6 August 2024
Principal’s Report
NAPLAN 2024
As we reflect on the results, we are filled with pride and gratitude for the tremendous effort and dedication demonstrated by our learners, teachers, and the entire school community. Our teachers have already reviewed the results as part of our internal review to assess the impact of our work over the past two years. If you would like to discuss your child's results, please don't hesitate to contact the class teacher directly.
Achievements and Highlights
Remarkable Performance: This year, our learners have achieved some outstanding results across all tested areas, including Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation), and Numeracy. Their hard work and perseverance have indeed paid off, with the site exceeding a number of national benchmarks.
Growth and Improvement: We are particularly proud of the significant improvements shown by our learners. The progress made by many reflects their determination and the effectiveness of our teaching strategies, approaches to learning and targeted support programs. Seeing so many learners making substantial strides in their literacy and numeracy skills is encouraging.
The Role of Our Teachers
Our teachers have been instrumental in guiding our learners towards these successes. Their innovative teaching methods, commitment to personalized learning, and continuous support have been pivotal. Their willingness to embrace new learning and place the learners at the heart of our thinking has not gone unnoticed. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our educators for their unwavering dedication.
Moving Forward
While we celebrate these achievements, we also look forward to continuing our journey of academic growth for every learner. We focus on fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment where every learner can thrive. We are committed to building on this year's success and ensuring that all our learners have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We know that truth growth only happens when our learners feel valued and supported, and their voices are central to their learning.
Exciting News: Reopening of Our Junior Primary Block
We are thrilled to announce the reopening of our newly renovated Junior Primary Block! This exciting development marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to providing our learners with a nurturing and stimulating learning environment.
Highlights of the Renovation
New toilets: The renovated space features improved privacy and a dedicated access bathroom to support inclusion.
Enhanced shared teaching space: This contemporary teaching space is acoustically designed with flexible seating arrangements to support diverse learning styles. This modern space fosters creativity, collaboration, and active learning.
Enhanced Learning Facilities: Our Junior Primary Block now includes dedicated areas for STEM activities, a well-stocked library, and interactive learning zones. These facilities aim to spark curiosity and provide hands-on learning experiences crucial in the early years of education.
We intend for classes to move into the renovated block in week five. We understand that some learners will initially find the change daunting, so we ask that you share any concerns regarding the change with your child's teacher.
Andrew Gilsenan-Reed
Contact Details
2024 School Magazine Cover Competition
Book Week
Friday Fun with Dorothy
Last Friday, Dorothy hosted a craft activity during the lunch break to celebrate Crazy Hair Day. The learners had a blast designing their own unique hairstyles using the provided materials.
Employment with Quorn Area School
Occasionally, we announce ancillary support positions at our school. You must be registered on the Employable Ancillary Register to be considered for these positions. Start your registration process by clicking the link below.
Whole School News
NAIDOC Celebrations
NAIDOC Week has once again brought us together in celebration and learning. This year, the theme "Keep the Fire Burning" ignited our spirits as we immersed ourselves in engaging activities that honoured Aboriginal culture and community.
The festivities began with a welcome to country and lighting of the fire—an annual tradition cherished by all. This symbolic act set the stage for a day filled with cultural exploration and hands-on experiences. One highlight was the making and tasting of dampa twisties; the learners always enjoyed preparing and enjoying this traditional Aboriginal treat.
Our new badge machine sparked creativity as learners crafted unique badges adorned with Aboriginal symbols and designs. This activity encouraged artistic expression and deepened our appreciation for Indigenous artistry.
Thanks to the generous donation from Wiltja, our learners collaborated on vibrant banners reflecting themes of Aboriginal culture and this year's NAIDOC theme. These banners adorned our school and served as a visual celebration of our collective heritage.
In a nod to sustainability and cultural heritage, students crafted key chains using wood sourced from our school grounds and quandong seeds gathered locally. This activity fostered a connection to the land and highlighted the importance of preserving traditional practices.
To deepen our understanding of this year's theme, we explored the story of "The Lost Girl," who finds her way back to her family guided by the light of the fire. Inspired by this narrative, we created paper fire installations to illuminate our Front Office—a symbolic gesture of unity and hope.
Adding to the atmosphere of our celebrations, Ummeewarra Radio joined us, playing music and interviewing our learners, capturing the essence of our NAIDOC festivities through the airwaves.
Earlier in the week, we were honoured to host Scott Rathmann, a contemporary Aboriginal Artist, who painted a mural representing the themes explored during our workshop on connection and belonging. This mural is a visual reminder of the meaningful discussions and insights our learners share.
As we reflect on these enriching experiences, we extend our gratitude to all who made this year's NAIDOC celebrations at Quorn Area School a resounding success. Together, we have kindled the spirit of community and cultural pride, carrying forward the flame of knowledge and understanding. Let's continue to "Keep the Fire Burning".
During our Week 10 Assembly some of our stood up with their buddies to reflect on the day.
JASPER & KALHAN
We love being able to light the fire each year and today we enjoyed making and tasting dampa twisties.
CURTLEY & FLYNN
We used our new badge machine to create unique badges showcasing Aboriginal symbols and designs. It was a great way to get creative.
JAC & MIA
We all got to collaborate on banners donated by Wiltja that depict themes of Aboriginal culture and this year's NAIDOC theme.
ANNIE & KAYLA
We crafted key chains using wood sourced from the school grounds and quandong seeds gathered locally, connecting with the environment and cultural heritage.
ALEX & KYLAH DONALD
So we could hang some of the artwork inside. We worked as a team to produce large-scale artwork inspired by Aboriginal art styles.
DOMINIC & NAYTE
Keep the Fire burning is the theme for this year's NAIDOC celebrations. We read the book ‘The Lost Girl” who finds her way back to her family by seeing the light of the fire. We then made paper fire that we will hang as an installation in the Front Office.
Secondary Award Winners
Ella – OWNERSHIP ORA –
For her exemplary demonstration of ownership, she is always proactive in her approach to seeking and applying feedback.
Kyliesha – ADAPTABLE ASH –
For working to challenge herself, particularly evident in her willingness to tackle presentations that push her beyond her comfort zone.
Will – COLLABORATIVE CAM –
For his exceptional leadership qualities, unwavering focus on tasks, and relentless pursuit of excellence
Mia – PERSEVERING PETE –
For her thorough understanding of tasks and consistent ability to deliver work to a high standard.
Sam – PERSEVERING PETE -
For approaching tasks with unwavering determination and consistently achieving high standards, especially in rock climbing and Art.
Renae – OWNERSHIP ORA –
For her ability to balance academic responsibilities while successfully achieving workplace goals.
Crazy Hair Day for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness: A Colorful Success!
Last Friday, August 2nd, our school community came together for a vibrant and fun-filled Crazy Hair Day to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis. Students and staff sported wild and wacky hairstyles, ranging from rainbow-coloured Unicorns to intricate braids adorned with glitter and accessories. The creativity and enthusiasm on display were truly remarkable!
The event brought a burst of colour and excitement to our school and served a vital purpose. By participating in Crazy Hair Day, we helped shed light on cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder affecting the lungs and digestive system. Our goal was to educate and inform our school community about this condition while showing our support for those affected by it.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making Crazy Hair Day a memorable and impactful event. Your involvement is greatly appreciated; together, we have made a positive difference in raising awareness for cystic fibrosis.
Jam Band
On Tuesday, our school was treated to an electrifying performance by the Jam Band, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance. The passionate musicians provided a fun, entertaining, interactive, and educational children's show. The band’s lively tunes and energetic presence had students singing and dancing along. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and positivity as students joined in the fun, dressing up for different songs and helping engage the audience.
The Jam Band's performance entertained and aimed to inspire students and help develop confidence and self-esteem by interacting and engaging with our performance. Everyone left with smiles, and it’s true: ‘If you Just Add Music, it makes everything better. Here is a sneak peek of the performance, video coming soon!
Sports Day
Primary Report
100 Days of School
Congratulations to our Foundations who celebrated 100 Days of School at the end of the last term.
STEAM Day
Last term, we celebrated STEAM Day. As part of the day, Tom, Pat and Jack from UniSA's Project 3600 of the Flinders Ranges bought their VR experience to the Yr4-10s and the public. Here is a snapshot of the day.
Premier's Reading Challenge
Don't forget to hand in your PRC to the front office or Miss Neu by September 6th.
Year 5/6 Class Update
Literacy
Our literacy group has been enthusiastically working on various activities centred around the novels they’ve been reading. From written work to creative projects, the learners explore themes, characters, and plots innovatively. Their hard work will culminate in an exciting presentation at our upcoming reading fair, which will coincide with Book Week. Stay tuned for more updates, and prepare to be inspired by their literary journeys!
Numeracy
Our numeracy group has been diligently working on various topics, including comparing and ordering fractions with like and unlike denominators and simplifying fractions. Currently, we are diving into the concept of averages. The learners are embracing the challenge and experiencing productive struggle, understanding that this discomfort is a crucial part of the learning process. Perseverance and collaboration are two essential learner dispositions in our classroom at the moment!
PE
The 5/6 class is starting volleyball in our PE sessions, building on the foundation of skills they developed last year. We're focusing on enhancing our techniques and teamwork to prepare for some exciting and competitive games. The learners are enthusiastic and eager to improve, giving each session energy and progress. Seeing their skills evolve as they work towards mastering the volleyball game is exciting.
Health/CPC
We are starting a new Health unit, focusing on analysing ingredient labels and understanding the content of various drinks. This will culminate in creating a health promotion project centred on an area of health and wellness. Through this unit, learners will become well-equipped to make healthy choices and be informed consumers. Additionally, they will continue to engage in the Child Protective Curriculum this term.
The Arts
In our Media Arts and Drama unit, the 5/6s have been working on an exciting project involving puppetry and filmmaking. Last term, they designed their unique puppets and began creating story maps for their short films. Last week, the learners brought their puppet designs to life using foam and various craft materials, resulting in various unique and creative characters. Now, they will use these puppets to star in their short films and are set to begin writing scripts for their videos. Watch this space!
Spanish
This term, our Spanish learning will focus on mastering various weather expressions. The students will apply their new vocabulary by creating a video in which they pretend to be weather reporters, giving the weather forecast for a specific region in Spanish. Feel free to ask the 5/6s ‘¿Qué tiempo hace?’
SAPSASA Golf
Callan Finlay and Ash Scott participated in a SAPSASA golf event at Port Augusta golf course at the end of term two, along with six other students from the Port Augusta region.
It was a cool but pleasant day for some of the students. It was their first time playing on greens. The distances between the holes varied between 100, 150, and 175 metres, with slight dog legs and some attacking options if the students were brave enough.
The day started with necessary golf skills modules that were given to the students, along with interactive links to help them further their skills. Some of these drills must be practised to ensure a great understanding and confidence in their game.
Kat Scott -Ash’s mum, kindly transported and spent the day with Ash and Callan; both will now head to Adelaide for the 2024 South Australian 12 and under school golf stage 2 - state final on Thursday, 12 September, and Friday, 13th September.
Pichi Richi Marathon
In June, several of our primary students took part in the Pichi Richi Marathon. A big congratulations to Lucas Bury and Will O’Neil for completing the 10.5km run, and to Ellie Bury for finishing the 5km race. Many of our younger students also participated in the 1km dash and deserve recognition for their efforts—special thanks to Bryan Crosby for his encouragement and support of our participants in this annual event.
Register now for Reception in 2025
Secondary Report
Interschool Bowls Challenge
Nineteen school teams competed in the Inter School Bowls Challenge at Playford Bowling Club on 27 June 2024. The challenge saw 57 high school students from across the state battle it out in a triples format.
The Bronze Medal match saw two regional schools of Quorn Area School and Horizon Christian School battle it out. Quorn started off with their best foot forward and remained confident to take home the bronze medal with a win of 5 shots to 3 over 6 ends against Horizon.
SA State Team
Congratulations to Riley and Mia Crisp on being selected to represent their school and state in the National School Bowls Competition! Their exceptional skills and dedication have earned them a place in the School Sport Australia 18 Years and Under Bowls Championship.
This prestigious event will be held in Geelong, VIC, from Tuesday, September 17 to Friday, September 20, 2024. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish them the best of luck in the competition.
Please see the attached flyer regarding a fundraiser for their upcoming trip to Geelong. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Miscellaneous Items
Autism Inclusion – QAS Parent Support Group
UNISA Open Day
AFLW Trial Match – Free Entry, Port Augusta
Give Cricket a Go
To launch the 2024/2025 cricket season, PlayCricket Week is coming to the Mid-North in August, presenting a fantastic opportunity for local kids to meet BBL heroes at the Jamestown Big Shed.
All kids aged 5-10 are invited to The Big Shed, Jamestown, on Tuesday, 20th August, from 4:15 - 6:00 pm to launch the 2024/25 Woolworths Cricket Blast season!
Woolworths Cricket Blast is the perfect way for kids to have fun and start their cricket journey with weekly sessions like AusKick or NetSetGo.
The event is FREE of Charge and will include fun, exciting Woolworths Cricket Blast activities. 2x players from the Big Bash League will also be in attendance and will conduct a Q&A at the end of the session!
Registration link that can be shared online –
Session times -
- Arrive 4:15 pm
- Cricket Blast 4:30-5:30 pm
- Player Q&A 5:30-6 pm
There will be giveaways on offer during the evening, and any parent that signs up their child for Woolworths Cricket Blast that night (QR Codes will be present) will go in the draw to win a signed Adelaide Strikers top and South Australian Men's signed cap.
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