From the School Leadership Team
It has been a truly wonderful and joy-filled few weeks at Golden Grove Lutheran, and we find ourselves with so much to celebrate as we settle into the rhythm of a new school year together.
Last Sunday, our community gathered for two very special and memorable occasions. First, we had the great privilege of celebrating the installation of Rachel Saunders as Director of PYP Teaching and Learning. This is a tremendously exciting appointment, and we warmly congratulate Rachel on this well-deserved recognition of her outstanding dedication, professional expertise, and genuine passion for the growth and learning of every student in our care. We are so fortunate to have Rachel's leadership guiding our Primary Years Programme, and we look forward to the wonderful things ahead under her direction.
Sunday also brought with it the new and beautiful tradition of the Blessing of the Backpacks for our Foundation students. Watching our youngest learners bring their backpacks forward to be blessed was a tender and moving reminder of the hopes and prayers our whole community holds for them as they embark on their school journey. It was a privilege to surround these children and their families with love and encouragement right at the very start of their time with us.
Then on Wednesday, we were absolutely delighted to welcome so many families to our community breakfast to mark Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent. Sharing hot cross buns together before gathering for chapel was a wonderfully warm and nourishing way — in every sense — to begin this significant time in the Christian calendar. It was truly heart-warming to look around the courtyard and see so many familiar faces, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made the time to join us. Moments like these are what make our school community so very special.
We have more exciting milestones just around the corner. This Friday 20 February, we have the great pleasure of installing our SRC representatives into their roles at chapel. The Student Representative Council plays such a vital role in the life of our school, giving students a meaningful voice and the opportunity to develop as servant leaders within our community. We are immensely proud of each of the following students who have been chosen by their peers to represent their classes this year:
1/2AK — Zoe and Hudson | 1/2HZ — Chloe and Juan | 2/3T — Kanishk and Teddy | 3/4H — Mason and Matilda | 3/4R — Harper and Jack | 5/6FS — Harrison and Eva | 5/6N — Nathan and Annabel
Congratulations to each of you — we cannot wait to see the leadership, enthusiasm, and care you will bring to your roles this year.
And looking a little further ahead, we are very much looking forward to welcoming Foundation families back to chapel on Friday 6 March for the special and meaningful presentation of Bibles to our Foundation students. This is always a deeply cherished occasion — a tangible and lasting reminder to our newest learners that they are known, loved, and valued, both by our community and by God.
What a rich and beautiful start to the year it has been. Thank you to every family, staff member, and community partner who has made these celebrations so special. There is so much more to look forward to, and we are grateful to be walking this journey together.
Sports Day - Friday 11 September
Please mark your calendars! Sports Day will be held on Friday, 11 September. We are looking forward to a fun day with excellent weather. More details will be provided closer to the date.
Later in the term, we will also hold a Tabloid Sports afternoon for Years 3-6, which will serve as a selection trial for SACSA Athletics. Further information will be communicated soon.
Please continue to keep Mrs McCusker, our Sports Co-ordinator and PE Teacher in your prayers as she recovers from a back injury sustained before Christmas. We expect her to return during March and look forward to welcoming her back to the classroom.
Kiss and Drop
A friendly reminder to please avoid parking on the dotted yellow lines along Richardson Drive near the school entrance – these are our kiss and drop zones for keeping traffic flowing safely. You'll find plenty of parking a little further down Richardson Drive between the oval gates and the soccer club, and this helps us avoid the occasional parking ranger who does come through to enforce the street signs (and we'd hate for anyone to get a fine!).
TASS Parent Lounge
A reminder about TASS Parent Lounge, our online parent portal. This is a great way to be able to check that your contact details and your child's medical details are up to date, as well as to be able to view the school calendar.
Please check your email for your login information - and you are most welcome to be in touch with us if you have any queries around the login process.
Pastor - call process
As many of our families would be aware, our previous pastor, Pastor Greg, accepted a call to Faith Lutheran College in Queensland back in November 2023. Our church congregation have a 'call committee' which undertakes the process of calling, of inviting a new pastor to serve at Golden Grove Lutheran Church and in our school community. The Call Committee will meet again this week in seeking to identify another Pastor to whom a call may be extended. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for this process.
A few reminders
Please be reminded of some of our key events to commence the year:
Wednesday 25 February - Principal Tours
Wednesday 18 February - Community Breakfast
Wednesday 18 February - Ash Wednesday
Camps
Wednesday 25 February - School Tours
Monday 23 March - Harmony Day
Monday 30 March - Wednesday 1 April - Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 Camps
Friday 3 April - Good Friday
Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April - Parent-Teacher Interviews (after school)
Friday 10 April - Closing Service 2.20pm
Our full school calendar can also be viewed on the school website.
Will Wallace
Principal
Technology…. Can’t live without it!! We live in such a fast-paced world that these days you just can’t survive without a smart phone or device that provides everything you need. There are so many apps and websites we now use that make life easier – banking, weather, maps. The list goes on and on. It’s funny though that life seemed so much simpler and less stressful when we didn’t have all this.
At GGLPS we understand the importance of learning how to best use technology and how it can help. It is also important that so much of our learning doesn’t require the use of technology. There are so many skills that can’t be learnt on a screen and our brains learn many things that need to be learnt the traditional way (without a device). It is important to find a balance.
I love what Sweden has done with technology in schools. Keeping the use limited and focusing more on what learning can be done without it.
Enjoy the read.
Anxiety Tips Library
Tim Kriewaldt
Deputy Principal