Thank you to all for the very warm welcome I have received over the first few weeks. It has been great being back meeting students, staff, and families. Coro is a wonderful school and I’m looking forward to working with everyone over the coming months.

Once again, thank you to Mike, Kat, Kate, and Sue for their excellent work leading the school throughout Term 1.

Rob Warncken

Principal

Please note a few changes within classroom teaching roles:

• Adele Taylor is continuing to work in 2O for the duration of Term 2
• Mike Shaw working in 6OS (Mon & Tues) after undertaking the Acting Principal role for all of Term 1
• Kat Morgan working in 1TM each Wednesday
• Emma Bishop working in 5B each Thursday
• Janita Bentley working in 4B each Wednesday

School account statements are being sent home this week for your attention.

Please note that all school fees are now due. If your account has an overdue amount from last year please attend to this payment as a matter of urgency.

Low-income families who attend a government school can get financial help with school fees – materials and services charges – through the School Card scheme.

For more details follow this link https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme and if you are eligible please enter an online application.

Schoolcard families receive assistance with their Materials & Services fee. Other fees including Excursion/Dance levy, camps etc are not covered by the schoolcard assistance.

If you have organised a payment schedule with the school you will still receive a statement for your information. Payment plans are available from Sue.

If you have any questions or concerns about your school account please telephone Sue at school or send an email to Sue.Matthews799@schools.sa.edu.au .

Sue Matthews

Business Manager

The freestone wall at the front of the school was built in the early 1900’s. We became aware that the wall appeared to be moving so over the last three years we measured the movement and in that time, we saw movement of approx.15cm which indicated that the pressure of the soil was too much for the wall. The department agreed to fund repair which will entail building a brick retaining wall and then replacing the freestone wall in front of the brick wall so that essentially it will look the same. The time capsule has been removed during this process and then will be replaced as it is not due to be opened until 2036.

The timeline supplied by the builder indicates that this will take the whole of term two allowing for any overrun to be completed during the next school holidays.

Thank you to everyone for their patience and courtesy while using Frank Smith Park when dropping off and collecting students. It is a little further away and certainly not as convenient however as an alternative it has been working well thanks to all who have been using this space appropriately.

This week represents National Volunteer Week (NVW) – an annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers. Volunteering Australia has announced the theme for National Volunteer Week 2022 – ‘Better Together.’

As part of National Volunteer Week, we acknowledge and thank all Coromandel Valley parents, carers and friends who make a difference and help our school in so many ways –  canteen, garden, classroom support, sports coaching, fundraising, camps / excursions, library, governing council, uniform shop, special interest areas and much more. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the past 2 years have been challenging for schools to take advantage of how volunteers can support and enhance learning programs and activities. However, moving forward into 2022, we are hoping to have volunteers back in inside learning environments much more.

During the pupil-free days on Monday and Tuesday of Week 1, Term 2, teachers participated in a two-day workshop facilitated by the International Baccalaureate PD Team. The workshop centred on the Approaches to Learning, which is a central part of the IB Program. Staff were provided with opportunities to consider the ways they explicitly teach research, communication, self-management, social and thinking skills. There was considerable focus on thinking skills and its connections to the work our teachers do around Cultures of Thinking, with clear connections made to how we can develop learners, in line with the Site Improvement Plan. Thanks to Kate O’Driscoll for organising two great days of professional development.

It’s fantastic that many students either ride or walk to school most days. If your child(ren) do walk or ride to school please speak with them about taking extra care when crossing in the area of Ackland Hill and Magarey Roads. It can be a busy area and it is important that students are careful when crossing.

Sibling photo envelopes available from the office

As part of the Unit of Inquiry ‘Societies’, the year 5 students have been exploring significant events in history and in particular, the Australian Gold Rushes.  In week 11 term 1, we visited the Barossa Goldfields Historical Society where we had the opportunity to experience a small part of what life was like on the goldfields in the 1850s and 1860s.

Reflections from the year 5s:

‘It would have been scary to have been so deep underground.’

‘Gold panning was hard work!’

‘The size of the mines and how deep they were was surprising.’

‘I like how they restored the old house to create a museum.’

‘I have claustrophobia so I find it creepy that people would have been underground in those small, dark spaces.’

‘I really enjoyed panning for gold as it gave me a glimpse into the life of miners.’

‘The miners developed clever techniques.’

‘We saw an old refrigerator.’

‘Gold is heavy so it all fell to the bottom of the pan.’

‘The people who often made the most money on the goldfields were the shop keepers.’

‘I thought I was going to be rich!’

‘Gold fever is contagious!’

On Thursday and Friday, May 12 – 13, students in Year 6 attended Arbury Park Outdoor School as part of their modified camp.

Whilst Covid restrictions meant that students were unable to sleep overnight, students were still able to participate in all planned activities and gain new skills and experiences in the beautiful outdoor setting. Activities included orienteering, campfire making, bushwalks, Aboriginal cultural studies and team problem-solving games. Students stayed late on Thursday, when they met Trent Hill who shared knowledge of his Aboriginal culture, and told the students a Dreaming story.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to attend camp, and took many memorable moments home with them.

Year 6 Teaching Team

Last week 12 year 5/6 boys took part in the Sports SA MTB championships from Craigburn.

The weather was a mix of rain and sunshine. The mud swamped the trails and it was anyone’s game.

After the first lap, a frantic pace of 9 and a half minutes, one of our teams was ranking well, in 6th place.

As the race continued the course dried out, but was still damp making the trail run fast through the sandy sections. 

We had four teams and the final results were 5^th, 21^st, 45^th and 64^th out of 80. Overall it was a fantastic day, it was a blast, and luckily we didn’t get absolutely soaked by rain.

Tyler, Daniel and Austin

Congratulations to Tom for coming 2nd overall at the State Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships at Titanium Stadium on 30th April.

He came 2nd on pommel horse, 3rd on rings, 3rd on high bar, 4th on vault, 4th on floor, and 6th on parallel bars.

Thomas has been doing gymnastics for 4 years at Blackwood Gymsports. He trains 8 hours a week and has proven that hard work pays off. Well done Tom!

We have had the scooter below handed in at the office.  If it is yours or you know who it belongs to please come and collect it.