11 February 2025
Principal’s Report
Welcome to a brand-new school year at Quorn Area School! We hope you had a wonderful holiday and are ready to share an exciting year of learning with your child. Our team is thrilled to welcome both returning and new learners to our school community.
Sharing the Journey
Before the start of the school year, our staff spent time exploring new opportunities for growth and revisiting our vision, which involves working collaboratively to ensure the best possible learner outcomes for every child in every class every day. Reminding ourselves of the three questions we want every learner to reflect upon daily will help us maintain momentum and continue improving outcomes for the community we serve. Therefore, we seek your support in encouraging your child to ask the following questions when faced with new learning or challenges.
- Where am I on the learning journey?
- Where do I go next?
- What is the best way to get there?
Meet the Teachers
We are delighted to introduce new staff members joining us this year:
- Cass Evan – English/HASS Teacher
- Matt Griffiths - Health and Physical Education Teacher
- Chels Hocking - Junior/Middle Primary Teacher
- Charlotte Kell - Junior Primary Teacher
- Cenise MacDonald - Leader Intervention/Wellbeing & Arts/Food Technology Teacher
- Linly Stowe - English/Spanish Teacher
We look forward to working together to support your children’s learning journey.
Dispositions
We are committed to fostering a positive learning environment at Quorn Area School. This year, we will continue to encourage and reward the following dispositions to support our learners in maximising their potential:
- Inquiring
- Reflective
- Adaptable
- Collaborative
- Ownership
- Persevering
We kindly request your support in promoting these dispositions at home.
Playground Development
Work will commence later this month on the third stage of our landscaping project. This work will involve the replacement of the Junior Primary playground, the creation of nature play areas, the installation of a Mega Warrior course, and extensive planting. We have created a temporary site entrance on Wolseley Terrace as a safety precaution to reduce vehicle/machinery movement around the site. We ask that you take additional care around the site during the work.
Andrew Gilsenan-Reed
Primary Report
Welcome back to school for another exciting and action-packed year of learning! I am thrilled to take on the role of Primary Coordinator this year and look forward to working alongside our fantastic Primary teachers and learners.
This year, we also welcome two new teachers to our team: Charlotte Kell, who is teaching Foundation, and Chels Hocking, who will be working across the middle and junior primary. We’re excited to have them and our new learners and families on board!
Student Leadership
At the start of the term, we welcomed our new student leadership team, the Learner Action Team (LATs), and our Junior House Captains. They will organise activities and events throughout the year while serving as key representatives for student voices at QAS. They will also work closely with our secondary leadership team, the 2025 Prefects, and the Swimming Carnival House Captains. Congratulations to all our learners who have stepped up to take on these important roles!
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is back for another year! PRC forms have been sent home to primary learners to track their reading. A parent or teacher must sign off each book to confirm it has been read. All completed forms must be returned by September 5, 2025.
Learning in the 5/6 Class
To kick off the year in the 5/6 classroom, we have focused on our school’s learner dispositions, particularly Persevering Pete. Learners have engaged in STEM challenges—such as building a house of cards or designing a marble run that takes exactly 10 seconds to complete—to practice perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Oracy
This year, QAS is strongly emphasising Oracy—the ability to communicate effectively using skills such as body language, tone of voice, vocabulary choice, and active listening.
We’ve started strong in Literacy with a LEGO barrier game designed to enhance listening skills and the ability to give clear instructions. In this activity, learners worked in pairs, sitting back-to-back: one learner had a picture of a LEGO construction, while the other had the necessary pieces. Using only verbal communication and questioning skills, they had to recreate the construction—an excellent challenge in precision and teamwork!
In Numeracy, our 5/6 learners have engaged in rich mathematical discussions, explaining and defending their reasoning in response to various problems. We’ve also been exploring slow-reveal graphs, using limited information to make and justify conjectures—reasoned opinions based on incomplete data.
MAPPEN
In MAPPEN this term, we are diving into democracy, the Australian government, and the law-making process. We began by exploring Australian democratic values and tracing democracy’s origins back to Ancient Greece. As the term progresses, we look forward to learning more about Australia's parliamentary system and hopefully participating in a role-play activity on how laws are passed.
Looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!
Miss Buchanan
Deputy Principal Report
Welcome Back to a Great Start!
Welcome back to a new school year! We hope you all had a fantastic break and are ready for an exciting year. Despite the heat, our learners have made an excellent start, showing resilience and adaptability. Some lessons were modified due to the extreme weather, but they remained engaged and made the most of every learning opportunity.
Sammy D Foundation
The year has kicked off with some fantastic events. We were fortunate to have the Sammy D Foundation visit and deliver their ‘Impact’ and ‘Party Wise’ workshops. Neil Davis, Sam’s father, spoke to students firsthand about the devastating consequences of violent behaviour and the risks associated with alcohol and drug use. His powerful message resonated deeply with students, reinforcing the importance of making safe and responsible choices.
Learners were given age-appropriate information, knowledge, and tools to empower them to make positive life decisions that contribute to a safer and stronger community. Our learners were highly engaged and respected the important messages shared.
Leadership Induction
Another highlight was our Leader Induction, where our 2025 Prefects officially welcomed us to the 2025 school year. They introduced our new staff, Learner Action Team, and House Captains and shared their goals for the year. Our leaders are eager to get started, with their first major event being the Swimming Carnival this Friday!
Here are a few words from the Induction:
Yarrah House Captain – Nayte Barrett: I look forward to having the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and support some of our younger learners.
Kanyaka Junior House Captain - Callan Finlay: I want to help out students and teachers at the swimming carnival and sports day and also in the yard.
Learner Action Team – Ashleigh Scott: As learner action team members, our role is to listen to and value the opinions and perspectives of others and act on them in a way that genuinely shapes learning and decision-making at our school. I look forward to bringing new and exciting ideas into school.
Learner Action Team – Digby Harvie: I hope I help people who need it.
Swimming Carnival – Volunteers Needed
The Swimming Carnival is fast approaching, and we are still looking for parent volunteers to assist with the canteen and event timing. If you are available to help, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please contact the school to register your interest.
Kanyaka House has dominated the last few swimming carnivals, but this year is the perfect chance for Yarrah to rise to the challenge and bring some fierce competition! Let’s build the rivalry and make it an exciting event—we look forward to Friday!
Please see an updated schedule below.
Children’s University – Registrations Closing Soon
Just a quick reminder that the Children’s University registrations are due this Friday. It’s terrific to see 10 new members joining the program alongside many returning participants. This initiative encourages and recognises learning beyond the classroom, helping our learners develop valuable skills and interests. Keep an eye out for the upcoming sessions, which will help kickstart the program for the year.
Children's University Adelaide - Quorn Area School - 2025
SAASTA at Quorn Area School
We are excited to reintroduce SAASTA this year to our secondary learners, including the Year 9 SAASTA Connect class. This program will provide ATSI learners with opportunities to engage in cultural activities, strengthen their identity, and develop pathways for future learning. The program aims to generate interest for students to continue in Year 10, where they can earn SACE credits while further developing leadership and career aspirations.
Differentiation at Quorn Area School
At Quorn Area School, we are committed to ensuring that all learners receive the support they need to succeed. Differentiation is a key part of our approach, ensuring that every learner is challenged and supported at their level.
What does it look like?
- Adjustments in lesson content, teaching methods, and assessments to cater to diverse learning needs.
- Flexible groupings to allow students to work at their own pace.
- Additional support for students who need extra guidance and opportunities for extension for high achievers.
Who is involved?
- Teachers play a key role in planning and delivering differentiated lessons.
- Support staff assist students who require additional help.
- Learners take ownership of their education by engaging in activities suited to their needs.
- Parents and caregivers are encouraged to communicate with teachers about their child’s learning journey.
By using differentiation, we aim to create an inclusive learning environment where every learner can reach their full potential.
Please access the letter attached for more information regarding our current practice.
Lone Pine Presentation – Honouring History
On Friday, 7th February, John Basarin OAM from the Lone Pines Project visited Quorn Area School to present the Year 5/6 class with a Lone Pine seedling on behalf of the school. This event was a meaningful way for learners to understand the significance of the Lone Pine and its connection to Australia’s history.
For more information about the project, please visit
https://100lonepines.org.au/about/
Please view our presentation by clicking the link below.
https://youtu.be/lYEYydjCZuQ
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is launching at Quorn Area School on Friday of Week 4! All students are invited to come from 8:15–8:40 AM to enjoy a nutritious start to the day in a welcoming and friendly environment. This is a great opportunity to fuel up for learning, connect with friends, and start the morning in a positive way. We look forward to seeing you there!
RAP Working Group Invite
Quorn Area School is committed to strengthening relationships, respect, and opportunities for First Nations peoples through our 2025 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group. Whether you have ideas, cultural knowledge, or a passion for reconciliation, we would love for you to be part of this journey.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out—we value your support!
Looking Ahead
The Term 1 calendar is now available; copies can be collected from the Front Office. We appreciate your patience, as the unpredictable weather has made it challenging to finalise dates—especially for outdoor events.
Thank you to our learners, staff, and families for your continued support. I look forward to working together throughout the term to lay the foundation for a successful and engaging 2025!
Monique Griffiths
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