COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Mr James Tamblyn

Refugee Week

Refugee Week (15-21 June) raises awareness about refugees, the challenges they face and their contributions to our communities. It coincides with World Refugee Day on 20 June. This year’s theme, “Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community,” highlights the crucial role communities play in helping refugees rebuild their lives. Australia has a long history of supporting and resettling refugees; Refugee Week is a time to celebrate the rich cultural diversity they bring to our nation. It’s an opportunity for us all to foster understanding and advocate for compassionate support for those seeking safety and a new home.

As our world continues to navigate conflict that is destroying lives and displacing so many innocent people, our prayers go out to all those affected by the escalating climate in the Middle East. We lift up all individuals and families enduring loss, hardship and fear. We pray comfort for those who mourn, healing for the injured and strength for those striving for peace. May God’s grace bring an end to the violence and inspire leaders toward diplomatic solutions that prioritise human dignity and lasting peace for all people in the region.

Upcoming Term Break

As we approach the end of Term 2, I take the opportunity to thank families for your ongoing commitment to work in partnership with the College. The first half of the year has been exceptionally busy; I trust that the three-week mid-year break will provide you all with an opportunity to spend some quality time with family.

My thanks to staff for their outstanding contributions to the community in the first half of the year. As I say often, the quality of a school cannot exceed the quality of its staff, and Pedare is blessed to have such a high calibre of people committed to the very best educational outcomes for students. 

Semester One Reports will be circulated to families in the first half of the term break. A reminder that Term 3 commences on Monday, 21 July. As communicated previously, I commence a period of Sabbatical Leave from Friday, 20 June and will return to the College on Monday, 11 August. During this time Mandy Hore will act as Principal and can be contacted, along with Heads of School, for any support families require.

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Ms Lisa Daws

Year 4s Embark on Mylor Adventure and Discover Leadership!

Year 4 students had an incredible Outdoor Education Experience at Mylor Adventure Camp last week, nestled in the picturesque Adelaide Hills. This fantastic adventure was a wonderful opportunity for them to connect with nature, build confidence and create lasting memories with their classmates.

Students tackled a variety of exciting challenges, from scaling the bouldering wall to soaring on the flying fox. Every activity encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones and discover new strengths.

The experience gave students a fantastic head start on unplugged learning, a concept we highly encourage for the upcoming term break. Students fully immersed themselves in the outdoor environment and social interactions without the assistance of technology. This digital detox fostered deeper connections with peers and nature, encouraging face-to-face communication.

Upon their return, the Year 4s continued their enriching journey with dedicated Leadership Days. Their teachers expertly guided them through a series of engaging activities designed to help them explore their unique leadership qualities. This provided a seamless transitioning from outdoor adventure to personal development. Our students have returned with fantastic stories, cherished memories and a newfound understanding of what it means to be a leader!

Junior School Embraces Healthy Choices with Life Education

Junior School students had an engaging and educational learning experience this week as Life Education SA visited with their iconic inflatable classroom. This annual program supports our health and wellbeing curriculum, empowering students to make safer and healthier choices for happier lives.

Each class, from Reception to Year 5, participated in unique, interactive sessions tailored to their age group. Topics ranged from “My Body Matters” and “Growing Good Friends” to “bCyberwise” and “Relate, Respect, Connect.” These fun sessions, delivered in the pop-up classroom, extended our students’ understanding of vital health messages, helping them navigate their life journey with confidence.

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mrs Eliza Buckoke

This week, Year 7 students enjoyed an enriching experience at Woodhouse Adventure Park for their annual camp. This invaluable time away from the classroom provides a fantastic opportunity for students to strengthen their relationships with peers and teachers while also building resilience through challenging and fun outdoor activities.

Census Privacy Collection Notice

The Australian Government provides funding to Australian schools under the Australian Education Act 2013. That Act and the associated Australian Education Regulation 2013 require that schools provide the Australian Government with certain information about the school, its financial arrangements and its staff and student body so that the funding is properly calculated and accounted for.

The College must provide information about the number of students attending the school, including:

– Students’ year level and workload
– Students’ gender and age
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
– Students with disability
– Students on a Visa

Please follow the link if you require more information:

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Year 7 Camp at Woodhouse Activity Center

Year 7 students recently returned from two unforgettable camp experiences at Woodhouse Activity Centre in the Adelaide Hills. Both groups embraced the challenges and fun of outdoor life, showing enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork throughout their stay.

The first group set off on Monday morning and were lucky to beat the rain to set up tents. Despite intermittent showers throughout their first day, students threw themselves into a range of exciting activities including a scenic walk to the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, mountain bike riding, billy cart building and racing, the ever-popular giant swing, ziplining and rock climbing. 

As Group 1 wrapped up their camp with a morning at Challenge Hill, Group 2 arrived to blue skies and sunshine. They all enjoyed their Botanic Gardens walk and a scavenger hunt on the first afternoon, then jumped into the action on Thursday morning. Laughter echoed through the forest as they tackled the activities ahead of them.

All students on both camps had the opportunity to showcase their culinary creativity by cooking an evening meal on the trangia. They were so proud of their creations, some meals more successful than others, but the excitement levels were all very high! Nights ended with classic campfire evenings, roasting marshmallows, telling stories, playing games and singing songs under the stars.

Both camps offered students a chance to connect, grow in confidence and create lasting memories in the great outdoors.

Mrs Bronwyn Dutch

Stage 1 Society and Culture Students Explore Immersive Technologies at UniSA

As part of their World Shaping Phenomena unit, Stage 1 Society and Culture students recently visited Project LIVE at UniSA Mawson Lakes to explore the impact of immersive technologies.

The excursion began in the Panorama Room, where students engaged with a 180-degree multi-projector display. They then moved to the VR Studio, trying programs such as 360° Flinders Ranges, which explores cultural and environmental heritage and Beyond the Ice, uncovering Hallett Cove’s geological history.

The highlight for many was the AR sandbox, which uses motion sensors and projection to create a real-time topographic map. Students discovered how this tool is used in industries such as fire management to model fire behaviour. The day offered a fascinating insight into how virtual and augmented reality are shaping the way we learn, interact and respond to real-world challenges. An inspiring experience for our future changemakers.

Mrs Lauren Griffiths

Year 5 Cleland Wildlife Park Excursion

Year 5 students embarked on an immersive learning experience at Cleland Wildlife Park last Tuesday, 10 June, to consolidate their learning about animal adaptations. They explored adaptations specific to South Australian wildlife and how these adaptations evolved to enable these unique creatures to thrive across diverse habitats.

The highlight of the day was the opportunity to feed the kangaroos, potoroos and wallabies, providing a memorable connection to their learning.

Mrs Lauren Ciano

Student Led Lunchtime Clubs

With the introduction of several student-led Lunch Clubs, students have impressively sought out the opportunity to design and deliver weekly activities to Junior School peers. Supported by Mrs Lacy and the wonderful Library staff, Year 5 students Olivia W and Ava G (sometimes assisted by Maddy C and Jasmine M) coordinate the Caring Crew, sharing books and activities that reinforce wellbeing messages about being kind and caring. On a separate day, Aria P (Year 3) coordinates the Craft Club, bringing creative ideas and materials for fun craft projects.

We are so proud of each of these students for their initiative in seeking out these involvements, furthering their skills in managing responsibility, organisation and communication with the student community.

Mrs Lisa Lacy

The Wonder of Working Together

As part of the fundraiser for Casual Day last week, Captains from across the College planned, collaborated and produced an informational video as an innovative way to communicate with students from Reception to Year 12. This video provided further guidance regarding the dress code for the day and background information about the important work of the Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER). The work of the students and the Captains was a huge success, allowing them to guide, work and build relationships across the year levels of the College. Thank you, and congratulations to all these students.

Mrs Lisa Lacy

Year 9-12 BiG Day in Adelaide

On Thursday, 19 June, Year 9-12 Digital Technology students attended the annual BiG Day In Adelaide event, providing students a unique opportunity to explore the world of technology.

With up to 8 sessions covering career paths, opportunities and the latest developments in technology, students gained valuable information to help them make informed decisions about their future in STEM fields. 

Students visited exhibitor stands to speak with company and university representatives, learn about courses, degrees, work experience, internships and engage with hands-on demonstrations.

Mr Emil Zankov

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