22 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Last week we welcomed our remaining learners back to school following the staggered start of the year. How learners, caregivers and staff adapted to this unique start to the year is testimony to the resilience and flexibility of our community. We are confident that the disruption to learning programmes has been minimal. We are also optimistic that the new learning undertaken by all will prove beneficial as we continue to update and improve the quality of education offered by our school.

We have delayed our start of the year information evenings hoping that we would be welcoming caregivers onto the site. However, as there is still uncertainty regarding restrictions, we have scheduled the meetings online to avoid further delay. We will be offering two information sessions for caregivers to support them in navigating the learning approaches, online resources and reporting platforms currently used by our school. The dates for the meetings are:

Wednesday, March 9 at 6.00pm
Primary School (F-Y6)

• Daymap Connect -A guide to accessing reports, attendance and achievement data.
• The Literacy Journey – Understanding Phonics, Running Records, Lexile Levels
• Online learning – Scholastic Pro & Education Perfect.

Wednesday, March 16 at 6.00pm
Senior School (Y7-12)

• Daymap Connect – A guide to accessing reports, attendance and achievement data.
• Online learning – Khan Academy, Scholastic Pro & Education Perfect.

This week all teachers attended an online workshop on teaching with Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, & Drones. The workshop introduced teachers to the new resources we have onsite and allowed them to explore new ways to enhance learning in our classrooms. We aim to share this journey into new learning by encouraging learners to recount their learning experiences using these new resources.

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to all caregivers to attend our 2022 AGM on Thursday, March 10. The meeting presents an opportunity to review the achievements and challenges of 2021 and gain insight into the improvement journey of 2022.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

QAS Swimming and MNSEC Swimming Updates

Unfortunately, we have had to postpone the QAS Swimming Carnival this term due to mandated Covid directions. We are working on a new date which will likely be in term 4 due to the busy nature of term 1 and the pool closing for the season. For the same reason, the MNSEC swimming carnival which was to be held here in Quorn has been cancelled for 2022. However, MNSEC will still be entering a swimming team to compete in Adelaide and will be held in term 2 - 26/5/22.

Students in year 7- 12 can put their name and times forward for selection in this team. Students have until the end of week 5 to register their interest in being selected for the MSNEC swimming team to compete in Adelaide. Please see Mrs Bury to put forward your name. Students will have time at school to identify their interest and for what events. Parents will need to be available/ able to organise transport to and from Adelaide on the 26/5/22.

Secondary Report

Congratulations to our Year 12 Class of 2021

We are proud to say that we had 100% SACE completion from our cohort of learners in 2021.

Maya Omonte-Kramer, Jayde Finlay, Ethan Baker and Emily Eckert have been students at Quorn Area School since enrolling as reception students back in 2008/2009.

Maya and Jayde received exceptional results, reflected with ATAR’s of 99.95 and 99.25 respectively.

Maya will be studying a Bachelor of Agriculture Science at Adelaide University. Jayde is heading to Flinders University to study a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Ethan received an ATAR of 65.7 and has been accepted to study a Bachelor of International Business (Tourism, Wine and Spirits) at Flinders University, however he has deferred for a year as he continues in his employment.

Emily Eckert has secured full time work at Redgum Vet & Pet Boarding in Port Augusta, a career path she has always been interested in.

Thank you to the families and staff who have supported the students throughout their schooling, these results wouldn’t be possible without you all.

7-9 Caregroup

The 7-9 afternoon care-group working together to build on the effectiveness of their dialogue

7/8 Science with Mr Pathan

Learners in the year 7 and 8 Science class are learning about Scientific Method. They put their science inquiry skills into action by assessing risk, setting up lab equipment and safely lighting a Bunsen burner. Before the lab work start, learners hypothesised and predicted the outcome. They made qualitative and quantitative observation to collect data and then they analysed data by drawing graphs to make inferences. Based on the evidence, learners checked if the hypothesis is supported or refuted. They have been developing science report writing skills.

Primary Report

It was certainly pleasing to welcome back all learners on site at the beginning of week 3. I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the amazing work that was witnessed from our online learners in years 3-6. I had the opportunity to sit in on many of the MS Teams video calls in the primary school and I was very impressed with the learning that was conducted and the detail that was provided by our enthusiastic teaching staff. Well done to our dedicated learners and families who worked together to navigate their way around MS Teams and support this style of learning. It has been wonderful for this learning to now continue in the face-to-face environment as this has allowed our learners to make solid connections with the curriculum and teachers can continue with their learning and assessment plans as already established. All online learning has been followed up and built on in our current face to face context.

Our youngest learners have settled in positively to school life and are working collaboratively and enthusiastically with the Read, Write Inc program in Literacy, whilst establishing solid routines within all curriculum areas. A reminder for parents to ensure that they are continuing to drop off and pick up their children at the entrance gates due to mandated Covid directions. Toastie Tuesday is back up and running – you can order at the front office on Tuesday mornings. We thank our parent volunteers for continuing to offer this for us.

We will be looking at hosting a Primary Information Evening to distribute information about the specific learning programs that we provide in the primary school. Programs including Big Write, Numicon, Read Write Inc, use of DAYMAP etc. This may need to be offered as a MS Teams session – please stay posted on School Zine for more information to come.

Term Time Swimming has been postponed from term 1 and will hopefully be rescheduled in term 4 for learners in years F-5. This will sit alongside our annual swimming which will also be hopefully occur in term 4 when the pool reopens.

I am very much looking forward to working with the families and learners throughout 2022. A reminder that if you have any questions or concerns to contact your child’s classroom/subject teacher in the first instance. We encourage children who are unwell to stay home and to report absences to the front office to keep the school informed.

Sarah Bury
Primary Engagement Coordinator

Foundation with Miss Trott

The Foundation’s have been working on Recounts this term. We have been improving our descriptive language and creating a series of drawings to tell recounts. We have made recounts of our weekends, our holidays, the first time we went swimming and our first year of school so far! They have done excellent work and are feeling proud. Soon we will be moving onto Narrative!

Year 3/4 with Miss Tomney

Wow! What a start to the year. I am sure you are all pleased we are returning to some normality – if that is such a thing now.

Initially we started learning through MS Teams. I was super proud of all the learners who came online and attended the class, it was a learning curve for all of us.

Now, being in the classroom has brought so much joy and learning. We have been busy exploring a range of topics including Drama, Spanish words, race to 100, split and column addition which I am sure the learners will be happy to tell you all about.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I am more than happy to speak to you about these.

Have a lovely week
Miss Tomney

Year 5/6 with Mr Buckingham

The Year 5/6 class has hit the ground running this year! We’re gearing up for the Premier’s Reading Challenge and growing our reading ability by borrowing books that are within our Lexile range and a part of the Reading Challenge from the library.

We’re growing our Inquiry Skills in Math this week through a Youcubed activity called ‘How close to 100’ where we compete against each other to try to fill a 100 grid before our opponent can.

We’re getting better at introducing ourselves in Spanish, with part of that introduction being about where we live. Just ask us, ‘Donde vives’ and we should be able to answer well.

We are also growing in our understanding of Dance, learning skills such as mirroring. We even did the Robot!

Miscellaneous Items

Youth Environment Council

Woolworths Cricket Blast