9 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

We wish our Year 12 students all the best with their exams over the next two weeks. The Year 12 assembly was well attended last Friday. Tori Kaesler gave a thought provoking speech and it is always great to see the photos of the students from the time they entered transition.

Aboriginal students from our school attended a military ceremony at Colebrook House for a well-known Aboriginal Soldier and actor who was involved in the Korean War, Steve Dodd. A few of the men who served with him were present, including past residents of Colebrook House who resided with him in the 1930s and 1940s.

I would like to remind families once again that there will be a Student Free Day on Friday the 25th of November. Staff will be training in First Aid and planning for next year. Thank you to the families who have let us know that they are planning to move on in 2017. If you know of any new students planning to come to our school next year please let me know as we are working on classes and staffing for next year.

Students from Years 7 to 10 will be attending the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience this Thursday at Central Oval in Port Augusta. On Friday we will have a ceremony for Remembrance Day by our flag.

To develop a positive work ethic it is important that students arrive to school on time so they are not disadvantaged by missing important instructions which are given each morning. If you are bringing students in late, which is sometimes unavoidable, you need to sign them in through the front office. This is a legal requirement; as is signing students out of the school if they are taken out early.

Secondary Report

We said a farewell last Friday to our Year 12 students with a lovely assembly. The Junior Primary students presented the Year 12 students with a pen and Ms Legge interviewed the students asking them for advice for younger students and to share some memories they have of their time here at QAS. Tori Kaesler presented an amazing valedictory speech on behalf of the Year 12 group. She highlighted many memories and thanked all teachers at QAS who had a positive influence on the students throughout their 13 years at school.

2016 Graduation Students

2016 Graduation Student

We wish the Year 12 students all the very best with their exams which begin this Thursday at the Council Chambers. Below is a list of the exam timetable:

Year 12 Students

Our Year 7-10 students are heading to the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience which is being held in Port Augusta at the Central Oval Complex this Thursday. This event promises to be full of highly engaging historical information and artefacts, perfect for any school or community group visit. Please ensure that you return your permission slip so that you can attend. The bus is leaving QAS at 9:15am SHARP.

Another reminder of end of year activities/procedures for our current Year 10 and 11 students is listed below:

Year 10 Students

Year 11 Students

7-9 ANNUAL CAMP – ILLAWONGA

Students in Year 7-9 are hopefully looking forward to their camp in Week 7. This is only three weeks away and we would like to remind families to return permission/health care forms ASAP and make payment to the finance office. Illawonga Camp is an educational campsite just two hours from Adelaide near Swan Reach on the Murray River. Run by Murray River Educational Tours, Illawonga Camp offers a unique camp / study program developed specifically for school students. There is a variety of activities, many unique to the camp, that will foster students’ confidence, expand their understanding of the natural environment and provide opportunities to widen their physical and mental horizons.

Primary Report

Rawnsley Park Camp Report

Two of the primary classes went on a camp in Week 1 to Rawnsley Park. On the way we stopped at the historic Kanyaka Ruins where Mrs Ikiua-Brooks shared some knowledge about the origins of the ruins. Students explored the different buildings and imagined what life could have been like for the early settlers. We found out about Hugh Proby and how he came to own the land which became ‘Kanyaka’.

The highlights of Rawnsley Park were: Mr and Mrs Winthers’ visit on Thursday evening, Spotlight, Water Balloon challenges (students picked on Mr Baker), Bushwalks, and other team building activities. Students slept in bunkrooms and contributed to the preparation of their own meals.

It was great to see such a variety of age groups co-operating and interacting safely and appropriately throughout the camp. Students can be proud of the support they showed towards each other.

Years 2-6 Rawnsley Park Camp

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Years 2-6 Rawnsley Park Camp

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Subject Report

Vocational Education

Year 11 Students awarded with their Certificate 1 in Construction

Library

Last term (on September 15th) Monique Carcuro hosted a parent information webinar at the school with author and child psychologist Andrew Fuller. The Library has recently purchased two books written by Andrew Fuller which are available for parents to borrow: ‘Unlocking your Child’s Genius’ and ‘The Bright Kid Challenge’.

Thank you to everyone who visited and purchased items from the recent Scholastic Book Fair. From the commission on the sales made we were able to add $100 worth of children’s and teenage books to our collection. We were also able to offer some reward vouchers to the Premier’s Reading Challenge participants with the highest totals read – Geri and Maia Tschirner and Richard Lyman. The Book Fair promotion competition was won by Lara Filsell.

The Parents and Friends group have a school fundraising ‘Curry Club’ happening at the Library. Six authentic varieties with nothing artificial, for $6 per sachet (makes 3 curries) are available for sale.

Choir News

Having learnt so many fabulous songs this year, we thought what better way of continuing to enjoy our singing by sharing it with some of the elderly in our community. So, on Monday last week we performed a few songs, plus an encore, for the residents of Flinders House. The program below shows that all of our attending choir students had a special speaking part or a solo part as well as their regular choir singing.

Welcome - Austin
Song for the Mira – soloists Ella and Geri.
The Well – soloists Emily T, Max (rap) and Kathleen
Jai Ho
Encore – The Dance – soloists Emily M and Renae
Thank you - Alisha

We will also visit Flinders House to perform a few more songs during weeks 5 and 7. Additionally, the choir will sing a couple of their Primary Schools Music Festival songs and some Christmas carols at the annual Carols by Candlelight held on the school grounds on Friday week 6, 25th November.

Vennessa James and Sharon Taylor

Choir Performance at Flinders House

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Choir Performance at Flinders House

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Miscellaneous Reports