The Vine Issue 12 – 2025

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

Catford Building

Progress on the Catford Building project continues as we navigate the final stages of the build. As can be the case with building projects of this scale, the last stage has been delayed by some internal design features, and we now anticipate occupying Catford early in Term 4. Despite the handover date being pushed back, we are delighted with how the vision is coming to life and look forward to welcoming Senior School Students into Catford very soon.

Catford will include a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system, which we will also expand more broadly into locations across the College grounds. CCTV will be installed as part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for all students, staff, families and visitors.

This CCTV system will be operated for purposes including:

•         Enhancing the safety and wellbeing of students, staff, families and visitors
•         Safeguarding the College’s physical assets
•         Providing visual coverage to assist in the management of emergencies
•         To monitor and manage traffic flow and security at entrances and exits

The use of this system is governed by the CCTV Privacy Notice and a CCTV Use and Privacy Policy. These documents will be available on the College website. Should you have any questions about the impending addition of CCTV I invite you to contact me directly at any time.

Community Engagement and Support

My thanks to our families for your support of recent College events. Three sold-out performances of Shrek the Musical, the fabulous Book Week celebrations last week, including the Book Fair and Parade, subject selection meetings and counselling sessions, Community Dinners, sport and extra-curricular activities are just some of the highlights that have brought the community together in recent weeks. Thank you to families for your support of the College in this way; your engagement alongside the students is highly valued and greatly appreciated.

40th Year celebrations

On Thursday, 18 September, we celebrate Foundation Day. This provides a chance for the community to look back on our early years, reflecting on the contributions of those who founded Pedare. This year, we will use Foundation Day to launch 40th Year celebrations, a milestone we will reach at the beginning of 2026. Special guests on the day will include founding staff member and long-time Deputy Principal Lindsay Jackson, and founding student Justin Jamieson, South Australian Chairman of KPMG Australia. We very much look forward to welcoming Lindsay and Justin, along with several other special guests, to reflect on the early days and launch the 40th Year celebrations.

Subject Information Evening Year 9 into Year 10 – Monday, 25 August

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Ms Lisa Daws

Expect the unexpected……….

Today’s wild weather gave us a powerful reminder to live in the moment. While it would have been easy to grumble about the cold, wind and rain, we chose to find joy in the unexpected gifts of the day. We watched in awe as hail danced from the sky, sparking excited conversations about whether it was actually snow. The indoor playtime became a gift, allowing us to connect more deeply with one another. We got to strengthen friendships and practise social skills, trading the outdoors for a cozy space filled with laughter and shared stories. It was a beautiful reminder that even on the stormiest days, there’s always something to be grateful for.

Mark your calendars!
This week, we were thrilled to announce that the 2026 Year 4-8 Musical will be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Rehearsals will begin later this year, and we can’t wait to see talented students bring this classic story to life on stage!

SciWorld
Last week, Year 1 students had a blast at the SciWorld incursion, exploring the wonders of science through hands-on activities. They loved becoming mini-scientists for the day!

Emmy and Friends Workshop
Mid-Year Reception – Year 2 students have been exploring essential life skills through the ‘Emmy and Friends’ protective behaviours program. This program is designed to help young children learn to differentiate between safe and unsafe situations. Engaging resources and characters like Emmy help students learn to recognise their feelings and understand the “warning signs” their bodies give them when they feel scared or worried. The curriculum also covers important topics such as body autonomy, consent and how to manage different types of secrets. This vital program empowers students to feel confident in their ability to seek help from trusted adults.

Junior School Father’s Day Breakfast
Don’t forget to RSVP and place your order for the special Father’s Day breakfast next Friday, 5 September. It’s a wonderful chance to celebrate the important male figures in our students’ lives. We look forward to seeing you there!

Parent-Teacher Interviews
Just a reminder that Parent-Teacher Interviews will take place in Week 8. Please check your emails for a link if you wish to book a time. As Semester One reports have been distributed, these interviews are optional. We look forward to discussing your child’s progress with you.

2026 Class Placements
We are beginning to prepare class placements for 2026. To create a balanced and supportive learning environment, we consider teachers who know your child well, carefully consider academic needs, social dynamics and individual strengths. Students are also involved in this process. If you have any concerns or specific considerations about your child’s placement, please email me at [email protected] by Friday, 19 September.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs Eliza Buckoke

The Middle School continues to be a vibrant and exciting place, with students demonstrating incredible growth, talent and community spirit.

We’re thrilled to officially launch the new AICE (Agency, Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship) Program with the first-ever Year 8 AICE Challenge Day, held in the Chapel next Monday, 1 September. With the theme ‘Future City: Beyond Tomorrow,’ this pilot event will see students tackling real-world problems through collaborative and creative problem-solving. We are excited to see them work together to develop unique solutions to shape the cities of the future.

The annual Middle and Senior School Athletics Carnival is coming on Friday, Week 8, at the Bridgestone Athletics Centre in Salisbury. This is a fantastic day for students to come together, compete and showcase their athletic abilities and House spirit. A range of pre-events will be held in the week leading up to the Carnival, and we encourage all students to get involved and give their best effort.

Year 6 to 8 students have started to prepare for transition into 2026, undertaking their elective subject selections this week. This allows them to explore new interests and begin shaping their learning paths for the future, with opportunities gradually increasing at each year level across the Middle School.

Year 9 students studying Chinese took part in an excursion to Chinatown, immersing themselves in the culture and language they’ve been learning. Meanwhile, the Year 9 German students participated in a German Day In, a fun and engaging way to practice their conversational skills and deepen their understanding of German culture.

Finally, we were proud to see a small group of Year 6 students attend a Student Wellbeing Summit. This was an excellent opportunity for them to develop their leadership skills and learn new strategies to support the wellbeing of their peers, demonstrating their commitment to making a positive difference in our community.

We’re incredibly proud of students for taking every opportunity with enthusiasm and a commitment to personal growth.

Book Week 2025

What an adventure! Another incredible Book Week has been and gone, with special events and highlights that students and staff enthusiastically participated in.

• Year 6 and 7 students created maps of imagined worlds, combining geography and creativity.
• Illustrator Robin Tatlow-Lord ran workshops with R-6 students, on her books ‘Worry Monster’, ‘Rufus Rumble’ and ‘Libby’s Footy Adventures’.
• Students joined in with origami, paper-weaving, clay creations and badge-making. 
• Year 6-12 Home Groups did a Choose Their Own Adventure in completing digital Escape Rooms.
• Year 6 and 7 Drama Collective students performed “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy” at the JS Book Week Assembly.
• Pedare competed in the annual ONE+ Book Cup. We were thrilled to take first place, fourth place and the People’s Choice vote. 
• The Book Week Assemblies and Parades held positivity, excitement and genuine joy, evident in so many students.

I want to extend my thanks to all of the staff, students and families for your support and participation in this special week, and I wish you well on your many adventures in reading!

Mrs Sarah Mossel

P&F Father’s Day Stall

Pedare Parents and Friends (P&F) Association is excited to continue the cherished tradition of its Father’s Day Stall on Friday, 5 September. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Junior School students to find a special gift for their dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles or any other significant male figure in their lives.

Students from Mid-Year Reception to Year 5 will visit the stall with their class to choose a gift priced at $5, $10 or $15. Please purchase a separate voucher through the Pedare Qkr! app for each gift your child wishes to buy, as each voucher is for one gift only. For example, a $15 voucher buys one $15 gift, not a $10 gift and a $5 gift. Vouchers must be purchased by 5pm on Monday, 1 September.

Your support helps the Parents and Friends Association continue to provide wonderful opportunities for the students in the community.

Mrs Emily Chadbourne

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Year 12 Outdoor Education Bushwalking Journey

From Monday to Wednesday, 18-20 August, Year 12 Outdoor Education students completed their self-reliant bushwalking journey along the Wild South Coast Way, part of the Heysen Trail.

Students were responsible for planning and preparing all aspects of the expedition and leading the hike itself. Carrying heavy packs over long distances tested their endurance, and decision-making at times proved challenging. Despite sore bodies, tired legs and many blisters, the group demonstrated resilience, teamwork and strong leadership.

The trail rewarded their efforts with spectacular coastal views, sunshine and clear blue skies, making the experience even more memorable. It was wonderful to see the students grow in confidence and capability across the three days, and they should be very proud of their achievements.

Mrs Bronwyn Dutch

Year 12 High Tea

Year 12 Food & Hospitality class recently showcased their skills by hosting a superb High Tea for 50 Pedare staff. This practical assessment task saw students transform the One+ Catering Kitchen into a sophisticated service venue, demonstrating teamwork and attention to detail.

Guests were treated to an array of exquisitely prepared items, including delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with jam and cream, a selection of miniature pastries and cakes. The event was a testament to the students’ hard work and culinary talent, bringing together their theoretical knowledge with real-world application. Staff were impressed by the quality of the food and the professional, welcoming service provided by the students.

Mrs Bianca Cameron

Year 9 Chinese Excursion

Year 9 students recently extended their Chinese language learning beyond the classroom through an immersive excursion to Chinatown. During the visit, students explored shops, identified Chinese characters on signs and engaged with authentic cultural experiences, including sampling traditional foods. This valuable opportunity not only reinforced their classroom learning and confidence in using the language, but also allowed them to develop a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and its presence within the local community.

Mrs Grace Liu

Year 9 German Day In

Year 9 German Day In is an annual event that celebrates the end of middle school compulsory language learning. Many Year 9s have progressed in the language over four years, and it is a joy to see how far they have come.

Students participated in a German Scavenger Hunt (Schnitzeljagd) where they solved puzzles and deciphered texts in German, learned the Schuhplattler dance, made a German hat and filmed dialogues. They also played indoor ‘Fuβball’ and a massive Kahoot. At lunchtime, they were able to try a Vienna Smoked Sausage with sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard in a bread roll. Not everyone was adventurous enough to try the complete combo, but those who did found it super tasty! Whatever way it was eaten, it was delicious!

We finished the day by watching two films from the German Film Festival: Amelie Rennt (Mountain Miracle) and Zu Weit Weg (Too Far Away). It was an absolute delight to see the students getting into the spirit of the day.

Mrs Nicole Callen

R U OK? Wellbeing Summit

Earlier this week, Year 5 and 6 student representatives attended the inaugural R U OK? Student Wellbeing Summit held at Prince Alfred College. This event brought together students from 15 South Australian schools to explore what it means to lead with empathy and compassion. The day was filled with the sharing of great ideas to implement in the College ahead of the annual R U OK? Day on 11 September. Students had a visit from Adelaide 36ers basketball player, and R U OK? Ambassador, Isaac Humphries. We were so proud of the student participation, conduct and enthusiasm for the messages during this wonderful day of learning.

Mrs Lisa Lacy

Year 5 Chinese Excursion

Year 5 students are investigating trade and markets in different countries and various shopping styles related to cultures. As a part of this unit, they went on an excursion to Chinatown.  Students grew a deep understanding of how culture and tradition shape lifestyles by visiting Chinese grocery stores and dining in a Chinese restaurant for Yum Cha. It was also a valuable opportunity for students to practice their Chinese skills outside the classroom.

Mrs Grace Liu

NEWS, UPDATES AND RESULTS

The Pedare Extra-curricular Portal is the central hub for information and links to our Sports and Clubs program. Regularly updated, it provides the latest news, announcements, results and important updates on Pedare’s extra-curricular activities and events.

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]  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