I hope everyone has enjoyed or at least survived the late burst of summer weather and are looking forward to the upcoming Easter break.

Recently, I attended Education Leaders Day with Principals and Preschool directors across the state. It was a day of reflecting on the public education strategy and hearing from local and international experts, aligned with the strategy. The Chief Executive has challenged everyone to be “The best at getting better” which really indicates a journey of continuous improvement by knowing your own context and the priorities that are relevant for individual school communities. For us, we will continue embedding our improvement around Literacy, Numeracy and Thinking with a focus on developing Effective Learner capabilities in all our students. 

Kate O’Driscoll, Lauren Langley, Alex Long and I also attended the State Numeracy Summit which was again an opportunity to hear from leading researchers and practitioners in the area of Mathematics. It was a good opportunity to align our school and teacher actions for improvement with current evidence-based practice. 

Our site improvement plan priorities continue into 2024. We have had a large focus in the area of Literacy last year, learning and implementing the Playberry Laser program that develops phonology, reading and spelling. We also implemented the Dibels reading assessment that enables us to track and monitor reading progression throughout the year more effectively.

This year there will be a stronger emphasis on Numeracy, using student data effectively to ascertain where students have strengths and weaknesses to enable teachers to program effective learning opportunities to move all students forward.

Our recent Student Free Day focused on the Big Ideas in Number – Place Value, where Kate O’Driscoll did an excellent job of leading us through the importance and different stages of Place Value, with teaching staff having the opportunity to look at student data from the Trusting the Count (R-2) and PVAT (3-6) assessments that have been undertaken over the first 6 weeks of term. Teachers then had time to program and develop learning tasks to support student growth.

NAPLAN

Congratulations to all our Year 3 and 5 students who have been participating in the National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy or NAPLAN over the last two weeks. NAPLAN is a national assessment program, used to monitor and report on student achievement in critical numeracy and literacy skills. It is a lot of assessments over a short time frame and all the students have done a great job concentrating hard and trying their best.

Sports Day

Preparations for Sports Day are well advanced, and we are very much looking forward to a fun filled day. Fingers crossed for some nice weather and we’re hoping to have lots of families in attendance.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parent/Teacher interviews are scheduled to take place over the coming two weeks. Based on parent feedback from last years’ parent perspective survey, the discussion process has changed, from 3-way discussions, to only parents and teachers. There will be opportunities for students to share their progress with families later in the year.

Again, this year we are using an online booking system (School Interviews). Feedback from last year was very positive and made booking a discussion time much more streamlined.

Information about how to book an interview time was sent home on Monday via email.

Sports Day is fast approaching, Friday 5th April, with the students excited about representing their house teams in a fun filled day. Families are invited to attend with the program and events detailed below. Hardcopy paper programs will be available on the day from the front office or at the scorers’ desk on the oval.

• Students are encouraged to come to school dressed in their sports team colour, in SunSmart clothes with their school hat and a top covering their shoulders.
• House teams: Brolgas (Blue),  Wallabies (Green),  Wombats (Red) and Kookaburras (Yellow)
• Coloured hair spray can be used, but please use at home before coming to school. 
• Please ensure all students have a drink bottle with water for the day.
• Sunscreen may be required and can be applied before school and brought to school for self-administration.
• Students are to arrive at school and meet in their classrooms as normal by 8:50am

• 9:10 am Classes assemble on oval, in house teams, Health Hustle and Chants.

• Classes move off to tabloid events at 9:30am
• BBQ Sausage orders or BYO lunch.
• After lunch the whole school will gather on the oval in their house bays to cheer on the Sprint and Relay Championships.

• 2:10pm Presentations and Sports Day closed. Students return to class for dismissal at 3:10, unless you sign your child out with their classroom teacher.

Sausage Sizzle/Canteen

Attached is a sausage sizzle order form, if people order on QKR! then they don’t need to complete a form.

The canteen will be open at recess and lunchtime for drinks, ice blocks, slushies and other over the counter purchases, but the only lunches available on that day will be the pre-ordered sausages.

Sports_Day_Program.pdf

Tabloid_Events_R_2.pdf

Tabloid_Events_3_6.pdf

Map_2024.pdf

2024_sausage_sizzle_order_form.pdf

ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) is a suite of online competitions designed specifically for primary and high school students, conducted annually in Australia. They are entirely optional and accessed on a pay-per-test basis. ICAS tests can be a good way for students to showcase their knowledge and understanding of the chosen subjects, especially should parents wish to provide evidence to high schools to support scholarship applications.

The sitting windows and prices for the ICAS tests are below:

Please find attached more information, including instructions on how to register your child for one or more of these tests.

The final day for parent purchases is Monday 29th July 2024.

ICAS_letter_to_parents.pdf

On February 29^th, our Year 1 students took part in a Yura Malka (Art Workshop) as part of their inquiry into creativity and how they express themselves. The workshop was facilitated by Izzy Patterson, who helped students create a class painting, using Aboriginal colours and symbols that represent the animals and nature found in our local environment.

“I enjoyed learning about all the symbols for animals” – Jeffrey – 1T

“I learnt about some of Izzy’s language and how to say words” – Leo 1T

“I enjoyed finding out about what the different paint colours mean” – Charlotte – 1T

On Friday 8th of March, the year 5 classes went together to the Blackwood Recreation Centre for our inquiry unit on wellbeing. We had an excellent time doing cool moves in gymnastics and rolling around in either roller-skates or rollerblades. After we had a lot of fun at the Blackwood Recreation centre we started to head back to school. Even though it was a long walk we got back to school just in time for lunch.

By Alisha

For inquiry we went to the Blackwood Recreation Centre to try new things and it was brilliant! First, we did gymnastics and learnt different tricks and skills on all the different obstacles and equipment. We swung on hanging ropes and bounced on two massive trampolines. Next, we went roller skating and roller blading, even though some of us fell it was still fantastic.

By Ethan and Flynn

On Friday week 6 the year 5’s went on an excursion to the Blackwood Rec Centre. We did some activities such as gymnastics and roller skating. In gymnastics we did bars, tramp, beam, air track, rings and springboard. In roller skating we first had to check our foot size and then line up so we could get our roller skates or roller blades. We then started skating around the rink listening to music. Then we stopped for a recess break at the Blackwood High School lawns and started our long walk back to school. We first walked through Wittunga Gardens then we got on the path and started walking towards Coro. We finally got to school after that huge walk and made it back in time for lunch. It was a great experience and we would love to do it again.

By Sienna and Eva

On Friday March the 8th we went to the Blackwood Rec Centre. First, we got split into two groups, our group did gymnastics first. We were taught basic skills like forward and backward rolls. Then we put our skills to the ultimate test by trying them out on the gigantic trampoline. After half of our excursion our two groups swapped and it was our turn to roller skate. We raced over to the mat and found our shoe size and grabbed our skates. We then had fun racing each other and even making our own techniques. After we finished roller skating our excursion sadly came to the end and we walked the 40 minute trip in the heat back to school. We threw ourselves into the nice and cool air-conditioned classroom.

What a fun excursion!

By Charlotte and Maia

On Friday, week 6, term 1, the year 5s went on an excursion to the Blackwood Recreation Centre. We did gymnastics and skating which was super enjoyable. At the beginning, we had a safety talk, we then split into two groups. Mrs Bryan’s class did skating first, which we saw briefly when getting our water bottles. It looked really entertaining. Mrs Taylor’s class did gymnastics first. We split into groups of three, with the three trainers. We then all headed to different apparatuses (equipment). We then went to roller skate, which was a lot more calming than full on gymnastics. We finished up with a long, tiring walk back to school. When we got back we relaxed under the air conditioning.  In the end we had the best time!

By Poppy and Sophie, 5T

Nihongo in Reception and Year One

Konichi wa Families and Caregivers,

This term, in the Reception classes, the students have been learning greetings, numbers and colours through songs. We have also focussed on Tatsu Doshi (Year of the Dragon) by creating our own dragon and performing dragon dances with it.

The Year One students have been practicing asking, ‘How are you?’ and saying the days of the week and months of the year in Japanese. We have also connected with the Unit of Inquiry – Creativity by finding out about Katsushika Hokusai. We discovered how he created his artwork, and the students created their own versions of his most famous artwork, The Great Wave.

Celebrating First Nations Culture at Closing The Gap Day

Today, Thursday, 21 March, our First Nations students had an unforgettable experience at Closing The Gap Day held at Adelaide Showgrounds. The event was all about celebrating culture and community, and our students dove right in.

They enjoyed performances from talented artists like Kevin Kropinyeri, who kept everyone laughing as the compere with his deadly comedy. Uncle Eddie Peters had everyone tapping their feet to his music, while Uncle Moogy and the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dancers mesmerised the crowd with their captivating dance routines. Some of our students even joined the performance, learning traditional dance moves and participating in the shake-a-leg competition!

In addition to the performances, our students explored vibrant artworks, played sports, and connected with organisations offering support in health, education, employment, and housing. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and celebration of identity.

Closing The Gap Day provided a valuable opportunity for our students to engage with their culture, community, and each other. We're grateful for events like these that bring us together and honour the richness of First Nations heritage. 

Thank you to Ben Sanderson, who volunteered to support the excursion. 

Kylie Gardner

Our school continues to work closely with SAPOL to ensure that our students have safe options for walking and riding to school. 

This video, from the SAPOL Community Team, has some great reminders about school crossings.

Please remember that give way rules also apply to the pedestrian crossing at Kiss & Drop.

Thank you for help our students to safely get to and from school.

Southern Heights and City South districts held their annual combined Swimming Carnival in Week 5. 

Well done to the following students who represented our school:

Asher, Patrick, Molly, Lydia, Sebastian, Mila, Alby, Isla

Extra congratulations to our ribbon winners:

Asher: 3^rd in back stroke

Patrick: 4^th in back stroke

Molly: 4^th in back stroke

Congratulations to the Darcy and Noah for being selected for the Southern Heights/City South Softball Division 1 team.

Riverland flooding deployment wrap-up

Murphy and Jenni - what a team!

Jenni Forder, a D&RM chaplain who is also an SMG Pastoral Care Worker at Coromandel Valley Primary School took Murphy, a trained therapy dog with her when she fulfilled several shifts at the Murray Bridge Emergency Relief Centre early in 2023. Murphy was well received by staff, volunteers and disaster-affected people visiting the Centre, helping to break the ice in conversations and helping to calm stressed people in the Centre. Well done and thank you, Jenni and Murphy!

Read more about it.... A longer article about D&RM chaplaincy in the Riverland flooding was prepared for the Summer 2024 edition of the NEW TIMES, a Uniting Church in SA publication. You can read the article here on pages 12 and 13.

The recent closure of the Recovery Centres in Berri, Mannum and Murray Bridge was acknowledged at a function at Murray Bridge, which was attended by SA Housing staff and management, leaders of volunteer teams (such as D&RM) and politicians from both major parties. The fine contribution of our chaplains was mentioned by several speakers from the front, as well in informal conversations.

Booking_sheet_April_2024

Excursion Consent Form April 2024

The Android Phone issue has now been resolved, parents/users can now download the App from the Google Play Store.

 Apologies for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

 The QKR Team