UP date
"Children learn as they play; most importantly, in play children learn how to learn."
Fred Donaldson
“A week filled with collaboration, brainstorming, and sharing to improve our roles at Unity College - teaching and learning in a safe and caring environment is our core business."
Principal's Word
Francois Pienaar Principal
End of Term 2 – Happy New Half Year! As we pass the halfway mark of 2024, we are reminded of how quickly time flies and how much we still have to accomplish. This term has been filled with numerous achievements and exciting milestones, and I am grateful to share them with you.
ELC OPENING
One of the most thrilling highlights of this term was the grand opening of our Unity College Early Learning Centre (ELC) on June 21. The excitement was tangible as our ELC students, and their parents began this new journey on June 24. We are immensely proud of our new facility. It was a pleasure to welcome staff from our sister school, Good Shepherd Primary School, who toured our facilities during their spiritual retreat in Week 10. Our ELC staff have also prepared an engaging holiday program, with many bookings already received.
GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
On June 5, we celebrated a very special occasion with over 480 grandparents and special friends joining us. As a grandparent myself, it was heart-warming to emphasise the invaluable role grandparents play in our lives. The day was filled with joy as students showed their grandparents around the school and shared their learning experiences. A delightful morning tea was provided, and the positive feedback we received was overwhelming. Thank you for your support and kind words.
PEDAL PRIX
A heartfelt thank you to Renee Bell and her team, our parent volunteers, sponsors, and all our teams for a fantastic race at Victoria Park in Adelaide. Congratulations to our Minnie Mouse team for securing third place in their category! Our Year 5/6 team – Tweety also had their first race and performed admirably. We look forward to our next race in Tailem Bend on August 3, where all our teams Bunyip, Minnie Mouse, Road Runner, Sylvester, and Tweety will participate.
LITTLE SCHOLARS
We held transition days for our Little Scholars this term to ensure they are well-prepared for their official start in Term 3. Chloe Hill – who leads this program – has met most of the families and is excited to begin after the July holidays. We are confident this program will provide a strong foundation for their educational journey.
AREYONGA VISIT
I had the privilege of accompanying Penny Fielke, Belinda Mattner and our Areyonga students back to their community in Week 9. The beauty and cultural richness of Areyonga left a lasting impression. We enjoyed a traditional kangaroo tail meal and marvelled at the breathtaking night sky. I am incredibly proud of our Areyonga students and the strong bond we have with their community, built over many years.
FLAT NETBALL
We ended the term with the muchanticipated netball game between the teachers and house captains. It was an exciting match with live commentary and streaming. Both teams, coached by Bridie Loller (House Captains’ team) and Erin Eckermann (staff team), played with great spirit. I had the joy of participating in the final quarter, and it was a competitive yet fun experience. While I won’t reveal the outcome, I can say the game ended with a close score, and everyone left with smiles. Our staff team’s smile was greater!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK
Week 10 was dedicated to professional development for our staff. This week allowed us to become students again, gaining knowledge to better cater to our students’ needs. Topics included overcoming cultural and language barriers, the Unity Wellbeing framework, resilience, curriculum changes, and the impact of AI on learning. The week was filled with collaboration, brainstorming, and sharing to improve in our roles at Unity College – teaching and learning in a safe and caring environment is our core business. It was a week of fruitful and inspiring learning.
As our students enjoy their holidays, Unity staff will also enjoy a welldeserved break. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday. If you are traveling, please travel safely. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for a packed Term 3.
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
May your holiday be filled with joy and peace and may our Father in heaven protect you all until we meet again in Term 3.
Senior School
Empowering Young People
Unity welcomed staff and players from the Port Adelaide Football Club with the Power to End Violence Against Women and Empowered programs to talk to Year 10 students about making informed choices to assist in preventing violent behaviours. Great conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics and the impacts of harmful gender stereotypes were had.
Career Focus Day
This year Unity introduced a Career Focus Day to our Senior School students, in response to feedback asking for more career education throughout their secondary schooling. The one-day session delivered career counselling programs, presentations and one:one sessions to provide this important information while minimising the impact on student’s study time throughout the year. The day included sessions with TAFE, the universities, industry experts, SAPOL, a zoom session learning CAD programming through AIE and VET tasters including Engineering and Individual Support. Thank you to our industry, VET and higher education partners for supporting this initiative.
Your Future After Unity
Some Year 12s experienced a sense of deja vu when staying over at school, bringing back memories of their Year 2 Sleepover. The aim of this year’s Staycation was preparation for the transition they will make in approximately 73 days (but who’s counting), along with relaxing as a group. Sessions included saving for their first home, taxes, voting, MyGov and insurances – all of the necessary considerations for a young adult. Mr
Yeager presented the concept of the reminiscence bump and outlined the ‘practical and emotional stuff’ of the big change about to occur. Students also served their Reception buddies by facilitating a craft activity, made meals for families in need or washed staff cars. A highlight was the dress up night, many making the most to showcase what they want to be when they group up. This ranged from lollypop workers, WAGs, midwives and nurses, ultimate Ressie’s, teachers, a master chef and even Taylor Swift’s publicist. All in all, a fun way to commemorate their final camp as a secondary student.
Middle School
Art as Activism
In Term 1, the Year 9 Art class worked on using their Artistic understanding and skills towards changing people’s minds and attitudes in a unit titled ‘Art as Activism’. Students looked at themes related to multiculturalism, human rights and welcoming refugees to Australia to create posters to be submitted to the 2024 SA Refugee Week Poster Competition
Out of over 300 entries from across 55 South Australian schools, 89 posters were selected for exhibiting under three categories.
Lilly Purvis’ poster was selected and will be part of the final SA Refugee Week Student Poster Exhibition on display from Friday 21st June until Friday 11 August in the new Children’s ArtSpace Gallery at the Adelaide Festival Centre. The exhibition will tour extensively to regional and metro galleries through until April/ May 2025. Congratulations Lilly.
Encounter Youth
Encounter Youth is the largest provider of Alcohol & Other Drug education to South Australian secondary school students. Their aim is to inform and empower young people to bring about safer, more meaningful celebration. They shared approaches and encouraged our students to ‘look after themselves and their mates’.
The topics presented included:
+ Introduction to alcohol & other drugs (Year 7)
+ Medication safety (Year 7)
+ Why some people choose to use or not use alcohol & other drugs (Year 7)
+ Character strengths and help seeking strategies (Year 7)
+ Trust and communication in relationships (Year 8)
+ Standing firm and communicating personal choices (Year 8)
+ Building resilience (Year 8)
+ Navigating new celebration environments (Year 8)
+ Factors shaping personal identity (self-worth) (Year 9)
+ Alcohol and brain development (Year 9)
+ Risk taking and strategies to deal with tricky situations (Year 9)
+ Introduction to vaping & e-cigarettes (Year 9)
+ Personal values and choices (Year 9)
Our students were very engaged in the sessions, answering questions and interacting in the activities and we encourage you to talk to your child about what they learnt.
To find out more visit Encounter Youth Parent Resources
Year 3 Camp
Year 3 students enjoyed a 2-night camp experience at Aldinga, extending their learning and understanding of indigenous culture. Some of the highlights were:
+ “I liked building the cubby (bush shelters) and the campfire” Imogen Gower
+ “My favourite thing was roasting marshmallows” Abby Diment
+ “I liked the cubbies and the aboriginal dot painting” Levi Chamberlin
+ “I enjoyed learning about the Kaurna culture and cooking the fish” Duncan Cartledge
A is for Astronaut
‘a, a, a’
The Reception students celebrated their literacy learning with a Jolly Phonics dress-up day. Students surprised one another with their costume and had fun guessing what letter sound each person was given. To end the day, the Receptions shared their costume and letter to the Junior School at assembly. Everyone bravely went on stage and had a try at speaking into the microphone. We thought all students were ‘f, f, f’ FABULOUS!
Junior School
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!
The Little Scholars, Reception and Year 1s had the time of their lives wallowing in mud, water and mess, and just being kids for the annual mud afternoon in the nature playground. Sensory overload for some, absolute bliss for our students!
Interviewer Becomes the Interviewee…
Year 4 students turned the tables on local journalist – Peri Strathearn from Murray Bridge News – when he visited the class to offer his insights into what makes a news report a news report.
Students asked our expert all sorts of questions including; what stories have been most challenging, what were your favourites, how much research went into a story and how long did they take? They learned about the building blocks of a news story while Peri shared his adventures as a journalist.
The students challenge: use their newfound knowledge to write a news report on a significant event in the Bible.
Drama
Year 10 students presented Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations by Alan Acykbourne, a bright comedy exploring the extraordinary ‘illucinations’ of Ernie Fraser, a dreamer with a difference.
Year 11/12 students presented buckets by Adam Barnard, a play of vignettes that collectively looks at the modern consciousness. Swinging through a kaleidoscopic world of sadness and happiness, illness and health, youth and experience, kissing and crying, singing and dying.
Review Writing
Year 12 Essential English viewed the 2024 Rotary Art Show at the Murray Bridge Regional Gallery featuring 144 artworks submitted by professional and recreational artists from the community to support the writing of a review. Team Leader Fulvia Mantelli spoke passionately about the importance of this type of exhibition and the diversity of themes and skills showcased. A class favourite was a mixed media painting by our very own art teacher Mrs Knight called 'Whispers of Eucalyptus'. It was very impressive!
Scan the QR code to see more photos from Term 2 Performing Arts.
Heartbeat Of Japan
The drums were LOUD as Year 6 language students learned about the techniques and traditions of Japanese Taiko drumming. Known as the ‘heartbeat of Japan’, Taiko is an ancient art form and a powerful part of Japanese culture.
Meanwhile, Year 10 Japanese students visited St John’s Grammar School in Belair for a Japanese Movie Making day. Unity students worked with students from other schools to create commercials about Japanese products in Japanese. Unity College students won 1st and 2nd place in the People’s Prize – decided by the students present, and won the overall best commercial – decided by the judges. An amazing effort resulting in some very creative videos.
Learn
Dance Like No One Is Watching
Unity College is offering SACE Stage 1 Dance as an elective subject for the first time this year.
Culminating their semesters work, the seven Year 10 and 11 students completing the course designed and performed their own choreography in their semester performance to family and friends – a result of much research, rehearsal and technical practice.
Agriculture Update
2024 BREEDERS
Thank you to our breeders and suppliers of livestock for 2024:
+ Charolais Steer – Shirley Barker and Emma Kerrigan, Caithness Charolais – Mt Barker
+ Simmental x Angus Steer –Cartledge Family, Lancaster Simmentals – Meningie
+ Limousin Steer – Galpin Family, Warrawindi Farms – Penola
+ Black Angus – Scott Finlay, Granite Ridge Angus – Reedy Creek/Burdett
+ Merino Wethers (x12) – Keith & Judy Paech, Lucernbrae Merino Stud – Callington
+ Illawarra Heifers (x2) – Doecke Family, Springvale Illawarras –Woods Point
+ Holstein Heifers (x2) – Mason Family, Mason Farms – Jervois
+ Wether Goats (x12) – Bec & John Falkenhagen, Idealview Goats –Meningie
+ Isa Brown pullets (x4) – part of the School Egg Laying Competition
SHOW TEAM TRAINING
Show Team trainings for both students and the livestock were in full swing during Term 2. Students are learning how to correctly halter, lead and “stand up” their particular animals – all vital skills needed in the show ring. Students also learn about where the animals come from and the correct way to care for them.
Other exciting things happening around Unity Ag include:
+ The Year 9 class had an excursion to Thornby Sheep Feedlot to see industry best practice.
+ All the Year 5 classes had a visit from our Dairy Advocate Steve Hein as part of the Cows Create Careers Program.
+ The Year 11s visited a Buffalo Dairy in Mypolonga, an emerging agricultural trend in the region.
Thank you to our MAJOR SPONSORS
Mini Exhibition
Year 5 students showcased their Mini Exhibition for their parents, fellow Junior School students and staff at the end of Term 2. They chose a topic within the PYP Transdisciplinary Theme of ‘Sharing the Planet’. The students completed research, wrote a persuasive and created a well marketed display to showcase their learning. They absolutely loved the process and cannot wait to experience the major exhibition in Term 4.
How to Train like an Elite Athlete
Year 10 Specialist Sport and 11 Elite Sport Students visited Uni SA to use the lab facilities for exercise physiology testing.
Grant Van Der Ploeg, a former AFL data and sports scientist for the Geelong Cats along with five 4th year Exercise Physiology students supported in lab to test each students':
+ Reaction Time
+ Agility
+ 20m Sprint
+ Vertical Jump
+ Muscular Power
+ Explosive Power
Sam White was lucky (and fit) enough to perform a Vo2 Max test -
Learn
a test designed to find the maximum amount of oxygen our body can absorb and use when exercising at maximum intensity.
“The test definitely wasn’t the most comfortable experience as I had to wear a nose clip and had a large tube connected to my face slightly restricting my breathing. It lasted for about 15 minutes and after each minute the speed would be increased by 1km/h and I was required to give an indication of how hard it was. To explain the feeling of the test I would compare the last few seconds to your last shuttle on the beep test.” Sam White (Year 11)
The students enjoyed first hand what it would be like to be an elite athlete under true testing conditions. It inspired them to strive to greater heights with their sports and their conditioning to be performing at the top level.
Scan the QR code to see more photos from the ELC Official Opening and First Day with Students.
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Unity’s amazing Junior School Mum’s were spoiled with a special Mother’s Day Breakfast to say thank you for all they do for their young people. The final treat, cuddles and special time in the classroom with their excited children.
From Little Things, Big Thing Grow
“Children learn as they play; most importantly, in play children learn how to learn” Fred Donaldson
Unity's Early Learning Centre (ELC) doors are finally wide open, filled with the joyful sounds of children’s voices, laughter and curiosities. It’s wonderful to see families arriving each morning and watching the children settle into their new learning environment. The ELC team is well-prepared every day to offer the best opportunities for the children. The daily routine has already been mastered by the children, promoting their independence and confidence within the ELC.
Our program has begun with thoughtfully designed provocations, encouraging the children to explore their new space, fostering a sense of belonging, and building connections with their peers and educators. The children are thriving in the outdoor environment, enjoying endless play in the cubby house and creating fantastic projects in the sandpit. A favourite activity is riding the bikes, where children can enhance their gross motor skills and test their speed.
We are excited to continue sharing and showcasing the learning happening in the Early Learning Centre and witnessing the growth of our youngest students. Stay tuned for all the exciting opportunities in the ELC and see how our students are not merely ‘taught’ but enabled to ‘discover’ their learning.
Raegan Hill ELC Director
Areyonga Update
Term 2 began with the weather being a bit cooler that the students were used to back home. Highlights included:
+ Football (Ramblers and Unity) – a big focus for the fellas.
+ Jess and Kayshani returning to the NT to represent Central West in Santa Teresa, supported by the Melbourne Demons AFLW team.
+ The older students participating in the “Tumbelin Way – Awaken and Live” program providing them with strategies to cope when pushed out of their comfort zone
+ Enjoying the new music room at the house.
+ Developing skills in the classroom with students participating in Agriculture, Woodwork, Food and Hospitality, PE, Music and Science as well as Maths, English and HASS.
+ Welcoming our Principal Francios Pienaar to the community for the first time with a big Kangaroo tail cook up and storytelling around the fireplace.
Care Selamat
datang!
We were excited to welcome two students – Naomi and Renata and their teacher – Rinnat from our Indonesian Partnership School SMA HKBP in Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia for the first time since COVID related travel restrictions have lifted. The trip saw our guests hosted by Unity families to get a taste of life and school in Australia. They also enjoyed a few special treats – including holding a koala!
Unity will have a team of staff and Year 11 students traveling to SMA HKBP in the Term 3 school holidays as the Indonesia Partnership continues to grow.
Scan the QR code to see more photos from the 2024 Music Showcase.
Bravo!
The 2024 Music Showcase was a fabulous night showcasing the musical and vocal talents of our fabulous students and staff. A sell out Murray Bridge Town Hall audience enjoyed performances from year level bands, vocal ensembles and as a special treat –a performance from our talented Music staff.
interviewed by local businesspeople for those roles. We thank the volunteers from the community who assisted our students in this very worthwhile opportunity.
Now More Than Ever
National Reconciliation Week Unity style was eventful and rewarding. Under the theme Now More Than Ever, we made time to learn from each other.
We learned Ngarrindjeri songs and had Ngarrindjeri language lessons. Students decorated the school yard with the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags, designed hand prints, learned about symbols in Aboriginal art through chalk drawings and created poster murals, with a footprint from every student representing the powerful symbol of ‘ngopun together’ –walking together with respect and empathy for one another.
We strive to make and maintain powerful connections between our many cultures at Unity College throughout the year. We appreciate and are grateful for the various languages, backgrounds and the many unique gifts and talents, that God has given us all. Now more than ever... this is important.
Engage
Teddy Bear Clinic
We welcomed local GP’s from Bridge Clinic to our Reception classes for a Teddy Bear Clinic, delivered as part of the RACE Program. Our little bears were very brave and showed their Reception guardians that visiting the doctor isn’t scary at all – they are here to help us. Thank you to the wonderful visiting GP’s for taking the time out of their busy schedules to show care to these precious little bears and their owners.
Blue Tree Project
Thanks to the Murray Bridge Wellbeing Hub, there is a colourful new reminder about the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Blue Tree Project is a movement that involves painting a tree blue to help spark difficult conversations and break down the stigma of mental health and wellbeing.
Unity was represented by three Year 9 Ambassadors, among approximately 30 other community representatives, who were involved in painting a tree blue at Sturt Reserve – helping to promote the importance of wellbeing and mental health. We all struggle in life sometimes, but we don’t need to go at it alone. This tree is there as a permanent reminder to seek help and spark a conversation from friends, family, or other professionals in our community like counsellors, AC Care, Headspace or Kids Helpline.
Learning From Others
"This term we visited the Lutheran Homes because we wanted to understand who they were and we know that sometimes people in Aged Care Homes are lonely.
We interviewed them in small groups about their life and found out lots of cool and interesting information. I found out that my resident had a broken leg for 27 years from jumping off a haystack as a kid! Once we got all of the information, we brought it back to the classroom and used it to write a book about the resident we interviewed. We had to include all the key information about the person and tell it as a story. We also did some research and found some photos that related to their life. The books were then printed and we got to give them to the residents. They were so happy and asked us to come back.
We hope we will be able to go back in Term 3."
Chloe White, Year 5
Involve
It Takes a Village
Junior and Middle Schools were buzzing as we welcomed over 480 special guests for the annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. They enjoyed a walking tour and open classrooms with their loved ones and caught up with many friends over a delicious morning tea.
To our Grandparents and Special Friends, thank you for all the love, support and guidance you provide your special young people - it truly takes a village and we loved hosting you at Unity.
Scan the QR code to see more photos from Grandparents and Special Friends Day..
Semester 1 Sporting Highlights
SANTOS ATHLETICS
+ Overall = 5th
+ Girls = 5th
+ Boys = 6th
MURRAYLANDS TACKLE RUGBY CARNIVAL
Emmalyn Ahrens, Amalia Barolo, Max Blatchford, Indy Braun, Samual Buscumb, Kaitlyn Carey, Kai Collogan, Dimitri Crawford, Amarni Eleutheriou, Sixten Fischer, Hamish Frahn, William Fulwood, Ezekiel Johnson, Yuchen (Bella) Liu, Samuel Masters, London Mulyk, Samuel Nuske, Audrey O'Brien, Isaac Paech, Keigan Russell, Zac Seyers, Johnathon Wakeling, Chloe White, Izak Williams (Year 5)
SPECIALIST SPORT FOOTBALL TEAM - FRIENDLY VS BLACKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Patrick Driffen, Ethan Fiegert, Aiden Franke, Chad Freund, Toby Hollis, Riley Kohler, Alex Mundy, Thomas Nuske, Lucas Piggott (Year 9) Roclin Bates, Denzel Gallagher, Louie Hayes, Eli Hollis, Tyler White (Year 10) Hayden Law, Logan McCabe, Campbell Schubert, Rylie Stephenson (Year 11)
Inspire
5/6 CRICKET (BOYS) - ROUND 1
Ted Berling, Keller Eckermann, Cooper Hincks, Lachlan Lawrence, Spencer Loveday, Samuel Masters, Levi Neumann, Samuel Nuske, Isaac Russell (Year 5) Zavier Leckie, Hugo McArdle, Nate Slok (Year 6)
5/6 BASKETBALL (BOYS)2ND OVERALL
Kai Collogan, Anthony Duong, Tristan Fiegert, Sixten Fischer, Hamish Frahn, Ezekial Johnson, Levia McKenzie, Isaac Paech (Year 5)
5/6 BASKETBALL (GIRLS)2ND OVERALL
Emmalyn Ahrens, Amalia Barolo, Indy Braun, Madison Hearne, Matilda Mason, Audrey O'Brien (Year 5) Molly Mason (Year 6)
5/6 SOCCER (BOYS) - ROUND 1
Ted Berling, Sixten Fischer, Cooper Hincks, Lachlan Lawrence, Levi Neumann, Samuel Nuske, Tyson Van Holten (Year 5) Lachlan Cameron, Chol Chol, Kaiden Gates, Xander McMahon, Adrian Van Niekerk (Year 6)
7/8 BASKETBALL (BOYS)ROUND 1
Henry Blatchford, Owen Clarke, Archie Elliott, Riley Gladigau, Cain Jarvis, Seth Rankine, Koen Wilson (Year 8)
7/8 BASKETBALL (GIRLS)ROUND 1
Madison Burgemeister, Airlie Clayson, Indii Garrett, Taylor Lienert, Logan Morrell, Sadie Vowles (Year 7) Arabella Milne (Year 8)
7/8 NETBALL (GIRLS) - ROUND 1
Airlie Clayson, Indii Garrett, Macey Jacobs, Logan Morrell, Sadie Vowles (Year 7) Zoe Harrington, Indigo Hincks, Ruby Pfeiffer, Abby Sanders, Helayna White (Year 8)
7/8 SOCCER (BOYS) - ROUND 1
Wyatt Gallasch, Jake Hartwig, Joshua Johnson, Luca Kallin, Linkin Magyar, Maverick Mickan, Janindu Tennakoon (Year 7) Dexter Freeth, Mason Hills, Nate Oster, Parker South, Jeremiah White, Josiah White, Kallan Woidt (Year 8)
10-12 FOOTBALL (GIRLS)ROUND 2
Kayshani Marks, Jessica Woods (Year 10) Sera Dalton, Jessica Kerr, Millicent Manning, Isabella Mulyk, Yen-Yen To (Year 11) Ruby Ballard, Alecia Bormann, Millie Daniels, Elise Franke, Molly Hawkes, Alicia Jacobs, Kyla Jarvis, River Lock, Georgia Martin, Caitlin Michalik, Ella O'Brien, Mia Perriman, Amelia Shute (Year 12)
11/12 SOCCER (BOYS) - ROUND 1
Bradley Cox, Jacob Neumann (Year 11) Toby Benstead, Anyieth Chol, Andrew Ferreira, James Johnson, Charlie Lovell, Brandon Phillips, Harry Rigney, Daniel Wulff (Year 12)
11/12 NETBALL (GIRLS)ROUND 1
Abby Harrowfield, Jessica Kerr (Year 11) Millie Daniels, Georgia DeMichele, Narelle Griffiths, Alicia Jacobs, Kyla Jarvis, Georgia Martin, Caitlin Michalik, Molly Hawkes, Bridie Loller - Assistant Coach (Year 12)
11/12 FOOTBALL (BOYS)ROUND 1
Hayden Law, Patrick Loller, Johnny Phillpott, Leroy Rathjen (Year 11) Anyieth Chol, Oscar Coull, Hamish Dow, Andrew Ferreira, Tyson Freund, Noah Heym, James Johnson, Charlie Lovell, Bailey Morrell, Brandon Phillips, Charlie Reljich, Taj Rowe, Daniel Wulff (Year 12)
Please Note: Teams still competing in competitions will be highlighted in the next edition of the Unity Update.
#StrengthInUnity
2024 Pedal Prix kicked off in Term 2 with teams competing in two race events.
RACE 1: 6HR AT THE BEND
+ Minnie Mouse – 2nd in category + Bunyip – 12th in category
RACE 2: 6HR AT VICTORIA PARK
Tweety hit the track for the first time in 2024 and with many Pedal Prix first timers on board and achieved a highly commendable 16th (out of 31). And a podium finish for the Minnie Mouse girls placing third!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors for their generous support:
+ GOLD: Elders Insurance, J & E Jaensch Transport & Southern Cross Cleaning
+ SILVER: Kustom Keepsakes, Haward Imports & Bear Rock Signs
+ BRONZE: Seyers Racing, Daish Irrigation, DAISHAT & Adrian Pederick MP
We are looking forward to continuing the momentum as we head towards the Murray Bridge 24hr event in September.
SAPSASA Representatives
Congratulations to the following students who represented the Murraylands in various SAPSASA competitions in Semester 1:
SAPSASA Softball: Kaiden Gates, Suleman Khan (Year 6)
SAPSASA Swimming: Beau Cant, Patrick Sanders, Chloe White (Year 5) Emily Sanders, Josh Zarantonello (Year 6)
SAPSASA Football: Keller Eckermann, Tristan Fiegert (Year 5) Hugo McArdle, Callum Oster (Year 6)
SAPSASA Netball: Indy Braun, Matilda Mason, Patrick Sanders (Year 5) Ella-Beth Duffield, Bella Marchetti, Molly Mason, Jade Piggott, Emily Sanders, Milla Smith (Year 6)
SAPSASA Cross Country: Isaiah Cameron, Xavier Jackson, Jace Jarvis, Jake Lienert, Reagan Menz (Year 4) Lachlan Cameron (Year 6)
What a busy term it has been at Concordia Kindergarten! Our program for Term 2 focused on God’s Creation and ‘caring for the world’. Children explored things God made (nature) and man-made things as well as the order and perfect design of Creation. This has led to many special experiences across the term that related to this concept of ‘our world’ and ‘care’.
We hosted a special Mum’s Night early on with many kindy mums attending. We set up a special pamper room, cuddle (reading) corner, decorated cupcakes and planted flowers in terracotta pots, all to celebrate Mother’s Day.
We acknowledged Reconciliation Week with learning around Dreaming stories and a special visit from Aunty Trish who read Thukeri (a local Ngarrindjeri Dreaming story). The learning around Indigenous perspectives continued with ‘Care for Country’ and we explored the many ways Aboriginal people care for Australia (land, waterways and animals).
We also participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime and read ‘Bowerbird Blues’. This led to our own ‘bird project’ – creating a large bowerbird nest out of blue items and weaving into the hessian. Children also learned to draw and paint their own birds and made miniature bird nests out of natural resources at the Nature Playground. The children hosted a bird ‘Aussie’ the cockatiel and enjoyed this experience so much they asked for their own bird to keep. Some excursions to the local pet shop were organised and children purchased a pet bird for the kindy. The children chose a budgie and called it ‘Wednesday’. They have
Concordia Kindy
been taking great care of the bird, teaching it to sing and talk, feeding it and sometimes have a little hold or gentle pet.
The children showed great interest in animals and pets. They explored animal habitats and where God put all the different animals. Animals were even brought into kindy for ‘show and tell’. We had farm animals - including a calf and piglet, and then many pets including a pony, dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, insects and birds. This led to the excursion at the local pet shop ‘River City Pets’, where the children had the opportunity to learn about pet care from the shop staff and some interaction with the pets in store; a rat, mice, kittens, insects, turtles, rabbits, hermit crabs and birds.
Student Achievements
Layla Hearne (Year 11) is kicking goals in both of her chosen sports, debuting with the South Adelaide Netball Club Premier League team and attending the ATC Academy Showcase in Sydney, where selected high school basketballers played in front of US College Coaches and recruiters - without leaving Australia. [1]
Ruby Ballard (Year 12) has been selected in the U18 AFLW South Australian Squad to play in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships in July. [2]
Maverick Mickan (Year 7) competed in the Murray Bridge Table Tennis Country Carnival tournament over the June long weekend. Maverick competed in Under 13, Under 15, Under 18 and C Grade events, winning the Under 13 Doubles competition and coming Runner-Up in the Under 15 doubles and Under 18 doubles. He also finished RunnerUp in the C Grade team event where he was the only competitor to win all games played. [3]
Isabella Roberts (Year 11) won a Silver medal in Breaststroke at the SA Country Swimming Championships in early 2024. [4]
Linton Garner (Year 9) travelled to Japan for 10 days as a member of the Australian contingent attending karate training as part of Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karate-do. Linton visited local attractions before training with Masataka Oshita - a 10th Dan in Karate. He was also fortunate to train alongside karate students from England, Wales, Slovenia and Hungary with Teruo Mimoto (10th Dan and one of the students of the founder of Shukokai Karate) and Eiko Masayasu (6th Dan) - all of whom are recognised by the Japanese Karate Federation. These training sessions included a visit from and training with Mirisa Ohuchi who is currently ranked 4th in the world and 2nd in Japan for Kata. Training concluded with all those attending taking part in a ‘small’ competition with approximately 420 participants!
Linton's other recent Karate achievements include:
+ Gold in Kata at the 2024 Traditional Japanese Karate Championships + Graded to Nidan (2nd black belt) in April. [5] 3 2
Taj Garrett (Year 10) has been selected for the U15 South Australian School Boys State Football team. Taj will head to the Gold Coast, Queensland in late July to play in the School Sport Australia Championships. Taj is currently playing for Sturt U16s. [6]
2024 SA ALL BREEDS DAIRY YOUTH CAMP
Adelaide Showgrounds 15-17 April
+ Show Day Results Class 1: Encouragement Award – Kaylee Schellen (Year 10) [7]
+ Show Day Results Class 3: 3rd & Encouragement Award – Grace Carey (Year 10) [8]
2024 SA SHEEP EXPO
Adelaide Showgrounds 17-19 April
+ Handlers Class Intermediate 4 (Presented by Heiniger Shearing – Australia & New Zealand): 3rdFlynn McGorman (Year 12) [9]
+ Handlers Class Junior 3 (Presented by Michell Direct Wool): MeritWilliam McBride (Year 9) [10]
2024 RMNA REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS
+ 11&U: Matilda Mason (Year 5)
+ 13&U Div 2: Milla Smith, Caitlin Gravestocks (Year 6) Lucy Mason, Madison Burgemeister, Airlie Clayson (Year 7)
+ 13&U Div 1: Indii Garrett, Sadie Vowles, Logan Morrell, Macey Jacobs (Year 7) Indigo Hincks (Year 8)
+ 15&U Div 2 – Runners-Up: Sadie Nankivell, Ruby Pfeiffer, Zoe Harrington (Year 8) Annabelle Vowles (Year 9) Halle Jarvis, Ayden Atkinson, Olivia Griffiths (Year 10),
+ 15&U Div 1 – Runners-Up: Lenni Hincks, Yasmin Harrowfield, Ava Schubert, Zoe Michalik, Amelia DeMichele, Lara Franke (Year 9), Kaylee Schellen, Reagan Martin (Year 10) Olivia Bolt – Coach (Staff)
+ 17&U: Ariel Challenger (Year 10) Abby Harrowfield, Millicent Manning, Gemma Cocks, Jessica Kerr, Erin Poulish (Year 11) Kyla Jarvis, Georgia Rich, Mia Perriman (Year 12) Courtney Manning –Team Manager (Staff)
