28 July 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

I want to express my sincere thanks to all members of the school community for the warm welcome I have received since my return. Changes in leadership can lead to unsettling times in schools, but this was certainly not the case at Quorn Area School. During my absence, Monique Griffiths demonstrated her exceptional leadership in a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty. She continued to grow both the learning culture and heighten expectations around planning. Our learners also continued to benefit from her unquestionable passion and commitment. I would also like to express my thanks to Brad Forkert. He willingly accepted the challenge of leadership and threw his considerable talent into the role. Having witnessed the school's response to COVID-19 from afar, I was struck by both the professionalism of staff and the strength of the leadership team.

Our NAIDOC celebrations continue to go from strength to strength, and this year's event has again set a new benchmark for us to aspire to in future years. Our thanks go Sarah Bury for her leadership of the day. Special thanks also go out to the numerous volunteers who made such a significant contribution to the day.

Finally, I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead and the opportunity to further build upon the successes already secured this year.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

NAIDOC Celebrations

Yesterday we celebrated NAIDOC week at QAS. It was a very successful day which incorporated several cultural activities for our learners to participate in.

NAIDOC week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. Yesterday was a great opportunity to take part in a range of activities and to support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

We welcomed Auntie Kaelene McMillan to QAS yesterday and she delivered a very moving ‘Welcome to Country’ which involved a rendition of the song ‘I am Australian’ which was sung Adnyamathanha language. Auntie Kae also delivered a wonderful story telling session, resulting in a very engaging lesson for our primary learners. I would like to thank our amazing secondary students Shalaynee and Nuala who took on an exemplary leadership role yesterday by hosting a rock painting session for younger students as well as their public speaking skills in front of a large crowd. Thanks to Aileen Shannon and Monique Griffiths who worked with our learners to design and complete the most amazing mural of the Flinders Ranges. This is going to look fabulous when it is complete and on show. It was fantastic to see some of our families yesterday who volunteered their time to support our learners with the twisty making and storytelling around the fire, as well as other jobs. Special thanks to Sharlynn, Danny and Kyley McCarthy who volunteered their time on the day. Thanks also to Sharon Taylor who spent all day preparing twisties for the students. Also, thanks to Aileen for making the beautiful vegetable soup and scones for lunch.

I would like to extend a congratulations to Denise Wilton our ACEO (Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer) who spent time organising this fantastic celebration which was a huge success. Denise is planning to organise a ‘debrief’ of the day soon, which will enable the group to evaluate its success and begin planning changes and improvements for 2021.

It was also very exciting to welcome the UmeeWarra Radio Station on site. They broadcasted live from QAS yesterday and a some students, community members and staff were all part of ‘live to air’ interviews about the NAIDOC events which were implemented and meaning here at QAS.

Lastly, well done to all students. You were amazing and demonstrated enthusiasm and appreciation during all activities on offer.

NAIDOC Primary

NAIDOC Secondary

The Amazing Fire Pit

I am so delighted to announce that QAS have been fortunate enough to have a fire pit installed in the bush tucker garden. This amazing fire pit was completed just in time for our celebration yesterday. We would like to say a huge thank you to the McCarthy family who donated the steel for this fire pit. Danny McCarthy completed the welding job and Daniel McCarthy has been very busy and donated his time to outline the Quorn Area School, along with the words Ardla Ilda’ which means Fire, ground, oven. Thank you to the McCarthy family and we will look forward to using the fire pit for many years to come.

Primary Report

Miss Miller’s Foundation Classes

Big Write

In Literacy, we have been spending a lot of time working on our Big Writes. We are practicing our sentence structure and VCOP skills. In the last few week’s we have been creating informative and narrative texts. This term our focus will be storytelling and story writing for our narrative unit. Last week our topic for Big Write was ‘The crime of the century’. We all had different creative and imaginative ideas for our stories. Here are some examples of our ‘The crime of the century’ stories from Tess, Cazander and Georgina.

Numeracy

In Numeracy, Foundation students have been exploring 2D shapes and shape patterns. We have been learning how to identify and name the basic 2D shapes and what characteristics they have such as corners, faces and sides.

We have also been making different shape patterns with one or more shapes. We know that a pattern is when a shape is placed next to each other and repeated over again in different ways. There are different types of patterns such as repeating patterns, tiling patterns and growing patterns. Here are some pictures and videos showing shape patterns they discovered when exploring with the pattern blocks.

HPE

In PE, students have been developing and practicing their throwing and catching skills. We learnt different techniques of throwing such as underarm and over arm. We know how to stand in warrior pose before we throw so we can aim at a target. Here is Odin and Ava explaining how to throw over arm technique. Eddie also explains how to catch a ball. You can see all the fun we have been having practicing these skills!

Investigation Time

Last week in Investigation Time we explored some new investigation stations. Students were able to investigate all the different jobs associated with running a restaurant, working at a vet and taking care of animals, making a floating garden, puppet show and creating games with hula hoops. Here are some pictures of students in action.

Tegan Miller
Foundation Class Teacher

Learner Engagement and Wellbeing

PPEP – Periods, Pain, Endometriosis Program

We welcomed Michelle Nielson to QAS yesterday who delivered an informative session to our Yr 9-12 girls. The PPEP talk is an Australian first being rolled out across South Australian secondary schools in Government, Catholic and Independent sectors over 2019 and 2020. We were fortunate enough to have Michelle visit QAS last year also.

The program educates students about endometriosis and pelvic pain to raise awareness and promote early diagnosis and support for those affected. The program is a one hour positive, fun, educational and interactive session which discusses pain, periods and endometriosis.

Thanks Michelle for visiting our school and educating our secondary girls with the PPEP.

Sarah Bury
Learner Wellbeing and Engagement Coordinator

Sports Day

Sports Day will be held on Friday the 14th of August (Week 4). The program will be distributed in the next newsletter. Parents and Friends will be operating a canteen on the day. We will be looking for parent volunteers to help with timing of the track events on the day. Please contact Sarah Bury if you can assist.

We will be running the 1500m, 800m and Javelin events in the weeks leading up to Sports day. These times and events will be distributed next week via Schoolzine.

The Secondary HPE learners will begin their athletics mentoring with the primary classes this week. They have been busy researching, designing, and implementing their sessions during their theory lessons. The F/1 classes will be participating in modified events and they will undertake these on sports day also. The Yr 2-6 classes will be mentored with actual track and field events with a focus on rules and technique. I look forward to sharing some pictures and videos with you in the next newsletter.

Following from our sports day, the SAPSASA Athletics Carnival will be held at Stirling North Primary School on Friday the 21st of August.

Quorn Area School Community Library

CBCA Book Week 2020

SAVE THE DATE
Term 4 Week 2
Tuesday, 20th October – Friday, 23rd October
at Quorn Area School Community Library

Theme: Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

Each year across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating CBCA Book Week. During this time schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children celebrate Australian children's literature and you will often see children's book character parades and talented librarians creating amazing displays.

Premiers Reading Challenge

PRC Key Dates 2020

From 28 January 2020 - Premier's Reading Challenge starts

4 September 2020 - Reading concludes for the 2020 Challenge

3 July - 18 September 2020

• Student Reading Records collected
• Data entered in schools before 18 September 2020
• Before 30 September 2020 - Home education students send Reading Records to the Project Officer

November 2020

By mid-late November - awards arrive in schools

• By the end of November home education awards are posted to the home address
• Students awarded certificates and medals at individual school presentations from mid-November
• Generally the Premier completes the first visit to a school in his electorate and the Minister also completes a visit to one in his electorate in about the 2nd week in November
• 55 selected schools with students achieving outstanding results attend the Premier's Reception, in mid-late November, which the Premier and Minister attend

Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is a literacy engagement program that was introduced by the Premier in 2004 to:

• Encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading
• Improve literacy levels.

The Challenge requires students to read 12 books between the beginning of the school year and early September.

How can you find out about the Challenge?

All information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge can be found at the link below. Accessing the Challenge guidelines is very useful.

Who can participate?

All students from Reception to Year 12 are encouraged to participate, including South Australian government and non- government school students and students undertaking home education.

Students can read a combination of books from the Challenge booklists and books of their own choosing. Students can choose to read books in languages other than English. The booklists are available on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website.

• Reception to Year 6 students select at least 8 books from the booklists on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website and 4 books of their own choice.
• Year 7, 8 and 9 students select at least 4 books from the Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists and 8 books of their own choice.
• Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 students select 12 books of their own choice at an appropriate literacy level.
• Students are encouraged to keep reading once they have completed 12 books.

Awards - the ‘Olympics of reading’ and beyond...

Students who complete the Challenge receive awards from the Premier for their achievements in a similar fashion to sporting stars!

Awards for completing the Challenge are:

• Certificate – first year
• Bronze medal – second year
• Silver medal – third year
• Gold medal – fourth year
• Champion medal – fifth year
• Legend medal – sixth year
• Hall of Fame medal – seventh year
• Reader for Life – eighth year
• Reader for Life bronze – ninth year
• Reader for Life silver – tenth year
• Reader for Life gold – eleventh year
• Reader for Life champion – twelfth year
• Reader for Life legend – thirteenth year
• Reader for Life hall of fame – fourteenth year

Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassadors

Ambassadors are high profile South Australian identities, who are keen to promote the Challenge and spread the message that reading is ‘cool’. Adelaide United Football Club, Link Lightning, Adelaide Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club and the Thunderbirds are joint ambassador teams with the Premier’s be active Challenge.

Benefits of taking part in the Challenge

• Raises the profile of reading, libraries and literacy in schools
• Gives students a focus for their reading
• Encourages students to read more books and enjoy reading more - the more you read the better you get at it!
• Encourages boys to participate by being ‘challenged’
• Offers incentives for reluctant readers
• Builds self-esteem and pride, school unity, and a sense of achievement
• Increases the involvement of parents in their child’s reading
• Increases library borrowing
• Contributes to increased literacy levels.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE DIGITAL COLLECTION

here is a snapshot of what the site looks like..

• They have recently created a dedicated section for the PRC!
• This way, learners can access a collection of PRC audiobooks and e-books (see links + images below) and easily borrow digital content from their own devices.
• as long as they have signed up for a FREE Libraries SA membership and have access to internet.

Direct links to digital collection arranged by Year Level

ONLINE PRC COLLECTION FOR RECEPTION TO YEAR 2:

ONLINE PRC COLLECTION FOR YEAR 3 TO 5:

ONLINE PRC COLLECTION FOR YEAR 6 TO 9:

ONLINE PRC COLLECTION FOR YEAR 10 TO 12:

Parents and Friends

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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

Miscellaneous Reports

Student Free Day

Monday 17th August

Covid-19 Reminder

A reminder to families that if your child is unwell please keep them home from school to avoid spreading infections to others. Thank you for your support of this requirement.

Thank You

Staff at Quorn Area School would like to extend a thank you to The Flinders Ranges Council for the removal of green waste from our site. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Leaders Competition for Year 10-12 Girls

Register now for Flinders Open Days

Virtual Open Days are running from 10 – 14 August, giving students the opportunity to explore career options, listen to academics, browse through over 70 video presentations, take a virtual campus tour and chat with study area experts. The online program offers three sessions each day, allowing students to attend at a time and day that fits within their timetable.

Students can experience Flinders in the real world with tours taking place at Bedford Park campus on Saturday 15 August in accordance with State Government restrictions. Additional campus tours will be held at Tonsley and Sturt.

Open Days is a great way for Year 12 students to finalise their SATAC preferences, and to assist Year 10 and 11 students with their subject selections for next year. Visit the website below to register. Places are limited.