5 July 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

This term has arguably been the most challenging of the COVID-19 era. Unfortunately, high absenteeism rates across the school community have created uncertainty and disruption. I have previously written about the importance and challenges of active engagement as learners across Australia spend less than 15% of the year in school. We have always known that the more learners attend, the more likely they are to experience success. We continue to explore options to support families during these difficult times and to return to the attendance patterns that have served our learners well in recent years. In the meantime, we ask that you consider the following as we prepare for the challenges of semester two:

• Patterns of attendance and absence established in the early years usually persist through education and life.
• Regular school attendance is vital to a child's learning and social development.
• Irregular attendance significantly impacts a learner's ability to develop and retain friendships
• Poor attendance may lead to learning difficulties because frequently absent children are likely to miss learning the basic skills needed for their future education.
• The school works with many agencies to support learners and their caregivers. Please contact Sarah Bury if you would like further information regarding these support agencies and the support they can offer.

As the term draws to a close, we are busy adjusting the timetable to meet the needs of our learners in term three. Maninder Bath will be leaving us at the end of this term, and we wish her well in her future career. We have not appointed a replacement at this stage due to the well-documented issues around teacher shortages. However, we are exploring options around restructuring our junior primary classes to maintain the quality programs that offer our learners a solid foundation to build future success.

Interim reports are published this week, and bookings for learning conferences early in term three will open at the start of next term. However, you do not have to wait for these formal meetings as all our staff can be contacted at any stage to discuss your child's growth.

Sarah.Bury988@schools.sa.edu.au
Travis.McDonald470@schools.sa.edu.au
Megan.Novillos702@schools.sa.edu.au
Faruk.Pathan723@schools.sa.edu.au
Kate.Neu862@schools.sa.edu.au
Jessica.Trott534@schools.sa.edu.au
Senga.Reed759@schools.sa.edu.au
Amber.Tomney87@schools.sa.edu.au
Matthew.Buckingham148@schools.sa.edu.au

Finally, I would like to wish all of our families a safe and healthy holiday, and I will look forward to seeing you all in term three for the next chapter of our learning journey.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Secondary Report

End of Semester News

It is very hard to believe that it is the end of the semester already. It has been pleasing to see the positive work ethic of our senior secondary learners who have been very busy finalising tasks to ensure that they receive their stage one credits for semester one. Yesterday in the care group session, time was allocated for secondary learners to be reflecting upon their report grades and making goals for term 3. Our Year 11 learners were able to see a visual display of their current position in relation to the SACE requirements, as their teachers have entered their results on the SACE website. This has allowed them to see what their expectations are moving into semester two, to ensure that they are successful in gaining the required credits to complete their SACE. We encourage all families to have learning conversations with their children and reflect upon report grades. Secondary teachers encourage all families to make time for a three-way learning conversation early next term.

A reminder for our Year 11 Research Project and Year 12 learners – your results are predicted grades at this stage of the year. Work is required to be sent away to the SACE board in November for moderation purposes.

I would like to congratulate the secondary team on a successful term of learning. There have been some very pleasing academic results, where growth has been evident within several learning areas. There will be some changes relating to subjects for our Year 7-11 learners for semester two.

Year 12 learners are moving into the pointy end of the year, with only approximately 12 weeks of their schooling remaining. We hope that you all have a lovely break and look forward to another busy semester of learning.

Term 3 Events in the Secondary School

Road Awareness Program

On Monday, the 25th of July, our Year 11/12 learners will be participating in the RAP, which is begin hosted by Booleroo District Community School.

Statistics show that road crashes are one of the major causes of death and serious injury for 16-24 years olds in South Australia.

Through the South Australia Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) Road Awareness Program (RAP), we can work towards keeping our students safe on the roads with an honest and straightforward concentration and common-sense message.

A firefighter from the MFS will be visiting your school to speak with students about:

• good attitudes, smart decision making and safe behaviours
• the dangers of excessive speeds, distractions and driving under the influence
• being a responsible passenger and pedestrian
• becoming a responsible driver
• first-hand experience of the trauma suffered by all parties involved in both fatal and non-fatal road crashes

Firefighters also address the lasting trauma from injuries and fatalities, including the ongoing impacts of loss and disability for victims and families. A central element of the program is a talk by a real-life road crash survivor who will implore students to learn from their mistakes.

Permission forms and more information will be sent home over the next few weeks.

See the link attached

Growing Careers Project – August 16th and 17th

Thanks to the partnership that QAS has developed with the Smith Family, we have successfully locked in our second Work Inspiration Program event. This will involve our yr 8-11 learners taking part in a two-day program with a focus on various career opportunities. Last year we were lucky enough to learn about different career prospects within the Flinders Ranges Council, Country Health SA, Max Cranes and Access Training Centre. It was amazing to be able to talk with and listen to a large array of employment opportunities, some of which we were unsure even existed!

This year we will be visiting Uniting Care Wesley, Port Augusta Council and SANTOS. Thanks to the amazing support of The Smith Family, these two days will be fully funded for QAS students. Learners will be provided with transport and lunch on both days. This will be another fantastic opportunity for us to undertake some research leading up to the event, and to plan some questions that might be beneficial as we visit these work organisations. Consent forms will be distributed early next term.

Flying Headspace

Headspace supports young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, as well as work and study support. With a focus on early intervention, we work with young people to provide support at a crucial time in their lives – to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.

Each fortnight, we are fortunate enough to be able to welcome Jack Pointon from Headspace to QAS. Jack currently allocates time to speak with some of our young people here at QAS.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of your child receiving support from Jack, please contact Sarah Bury at the school for a referral form. I am happy to discuss this process with you at any time.

Advance Notice – Sports Day

Please lock in Friday the 19th of August for our annual Sports Day. We are looking for volunteers for the timing and measuring of events. Without these volunteers, it makes it very hard for us to be able to run all the events on the day. If we do not have enough helpers, we may have to time and measure some events before the actual day which is not ideal.

We are also planning on having multiple opportunities for our students to practise their events both in school and after-school sessions as we did last year.

Sarah Bury
Secondary Coordinator

Primary Report

SAPSASA Netball

During week 9, Shelby Finlay and Ebonie Werth represented the Northern Districts SAPSASA Netball team. The competition was held at the Netball SA Stadium, in Mile End.

The teams competed against other country regions and played some excellent netball. The competition was certainly tough; however, the girls had a great time competing and put in 100%. Thanks to Scott Nicholls from PAWPS for coaching and organising the event. Well done to Shelby and Ebonie on your success with your netball this year.

Book Week

This year’s Book Week theme is ‘Dreaming with eyes open…’. Our Book Week celebrations will be held on Friday of Week 5, Term 3 (August 26th). We encourage everyone to dress up as their favourite book character or the Book Week theme. More detail will be released closer to the date.

Foundation Class

Here is a snapshot of some of the learning happening in the Foundation Class with Miss Neu.

Maths

In Maths this term, we have started exploring 3D shapes. We have been learning shape names and how to describe the faces, edges and corners. We played ‘I’m thinking of a shape’ to help us visualise the 3D shapes we know and looked for them in everyday objects. We then used modelling clay to model 3D shapes in objects.

Investigation Time

Each week, the Foundation class have an Investigation Time lesson. During this time, learners are given the opportunity to explore various learning areas through learning stations. For the last few weeks, we have been exploring:

Our Book Making Station proved to be very popular with the authors and illustrators of Rm 1 creating a number of books and letters.

Some learners also used the Small World Play to create a zoo. They demonstrated sorting/classifying, design and teamwork skills in their creation of a ‘Mega Zoo’.

Learners also explored addition on the OSMO Kit to solve the problem and free the fish.

Assemblies

We would like to invite families to the Primary Assembly on Thursday 7th of July at 2:30pm in the school gym. This assembly will be hosted by Mr Buckingham’s Year 5/6 class.

Kate Neu
Foundation Teacher/Primary Coordinator

Parents & Friends

A big thank you to everyone that donated soup, damper and time last weekend at the Pichi Richi Marathon. The day was a great success and we raised $340.

Well done to all the runners who took part in the day

Miscellaneous Items

Aviation Studies

Mid North Christian College in Port Pirie is holding an Open Day for our Aviation Studies SACE Course from 10am until 2pm on Friday 19th August, 2022. This Aviation Course is made possible with the continued sponsorship by the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund; I’d like to acknowledge their reliable support in developing the aviation industry in South Australia.

This course is open to all South Australian students from any school across the state. Typically the course is offered to students in going into year 10 but there is flexibility which can be discussed with the student’s SACE Coordinator. This is also a great opportunity for younger students interested in Aviation as a career to come and see the kind of course they could aim towards for one of their year 10 SACE topics.

Naidoc Week at the Port Augusta Youth Centre