10 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Last week the school began its journey to become a certified White Ribbon School. The Breaking the Silence Schools Program provides teachers with the foundational knowledge, tools and strategies to ensure cultures of respect and gender equality in schools. It is ten years since this program was launched and over seven-hundred schools in Australia have committed to support our future generations in building respectful relationships. During the remainder of the year, we will be working with learners, caregivers and the wider community to develop a plan for 2020. This plan will explore further ways to strengthen a culture of respect and equality at all levels of our school community. We will also be exploring options around a White Ribbon event on the 22 November. If you feel you could support us to make it a community event, please contact Sarah Bury.

Last week schools received the preliminary NAPLAN results. At this stage, we are still awaiting both the writing results and the individual reports for caregivers. I am pleased to inform the community that we have secured impressive results in many areas. Based on the measures used by the Department for Education, I can confirm the following:

In 50% of the tests of both Literacy and Numeracy, we secured the best results by the site since measures were introduced in 2014.

In 81.25% of the tests of both Literacy and Numeracy, we have surpassed the achievements of 2018.

These results, combined with the favourable findings of our recent review, mean that we are well placed to offer the quality learning opportunities that our community deserve.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Happy Haven OSHC

Vacation Care

Vacancy

School Events

NAIDOC Activities

On Friday the 9th of August we welcomed guests from the Malka Carving Group to QAS for our NAIDOC celebration. Aunty Col worked with Connor and showcased a cultural painting demonstration and the students had the opportunity to complete their own cultural painting on a canvas. Dallas and Uncle Phillip demonstrated some wood carving and showcased some amazing items that had been hand carved. Aunty Kae introduced the learners to some cultural stories and songs. Thanks to the Malka Carving Group for your wonderful workshops.

During the break, the students also had the opportunity to cook a ‘twisty’ in the camp fire which was kindly organised by a number of our Aboriginal parents/grandparents and friends. I would like to thank our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time and allowing the classes to experience a traditional damper cooking. Thanks to Aileen Shannon, Kyley McCarthy, Kemeree Stuart and Danny and Sharlynn McCarthy. The students are still talking about it!

SAPSASA Athletics

On Friday 23rd August, 11 students represented QAS in the SAPSASA Athletics carnival. Students were selected according to their performance from our school Sports Day. All students had a successful day and competed in their chosen events to the best of their ability. Well done to all of you who were selected and represented our school, a great effort. A huge congratulations to Ella Holtham who broke the 2009 girls 200m record. What an outstanding achievement!

Some individual results are listed below:

Ray Lander – 2009 boys – 1st High Jump, 3rd 100m, 3rd 200m
Tyra Lander – 2007 girls – 1st Relay, 3rd Discus
Joel Finlay – 2007 boys – 1st Long Jump, 3rd High Jump
Ella Holtham – 2009 girls – 1st 200m, 2nd 100m, 3rd High Jump, 1st Relay
Lachlan Holtham – 2006 boys – 3rd Shot Put
Ashalon McKenzie – 2009 girls – 1st Discus, 1st Relay
Isabelle Bachelor – 1st Relay

SSSA Netball

Our senior girls competed in the SSSA Open Girls netball in Adelaide on Monday 26th August.

The girls played Caritas College in their first match and came up against some familiar faces. It was a very competitive match but unfortunately we lost by two goals 25-27. Our second match was against Glossop High School, another tough match this time going down 24-35. In our final match of the day we played against Mary Mackillop and although we had our opportunities we lost this match 32-34.

It was a great achievement for our girls to progress this far in the state finals and everyone should be proud of their efforts. Thanks to Tricia Lehmann for umpiring and Miss C for her guidance throughout the day.

SSSA Volleyball

This Thursday our senior girls will be competing in the SSSA Volleyball finals in Adelaide. We wish them well and look forward to reporting on their outcome in the next newsletter.

Walking Wednesdays

This has been a huge success and we encourage more students to join in and earn a point for their house. We meet at the Railway Station at 8:20am SHARP every Wednesday and walk to school together. So far the students who participate each week have reached approximately 4 kilometres in total.

Pilates for HPE

On Friday the 30th of August, we welcomed Claire Moran to QAS to run some Pilates classes with the secondary Health and PE classes. All students were engaged in the session and participated enthusiastically. The Year 9/10 HPE class have been investigating the physical components of fitness and designing programs which we are following that can enhance particular components. Pilates is beneficial for flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness. The Yr 11/12 Psychology class have been focusing on healthy minds and pilates is a great tool and technique to use that nourishes our minds and bodies to maintain our health to an optimum level.

We would like to thank Claire for fitting us in to her busy schedule.

Garden Area

A huge thank you to the Year 9 boys who assisted Mrs Taylor to complete the edging around the garden beds during the past week, I think you would agree that it looks great. A special mention to Nathan who also assisted Mrs Taylor by cleaning out the rubbish in the bottom of the billabong – thanks Nathan.

Choir

Thursday the 5th of September saw members of our choir represent Quorn Area School as part of The Combined Schools Choir for the Festival of Music 2019.

Bailey delivered a portion of the Wisdom of Confucius in a soloist performance to those in attendance in ‘the word of Shu’, with less than a week’s lead in time prior to the show. Sarah told her penfriend in Australia about what life was like in her part of Asia in her soloist performance in ‘My Kawan’.

Both Georgia and Bailey performed for the first time with the choir, and we look forward to hearing more from not only them, but from all of our amazing performers in the future!

Parents and Friends

Miscellaneous Reports

Circus Workshops in October School Holidays