Special Projects
Pender's Grove have developed partnerships and implemented a range of unique programs over the past few years.
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Curious Questioners
Staff and students have identified students' questioning as a focus for further action research and development. Already a great deal of exploration of questioning has taken place and now work is taking place on introducing actions that have a measureable focus on student questioning. To find out more information about this project please visit Curious Questioners. At the conclusion of 2012 four focus groups comprised of students from Years 3-6 met to discuss their perceptions of students' quesitons. The report from the groups can be downloaded below. 
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Switched on / Switched Off
This unique project was implemented over three years concluding in 2009. A Student Action Team (SAT) comprising of students from Years 4 to 6 researched and planned responses to engagement within the school. Some of their actions they implemented included ... lunchtime craft activities engagement education campaign student seminars in classrooms on engagement development of engagment descriptors surveys and research presentations on engagement to teaching staff to visiting schools placing A frames at the front of school prompting students to begin the day engaged organising and implementing the school engagement awards hosting a range of visitors in the school The three year project was supported with funding from the CASS Foundation. It was run in conjunction with Preston South Primary with whom the SAT met regularly to share learning and reflections. The final report is available from the front office upon request. |
Floating on a Sea of Talk
The Early Learning Team, in conjunction with Early Year’s teachers from two other local schools, were involved in an early learning project. The project as funded through the RE. Ross Trust and Darebin Best Start. This three year project was successfully completed in 2008.
The aims of the project were:
To ensure children are supported in their transition to school through a developmentally appropriate program that is engaging and fun.
To provide children with multiple opportunities to strengthen their social skills, including interpersonal and organisational skills, through targeted play.
To continue to develop young learners problem solving skills.
To facilitate children’s oral language development in order to support their transition into more formal school based literacy learning.
To provide a rich language program that includes art, music, technology, science whilst building a love of literature and words.
The Early Learning Team, in conjunction with Early Year’s teachers from two other local schools, were involved in an early learning project. The project as funded through the RE. Ross Trust and Darebin Best Start. This three year project was successfully completed in 2008.
The aims of the project were:
To ensure children are supported in their transition to school through a developmentally appropriate program that is engaging and fun.
To provide children with multiple opportunities to strengthen their social skills, including interpersonal and organisational skills, through targeted play.
To continue to develop young learners problem solving skills.
To facilitate children’s oral language development in order to support their transition into more formal school based literacy learning.
To provide a rich language program that includes art, music, technology, science whilst building a love of literature and words.
Towards Sustainability
Pender's Grove has always been fundamentally connected to the environment. From the indigenous people living in our area to the naming of the school after the local grove of fruit trees planted by early settlers in the area the environment has always been central to our history.
At Pender's Grove there is an important emphasis on the environment as part of the teaching and learning in classrooms. A passion for environmental education and the schools long term planning has provided a focus for enhancing the school's environmental profile (also see the page on our involvement in The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative).
Indigenous Garden
The Indigenous Garden was established with a grant from Darebin Council and the contribution of some hard working parents. It was created in an unused area of the playground at the rear of the light timber building. What had been a gutter for water runoff has now been shaped into a peaceful and reflective space used by classes as a quiet reading or eating area.
School Vegie Patch and Planter Boxes
There is often some silverbeet or cabbage that is being harvested from our patch. These are spaces that classes and small groups of students are given the chance to really get their hands dirty. Many classes and our OSHC program participants have used the opportunity to grow plants and design authentic literacy and science learning experiences that are fun and tasty!
Rain Water Tanks
In 2010 students enjoyed watching two subterranean tanks being installed under our grassed playing area. These tanks harvest the water from the main building and provide the school with several thousand litres of water to flush our toilets. We hope these actions will value the water that we have often taken for granted in the past. Another tank was then installed to harvest water from the LTC Building. This water is utilised to water the school's vegie patch.
Pender's Grove has always been fundamentally connected to the environment. From the indigenous people living in our area to the naming of the school after the local grove of fruit trees planted by early settlers in the area the environment has always been central to our history.
At Pender's Grove there is an important emphasis on the environment as part of the teaching and learning in classrooms. A passion for environmental education and the schools long term planning has provided a focus for enhancing the school's environmental profile (also see the page on our involvement in The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative).
Indigenous Garden
The Indigenous Garden was established with a grant from Darebin Council and the contribution of some hard working parents. It was created in an unused area of the playground at the rear of the light timber building. What had been a gutter for water runoff has now been shaped into a peaceful and reflective space used by classes as a quiet reading or eating area.
School Vegie Patch and Planter Boxes
There is often some silverbeet or cabbage that is being harvested from our patch. These are spaces that classes and small groups of students are given the chance to really get their hands dirty. Many classes and our OSHC program participants have used the opportunity to grow plants and design authentic literacy and science learning experiences that are fun and tasty!
Rain Water Tanks
In 2010 students enjoyed watching two subterranean tanks being installed under our grassed playing area. These tanks harvest the water from the main building and provide the school with several thousand litres of water to flush our toilets. We hope these actions will value the water that we have often taken for granted in the past. Another tank was then installed to harvest water from the LTC Building. This water is utilised to water the school's vegie patch.