25 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Last week our teachers engaged in a professional learning day aimed at developing further our understanding of how students learn. Historically our society and education system focused upon the acquisition of knowledge, content and skills. Success in this area often led to academic achievement and improved career options. However, in recent years we have seen the development of apps that not only solve an equation in mathematics but also provide the working out that our teachers valued so highly. In addition to this we are increasingly more likely to rely on ‘Google’, rather than our memory. This change is why our current focus is on supporting our learners to connect learning and transfer prior knowledge to new contexts. Knowing the date of the Federation of Australia is important, but applying that knowledge to the COVID 19 border restrictions is much more valuable. Over the coming months, teachers are aiming to change the nature of the feedback provided to our learners. This change will involve a shift from feedback on the completed task to feedback on the processes and strategies they used to complete the task. This change will support learners to apply new knowledge and skills to different subjects and unfamiliar settings.

Despite the impact of COVID 19 we have continued to plan for a camp week that caters for all learners from F-10 in week six of next term. The camps are co-curricular activities, and therefore learning during the event will be linked to the Australian Curriculum. We expect that every learner will attend these exciting learning opportunities provided by our committed staff. Details of the camps will be forwarded to caregivers by the end of next week, and further information will be available from each of the camp leaders. Please note that changes in COVID 19 restrictions may impact our ability to run the camps, but in this eventuality, we will arrange to reimburse the costs in full.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Learner Engagement and Wellbeing

The Smith Family

We are extremely pleased to announce that we have signed a partnership with the Smith Family. The Smith Family is an independent children's charity helping disadvantaged Australian children to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves.

There are scholarships available for 2021 and beyond, which will assist families enrolled at Quorn Area School with direct school related expenses each year.

I have attached a flyer with more information. If you believe that your family fits the criteria, please contact Sarah Bury at the school. She will be able to guide you through the referral process. The flyer states that children need to be in Foundation-Year 7, however if your child is in Year 8 this year, there will be an exception.

Any questions regarding the Smith Family and the referral process – please contact Sarah Bury.

Wellbeing And Engagement Data

Students in our school have been invited to take part in a survey being conducted in Term 3 2020. The information below provides key information about the survey.

In Term 1 2020, some schools participated in the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection. However, not all students were able to participate in or complete the survey due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our school will participate in the Term 3 Wellbeing and Engagement Collection which will be open during Weeks 7 to 9 (Monday 31 August to Friday 18 September 2020).

Purpose of the collection

Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of how they learn at school. The purpose of the survey is to seek students’ views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school. Students in year levels 4 to 12 across the State will be invited to participate in the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection. The information collected will help the education system and broader community to support young people’s health and wellbeing.

What is the survey about?

The survey asks students about their social and emotional wellbeing; school relationships and engagement and learning in school; and physical health and wellbeing and after school activities. Students’ answers will be kept confidential – no one (including school staff) will use the results to identify individual students.

What is involved in project participation?

Teachers will arrange for students to undertake the survey during class time. Students will be asked if they would like to participate and will be free to withdraw at any time. If you do not want your child to participate, please contact the school as soon as possible after receiving this letter.

Will students’ information be kept confidential?

The department takes measures to ensure students’ personal information and their identities remain anonymous when participating in the survey.

Participating schools with fewer than 5 students undertaking the survey will not receive a school report in order to protect the confidentiality of students.

What will happen if a student is distressed during or after the survey?

Whilst the survey questions are not expected to distress students, the survey includes questions that ask about topics such as students’ happiness and experiences of being bullied. Teachers will inform students that:

• if they find the survey uncomfortable or distressing, they should leave the survey screen immediately
• that it is not compulsory to take part in the survey as a whole, and
• students may also skip individual survey questions if they wish.

Students who may want to speak to an adult about concerns or issues and will be supported to do so.

Where can I get more information?

Further information on the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection can be found at the link below (search:wec) or can be collected from the school. For questions or concerns, or to view the questions, please email Education.WECSA@sa.gov.au.

Sarah Bury
Wellbeing and Learner Engagement Coordinator

Secondary Report

I tell you what – looking after the Year 11/12 students is back breaking work! It is hard to believe there is only 5 weeks left of Term 3. This really is crunch time for our SACE students with our aim to have all Year 12 assignments submitted before the end of this term. By handing in all tasks it really allows our learners to focus on properly revising for and succeeding in their exams. The end of the year is fast approaching for our SACE students and we are doing our best to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve to the best of their ability. Mr Forkert and I will be available on Wednesday afternoons from 3:15pm-4:30pm to assist our Year 11/12 students with their studies and completion of assignments. There will still be after school study session run by Miss Novillos on Thursdays for all other students also.

Attendance

Our current attendance rate for Semester 2 in Years 7-10 sits at 95%. We are currently being let down by a small cohort of our students in Year 11/12 who are sitting at 90%. Can parents please log on to their Daymap page and review their child’s attendance to school throughout this term as it is a key indicator of success in Year 12. If you have any questions about attendance please contact me at the school.

KO Volleyball

On Wednesday 12th August our Open Girls Volleyball team travelled to Jamestown to compete in the Knockout Volleyball Competition. Unfortunately due to poor attendance at school we made the decision to withdraw our Boys team. The girls were involved in a 4 team competition between Quorn, Booleroo, Clare and Peterborough. The girls played well enough to advance to the next step of the competition and once again take part in the State Finals in Adelaide on the 2nd September.

Whilst we did progress through to the next round we did play well below our best and the other schools really made us earn our wins. We have identified a few things that we will work on at practice to make sure we are more competitive in the next round. As a positive our girls really displayed a fantastic range of skills and poise (sometime too much and we stopped moving). Our serving and spiking was a real highlight of our game and something we will continue to work on. I am really proud of how the girls conducted themselves during the game and took control of their gameplay. They were often making decisions based on their own observations and changed their tactic to suit.

We look forward to the challenge of the next round where we take on much bigger schools and we can test ourselves out on a bigger stage.

Matt Griffiths
Secondary Coordinator

Primary Report

Learning in the Year 1/2 Class

There has been a lot happening in our classroom over the last few weeks. Here is a snapshot of some things we have been looking at.

Numeracy

In Numeracy, we have been looking at 3D shapes, subtraction and have started looking at multiplication by applying our knowledge of skip counting. We have had a focus on working collaboratively to share different ways to solve a problem.

As part of our 3D shapes unit, we investigated which 3D shapes were the strongest. Learners made skeletal structures and then applied force to test their theories.

The Arts

In the Arts, we have completed our unit on Music and have started our Media Arts topic. For music, learners looked at how music can convey feelings. Their task was to pick a feeling and try to create some music to match using Chrome Music lab. You can have a go yourself at the link below:

Learners have started their unit in Claymation for their Media Arts. We have been looking at Aardman Animations’ Shaun the Sheep for inspiration. We have looked at how they used storyboards/sketches to plan out their stories. They use story principles of setting, characters and plot to convey stories. We have also looked at the impact of camera angle to create effects and the impact of sound/music. Learners are now working to apply their learning while creating a short film of their own.

P.E

This term we are focusing on the body, warning signs and fundamental movement skills. Thank you to our Yr. 7/8s who took on mentor roles to teach our learners the skills they needed to participate in modified events on Sports Day. We had a fantastic day! In our other P.E. lessons we have been learning to skip with a skipping rope. We had to be Persevering Pete’s while learning this new skill. Learners have enjoyed the challenge with many choosing to practice at the break times.

Science Week

Learners have participated in this year’s Science Week theme ‘Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans’ with Mrs Reed.

The Learners discussed what they knew about oceans, what they knew about issues facing our oceans and what they knew about innovation already in place to tackle these issues.

Learners knew:

• Over fishing is an issue. Bag limits, licenses, marine sanctuaries, and aquatic farms are innovations in place currently to tackle this issue.
• Litter and pollution is an issue. Things such as recycling programs, fines, clean-up programs and machines designed to clean up oil spills etc. are currently in place.

Learners discovered that: changing landscape is an issue. People such as developers and farmers have blocked natural waterways to create dams etc. or they pump water from the rivers etc. to irrigate crops.

The dioramas are views of what they think the ocean should look like.

Subject Report

Homework Club

Outdoor Learning

Year 10 students voluntarily taking ownership of the agapanthus planting under the coloured fence. This is part of an ongoing plan to rejuvenate and provide greenery around our play spaces.

Lunchtime access to the school garden is sometimes an extra snack time for students who enjoyed the snowpeas, lettuce, broccoli and parsley.

The rock painting was a hit with the students on our recent NAIDOC activity day. The student’s artwork is on display in the WANDU MAE (good tucker) garden adjacent the new firepit . The gabion cage will eventually have wooden slats on the top to provide extra seating during our campfire activities.

QAS Community Library

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Time is nearly up: Reading concludes for the 2020 Challenge on the 4th September 2020

NOTICE: Parents/caregivers please ensure to complete the reading records and submit it to your child’s classroom teacher ASAP or prior to September. Schools need to have entered all student data before 18th September in order to count your child’s participation.

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:

Sports Day

QAS Sports Day was held on Friday the 14th of August. We were very lucky with the weather and the day was certainly a success. The new program that we implemented appeared to run smoothly.

I would like to thank the Parents and Friends Committee for their efforts and time in organising the BBQ, cake, lollies and drink stall. It was lovely to have the food stall out near the action so that the parents were able to watch their children participate. Congratulations to the House Captains and Vice Captains for their outstanding efforts in the lead up to the event and on the day. They were always on their toes, ensuring that they were where they needed to be for their own events, as well as supporting their team members and organising relays. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the parents and community members who volunteered their time with timing, scoring and measuring of the track and field events.

I was so pleased to see so many students competing this year. The numbers in each age group increased from last year and I would like to congratulate all students for ‘having a go’ and gaining points for your team. I would also like to thank those students who volunteered their time by measuring and recording on the field events. Well done to all competitors who won age group trophies and certificates, team spirit awards and those who broke records. An amazing effort!

Our SAPSASA athletics team was selected and ready to compete in Stirling North last Friday, however due to the wet weather, the event was postponed.

The new date for the SAPSASA athletics carnival will be next TUESDAY - 1st OF SEPTEMBER. There will be new permission notes sent home this week. Please fill in and return to Sarah Bury.

Sarah Bury
HPE Teacher

Newsletter

P and F

Record Breakers

Team Scores

Individual Championship Awards

House Captain Team Award

Miscellaneous Reports

Father’s Day

Little Athletics School Holiday Clinics

The 2020 DARE TO DREAM ATHLETICS HOLIDAY CLINIC is held at the SA Athletics Stadium on Wednesday 30th September & 7th October 2020. The clinic provides a great opportunity for students to learn, have fun, and improve their athletic skills through the participation in event coaching with our experienced coaches! There is also other fun activities planned, as well as getting to meet two time Australian Commonwealth Medallist & Olympian Jessica Stenson (née Trengove) (7th Oct)! Visit the link below for more information.

Cav Power Apprenticeships