Giles Faction Captain!

The results are in and Miss Madeline is the Giles Faction Captain for 2023! She is so beyond thrilled and you could not wipe the smile off of her face. I must admit, I thought she would be a little disappointed not getting head girl, but she assured me she is so happy!

A lovely friend of ours made her a lolly lei for the occasion as she was so convinced she would end up with a leadership role and I'm so happy she did, as it added to her joy.

Her co-captain Elliot and her have been friends since they were very small and are so excited to be in this together - but the funniest part of the day was when their principal had a bit of a chuckle when he handed over their badges and told them they had better not mess it up! They are big shoes to fill - Giles has won the carnival for the 6 of the 7 years we've been at ESPS and I think the last time we lost, Madeline was in Pre-Primary!

So stoked for them! Obviously her jokes about being born red, ready for the job paid off hahah.

We are so grateful for Maddie's lovely teacher Mr. Dean who encouraged her to run for faction captain, as originally she was only going to go for the top spot. I'm glad he was at her about it and I bet she is too!

Eight very happy kids with Faction Captain hats - and four of them in Madeline's class. What a party it will be. To make it sweeter, the head boy and girl and both the prefects are good friends of hers too and she couldn't be happier for them. It's was a great day!

Head girl/ faction captain elections

Maddie is going for the big leagues and has her eye set on being head girl. Who am I to discourage her? She is smart, funny and very popular, so I can't see why she doesn't have a good chance of getting it. I have said to her multiple times, don't be too disappointed if you don't get it - to which she responded, ummm why would I not? haha That's my girl. I would be so set in life if I even had a small part of her confidence! We made up her poster which is proudly hanging outside her classroom and she got to work on her speech, which they will deliver next week. Fingers crossed!

Good morning Ellen Stirling students and staff. My name is Madeline Kendall and I’d love to be your head girl for 2023. 

I have attended Ellen Stirling Primary School since kindergarten. This is my eighth year at this school! Over the years I have watched the school grow and change and I have grown myself, alongside so many of you. I am so lucky to count so many of you as my friends. 

What makes a good leader? Me, Madeline Kendall. Someone who is willing to include others in all things, all the time. Someone who puts the needs of others above their own. I feel certain I am those things. I am someone who is kind and caring to everyone and I am willing to take time out of my day to help you if you need anything. With me as your head girl, you can be assured I’ll always look out for you. I love to be around others and love to make new friends. If you’re new and don’t know me yet, come and say hello! 

I have always tried my hardest to be a positive role model amongst my peers and younger students. I feel like this is the most important part of being head girl, being a good example to others. I always attend school and am ready and willing to fulfil all the responsibilities of Head Girl. 

I am not going to stand here and pretend to be a different person to what I usually am. What you see is that you get with Madeline Kendall. I am going to make a difference here at Ellen Stirling Primary School by listening to all your opinions and needs. Together we can be the difference that this school needs. Sharing things helps us be better. No guys, this doesn’t mean sharing your answers during a test… What it really means is to share the problems you have and together we can solve them. I believe I am perfect for the role of head girl because I am caring, confident, mature, and reliable as well as friendly and approachable. You can come and talk to me anywhere, anytime and I will always listen to what you have to say. 

As head girl you must be ready to take on a big responsibility and I know I’m the person for the job. So vote 1 for Madeline Kendall because you have excellent taste and superb decision making skills! Thank you!

She's also been encouraged by her teacher Mr. Dean to go for faction captain. It wasn't something she was originally interested in, but she's giving it a go too. She and Ella even decided to make a joint poster as they are in separate factions and aren't in direct competition with each other. Both their teachers thought it was hilarious and when I printed their poster at Officeworks, the guy behind the counter actually said, "Now this is cool. Something different. I'd vote for them!" Legend. I actually think it's the coolest thing ever. They definitely are in everything together.

Her faction captain speech is a bit more casual which I love, she's a lot less worried about it. Has me cracking up. Play to your strengths hey! 

Good morning Ellen Stirling Students and Staff. My name is Madeline Kendall and I would love to be your Giles faction captain for 2023. Having attended this school since Kindergarten, I’ve been involved in so many carnivals and I am so very proud to be in Giles. In fact, I clearly was put in the right faction, cause I don’t even need to spray my hair for the carnival. You can’t get much redder than red!

 I would make an amazing faction captain, because I see the best in people and encourage them to do the same. I love all kinds of sports and am always willing to try a new kind as the opportunity arises. I am resilient and I keep going till the last whistle blows. As a good Leader, I want to bring glory to my team! 

I will use my strengths to help others and ensure no one is left out. I sometimes push people to their limit, but that’s only because I want them to go further than they think they can. That’s why I will always encourage teamwork. Teamwork makes the dream work. 

People describe me as a person that never gives up no matter what and wants her voice to be heard. As the Giles faction captain I’ll make sure everyone gets a chance in what they can do best. I’d like to show everyone that strength isn’t always a requirement to be a leader. I want you all to know that if you are feeling discouraged, that I’m always here to talk and give you a cheer, in a big, loud and confident voice that will bring your spirits up. 

I believe that this could be a great opportunity for me to practice my leadership skills, lead my team to victory and support others. So vote 1 for me! Madeline Kendall, for Giles Faction Captain. Cause I’m actually red and perfect for the job! GO GILES!

Faction Carnival 2022

Today was our school faction carnival so of course we had to go all out. Red from head to toe, including hair spray, personalised hats, socks, tutu... the whole lot. Giles is our red faction and we have after today now won 5 of the 6 years of our time at ESPS. Pretty good colour to have been allocated I think!

I was decked out in red too as I was on canteen duty for the day, although spent the majority of my day selling sausages on the oval. No complaints here, meant I got to watch my kids and be amongst the fun.

Maddie and Ella had carefully coordinated their outfits, including their coloured visors which Hayley had even personalised with their names. Way too cute. 

Even their glittery parts were matching, chunked out with glittery gel. (This was not fun to wash out, but we got there in the end.)

There was an additional member included in the squad though, Maddie officially has a boyfriend as of the weekend, Jake Hayden himself, who would have thought? hahaha. Seems pretty pleased with himself though - and who wouldn't be, she's top shelf our girl!

Hayley did a hat for him too and they rocked them together for some photos. Cute as.

My favourite photo of the day though, was absolutely Ella's BeReal, with a stack of them from their year all in under the marquees at lunchtime. It's so cute.

Maddie and Ella have been friends since Pre-Primary. Hayley and I did some digging on our phones and found these. I love these carnival shots of them over the years. They are just the cutest.

200m run

I am so proud of this girl! I am so unathletic and here she is acting like it's nothing as she casually takes out 4th place in the 200m yesterday ahead of the faction carnival on Friday. What the heck. I was just done cleaning up in the canteen when one of the year 6 teachers buzzed our phone and told me to come down to the oval as the year 5's were about to run. 

So I did - and got to see my girl take out 4th place much to her delight. Loved it. So proud girl! 

 

Bookweek 2022

Well Bookweek is done and dusted for yet another year - meaning Maddie has just one left before she leaves primary school! What the heck - how did that happen? This years costumes by request were Ms. Marvel and Harry Potter.

They weren't too hard thankfully, although Madeline's did take a bit of sewing from Nanna. Thank goodness she was on hand to assist as I don't think it would have been quite as easy for me to modify it from it's original structure.

The entire get up cost around $15 as some of the pieces were used elsewhere as well.

Long sleeve t-shirt, over dress and bangles were all from the opshop at a total of approx $5

Tights from Kmart $7

Ribbons, mask and stones for the bangles from Spotlight all up about $5 

The blue top was a workout hoodie from Lorna Jane, cut and sewed to fit her. A bit of nail polish to edge the mask, spray paint on the bangles... some Converse we already had - done!

Joseph already had a white shirt, we already had a Harry Potter wand and robe, the tie is a Brisbane Lions one from the opshop in QLD, that has been used time and time again as a Gryffindor tie as it is not only burgundy, but has little lions printed all over it. $1 pants from the opshop, $3 shoes from Big W. Easiest costume ever! In all honesty, the hardest bit was finding the pants, which are ladies 3/4 pants with the button moved slightly. Perfect fit!

I love it when the costumes don't cost a fortune and the kids are still happy!

Here's a shot of Maddie's class parade in action... featuring her and Alvin the chipmunk Ella and Maddie's mate Jake, who she spends far too much time on the phone to, for a person that's just a mate. Hmmmm. Rumour has it he only dressed up cause Madeline was too. This should be interesting.

Anddd here is Joseph and his little bestie, Ella's sister Abby, who was Hermoine. Super cute! 

Bookweek 2022, we out!

Maddie's assembly

Today Madeline's class assembly performance was on and I was incredibly lucky to have my parents here for the afternoon, so that I could leave Alex home with them and go and watch. Maddie was child 1 in the play - so the lead part and did such a good job! I could hear her clearly for the whole thing.

Then came the wonderful surprise of her receiving an honour certificate! Teachers normally give parents a heads up, but neither she or I knew it was coming. It's especially wonderful as it's her second for the year and generally you're lucky to even get one in a class of 32 kids! I was incredibly proud. To be fair though, they have a new teacher for semester 2 as their first teacher left to have a baby, so she probably didn't know she had already received one.

So lucky to be your mum Maddie!

As soon as I pulled out the camera bestie Ella turned up for photos haha

I love these two. They have so much fun together and I am so glad they are in the same class this year. ❤

 

ESPS Discos - Round 2 2022

Tonight was Joseph's turn for the disco, we spread them across two nights as we are such a huge school and break them into four sections, two grades in each.

So glad he is happy to be here, we have certainly come a long way.

Oh look it's Madeline living her best life and attending all the discos tonight as well cause mum is here and on duty.

What a life. Must be horrible.

I love that these two love each other. ❤

Not us sneaking Madeline's mate through the canteen entry so she could come and hang out with us again... 

Her sister is the same age as Joseph so they would have been waiting outside anyway until it was over.

Plus there was the added bonus of getting to hang out with one of their mates who is a grade below.

Joseph had a great time with his mates, until he had had enough of being sociable and went and sold drinks through the canteen window with one of the P&C mums.

Well - all done for another year, good times had by all. ❤

ESPS Discos - Round 1 2022

Madeline had her school disco tonight and oh my gosh what a party! I love her cute outfit, I find myself wondering on the daily why she gets to be so much cooler than me?

I especially love the little braid with the flower beads, even if it did take me forever to do and was a pain the butt. She's so flipping cute.

She and bestie Ella got settled in and had the time of their lives...

Including stealing my phone from my pocket to take selfies. She had to deal with me being there as I am part of the P&C and we run the disco.

I love that we manage to get one of these pics each year - these four girls were in kindy together and have remained friends ever since. That was 7 years ago and I feel like they are growing up way too fast!

As the night went on it got super dark in the undercover area, the only light they had was the light coming out the canteen window and a set of fairy lights hung around one side of the undercover area and they loved it! They danced around to the weirdest music... I was actually blown away at what they were getting into - The Never Ending Story and Running Up that Hill (obviously wayyyy too many underage kids are watching Stranger Things, heck no would I let my kids watch it) but they all knew Never Gonna Give You Up as well? So odd. They were fully moshing and screaming along to the lyrics. Good times.

It certainly was an awesome night and I am so proud of the P&C for making it happen!

We even got to use our Winter Wonderland decos again as it was the same theme! Classic.

Ellenbrook interschool carnival

I am so freaking proud of this girl. Coming from a very athletic dad and a mum who can barely walk in a straight line, she has managed to take after her dad and is very sporty, constantly just managing to learn things almost overnight. 

This was another classic example... she decided she wanted to play netball in the interschool carnival, she's never played before in her life... goes into a few senior sports sessions of it at school and then gets selected for the carnival - in front of some of the girls who have been playing netball since junior school and others that are a grade above her at school! Awkward...

Her friends mum was there watching and sent me these pics of her in action. Wow. I was never that good at netball - even when I actually played every week in our local club. Shamed out.

What a legend though. One super proud mum here.

Their team didn't do that well overall (one has to wonder if this would have anything to do with choosing people who have never played netball before hahaha!) but they did their best and walked away happy at the end of he day.

Highlight of the day was running into one of her besties from church who was at the carnival playing softcross for her school (a modified safer version of lacrosse for Aussie children who didn't grow up in an Enid Blyton book hahaha) and getting a snap together.

Well done Mads ❤