The Spirit of Generosity in Action

Throughout 2024, generosity has been a guiding theme for our school community. This spirit has shone brightly in countless ways, not least through the incredible efforts of our parents.

One heart-warming example was the dedication shown by families who came together to create costumes and props for our Stirling Christmas Pageant float. From cutting out prawn heads to designing vibrant costumes, these parents gave their time and talents to ensure the float was a success. On the day of the pageant itself, we were delighted to see so many families come out to support and participate, cheering loudly and walking with pride as part of our school’s entry. It was a moment that truly captured the joy and connection that generosity can bring.

This year, we’ve seen generosity take many forms. From volunteers contributing their time and skills to enhance school events and classroom programs, to families supporting each other during challenging times, to parents volunteering their time and expertise on the school Board and school committees - every act has enriched our community. These moments of giving, demonstrate to our students the importance of coming together, sharing talents and skills, and creating something meaningful for the benefit of all.

As we look back on 2024, let us celebrate the generosity that connects us, uplifts us, and strengthens the fabric of our school. Thank you to everyone who has given of themselves so freely this year—you have truly embodied the essence of generosity.

This Wednesday we will hold the Year 6 (Cycle 3) Graduation Ceremony in the hall at Yultiwirra. Graduates, their families and some staff will listen to the graduates speak and recall the memories of their time in Cycles 1, 2 & 3, outlining their achievements and taking the opportunity to thank those people in their lives who have supported them along their journey thus far. After the formal part of the evening, the graduates and a few staff will enjoy a meal at a local restaurant to celebrate the end of their primary schooling. We thank the Year 6 students for being responsible and caring leaders at Yultiwirra this year.

This Friday the Middle School students will hold their Exhibition of Work and Learning during the afternoon followed by the Year 9 (Cycle 4) Graduation in the early evening.  This is always a special event where parents, staff, families and friends come to celebrate the graduation of Year 9 students completing Cycle 4.  Following the graduation speeches the Wairoa students and staff will enjoy a sit-down dinner together at Wairoa and then a ‘party’ that the students organise themselves.

These graduation celebrations have become embedded in our school traditions and are a rite of passage for these students.  Thank you to Sam Cameron, Alex Hill & Christine Perry (Cycle 3 teachers) and Pippa Milroy, Dave Coulter , Ben Noble & Riley Sabey (Wairoa teaching staff) for all of the wonderful programs and support they have offered these students throughout the year and the assistance they have provided in helping the graduating students prepare for the transition and next part of their educational journey.  

We acknowledge our graduating students.

It is with sadness that we farewell the following staff at the end of this year.

Josh Davis (Wairoa gardening specialist)

Tara McHenry (Receptionist & Yultiwirra gardening specialist)

Penny Raven (Cycle 2 teacher)

All of these staff have contributed to our school and we thank them for their work and the care and commitment shown to our students.

I know our school community will join me in wishing all of these staff good health and happiness for the future.  They will all be sorely missed by staff, students and parents and will forever be a part of our ‘Montessori family’.

Thank you to the 2024 class parent reps for undertaking their role and giving their time to the many facets of the position.  They have assisted in building community spirit and a positive, supportive school environment. 

This week we helped celebrate Margaret Rainey's 80th birthday!

Margaret has been associated with our school for over 25 years.  Her two grandchildren attended the school and she has also worked as a relief teacher and school assistant in our school over the years.  For many years Margaret has been a much loved private tutor who has come in and worked with individual students supporting their learning.  Margaret will continue on next year in her role as a private tutor engaged by a number of our school families.

Margaret is a wonderful role model who continues to be passionate about education and supporting students.  We thank her for being a strong advocate for our school and for the love and care that she shows her/our students. We love her and appreciate her contributions over the years.

Cycle 2 has been very busy this term. 

In Week 8 we will visit the State Flora Nursery, a nursery situated in Belair National Park and specialising in local native flora, with a list of native plants that has come from the students' research, endeavouring to plant them before the year is out.

A book showcasing the students' research and artwork about our Yultiwirra Fauna is in production. We hope to meet with Marissa once it is completed and have it catalogued in our school library so that other students can borrow, learn about, and help our local fauna continue to thrive.

Student quotes: 

"The Council cleared out an area for Bandicoots to live in safely, we visited it. It was fun. I think I saw a bandicoot in the bush." - Albie

"I researched the echidna, it has spiky spikes on its back." - Chloe 

"We made cards for the fundraiser stall, everyone made one on the animal they researched and we made $190." - Eleanor

"Tawny Frogmouths are a nocturnal bird." - Hayley-Jade 

"I researched the galah, they feed on seeds and insects." - Alice

"Our fundraiser was really fun, we sold out of all our cards." - Sunny

"I felt really good about selling out of all my cards because it was helping the animals." - Alinta

"I'm looking forward to going on the bus, getting the plants from the nursery to help the animals and playing on the playground." - Mahlia 

"We are going to buy some plants for our school to help bandicoots and other animals and then we get to play in the tunnels at Belair National Park." - Noah 

Our recent three-day aquatics camp at Hindmarsh Island, Goolwa, was an unforgettable experience for our students! Staying at the rustic Little Eagle Campsite, we embraced a variety of activities that combined fun, teamwork, and personal growth.

From raft-making and fishing to exploring the sand dunes leading to the majestic Great Southern Ocean, the days were packed with adventure. Students also had the opportunity to go cockling, see the local seals at the barrage, enjoy boogie boarding, and participate in beach games, all while soaking in the natural beauty of the coastline.

A unique aspect of the camp was the shared responsibility in running the campsite. Students played an active role in assisting with meal preparation and cleaning, practicing valuable life skills in the process. These tasks encouraged resilience, independence, and teamwork, as everyone contributed to the smooth running of the camp.

For many students, this was their first extended stay away from home, providing a chance to step outside their comfort zones. It was inspiring to see the empathy and camaraderie that developed as students checked in on one another and supported their friends throughout the experience.

Beyond the fun and excitement students gained confidence in their abilities, strengthened friendships, and created memories that will be cherished for years to come. We’re proud of the way each participant embraced the challenges and joys of camp life, and we can confidently say that everyone did a fantastic job.

Thank you to our staff and volunteers who helped make this camp a success. It was a joy to see our students thrive in such a dynamic and supportive environment!

Cycle 4 students were fortunate to have a week of camping experiences.

Our community went into the Riverland for two separate camps - a 4 day base camp in Barmera, and a 5 day kayak expedition just north of Renmark in the Ral Ral creek network. The base campers engaged in a range of aquatics activities; including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, knee-boarding, and swimming. It was excellent seeing everyone challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zones to try something new! Of course we had the annual trangia cook-off, which gave a range of culinary creations! 

The weather wasn't always kind to the group, but they stayed resilient and dug deep to finish the camp with positivity and gratitude. Once our kayak expedition crew arrived at our first stop, Canoe the Riverland, we quickly set up our tents before getting acquainted with our kayaks and getting out on the water. We practised capsizing before a swim to ward off the heat. The next 4 days were spent navigating our way through the creeks and main river, being led by the students and our legendary kayak chief Adam Saffin. We stopped for little challenges, lunch and snack breaks, and of course took in the amazing scenery. Each afternoon we set up for the evening at different riverside locations, cooked together, shared stories from the day, reflected, and laughed a lot. It was a fantastic camp, enjoyed hugely by adults and students alike. A massive thanks to Jodie for coming along, and of course to Adam for sharing his expertise in leading the group. 

Much research shows illustrated books are a very important part of any language curriculum, helping to develop reading and writing skills in the new language and build vocabulary. Engaging story books are particularly useful for younger children and can be very effective in soft revision.

As one of the longest-established Indonesian LOTE programs in the state, our school has an impressive library of Indonesian readers, across all year levels, which are used in various ways depending on age group and language proficiency. Although the books are in Indonesian, they are level-appropriate, and the illustrations help greatly in conveying meaning.

Students in Cycle 2 age-group really benefit from a quiet period where they all find a comfortable spot and read a book of their choosing. They are usually initially attracted to the visual appeal of a book, but quickly become engrossed in the story.

Indonesian is written using the same alphabet as English. As students also read bilingual books, they are able to make comparisons and develop an understanding of how Indonesian and English are the same or different, such as by identifying distinctive or ‘untranslatable’ words or expressions, knowing word orders and observing grammatical patterns or rules.

Our Cycle 2 students enjoy reading and explore the diversity of Indonesian culture through images. We have agreed that Indonesian lessons will finish with some quiet reading time. It’s so gratifying to see how much they look forward to reading time and how the class dynamic changes when they are each engrossed in a book. They are a little too old for a nap but reading definitely has a calming effect. 

Such sustained focus in their studies meant that the Cycle 4 final assessment piece really hit the spot for Cycle 3 students. Cycle 4 studied conjunction rules and then composed readers pitched at the Cycle 3 vocabulary level, including comprehension questions that referenced the new prepositions and verbs describing pastimes, e.g. the dog is playing on the beach in the holidays. Owing to how well Cycle 4 pitched their texts, Cycle 3 students could independently read the texts and solve the comprehension questions.

All year the Cycle 3 students have continued their 'Out & About' program which involves making real-world connections through firsthand experiences.

Last term Year 6s in Cycle 3 wrote persuasive letters to different organisations to get support for the Taikurrinthi Unit at The Women's and Children's Hospital. The Taikurrinthi Unit supports patients and families that travel from their homes (often from far north and rural areas). These families usually don’t have the finances to afford simple things that are required for living away from home for an extended period in a hostel while requiring medical care. Often these families are unaware of the length of time they are staying in Adelaide and usually it is an emergency trip, so they haven’t had time to plan or pack.

Last Thursday a few Cycle 3 students travelled to The Women's and Children's Hospital to meet with staff at the Taikurrinthi Unit and deliver the donations that they had collected. Support the Unit had identified were shopping vouchers to purchase hygiene supplies, Metro cards and warm jumpers and jackets.  Cycle 3 elected to use some of last term's MYE profits to buy the Metro cards and some members of our community donated Coles gift vouchers. Families in our community also donated a lot of pre-loved jumpers and jackets that were warmly received.

Clancy, Ollie, Bella and Olivia went with Nikki Green and Suzie Saffin to The Women's & Children's Hospital to deliver the donations. We were also given a tour of the hospital school. This has now sparked our interest in other ways we can support the hospital community.