This year we are excited to announce that there will be a Grade 3 to 6 School Production. The students have already started becoming familiar with the script, are preparing for auditions, have made their song selections and are starting to learn some of the songs that they will be performing.  It will be a big year full of fun, auditions, rehearsals, costumes, prop making, singing, dancing…it’s going to be HUGE!! The production is called ‘Missing Pieces’ and was written back in 2013 by a grade 6 student from Bonbeach Primary School, Max Oliver. It was performed about 10 years ago, and was such a success, that we have decided to update it a little and perform it for you again. The children are very excited to bring their talent and love for Performing Arts to the stage for you to enjoy.

On Tuesday the Peer mediation team had training for the whole day. They learnt about lots of different skills on how to mediate problems in the school yard. We also learned how to be assertive, being assertive means being firm but polite, standing up ourselves without being aggressive and finally staying in control. Being assertive helps a lot when you are going through difficult problems. Our wonderful trainer Sophie taught us all of this and more. 

The 5/6  peer mediation team is made up of:

• Miori W Captain
• Marlon H Captain
• Pearl O
• Bella C
• Ben C
• Ethan E
• Eli F
• Xavier V
• Taylor S
• Nina L
• Harper Q
• Alannah W
• Ollie G
• Olivia R
• Paloma L
• Spencer M
• Evie W
• Grace M
• Sailor D
• Brock C
• Kai H
• Jackson M 

The six steps of mediation consists of:

1) Introducing and setting rules to mediate smoothly.

2) Ask both people what the problem is.

3) Ask what they want.

4) Brainstorm solutions.

5) Choose the best idea.

6) Create an agreement. 

These steps are not compulsory but are guidelines to make the job easier and quicker. The team has practiced these steps, and everyone was successful in completing. Introducing ourselves can calm down and relieve smaller kids as usually they don’t like being in trouble, and we are just there to help. The problems that are solved are briefly read by the teachers, giving us feedback and suggestions. 

We also filled in a feeling volcano. At the top of the volcano are the things that make you the most mad/frustrated and at the bottom are the things that make you the least mad/frustrated. We did this so we could understand and respect that other people have different feelings and perspectives, and they don’t like all the things you like. This is important in peer mediation because we need to respect people's feelings/perspectives when mediating. 

If you are in the yard and you have a minor problem, please don’t hesitate to call on us. We would like to help and solve your problems. 

Big thanks to Sophie from Stride Education for training us magnificently and teaching us tons of new things.

By Miori W and Marlon H

It is a great time of year to grow mint in the garden! This week's funky fact is that there are over 600 varieties of Mint, so the kids asked to add some more varieties, plus other herbs too. Mint plants are vigorous growers, so we need to keep them contained. We are asking for help with pots, if you have any big empty pots that you no longer need, please drop them at the greenhouse so we can put them to good use in our gorgeous garden.

Sensory gardens offer a wonderful experience for children as they explore plants and the effects that they have on the senses!