A message from Margie    

Brave stories 

We are continuing our focus on being brave, by reflecting on times we have been brave in our own lives, and the impact of this bravery. When I was 19 I left my small hometown in Canada to attend university in France. I had never travelled overseas, my spoken French was minimal, and I was terrified! My fears almost stopped me from going, but somehow I pushed through. I learned so much from this experience, about myself and about the world. If I had given up, I wouldn't have learned to speak another language, I wouldn't have become a French teacher, and I wouldn't have ended up in Australia! But that's another story.😋 I'm telling you this to encourage you all to take some time this week to reflect and share your personal stories of bravery with your children. When have you had to be brave? What did it feel like? How did you manage to push past your fears? What did you gain by being brave?  

Here are some of our students' own stories of times they have been brave: 

Maddi – At an activity centre with a couple of friends we went on one of the tallest slides. I wasn’t crying but I was very nervous. I was in the yellow zone. When I got to the end of the slide, I didn’t feel nervous at all because I had done it. After I was in the green zone. If I hadn’t been brave, I would not have been on one of the giant slides. It is something I have always wanted to do.

Ruby- Once three years ago I went to my grandma’s house in Pinnaroo. I had to go into a level 4 Swimming because there was no level 3. We had to go for 2 minutes keeping our head above the water. I didn’t know how to float on my back or tread water. It felt really scary. I was scared for my life. I was in the red zone. Then Ethan helped me. I was floating on my back and he was treading water, holding my back up. After I was brave, I was in the green zone because after that my swimming teacher helped me with how to do those skills. If I hadn’t been brave, I wouldn’t have learnt how to do these swimming skills.

Pearl - When I came to this school this year I felt really scared. I was worried about not knowing everyone! I had to be brave. The other kids were really friendly during the transition visit and I felt better. 

Ezra - When I was learning to ride my bike, I fell over lots of times. I had to be brave and not give up. Now I can get home on my bike! 

Louie – I saved someone from drowning. I paddled out to them and pulled them out of the water. I was very scared. I felt really relieved afterwards. This happened off the coast of Ningaloo. It was an older lady.  I felt brave. 

Stephanie -  had to be brave when I went to the Festival of Music Choir for the first time. After the concert, I felt very calm and I felt like I had achieved something big. 

Edith - I stopped a kid's arm getting knocked off while we were in a train tunnel. There was a family who we were facing. The adults were chatting and there was a younger and he was reaching out the train window as we were going tunnel but I grabbed his arm away and then the parents got involved and closed the window. I was scared for him but then I was proud because the parents acknowledged what I did. 

Anji - I was travelling with my mum and we had to go through Airport security and there was an issue with my mum's bag. They had to search everything and I was getting worried we would not get on the flight. It was just before the plane was leaving. I was scared and anxious but then when we were on the plane I was still anxious but a lot more relieved and less worried. 

Sammy - I was worried on my first flight to Brisbane because this was my first flight in Australia and I didn’t know if things might be different. I felt proud that I was able to get through this and experience something new.

Jessica - When I was 5 I got lost in the scrub around the house for the whole day. I didn’t know which way to go. I was following my dogs. Sascha my dog tried to tell my family I was lost. My mum found Sascha and showed her where I was. I was feeling panicked but afterwards, I was glad to see my mum. 

Jameson - When I was younger I went down to a creek with some friends. I saw some water coming from a pipe. I went closer to investigate and I started getting sucked in. Mum grabbed me and a friend grabbed her and they pulled me out. I was scared but I needed to show bravery and felt relieved and shocked afterwards. 

Walk Safely to school

It was terrific to see so many kids, staff and families walking to school together last Friday. Studies show that connecting to nature and exercising in the morning leads to improved concentration and learning outcomes, so the more often our kids can walk to school the better!

Staffing news

Congratulations to Troy Welfare who has been reappointed at Uraidla Primary School for another 3 years as Assistant Principal (2025-2027). This is great news for the school since Troy brings such great curriculum and leadership skills, and is such a lovely person too.  YAY! 🎉

Reconciliation Week

Next week is National Reconciliation Week and we are really looking forward to a week full of activities to celebrate Aboriginal culture, language and knowledge. On Monday we will be dividing all of the students into cross-age groups to experience a wide range of activities run by the teaching staff: 

FIRE ACTIVITIES (Jess)

HOW THE BIRDS GOT THEIR COLOURS (Kelly) 

KAURNA LANGUAGE (Samantha)

FIRST NATIONS PERSPECTIVES THROUGH STORIES (Stephen) 

SONGS in KAURNA (Sallie)  

OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN (Margie)

ROCKS and SYMBOLS  (Jaya)  

ABORIGINAL TRADITIONAL PE GAMES (Alex)

On Wednesday afternoon David Booth will be back for a Welcome to Country and performance, and to talk to the students about Reconciliation. We invite all parents and family members to join us for this special performance in the gym at 2:30 pm next Wednesday, May 29th. 

Have a wonderful fortnight everyone, and keep warm! 🍂

Margie