The Vine Issue 5 – 2024

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

My thanks to all community members for your support during the changes to our routine prompted by the Senior Learning Centre building site. Building site fencing has been in place for a fortnight now, and significant progress has been achieved in the initial demolition work. The Residence, home to founding Principal Geoff Catford and his family through the earliest years of the College, is now down, as is the adjoining car park.

The Residence was not only a home for the Catford family; it was the heartbeat of the College in the early years. Enrolment interviews, staffing appointments, family conferences, social gatherings, and worship were among some of the many activities that took place in the Residence before the College Office was built. I had the pleasure of sharing a final meal in the Residence with Geoff and Jan Catford, and their son Kim, late last year so they could reminisce on their time in the Residence prior to its demolition. We look forward to ensuring a fitting tribute to the Residence in our new Senior Learning Centre.

We have worked hard to ensure the preservation of the established trees within the building site, but it was unavoidable that a number have been lost to enable the new build. Rest assured that we are committed to replacing lost trees at better than a ratio of 2:1 once landscaping of the facility is complete.

Please accept my thanks and gratitude for your ongoing support of the College throughout Term 1. The first phase of the year is always a particularly busy time, and I hope the Easter period provided for you all a chance to relax and spend some quality time with family and friends.

The quality of a school cannot exceed the quality of its staff. I again take the opportunity to recognise the extraordinary work of our teachers and staff. I thank them all for their contributions throughout Term 1, and their ongoing commitment to work in partnership with our families in the best interests of our students.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (TEACHING & LEARNING)

Mrs Kat Elliott

Well done to all our students for a fantastic first term of 2024.

From day to day you have met various challenges, and as this term comes to a close you can reflect on how much you have achieved already. Just as water never tastes as good as when you are truly thirsty, a rest is enjoyed most after having worked hard. 

We have one more week of Term 1 to maintain our focus and make the most of every opportunity we have at school. I encourage students to have open conversations with their teachers about how they are progressing and how they can best meet their goals. Our recent Parent Teacher Interview evenings were really positive opportunities for families and teachers to explore how we work together as a community for the best interest of our students.

In this upcoming holiday, I hope you enjoy a well-earned rest and recharge for an even better Term 2.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL & HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mrs Mandy Hore

To all parents and caregivers, I hope you had a wonderful Easter and enjoyed quality time with family and friends.

Another busy fortnight draws to a close in the Junior School. Among many highlights were:

Grandparents and Special Friends’ Morning:

It was a joy to welcome grandparents and special friends to our Year 1 classrooms last Wednesday, 27 March. Excited students warmly greeted their special family members and were thrilled to share their learning experiences and complete activities together.

Grandparents and “grandparent proxies” play important roles in the lives of young children. They are often caregivers, teachers and playmates, and for many families, grandparents also provide regular childcare. We are grateful for all you do and the positive impact you have on the special child’s development. Most of all, we are thankful for the love you share. Thank you – we loved spending our morning with you.

Lost Property:

There is a growing number of lost items in the Junior School Office. If you have misplaced a jumper, drink bottle or hat, feel free to stop by and check if it belongs to you.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs Eliza Buckoke

Thank you for your engagement in the Parent Teacher Interview evenings. It was great to be able to connect with many families throughout the events. It was lovely to see the constructive conversations between parents, teachers and students.

Our Easter Worship was a lovely reflective service, showcasing the talents of our students through dance, music and drama performances. It was a significant occasion as we recognised the importance of Easter in the Christian faith, celebrating hope and renewal with our school community.

Vocal/Band Workshop, Tuesday, 2 April

As we near the end of the term, let us continue to uphold the values of community, excellence and growth that define Pedare. I encourage parents to reach out to us at any time with questions or concerns, as we remain dedicated to supporting the holistic development of our students.

HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Mr Josh Willis

There are many wonderful occasions throughout a school year, but the highlight for me is witnessing the connections made between our Year 12 and Reception students as part of our Buddy Program. This program allows the Year 12s to participate in playful activities alongside our youngest learners as they are reminded of the excitement that comes with learning and discovery. We are so proud of how our students have embraced this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing these connections strengthen throughout this year. 

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Northern Sustainability Student Leaders Forum

Middle School

On Wednesday, 27 March, Pedare hosted the Northern Leadership Sustainability Forum, where students and staff from eight local schools gathered to share ideas and gain inspiration from each other.

The students were passionate about creating change in their local communities to ensure a sustainable future for all. 

Pedare Year 8 and 9 Sustainability students led with confidence as they guided the visitors around the College.

Mrs Jude Johnson

Year 9 Sports Science Excursion

Year 9 PE Specialists

Year 9 PE specialist class has been learning about the fitness demands associated with various sports and how to monitor and measure them to improve performance. To conclude this unit, we visited the Adelaide Crows training facility to understand how they monitor and develop players’ fitness.

The day began with an introduction to GPS devices, followed by a practical session where each student wore a GPS device to collect data. They played a football game on the Crows training oval while wearing the GPS devices. While the data was being uploaded, the students had a tour of the training facilities to gain insight into what a working week looks like for a Crows AFL and AFLW player. The facilities were very impressive and highlighted the range of equipment and facilities required for a professional athlete.

The final segment of the day was a Q&A session with the Crows Strength and Power Coach, who provided valuable information on fitness development and recovery.

We extend our gratitude to the staff at the Adelaide Football Club for hosting the Pedare students.

Mr Damien Hutchings

Internet and Social Media Presentation

Year 12 Society and Culture

During their exploration of the unit ‘Contemporary Challenges’ with a focus on technology, Year 12 Society and Culture students investigated the impact of social media and the internet on adolescents. They had the privilege of welcoming Bindy Taylor, an experienced life coach and senior consultant in Management, Communications, and Marketing, as a guest speaker. Bindy delivered a comprehensive presentation on the pervasive influence of social media on society, offering practical strategies for utilising online platforms positively, including for business marketing, advocacy, promotion and community building. We extend our gratitude to Bindy for her valuable insights, which left students buzzing with ideas.

Mrs Lauren Griffiths

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.

SSSA Athletics Boys’ Team Secures Second Place

Pedare Athletics team performed at the School Sport SA (SSSA) Athletics Championship on Thursday, 4 April. The boys’ team secured a strong second-place finish on the track. In the high jump event, our athletes soared to impressive heights, with John’K K (Year 8) leading with clearances. Meanwhile, in the long jump, Ashton H (Year 10) displayed solid technique and landed remarkable distances. The track resounded with applause as our sprinters and relay teams crossed the finish line with a victory. As the dust settled, the Pedare Athletics team stood tall, gaining an overall fifth place for the day and hungry for greater success in the future.

Thanks to all who were involved in making this day possible.

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Mrs Alana Tronnolone

‘Frohe Ostern!’ from German Club

Germany has many wonderful Easter traditions. Students in German classes learned about some of these traditions in class. However, in the German Club this week, we focused on the ‘Osterhase’, the Easter Hare. Similar to Australia, children in Germany receive chocolate Easter eggs from the Easter Hare on Easter Sunday, but in earlier times, the Easter Hare would bring coloured or dyed real eggs for the children.

One legend from Germany says that a few hundred years ago, during a particularly hard year, the mothers of a village realised that there wasn’t enough money to spare to celebrate Easter with their families. They came up with a plan to dye chicken eggs in lots of bright colours and create a special surprise for the children. On Easter morning, when the village children went out into the forest to play, they came across some strange and brightly coloured eggs that they had never seen before. The children ran around the forest collecting the eggs, wondering all the time where they could have come from. Then, one child saw a rabbit jump out from behind a bush. When she went to investigate, she found a pile of the coloured eggs. And so, the legend of the ‘Osterhase’ began.

German Club is growing, so come along! It is held on Wednesdays every ‘odd’ week of the term.

Mrs Nicole Callen

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.

On Sundays, we meet at the church at 8.30 am, 10.00 am and 6.00 pm. If you want to discover what the bible says Christianity is all about, join one of the numerous weekly bible discussion groups, or want to find out about our Kids Club (R-6) from 3:30-5pm and Youth group (Y7-12) from 7-9pm that both operate on a weekly basis during school terms.

Please visit our website (https://ttganglican.org.au/) or contact Rick Maude at rick@ttgAnglican.org.au for details.

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