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The Vine Issue 13 – 2023
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
Mr James Tamblyn
Thursday 14 September was R U OK? Day. This day is set aside as a national day of action where Australians are reminded that every day is a good day to ask ‘Are you ok?’. We are encouraged to initiate meaningful conversations when we notice signs that someone we care about might be struggling with life. The R U OK? website provides some very helpful resources and information, including suggestions for navigating conversations when checking in on others’ wellbeing. Through asking ‘Are you ok?”, listening, encouraging action and checking in we can significantly enhance the chances that someone who is in need of support receives it.
R U OK? Day – Thursday, 14 September
At the Middle & Senior School Assembly this week I spoke about the upcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum, now confirmed for Saturday 14 October.
To support their understanding of the issue, and the reason for the impending vote, we shared with students the following information:
- The Australian Constitution is the set of rules and laws by which Australia is run. It came into effect on 1 January 1901.
- A referendum is a vote of the Australian people on a proposed change to the Constitution.
- Referendums occur infrequently; forty four national referendums have been held, only eight of which have been carried.
Finally, we shared with students the question that those over 18 in Australia will be asked to vote on:
‘A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?’
Regardless of your position on the vote, we do encourage parents and caregivers to explore the referendum with your children and the reasons underpinning both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns. It is indeed an historical time in our nation’s history and an opportunity for us all to commit to better understanding how and why this proposed Constitutional amendment is before us.
Voice Referendum
Works are continuing to progress well on the refurbishment of the Boronia Balcony and the Outdoor Learning and Recreation Space, immediately north of the Wattle Centre. Both projects will be completed in the next few weeks and we look forward to these facilities becoming available for student use. The photos below are provided for your reference.
Boronia Balcony
Outdoor Learning and Recreation Space
My thanks to all involved in the organisation of Science Week, Arts Week, and Languages Week, all of which have been celebrated in the past month. There was an amazing range of activities on offer for students and I congratulate all involved in the celebrations of each of these faculty areas.
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
Mrs Mandy Hore
Data Conversations
In the last edition of the Vine, I highlighted the different assessment methods used at Pedare, and again, I encourage you to discuss the outcomes of both summative and formative assessment at your upcoming Parent/Teacher interviews. Don’t forget to ask about your child/ren’s effort and commitment too!
In the coming weeks, teaching staff will spend time scrutinising and analysing these assessment results, along with other data collected throughout the year, such as NAPLAN and Progressive Assessment Tests (PAT). Faculties will engage in deliberate data conversations to understand and evaluate their teaching and their students’ learning. This not only informs the next steps in teaching programs to ensure students’ learning progresses but also, through item-level analysis, like in NAPLAN results, helps teachers identify which instructional strategies are more effective and where opportunities for improvement lie. It also allows informed curriculum review. Analysing question types, for example, and identifying emerging patterns of strength and weakness may reveal where students need more instruction, enabling tailored teaching and task review.
These conversations will also ensure that we acknowledge and celebrate our students’ achievements, which is a vital part of the learning cycle.
In other news…
Early in the term, Mr Tamblyn wrote to the community announcing that we would add a sixth community in 2024. Through extensive engagement with students, staff and our community, the orange community Petworth will commence.
Many families have expressed interest in embracing the opportunity to join Petworth. Over the next few weeks, you will be contacted to confirm this interest. To others still considering this option, it’s not too late – please contact me if you would like to discuss this opportunity further.
Petworth Community Announcement – Friday, 18 August
Finally, as the term draws to an end, we seek your support with the presentation of our students, with appropriate hair length and colour, jewellery and skirt length. Wearing the Pedare uniform unites us as a community and confirms our collective pride in our College.
As the temperature warms up, students may wear either the complete Summer or Winter uniform, but not a combination of both, for the remainder of this term. We hope this flexibility will help students stay comfortable during the changing weather conditions. Please refer to the College website for uniform information.
Enjoy your weekend.
I do hope the sun shines and spring arrives in earnest.
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Mr Josh Willis
It has been wonderful to see the amazing opportunities on offer for our students across the College. We encourage our students to challenge themselves and pursue their interests that extend beyond the classroom, allowing their passions to guide them toward a fulfilling and purposeful path ahead. Students have embraced these learning opportunities with enthusiasm and determination, and we have witnessed them flourish in various extra-curricular activities from the arts, sports, community service and leadership roles.
I was delighted to watch the Pedare Inters Netball team, coached by Renae Harris, play in their Grand Final on Tuesday evening. What was most impressive about this team was that all but one of these students were playing up an age division. Despite playing against players much older than them, the team went undefeated throughout the season. Their season was capped off with a remarkable victory in the Grand Final, where the girls showed teamwork, leadership, skill and incredible resilience when faced with challenges during the middle parts of the game. We are so proud of this team and all our students embracing the many extra-curricular opportunities available to them.
Intermediate SADNA Winter Team
This time of the year can be particularly challenging for our Year 12 students as they navigate the final few weeks of school. These weeks may be among the most demanding in their academic journeys. We understand this period can be overwhelming, filled with late-night study sessions and nervous anticipation. These students are not alone in this journey, as teachers, parents and the entire school community are here to support them every step of the way. Last week, we took some time to think about ways to alleviate stress during this time of year. Together, each student made their very own stress ball, a simple but effective way to release tension from the body during moments of stress. We are immensely proud of our students and their achievements thus far, and we look forward to celebrating their successes in the coming months.
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mrs Eliza Buckoke
What a fantastic couple of weeks we’ve had, celebrating Arts and Languages. There have been many extra activities, and it’s been great to see so many students getting involved. We’ve had a number of achievements and events in the Middle School, including the Science Investigation Awards, Spelling Bee, Netball, Sustainability Forum and Tournament of Minds. Well done to all students and staff involved, and please check out the Student Achievement for further highlights.
This morning, I had the privilege of attending the Tea Tree Gully Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast along with our College Captains, Charlie C and Maya M, Middle School Captains, Oscar E and Anne V, and a team of music students and staff. The guest speaker was Francis Owusu from Ghana, International President of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, who gave an inspirational and engaging testimony. Our students did a wonderful job of providing music for the occasion! We are proud to have represented the College at this important community event.
Tea Tree Gully Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast – Friday, 15 September
Our Year 7s, 8s and 9s have been going through the process of subject selections for 2024. As they progress through the Middle School years, students have the opportunity to make decisions about their Elective subjects. If you have any questions about this process, you are welcome to contact me.
It has been lovely to meet some parents during my first few weeks at Pedare. I am looking forward to our Parent Teacher Interviews on Monday, 18 September, for an opportunity to connect with more families.
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
Mr Randall Pearce
Wellbeing conversations
R U OK? Day, the national day of action that supports the wellbeing of all Australians, was held on Thursday, 14 September 2023.
A Conversation Can Change a Life
R U OK? inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life.
You don’t need to be an expert to reach out – just a good friend and a great listener.
Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
Wellbeing comes from physical, mental and emotional health
For children and young people, many things 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 are a range of things you can do at home to help build and sustain your child’s wellbeing:
Wear Your Team Colours: Casual Clothes Day – Friday, 15 September
CREATIVE CORNER
From the Arts Department
Arts Week
Monday – Friday, 28 August – 1 September
Arts Week dazzled us all with its explosion of colour, creativity, performances and engaging activities.
Throughout the week, we enjoyed an array of captivating events, from singalongs to hands-on workshops, bands and the challenge of morning quizzes. Congratulations to the winners: HNE, BSD, EGE!
A big thank you to everyone who made Arts Week unforgettable. Hats off to the Arts Team for curating an exceptional lineup that made Arts Week a huge success. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our supportive community for embracing the Arts and infusing our lives with joy.
Arts & Music Showcase
The grand finale of a busy Term 3 for the Arts awaits us on the evening of Wednesday, 20 September. Join us for the Visual Arts and Graphic Design Showcase, featuring stunning artworks from Years 6-12 from 5.30 – 6.30pm, followed by the Music Showcase by the Years 3-12 ensembles and class bands from 6.30 – 9.30pm. This promises to be a culmination of talent, creativity, and unity, reflecting the essence of Pedare’s Arts. Let’s keep the Arts thriving and continue to be inspired together!
Mrs Emily Kenny
WILLKOMMEN/欢迎
From the Languages Department
Languages Week
Monday – Friday, 4 – 8 September
During Languages Week, our College came alive with activities celebrating linguistic diversity, cultural exchange and hands-on learning.
In Junior School, Year 5 students made dumplings and experienced the art of Chinese cooking, while Year 3 and 4 students explored Chinese face mask painting. Parent volunteers joined the Reception to Year 2 classrooms to share a Chinese story centred around the tradition of yum cha – the Chinese practice of enjoying a meal accompanied by tea.
During lunchtime, Year 5 students took the Chinese jianzi game to new heights, displaying agility and teamwork. Simultaneously, Year 3 and Year 4 students experienced traditional Chinese paper cutting and crafting.
In Middle School, Years 6 and 7 immersed themselves in the elegance of Chinese calligraphy, using their brushwork to create strokes of beauty and meaning. Year 8 students had a great time making dumplings while bonding with their friends and learning the art of cooking.
Year 9 students embraced their trip to Chinatown, exploring its vibrant sights and flavours. Meanwhile, our German Year 9 students enjoyed a day filled with activities and German sausages, turning their learning into a celebration of language and culture. Our special German club offered a taste of Germany through an assortment of snacks.
Witnessing parents joining us for a Chinese fan painting workshop was heart-warming. Our staff also embraced the opportunity for creative workshops, such as fan painting and German baking – a testament to the joy of lifelong learning.
Languages Week was more than just about celebrating languages and cultures; it was about fostering connections and enriching perspectives.
Ms Grace Liu
Languages Week, 4-8 September
COLLEGE NEWS/NOTICES
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Science Investigation Awards
Well done to Year 7 and 8 students who participated at the Royal Adelaide Show Science Investigation Awards last Monday, 4 September. Over 900 students statewide competed in this competition, and our students were up against 80 other students in the grand final today.
I am so pleased and filled with pride that our students have done an exceptional job today.
- Mia N and Stella A placed 2nd overall in the Year 7 category.
- Kiano C, Bailey C and Luke M placed 3rd overall in the Year 8 category.
- Elijah C placed 2nd overall in the Year 8 category.
- Ashton F and Connor L placed 1st overall in the Year 8 category.
This is a remarkable achievement for our school, given the significant number of students that competed and the fantastic quality of the projects from other schools.
Miss Hannah Dearman
2023 Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Junior Orator
Year 5 students were given the opportunity to participate in an Orator competition this term, with the winner being selected to represent Pedare at the IPSHA Junior Orator Competition. Harshal B, Charlotte E, Elena E, Paige B, Evie H, Owen L, Jessica P and Hannah Y all prepared a speech and delivered it to our judging panel.
Congratulations to Hannah Y for her outstanding performance last Wednesday, 6 September, in the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Junior Orator of the Year 2023 competition. Hannah delivered a confident and impeccable speech about environmental justice for sharks, earning Pedare a well-deserved victory in the Year 5 division.
Mrs Rebecca Wallace
Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee Competition
Congratulations to all 14 Year 6&7 students who successfully qualified for the state finals of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. A special round of applause goes to Melinda W (Year 6), who not only achieved the top position in the state finals of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee but also secured 11th place in the National Final of the Spelling Bee.
Devon D (Year 6)
Bassil A (Year 6)
Indianna M (Year 6)
Aaron G (Year 6)
Melinda W (Year 6)
Natalie P (Year 7)
Alyssa D (Year 7)
Searet A (Year 7)
Lachlan W (Year 7)
Hudson T (Year 7)
Taylor D (Year 7)
Akshath S (Year 7)
Tegan M (Year 7)
Bhavish P (Year 7)
Mrs Sarah Bloomfield
Australian Maths Competition Awards
This year, 82 students from Year 3 to Year 12 took part in the Australian Mathematics Competition. Students from all year levels performed well, with the College achieving a total of 5 High Distinctions, 22 Distinctions and 38 Credits. We extend our congratulations to all students, including those who were acknowledged in this week’s Assembly for their High Distinction or Distinction achievements.
Mrs Nicola Fotheringham
State Gymnastics Competition
We wish Misha C, Year 6, the very best for representing SA in the State Gymnastics Competition from 15 – 20 September.
LEARNING HIGHLIGHTS
World of Maths Day
Year 7
This week, 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 a variety of hands-on problems that apply maths to the real world. They investigated number patterns, sequencing, geometric properties, measurement and much more.
Students had a great time exploring how Mathematics relates to real-life problems.
Mrs Nicola Fotheringham
Planting Collaboration
Year 3 & Year 8
Along with the guidance of Mrs Johnson and students in Year 8, the Year 3 students have spent time planting their own produce. This has been through the Year 3 Science focus on exploring how plants grow and the factors that influence sustainable organic food and produce, aiming to cook the produce grown later in the year. This inquiry has provided many cross-curricular learning opportunities as well as occasions where different year levels can work together.
Mrs Toni Rossi & Ms Kayla Gyles
Sustainability Leadership Forum
Year 8
On Thursday, 31 August, Year 8 Sustainability students attended a Leadership Forum to share sustainability initiatives and were inspired by the Youth Environment Club at Parafield Gardens Primary School. Supported by Green Adelaide staff, the students had an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing well and to plan exciting new opportunities for future sustainability initiatives.
Mrs Jude Johnson
VEX Lesson
Year 3
Year 3 students engaged in a learning experience involving the VEX GO! kits on Tuesday, 5 September. This activity was part of our exploration into the unit of inquiry, ‘How the World Works’, where we investigated the central idea that ‘Humans are Driven to Imagine’. During this session, we had insightful discussions about scientific and technological advancements and how VEX and coding offer exciting opportunities in this regard.
Miss Kayla Gyles
Barossa Excursion
Senior German
On Friday, 11 August, the Senior German students enjoyed a trip to the Barossa Valley, immersing themselves in the rich German history of South Australia.
We visited the Herbig Tree near Springton, where a family of 16 children lived in the early years of settlement, and the Luhrs Cottage Museum in Lights Pass, which demonstrated the early style of German architecture with its original artefacts.
As we strolled through the Strait Gate Lutheran Cemetery, the students discovered that most older graves were written in German. They found it very interesting to translate the texts that appeared on the graves. Students also observed that many of the foundation stones of significant buildings in this area were also in German language. The exploration continued with a visit to Rechner Cottage, a great example of the traditional ‘Fachwerk’ half-timber construction, currently undergoing restoration.
We all enjoyed trying authentic German bakery goods at a bakery in Tanunda, an experience we highly recommend!
We concluded the day by visiting the ‘Kegelclub’ in Tanunda. This is the precursor to the widely played ten-pin bowling we all know. There are only nine pins, and the alley is 40 metres long. It is the only remaining ‘Kegelbahn’ of its kind left in the world. It was lots of fun!
Mr Erik Brasse and Mrs Nicole Callen
Archeological Dig
Year 7
Year 7 students shifted their personas and became archaeologists who unearthed an ancient Pedarian civilisation. Continually questioning the past, the students excavated a large amount of ancient artefacts that will be analysed over the next few weeks.
From start to finish, these little archaeologists recorded, analysed, photographed and mapped artefacts ranging from small pottery pieces to statues, to buried skeletons and much more! They were able to evaluate how these artefacts may have been used by the ancient Pedarian people and enacted their higher-order thinking to decipher the significance these artefacts may have had in the past.
All Year 7s did an excellent job, and we may have some budding archaeologists in our midst!
Ms Maeghan Stace
Sustainability – Beeswax Wraps
Year 7
Passionate about the environment, Year 7 Sustainability students crafted beeswax wraps to cut down on plastic waste and promote eco-friendly living. Their enthusiasm and creativity were truly inspiring as they learned about the impact of single-use plastics. Kudos to these young minds for taking steps toward a greener future. Let’s all follow their lead and make conscious choices for our planet!
Mrs Jude Johnson
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.
COMMUNITY NEWS
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
KEY DATES
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