Penbank Letter Home
Letter Home, Vivienne Wearne
Greetings everyone!
We’re well into the swing of all things Term 4, and thoroughly enjoying the experience as we delve into the Unit of Inquiry, How We Express Ourselves. At all year levels, this investigation explores ways we express ourselves through nature, light and sound, through literature and poetry, music dance, art and drama. Our learning will culminate in an end-of-year performance, The Penbank Finale. Titled, Light the Way, this performance will involve all children from Foundation to Year 6 reflecting ideas, discoveries, and thoughts from the year’s work.
As a whole school, Woodleigh traditionally commences Term 4 with a celebration of the Arts. It was my pleasure to attend the opening of Woodleigh Arts Week during Week 2. Held in the beautiful studio space at the senior campus, the gallery displayed innovative exhibits of the Year 12 creations including their portfolios. I always enjoy viewing the diversity of artworks and especially seeing artworks presented by former Penbank students. It is wonderful to see the development of their talents and passions as they mature. Thank you to the Penbank parents who likewise went along to the Opening. It is an extremely worthwhile opportunity to see the fine work of the students and partake in senior campus action.
Busking for Change – a terrific library initiative!
At the end of last term, we enjoyed a delightful Music Soiree and celebrated Book Week, the theme: Read, Grow, Inspire. A special fundraising initiative throughout this time was Busking for Change in support of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Anne was delighted to deposit $1155 to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation on the last day of term - all cash proceeds from the several Busking for Change opportunities held at Penbank during the Penbank Book Week School Meeting and the Penbank Soiree, which fell in the same week as Indigenous Literacy Day - perfect timing! We sang the Busking for Change song jointly composed by Justine Clark and school children from Barunga NT, a neighbouring community to Beswick/Wugularr. Sung in Kriol and English, both the Soiree and Book Week celebrations showcased a love of literature and music. We also had a sausage sizzle and a Bookmark design competition, all combined funds that supported our donation.
Thank you, Anne, for leading this initiative, and congratulations all music staff and students on an exemplary musical event. To all families and students, we thank you for supporting us in these important endeavours. Let’s do it again next year!
World Teachers Day
This week’s School Meeting was an important time to acknowledge teachers of the world. We reflected on the great influence and contribution teachers make to the lives of children and young people every day. We acknowledged the many experiences teachers bring to children, enabling every child to learn in the best possible way. We agreed that there are all sorts of teachers - teachers as specialists, teachers as creators, teachers as supporters and encouragers! We agreed they are all different, with different personalities, different talents and interests, and different ways of doing things. And what we know is that they all have great heart! We especially love it when teachers are full of fun and make us laugh and feel happy. The children commented that our teachers can be very funny too, even some of their jokes!
Celebrating our school’s teachers, they are the best of the best! They work together to make sure there is something special at school for everyone. They love their work and do their absolute best to provide a meaningful, purposeful, and enjoyable education no matter what age or stage. We thank the teachers at our school for the enormous commitment and contribution they make each and every day. This week was a chance to recognise and celebrate the Penbank teachers – our sincerest thanks and appreciation for everything that you do.
Exciting staff news is that Sarina Canning, former Year 5 teacher, gave birth to a son, Rumi, born during the September holidays. We extend our congratulations and best wishes to Sarina and her family with the welcome arrival of their little one.
Key focuses this term have included being a person with integrity by being honest, taking responsibility and principled in our thoughts and actions. The development of friendships has also played an important part in teaching children how to interact as group participants appropriately and positively.
The addition of several excursions, expos, the Year 2 sleepover, baby chickens, events such as Indonesian PESTA and the swimming program will all contribute to a very exciting final term of the year. We will also be welcoming new students and families to Penbank during Orientation – Week 8.
Orientation Week
New families have received information regarding the program for new parents and children during Week 8. Due to the changes occurring next year, discussions are in process concerning the allocation of teachers to groups. We are hopeful all families will be informed of these arrangements before Orientation.
Moving on…. As Albert Einstein said…. ‘Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is never to stop questioning!’
Take care, everyone and many thanks for all that you do.
Warmest regards,
Vivienne
Observations of a newcomer
As a new member of the Woodleigh community, I have spent the past four weeks observing, collaborating, and immersing myself in the life of the Junior School at both Minimbah and Penbank campuses. I have been struck by the energy and warmth of the learning environments, by the positive statements from the staff who explain that they ‘love coming to work each day,’ and by the joyful interactions that I’ve had with students
During my first tour for prospective families, one of the visitors observed that the same ideas were being explored in a few of the classrooms we had visited. Rod asked me to share the reasons for this and to explain a bit about the IB Primary Years Program with the group. My work with the classes and teachers meant I had knowledge of the ‘ideas’ the visitor was referring to and fortunately, it provided a wonderful link to help me explain the PYP. The ideas he had noticed were the concepts of responsibility and perspective. Responsibility and perspective are 2 of the 7 key concepts of the PYP. All year levels engage with all 7 of these key concepts each year.
During our tour, we saw Foundation students engaging with ‘responsibility’ when investigating communities and the people who work in them. They spoke of understanding things through different ‘perspectives’. In the Year 1 and 2 classrooms, the documented learning we had looked at on their walls reflected their unit of inquiry into ‘Who we are’ which explored the ‘perspectives’ of the diverse cultures in their class, and their unit inquiring into ‘Sharing the planet’ which explored our ‘responsibility’ when using Earth’s resources. In the Year 3 classroom, the students were engaged in conversation about a book they had read which explored the different ‘perspectives’ of life during early European settlement and the impact this had on indigenous Australians. The concepts of ‘responsibility’ and ‘perspective’ were everywhere!
When you are immersed in PYP education you use these concepts in your conversations every day. It is only when someone visits with fresh eyes and you are asked to articulate why this is, that the power of these 7 words becomes clear. By revisiting concepts each year, students deepen their understanding of these big ideas and build connections with what these look like in different contexts. As constructivist educators, we are constantly connecting learning and building on what the child already knows. This use and re use of language and ideas such as the key concepts, is an intentional, explicit part of the Primary Years Program.
Concepts enable connection across the disciplines and exploration of ideas across time and place. Students develop the attributes of caring and empathy by using and understanding perspective. They consider ways to take action by exploring ways they can demonstrate responsibility. These words are used in purposeful, powerful ways and the result is a child that has developed not only an understanding of the concepts but also the learner profile attributes. We are educating students to understand big ideas, to connect these and consider ways they can take action, to be, as the IB mission states, “knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world.”
Ask your child about these 7 key concepts of the PYP:
• Form
• Function
• Change
• Causation
• Connection
• Responsibility
• Perspective
You can read more about concept-based learning in the IB Primary Years Program here.
KAREN CHAUR
Director of Learning - Primary Years
YEARs 1 AND 2: FAMily Museum
The Year 1s and 2s at Penbank have been looking at Artefacts - and the stories that they tell—artefacts from all over the world, from Egypt to the Dinosaurs all the way to their own homes.
The kids went home and spoke to their families about the special things that tell the stories of their own histories, from war medallions to family recipes, photos and keepsakes that have travelled through the generations, bringing the past safely with them.
Each student had a space to arrange and display their things alongside a beautifully handwritten note describing what they were displaying. On Monday afternoon, parents and special friends gathered to walk through our mini-museum to ask questions and discuss all the things that make us who we are, the differences and similarities between us, and the stories of our families.
Thankyou to Charlotte and Britt for pulling off an amazing day of adventurous learning, sharing , of FUN and laughs.
Sports Report, with Pete McGettigan
In this Term 4 edition of the Woodleigh School Messenger, we are thrilled to let you know what has been happening in the world of Physical Education at Penbank. We carefully designed our sports curriculum around the central idea of "Net Sports” to begin the term, encompassing disciplines such as volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and pickleball. As we delve into these activities, we not only aim to promote physical well-being but also embrace the PYP's holistic approach to education by nurturing students' personal, social, and emotional development.
Inquiry-Based Learning in Volleyball: As our students dove into the world of volleyball, they engaged in inquiry-based learning, where they posed questions, investigated strategies, and reflected on their experiences. Through teamwork and collaboration, they have explored the concept of fair play and sportsmanship.
Transdisciplinary Skills in Badminton, Table Tennis, and Pickleball: In the realms of badminton, table tennis, and pickleball, we saw an opportunity for our students to acquire transdisciplinary skills that transcend traditional subject boundaries. These sports encouraged problem-solving, adaptability, and communication, mirroring the interconnectedness of knowledge and the development of skills that extend beyond the classroom.
I would also like to give special recognition to the outstanding achievements of Mavis Laverty and Will Moser, who proudly represented Penbank at the South East Victorian Regional Athletics Carnival. Will finished 4th in the U9/10 100m and 8th in the U9/10 Long Jump. Mavis finished 5th in the 200m U12/13 age group. Well done!
As we navigate Term 4, we are excited to witness the growth, development, and interconnected learning experiences that our students will encounter. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who have lent their assistance, support, contributions, and encouragement to our Physical Education and Outdoors programs.
Wishing everyone a safe, joyful, and healthy time ahead!
Far Reaching Goals: Indonesian
Term 4 in Indonesia marks the occasion of the Pesta Indonesia (festival) at both of our junior campuses. During these festivities, our Year 9 and some Year 8 Indonesian students take on the role of educators, taking lessons throughout the day – it's students teaching students!
At Penbank, the festival will take place on Tuesday 31 October, and at Minimbah, it will be Wednesday 22nd of November. To enhance the cultural experience, an Indonesian caterer will be present on these days, offering authentic lunches and sweet cakes for our students to purchase.
Penbank’s Colour Run fundraiser earlier in the year successfully raised over $22,000 for the Melbourne Zoo Orangutan program. An update from the Zoo detailing how these funds are being utilised to enrich the lives of the three resident Orangutans is attached here.
Looking ahead, the SC Indonesian Study Tour runs during Broadening Horizons, from 3-16 December, 2024. This program will involve 18 students from Years 10 to 12, and 5 staff members. To support the tour and our in-country service program, Peduli Alam (Caring for the Environment), we organized a fundraising BBQ event in Term 3 on the 14th of September. The event proved highly successful, raising just over $500. This money will be used to purchase reusable stainless steel drink bottles and school stationary supply kits.
Peduli Alam is an organization that collaborates with local villages in Amed, Northeast Bali. They actively encourage primary students to collect small single-use plastics, which are then repurposed into shopping bags and sold. This initiative plays a crucial role in preventing these plastics from ending up in our waterways. During the study tour, our SC students will spend five days working alongside Peduli Alam, constructing recycling bins within the communities to store the plastics. Additionally, they will be involved in beach clean-up activities with another group called 'Trash Heroes.' Images of these efforts are attached for your reference.
Finally, during Broadening Horizons week, four Year 11 French students, accompanied by two staff members, will embark on a journey to Lyon, France. These students are part of our student exchange program and will spend six weeks with their host families, including experiencing a European Christmas. It promises to be an enriching and culturally immersive experience for them.
Annual Cambodia Night Fundraiser
Annual Cambodian Fundraiser
On 24th November, we will be holding our annual fundraiser for the Chumkriel Language School in Cambodia (Cambodia Night), featuring performances from the school’s numerous rock bands.
An important part of the fundraising evening is the raffle, and as a community let's come together and help. Donations to the raffle, big or small, contacts with businesses that might help, would be most appreciated.
If you think you might be able to contribute something, even a bottle of wine, candles, chocolates, vouchers or big ticket items, please email me, Cathy Holt at cholt@woodleigh.vic.edu.au.
There will be a box at Reception for donations - thankyou so much for anything that you might be able to offer.
Join us at Senior Campus on Friday, 24 November, for the Annual Cambodian Fundraiser and help raise important funds for Chumkriel Language School!
Bring along your friends and family to a night of live music performed by Woodleigh students!
Be entertained by TOP STUDENT BANDS and, most importantly, help raise funds for Chumkriel Language School in Kampot, Cambodia.
Tickets are just $15 for adults and $12.50 for students, while performers come for free!
We'll have soft drinks and snacks on sale, the barbie will be hotting up sausages and veggie delights to keep you from getting too hungry, and we look forward to seeing you in the Senior Campus Hall from 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
CATHY HOLT
Music Teacher & ECEG Peer Tutoring Coordinator
As a new member of the Woodleigh community, I have spent the past four weeks observing, collaborating, and immersing myself in the life of the Junior School at both Minimbah and Penbank campuses. I have been struck by the energy and warmth of the learning environments, by the positive statements from the staff who explain that they ‘love coming to work each day,’ and by the joyful interactions that I’ve had with students
During my first tour for prospective families, one of the visitors observed that the same ideas were being explored in a few of the classrooms we had visited. Rod asked me to share the reasons for this and to explain a bit about the IB Primary Years Program with the group. My work with the classes and teachers meant I had knowledge of the ‘ideas’ the visitor was referring to and fortunately, it provided a wonderful link to help me explain the PYP. The ideas he had noticed were the concepts of responsibility and perspective. Responsibility and perspective are 2 of the 7 key concepts of the PYP. All year levels engage with all 7 of these key concepts each year.
During our tour, we saw Foundation students engaging with ‘responsibility’ when investigating communities and the people who work in them. They spoke of understanding things through different ‘perspectives’. In the Year 1 and 2 classrooms, the documented learning we had looked at on their walls reflected their unit of inquiry into ‘Who we are’ which explored the ‘perspectives’ of the diverse cultures in their class, and their unit inquiring into ‘Sharing the planet’ which explored our ‘responsibility’ when using Earth’s resources. In the Year 3 classroom, the students were engaged in conversation about a book they had read which explored the different ‘perspectives’ of life during early European settlement and the impact this had on indigenous Australians. The concepts of ‘responsibility’ and ‘perspective’ were everywhere!
When you are immersed in PYP education you use these concepts in your conversations every day. It is only when someone visits with fresh eyes and you are asked to articulate why this is, that the power of these 7 words becomes clear. By revisiting concepts each year, students deepen their understanding of these big ideas and build connections with what these look like in different contexts. As constructivist educators, we are constantly connecting learning and building on what the child already knows. This use and re use of language and ideas such as the key concepts, is an intentional, explicit part of the Primary Years Program.
Concepts enable connection across the disciplines and exploration of ideas across time and place. Students develop the attributes of caring and empathy by using and understanding perspective. They consider ways to take action by exploring ways they can demonstrate responsibility. These words are used in purposeful, powerful ways and the result is a child that has developed not only an understanding of the concepts but also the learner profile attributes. We are educating students to understand big ideas, to connect these and consider ways they can take action, to be, as the IB mission states, “knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world.”
Ask your child about these 7 key concepts of the PYP:
• Form
• Function
• Change
• Causation
• Connection
• Responsibility
• Perspective
You can read more about concept-based learning in the IB Primary Years Program here.
KAREN CHAUR
Director of Learning - Primary Years
The Year 1s and 2s at Penbank have been looking at Artefacts - and the stories that they tell—artefacts from all over the world, from Egypt to the Dinosaurs all the way to their own homes.
The kids went home and spoke to their families about the special things that tell the stories of their own histories, from war medallions to family recipes, photos and keepsakes that have travelled through the generations, bringing the past safely with them.
Each student had a space to arrange and display their things alongside a beautifully handwritten note describing what they were displaying. On Monday afternoon, parents and special friends gathered to walk through our mini-museum to ask questions and discuss all the things that make us who we are, the differences and similarities between us, and the stories of our families.
Thankyou to Charlotte and Britt for pulling off an amazing day of adventurous learning, sharing , of FUN and laughs.
In this Term 4 edition of the Woodleigh School Messenger, we are thrilled to let you know what has been happening in the world of Physical Education at Penbank. We carefully designed our sports curriculum around the central idea of "Net Sports” to begin the term, encompassing disciplines such as volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and pickleball. As we delve into these activities, we not only aim to promote physical well-being but also embrace the PYP's holistic approach to education by nurturing students' personal, social, and emotional development.
Inquiry-Based Learning in Volleyball: As our students dove into the world of volleyball, they engaged in inquiry-based learning, where they posed questions, investigated strategies, and reflected on their experiences. Through teamwork and collaboration, they have explored the concept of fair play and sportsmanship.
Transdisciplinary Skills in Badminton, Table Tennis, and Pickleball: In the realms of badminton, table tennis, and pickleball, we saw an opportunity for our students to acquire transdisciplinary skills that transcend traditional subject boundaries. These sports encouraged problem-solving, adaptability, and communication, mirroring the interconnectedness of knowledge and the development of skills that extend beyond the classroom.
I would also like to give special recognition to the outstanding achievements of Mavis Laverty and Will Moser, who proudly represented Penbank at the South East Victorian Regional Athletics Carnival. Will finished 4th in the U9/10 100m and 8th in the U9/10 Long Jump. Mavis finished 5th in the 200m U12/13 age group. Well done!
As we navigate Term 4, we are excited to witness the growth, development, and interconnected learning experiences that our students will encounter. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who have lent their assistance, support, contributions, and encouragement to our Physical Education and Outdoors programs.
Wishing everyone a safe, joyful, and healthy time ahead!
Term 4 in Indonesia marks the occasion of the Pesta Indonesia (festival) at both of our junior campuses. During these festivities, our Year 9 and some Year 8 Indonesian students take on the role of educators, taking lessons throughout the day – it's students teaching students!
At Penbank, the festival will take place on Tuesday 31 October, and at Minimbah, it will be Wednesday 22nd of November. To enhance the cultural experience, an Indonesian caterer will be present on these days, offering authentic lunches and sweet cakes for our students to purchase.
Penbank’s Colour Run fundraiser earlier in the year successfully raised over $22,000 for the Melbourne Zoo Orangutan program. An update from the Zoo detailing how these funds are being utilised to enrich the lives of the three resident Orangutans is attached here.
Looking ahead, the SC Indonesian Study Tour runs during Broadening Horizons, from 3-16 December, 2024. This program will involve 18 students from Years 10 to 12, and 5 staff members. To support the tour and our in-country service program, Peduli Alam (Caring for the Environment), we organized a fundraising BBQ event in Term 3 on the 14th of September. The event proved highly successful, raising just over $500. This money will be used to purchase reusable stainless steel drink bottles and school stationary supply kits.
Peduli Alam is an organization that collaborates with local villages in Amed, Northeast Bali. They actively encourage primary students to collect small single-use plastics, which are then repurposed into shopping bags and sold. This initiative plays a crucial role in preventing these plastics from ending up in our waterways. During the study tour, our SC students will spend five days working alongside Peduli Alam, constructing recycling bins within the communities to store the plastics. Additionally, they will be involved in beach clean-up activities with another group called 'Trash Heroes.' Images of these efforts are attached for your reference.
Finally, during Broadening Horizons week, four Year 11 French students, accompanied by two staff members, will embark on a journey to Lyon, France. These students are part of our student exchange program and will spend six weeks with their host families, including experiencing a European Christmas. It promises to be an enriching and culturally immersive experience for them.
Annual Cambodian Fundraiser
On 24th November, we will be holding our annual fundraiser for the Chumkriel Language School in Cambodia (Cambodia Night), featuring performances from the school’s numerous rock bands.
An important part of the fundraising evening is the raffle, and as a community let's come together and help. Donations to the raffle, big or small, contacts with businesses that might help, would be most appreciated.
If you think you might be able to contribute something, even a bottle of wine, candles, chocolates, vouchers or big ticket items, please email me, Cathy Holt at cholt@woodleigh.vic.edu.au.
There will be a box at Reception for donations - thankyou so much for anything that you might be able to offer.
Join us at Senior Campus on Friday, 24 November, for the Annual Cambodian Fundraiser and help raise important funds for Chumkriel Language School!
Bring along your friends and family to a night of live music performed by Woodleigh students!
Be entertained by TOP STUDENT BANDS and, most importantly, help raise funds for Chumkriel Language School in Kampot, Cambodia.
Tickets are just $15 for adults and $12.50 for students, while performers come for free!
We'll have soft drinks and snacks on sale, the barbie will be hotting up sausages and veggie delights to keep you from getting too hungry, and we look forward to seeing you in the Senior Campus Hall from 5.30pm for a 6pm start.
CATHY HOLT
Music Teacher & ECEG Peer Tutoring Coordinator