30 July 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Next week we will be welcoming Helen Tunney to our school to undertake the 2019 External School Review. Helen will be visiting the site, along with a review principal, to review the progress made by the school since its last review and assist the school in refining its improvement journey. During the two day visit, our reviewers will be visiting classrooms, meeting learners, SSOs and teachers. We are also finalising a meeting time for caregivers so they can also share their views on our improvement journey to ensure a full picture. Details of the meeting will be promoted through Schoolzine this Wednesday afternoon.

Recently our Foundation classes celebrated ‘100 Days of Learning’ by undertaking a variety of tasks based on this important milestone in their learning journey. It was a pleasure to witness not only their engagement in learning but also the significant development in so many vital areas. At the same time, our oldest learners entered their final term of lessons as they strive to complete the coursework necessary to secure their personal goals. Wherever your child is in their learning journey, attendance will always be a vital factor in their ability to both engage with learning and fulfil their potential. While the recent advertising campaign has reached the end of its cycle, we ask all caregivers to remain focused on the message that:

EVERY DAY MISSED IS A BARRIER TO LEARNING

This week we will be closing the Technology block so that essential repair work can commence. Although the building will be out of use until the start of next term, we are confident that the alternative arrangements for classes will minimise any potential impact on learning. We request that community members accessing the site during this time adhere to the warnings and barriers that will be in place.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Jenny’s Retirement

Jenny Crisp was acknowledged and congratulated at the end of Term 2 assembly after serving the school for the better part of 33 years. We wish Jenny all the best in her retirement and thank her for her service and dedication to Quorn Area School.

Secondary Report

I cannot believe it is Term 3 already! The only people that will me more in shock then me are the Year 12 students whom only have 13 weeks of formal schooling left for the rest of their lives. As I have mentioned in previous articles Term 3 is the most stressful time for our students as they will have numerous assessment tasks to complete as well as a great deal of study to prepare for their end of year exams. The teachers are more than ready to help our learners achieve the best results that they are capable of however the students NEED to show the initiative to get it.

Mobile Phones

We have had some recent conversations with our students regarding unauthorised mobile phone usage during lesson times. Please speak to your child about their mobile phone usage at school and remind them of the current E-Technology Policy that is at our school, as when a staff member requests to confiscate the phones the parents will need to come in to the school and collect the phone from the front office.

Matt Griffiths
Secondary Coordinator

Primary Report

Welcome back to Term 3. I trust that everyone enjoyed time away from school to recharge the batteries for another busy term. To keep up to date with the events happening within the school, I encourage you to download the Schoolzine App. This platform hosts an array of information including both recent and past newsletters showcasing student learning. Upcoming events include another Primary Information session on Thursday 1st August for those who missed out earlier in the year. We have NAIDOC activities happening this Friday, the usual Monday Morning coffee for parents and friends, a Recorder Consort visiting our primary learners, Sports Day, Science Week, Book Week, our 3rd Cold Write assessment, Phonics Screening and much more. Please refer to the Schoolzine App for an updated calendar of events.

For those super organised families and creative geniuses, this year’s theme for Science Week is ‘Destination Moon’ which coincides with the anniversary of the moon landing and the Book Week theme is ‘Reading is my super power’. We will hold our annual Book Week parade and look forward to seeing our students celebrating their love of reading during this week.

I am really impressed with many of our learner’s growth so far this year, both academically and personally, as they are setting themselves goals that they aspire to and are focusing really hard on accomplishing. The same can be said about our teachers, all of whom have their own goals they aim to achieve (sometimes on a daily basis), don’t be scared to ask what they are...they would love to share.

Aspiring to Inspire
Monique Carcuro

Community Effort

I would like to give a huge shout out to our community and local cricket club for rallying the troops to ensure the concrete was laid for our cricket pitches. The rain held off for the pour and the sun came out just in time for the concrete to curate. The next stage will be to position the artificial turf and place poles into position for netting to be hung. We hope to have this project complete in time for some practice leading into cricket season.

Phonics Screening

MAPPEN

This Term classes are learning about Social Justice.

The Foundation classes are learning about Fairness and Friendship. They will be learning about the importance of rules at home, school and in the community. Students will learn about conflict resolution and how to work in a team with others. They have started the term by making ‘Magic Fairness Wands’ to turn unfair things fair.

The Year 1, 2 and 3 class are learning about Celebrating Differences and during the term will learn about Australian culture and the culture of other countries. They will practice the Habits of Mind ‘Thinking Flexibly’ and ‘Listening with Understanding and Empathy’. They have started the term by learning the difference between Fair

Subject Report

MNSEC Formal

The MNSEC formal was hosted by QAS last Friday and we welcomed 120 students from Booleroo, Orroroo, Gladstone, Peterborough and Jamestown. It was a lovely night where students had the opportunity to dress up and celebrate their achievements in secondary school. A huge thank you must go to Hollie Hancock and Heidi Roberts for volunteering their time in preparation for the event, as well as their time on the night. I would also like to acknowledge some students who helped out on the night with music and waitressing; Mackenzie Chapman, Ethan Baker, Maya Omonte-Kramer and Kathleen Medlam were amazing on the night and volunteered 4 hours of their time to assist. This goes above and beyond and you should all be extremely proud of your efforts. Another thank you to the QAS staff who volunteered their time to served drinks throughout the night. The entire night could not have happened without these volunteers. Well done everyone.

Erika Owens from ‘Magic Memories by Erika’ took some fabulous photos for all of the schools on the night and we can’t wait to see a sneak peek of these. Galleries will be emailed to each school and students will be able to copy photos and print as desired.

Sports Day

Sports Day is scheduled for Friday the 9th of August. Students in Years 2-12 will meet in their House areas at the beginning of the day – 8:45am and have their attendance recorded. Yarrah will meet in the GC4 classroom and Kanyaka will meet in GC5 with their respective house captains.

The Foundation and Year 1 students will meet in the Foundation classrooms in the morning to have their attendance recorded and organise their groups for the modified events. At 8:55am they will head down to the oval to commence the carnival with their 100m dash event.

I have attached the program below for both the F/1 modified activities as well as the main program for Yr 2 -12 students.

We will be looking for parent volunteers on the day to help with timing of track events, as well as measuring for the field events. Please see Sarah Bury prior to the day if you are able to be of assistance on the day. Hawker Area School students will be joining us for Sports Day.

There will be a canteen open on the day and there will be no need to place orders. The menu will be distributed to families in the coming days.

Some of the track and field events will be held prior to the day and are listed below

SPORTS DAY WEEK 3 EVENTS

Wednesday 7th August
1500m events - OPEN

Thursday 8th August - Javelin
9am – ALL under 12’s
9:30am – ALL under 14’s
10am – ALL under 16 and Open

Track and Field Mentoring

In the lead up to Sports Day, the secondary HPE classes have been planning and implementing training activities for the primary students, to mentor them in track and field events. The learning intentions are focused on giving the primary students tips and technique for the events that they will be competing in. Students in Years 9/10 planned and mentored the Year 2-6 students in discus, shot put, long jump, high jump, triple jump and running as well as baton changing. It was evident from just the first session the amount of progress students had made from the beginning of the lesson. We are looking forward to the next two sessions to increase the primary students on with their confidence and athletics abilities.

The Year 7/8 students planned ‘modified’ events for the Foundation and Year 1 students to participate in. The secondary students were very creative in their ideas and the F/1 students enjoyed the experience and were given an excellent insight in to the main concepts of the range of events. We will participate in another two sessions, before sports day when the F/1 students can show their parents what they have been learning.

I just wanted to share how extremely proud I am of all of the secondary students, in regards to their organisation, encouragement and mentoring of the primary students. It was one of those moments as a teacher you receive ‘the shivers’ because you can see the impact the secondary students were having and the progress that the primary students were making. We are extremely lucky being an Area School and to be able to undertake peer mentoring across the site with successful outcomes, something that a lot of other schools will not experience.

Quorn School and Community Library

It is great to hear the progress of some of our learners who are taking part of the Children’s University program… Remember to see QAS CUA Coordinator, Miss Novillos (contact details below). Learners are required to at least complete 30 hours of learning ‘outside of school’ prior to November. This will also need to be recorded into their CUA Passports then stamped with approval in order to be eligible to graduate.

All learners received an information packager ‘folder’ last term. This package contains information about the program, contact details, instructions on using the passport, and filling individual forms which need to be completed to show evidence of learning. Individual forms will sometimes state how many hours each activity will go towards their overall completion.

*PLEASE NOTE: NOT ALL forms need to be completed, only fill a form of an activity chosen by your child.

These are our QAS participants for Children’s University posing with their passport and CUA folders.

Year 1-3 (left to right): Georgia Shannon, Ebonie Werth, Hayley McCarthy, Logan Buckingham and Flynn Saxton
Year 4-6 (Not pictured): Bailey Buckingham, Tasnuba (Sarah) Anjum, and Cheyanne Maher

We have chosen to offer this program to help our learners develop a love of learning from an early age and open their eyes to the endless possibilities that await them in their futures.

The program is run by the University of Adelaide and aims to reward learners for making positive choices in their learning journey. Much like a normal passport, learners are asked to carry their passports with them to all CUA activities.

Please direct any questions or concerns to the following contact details below.

We are also excited to announce that we are in the process of implementing a Reverse SMS feature where we will be able to conveniently notify library members about their library items (holds, borrowings, overdues etc). Additionally, we will soon create an official Facebook page for our Quorn School Community Library to better connect and update all members of the community. Please watch this space!

Megan Novillos
Email Megan.novillos702@schools.sa.edu.au
Library (08) 8648 6705
QAS Teacher-Librarian

NAIDOC Activities

This Friday we are welcoming in some special visitors from the ‘Malka Carving Group’ to conduct some cultural activities for our Foundation - Year 6 students. Below is the program that we will be undertaking for the day. There will also be a campfire during the break time, where students will have the opportunity to cook ‘twisties’ and fill with their favourite fillings.

Beyond Blue Trivia Quiz Night

During the last week of Term 2 (Thursday 4th June), our Year 10 boys (Ethan Baker and Aaron Lock) with the help of Michelle Baker, hosted a Trivia Quiz Night. 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 boys chose to raise funds in support of Beyond Blue, so all profits went towards creating change and the protection of mental health

Donations will help Beyond Blue to:

• reduce the impact of depression, anxiety and suicide by supporting people to protect their mental health and to recover when they are unwell
• reduce people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination
• improve people’s opportunities to get effective support and services at the right time.

The boys worked hard to ensure proper organisation and preparation leading up to the event. Well done to Ethan Baker and Aaron Lock. It was an extremely successful event, great fun with a wonderful turnout!

Thank you to everyone who attended and took part of this wonderful cause. Special thanks to: Event Sponsors personally thanked by Ethan and Aaron, & QAS Staff – Michelle, Brad, Monique

Megan Novillos
Teacher-Librarian

Parents and Friends

Ranges Colour Run Logo Competition

• Black and White Logo Only
• Size = 8cm x 8cm
• Keep it simple as details don’t always print easily
• Submit to Front Office in the marked ‘Design Box’ during school hours by Friday 13th September
• Ensure your name is written on the back of the design
• See website for more details

• Logos that are submitted will be judged based on creativity and design. Four logos will be shortlisted for a community vote which is accessible online. The final chosen design will be printed on the front of the shirts for this event.

Miscellaneous Reports

Aviation Open Day

Come to our Aviation Open Day on 23 August 2019 and see first year students in action. The Stage 1 SACE course covers basic aeronautical knowledge, aviation engineering and pilot skills in a Jabiru lights sports aircraft. Contact Coralie at Mid North Christian College on 08 8632 4240 or email aviation@midnorthcc.sa.edu.au for further information.

Vocational Education

With vocational education and training (VET), students can choose to undertake partial qualifications, short courses, skill sets and units of competency, which means they can gain the skills they need, when they need them. VET courses provide industry experience along the way, which means that they can test out their skills and work out what kind of career they’re best suited to whilst they learn.

There’s some useful information and links to resources on the Real Skills for Real Careers page.

Country to Canberra Leadership Competition

RST Newsletter