11 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Last Friday we welcomed over thirty-five education professionals to Quorn to participate in professional learning linked to Big Write. With six different schools represented from the Whyalla and Port Augusta region it was clear that many schools are now exploring new and creative ways to support learners in their writing journey.

During the day teachers explored the challenges of writing from the learner perspective and focused on strategies to engage learners and equip them with the skills to up-level their writing. Our aim is to make this a sustained whole school focus, as we seek to ensure that every learner experiences a consistent and methodical approach to writing. Within our primary school the Big Write rollout has already begun in the Y3/4 & Y5/6 classes, with support being sought from caregivers to engage in Big Talk homework on Wednesday evenings. This will be extended into our remaining primary classes in the coming weeks with the Y7-10 adopting a modified version in Term Four.

Last week we completed the biennial review for our Pastoral Care Worker (PCW) Sharon Taylor and I would like to thank all of the people who completed the surveys to support this process. The results of the surveys are used to assist the school in securing future funding for the program and gain insight into its impact. Our learner responses, included below, give a clear indication of how they value the role of the PCW at our school.

“I haven’t ever spoken to her but I’ve seen her around helping.” Y8-12

“I really appreciate what she does helping students, caring for them etc.” Y4-7

We are extremely lucky to have the support of a PCW at our site and we thank the local church groups whose financial support has proved invaluable in maintaining this program at its current level.

We are also very fortunate as a school to have the support of a Department for Education Child Wellbeing Practitioner. Sonja Tilbrook works at the school one day a week and her role is to support children and their families by connecting them with appropriate support services in the community. Sonja’s work often proves invaluable and we appreciate her dedicated and flexible approach.

If you have any questions regarding these support roles at our school please do not hesitate to contact Monique Carcuro or myself.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Secondary Report

ADF Award Nominations

At Quorn Area School, the Year 10 Long Tan award recipient will be selected based on the following:

• 200 word Written statement that encapsulates the behaviours and attributes outlined in the criteria set by the ADF and Australian society (see the website below for more details).

Please include

• Details of 1 referee who can attest to your contribution and efforts in line with the criteria.
• Personal email address for registration purposes.

The application will be presented to the selection committee to ensure a transparent selection process. The certificate along with the $250 cheque will be presented at the end of year Presentation Night by LS Kieran Jarrett. Your attendance will be compulsory to receive the prestigious award.

Application is to be submitted to the Front Office with your name and ‘Attention ADF Application’ indicated on the envelope, by the Friday 21st September.

RSVP Graduation

Can Year 12 students please RSVP by Friday 21st September to assist in the organization process? Thank you.

Year 11 Photography

Experimenting with a Lenseball

We can’t wait to display our final prints at the Quorn Area School Showcase. This is just a snippet from one lesson last week.

Matt Griffiths

Middle School Report

Woodhouse Camp

Our Year 5-9 students travelled to Adelaide on Monday morning for 3 days of adventures at the Woodhouse Activity Centre in the Adelaide Hills. It was all action after a bite to eat for lunch. Check out some of the activities the kids have enjoyed so far. Keep an eye out for a highlights reel in our next newsletter.

Year 5/6 Science

In Science, our year 5/6 learners have been exploring natural disasters and ways in which these can be managed. They have been conducting scientific experiments such as their earthquake simulation experiment where they had fun constructing building and then jumping around in the classroom to simulate different levels of earthquakes. This experiment also required learners to write a scientific report which gave them the opportunity to learn and practise skills that will prepare them for science in the high school.

Year 7/8 Geography

In 7/8 Geography, we have been learning about landscapes and landforms. Learners have explored the different kinds of landscapes and landforms that there are and have identified the landforms around where they live. We have also been experimenting with the use of Google Earth to locate landforms and learners had fun playing around with this software and learning about longitude and latitude. Learners created presentations for the class where they showcased their research skills and learning about a chosen landform and it was great to see all the hard work that they have put in.

SAPSASA Athletics

On Friday 24th August, a group of 12 learners attended the district SAPSASA athletics carnival at Stirling North Primary School. They competed in a range of track and field events over the course of the day. It was fantastic to see students giving their all in their events and supporting their fellow students by cheering them on and at some points, even running alongside each other on the track to provide support and encouragement.

SACA Cricket Clinic

Last Monday we were lucky enough to have a visit from the South Australian Cricket Association. Students in years F-8 participated in a well organised coaching clinic. The program is part of the Woolworths Cricket Blast Health & Physical Education program. Participating students enjoyed the experience and teachers also considered the sessions of value.

There are two programs being offered to children in Port Augusta beginning on October the 22nd.

JUNIOR BLASTERS – For boys and girls new to cricket. Building skills through fun, game based activities. Modified games of cricket.

MASTER BLASTERS – super fun, social and safe cricket program for boys and girls aged 7-10. Short traditional games of cricket.

$99 registration

Please visit the website for more details:

Design and Technologies Student Teacher

Quorn Area School hosts a number of student teachers at varying stages of their teaching degrees. Student teachers are expected to undertake classroom observations and demonstrate the ability to set appropriate tasks to engage the students in their learning. This is never a simple or easy task. Experiencing actual classrooms is an important part of their training.

With the current emphasis on STEM and Design Technologies, it has been our pleasure to have Jed Woolford actively engaged in Design Technology with Mr McDonald, Digital Technology with Mr Pilz and Health and PE with Mrs Bury. He has developed strong relationships with his students and earned their respect with his approach to the various strands he is teaching. Jed will be with us until the end of week 9.

STEM and Engineering prospects in South Australia

Whilst the Port Augusta Power Stations may soon become a distant memory for most of us, the Government are quick to remind us of the potential new jobs coming from the establishment of new Solar Power Stations, one close to Port Augusta and a further plant proposed for the steel works in Whyalla. These new infrastructure projects will enable students to choose from a range of career paths which the construction and maintenance of these plants will bring.

Major projects take time to develop and it is now that students should be considering their study paths. To become an electrician, plumber, welder or other essential trade requires years of training and a dedicated approach to study. Students should use every opportunity offered by our school to enable them to be part of these projects and ensure a career which enables them to remain a part of their local communities.

These projects will provide a range of career paths from pure science through to developing engineering solutions for the conditions which exist in our local community. And what better grounding can those scientists and engineers have than having grown up and studied in these environments.

Science, Mathematics, Technologies and Engineering are a core part of any rural enterprise. The Science ensures that crops will have the best chance of growth; Mathematics ensures that the correct amount of nutrients and feed are available and can be paid for; Technology provides repeatability with land care and accuracy when calculating yields and engineering skills enables equipment to be maintained and enhanced to suit particular circumstances surrounding their particular enterprise.

When setting tasks and projects in the STEM subjects, preference is always given to incorporating as many of these skills as is possible, building up the connections which these subjects have to the community and its requirements. Participating in these tasks and activities is vital to developing a deeper understanding of the problems which face everyday rural life, even when the early stages may seem a little distant. Developing these core competencies requires perseverance.

To gain a deeper understanding requires a great deal of data gathering. In Digital Technologies, recording data using our Raspberry Pi small computers will enable students to optimise equipment position and location. Data will be analysed using programs such as Excel which can be used to predict the best location and mix of energy generation. Term Four will allow students to compare solar and wind energy schemes and look at the various storage methods available.

Primary Report

Big Write

On Friday the Primary staff among the Middle School English Faculty attended a Professional Development day on Writing. The day was extremely enlightening and has given us a clear vision to enhancing our writing across all year levels. Big Write is designed to bring the fun back into writing, to make the children want to write and to be continuously challenged throughout the writing journey. Big Write has been trialled in some of the Primary classes already this term and moderation of student work samples has commenced.

Picture Plates

Please deliver these back to the Finance Office AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so they can be sent away for production.

Parents & Friends

Just a reminder about the Parents & Friends FACEBOOK page, if you are not already a member, please do so in order to keep up to date with the different initiatives that the group is organizing this year.

Aspiring to Inspire

Monique Carcuro
Primary School Coordinator

Library

Miscellaneous Reports

QAS Gymkhana

If you would like to enter the Quorn Area School Gymkhana, please register as soon as possible. Contact Chloe Hilder for more information. Also check out the ‘Quorn Area Interschool’s & HRCAV Gymkhana’ Facebook page for more details.

Pre-School Enrolment

Please contact Maggie at the Quorn Kindergarten 86486377 for enquiries

St Ann’s College Applications

Makeup Master Class