4 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

The Importance of Regular Attendance

What’s missed when your child is away?

Every day missed is a barrier to learning.

There are many reasons why children miss school.

Research shows that every day missed has an impact on your child’s:

• learning
• wellbeing
• future life outcomes.

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.

In one day, your child might miss instructions:

• for math
• new spelling words
• the start of a new project
• a science experiment
• history lesson.

They might also miss a new game in the school yard or a group activity with friends.

If your child is away, they might get a postcard or you might receive a flyer via email.

It will show:

• what your child’s class learned
• what they played that day
• what was happening the next day.

For more information, visit the link below or speak to your child’s teacher.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

School News

National Simultaneous Storytime 2019

On Wednesday 22nd May, our primary learners were joined by Quorn Kindergarten to celebrate our annual National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Now in its 19th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

By facilitating NSS we aim to:

• promote the value of reading and literacy,
• promote the value and fun of books,
• promote an Australian writer and publisher,
• promote storytime activities in public libraries and communities around the country, and
• provide opportunities to involve families and friends to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

The selected picture book this year is ‘Alpacas with Maracas’ by Matt Cosgrove. Maggie Kamin, Director of Quorn Kindergarten, kindly read the book for our learners. The library was packed, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement. After reading the book, we proceeded to arts and crafts activities. Each station had different activities set which gave the chance for learners from various year levels to build friendships and collaborate. Our Year 10s showed great leadership running some of the stations, supporting primary learners, and assisting staff. It was great to see all participants involved and showed pride in their creations!

Megan Novillos
QAS Teacher-Librarian

‘Pink Day’ Wear Pink

Last Friday 31st May, our Year 10 girls (Ella Marshall, Deegan McAuliffe, and Maya Omonte-Kramer) hosted Pink Day. As part of their Personal Learning Plan (PLP) assignment, they were required to plan and carry out a community event which would showcase their understanding of the SACE personal and social capability and critical and creative thinking.

The purpose of their event was to develop their SACE capabilities relevant to the personal and learning goals they identified back in Term 1. These girls chose to raise funds in support of Cancer Council Australia, so all profits will go towards support, research, and prevention programs for breast and gynaecological cancers.

The girls worked hard to ensure proper organisation and preparation leading up to the event. Our learners collaborated and faced some challenges yet persevered through. Some of the things they had to organise for the event included: writing announcements, creating promotion materials, baking cupcakes, packing lolly bags, and were in regular contact with Cancer Council Australia.

Well done to our Year 10 girls (Ella Marshall, Deegan McAuliffe, and Maya Omonte-Kramer)! Many of our learners had fun, and members of the community supported this event. Thank you to everyone who attended and took part of this wonderful cause.

Special thanks to: Sylvia, QAS Staff – Vicki, Michelle, Monique and Sarah, class teachers

Megan Novillos
Teacher-Librarian

BYOD Purchase Portal

We have a BYOD purchase portal on our website where you can buy devices for students. BYOD is recommended for students moving into Year 7-12 next year.

Select ‘New User’ and follow the prompts.

Registration Key Code (required): qOrn@s2017

Payment plans are available through the website. If you have any questions relating to the BYOD program please contact Andrew Gilsenan-Reed on 86486101.

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 services

Looking out for your friends – Notice, Ask, Connect

• Notice: identifying warning sign that a friend 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.

Walking Wednesdays

Last Wednesday was our first ‘Walking Wednesday’ gathering. We had 21 students walk to school. Please meet at the Railway Station on Wednesday mornings if you would like to join us. This Wednesday we are going to measure the distance that we have walked and will begin to keep a record of how far we have walked throughout the term/year.

Sarah Bury
Learner Engagement and Wellbeing Coordinator

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 make contact with the school. 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

Subject Report

Foundation Class

Well it has been a very busy start to Term 2! We have been exploring all sorts of wonderful and amazing things in the Foundation years. There have been so many highlights that it’s hard to pick only a few to talk about!

Literacy

In Literacy we have been learning our VCOP and Big Write characters and using these characters to help us in our writing. We are proud of our new VCOP display that will help us with extending our vocabulary and punctuation for making wonderful pieces of writing. Here is Will, Delikah, Chace and Ashleigh having a go at explaining each of the characters and how they help us with our writing.

Maths

In Maths this term we have been focusing on subtraction and finding the odd one out. We began to explore subtraction by using animals or a small amount of objects and taking away a few. We worked out that you can only take away a smaller number from a bigger number. One of our favourite maths games to practice subtraction is Lego towers. In this game, we built a tower of ten and when someone rolls a dice you take away that many bricks from your tower. You can see Ellie and Evie performing this activity below.

We also took advantage of the cake stall on Pink Day to do some subtraction problems. We used our knowledge of Numicon shapes to take away a smaller number of cupcakes from a bigger number. Here is Ellie and Ashleigh demonstrating their subtraction skills.

Art

This term in Art we began to explore what effect water has on paint and how we can use water to create magnificent art pieces. We had a little too much fun with this and made a mess but it was worth it! The activities we enjoyed the most were paint blowing and spraying our pictures with a small amount of water. As you can see, we were very focused and got puffed out trying to blow the paint across the page. You can also see Evie soaking her painting with water to see what happens.

MNSEC Football

Lachie Finlay, Isaac Finlay and William Bennett represented QAS and MNSEC in the Yr 8/9 Football competition. The boys travelled to Clare and played 2 matches on Thursday the 23rd of May. Results were as follows:

Game 1: MNSEC 12-10 def BER 1.0
Game 2: Clare 15-5 def MNSEC 0-0

Declan, Luke and Cameron Finlay represented in the Open Boys team. They played in Port Augusta on Thursday also. Results were as follows:

MNSEC 17-17 def PASS 5-6.

The Open Boys will be playing in Round 2 during Week 9 of this term. We wish them all the best and hope for another win.

Well done to all boys who participated and represented our school.

MNSEC Netball

On Wednesday the 22nd of May, the Yr 8-12 students participated in the MNSEC Netball Carnival which was held in Port Pirie. The girls competed in the 8/9 and Open categories on the day. The Yr 8/9 girls played some excellent netball and really improved as the day went on. The Open Girls were undefeated in their competition and will now go on to compete in a competition in Adelaide in Term 3. Well done to all of the girls who represented QAS with enthusiasm and pride. We wish the open team all the best for the tough competition in Adelaide. I would like to thank Tricia Lehmann, Dani Chapman, Angie Finlay and Heidi Roberts for their assistance on the day with transportation, coaching, scoring and time keeping.

PLP

As part of my compulsory Personal Learning Plan subject I am required to organise a community event. I have decided to host at Trivia Night on Thursday 4th July at the school. Your support would be greatly appreciated. All funds raised on the evening will be donated to the Beyond Blue foundation.

If you would like to participate please contact me via my email address Ethan.Baker220@schools.sa.edu.au

Ethan Baker
Yr10 Student

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

MNSEC Formal

Miscellaneous Reports