The students have been exploring how the community we live in has changed over time. To help understand this, we went on a walking excursion around Northgate to see where different things are located within the community, in our local area. We have also learnt about the many different aspects that make up our local community, including our emergency services.

Emergency Learning!

Recently, the students have enjoyed a visit from an ambulance officer (and ambulance) as well as an excursion to the Oakden Fire Station. We are looking forward to meeting a Police Officer in the coming weeks, as well as a visit from a representative from urban developers, Villawood. This will help us understand a bit more about how our community will be changing in the very near future.

As we learn more about the diverse characteristics, similarities, and differences in our community, we can also appreciate more the connections between people and their community. This helps us to understand why people participate in and contribute to their communities, and consider how we can contribute to the community in positives ways ourselves.

Mr Phil Klassen, Year 3 Teacher

They have watched the caterpillars enjoy eating the leafy food, living in their special enclosure in the Year 2 Classrooms. The children eagerly observed all the changes that the caterpillars went through and cheered excitedly when the butterflies were released for their first flight!

The Year 2s also enjoyed looking back in time to discover how toys and household technologies have changed and improved. The students were particularly excited to explore Miss Dix’s range of Mr Potato Head toys, observing the changes in materials and manufacturing that has taken place over 70 years.

Primary School Chapel

The Primary School also had the opportunity to hear from Compassion Australia at a recent Chapel. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of a former Compassion sponsor child, who is now an adult, to find out how sponsorship impacted and changed her life.

Chapel times have also allowed students to learn more about the life of Jesus and his mission. Chapel favourites, Little PK, Little TW, along with Pastor Jeremy, reminded the Primary School that Jesus came to rescue those who were trapped – The poor, the blind, the captives, the oppressed. Jesus came to set us free, to rescue us, and he calls us to join him in his rescue mission to the world.

The Year 9 Health and Wellbeing students also take part in this process as peer coaches. Strategies for managing time, specifically tools to manage learning, rest (including sleep), hobbies, and family time, are shared between students. We then partner with Year 7 families to help their children develop the ability to manage their time and balance their lives, knowing that these abilities require hard work and frequent adjustment in order to flourish.

Preparing Year 6s for Middle School

Next week, we will hold our Twilight Tours for our Year 6 families. This initiative is a practical opportunity for our families in Upper Primary to begin the process of transition into Middle School. Although it’s still a while away, it’s good to remember that it takes time and effort to get used to a new environment, and giving our Year 6s a taste of what’s ahead helps to make the transition smoother, and gives them space to ask questions and voice any concerns they might have.

These initiatives provide our students with resources to handle the changes ahead, to help them enjoy and thrive in their new learning environment.

Bradman Breaks the Drought

After many years without a win, Bradman House has celebrated a long-awaited High School Sports Day victory!

Near-perfect conditions meant that expectations were running high, as the teams assembled on the Vickers Vimy Oval. A full schedule of events, plus extra points awarded for the pre-events, volunteering numbers, and badge sales, all contribute to the team totals, but each team needed to perform well in order to build on their initial standings.

Competition proved fierce but friendly throughout the day, and a strong finish in the relay saw Bradman take the crown for 2023.

Well done Bradman – a full report and photos will be available in our next newsletter!

SACSA Swimming Champions

Cedar College sent a squad of around 30 students to compete in the annual SACSA Swimming Carnival, held at the North Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

Competing against 17 other SACSA member schools from around South Australia, our team performed consistently well throughout the day. After strong finishes in the final events, Cedar’s Swim Team was announced as the victors, winning by over 100 points, which was an incredible achievement.

Special thanks goes to all of the students who gave their all, as well as coaches Miss Kerry Spriggs and Mrs Emma Shaw, who looked after the team on the day. Congratulations goes to Harry Marshall, who was MVP with a clean sweep of first places in his individual events including 100m freestyle, a SACSA record for U12s, and he also swam in the U14 relay to help them take out first – a fantastic effort!

We look forward to seeing the team compete again in the upcoming SAPSASA Swimming Carnival, held in Week 9.