Student Learning
What's been happening in Year 3/4H
Visual Art: Drawing
This term our focus has been on developing fundamental drawing skills and building confidence with line, form and shading. Through the creation of self-portraits, comic strips for different subjects, pattern making using feather templates and a more detailed work, as part of our class novel 'Charlotte's Web'. We have been given lots of practice at working on our personal style.
Maths
This term our focus has been on number and place value through games, activities, small group work, online Mathletics courses and using our Prime Maths books. We have deepened our understanding of numbers to 10,000 and knowing how to explain what each digit in a number represents. We have been adding numbers together and carrying across place value columns. Here are some samples of our work in class using whiteboards.
Science
In Science we have been investigating food chains, which represent how energy flows from producers to consumers. Food chains usually follow a pattern that starts with the sun's energy being used by plants, which are eaten by herbivores, which in turn are eaten by omnivores, and then ends with carnivores eating the omnivores. There are also decomposers that break down dead materials. We chose a South Australian habitat and then researched the plants and animals for our food chains using the online website inaturalist.org.
English
This term we have been doing lots of writing! We have created many examples of persuasive writing and some narratives using the Seven Steps program to bring out the best in our work. As part of this process, we have explored what a rubric is, and how to use one, by creating our own as a whole class and using it to mark our favourite sample of writing before seeing what we get back from the teacher. When weather permits, it's nice to go outside and have lessons surrounded by our beautiful gardens.
Stewardship
God calls us to care for creation, and at Pilgrim School we are blessed with an amazing variety of plants and animals that call our school home and share each day with us. One simple way we can help is by separating our class rubbish into landfill, recyclables and compostables. Our fruit scraps go to help feed the chickens, our recycling goes into the council bins and to refund centres, which means we only produce about one zip-lock lunch bag of waste a week!
Andrew Harris & Jordan Wheatcroft
Year 3/4H Class Teachers
Student Representative Team
The Pilgrim School Student Representative Team (SRT) recently participated in a dynamic workshop on servant leadership, guided by Mr Middleton and Mr Edmondson. The session encouraged students to reflect on the impact of leading through service and how they can embody this value within our school community.
During the workshop, the team engaged in collaborative brainstorming, generating new projects and events aimed at enriching the Pilgrim School experience in 2025. Their ideas focused on building community connections, enhancing student wellbeing, and fostering a culture of inclusion and service. With thoughtful discussion and creative planning, the SRT demonstrated their commitment to shaping a positive and impactful future for their peers.
The SRT has initiated many changes to our school over the last few years: the friendship garden, murals, chilled water fountain, cubby house, outdoor nature play areas, and the kiss and drop shelter to name a few.
Andrew Edmondson
Principal
Oliphant Science Awards 2025
Last week during Science lessons, a cover letter to parents and a registration form were handed out to all interested students from Years 1 - 6. The response was amazing, with over 50 students considering having a go. Please talk to your child about their interest and look at the award categories together before deciding if you want them to take part. Although forms are not due back until Week 2 Term 2, it would be great to get them back as soon as possible. Payment for registration can be made through the Qkr! app. Please note only one form needs to be completed for a group entry.
Please contact me at: harrisa@pilgrim.sa.edu.au if you have any queries.
Andrew Harris
Science Teacher
Premier's Reading Challenge
The Premier's Reading Challenge for 2025 is underway. All Pilgrim students are encouraged to participate in this year’s challenge!
What do I need to do?
To complete the Premier’s Reading Challenge students need to read 12 eligible books including e-books, audio books, class or shared reading, non-fiction books, books read as research for assignments or books in another language. Students in Foundation to Year 6 must read 8 books from the Premier’s Reading Challenge Booklist and 4 personal choice books between now and 5th September 2025.
Every student will need to submit a completed Student Reading Record supplied to your child last week. Spare records are available from Mrs Chesterfield or class teachers.
Where do I find books from the list?
For a full list of books or to download a spare student record see Premiers Reading Challenge on Compass (through Information Sent Home, Whole School).
Look for the coloured stickers in the Campus Library or your local public library.
What if my child is still learning to read?
Students may read books, listen to audio books or have someone read a book to them. This includes reading books to your child in languages other than English. If you need help completing the form or checking which books are on the list, please see your child’s class teacher.
This year we are offering a prize to the first class to return all their completed forms. As each child returns their completed student record they will write their name on one of the book spines and add it to the bookshelf display outside Mrs Olesen’s class.
Happy reading!
Yiota Chesterfield
Premier's Reading Challenge Coordinator
Learning Assistance Program (LAP)
The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is a wonderful way to be involved in the wider community of our school as a volunteer, with a focus on student wellbeing. Students and volunteer mentors meet at the same time, during one lesson, once a week. They are carefully matched to build upon individual student’s strengths, interests and abilities.
LAP is always one to one, builds self-esteem and confidence, focuses on wellbeing and builds positive relationships.
If you are interested see the LAP website link and contact Pilgrim School Coordinator, Heather Fallon.