The Vine Issue 17 – 2025

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

It’s been wonderful to welcome students and staff into Catford Building this week, having achieved practical completion last week. Catford is our new home at Pedare for Senior School students, and we are so excited about the learning and wellbeing benefits it will bring. From next year, much of the Year 11 and 12 curricula will be timetabled in Catford, supported by existing specialist facilities. 

The independent study spaces on the first floor will be prioritised for Year 12 students. They will be invited to arrive early and stay late on school days, maximising study opportunities. The common spaces on the ground floor will provide ample room for them to socialise and connect. 

The landscaped courtyard, Wardli-ana, provides an outdoor precinct for learning, collaborating and socialising. This area will be available for Year 11 and 12 students. 

I will communicate with families in the coming days to provide details of times within the next fortnight where parents and families are invited to come and explore Catford. We look forward to welcoming you.

Celebrating Staff Service

Thanks and congratulations to our long-serving staff who mark milestones of service in 2025. Earlier in Term 4, staff came together to thank and celebrate those achieving 10 years of service at Pedare, and multiples of 5 thereafter. This year’s guests of honour were Julie Holland, Registrar and Communications Manager, who notched up 30 years at the College, alongside Middle School teacher, Jude Johnson, who marked an incredible 35 years of service. 

Jan Robertson and Gillian Edwards spoke beautifully about Jude and Julie respectively, reflecting the esteem in which both are held as colleagues and friends. The quality of our school can never exceed the quality of our staff. Pedare is blessed to have an exceptional team, many of whom have dedicated a significant portion of their professional lives serving the students and families of College. We thank you all. The full list of staff recognised this year includes:

Term Dates 2026

Term dates for 2026 are included below. Please note that Term 3 next year will commence with a Student Free day, allowing staff to convene after the mid-year break in preparation for Semester 2. OSHC services will be available on this day.

• Term 1: Tue, 27 Jan – Fri, 10 Apr (*Years 10 & 11 commence Wed, 28 Jan)
• Term 2: Tue, 28 Apr – Fri, 26 Jun
• Term 3: Tue, 21 July – Fri, 25 Sep
• Term 4: Mon, 12 Oct – Tues, 8 Dec

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Ms Lisa Daws

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

It is hard to believe how quickly the days are flying by as we enter the final stretch of the school year! This past fortnight has been a brilliant blur of action, celebration and deep learning across the Junior School.

Teamwork Triumphs at Sports Day

At the Junior School Sports Day last Friday, the weather held out beautifully until the very end, and the true spirit of the JS community was on full display. Watching our youngest students navigate the obstacles and older students lead their teams with encouragement and fairness was truly heartwarming.

More important than winning was the incredible sportsmanship demonstrated by all. A huge thank you to Physical Education staff for their organisation, and to all the parents and families who came out to cheer, your energy fueled the whole event! Well done to Eldergreen, who took out the annual Sport Day shield this year.

 Year 5 Ignites Innovation with Exhibition

On Wednesday, 19 November, we celebrated the culmination of the Year 5 Exhibition, a project that showcases the pinnacle of the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Year 5 students presented their research and creative solutions to real-world issues with passion and sophistication.

The level of inquiry, critical thinking and collaborative teamwork on display was simply outstanding. From global warming to social justice, the students not only identified problems but also proposed innovative, actionable solutions enhanced by the Sustainable Development Goals. They spoke with confidence and authority, demonstrating the profound learning journey they have undertaken. Congratulations to these future leaders!

Celebrating Character at the Junior School SHINE Awards

On Thursday, 20 November, we recognised the shining stars among our student body at the JS Shine Awards Assembly. These awards are not just about academic results; they celebrate the character, kindness and effort that often goes unseen.

It’s a privilege to recognise students who exemplify College values, show exceptional resilience and consistently build up those around them. We are incredibly proud of all the recipients.

From Loose Parts to Rolling Wheels at Bunnings

Finally, Mid-Year Reception (MYR) students enjoyed a brilliant Bunnings incursion on Tuesday, 18 November! This practical, hands-on activity connected beautifully with their current projects, offering them real-world experience in planning, measuring and building. These kinds of incursions are vital for making learning tangible and sparking curiosity about practical skills. We had cars, trucks and even a vintage Lightning McQueen! Thank you for your ongoing partnership Bunnings.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs Eliza Buckoke

As assessments wrap up and the final weeks of 2025 approach, the Middle School is being filled with transition events, and excitement for both the immediate future and the year ahead.

It was wonderful to welcome many new families to the Middle School during Week 5 for a ‘Mallee Open House’ event. This was a valuable opportunity for students transitioning to Pedare to have a look around the facilities and meet staff and current students. We also hosted another successful visit from Pedare Year 5 students on Wednesday, Week 5, in readiness for their final transition step, the Welcome Day on Tuesday, December 2.

A reminder to parents who are new to the Middle School for 2026: we look forward to meeting you at our Parents ‘Welcome Night’ on Monday, 1 December, at 6:00 pm.

Congratulations to all VEX Robotics teams on their efforts throughout this season! We are particularly proud of their performance at the State Championships last week, where six teams qualified for the National Championships! The national event will be held in Adelaide on Saturday and Sunday, 6-7 December. We wish students the very best.

It has been a busy time with final assessments wrapping up for the Middle School. We are now preparing for a special celebration at our Year 9 Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, 4 December. This is a special time for Year 9 students as they prepare for the next part of their journey.

Finally, during National Health and Physical Education (PE) Week last week, each Year 6 class experienced a relaxing and reflective ‘Mindfulness Walk’ as part of an ongoing commitment to student health and wellbeing.

The student leadership selection process for 2026 has now concluded, and we were truly impressed with the high standard of applicants and the leadership qualities demonstrated by all who applied.

We are very pleased to announce the students selected for the 2026 Middle School Student Leadership Team. We will formally induct these leaders next year.

A huge thank you goes to the Community Coordinators and Leadership Mentors who were involved in the application process, and to the staff who have helped guide these students throughout their time at Pedare.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Year 11 SACE Outdoor Education Surfing Camp

Year 11 SACE Outdoor Education students had a fantastic time at their final surfing camp in Middleton last week.

From Thursday to Friday, 6-7 November, the group enjoyed weather that was thankfully much warmer than earlier in the week, resulting in great conditions for both the beach and the surf.

The camp exceeded most students’ expectations, with some claiming it was their favourite out of all their Pedare camp experiences. Over two dedicated surfing sessions, students were able to significantly improve their skills. The joy on their faces when they managed to stand up on their boards for the first time was priceless.

The learning continued on land, with students spending time journaling before and after each session to set goals and reflect on their achievements. In the evening, they cooked up a range of delicious and creative dishes at Middleton Caravan Park.

Congratulations to all the students on a successful and memorable final camp!

Mrs Bronwyn Dutch

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