29 June 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Things have changed quickly in recent days, and COVID-19 is again casting a lengthy shadow across our country. It would appear that, at best, we are heading into a period of uncertainty, and at worst, the introduction of new restrictions. I want to assure our community that we remain well-placed to meet whatever demands we may encounter in the coming days and weeks. Our continued improvements mean our professional staff are well-equipped to make the changes necessary to support learning regardless of any statewide or regional restrictions. Our learners and their families responded exceptionally well to the challenges of 2020. I do not doubt that we will face any potential restrictions in the coming weeks with the same high levels of respect and collaboration. To achieve this, we would like to remind all caregivers of the importance of ensuring that phone numbers and emails are updated. We would also like to remind caregivers that Schoolzine is the platform by which we share important information with our community. We ask that you ensure you have the Schoolzine app and switch on notifications. Please be assured that we will not bombard you with unnecessary messages.

Finally, term two reports are available to download this week. These progress reports  provide information regarding your child’s progress and performance based on national standards. Please take the time to go through the report and support your child in setting goals for the next semester. If you have any concerns about the report, please do not hesitate to contact the teacher directly or the head of school to discuss the issue.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

General School Notices

Keeping Ourselves Healthy

With Covid-19 still lingering during our cooler winter months, it is vitally important that everyone continues to practise good hygiene. Most importantly if your child is unwell, please keep them at home so infections are not spread to others.

School Reports – Term 2

End of semester reports for all students were published via Daymap on Monday 28th June. Reports are released before the end of the term, to allow our learners to reflect on their grades and ask their teachers for feedback on ways to improve as they move into the second half of the year. If you, as caregivers, have any questions or would like to discuss the reports, please make contact with the teachers or Matt Griffiths to arrange a suitable time.

Youth Support Service for Quorn Area School

We are pleased to announce that Headspace will be offering a youth support service beginning next term here at QAS. This will occur on a fortnightly basis and more details will be distributed early next term. If this is something that you think will benefit your child, please contact Sarah Bury at the school for a referral form.

Presenting issues could include mental health, family/friends/relationships, school, housing, drugs and alcohol or other underlying issues.

Country & Outback Health delivers a youth support service that focuses on building young people’s resilience and wellbeing. Sarah Curtis is the worker who delivers the youth support service at Roxby Downs Area School and is a part of the headspace Port Augusta team. Sarah is an Occupational Therapist and has experience and skills that will enable her to build young people’s mental fitness.

The Youth Support Service will be a regular clinic at the school during the school term and is available for young people 10-25 years and is free; it is funded by BHP. For your young person to access the support service we will need to have your consent if they are under 16 years of age.

The Youth Support Service will also be accessible after school hours as Sarah will be based at the Roxby Downs Health Service and is available to provide support via telehealth.

If you have any questions regarding the support service, please do not hesitate to contact headspace Port Augusta on 8641 4300.

Walk to School Wednesday

Students have continued to meet at the Town Hall each Wednesday morning, even though the temperatures have dropped. Students are gaining vital points for their House which will contribute to the end of year House award.

Tomorrow is the last chance to accumulate points this term, currently the tally is Kanyaka 34 vs Yarrah 38.
See you all at the Town Hall, 8.15am tomorrow.

Pastoral Care Worker

I would like to thank QAS for the support and confidence offered me to serve as the Christian Pastoral Care Worker, (now Pastoral Care Worker) for the past 8 years.

During this time I have pondered on the strengths and challenges that lay ahead for each of our students as they journey through their school years, desiring, alongside each of the dedicated staff, for the best possible outcome for each of them.

My prayer is that each would learn to walk in truth and turn way from error so that they can live their lives in freedom.

My decision to resign has not been easy and was for personal reasons. This coming Friday, 3rd July 21, is my last official day within this role, although I will remain at QAS in SSO support.

Sharon Hooper will step into the role of PCW next term and I'm sure you will welcome her as she gets to know you all.

Those who know me best, would know the love for my Saviour Jesus Christ is what matters most of all and I hope this song (if you choose to listen) touches you as it has me.

Kindest Regards

Sharon Taylor PCW

Sports Day – Save the Date

QAS Sports Day has been set for Friday 6th August

Jump Rope for Heart

Jump Rope for Heart is almost at an end of 2021. Our Jump Off Day is Tomorrow. We can’t wait to see all students show off their skills

If you have any cash donations, please return these to Michelle in the finance office by July 1st, 2021 (Thursday).

Thank you for your support and well done to all the learners who participated this year.

Book Week

Book Week will be celebrated this year on the 27th of August (Friday, Term 3, Week 6). This Year we are encouraging all learners to dress up as either the Book Week theme of ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’ or their favourite book character. Be creative! The Book Week Parade will be held at 8:50am under the Cave.

Koala Crossing Monitors

Last Tuesday, nine of our Primary learners participated in crossing monitor training.

As a crossing monitor, they are authorised in accordance with the Road Traffic Act to exhibit a stop sign on a children’s crossing, for the purpose of requiring drivers to stop before driving over the children’s crossing; and to give reasonable directions to pedestrians at or on the crossing as are in his or her opinion necessary for the safe and efficient movement of traffic.

As of next term, you will see our crossing monitors in action each morning and afternoon out on the school ‘Koala’ crossing.

A big thank you to all of these students who are volunteering their time to keep everyone safe at the school crossing.

Secondary Report

Homework Club

Year 12’s

We are at the completion of Term 2 which means that our Year 12 learners are nearly 60% of their way through the final year of schooling. All learners have been working extremely hard to ensure they stay up to date with their work and its completed to a very high standard. Our Year 12s are also proving themselves as great role models throughout all aspects of the school. They put their hands up to be involved in events and assist the younger students in their schooling whilst maintaining concentration on their studies. We look forward to seeing what these learners can produce in the last 40% of the year.

Primary Report

Year 3/4 with Miss Tomney

Wow! What an extremely busy term it has been. The term has gone so quickly with the various learning that has been happening in our class. Below you will find out what we have been doing.

Literacy

In Literacy, learners have been focusing on writing persuasive and procedural texts. Learners really enjoyed writing a procedure on ‘How to make fairy bread’, so that Miss Tomney could follow the procedure and make it in class. Students initially had to write their own procedure without too much assistance. On Tuesday, we all found out very quickly that some of the instructions needed to be much clearer, as Miss Tomney found the instructions to be confusing! We all had a laugh and ate a slice of fairy bread after.

Maths

During this term we have covered a range of mathematical topics. Learners have recently been focusing on ‘numbers’ with activities based on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division heavily incorporated. Learners have also really enjoyed completing activities based on short division. Everyone is demonstrating the learner disposition ‘Reflective Rae’ by explaining their reasoning behind different questions. As you can see in the picture, learners have been using a range of manipulatives to support their understanding.

Art

This term we have been focusing on learning about Aboriginal art; including rock art, bark painting, sand drawing and dot painting. Learners had to complete a practical task where they applied their understanding of the style by making their own version. Students became very aware that producing art takes time, and they tried to avoid artwork looking rushed. The artwork which our class produced is shown in the pictures below. A great job by everyone!

Spanish

Learners have been working in pairs. They have been closely researching information on a particular major city in Spain. They will present their information to the class and try to convince us which is the best city to visit. Everyone has really enjoyed and been engaged in researching the information.

One learner stated,

“I love finding new information out on a city, as I have never been there before”.

Primary Assembly

Thursday 2.15pm in the School Gymnasium, hosted by the Foundation Class.  A Mappen display from the Year 1/2 and 3/4 class will be available for viewing in Gym the following the assembly.  Everyone Welcome.

Miscellaneous Reports

SACE Revision

Volunteers Required