15 February 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to all of our learners as we look forward to a new year of learning. We have welcomed many new families to our school this year, and we look forward to working with them and existing families to secure growth across all areas for their children. Growth and achievement rely on schools and caregivers working collaboratively, and I encourage all caregivers to attend the information sessions we have scheduled in the coming weeks. These sessions will connect you with our new staff, offer insight into learning programs, and support you in navigating the online learning and reporting platforms currently used by our school. The dates for the meetings are:

Thursday 2 March
Primary School (F-Y6)

• Meet the teachers
• Daymap Connect -A guide to accessing reports, attendance and achievement data.
• The Literacy Journey – Understanding Phonics, Read Write Inc., & Lexile Levels
• Online learning – Scholastic Pro & Education Perfect.

Thursday 9 March
Senior School (Y7-12)

• Meet the teachers
• Daymap Connect – A guide to accessing reports, attendance and achievement data.
• The Literacy Journey - Writing, Reading, & Grammarly
• Online learning – Khan Academy, Scholastic Pro, Swift, OneDrive & Education Perfect.

Four new teachers have joined our school for 2023, and they are committed to building upon the successes we have secured in recent years and supporting us in achieving our vision of securing growth for every learner. They are:

Victoria Alexander - Junior Primary
Ellie Buchanan - Primary
Bryan Crosby - Mathematics/Science
Hannah Thomas - Primary

We have also welcomed Monique Griffiths back to our school and leadership team following parenting leave and her role as Acting Principal at Andamooka Primary School & Children's Centre.

Finally, thanks to Sarah Bury for her leadership and planning of the swimming carnival, which ran exceptionally smoothly, despite her absence. Thanks also to all of the volunteers who made the day possible, despite the date change. We wish our senior swimmers the very best at the upcoming MNSEC carnival.

Student Fee and School Closure Days 2023

Newsletter Dates

Our school newsletter will be published in weeks 3, 6 & 9 of each term. Urgent and vital information will be sent via Schoolzine separately.

Secondary Report

Welcome back to the 2023 school year. The Secondary team has hit the ground running this term and the learners have enthusiastically engaged in the curriculum. Welcome to Bryan Crosby, who is teaching Maths, Science, and Digital Technologies across the secondary school. We also welcome Mrs Griffiths back to the team. The learners enjoy the opportunities to be back in the Art room to develop their artistic skills.

Secondary students are actively setting achievable yet challenging goals for all subject areas. Teachers are busy uploading their unit plans and lesson notes, which include clear learning intentions to ensure that the learning remains visible across the secondary school. Learners have also adapted to the new classroom structures and the revised timetable. Please see Sarah Bury if you require assistance accessing and utilising DAYMAP to keep up to date with your child/ren’s learning requirements.

This term is proving to be very busy indeed. We have the swimming carnival today, followed by the MNSEC carnival in Booleroo next Tuesday. A Yr 7-12 team will be selected following their results in our school carnival. If you are interested in heading to Booleroo next week, please contact the school, as we will be seeking parent volunteers to assist with timing and transport. On completion of this carnival, some participants in years 7-12 may be selected to travel to Adelaide to represent the MNSEC team later this term.

During week 6, our year 6-9’s will participate in a one-day Aquatics Program in Port Augusta. The year 10-12’s will also be completing a two-day Sailing camp in Port Augusta which forms part of their SACE assessments. We are very much looking forward to the aquatics.

The senior secondary students (11/12’s) have designed their ‘SENIORS’ jumper for 2023. Please ensure that you pay your deposit to Michelle ASAP.

We look forward to sharing the 2023 Swimming Carnival pictures and results in the next newsletter. Good luck to the Kanyaka Sharks and the Yarrah Roos.

SACE 2022

Congratulations to Emily Reed, Lachlan Finlay, Anton Thompson, and Joshua Parrott for completing their SACE at Quorn Area School in 2022.

Lachlan is continuing to complete his Electrical Apprenticeship with Corey Finlay Electrical. Lachie successfully completed Year 12 whilst undertaking a school-based apprenticeship.

Emily is about to embark on a university degree at Flinders University. She will be studying for a Bachelor of Science – in Animal Behaviour.

Anton is busy working on his business and was successful in receiving a $2000 grant to contribute to his chocolate business called ‘Kookaburra Chocolates’.

We wish all our 2022 school leavers all the best in their future endeavours.

Below is a picture of Anton receiving recognition for his SACE completion at a presentation acknowledging the schooling achievements of young people under the Guardianship of the Chief Executive of the Department of Child Protection.

From left – Katrine Hildyard MP, SA Minister for Child Protection, Women and Domestic Violence Prevention, Sport and Recreation, Anton Thompson, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson, AC, Governor of South Australia.

Smith Family 2023 and Beyond

We are currently planning and negotiating the 2023 Growing Career Project plans with the Smith Family. There are several Work Inspirations Camps/Excursions and career planning workshops that will assist in exploring future pathways for our secondary learners. We will share all the finer details in the coming weeks.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SMITH FAMILY TEAM:

At this time of year, we are recruiting for our reading program, “student2student”, and have spots available on our Learning for Life scholarship program.

STUDENT2STUDENT READING PROGRAM

The student2student program is offered to students (readers) who are in Years 3 to 8 and assessed as reading two to four years behind their actual age.

Student2student runs for an 18-week period during the school year (out-of-school hours).

Readers are matched with buddies who attend a different school (somewhere in SA), with both students only knowing each other's first names (buddies undergo a working with children’s check and identities are kept confidential).

The buddy calls the reader 2-3 times a week and listens to them read for at least 20 minutes each time. The buddies are trained by The Smith Family and use the skills learnt in their training to assist the student with their reading.

Readers can either use a landline or parent’s mobile phone, an online website called “Chatty Kids”, or be supplied with a mobile phone by The Smith Family (free of charge).

LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAM

We also have scholarship spots available in our Learning for Life program;

The Learning for Life Scholarship Program provides families with opportunities to increase their children's success at school, TAFE and university. Learning for Life helps each child reach their potential by supporting their education from primary through to post-school studies.

Learning for Life offers:

• Financial support in the form of a scholarship to help pay for the costs of education e.g. school uniforms and shoes, stationery, excursions etc. ($450 per year from reception to year 10, increasing in years 11 & 12, with further TAFE/Uni scholarships available)
• Access to a local Family Partnership Coordinator (Mick Penglase) who can link families to services to increase engagement in education
• Programs to help improve reading, numeracy, leadership, computer and finance skills

To be eligible for the scholarship program, families must be pension concession or health care card holders and demonstrate a commitment to education (good attendance rate).

Please contact Sarah Bury at the school if you want to become involved or have any further questions regarding the Student2Student reading program or the Learning for Life Scholarship through The Smith Family.

House Captains 2023

Congratulations to our new House Captains who have been selected to represent Yarrah and Kanyaka for 2023. Their roles have already included preparing for Swimming Carnival. Captains have been busy organising students in events, planning the relays for the JP carnival, and hosting lunchtime activities allowing teams to build their rafts and make some decorations. They are looking forward to being active and visible on carnival day.

Back – Lachlan Holtham, George Peart, Joel Finlay, Amaru Omonte-Kramer

Kai Medlam, Renae Churchill, Mia Crisp, William Bennett

House Captains make decorations in the Art Room to prepare for the Swimming Carnival.

Prefect Update 2023

Prefect applications were due last Friday. Thank you to all those enthusiastic applications for the 2023 positions. The leadership team will be busy analysing and discussing applications and will undertake some interviews over the next few weeks. Good luck to all who have submitted their applications for 2023.

Sarah Bury
Secondary Coordinator

VCOP & Extended Talk and “Write” In Our Secondary School

To continue the successes of our BIG TALK, BIG WRITE and VCOP approach in our primary school, we are implementing these into our secondary school with a focus on EXTENDED TALK AND EXTENDED WRITING using technology. It is vital that our learning not only continue to grow as articulate speakers and careful writers but to be adaptable in communication through advancing technologies. Our learners are increasingly developing their skills to improve their typing skills.

As we all know, many platforms nowadays are accessible online, digitally, or electronically. For example, theory driving tests and high school exams are increasingly delivered online rather than printed, likewise with university and TAFE learning modules, to name a few. Hence it is crucial for our learners to be exposed to and become familiar with extended talk and writing conditions to be confident and prepared for a successful future.

We are committed to ensuring that every child is literate. We believe every child should learn to write… and write well to achieve this. Learning to write is such an essential skill to find success in school and thrive in society.

Did you know you can help at home, and it doesn’t even involve writing?

Risley and Hart’s study (The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3) showed that all carers, regardless of socio-economic classification or personal level of ‘talkativeness’, did business with their children. Business talk is the instruction, questioning, or comment necessary to enable a child to function throughout the day. Short, simple sentences usually characterise it without embellishment or extension. Examples of business talk in a home are: ‘Eat your food.’; ‘Don’t interrupt.’; ‘Do your homework.’; ‘Where’s your coat?’; ‘Go to bed!’ The effect…

So, what can you do to help? TALK, TALK, TALK, AND LISTEN

Talkative carers extend their talk greatly by responding to the child’s answers, asking additional questions, providing explanations, descriptions or details, and offering further commentary. Taciturn (business talk) carers rarely developed their conversations in this way.

If you can promise to become a talkative carer, we promise to help!

It focuses on four key strategies to up-level their speaking or writing.

They are the VCOP;

Vocabulary – words and phrases that make us go wow.”
Connectives- words that we use to join thoughts, paragraphs, and ideas together.
Openers – words or phrases used to start sentences.
Punctuation - carefully selected to create an effect (but we will link it closely with punctuation to ensure we are grammatically correct as well).

The EXTENDED TALK and WRITE! HOW DOES IT WORK?

Each week, every child will participate in a Home Talk, Extended Talk and Extended Write.

The Extended Talk will be a session dedicated to oral language practice in front of an audience, similar to show and tell but with clear learning targets. Those who can will be encouraged to continue with an Extended Write.

The Extended Write will be a time in class when they will produce a start-stop piece of independent writing to be proud of. It will be their chance to show off all the writing tips they have learned during the week.

Learners will be encouraged to participate in Home Talk before their Extended Talk and Extended Write sessions to help clarify their thoughts and ideas.

Home Talk!

Home talk allows learners to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with others outside the classroom. Teachers have said they can tell who has completed home talk and who hasn’t. But we also understand how busy life is, so we want to ensure you know how easy it is to complete.

Home Talk is just as the title suggests…talking!

It might be 2 minutes or 20 minutes, but make sure it’s enjoyable and not stressful. Extended Talk/Write is a celebration of their learning, not a test, so we want them excited to start!

Home Talk might be completed as a family at mealtime or on the way home from school. It might be while waiting for a sibling to finish after-school activities or as part of your nightly debrief before bed. But these tips might help you get started:

• Encourage as many family members as possible to join in to get a variety of ideas discussed.
• For multiple siblings, complete one topic at a time. (In most cases, different year levels will have different topics linked with classroom learning).
• When giving your opinion, model the ‘because’ word to explain why you think that.
• Show that it is OK to have different views or opinions.
• Ask your child for their opinions after expressing yours.
• Encourage the use of standard English with no slang or incorrect use of grammar.
• If the text is for a formal audience, try role-playing using posh voices for fun.
• Develop your child’s vocabulary by using wow words, but ensure they understand what you are saying. ‘It was a disaster. The papers were scattered everywhere. Scattered means they went everywhere in all different directions.’

Mrs. Megan Guevara: English & HASS Teacher

Primary Report

Welcome back to school for another year of fantastic learning. Alongside our new learners and families, we have three teachers joining the Primary Team this year: Victoria Alexander in the F/1 class, Hannah Thomas in the 1/2/3 class and Ellie Buchanan in the 4/5/6. I look forward to an exciting year.

Learning in the F/1 Class with Miss Neu

As part of our Mappen unit this term, we learnt about the QAS Learner Disposition, Persevering Pete. During our lesson, we participated in challenges that crossed the midline to help develop our coordination, which will also support our reading and writing. At first, we sat on chairs to do the tasks, which we found pretty easy. Next, we had to cross the midline standing up, which was trickier. Then we added in scarf catching and throwing, which was a real challenge for everyone. We had to try and try again. We then reflected on how being a Persevering Pete made us feel happy and proud.

Here are some photos and a video from the lesson.

The Literacy group have also been busy learning letters and the sounds they make. We have already learnt m, a,s,d,t, I,n,p, and have been practising blending these sounds to make words with our blending tiles. We will be reading before we know it!

To find out how you can support your child in RWI across the Literacy groups, please visit Oxford Owl for Home for helpful information and resources.

Swimming Lessons

Last week, learners from F-2 participated in Swimming lessons. I want to thank Tiarna and her assistant Tayla for running the 2023 Swim Program and the volunteers who helped during the week. The learners had a great time developing their skills.

Premier’s Read Challenge turns 20!

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the PRC. PRC forms have been sent home in the Primary School for learners to record their books. They will need a parent or teacher to sign off on each book to verify that they have read it. To celebrate the 20th anniversary, an additional challenge has been released. From R-12, learners can choose to read 20 books and receive their certificate/medal and a 20th-anniversary certificate. The challenge runs from the beginning of the school year to the 8th of September, 2023. If you would like to take on the 20-book challenge, please see Miss Neu for an entry form or visit the link below.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential to your child’s engagement and success at school. Just a reminder that the Primary Foyer doors will close after the first bell at 8:45 am. Please sign in at the front office if you arrive after this time. If your child cannot attend school for the day, please get in touch with the school via phone, email or SMS with a brief explanation so the rolls can be updated.

Miscellaneous Items

Toastie Tuesday

Toastie Tuesday is an initiative we began back in 2017 after our canteen closed. Students can order a toasted sandwich or a cup of instant noodles for lunch each Tuesday. The day is a fundraiser for students to purchase something for themselves in the yard. We have a small group of volunteers who provide this service, and we are always happy to have new volunteers help us out.

Orders can be placed at the front office and collected at the canteen during the first break. There are also a few confectionary items that can be purchased as well.

Lunch Orders

Quorn Takeaway provides a lunch service for students Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Orders can be placed at the front office in the morning and collected by students at 12.55 pm. Order forms can be collected from the office during the day.

North Adelaide Football Footy Clinic