Term 3 Reflections

What an amazing term it has been! A key highlight saw the completion and opening of our brand new Foundation classrooms, all ready for our youngest learners and our mid year intake students to move into for the start of the term! It has been such a joy to see the children thriving in their learning in their new spaces which lend themselves so well to high quality teaching and learning and the overall growth of each child on a daily basis.

As always, there was much happening this term, reflecting the rich and engaging programme that we're passionate about providing for each and every one of our learners.

The term also began with a visit from Eisugakkan, our sister school in Japan. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome their staff team along with 17 Year 5 students who loved spending a day in our school as well as enjoying a combined AFL Max Camp with some of our Year 5 and 6 students. The partnership that we enjoy with Eisugakkan is a great blessing and we look forward to our Year 5 and 6 trip to Japan next year.

Our debaters continued to enjoy the experience of participating in the National Debating Competition, whilst our netballers and footballers loved competing at the SACSA Carnival Days this term. We looked amazing for School Photos and enjoyed dancing at the F. -2 disco, kindly run by our P & F. This proved to be a great night of community and it was a joy to see many of our families taking up the opportunity to catch up with each other whilst the children were dancing.

A number of our students participated in a range of competitions, with Lilli Henry and Sedani Gunasekara representing our school at IPSHA Junior Orator, and many more students enjoying the range of ICAS academic competitions.

Our Foundation students dressed up to celebrate 100 days of Foundation, and then we all dressed up for our amazing Book Character Parade and read around which is always a highlight on our school calendar.

Service to others is something always close to our hearts and it was wonderful to see the children, staff and families enjoying the Pong a Thon, where we were able to partner with our Church community to raise over $11,000 to combat slavery in its various forms around the world.

The children enjoyed a range of excursions to Adelaide and surrounding areas which complemented their learning experiences beautifully. We also enjoyed a number of Celebrations of Learning this term and it is such a joy to see children enjoying sharing their learning with their families.

Foundation to Year 2 students enjoyed gymnastics, our Senior Choir began rehearsing for Festival of Music and our class carers provided a great Father's Day Stall as always.

Key highlights also included middle of Term Breakfast where we had a pleasing turn out of families, staff and students enjoying each other's company before school over pancakes, and Special Persons Afternoon was a huge success with many, many grandparents and special friends enjoying our concert, classroom visits and the beautiful devonshire tea prepared by our P & F and church volunteers - thank you!

All in all an incredibly exciting and rich term of learning and enjoyment - and we have many more wonderful things in store for Term 4!

Will Wallace

Principal

Kids need risk.

I moved out of home with two mates when I was 19 years old. When I look back at how this went, I realised there were times that went well and others that could have gone differently. There were decisions that needed to be made and ones that needed courage, hard thought and stepping out of my comfort zone.

I look back before this time of moving out and think about growing up and what it was like in my family. My parents were very good at letting me make decisions for myself and learning from the wins or failures. I believe this allowing to take risks and make decisions for myself helped me grow into the person I am. If they had wrapped me up and did everything for me, I would not have been ready to live on my own and make decisions for myself and those of my friends I shared a house with.

This week Justin writes about how we should provide risk in what our children do and how this helps them grow.

Enjoy the read and the holidays!

Tim Kriewaldt

Deputy Principal

Year 5/6

Recap of Term 3