The Vine Issue 18 – 2022

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

My thanks to all members of our community for your exceptional support throughout what has proven to be another particularly challenging year. It seems like an eternity ago that we started the academic year with most of our students learning from home, mask mandates in place, and many elements of College life unable to go ahead. High levels of COVID across the state, along with tough testing regimes and isolating settings for schools, made the first half of the year so difficult for so many. We are most grateful for the patience, flexibility and understanding our staff, students and families have demonstrated this year, and delighted that the past six months has seen a return to some semblance of normality.

Congratulations to our students who represent themselves, their families and the College incredibly well. We are so proud of how they commit to their learning, but more importantly, how they look after each other, aligning their behaviours with our values of kindness, respect and inclusivity. Their academic achievements over the course of the year reflect the safe and connected community that they play such a significant role in creating.  

Thank you to our staff for your incredible work over the course of the academic year. We are so fortunate to have such a committed and talented team of professionals. You inspire our students, and you challenge each other. The quality of a school cannot exceed the quality of its staff. Our College is exceptional because of your dedication to our students.

As we approach Christmas, may God strengthen all of us to love one another and carry the love of Christ into a world that more and more shows its need for the news of salvation and repentance. I wish you all every blessing and every happiness through the Christmas and New Year period. May the holidays provide for you all an opportunity to reflect, relax, recharge, and spend some quality time with family and friends.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL / HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Mr Andrew Whiteman

This week saw our Year 10 and 11 students complete their final examinations for the year. The way both year levels committed to and engaged in the week of exams was a credit to them. The students clearly understood the importance of preparing well, and it was especially pleasing to see some students smiling when they exited the exam room. 

Our 2023 Year 12 students attended their first day of Year 12 at an Orientation Day last Friday, 2 December. Students participated in each of their classes and walked away with a good understanding of the requirements for next year. Some were even lucky enough to pick up some holiday reading in preparation for next year. I spoke with the cohort about preparing well for next year, that February will be here soon enough, and that they must be prepared to hit the ground running when they return. I know that Mr Willis and Ms Robertson will lead this cohort very well next year, and I wish them all the very best. 

This will be my last Vine article as I change schools to Westminster next year. I would like to thank you all for your support over my six years here at Pedare. I feel very blessed to have worked at Pedare and honoured to have been a part of the wonderful community we have here. When I look back on my time, in just 6 short years, so much has changed. The combining of the two campuses has provided so many benefits to the College and is one of the most beautiful things about working in this school. The Mallee building project was obviously a highlight as we really saw the building come to life, from nothing but ideas into the beautiful looking and wonderfully creative and inspiring building it is today. Most importantly, it has always been the people inside our buildings that make it a special place. To all the staff, students, and parents of Pedare, I thank you all very much for giving me this opportunity. Although sad to leave, I know that Pedare is in a wonderful position and has many exciting projects and developments on the horizon. I will be sure to keep an eye on Pedare from afar. 

I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and a happy new year.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

 Mr Callum Iles

Beginnings & Endings

One of life’s little pleasures is watching Olympic Athletics. The incredible men and women who devote their lives to perfecting their sport, jumping higher, throwing further and running faster than anyone else on earth are simply wonderful. I will never forget watching Karsten Warholm break the 400m Hurdles world record at the Tokyo Olympics, running a time faster than the 400m time!

The beginning of running races is tough. The athletes have to work hard to get up ahead of speed, get their timing right so they don’t break early, warm up so they don’t pull a muscle, and do it all faster than their opponents. Beginnings are hard.

Endings are also hard, as athletes are heaving to get their chest ahead of their opponents and digging deep when nothing is left. 

Similarly, beginnings and endings are hard in life. 

An ending we were able to celebrate this week was the Year 9 Graduation Assembly, where we celebrated the academic achievements, IB Learner Profile characteristics and special accomplishments of the Year 9 students. It was a proud moment for parents and the culmination of a lot of hard work for students. However, afterwards, there were a number of students who were overcome by the realisation that Middle School was over. The sub-school they had known for four years was to be left behind as they embarked on new challenges and began preparing for a life beyond school. I have no doubt that each of these students will push through and enjoy the privileges of being older, but that isn’t to say that it will be easy.

We were also privileged this week to welcome the 2023 Year 6s and Year 7s to the Middle School for Welcome Day. Over 130 nervous but excited students entered the Chapel quietly, unsure of what the day would bring. Throughout the day, seeing so many current Pedare students embrace the new students and make them feel welcome was wonderful. At the end of the day, those new students were buzzing with anticipation for next year.

Beginnings and endings are hard, but they are important.

No one can stay in the same place for their whole lives, and taking on the challenges of new things like Middle and Senior School, and farewelling where you have been is how students grow up, learn new skills and become who they were destined to be.

Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us’. Life is a race, there will be tough beginnings and endings, but if we push through these times of discomfort, we will find strength and rewards on the other side.  

As we conclude the 2022 school year, many will be anticipating this ending. It has been one of the most challenging school years in recent memory with the hybrid start and the high levels of anxiety and uncertainty among people. Some time to refresh, regenerate and spend time with family and friends is exactly what is needed, and I wish you all a safe and restful Christmas period.

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mr Randall Pearce

Junior Primary Nativity Musical

Friday, 2 December, we welcomed parents, grandparents and special friends to an outstanding Junior School Nativity Performance. Children were super excited to share the Christmas story through their presentations. They had been working so hard this term to learn lines, where to stand, when to speak and when not to!

I am so proud of our Year 2 students, who have shown significant determination, growth and teamwork to showcase their enormous skills.  

Matthew 1:20-23

An angel from the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

Junior Primary Nativity would not have happened without a dedicated team of teachers and staff who went above and beyond. To Ms Collins, congratulations on your first Junior Primary Nativity, and thank you! You have been an absolute blessing.

Thank you to Mr Morton and Mrs Davis, who worked so tirelessly behind the scenes, doing whatever, whenever and wherever. Your wisdom, patience and calm approaches have been appreciated by all.  

We are grateful to our Junior School teachers, Ms Caddy and Mrs Burnes, along with the remainder of the Reception and Year 1 teaching teams who prepared students so beautifully. The beautiful performance would not have been possible without all of you.

To our support staff, Mr Wilson and Mrs Carter, and the numerous Diverse Learning Assistants who have stepped in when needed, thank you. 

Finally, to our Year 2 students, thank you! You have started the Christmas season for many of us in such a beautiful manner.

Many thanks, God bless and Christmas blessings to all.

Junior School Thanksgiving Service

VEX Australian Nationals

Student Achievement

End-of-Year Language Learning Activities

Year 7-9

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.

Year 7 Lunchtime Volleyball Grand Final

Th!nk Club Excursion to Escaplex Escape Rooms

Trauma Teddies

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.

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/

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

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

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