As we progress further into our partnership with The Resilience Project, we would like to introduce you – our families – to the Parent Hub. A place you can find lots of information and resources that compliments what your children are learning at school because when supporting your children’s mental health, we know the best outcomes happen when we work together and practise.
The Agriculture program is thriving at Unity College. We look forward to sharing news from the Unity Farm in coming editions of the eNews.
Highlights so far from Term 1…
The animals we currently have on the “Unity Farm” are used for curriculum only and boy! Do they grow fast!
- 6 pigs – donated by SunPork Farms
- 8 crossbred sheep – supplied by Windella Farms
- 2 poddy calves – donated by Fischer Family for the Cows Create Careers program
- 32 HyLine Brown Chicks
- 6 laying chickens
Also in the Junior & Middle School classes they have been planting up the garden beds with seeds and seedlings and also flowers in the case of the Year 3s who are looking at good and bad “bugs” in the garden.
The pumpkins are starting to be harvested from our Summer holiday patch. Please check out the JS Front Office or Student Services for Unity produce that is available.
For more updates, please check out the Unity College Agriculture Facebook Group.
EMPATHY
Working on empathy helps us to identify, understand and feel what another person is feeling. When we show empathy or we do something kind for someone else our brain releases oxytocin. This leads to increasing our self-esteem/confidence, energy levels, positivity and overall happiness.
Whole Family Activity
Neighbourhood Kindness Challenge
As a family, choose an act of kindness from the list below that you would like to do for a neighbour or family friend. Each family member can select one to commit to, or you can choose to do one together.
- Cook them something delicious like a cake, hot bread, or cookies.
- Write a note to put in their letterbox thanking them for being a great neighbour or friend.
- Design them a Thank You card.
- Pick or buy some flowers to deliver to them.
- Choose a little plant from your garden to give them.
- Make them a gift from things around your house.
- Offer to do a job for them, like wash their car or water their garden.
- Offer to take their pets for a walk.
- Invite them over for afternoon tea.
- Invite them on a walk.
- Recommend one of your favourite books to borrow and read.
- Ask them if they need anything from the shops next time you buy groceries.
- Say hello next time you see them, and ask them how their day is going.
Feel free to do more than one and spread the kindness even further!
Report back to each other in one week and share how your acts of kindness were received, and how doing them made you feel.
Family Habit Builder
Every night at dinner, have each person thank another family member for something they’ve done or said today, or give another family member a compliment.
Unity College is currently looking for staff to support the new Early Learning Centre (inc. Early Childhood Teacher, Lead Educators and Educators) and a Junior School Trainee. Applications are to be addressed to The Principal and close Tuesday 19 March at 4pm with Job Descriptions available from the HR Assistant, Kathleen Wishart.
ELC Roles
Early Childhood Teacher
Unity College Early Learning Centre is seeking a Full Time, Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) to become part of a small team, delivering high-quality practices and fostering connections with families and the surrounding community. We are searching for a vibrant and enthusiastic individual who is eager to contribute their ideas for continuous improvement to our brand new Early Learning Centre and lead a high quality preschool program with only a maximum of 22 children a day.
Educators and Lead Educators
Unity College Early Learning Centre is seeking multiple Educators and Lead Educators to work within our brand new Early Childhood Centre. Successful applicants will genuinely enjoy and excel in engaging with children, nurturing their curiosity, and promoting independence. We desire individuals who prioritise the well-being of children, offering exemplary care for their physical, emotional, and social needs. Furthermore, we seek candidates who are confident and adept at collaborating within a compassionate, dynamic, and enjoyable team of early childhood educators.
Junior School Role
Education Support Assistant (Trainee)
An exciting opportunity to work with younger students, to learn about how students learn and to develop strategies to work with students who find learning difficult and /or have a disability. This position is ideally suited to a recently graduated student hoping to pursue work with children or wanting a year’s break prior to commencing tertiary training.
This Traineeship position is offered as an Education Support Assistant for the Junior School campus.
Application Information for All Roles
A Job Description can be obtained from the HR Assistant, Kathleen Wishart, kwishart@unitycollege.sa.edu.au
Applications are to be emailed to the Principal, Mr Francois Pienaar at principal@unitycollege.sa.edu.au
Please include a cover letter addressing the criteria of the position as detailed in the Job Description, a current CV and the contact details for 3 referees.
Applications close Tuesday 19 March 2024 at 4pm.
Snapshot 2: Gratitude
Working on gratitude helps us to be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want. When we practise being grateful, we start to scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy, and helps us to feel happier and more focused, determined and optimistic. It even helps us have better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!
Whole Family Activity: Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
- As a family create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for, you can make your own list or use the examples below:
- Something that makes you happy
- Something you love to smell
- Something you enjoy looking at
- Something that is your favourite colour
- Something you like in nature
- Something that is useful for you
- Each member of the family uses the list and has to find as many things as they can.
- You can hunt for things inside or outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also do this using magazines or pictures from the internet.
- After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.
Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day.
Week 5! Time flies so quick. Most of our camps are now done and feedback from students were very positive. Thanks to all our staff for going above and beyond to ensure our students have the best time on these camps.
The Food Fest was a great success. Thank you to all our staff, parents and students that helped on the evening. It was very well supported by our Unity community. Thank you for all the positive feedback on the event.
Pastoral Care at Unity
Our Culture is our core difference to any other learning community. The way we act, react, and interact play a crucial role in what we want to achieve as a College community. Each staff member plays a vital role in our community in establishing strong relationships with their peer staff, students, and parents.
Pastoral Care is most effective when there is a strong partnership between home and school. Clear two-way communication, reminders, and reinforcement (at home and school) of strategies to support progress and early intervention in identifying and addressing problems are vital to the effective exercise of pastoral care.
Thank you for your support from home to ensure our students present neatly every day. I want to thank our parents for supporting us with our uniform and grooming (hair, jewellery, smart watches, make-up, etc). Students are looking great, and we want them to keep this up for the rest of the year. If there are any issues with hair or uniform etc., the Pastoral Care teacher or the Year Level Coordinator will contact you to discuss.
Our Mentoring Program for year 12 students has begun – this program is very powerful and nurturing. Each student gets the opportunity to nominate a mentor (staff member) whom they want to connect with to support them through this vital academic year at Unity. During mentoring meetings, we have discussions around their wellbeing, career pathways, goal setting, organisation, and school life in general. Also, a great opportunity to get to know our senior students very well.
Our Pastoral Care philosophy at Unity is capsulated in our Statement of Faith:
“God joins our learning: We believe God is actively involved in helping all of us to grow, make sense of the world and become agents of positive change in our communities. Lutheran theology encourages us to help young people to be wise, knowledgeable, and compassionate citizens through whom God can bring justice, hope and grace”.
“At Unity College, we share the LOVE of Jesus as we educate those in our CARE enabling them to realise their God – given potential for a life of SERVICE.” We especially focus on catering for every student’s individual needs with a high emphasis on the social, emotional, physical and academical dimensions.
I leave you with an Inspirational Bible verse:
Mr Francois Pienaar
Unity College Murraylands Principal
INTRODUCING THE RESILIENCE PROJECT
Unity College is excited to be partnering with the The Resilience Project in 2024, offering the school wellbeing program to all students R-12.
The Resilience Project is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity.
Teachers and students will engage in weekly lessons and activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM), and Emotional Literacy to build resilience.
Check out their website for more information:
And check out TRP@HOME; a place filled with inspiration and activities for the whole family, to help improve your wellbeing and build resilience.
We will be sharing snapshots, tips and practical exercises with our families and community throughout the year to help empower you to have conversations with your young people about what they re learning and experiencing at school. We are all in this together as we work towards creating and supporting strong, resilient young people – and you never know what might pop up to help you as well.
What a great start to 2024! The vibe around our campuses is very vibrant and positive – new staff are settled in and it is full steam ahead into Term 1. Most camps will be happening this term so we can concentrate on our core business – Teaching and Learning – moving forward. I have met up with our new students in the Middle School and I can happily say that they have settled in very well. Parents, please remember to reach out if you need any support, clarification, or guidance regarding your child’s educational journey at Unity. We are in partnership with you to ensure that your children achieve at their level of learning and therefore reaching their full potential.
Our Areyonga students are back, and I had the privilege of meeting them and their family members that accompanied them. I am looking forward to visiting Areyonga in the near future to build strong relationships with the community.
It was great to see our community celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter. The year 11 students cooked up a storm to provide pancakes for all our years 6 – 12 students in the morning before school started. Our J/S team organised by Mel cooked pancakes for the whole J/S to enjoy before recess. The senior student leaders and I had the privilege to deliver pancakes to the J/S classes – many happy faces on delivery!
Our Bible giving ceremonies occurred during this week. Reception and Year 8 students are given a Bible to read and learn more about Jesus. This Bible will also serve to be their guide as they navigate themselves through their school life and beyond whether challenging or happy times. A symbol of HOPE, FAITH, LOVE and FORGIVENESS!
Blessing
Mr Francois Pienaar
2024 TERM 1
Families are always welcome to join us online for Devotions and Assemblies. We love connecting with our families and hope you take the opportunity to feel a part of what is happening at Unity College in 2024.
**These links will be updated throughout the term.
Junior School Devotion (Mondays)
- Week 2 – https://youtube.com/live/i9c9fwEQCh8?feature=share
- Week 3 – https://youtube.com/live/0Tv7n3CXwCQ?feature=share
- Week 4 – https://youtube.com/live/ygoL69rXC48?feature=share
- Week 5 – https://youtube.com/live/FRrLBVloKM8?feature=share
- Week 6 – https://youtube.com/live/x0hhgpfeFMo?feature=share
- Week 7 – Public Holiday (Adelaide Cup)
- Week 8 – https://youtube.com/live/pRbgG5l33TY?feature=share
- Week 9 – https://youtube.com/live/__wiu4MvAQM?feature=share
- Week 10 – Public Holiday (Easter Monday)
- Week 11 – https://youtube.com/live/q2xtuTPMoNo?feature=share
Middle School Devotion (Tuesdays)
- Week 2 – https://youtube.com/live/fnZiajAKoHI?feature=share
- Week 3 – https://youtube.com/live/o18StoPX1Kc?feature=share
- Week 4 – https://youtube.com/live/ea5U_jyGFFg?feature=share
- Week 5 – https://youtube.com/live/XZMTVD2jUis?feature=share
- Week 6 – https://youtube.com/live/ufci8WOS4Rs?feature=share
- Week 7 – https://youtube.com/live/FqvACxvFpQo?feature=share
- Week 8 – https://youtube.com/live/4UauO-TQhdQ?feature=share
- Week 9 – https://youtube.com/live/vOdFV1EZBLw?feature=share
- Week 10 – https://youtube.com/live/ejLVXKS2tBs?feature=share
- Week 11 – https://youtube.com/live/usDvAM1iixo?feature=share
Senior School Devotion (Wednesdays)
- Week 1 – https://youtube.com/live/2KZx4Phe5rI?feature=share
- Week 2 – https://youtube.com/live/l_Q10SmnK1w?feature=share
- Week 3 – https://youtube.com/live/_x5riW6_iAM?feature=share
- Week 4 – NA
- Week 5 – https://youtube.com/live/E5Xcam7GGpU?feature=share
- Week 6 – https://youtube.com/live/wdg7QbXxe8c?feature=share
- Week 7 – https://youtube.com/live/F-XzrQGEV_s?feature=share
- Week 8 – https://youtube.com/live/LetZ-d8GYlE?feature=share
- Week 9 – https://youtube.com/live/bgfA97IX_eo?feature=share
- Week 10 – https://youtube.com/live/Oez2rVBcoS0?feature=share
- Week 11 – https://youtube.com/live/c2MlRYQndeI?feature=share
Junior School Assembly (Fridays)
- Week 2 –
- Week 4 –
- Week 6 –
- Week 8 –
Middle/Senior School Assembly
- Week 4 (20 February) – https://youtube.com/live/p2NRSW0hkX0?feature=share
- Week 8 – (21 March) – https://youtube.com/live/eD1z8EiuOZE?feature=share
Special Events
- Year 12 Passion Meditation (Thursday 28 March) – https://youtube.com/live/MvTiwhqczpc?feature=share
School Photos will be held next week on Tuesday 13 (MS/SS) and Wednesday 14 (JS) February. Family Photos will take place on the Wednesday. ALL orders will now be made online and families will receive an email from MSP TODAY (7/2) with ordering instructions and links. (If you have not received an email by Thursday morning please check your spam folders before contacting MSP direct on 8391 3951).
UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
Reception – Year 1 (BOYS AND GIRLS)
- Sports Uniform (inc. Unity College Polo, Sports Shorts, White Sports Socks and Sneakers)
Year 2 – Year 9 (GIRLS)
- Summer Dress, Black Lace Up Shoes, White Ankle Socks
Year 2 – Year 9 (BOYS)
- Shirt (Short Sleeve), Navy Dress Shorts, Black Lace Up Shoes, Navy Dress Socks
Year 10 – Year 12 (GIRLS)
- Blazer, Summer Dress, Black Lace Up Shoes, White Ankle Socks
Year 10 – Year 12 (BOYS)
- Blazer, Navy Trousers, Shirt, Tie, Black Lace Up Shoes, Navy Dress Socks
NOTES
- Years 10-12 students will be required to wear their blazer. If your student does not yet have a blazer, please try and arrange to borrow/share one prior to school photos. Some spare blazers will be available on the day.
- Jumpers and/or Soft Shell Jackets ARE NOT REQUIRED for photos.
Please also be reminded of the following uniform requirements regarding Hair and Hair Accessories:
- Hair touching the collar is to be tied back at all times (R-12 male and female students).
- Students are to be clean shaven. Side burns are to be of reasonable length (to the bottom of the earlobe).
- Hair accessories (including ribbons, bows, headbands, clips and scrunchies) are to be maroon, navy, white or in applicable school uniform fabric only.
For a complete outline of the Unity College Uniform Policy visit www.unitycollege.sa.edu.au/uniform/.
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