The Golden Vine

From the School Leadership Team

Farewell Service for Pastor Greg 

We will take the opportunity to give thanks for God's blessing of Pastor Greg to our community over the past eight years at a special whole school Chapel Service on Friday 24 November, commencing at 8.50am in the Worship Centre. Pastor Greg is much loved in our community and this will provide a great opportunity for us to pray for the next chapter in his journey as he moves to Queensland with his wife, Connie, and takes up the role at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands, in 2024. 

 

The Chapel Service will be followed by morning tea in our cafe, which will give all of our families to catch up with Greg personally, to give him our thanks and to wish him well for the future. 

 

Thank you Mr Gardner

Mr David Gardner has been successful in gaining a teaching position at Cedar College for 2024. David's family have a close connection with Cedar College, with other members of his family having already served in the school and church community there, and David and his family having been regular and engaged members of the church at Cedar for some years. We are thankful for David's contribution to our school community over many years, both for the compassionate way he has taught his classes as well as the leadership he had provided over the past two years as our STEM Co-ordinator, and growing that part of our school. David has been a valued colleague, and we wish him the best to with the move to a community that his family have been closely involved with for some years. We have advertised a teaching position for 2024 and look forward to being able to share the news of the successful candidate with our school community shortly. 

 

Reminders 

It is a busy time of year and there are many exciting events coming up. Please be reminded of the following: 

  • Monday 27 November - P & F AGM and Meeting. Our P & F do an amazing job for our school in building our community and all are welcome to come along and support the work that this group does. The meeting starts at 7.00pm in the staffroom. 
  • Wednesday 29 November - Year 6 Graduation Dinner
  • Friday 1 December - Christmas Carols Concert - 7.00pm 
  • Friday 8 December - Volunteers Thank You. We invite all of our volunteers to enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee in the cafe in the morning or afternoon as our way of thanking our school families for volunteering in the canteen, on excursions and camps, and in so many more ways this year! 
  • Wednesday 13 December - Closing Service - 2.00pm in the Worship Centre. 
  • Wednesday 13 December - Year 6 Graduation Service - 7.00pm in the Worship Centre. 

 

Will Wallace

Principal

Transitions 

In the coming weeks, every person in the school will be involved in transitioning. The dictionary describes says that transition is to change from one state to another… For our students, this may mean: 

Moving from one year level to another 

Moving from one cluster to another 

Moving from Kindergarten into school 

Moving from GGLPS into another school 

While we know that the coming weeks involve major transitions, we understand that we transition from one thing to another every day in our lives. We move between different tasks, different parts of the day, between places and between activities. Developing strategies to use when transitioning is important in supporting children. Transitioning successfully through the daily changes, is the beginning preparation for children to be able to successfully transition through major changes in their lives.  

Our Year 6s generally participate in a transition day that helps them to orientate to their new school. Our current students have ‘Move up Morning’ on Monday of Week 9, when children will move to their 2024 classroom to their new cohort of classmates and, in the 2024 odd years, to a new cluster. This allows them to have a ‘taste’ of an experience of what it might be like in the coming year. It allows them to meet everyone and talk over some of the events in the new year. It gives them something to hang their thinking on, so that they can become comfortable with the thought of change.  

Parents and caregivers can help your child work through the transition to next year by listening to any concerns they may have. Present a positive side to the transition, so they can leave the conversation with some positive thoughts. Over the holidays, it can help to plan playdates and catchups with new classmates. Affirm your child with the strategies they are using to connect with new friends and maintain old ones. You can tell stories of your transitioning during your schooling. This helps children understand that lots of people hold concerns about change and they are not alone. It also helps children when they hear happy endings to stories because this gives them hope for their own happiness. 

Our teachers will be focusing on creating positive learning environments in 2024. This is critical in allowing them to feel comfortable and ready to learn. Please contact the current classroom teacher if you are overly concerned about your child and their transition. 

 

Jayne Zadow 

Director of PYP, Teaching and Learning