21 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

This week we have finalised the NAPLAN test cycle for2019. There were significant changes to the tests this year with all but the Y3 Writing completed online. Despite the recent changes to our network resulting from the recent building removal, we encountered none of the difficulties you may have read about in the media. The changes we have made in terms of laptop use and writing in recent years left our learners well-positioned to engage fully engage with the all of the tests and I am pleased to note the high levels of engagement our learners brought to this national assessment. Every year the NAPLAN tests are accompanied by conflicting and confusing reports in the media regarding the purpose and validity of the assessment. As a site, we use a variety of measures to assess our progress and NAPLAN is currently the main tool we have to measure the success of our learning programs accurately. The data provided enables us to review schoolwide initiatives linked to both Literacy and Numeracy and assess the impact they are having on the learners of Quorn Area School. The results will give us a clear indication of our current achievements and provide essential feedback for teachers on how they can further support the learning in their classrooms.

Last week both our Year Nine and Ten learners embarked on the annual Careers Trip to Adelaide. During their four days in Adelaide and surrounding areas, they had the opportunity to experience firsthand a variety of career opportunities. Including the Year 9 learners in the trip is part of a deliberate strategy to raise awareness earlier of potential post-school pathways and support them in working collaboratively with teachers to better prepare them for the ever-changing world of their futures. These events rely heavily upon the professionalism and commitment of teachers who begin the planning stage many months in advance, and I would like to express thanks to Brad Forkert and Megan Novillos for their leadership of this year’s trip.

Last week we began distributing and promoting materials linked to the new SA government strategy around learner attendance. EVERY DAY MISSED IS A BARRIER TO LEARNING was launched across our region last week. While we have significantly improved our attendance in the last two years, we remain focused upon the improvements that need to be made and the impact they have on learner growth. Please take the time to read through the article in this newsletter and discuss any concerns you may have with your child’s teacher or member of our leadership team.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

School News

Attendance Campaign

New campaign focuses on coming to school every day

Our school is a part of a social media pilot, Every day missed is a barrier to learning.

Last year, some of you may have been involved in the research activities that helped develop the campaign.

You might have seen the campaign video on our Schoolzine app - Or you might have seen the posters around the school.

The campaign is about understanding:

• the importance of going to school every day
• how missing school affects a child’s learning and social connections.

Learning is a progressive activity. Each lesson builds on the next lesson.

What a child learns today will help them with what they learn tomorrow. Missing days or parts of days creates gaps.

A day away can mean missing out on important learning information or social activities and experiences.

Attending school every day means your child:

• is more likely to stay on track and progress academically
• won’t miss out on social and learning activities organised by the school
• is more likely to have stronger social and peer connections
• will learn positive life skills
• can be provided with support and services when needed.

For more information visit

National Walk Safely to School Day

Last Friday was National Walk Safely to School Day. There were 50 students in total who met at the Railway Station and made their way to school together for a pancake breakfast.

Walking Wednesdays

As we had such a great turn out for Walk to School Day, our prefects Chloe and Lorie have come up with a great initiative to encourage students to walk to school on a  weekly basis. Beginning next Wednesday the 29th of May, students will have the opportunity to meet at the Railway Station at 8:20am and walk to school together. Points will be awarded to students for Kanyaka and Yarrah for walking to school. House Captains as well as teachers will be getting on board as well!

We look forward to seeing as many students walk to school each Wednesday.

Headspace Workshops

On Wednesday the 12th of June, Headspace from Adelaide will be visiting QAS to run some student and parent workshops. The workshops will be available to students in years 7-12 and will focus on the following:

Mental Health

• Understand your mental health and wellbeing
• Break down the stigma about mental health
• Explore coping strategies
• Noticing within yourself when you need support
• Understanding and practicing how to access supports with trusted adults and sevices

Looking out for your friends – Notice, Ask, Connect

• Notice: identifying warning sign that a frined might not be ok
• Ask: how to have difficult conversations and ask your friend if they are ok
• Connect: how to help them find the best support and make sure you are looking out for your own self-care

Parent/Carer session – Wednesday 12th June, QAS 7-8pm

Parent/carer sessions complement the student workshops and include information about mental health and wellbeing in adolescence, adolescent development, strategies to connect and communicate, as well as information for parents to support their young person and where to access support.

Please contact Sarah Bury if you would like to attend the parent session. A minimum of 10 parents are required for the session to go ahead

Toastie Tuesday

Place your order at the front office and come down to the Canteen at first break.

Volunteer RAN Training

DfE volunteers can participate in a wide range of programs and services including coaching sporting teams, helping children learn to read, attending working bees, mentoring students and through membership on governing councils, management groups and parent groups.

If you feel you have different skills, expertise and knowledge to offer, please contact with the school as it’s never too late to start. No matter who you are or where you’re from, it’s all about wanting to help out. It’s in this spirit that the department actively encourages Aboriginal people and people from multicultural and diverse backgrounds to become involved also.

Please come along to our Volunteer RAN Training Session on 13th June 2019

Crossing Monitors

A huge shout out to the crossing monitors this year who organise themselves to supervise safe passage across the road for our students every morning; They organised a schedule for themselves and take pride in waving good morning to those who travel through the crossing of a morning.

Also a big thank you to Mia and Isabelle for braving the conditions last week during morning crossing duty.

Mia and Issy conducting traffic during morning crossing duty

Subject Report

Primary Coordinator

I am so proud of our primary cohort whom I supervised last week completing their NAPLAN. Their test etiquette was exemplary and persistence throughout the entire test time was excellent.

Moderation of our learners Cold Write’s will take place this Thursday, to ensure consistency with marking against the criteria and support students with effective feedback on their writing piece. Staff also attended at Professional Learning afternoon on Monday and will be working on our Visible Learning Journey on Monday Week 5 during the Student Free Day. It’s full steam ahead for staff as we are powering through another busy term.

This week we welcome Eliza McIntosh into our Primary classrooms to complete a five-day placement. She will be working with all primary staff and observing their practice over the week. We hope Eliza enjoys her time with us and are happy that we can support her in her teaching journey.

Aspiring to Inspire

Monique Carcuro
Primary Coordinator

MAPPEN

This Term in MAPPEN, all students from Foundation to Year 6 are learning about Sustainability.

The Year 1-3 students are learning about the importance of Reusing, Recycling and Reducing. They have buried some lunch wrapper rubbish up in the school garden and have made predictions about what will have happened to it and what it will look like when we dig it up in 4 weeks. An overlying message for the students is to Tip Toe through the world and leave minimal footsteps of destruction for future generations. The students enjoyed ‘tip toeing’ over bubble wrap to create this idea of minimal damage. Guess who popped the most bubbles?!!

Students have identified items of rubbish that can be recycled and reduced. They have also made predictions about how long different household rubbish items will take to decompose by ordering them on a timeline.

Following on from this, students are working collaboratively to search on the internet to check their predictions and already they have found some fascinating facts that they have shared with peers.

Students are learning to share their thinking as to why certain foods decompose faster than others and these Scientific skills are essential for an inquiring mind!!

Check out the video we watched in class which we then wrote predictions about

The Foundation students are looking at the importance of growing new things. They have experimented with trying to grow seeds and vegetable pieces in both soil and on cotton wool. So far no progress, but stay tuned!! They have made vocabulary books of all the new words they will learn this term and have been actively involved in using our senses to describe things found in our school garden. They were very brave and TASTED parsley, oregano and thyme.

Mari Ikiua-Brooks

Year 10 Careers Trip

Week 2 this term our Year 9 and 10 Learners embarked on the biennial Careers Trip to Adelaide. During their four days they had the opportunity to experience various career opportunities firsthand. Our learners were inspired and exposed to think creatively about their futures, discovered countless opportunities, and returned ready to plot a rewarding post-school pathway.

This trip also aids with one of the assessments, which our Year 10s (who are studying the compulsory SACE subject - Personal Learning Plan), must successfully complete. Likewise, our Year 9s will use this experience and be prepared for next year when they commence the subject.

From Tuesday 7th May until Friday 10th May, our trip was jam-packed yet fun filled with many opportunities to immerse into a variety of fields. Tours and activities were arranged to ensure the unique interests of our learners were catered for. These tours ranged from visiting various tertiary education campus sites to exploring independent institutions.

We went to TAFE campus sites for heavy mech, hospitality, and building and construction. Learners were impressed by the hi-tech facilities at the TAFE Tonsley campus and the incredible culinary talent showcased at the International College of Hospitality Management (ICHM). We explored various University campuses such as UniSA City East discussing careers in health and sciences, and UniSA City West for professions in law, business, design and architecture. Then we visited The University of Adelaide for careers in music and arts; all of which are in Adelaide CBD. We also travelled further to Flinders University for a campus tour. Seeing different universities allowed our learners to compare options and reflect on which of these may best suit their future interests.

Learners had firsthand experience of careers in gaming design and visual effects at the CDW studio, and they were fully engaged in conversation with firefighters at the Metropolitan Fire Station, and police officers at the Fort Largs Police Academy.

Lastly, we wrapped up the trip with a visit to the Career Expo at Wayville Showgrounds where learners filled their booklets by seeking information from at least 3 experts from different fields. There were heaps of freebies and our learners received ‘career showbags’ filled with stationery and booklets/pamphlets/brochures. In addition to visits to educational sites, our learners also had the chance to develop friendships and built teamwork at go-karting, laser skirmish, and late night shopping, and amazed at the augmented exhibition at the MOD gallery. We trust that our learners will cherish this experience and reflect on their plans for the future. Thank you to Mr. Forkert, our learners, parents/caregivers, and all the organisations for your efforts and support to make this memorable trip a success.

Megan Novillos
PLP Teacher

MNSEC Knock Out Football

Isaac Finlay, Lachlan Finlay and William Bennett will be representing MNSEC in the Yr 8/9 KO Football team this Thursday in Clare. We wish the boys all the best for their matches.

SAPSASA Athletics

Congratulations to Kalhan Burke who was chosen to represent our school and district in SAPSASA Athletics which was held in Adelaide yesterday. Kalhan participated in a number of trials earlier in the term at Stirling North and was selected from his successful results. He was selected to compete in the Discus, High Jump and 200 metres. Kalhan achieved some personal best results as well as placing fifth in his Discus. Well done Kalhan, an amazing achievement.

MOTHER'S DAY STALL

Once again, the Mother's Day stall was a huge success. Thanks to the families who supported the gift table and to the Prefects and House Captains who gave up their time to wrap presents on the day. We hope all of the mums, grandmas and carers enjoyed their gifts on Mother's Day!

Happy Haven OSHC

Parents and Friends

Morning Coffee

Drop in and grab a coffee at our next catch up between 8:30 – 9:00. Alternatively if you would like to share any great ideas we would love to hear from you. It’s not all cake sales.

Ranges Colour Run

For more information and to register your interest, please visit the Ranges Colour Run Facebook Page

Miscellaneous Reports