During Science in Week 1, our Year 5 students explored the importance of opposable thumbs through a hands-on experiment! By completing everyday tasks with and without their thumbs, they discovered just how vital this unique human adaptation really is. From tying shoelaces to opening drink bottles, the challenge sparked curiosity, laughter, and some surprising results.

Think you could manage without your thumbs? Give it a go at home and see which task stumps you the most—was it harder than you expected?

Year 2 Excursion to Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum

Our Year 2 students recently stepped back in time during their visit to the Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum. This historic building, originally opened as the Highgrove Hotel in 1854. Over the years, it has served many roles including a post office, school room, and residence before becoming the museum we know today in 2015.

Students were immersed in life from the 1850s to the 1950s through hands-on activities such as candlelight living, old-fashioned games, and traditional laundry practices like scrubbing and wringing. These experiences brought history to life in a fun and memorable way.

We are incredibly thankful to the museum staff for their warm hospitality and engaging presentations. We’re also grateful to God for blessing us with beautiful weather after a week of rain, and to our wonderful parent/guardian volunteers who generously gave their time to support the excursion.

Collages in the Sand

Returning from the holidays to find friends playing in the yard and enjoying some welcomed sunshine, describes the setting for our first couple of nature plays of Term 3. The 1pm bell sounds and children literally gallop across the grass, slowing down only by their curiosity of what they find at the nature tables. Gumnuts, rocks, sticks and feathers? With a sand filled tray, their imaginations took them to different habitats, various creatures from land, sea and sky, and opened conversations about the world around them and how our God created it all. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again;

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.". "The best way to learn is by doing.". "Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.".

There are bare trees lining the streets of Adelaide now that Autumn turned to Winter. I am watching a bare pear tree that once was leafy, begin to bud in my backyard and it gently reminds me of the journey that living things embark on. Just like the trees that change and grow according to season, our little people also grow and develop new “buds” as they embrace the changes that come their way. What a privilege it is as parents to plant them in fertile soil, water them, nurture them when unexpected events come their way, and embrace the growth and purpose they are intended for. Enjoy nature this week with your “budding” beauties!