It’s finally on,  the challenge is now open.  Students will be issued a challenge Permission Form and reading log shortly.  The challenge has a mascot this year called ‘Lachlan the Dog’. To find out what is new in 2014 with the Reading Challenge or to learn a little more about Lachlan click on his picture.. 

The veggie garden has been quietly but steadily growing over the holidays and we have harvested plenty of zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach, and even some pumpkins, since coming back to school. Last week we discovered the most incredible zucchini hiding under the leaves. We held a school-wide competition to guess it’s weight. 3/4J came the closest with their guess of 2.5kg. The zucchini weighed in at a massive 3.2kg! Watch this space for news on what 3/4J will do with their prize zucchini!!

Jess

Students in 34J and 34W are excited about the opportunity of learning from and sharing their learning with a unique school in Calgary, Canada. Piitoayis Family School is a unique school that explores reading, writing and learning through an indigenous lens. Their story is recorded on their website and a fascinating read. Students at Pender's are exploring ways that they can collaborate with people over the internet. Stay tuned!  

For the past few weeks the 56 students have been doing something called ‘Readers Theatre’. Readers Theatre is a reading and viewing activity in which we get a script on Mondays and practice every day until Friday when we perform to both 56 grades. We have also started to perform to the Prep/1 students too. So far we have had four performances. They are called ‘Rumpelstiltskin’, ‘There’s a Wolf in Town’, 'Cinderella Big Foot’ and ‘Listen Buddy.’ They were all enjoyed by everybody.

Elijah & Vihanga

For the last few weeks we have been working on a dancing program called Footsteps. All the grades from P-2, 3-6 (and multi-age) every Monday join up in the hall and dance. In Footsteps we have learnt 4 dances so far: one individual partner dance where you have the same partner all through the dance a progressive partner dance where you change partners. A Bollywood dance and “The AM to PM dance” is a dance you do by yourself.  Everyone has enjoyed it and look forward to the upcoming week.

By Brandon & Ellison

This week the year 6's have been training to be peer support leaders. The Peer Support Program is about the year 6's acting as role models, supporting and helping the grade 3's with their journey through primary school. We will help with their problems and teach them to cope with different situations.
We participated in a number of games and many discussions. One of the games was the straw game and that involved active listening and good communication skills. Another game was cars and drivers that were mainly to do with trust.

Now that the training has finished, Jess and James will choose up to 16 students who will become new peer support leaders.

Tara & Angela

During English P1R is exploring the ancient art of storytelling. We have been telling folktales and fables from around the world. Listening to stories has been a vivid and creative experience for us. Most of the stories are taking place in the imagination of the listeners. Stories are being told to each other with and without the use of props. Having the opportunity to tell stories encourages us to develop verbal self-confidence, foster an awareness of one's own unique imagination, and enhance listening skills.

Rebecca

Students from Years 2 to 6 joined with the rest of the world to celebrate Safer Internet Day 2014 on Tuesday. Classes used the Interactive Whiteboards to join a conference involving thousands of other students around Australia. It was a chance to interact with quizzes and polls as well as explore some important strategies that ensure students are safe online. Maintaining the confidentiality of passwords and never disclosing personal information proved two important lessons for us all. Thanks to those staff who ensured the event took place without a hitch and we are all looking forward to learning more from our cyber safety lessons in the future. 

Find out more about the Safer Internet Day from ACMA.

The hall rattles and the glass shakes when students gather in the hall for their Monday morning Footsteps lessons. There are smiles and lots of action as students learn the steps of a range of dances including hip hop and partner dances. Some parents have been delighted by practices of students at home! Make sure you have pencilled in our Family Disco night on Tuesday evening at 6:00pm on 25th March when you can join the energy and fun of our term's dancing.

Delicious Zucchini Slice by the chefs in P/1F! Zucchini from Amelia's garden! Carrots from Pender's Garden! Eggs from Felicity's mum's chickens! And homemade bread from Sylvia's family! For some of us it was our first taste of zucchini! And we loved it!!

Felicity