National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated across Australia each year between 27 May and 3 June. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey - the anniversaries of the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.

The week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort. The theme for this year is Let’s Talk Recognition - with a focus on how Australians can better recognise each other, and recognise the contributions, cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Yesterday students from Pender’s Grove participated in the Northcote District Cross Country. All students did really well and completed the course. Although none of our students got through to the next round there were some fabulous personal bests.

Our best finishers were:
9/10 year old  boys  - Hugo 11th
9/10 year old girls - Rylie 12th
11 year old boys - Mohammed 27th
11 year old girls Marthese 9th and Taysen 12th

Everyone had a ball and Todd was thrilled that he beat 7 people! A special thanks to Paula for ensuring everything came together.

The Writer's Festival continued to be filled with discovery and joy. Students paraded around the hall this morning. There were wings, crowns and capes galore! Well done to Marshall for being judged the best looking Hobbit at Pender's Grove. Thanks again for the wonderful parents gathering to applaud and who remind us all of the importance of celebrating reading.

Today the Pender's Writers' Festival took another turn. Chairs were pushed aside in the Early Years building as students gathered at 11:30am to share in the National Simultaneous Storytime. They joined with thousands of children from across Australia to read the Nick Bland's The Wrong Book!

Hugo explained that, "Every class made a presentation about The Wrong Book. Some drew picutres and the 34's made up a funny song! There were great pictures of what Nicholas Icle was thinking about as well as a reflection on digital literacy by 56J." Michelle thought, "Everyone put a lot of effort into the presentations. It was good fun and well worth doing!" Mohamed said, "every class had great different ideas."

We are all looking forward to who might arrive at our Character dressup day tomorrow!

Yesterday our Writer's Festival kicked off with an amazing afternoon with parents, students and teachers reading in small groups throughout the school. Groups huddled in corners, sat at tables or simply spread themselves across the floor as they smiled and enjoyed a picture book.

Rylie reckons that the day was great fun. "I enjoyed eating the cupcakes the most!" she said with a grin on her face. She read with Carissa, Hananno, Aiden and Jess. Ella read with a parent as well as Tess, Victor, Hannah, Sarah and Jude. "I enjoyed responding with a picture the most!" she reported. Both agreed that the day was a wonderful thrill ... especially the cupcakes!

Thanks to all those parents who contributed their important presence to our wonderful afternoon.

34O are keen to share the latest about a new and rather extraordinary member of their class.  

Hi! We are going to tell you about 3/4Os class pet!

When Peter first came to school everyone wanted to see him. Peter has very dark, brown eyes. He has a greyish white tail, his stomach is all white and he has big brown ears. Peter has a very twitchy nose and a tiny little pink tongue. Peter has black tips on his ears. He grooms himself better then cats do! Peter goes to the litter tray when he needs to do his business.

Our teacher Jess takes him home every night. Her cat and Peter like to play together! He eats wheat, pallets, dry grass, sunflower seeds and corn kernels, in the mix we give him. Peter also eats hay and celery.

We do these things called bunny circles. We all sit in a circle and Peter runs around. We pat him when he comes to us.

Come and enjoy the richness of books with a cup of tea and a laugh at the Pender's Grove Primary School's premier event - Afternoon Tea With a Book. Parents, carers and friends will be reading with small groups of students and responding to the stories heard. We will be meeting on Monday at 2:30pm in the Early Years' building. 

Thanks to those who have added to the growing collection of donated story books that will not only be read in the afternoon but then donated to an male adult literacy program that teaches men to read by encouraging them to read to their children. If you haven't contributed then please consiider sharing a book. It's a great remind ourselves that the wonder that reading brings can be shared with all.

Story telling is a whole school focus for learning this term. There are some wonderful examples of students' learning using a range of medium through which to tell their stories. Here is a snap of some of the students in Years 5 and 6 exploring digital story telling in our lab. We look forward to not only hearing but also seeing their stories!

Students in Year 3 and members of the Croxton Multiage class joined to explore the importance of thinking positively today. As well as discussing strategies for thinking positively students had fun singing their own version of the Bobby Vee song 'Bouncy Ball'. 

Students especially enjoyed the chorus ...
'Like a rubber ball we can bounce back when we're down.
Like a rubber ball we can bounce back when we frown.'

Year 3 and the Croxton Multiage class gather each Thursday to discuss social skills and develop resilience.