From the School Leadership Team
Light Up The Night
The Parents & Friends Light Up the Night evening was a resounding success, bringing together children and families for an evening of fun and community connection. As dusk fell, the school grounds transformed into a vibrant hub of activity, with colourful lights across the outdoor spaces creating a magical atmosphere that delighted attendees of all ages. Children enthusiastically participated in a variety of activities throughout the evening. The soccer field buzzed with energy as impromptu matches formed and reformed, with parents joining in alongside their children. Similarly, the basketball courts saw friendly (and competitive) competitions with parents playing the students in a long match! The highlight for many younger attendees was undoubtedly the disco area, where children danced freely under twinkling lights to a playlist of popular hits and classic dance tunes. While the children enjoyed these organised activities, parents had valuable opportunities to connect with one another in a relaxed setting. Many formed new friendships and strengthened existing bonds through conversations over refreshments. These moments of connection helped foster a stronger sense of community amongst our families. The tremendous success of the evening would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Parents & Friends Association. Their meticulous planning, from securing equipment to coordinating volunteers and arranging refreshments, ensured that everything ran smoothly. Their efforts truly exemplified the spirit of community that makes our school special, creating lasting memories for families while strengthening the bonds that unite our school community.
Walk My Way
The Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) fundraising event in North Adelaide on Saturday, 3rd May proved to be a resounding success in delightful weather to support ALWS’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid and sustainable development to communities in need around the world. We appreciate the efforts of Mrs Zadow, Joel Schiller, Mr Trezona and the Newman family in joining myself and a number of church families in our combined Golden Grove Lutheran School and Church team.
Mother's Day Stall - Thank You
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Sarah Harry and our incredible Class Carers team for organising this year's Mother's Day stall. Their dedication and hard work resulted in a wonderful selection of gifts that allowed our students to select something special for their mothers, grandmothers, and other mother figures in their lives. The variety and quality of items available gave our children the opportunity to thoughtfully choose meaningful presents, bringing smiles to both the children selecting them and the special women receiving them. To all our volunteers who donated their time and energy to make this event possible - setting up the displays, helping children with their selections, and placing gifts in bags - we thank you for your invaluable contribution to our school community.
As Sunday approaches, we pray that all mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures enjoy a day filled with love, appreciation, and joy. May you feel celebrated and cherished for all that you do. Wishing you all a very happy Mother's Day!
Year 3/4 Camp
The Year 3/4 camp at Mylor this week has been a beautiful reminder of why outdoor education is such a vital part of children's learning journey. Away from classroom walls and digital screens, our students have flourished in ways that traditional education simply cannot replicate.In these formative years, outdoor experiences create unique opportunities for children to develop crucial life skills. At Mylor, students have been challenged to step outside their comfort zones, whether climbing ropes courses, navigating team challenges, or simply taking responsibility for their belongings in a new environment. The pride on their faces after accomplishing something they initially approached with trepidation has been truly remarkable to witness. Perhaps most valuable are the relationships being strengthened and formed. Spending time together on these expeirences creates bonds that carry forward into the classroom and beyond. Children have become stronger teammates and friends. The social dynamics shift as different strengths emerge in outdoor settings, giving every child moments to shine and lead. Staff members have observed new friendships forming and existing ones deepening through shared experiences and memories. Our teachers have also benefited from seeing their students in a different light, noticing leadership qualities, resilience, and problem-solving abilities that might not surface during regular school days. These insights will inform their teaching approaches when everyone returns to the classroom. None of this would be possible without our dedicated staff team and parent volunteers who have given their time and energy to make this camp a success. Their commitment to providing these formative experiences demonstrates the strength of our school community and their understanding of education's broader purpose beyond academic achievement. As our Year 3/4 students return from Mylor, they bring back not just stories and memories, but newfound confidence, stronger friendships, and a sense of accomplishment that will serve them well throughout the school year and beyond.
Colour Run
We are pleased to be conducting our School Colour Run on the afternoon of Friday 23 May, 2025. This will be a fun community event and will also give the students an opportunity to enjoy exercise. It has the added benefit of also acting as a fundraiser for the next planned stages of some improvements around the school.
Direct donations to the Building Fund can be made via the Qkr! app, or via cash, card or direct debit through the School Office.
All measures have been taken to ensure that this event is safe for all students. Students will run (or walk, or skip!) around a circuit on the school oval. There will be various colour powder stations throughout the circuit with two designated lanes – one for colour powder, the other with no powder. Your child can still participate in the event should you not wish for them to be sprayed with colour powder. It is not a race or a timed event, but all about fun!
Staff and volunteers at the colour stations will do their best to throw the powder at the torsos of participants (between shoulder and hip level), however wind and other factors can occasionally result in students getting some powder in the face from time to time. As such, each child will be provided with a free pair of sunglasses on the day, or alternately you may wish for your child to bring their own eye protection such as sunglasses or goggles and/or a face mask if you wish.
The day will be a casual clothes day for our students. To heighten the effectiveness of the colour powder, we encourage students to wear a white t-shirt, and students are asked to purchase an inexpensive one for the day, or to reuse last year's if this is an option. If you would like to preserve the colour in your child's white t-shirt, you can try spraying it with vinegar, letting it dry and then ironing it. But if you wash it.... the colour eventually will come out!
The colour powder used in the event is non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly consisting of 98% corn starch and 2% food colouring. It will likely wash out of your child’s clothing, and that the loose particles can be brushed off, however we recommend that you consider the possibility of minor staining when selecting your child’s clothing for the day and perhaps consider sending them in some older clothing and shoes. You may also send a change of clothes if you would like your child to change after the event prior to the end of the school day. We would ask that all students catching the school minibus at the end of the day bring a change of clothes. if you are picking your child up by car, you may also wish to bring a towel to cover your car seats.
We welcome parent volunteers to assist withthe Colour Run on checkpoints on the course and in other roles. If you are interested in volunteering for the afternoon, please indicate this when completing the online permission note
Please complete the online permission note located via TASS Parent Lounge by Friday 16 May. An email has been sent to all families with instructions on how to complete the online permission If you have questions about this activity, please contact the school.
Parent Code of Conduct
Our parent code of conduct serves as a critical framework for nurturing a harmonious educational environment rooted in Christian values of love, respect, and mutual understanding. By establishing clear expectations for communication, and engagement, it ensures that parents model positive interactions, resolve conflicts with grace, and actively participate in their children's educational journey in a manner that reflects biblical principles of kindness, patience, and mutual support. This also enables us to mutually enhance our school's Christian ethos as well as to provide students with a living example of how Christian values can be practically applied in daily interactions. Please find a copy of the code of conduct attached as a reminder of our general principles and expectations in this area.
Eisugakkan
Year 5 students from Eisugakkan School, our sister school in Japan, will be visiting Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July. During their stay, the students will have the opportunity to experience Australian culture and connect with our students. On Saturday 26th July, the school is seeking homestay families to host the visiting students, providing them with a unique and memorable experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to engage in cultural exchange and offer a warm welcome to these young visitors. If you're interested in hosting, please contact Mrs Melissa Bishop, our Teacher of Japanese via email - bishop.melissa@goldengrove.sa.edu.au
Volunteering in the School
We appreciate many families giving of their time and expertise to volunteer in the school, whether it be with our school canteen, P & F Events, school camps, GLOW Week or classroom assistance. A reminder to please ensure that your WWCC details are up to date, along with RAHN and VSC training. Further information on our volunteering requirements is available from our website.
A few reminders
Please be reminded of some of our key events coming up:
Sunday 11 May – Mother’s Day
Tuesday 13 May – Principal Tour 9.15am
Wednesday 14 May – SACSA Cross Country
Wednesday 14 May – Friday 16 May – Dental for Schools
Friday 23 May - Colour Run
Our full school calendar can also be viewed on the school website.
Will Wallace
Principal
One thing that I often talk to parents about is what can be done to support children to be brave, to take educated risks or have a go at something new.
It can be a real challenge and sometimes our children have worries that to us seem like nothing, but they are creating challenges, stumbles or roadblocks.
It can be hard to know how to deal with these challenges or know the right thing to say at times.
The following website is a program called – The Brave program. Have a look as it is something that is worked through in parts and helps to build a braver child. There are demos to watch to give in an insight into whether this could be something your child would benefit from. It is also a free program, (although you can donate).
https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/child-program
Tim Kriewaldt
Deputy Principal