Receptions Jump in Muddy Puddles!

On Friday 19 May, the Reception students travelled to the Adelaide Hills to experience a wonderful day of adventure and muddy puddles. They were involved in getting their hands dirty in clay making and a scavenger hunt at Woodhouse Activity Centre, followed by lunch and an exploration walk through the beautiful Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. Despite the rain on the day, all students and staff made the most of the muddy puddles and got involved in all activities. The girls were able to immerse themselves in the Autumn colours of their surroundings and had a lovely day out—a memory we are sure they will hold forever.

Kate Woodbridge
Outdoor Education Instructor

Year 4 Camp

During Week 5, the Year 4 students travelled to Douglas Scrub for a two-night camp experience based on the book Walking the Boundaries by Jackie French. The camp was designed to introduce students to exploring place and time and how that has changed over centuries. The girls were given opportunities to explore the world around them whilst strengthening and establishing new friendships in a safe and supportive environment. Both classes were involved in Nature Play activities, Indigenous immersion, journaling time, cooking and cleaning skill learning and a hike in Onkaparinga National Park, where they simulated walking their own boundaries. We highly commend students who experienced their first night in tents, being away from home, and for being adaptable to change when plans had to be modified due to weather conditions.

Here are some of the highlights in the students’ own words:

On the Adventure Course, we got to complete obstacles that our friends would help us with. We needed to use our balance on the obstacles. It was tricky, but in the end everyone tried and got through the course. - Aniqah Anand, Elizabeth Jamieson, Jasmine Adams-Goel, Katia Michailaros, Ariana Doyle and Anneliese Seears

To make damper, we mixed flour, butter, water and salt. After kneading it, we placed it in a cast iron pot over coals to cook. Eating it fresh tasted so good! We added fresh butter that we made by shaking jars filled with cream. Our arms were hurting from so much shaking! - Karla Fizulic, Claudia Collum, Evie Carter, Valencia Disibio, Giordanna Russo and Vasiliki Natsias

Making s’mores was so fun. Firstly, we found sticks to put our marshmallows on, then we added biscuits and cream—so delicious! Then Ms Zammit experimented by roasting bananas in the flaming hot fire! - Olivia Ertugrul, Alexandrina Cao, Rachael Vallat, Kyra Shah, Iris Tiong and Jemima Strahle

During the Year 4 camp, girls displayed a growth mindset and adventurous learning, as most girls slept in tents for the first time. This had the challenge of overcoming really cold temperatures (or really hot sleeping bags!) and homesickness. The girls supported each other really well! - Maya Dan, Amelia Davis, Aanya Pillai, Evana Arora and Olivia Zhong

On camp we went running from a ‘flood’ (not a real one!), we fished for yabbies using chicken necks, ate yummy rolls we made and lots of us tried ‘bush wees’ for the first time! - Nabeeha Usmani, Josie Richter, Sophia Rabah, Zara Sullivan, Mitakshi Gupta and Charlee Hardy

When we made candles, we dipped the wick into melted beeswax for two seconds at a time to form layers. We also made clay bases to hold the candles. The bases were decorated with eucalyptus beads, leaves and nature. - Mia Zhou, Kaylynn Duong, Mae Meng, Tess McKay, Charlotte MacLeod, Tabeer Ashraf and Millie Le

Dave was an Aboriginal man who visited camp to teach us about Indigenous culture. He told us how they make paints using different colours of ochre, as well as charcoal. Dave also showed us different types of boomerangs and he was amazing at playing the didgeridoo! - Madeline Lang, Van Huynh, Jessica Ryder and Vivian Shi

Kate Woodbridge
Outdoor Education Instructor

Luminary Lunch

On Thursday 1 June, the Junior Library Committee attended a Luminary Lunch at St Peter’s College. Tracey Grice (“LiTracey”), a leading Adelaide literacy educator and consultant, was the mastermind behind the event, enabling groups of students from a range of independent schools to interact with an author or illustrator and participate in various literary activities.

To prepare for the event, Year 6 students Tara Adams Goel, Zoe Crowther, Aurelia Di Maria, Menuki Fernando, Dora Li, Jessica Mah, Amelia Maughan and Ariana Ng researched their table guest, illustrator Mandy Foot. They were delighted to discover that Bev and Kev, written by Katrina Germein and illustrated by Mandy, has been shortlisted in the Early Childhood category of the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards. Their interest was also captured when they learned that her design work was featured on the Haigh’s Chocolates Easter Bilby range for the last two years.

Dressed as aspiring artists and with a wide range of furry friends to reflect Mandy’s passion and talent for drawing and painting animals, they were intrigued to explore the sketchbook which captured the developmental sketches for Bev and Kev and learn that Mandy spent time with animals and keepers at Monarto Zoo to develop her work. The girls appreciated her willingness to answer their questions and enjoyed her sense of humour.

As well as a delicious lunch and fast-paced quiz, the highlight was watching Mandy produce a tiny watercolour palette and paint two of the soft toys with amazing skill and dexterity. These characterful portraits will be treasured by their owners, along with exclusive postcards depicting characters from Bev and Kev. Sharing this event with students from other schools and meeting other authors and illustrators enabled the Junior School Library Committee to represent Wilderness with intelligence and integrity, and they thank Mrs Liz McCarthy for this opportunity.

Katie Silva
Teacher Librarian

Upcoming Class Representative Events

Year 5 - Father and Daughter Ninja Warrior Course

Sunday 30 July
12.00pm to 2.00pm
Base Camp, 550 Churchill Road, Kilburn

‘Run, jump, swing and climb your way through three ninja obstacle courses designed for kids, teens and adults of all abilities.’ Fathers, please ensure you book the 12.00pm session online for you and your daughter no later than Friday 30 June to ensure you get a spot!

Laura Carrocci
Year 5 Class Representative

Year 3 - Uni Loop and Brunch

Sunday 13 August
Uni loop bike/run/walk, followed by a family brunch at The Old Lion.
9.30am

Please RSVP to Laura via email no later than Friday 30 June, so a reservation can be made. Please advise how many people in your party are attending.

Laura Carrocci
Year 3 Class Representative

Year 4 - Bounce Greenacres Catchup

Saturday 23 September
2.00pm to 4.00pm
Bounce Greenacres, 13-15 Fosters Road, Greenacres

Cost: $26 per child

Let the kids enjoy some fun together, bouncing off some energy, while parents have a catchup. This booking requires numbers and ages for me to make a deposit, so please reply via email to confirm the number of children attending and their ages.

Please RSVP by Friday 16 June, and pay by Thursday 17 August.

Year 4 Family Adelaide Zoo Picnic Catchup

Sunday 29 October
9.30am
Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, Adelaide

Families can purchase their tickets at the Zoo on the day, which opens from 9.30am. We will meet inside the Zoo between 9.30am to 10.00am and then we will divide into groups. Kids will work in groups and use a map to search and uncover answers and receive a prize when we gather for a picnic lunch. Families can pack a picnic lunch to enjoy or buy food from the kiosk—and then choose to either spend more time at the Zoo or head home.

Please RSVP by Tuesday 10 October via email with your name, your Year 4 daughter’s name and the number of kids coming with you.

Tanya Vallat
Year 4 Class Representative