7 December 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

The end of the year is almost here. Last weeks’ Year 7-9 camp at Illawonga was very successful and all who went had a great time. This week our Year Ten students are involved with Work Experience at various locations around the State.

Student reports and class notifications for 2017 are being sent home in Week 9; please contact the school if you need to have reports sent to more than one parent. Our annual end of year SRC school disco will be held for students this Thursday, it should be a fun night.

Thursdays seem to be very busy days; as in Week 9 we are having a Splash Day at the pool for the whole school. Normal lessons will continue until 12 noon before the students and teachers head to the pool. There will be a sausage sizzle for lunch and students will be dismissed from the pool at 3:10pm. In the evening from 5:30pm, in the School/Community Gym there will be a display of work from our students. We will also have pizza tasting if weather permits. Then at 7:00 pm we will have our Presentation Night. We are expecting the proceedings to be completed by approximately 8:30pm. We would like students to wear school uniform to this important occasion. If your child is receiving an award, we will be contacting you by email or phone in advance.

We will be hosting a final Primary School Assembly on Friday 9th December at 2.30pm in the School Gym. Awards will be presented for ICAS Competitions and 2016 Premiers Reading Challenge. Calculators will also be presented to our Year 6 students as they move into the Secondary part of their schooling.

It’s all good
Roy Winther

Secondary Report

Thanks to the enthusiastic staff members Monique Carcuro, Matt Griffiths, Frank Deans - Costi and Tricia Lehmann for their supervision and assistance of the 7-9 camp last week at Illawonga. I have feedback that it was a very well organised and fun filled camp with all students enjoying their time.

Our Year 10 students are undertaking a week of Work Experience this week. Some of the placements are situated in Quorn, Port Augusta, Adelaide and Gawler. Areas of interest include Kindergartens, Dental Clinics, Veterinary, Electrical and a Law Firm. I’m looking forward to contacting workplaces to see how the students are going with their placements.

This week has seen our current Year 11 students begin their Year 12 studies for next year. This will certainly give them an excellent head start for 2017. We have placed particular emphasis on the ‘Research Project’. This will continue in the last week of school where we will work with both the Year 11 and 12 students on their chosen subjects for 2017.

End of Year Results

Year 12 students can view end-of-year results in Students Online (SACE website) from 8.30 am, Tuesday 20 December 2016.

Official documentation is expected to arrive in the post on the same day.

Before December students can:

• Check their access by logging in to Students Online using their SACE registration number (6 digits followed by a letter) and PIN (4 digits)
• Check their postal address by selecting Personal information from the Account menu.

C.A.S Hawker Scholarship

The 2017 C.A.S. Hawker Scholarships open on Monday 5th December and close on Friday 6th January 2017. C.A.S. Hawker Scholarships are one of the most generous privately funded scholarships available to undergraduate students in Australia. Each residential scholarship is valued at up to $60,000 over three years. Information about the C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship and an application form are available via the link below or by contacting the secretary to the Trustees on 08 8127 1654. The Charles Hawker Scholarship perpetuates the memory of scholar, soldier and pastoralist Charles Allan Seymour Hawker and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected statesmen. C.A.S. Hawker Scholarships have been presented by Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb AC, South Australian Premier Hon Jay Weatherill MP, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Hawker family member Hon David Hawker AO and former Governor-General The Hon Major General Michael Jeffery AC.

The scholarships are available to all Australian students. The majority have been awarded to students entering their first year of university study. Selection is largely based on personal qualities and demonstrated leadership as well as academic ability. Undergraduate Hawker Scholars are able to attend a range of Australian educational institutions.

Information about the C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship and an application form are available via the link below.

Year 12 Graduation

We held our Year 12 Graduation dinner on Saturday the 26th of November at the Standpipe Golf Motor Inn. Year 12 students along with their families and teachers, celebrated with a lovely meal, some highlights of student’s time at QAS as well as some fun and games. This included a game of ‘Family Feud’. Below is a picture of the students attending the dinner.

Kade Baker, Marty Paynter, Tori Kaesler, Konnor Hughes and Eric Brereton.
ABSENT – Cody Fraser, Keenan John, Keenan Saunders and James Chapman

2017 Timetable

I am currently working on the 2017 timetable for secondary teachers and students. I hope to have this finalised by the end of the school year so we are set and ready to begin the 2017 school year. There may be a possibility of some subject clashes for Year 11 and 12 students; however, I am trying my best to avoid this. You will be informed if your child needs to make a slight change to their subject choices.

As you are aware, I am taking 6 months maternity leave in 2017. I wish you all a safe and happy festive break and look forward to working with you again when I return.

Sarah Bury
Deputy Principal

Counsellor Report

Illawonga Camp – Swan Reach

Check out all the action from the secondary camp last week. A mixture of water sports, caving, archery, shearing, gymnastics and a boat tour focusing on the ecological relevance/ history of the area, proved engaging and interesting to all who attended.

End of Year Social

This year the end of year social theme is a Formal Masquerade. Tickets are available in the Finance Office as well as at the door.

Last Toastie Thursday

This week will be our last Toastie Thursday for the year. Ice blocks are also available due to the warmer weather for $0.50.

New selection process

Please see Schoolzine note for more information regarding this new student representative council election process.

Pillowcase Project

The Pillowcase Project is a school based disaster prepareness education program. Adapted from an existing American Red Cross program, it was originally inspired by the events of Hurricane Katrina in the US. Students of a local University used pillowcases to carry their cherished and basic possessions while evacuating campus. Upon hearing this, Red Cross staff developed the concept of using a pillowcase as an emergency kit. The program quickly grew into an educational preparedness program, which has since become known as the Pillowcase Project.

The local Red Cross volunteers held 2 x 60 minute presentations for students in Years 2-4 and 5-6. The session was based on becoming aware of the importance of personal preparedness, being empowered to take action by practicing how to prepare for emergencies, and understand that by sharing what they have learned with family and friends, they can help create a prepared community.

Pillowcase Project

VIEW GALLERY

Pillowcase Project

Click images to enlarge

In Summary

What a busy year 2016 turned out to be, for both students and staff. My role within the school has changed significantly from when I first began the as the School Counsellor, however I have loved every challenging minute of it.

A more in depth write up is available in the School Magazine, however what I can say is that our students are very fortunate to be involved in so many activities, both on and off school grounds. I feel privileged to be a part of many of those activities and to be of assistance any way I can. E-mentoring, Peer Leaders, Smiling Minds, Day Against Bullying & Violence and Parents in Education Week to name a few.

I look forward to the New Year, the opportunities, challenges and everything in between.

Aspiring to Inspire

Monique Carcuro
School Counsellor

Library Report

STORY TIME:

The last Story Time for 2016 – a Christmas special - is on Wednesday 14th December at 10am.

QUORN MERCURY:

Every month the library publishes a list in the ‘Mercury’ of some of the new titles available to borrow. The ‘Mercury’ is available for purchase from the library.

WEBSITE AND APP

App – Search for ‘BookMyne’ – download and link it to your library barcode and PIN

Miscellaneous Report

QAS Tractor for Tender