The Vine Issue 4 – 2025

A reminder also about the upcoming visit of Susan Mclean and the parent presentation on Wednesday, 2 April. Please RSVP at your earliest convenience.

The Senior Learning Centre building project continues to progress well. Most of the external glass installation is now complete. Internal fit-out is on schedule, providing a tangible sense of how the building will feel and function once complete. In the coming months, we will work increasingly closely with Senior School students and staff to plan our move into the SLC. We very much look forward to welcoming all community members into the space for a tour in the second half of this year. Some recent photos of the project are included for your interest.

Senior Learning Centre Update – 19 March

Road Safety Sessions

Brooklyn Assembly

Each year, Harmony Week, also known as the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, is celebrated in March. Led by the Brooklyn community, this week’s Middle/Senior School Assembly focused on the richness of cultural diversity within both our nation and the Pedare community. We were reminded that Australia embraces people from all over the world, with over 300 different cultures calling Australia home, something to be celebrated.

The Assembly reminded us that everyone belongs, no matter where they come from or what their background is. It encouraged respect, appreciation and understanding of all cultures, reminding us to value and embrace the uniqueness of those around us.

Brooklyn Assembly – Thursday, 20 March

Cybersafety – Susan McLean

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Susan to present to our students and, of course, to our community on Wednesday, 2 April.

Susan McLean, founder of Cyber Safety Solutions and a leading authority on cyber safety in Australia, will cover the positive benefits of technology as well as many of the risks parents need to be aware of.

This educational and empowering session will conclude with a Q&A, giving you the opportunity to have your questions answered about keeping your children safe in the ever-changing digital word.

We hope you can join us as we work together to support the wellbeing and online safety of our students.

Year 3 Harmony Week Assembly – Friday, 21 March

Alongside celebrating diversity, our students have been engaging in meaningful learning experiences. Year 2 students recently went on a Marine Discovery Excursion, exploring marine ecosystems and learning about the importance of conservation. From investigating sea creatures to understanding how we can protect our oceans, this excursion sparked curiosity and encouraged responsible stewardship of our natural world.

Year 2 Marine Discovery Excursion – Wednesday, 19 March

Year 3 and Year 5 students participated in NAPLAN, an important assessment that provides insight into their literacy and numeracy development. While valuable, we remind students and families that NAPLAN is just one measure of progress. Every learning journey is unique, and at Pedare, we celebrate growth in all its forms; academically, socially and emotionally.

In Weeks 7 and 8, we held Parent-Teacher Interviews, providing a valuable opportunity for families and teachers to connect and celebrate student progress. These discussions strengthen the partnership between home and school, ensuring each child is supported in their learning journey. Thank you to all parents who attended, we appreciate your ongoing involvement and collaboration.

JS Parent Teacher Interviews – Thursday, 13 March and Tuesday, 18 March

Year 4 students welcomed KESAB for a session on sustainability, where they conducted a bin audit, explored ways to care for our environment, reduce waste and promote responsible recycling. These conversations led to initiatives, encouraging students to take action and make a positive impact within our College.

Year 4 KESAB Bin Audit Incursion – Wednesday, 12 March

Whether celebrating cultural heritage, exploring the natural world or striving for academic success, Pedare remains a place where students feel supported, connected and inspired. Thank you to our families for your ongoing involvement, we look forward to continuing this journey together!

I would like to acknowledge our Middle School Captains, who recently led their first team meeting. Each student leader was assigned a topic to present, demonstrating confidence, teamwork and leadership in action. This was a fantastic opportunity for them to take ownership of their roles and contribute meaningfully to the Middle School community. We are proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing their continued growth as leaders throughout the year. 

As we move quickly through Term 1, student wellbeing remains a key focus for us. One important aspect of wellbeing in today’s digital world is the ability to ‘switch off’ from online interactions and take time to rest. While social media and messaging platforms can be great tools for staying connected, they can also make it difficult for young people to step away from schoolyard dynamics and enjoy uninterrupted downtime at home.

We encourage students to develop healthy online habits by setting boundaries around their screen time, prioritising face-to-face interactions with family and friends, and taking breaks from digital communication. To support families in this area, our College now has access to SchoolTV, a fantastic resource that provides expert advice on a range of student wellbeing topics, including online safety and digital balance. I encourage parents and caregivers to explore this platform for practical strategies and insights.

This article highlights the impact of online connections on adolescent mental health, including the balance between the benefits and challenges of digital technology.

By working together as a school community, we can help our young people navigate the online world with confidence while ensuring they have the time and space to rest and recharge.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering both the academic and personal growth of our students.

Year 12 Formal at the Adelaide Convention Centre – Friday, 14 March

Last week also saw the launch of our new Student Leadership Development Program for Year 10 students. The first session, ‘Foundations of Leadership’, introduced core leadership concepts, emphasising that leadership extends beyond formal roles or titles. Students were encouraged to recognise that every interaction presents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership qualities and that their actions, both large and small, create ripple effects in their community. Future sessions will build upon these foundational concepts, equipping students with practical tools and experiences to develop their unique leadership skills. We look forward to seeing their growth and contributions to our school community in the months ahead.

Year 10 Student Leadership Development Program – Thursday, 13 March

This week, we also held the SACE and Medicine Information Night for parents of senior students, providing valuable insights into SACE, SATAC and future pathways. Representatives from Flinders University and the newly merged Adelaide University were on hand to answer any questions from families. This well-attended event will greatly benefit students as they navigate their senior years.

SACE and Medicine Information Night – Wednesday, 19 March

Praise and Worship at Pedare

Singing Worship songs together is a joyful part of our Junior School Worship experience at Pedare. Our Year 5 students love to be in the Worship Crew, so much so that we need to have two different groups just to fit them on the chapel stage! Singing worship songs is a wonderful way to learn key truths about God’s character and the story of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I definitely find it easier to remember things if they are set to music!  

Some of our Middle and Senior students have expressed the desire to come together as a group to sing Praise and Worship songs and talk more about the Christian faith. To support this, we have commenced a student-led group on Tuesday at lunchtime in the chapel. Each week, students choose songs and a message to share with one another to encourage other Christian students as well as those who are keen to explore the faith further.

Mrs Alaina Frost, College Chaplain

Call for Nominations
Pedare Christian College Inc. Board

As required under the Constitution of Pedare Christian College Inc., this notice constitutes a call for nominations to fill a vacancy on the Pedare Board.

The term of appointment of an existing Board member ends on 30 June 2025 and having served the maximum 12-year term provided by the Constitution, this member is not eligible for reappointment. As such we are seeking nominations from parents of present students of the College to fill this vacancy.

Appointments are subject to recommendation to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the Board, followed by election by the AGM, and subsequent appointment by the Anglican and Uniting Church Synods. Appointments are for a three-year term.

The skills and experience sought for this vacancy are detailed in the attached role description.

To nominate for a position on the Pedare Board, please review the Pedare Constitution, complete a Board and Committee Membership Expression of Interest form and return the completed form, together with your resume to:

Amanda Kleeman
Public Officer & Business Manager
akleeman@pedarecc.sa.edu.au
12-30 Surrey Farm Drive, Golden Grove SA 5125.

Applications, in the required format, must be received by 4pm Monday, 31 March 2025.

Please review the Pedare Constitution (clauses 7(c)(iv) and 7(e)) for further information relating to the election of Board Members and eligibility requirements.

Present staff members or spouses of present Staff members are not eligible to apply.

Any questions about the Board nomination or election process can be addressed to the public officer: akleeman@pedarecc.sa.edu.au

Middle and Senior School Parent Teacher Interviews

Year 6 – 12 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will be held on the dates below.  We will be using Booked, formerly Parent Teacher Online (PTO) and it’s now open to make your bookings.

• Wednesday 26 March 1:50 – 7:00pm
• Tuesday 8 April 3:50 – 7:00pm

You can find Booked (PTO) on the College website:  http://www.pedarecc.sa.edu.au/pto/ or at this address: https://bookings.parentteacheronline.com.au?school=60364

Please use these interviews to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher and clarify possible strategies that could be used at school and at home. If you are unable to make a booking or require more than the allocated time to discuss your child’s progress, please contact the teacher directly via email.

 You will note that on Wednesday, 26 March, Middle & Senior School students will be dismissed at lunchtime. The Catford Library and Pedare OSHC will be available after school as usual, and there will be supervision in the afternoon for students who are unable to leave at lunchtime. If you require supervision for your children for the afternoon, please register on the 2025 Term 1 PTS Early dismissal supervision request form. 

If you would like to book an interview and have misplaced your PIN to access Booked, please contact the College Office.

Reversible College Bucket Hat

We are pleased to advise that Devon Uniforms has a new uniform item available for pre-order.

The College Bucket Hats for Middle and Senior Schools are now available in a reversible format with Community colours on the reverse side for wearing at Community events. The reversible hat is optional, and the current navy Bucket Hat is still available.

Order yours now and have it ready for the Middle & Senior School Athletics Carnival in Term 3.

2025 Cabaret

Join us for a sparkling evening of music and performances at the 2025 Cabaret! Be entertained by our talented music students as they showcase the Stage Band, Luminaire, Prelude, solo performances, and much more.

Thursday, 3 April
College Chapel
6.30pm start

All funds raised will go towards supporting Pedare’s ‘Generations in Jazz’ trip this May.

Tickets are available now via the Qkr! App.

Sibling Enrolment

Have you enrolled younger siblings of children already attending the College? 

There is currently a very strong demand for enrolments in all year levels at the College, with waiting lists in most year levels for 2027 and 2028.

If you are yet to register an application for your child for 2027 and beyond, please contact the College as soon as possible to secure a place.  

It is the responsibility of parents/caregivers to complete a separate application form for each child wishing to attend the College; otherwise, placement cannot be guaranteed. 

Please contact me for an application form or collect one from the College Office.

Julie Holland
Registrar and Communications Manager
jholland@pedarecc.sa.edu.au

Year 10 Drama Performance – Monday, 17 March

We began by, if slightly belatedly, celebrating New Year. We did this by making little clay pigs. Why little pigs you may ask?

In Germany, people gift each other Glücksschweinchen (Lucky little pigs) on New Year’s. These pigs can be edible, made of clay or paper, or crafted from almost anything. In our first session, we made our pigs from air-dry clay and then left them to dry. In our second session, we painted them. They turned out really well, in fact, we all became quite attached to our little piggies.

So, ein frohes neues Jahr’ (Happy New Year) to everyone from the German Club!

Frau Callen, Frau Edmondson

Community Breakfasts

On 27 February, Petworth families gathered for their Community Breakfast, enjoying a hearty breakfast and engaging conversations against the backdrop of an orange sunrise, a morning filled with hope and optimism for this growing community.

Greenwith followed on 6 March, and Surrey on 7 March, rounding out all six breakfasts of this exciting new initiative, which has brought families together, strengthening connections across our Communities.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Hore for her invaluable assistance in organising, Ms Cameron for her support and fantastic coffee, and to Rory’s Catering and all staff whose efforts ensured everything ran smoothly before and during the events. We also appreciate the Community Coordinators and Community Captains for their support in making these events possible.

For me, the most rewarding part was meeting the wonderful members of each Community and seeing everyone start their day with good vibes and a hearty breakfast. The overwhelmingly positive feedback confirms that this initiative was truly appreciated by all.

Mrs Emily Chadbourne

Greenwith Community Breakfast – Thursday, 6 March

Surrey Community Breakfast – Friday, 7 March   

Junior School Parent Representatives

On Tuesday, 18 March, Junior School Parent Representatives gathered for a light morning tea to kick off the 2025 Parent Rep program. A Parent Rep is a nominated or self-nominated parent/caregiver whose role is to connect families, encourage awareness of College activities and participation, and build a sense of community within their child’s class and year level.

The morning provided a great opportunity to catch up and brainstorm ways to further enhance engagement and participation.

We’re still seeking Parent Reps for Years 1 and 4. If you’re interested or have questions about the program, please contact echadbourne@pedarecc.sa.edu.au.

Mrs Emily Chadbourne

Easter Family Fun Day at Banksia Market

Gully Church is hosting a free Easter Family Fun Day at the Banksia Market, offering a range of fun activities for families to enjoy while celebrating Easter together.

Saturday, 5 April 2025
Gully Church, 600 Milne Road, Banksia Park

For more details, contact Willow at 0419 865 663 or children@gullychurch.org.au.