We were delighted to welcome everyone back to school on Monday, 14th October. We hope you had the chance to enjoy some quality family time over the holiday break and October long weekend, and that everyone is feeling rested and ready for the final term of the year.

Term 4 is always a busy and exciting time, and this year is no different. We have plenty of special events to look forward to, including: Sports events, World Teachers’ Day, Children’s University Graduation, Colour Fun Run, Yr 3-6 Dance Night, Transition programs for new Reception students and Year 6 students moving on to high school, excursions, Jam Band, Celebration Night and Year 6 Graduation.

Please keep up to date with the Term 4 planner for all the important dates.

As we begin the final term, we’re also starting preparations for the 2025 school year. This will include planning class structures based on projected enrolments and finalising staffing arrangements. We will be providing more information about this as the term progresses, so please stay tuned.

Finally, we want to give a special mention to our Year 6 students and their families as they begin their final term in primary school. We hope it’s a memorable and rewarding time as they prepare to move on to the next stage of their schooling journey.

Snake Season

As previously shared via email, the snakes are certainly out and about at the moment. They are part of our wonderful environment, however we do want all of our school community to stay vigilant and remain safe. We continually remind students to be aware of what to do if they happen to encounter one.

Bushfire Response Plan Reminder

With the predicted forecast of potentially more extreme weather over this coming summer, it’s timely to take note again of our school’s Bushfire Response Plan as well as your own bushfire survival plans.

The bushfire response plan ensures what action we need to take on days of increased fire danger or in the event of a potential or actual bushfire threat. The bushfire response plan also assists the Department’s Security and Emergency Management (SEM) unit in providing emergency services key information regarding the location of students and staff during a bushfire emergency. 

It is important that families are familiar with our school’s response in preparation of a bushfire emergency. You can help us prepare for the fire danger season by:

1. familiarising yourself with the following information relevant to our school, which is rated as a R2 site.
2. talking to your child/ren about what will happen if a bushfire occurs when they are at school or at home.
3. making sure your emergency contact details are updated and made available to us before the start of the fire danger season.
4. having your own bushfire survival plan in place for days of catastrophic fire danger or in the event of a bushfire threat.

Our school’s procedures for Fire Danger Days rated as Catastrophic and Extreme

‘Catastrophic’ Fire Danger Days – declared in advance

In the event of the Country Fire Service (CFS) declaring in advance (the day before), a ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger rating for the Mt Lofty Ranges, the school will receive confirmation from relevant department personnel (Education Director / Department’s Emergency Management team) regarding the closure of the School and Out of School Hours Care Service.

If and when this situation arises, no staff, students, volunteers or contractors will be able to attend Coromandel Valley Primary School or OSHC service.

Parents and carers will be informed via SMS and email – as listed on our school’s database. The following forms of communication will also be used, and can be accessed:

• Letters handed out to all students on the days if the alert is received prior to school dismissal
• Information posted on the school website www.coromandps.sa.edu.au / Schoolzine email, Seesaw notification and the Coromandel Valley PS Facebook Page
• Department for Education – Emergency Information Hotline on 1800 000 279
• CFS Website: http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/
• Radio: tune into ABC Radio 89.7
• Information provided by the evening television and radio news services

****Reminder this is for the Mt Lofty Ranges District****

Parents / carers should make provision for the care of their child/ren on days declared in advance, as per their family’s bushfire survival plan.

You may also like to check in with ‘Involve Your Kids – Bushfire Survival Planning’. A great resource with many ideas about supporting and involving kids in personal bushfire planning and preparation.

Family Bushfire Planning Night

CVPS is hosting a community Family Bushfire Planning Night organised by our local MP Catherine Hutchesson. Please see the details below if you are interested in coming along.

All unpaid school fees are now overdue and must be paid via QKR, EFT or at reception.

Overdue statements will be sent home with your child in week 2.

If you need to continue to pay in instalments please email or phone Sue Matthews.

If you have any concerns or questions please email sue.matthews799@schools.sa.edu.au .

On Wednesday 25th September, three year 1 classes visited St John's Church for their local history inquiry unit. Each class participated in a session.

Woody, our Parish Priest explained some of the church buildings history and specifically St John's. Woody also explained the use and meaning of objects and symbols in the church and answered questions from the students.

Two parishioners assisted by talking about details and stories of the beautiful stained glass windows, as well as giving information about the workings of the pipe organ.

In the afternoon session, a piano student agreed to play the organ.  He amazed and entertained us with a very competent performance of a selection from Bach, which he ended with a flourish of a 'seamless slide' across the keyboard!  His fellow students had been dancing in the aisle and when he had finished, they rushed towards him, applauding and greeting him with high fives and hugs.

The students were very respectful, interested and enthusiastic in asking and answering questions.  The manner in which they conducted themselves in their visit to our church was a credit to them, their teachers and their families.

We are very grateful for the students' generous donations to our food collection for the Magdalene Centre and we continue to value opportunities to further develop our relationship with Coromandel Valley Primary School.

courtesy of Elizabeth Parker, St John's Church

Late last term, 15 of our students competed in the southern zone Interschool Chess Tournament. This was the biggest team Coromandel Valley had ever had. The tournament saw 9 teams and a total of 85 Primary and Secondary students test their chess skills. Coro's team was made up of Amelia D., Amelia J., Dexter, Eddie, Elise, Eliza, Hamish, Jackson, Kaiden, Miles, Nathan, Olivia, Piper, Walter and Willow. 

With the tournament combining both Primary and Secondary students, several of our students had some tough matchups, being paired against much older secondary school students, but they accepted the challenge and had some very exciting games.    Despite the tough competition, Coro did particularly well, ending up finishing in 3rd place in the Primary Division and picking up bronze medals for our top 4 point scoring players.  A fantastic result given the tough competition.  

Special mention to

- Walter who was our highest placed competitor, finishing in equal 8th place, with 5.0 wins from his 7 games. 

- Amelia J and Willow were our highest ranked female players with 3.0 points from their 7 games

- Amelia D Miles and Nathan, who were all playing in their first tournament  

- Amelia D, Dexter, Eddie, Eliza, Jackson, Kaiden, Miles, Nathan and Olivia,  who all either equalled or beat their personal best tournament scores

A huge thanks to Carrie Julian and Agnes Cantin for providing transport for the team.  Without parent help we can't get to the tournaments, so your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Chess Club continues on Monday lunchtime, with all ages and abilities welcome to attend.

David Shaw

Term 3, “Educational Explorer Awards” was awarded to Charlotte and Jasmine from year 5. Amelia from year 3 and Aurelia from year 2.

These students have challenged themselves with a range of new and interesting learning activities. Congratulations!

Coromandel Valley Recorder Students Perform at the Festival Theatre

As part of the Primary Schools Festival of Music, several Coro Valley recorder students took part in a performance at a Foyer concert on Friday 18^th September at the Festival Theatre. They played for nearly half an hour, a great achievement for all the performers. Supporting them were a number of parents and friends.

Congratulations to: Amarantha, Amelia, Eddie, Patrick, Valerian, Mack, Talia, Lucy, Bailey, Archie, Isla

Jan

Recorder Teacher.

Congratulations to Archer and Hamish on being selected by Football SA for the U13’s State Soccer team for the 2025 season. Archer has secured the spot of full-time goal keeper and Hamish is a part-time goal keeper on the squad. With hundreds of boys trialling out for the team across the state, it’s a big achievement to make it through. Well done boys – we look forward to seeing you play in the Socceroos in years to come!

Both Archer and Hamish also competed in the National Premier Invitational Soccer Competition on the Gold Coast at the end of September. Archer’s U12 team finished 13^th out of 72 teams and Hamish’s U11 team finished 18^th out of 60 teams.

This week I flew to Perth to compete at the National BMX championships in the under 10 girls and I won! This is my third national championship win a row. I also won the overall National Series Cup after winning the qualifying rounds in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide throughout the year. My trophy was so heavy my parents had to get extra luggage allowance to get it home.

My favourite part about the experience was competing and watching the elite riders race including Josh and Teya who are world number 1's. I also got to say hello to Saya Sakakibara and congratulate her on her gold medal win at the Olympics. When we landed in Adelaide the airline made a special announcement to the passengers about my success, I was very surprised and excited!

My win automatically qualifies me for the World Championships next year to be held in  Copenhagen, I hope to attend and try to win a world number 1 plate! 

Penelope

At the end of last term, School Sport SA held their State Track and Field Carnival at SA Athletics Stadium. Due to their success at the district carnival, six of our students earned the right to compete for their district – Southern Heights. They all tried their best and performed well against the best in Adelaide.

Here are their results:

10-YEAR OLDS:

Penelope

1^st in 100m                       (14.43s)

1^st in 200m                       (30.62s)

1^st in 4x100m relay          (1m:01s)

2^nd in Shot put                  (6.68m)

A big congratulations to Penelope on winning 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal – an outstanding result!  Penelope has been invited to attend the Nationals Championships in December.

Lily 

5^th in 1500m                    (6m:36s)

Reuben

6^th in 4x100m relay          (1m:03s)

11-YEAR OLDS:

Amber

5^th in Discus                     (14.96m)

5^th in Shot put                  (7.09m)

12-YEAR OLDS:

Joel 

7^th in 800m                      (2m:49s)

Archer

8^th in Shot Put                  (7.15m)

11^th in High Jump (1.25m)

Southern Heights finished in 2^nd place – an excellent result for our district!

Congratulations to Mira, Allana, and Eva for being selected to represent our district in the Southern Heights Australian Rules Football team.

Congratulations to Lucas, Beau, and Jake for being selected to represent our district in the Southern Heights Cricket team.

In week 8, term 3, 8 -13^th September, the Under 12 Boys National Netball Championship was held in Melbourne. Hudson Taylor trialled and was selected to play in the team of 12 boys to represent SA.  The competing teams came from SA, VIC, NSW, WA, ACT and QLD and they all played each other twice. SA had an amazing week with only 2 losses (both against VIC), which meant they finished the competition with Silver. An outstanding effort by the boys! Well done Hudson and SA!