian Nationals in Sydney this December. 

Thank you to all the teams who attended: 

  • Mark Oliphant College 
  • Pembroke School 
  • Adelaide Botanic High School 
  • Salisbury East High School 
  • Athelstone Primary School 
  • St John’s Grammar School 
  • Saint Ignatius College 
  • Mannum Community College 

The VEX IQ competition sees students from Years 3-8 compete, celebrating over six months of designing, building and programming their robots. We congratulate all the teams involved, especially the three Pedare Junior School VEX teams, who made it to the final, despite most students being first-timers in the competition. 

A special mention to our two Pedare teams who won the two Excellence awards for the Elementary and Middle school divisions: 

  • The Nerd Herd – Elementary Excellence Award 
  • The BroBots2 – Middle School Award 

These awards are the most prestigious recognitions available at the competition and indicate a team who has provided an excellent engineering notebook, performed exceptionally well during the tournament and demonstrated a student-centred approach across the season. 

Next Monday, Year 9-12 teams will compete for the VEX VRC competition and have more chances to qualify for Sydney.

Emil Zankov


STEM Girls Excursion to UniSA Mawson Lakes

STEM Girls Years 9-11

  • edf

On Thursday, 8 September, a group of 6 girls from Years 9-11 were lucky enough to be involved in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) – Girls on Campus event at UniSA. They participated in hands-on workshops that stimulated their problem-solving and creative thinking while networking with other students from schools across Adelaide. Other highlights included a presentation delivered by women working in the tech sector, as well as a discussion panel incorporating graduates, industry professionals, and academics sharing their experiences and perspectives in the field of STEM. It was fantastic to watch the girls thrive in an exciting environment and appreciate their involvement in such a valuable opportunity.

Bronwyn Dutch


World of Maths Incursion

Year 7

On Tuesday, 13 September, Year 7 students had the opportunity to take part in the World of Maths incursion. World of Maths is an interactive travelling Maths show. Students solved various hands-on problems that applied maths to the real world. They investigated number patterns, sequencing, geometric properties, measurement and more.

Students had a great time exploring how Mathematics relates to real-life problems. 

Nicola Fotheringham


High Tea

Stage 2 Food & Hospitality

Year 12 Food & Hospitality class presented their major function to staff on Monday, 12 September – a Disney-themed High Tea! Students enjoyed the experience of preparing food from the beginning of the day to serving at lunchtime, and enjoyed the opportunity to host their teachers. 

Bianca Chapman


Holocaust Museum and South Australian Museum Excursion

Year 10 History

On Monday, 12 September, Year 10 History classes went on an excursion to the South Australian Museum and The Adelaide Holocaust Museum & Andrew Steiner Education Centre (AHMSEC). At first, my group went to the South Australian Museum and participated in a scavenger hunt around different exhibits. We used our historical analysis skills to evaluate the purpose of exhibitions and answer questions about the various displays, such as the Giant Squid, Minerals and Gemstones, Australian Polar Collection and more. We then went to the Adelaide Holocaust Museum, where we gained a greater appreciation for the victims of the Holocaust. The classes were exposed to the stories of survivors and were given the opportunity to evaluate primary sources and assess the significance with which they demonstrated resistance against the Nazis. I gained a greater appreciation for those who stood up to the atrocities committed in the mass genocide of World War II. Our experience taught us the importance of love and caring for everyone and, consequently, the danger of hatred. 

Violet J, Year 10


Hidden Treasures Excursion

Year 12 Essential English

On a cloudy Tuesday, 30 August morning, a small group of Year 12 students headed, with their teacher, into the Adelaide CBD. They were dropped off at Rymill Park, where they were set off exploring Adelaide.

Students working in twos or threes were given step-by-step instructions to follow. After weaving their way through the East End of Adelaide, looking for a church with a rooster on its spire, they found themselves at the Barr Smith Library. The second set of clues and instructions to interpret and follow saw students discover a museum upstairs in one of Adelaide’s well-known arcades, a library not on North Terrace and an iconic eatery hidden in a laneway. A final set of instructions were received at Adelaide Railway Station. Students finally met their teacher at Adelaide Central Market, having seen and visited some of Adelaide’s hidden treasures.

Inspired, they will now create their own instructional guide to discover even more hidden treasures.

Sally Tilly


Aerokids

Reception and Year 1

Aerokids is a fantastic way for children to explore fitness, improve flexibility and coordination and boost their confidence through participating in an engaging and fun program. It combines gymnastics, aerobics and fitness.

Thanks to the Sporting Schools Program grant, Reception and Year 1 students have had Kylie Thomas from Aerokids conducting their lessons on Thursdays.

The students arrived with plenty of energy and enthusiasm for the sessions and have progressed nicely throughout the term. It has been great to witness their range of movements, excitement and sense of fun.

Heath Perry


Social Action and Service

Year 12 Society and Culture

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The focus of the Stage 2 Society and Culture class this term has been on social action and service, with which students have engaged wholeheartedly. The task they worked on was part of a Group Interaction Assessment Type that invites students to work collaboratively in researching a human rights issue of interest and creating a social action that could raise awareness and make a difference in society. Two groups focused on two different topics: 

  • Period poverty and the impact on women
  • Mindfulness in the Junior School classrooms. 

Group 1 successfully ran a donation drive collecting sanitary items for women experiencing poverty, homelessness and financial hardship. They presented to students and staff about their issue and delivered the donated items to the women’s charity ‘Share the Dignity’. 

(Students: Alina B, Kiara S, Talia M, and Jashanpreet S)

Group 2 worked with Year 1 classes and ran a mindfulness activity, sharing the importance of being present and aware of our emotions. They provided Year 1 students with some practical ways in which they can help calm their minds and body and worked with them to make a mindfulness galaxy jar. 

(Students: Jude B, Molly C, Onoseje E and Camryn R)

 

Thank you to everyone who supported these students in conducting their social actions, and well done to the Year 12s on their outcomes.  

Lauren Griffiths


Digital Defenders

Years 7-10

Years 7-10 students have been involved in a small pilot cyber program with the Defence Science Technology Group (DSTG) this term, solving challenges and learning about the following topics: 

  • Basic Command Line Usage and Ethics 
  • Cryptography 
  • Scripting and Reverse Engineering 
  • Web Technologies 
  • Digital Forensics 
  • Open Source Intelligence 

As part of the pilot, students visited the DSTG Base in Edinburgh, being shown ‘top secret’ examples of how the cyber world is keeping Australia safe. 

Students were mentored by a defence cyber analyst each week, leading up to our first of two Capture the Flag days this week. Students competed using a Linux Virtual Machine environment to “capture flags”, such as secret messages to submit for points. In two weeks, we’ll find out where we placed!

Emil Zankov


Senior School Quiz Night

Wednesday, 7 September

Last Wednesday, the Chapel came alive with students from Years 10, 11 and 12 for the Senior School Quiz Night. 

Academic Captains, Jenna R and Angelo L, took the lead in preparing the night and, together with Imogen L and co-hosts Kiara S and Scott S, ran a great night enjoyed by all who came. The tables were tested on their knowledge of sport, history, music, TV & film and Pedare. The leaderboard changed several times throughout the night. After the final round, it was a narrow win to a table of boys from Year 10, and they were thrilled with their prizes, generously donated by Dynamic Care, the key sponsor on the night.

The night was more than just the quiz! With a theme of ‘decades’, tables had gone to a lot of effort dressing up in the spirit of the evening. Everyone enjoyed the dance break in the middle of the night and grooved to some famous songs from different decades. No one went hungry with every table full of yummy snacks, and the entry fee donation raised $485.00 for the Community Spirit Foundation, supporting the education of our Indigenous Australians. 

Thanks to Year 12 leaders for hosting a wonderful night that brought together staff and Senior students from all Year levels. It was evidence of so many aspects of the positive culture we experience here at Pedare.

Jan Robertson


Junior School Assembly – Friday, 16 September

Reception

Our Reception students delivered such an outstanding presentation during this morning’s JS Assembly. It was creative, fun and entertaining. We are so proud of each of you for doing a fantastic job.



Extra-Curricular

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.


Walk a Mile Fundraising

Lions Cub Club

We are the Pedare Pride Cubs Club. This is a Junior Lions Club running as an extra-curricular activity every Thursday. On 11 August, our club did a ‘Walk A Mile In My Boots’ fundraiser, where we walked 1 mile (1.6km) around the Jackson Oval to raise funds for the Hutt Street Centre. Our family members came to support us, and we raised $1846.

The Hutt Street Centre gives service to people experiencing homelessness by giving them meals, hot showers, dental services, counselling, clean clothes, medical assistance and housing support.

Addison S and Alice B, Year 5s


SADNA Winter Premiere Grand Final

Pedare 2 (Sub Junior Team)

Well done, Pedare 2 (Sub Junior Team), who had an amazing win against Modbury in the Grand Final on Tuesday, 6 September!

The team were two goals down in the last quarter with 1 min and 20 sec to go. A quick two-goals made the scores even, just before the whistle went. The girls had to play overtime, and luckily, they hit the front with a celebratory win of 2 goals. The final score was 27 – 25!

Renae Harris


COMMUNITY NEWS

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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 8:30am, 10:00am, and 6:00pm in person. If you can’t join us just yet, we’ll continue to stream at 8:30am and 10:00am online using Zoom and YouTube  Service times are 8:30am and 10:00am.

Please contact Dave Brown on 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.

 

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Tea Tree Gully Uniting – Banksia Markets

 

Tea Tree Gully Uniting host the ‘local and friendly’ Banksia Markets on the first Saturday of each month from 8:30am to 1:00pm at 600 Milne Road, Banksia Park. Stalls inside the hall and in the car park include produce, fresh fruit and vegetables, jewellery, tools, bric-a-brac and lots more.

For more information contact the TTG Uniting Church website at https://www.ttguc.org.au/

 

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St Mark’s Anglican Church

 

St Mark’s Anglican Church has a 9.00 am traditional service each Sunday morning and 9.30am each Wednesday morning. We would love to see you at either or both of our services. We are located on the corner of The Golden Way and Wynn Vale Drive, Wynn Vale.

For further information and updates about St Mark’s services and events, please visit our website at https://www.stmarksgoldengrove.org.au/ or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/stmarksgoldengrove.org.au

 

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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 Sunday. Also, on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, we have a cafe-style church, which is 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. It is held in the Church hall on the first and third Sunday of each month during the school term, from 6.30-8.30 pm. 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 whilst enjoying delicious snacks, refreshments and pizza! The cost for each session is $5.

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

KEY DATES