30 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Semester One where did you go?! With one week left of the term I cannot help but reflect on such a great Semester given the circumstances. With so many events, activities and celebrations postponed, we are actively working to devise a plan that will allow us to continue focusing on our academic improvement, whilst also incorporating extracurricular and co-curricular activities in Term 3 & 4.

Just a reminder of the requirements that still remain in place for our site

• Students and staff stay home if they are unwell.
• The general public should not access school playgrounds or play equipment.
• Parents must continue to physical distance, including at school pick up and drop off – however as of Term 3 you are more than welcome on site.
• If you are visiting the school as a volunteer or external service provider, ask Tricia or Michelle for a site access form on entry.

Camp News

It’s all systems go with the green light given for camps and excursions to resume this year. Planning is underway for 2020 and we hope to get details out to families as soon as possible early in Term 3. A new policy has been drafted and we look forward to distributing it for consultation soon.

Flying High

Recently the Prefects awarded a special certificate to Levi Hatch who was chosen to be our 2020 Flag Monitor as he displays our school values on a regular basis. It takes great responsibility to handle the flags with the dignity they deserve and we congratulate Levi on this achievement.

As we have been hindered by COVID-19 and unable to hold an assembly, we thought we would capture this announcement electronically and share with our school community.

Visible Learning

Moving into Term 3 the staff are excited to roll out their Impact Cycles. The process supports our teachers to define specific areas of student learning to improve, design evidence-informed strategies, and to collect evidence to check their impact. Through engaging in these focused, manageable and energising cycles, teachers have an authentic opportunity to improve their practice while lifting student outcomes.

Check out some of the topics below:

• Do my learners know how to talk about what they are reading?
• Is there a disconnect between the views of effective learning strategies between staff and students?
• Are secondary teachers aware of the different levels of feedback and types of feedback available to support learners?
• Can designated reflection time allow learners the opportunity to gain effective feedback on their success?

We are also in the process of gathering further evidence on ‘What makes a good learner at Quorn Area School,’ in order to measure the impact of our Learner Dispositions introduced in 2018. After collecting our learner’s voice on this topic, we compile the responses into a short movie. Watch this space!

Principal Position

Over the past six months, I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of learning a new role within the school while acting in Andrews’s absence. Looking forward to Term 3, I will be resuming the role as Primary Coordinator and welcoming Andrew back to continue the improvement journey we are on.

Once again, thank you for the continued support throughout my tenure.

Aspiring to Inspire
Monique Griffiths

Students will be dismissed at 2.05pm this Friday 3rd July

Secondary Report

What an amazing semester we have just experienced – it’s been one like no other. I am so proud of how our school and school community have adapted and responded to the obstacles we overcame during this time. The majority of our SACE students showed resilience and perseverance throughout this time and didn’t let this affect their attendance or dedication to hand assignments up and meet deadlines. We have achieved pretty good results throughout these times with 47% of our middle school grades at an A or B standard, and 62% of our SACE grades at A or B standard. Next term we are offering all our Year 11s the opportunity to be involved in Stage 1 Physics for the first time in a while. This will provide a new avenue for each of them to explore and test their knowledge in something new. As you can see there are really impressive things are happening in our school.

It is getting to the time of the year where our Year 12 students need to start seriously considering their options after school. In the coming weeks I will be having discussions with our learners and assisting them with University and TAFE applications to support their future directions. I have also commenced subject selection discussions with our 2021 Year 11 and 12 students; this will assist us with our future planning. We also encourage parents to have these discussions with their child so we can all work together mapping the future directions of each individual.

I hope everyone has a safe holiday – it is very well deserved.

Upcoming events

We have Open Boys and Girls Knockout Volleyball scheduled on Thursday 6th August (Week 3 – Term 3) in Jamestown. This is a chance for students to challenge the skills they have learnt in Integrated Learning against sides from Booleroo, Clare and Peterborough.

New Furniture

It has been a few years in the making but we have upgraded the furniture in one of our learning spaces to make it feel more modern. As you can see by the video and images attached the students were very eager to get stuck into it and set it up. Once set up we sat down as a group and created a list of agreements that the students will need to follow when they are in that room. It has been really positive to see our senior learners take ownership and show increased levels of responsibility.

Outside Learning

The 7/8s have been utilizing the great weather and resources our school has during their Care Group lessons. Students had to work in pairs to analyse the schools Technology Policy.

Matt Griffiths
Secondary School Coordinator

Learner Engagement and Wellbeing

Morning Tea - NAIDOC Planning

Thanks to the amazing parents who came along to the morning tea yesterday to assist with the planning of our NAIDOC activities. We will be celebrating NAIDOC Week on Monday the 27th of July, next term (week 2).

I would like to acknowledge Denise's contributions towards the planning and the morning tea which she provided for the group this morning. It was fantastic to see some eager families who are keen to become involved. We thank you for your enthusiasm.

It's not too late to become involved with the planning of a variety of activities or if you can assist in some way. Please contact Denise Wilton or Sarah Bury at the school.

Subject Report

Science and Mathematics Updates- Term 2- 2020

Year 8 Science

This term in Science, Year 's 8 have been engaged in Chemical Reactions, Microscopy and Cells and currently are doing the Body Systems topics. Learners were challenged to understand Chemical Reactions that create the many products we use daily in industry and at home such as common salt. In Microscopy they investigated people in the history of cell theory and the invention and development of the different types of microscopes. The Human Body System has been as fascinating as the other topics. Students are learning why the human body needs food and how the body changes from babies to adolescence to adulthood.

Year 9 Mathematics

Learners have been engaged in working out the application of the equation of the line to find the Gradient/Slope of different types of straight lines. Also they were asked to demonstrate knowledge in the use of extracting information from the equation of the line and draw the corresponding graphs, which were used as a short cut to extrapolate the required information. This term students were also introduced to the famous theory of Pythagoras to solve mathematical problems that are so much common in everyday life such as building and farming. Learners were moreover encouraged to develop knowledge to explain the application of Pythagoras Theorem to different right angled triangular shapes and sizes especially in the building industry.

Year 10 Science

In Year 10 Science students have been learning Motion Science, where they were be able to distinguish between distance and displacement; Speed and velocity and how the direction of the object plays a very important part in understanding things in motion. Learners have been be able to review key concepts on displacement, velocity and acceleration. The always talked about Newton’s Laws of Motion (three governing laws of motion), which relate to driving, flying, running and crashing were also introduced and investigated. In the demonstration of Newton’s Laws of Motion students were engaged in a challenging Investigation of a Ticker Timer Experiment, which enabled learners to work out velocities and accelerating trolleys. Learners were also introduced to force, work and energy involved in moving objects.

Year 10 Mathematics

This term Year 10 in Mathematics were engaged in a measurement topic, which encouraged them to work out the areas of regions and areas of surfaces of closed figures using common area formulae and that of Heron’s. Learners were also able to look into complex shapes such as prisms, pyramids, cylinders and spheres. Year 10 students extended their knowledge by working out volumes of these solids, which they were able to convert to capacities in case the solids were containers. They were engaged in an exciting investigation thereafter, which required them to construct a deck for an outdoor use for a customer who had limited amount of money. Learners were also introduced to Trigonometry an extension of Pythagoras Theorem.

Mr T J Sambi
Secondary Mathematics/Science

Music Lessons

After much anticipation, we look forward to Mr O’Dea returning to QAS next Term. Lessons will resume on Friday Week 2.

If you are interested and have not yet received a consent form, please see Michelle.

Primary & Secondary Award Winners for Semester 1

We are extremely proud of our learners and their achievement this semester. We look forward to recommencing regular assemblies in Term 3. Earlier today the following students were presented with End of Semester Awards for their hard work.

Primary Class Awards

Year 7/8 Class Award

Year 9/10 Class Award

Year 11/12 Class Awards

Biology Excursion

Last Monday our Year 11/12 learners ventured to Alligator Gorge near Wilmington as part of the ‘Evolution’ unit in their Biology Studies. Students were provided a list of terms that they had to search for and provide evidence during our 6km walk. The scavenger hunt list is attached to this article. One thing that was really amazing was that the majority of our students had never been to this part of the Flinders Ranges as they were all 'scared' of the steps. It was a great opportunity for these students to see what their learning looks like outside of the classroom and understand it in a real life context. Enjoy some of the photos below from our trip.

Parents and Friends

National Science Week – Interactive Scientific Bubble Show

This year National Science Week will be held across the whole month of August, and all events will be online.

Graeme Denton’s (aka Marty McBubble) educational science business has been awarded a National Science Week Grant to perform Online Scientific Bubble Shows for FREE for families across Australia in August this year, and he would like to give families the opportunity to register for one of these performances as numbers are limited. Bookings are open now and the shows are between the 1st and 9th August.

Families can register for the FREE shows on the National Science Week website on this link:

The Scientific Bubble Show

Happy Haven OSHC

July Vacation Care – Make your booking today!

The Happy Haven OSHC Vacation Care program provides a warm, caring, fun, stimulating and interesting environment, full of exciting activities and excursions for your children to enjoy during their school holidays. Check out what’s planned for the upcoming holidays.

Employment Opportunity

Happy Haven OSHC are looking for enthusiastic and professional Educators!

Interested applicants will require as a minimum:

- Working with children check

- DECD approved 7hr RAN-EC (Responding to Abuse and Neglect in an Education and Care environment) training

- For qualified staff they will also require first aid training (course code HLTAID004) and a diploma in children’s services/OSHC or equivalent (2 years full time teaching degree).

We are interested in both Qualified and entry level educators to join our relief and Vacation Care pool of staff.

If interested, please send your resume and any relevant certificates to recruitment@happyhaven.sa.edu.au, and mention you are interested in work at Quorn Area School.

Miscellaneous Reports

Lost Property

We have a huge amount of lost property, particularly unnamed school jumpers at the front office. Lost property will be on display near the Stokes Road entrance this Thursday for parents to view. All clothing left unclaimed will be donated to the Quorn Pre-Loved Boutique at the end of the term.

Local Schools Community Fund

Late in 2019 Quorn Area School was a successful recipient of funding from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment that was aimed at small scale projects within schools. We were able to purchase two sun shades for outdoor activities within the school. These shades were on display at our swimming carnivals and they will once again be utilised at our upcoming Sports Day in Term 3.