We continue to be impressed with our Junior School Wilderness girls… they are courageous, creative, solution-driven and confident – embracing new opportunities to learn and determined to have fun along the way. Just what we want for each of them.

Oliphant Science Award Competition.
Week 4 saw us celebrate Science Week. There is so much on offer in our differentiated science classes across the Junior School, to engage each and every girl. Thank you to all our teachers for encouraging our girls to enter this prestigious Science Awards program. Wilderness had just over 40 entries which is a fabulous contribution from our girls. We congratulate the following students who had successful entries:

Lara Nassery and Isabel Wilson
(Year 3-4 Games): PRIZE – WINNER

Olivia Ertugrul
(Year 5-6 Models & Inventions): HIGHLY COMMENDED plus two Sponsor nominations from the Royal Australia Chemical Institute and Wine Australia.

Lila Nassery and Adeline Wilson
(Year 5-6 Games): HIGHLY COMMENDED

Thank you to Mr Nathan Rice for facilitating this learning opportunity for our Wilderness girls.

Year 6 Curriculum School Production – save the dates…

‘CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY”

Wednesday 25th September 6pm to 7.15pm and Thursday 26th September 6pm to 7.15pm

Venue: Wilderness Newman Theatre.

“I can’t dance, sing, act – but I will give it a go.” (Year 6 student).

Nothing inspires us more to try new things than having someone believe in us, look for the magic in us, let us give things a go and catch us if we fall; finally having time to collaborate with like-minded peers brings out the best in everyone and helps us achieve so much more as a team.

Congratulations to every Year 6 girl for their commitment and hard work to ensure this interdisciplinary Arts Faculty Australian Curriculum production is ‘such a hit and memorable experience for each girl’. The girls genuinely embrace the feedback and advice of our outstanding Co-Directors Ms Mia Parkin and Mr Jason Forrest and all the staff involved in supporting the girls with their learning. Observing our girls displaying such courage to make the most of new opportunities that have come their way is commendable. I am so proud of each girl for putting their best foot forward. Please mark this ‘not to be missed event’ in your diary and bring the whole family. Information re bookings will be released soon. Hope you can come along and see our girls in action ‘under the big lights’ of our beautiful Newman Theatre, that has been set up as a professional theatre space with the help of the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Gwen Robinson Piano Competition at Elder Hall, University of Adelaide.
On Wednesday 21st August, 11 wonderful pianists across Years 3 to 9 competed in the annual Gwen Robinson Piano Competition. Ms Lucinda Collins, the Head of Keyboard at the Elder Conservatorium announced this years’ winner was Wilderness School’s youngest competitor – Alisa Gan in 3W! Thank you to Ms Anna Lenartowicz and our families for supporting our talented musicians to take their love for solo music performance to such a high level. Congratulations Alisa – we are so proud of you and look forward to hearing you play for us in Junior School assembly regularly. To quote Ms Lenartowicz (Head of Department – Music) - “Alisa played beautifully – a very talented pianist”.

Mindlab Olympics
On Friday 9th August Ms Alice Short and Mr Kieran Jackson took the following Year 6 girls to participate in this exceptional learning and thinking competition held at St Andrew’s School. We thank and congratulate these girls for their great work:

Class 6S – Emma Burns; Noor Jilaihawi; Rosalie Morgan; Alina Teng

Class 6J – Alice Gao; Skyler Luong; Lila Nassery; Adeline Wilson.

Year 2 Zoo Snooze
Both Year 2 classes have attended their first overnight outdoor education program adventure at the Adelaide Zoo. Girls in 2K went on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th August with Head of Outdoor Education Department – Mrs Lauren Walker and class teachers Ms Isabella Kasdalis and Mrs Kate Brennan.

Girls in 2B went on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August with our Outdoor Education staff and Mrs Kate Brennan and Ms Isabella Kasdalis. Zoo Learning staff escorted each group through the Education Centre. The girls had a BBQ dinner together, mingled in an Animals close-up session and Explored the Zoo at night with an escorted guided walk. Supper and movie on their return and bed-time! Students were up at 7.00 am, packing up their bedding, enjoyed breakfast with their peers, had a fun Morning Zoo Walk before farewelling the Zoo Education staff.

A big thank you to all our families and staff for working together to ensure our girls were well prepared for this new experience – we had 100% student attendance which was fabulous. Well done girls – thank you to our dedicated staff for providing this opportunity for our girls.

BOOK WEEK – a creative week, culminating in our Book Week Parade
Mrs Katie Silva, our Junior School Librarian, our Library staff and our SRC Library Committee girls, led by Chloe Knox worked tirelessly as a team to prepare a range of activities to encourage our community to appreciate and promote reading amongst our Junior School girls.

We kickstarted Book Week on Thursday 15th August with Ms Mandy Foote, as this year’s visiting Author/Illustrator in residence – conducting ‘hands-on’ workshops with our girls; girls voted for their favourite books in their specialist Library Lessons; planned and shared a range of exciting Buddy Class activities (with a delightful kit of materials to use and be creative with together). Our exciting Book Week adventures were showcased and celebrated as a Wildy community, with our traditional Book Week Parade - set to music selected by each class on Thursday 22nd August.

We thoroughly enjoyed the creative character costumes ‘put together by our girls and their families’. Thank you to everyone for joining us and contributing to the success of this special celebration – especially all our ELC families for supporting Mrs Rebecca Williams and our dedicated ELC staff to transport our Mamies and Annies girls safely to and from our ELC and the Gym.

Junior School Play Spaces – friendly reminder to reinforce this with your daughter
Our Year 3-6 girls continue to be reminded by their Class Teachers that they have access to the gym for soccer/active play and the generous lawn area next to the “running track” near the main staffroom, in addition to the Junior School quad and Basketball/Netball court space.

No Soccer is permitted on the Basketball/Netball space in the Junior School. This has been explained very carefully to our girls through their Class Teachers since the start of the year and followed-up individually. We appreciate you taking the time to go through this information with your daughter to ensure they understand where they can play safely, having fun, forging new friendships, engaging in building respectful relationships with their peers and making appropriate choices, keeping themselves safe at all times.

We have 4 teachers on Yard Duty in the Junior School during recess and lunch – who monitor the safety of our girls vigilantly. We appreciate your support explaining this to your daughter.

Teddy Bear Adventure Picnic
The Year 1 Outdoor Education Day Trip, titled the “Teddy Bear Adventure Picnic,” was a joyful exploration held on a crisp, sunny winters day at Morialta. The girls embarked on an exciting journey inspired by Michael Rosen’s Going on a Bear Hunt. As they followed the playful storyline, they immersed themselves in the lush scenery, crossed the flowing creek, and climbed towards a ‘bear’ cave.

Along the way, they delighted in spotting koalas nestled high in the eucalyptus trees—a perfect glimpse of Morialta’s thriving wildlife. Their adventure was enhanced by creative activities, where they crafted nature art using leaves, twigs, and vibrant flowers they collected. The day concluded with a Teddy Bears picnic and fun on the adventure playground, making it a memorable experience for all.

Millie – My favourite part was taking my shoes and socks off and splish, sploshing through the creek.

Pippa – I loved going on the bear hunt and climbing up 89 stairs to the cave.

Victoria – Taking my shoes and socks off and going across the creek was fantastic!

Adelaide – My favourite part was making the nature art, and I learnt it’s important to respect nature.

Zara – Definitely walking through the creek was my favourite part of the bear hunt!

Zoe – I loved spotting the koalas hidden in the trees.

Sun Protection Policy
Thank you to all our families for sending their girls to school with their names light blue sun hat to support out Wilderness updated Sun Protection Policy. ‘As part of this policy, sun hats are now required to be worn by ELC , Lower Junior and Junior School students in Terms 1, 3 and 4. As a result, the "No Hat, No Play" policy will come into effect immediately’. 

There are still a few girls who have not been able to play as they do not bring their hat to school. Please help us ensure your daughter’s hat is in their bag each day.

Special Promotion - Out of School Hours Care
Wilderness’ owned and operated Out of School Hours Care is available for all current ELC Annie’s students, plus Junior School girls Reception to Year 6 before school, after school, pupil-free days and vacation care.

OPERATION HOURS
7.00 am to 6.00 pm
Monday to Friday during school term
Before School Care 7.00 am to 8.15 am $38 per child
After School Care 3.15 pm to 6.00 pm $48 per child

$20 (NEW PROMOTION) 7.30 am to 8.15 am – including class drop-off commencing this week.

HOW TO BOOK ONLINE
OSHC bookings can be made using the platform Fullybooked.

Parents can use the booking platform to enrol their child/children and manage bookings and cancellations, update medication information and check billing statements.

Payment is made by direct-debit from a nominated account weekly on Wednesday.

Please be aware that your account needs to be fully registered before a booking can be made.

Click here to access our OSHC Handbook with further details, including Child Care Subsidy for eligible families.

Contact Details
Email: oshc@wilderness.com.au
Mobile: 0427 561 738

Rebecca Vandermoer & Xin Wang
(OSHC Co-Directors)

Finally, I wish to let you know that Mrs Liz McCarthy will be returning to her role as Head of Junior School on Monday 16 September (Week 9 of Term 3). We have been working closely over the last few weeks, to ensure the welfare and learning of each Junior School girl is carefully supported. I thank everyone for their kindness and support. Wilderness is the best school I have had the honour to work in.

I wish to acknowledge Mrs Belinda Arnfield as our Principal who provides outstanding leadership to us all – role-modelling for Wilderness girls what it means to live one of our core values - “A True and Courageous Self” – showing resilience, vibrancy, confidence and appreciation of others” in each interaction. I have especially enjoyed teaching and observing our Year 1 girls be courageous in their learning and strengthening their strategies to forge “Respectful Relationships” at school with peers and adults they interact with daily. All the best everyone.

Thank you once again to our dedicated Junior School teachers and all our Wilderness community, for the privilege to be part of this great school.

Gina Kadis
Acting Head of Junior School