It’s hard to believe how quickly 2024 is moving…Christmas is just around the corner!! Term 4 seems to move from one major event to the next. Last week was the Children’s University Graduation and the Colour Run, while this week is all about Year 3-6 Dance Night. Our older students are very much looking forward to sharing their dance skills this evening at the Capri Theatre.

Colour Splatacular School Run 4 Fun

Thank you for all your support. Our Colour Splatacular School Run 4 Fun was a huge success. We raised a great amount of money, a few staff were slimed and students had a lot of fun.

It was fantastic to see the spirit and enthusiasm displayed in supporting our school. Seeing the smiles on the students’ faces and everyone coming together as they ran was fantastic.

We raised $12500 which will go toward some new soccer goals and some new nature play equipment.

With all of your hard work and effort, we have also been able to assist some great causes with some fantastic donations!

A huge thank you to Jodie M, who did a wonderful job coordinating our event. Also, to Janita for providing another water option. Thank you also to all the volunteers who helped out on the day.

Again, our most sincere thanks for your support and fundraising efforts. 

Save the Date – Celebration Night – Tuesday 10 December 

We are very much looking forward to our annual Celebration Night on Tuesday, 10 December, when our community comes together to enjoy festive songs from students/staff, including end of year presentations and farewells. Please save the date, and stay tuned for further details. 

Church Car Parking

Reminder - This car park is not a kiss-and-drop zone!

The school and the church have an agreement that allows families to park around the church on school days for the specific sign-posted times.

The agreement specifies that parking is only in the area surrounding the driveway around the perimeter of the church block. The church is a heritage listed building with shallow foundations.

Parking or standing next to the church building is not permitted. Please do not park in front of the chained area or on the lawn next to the hall.

Please enter the gate and move in an anti-clockwise direction to find a car park.

If the parks are full do not stop and wait in the road area as this further congests the flow of parents who wish to drive around, and use Kiss and Drop as an alternative. 

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines and ask that you communicate this information to other family members who may be picking up your child. 

World Teachers Day Thanks

Friday, October 25th, marked World Teachers’ Day in Australia, a day dedicated to celebrating the remarkable contributions of teachers worldwide. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of teachers at Coro who come to school every day to make a difference in the lives of the young people they teach.

Their unwavering dedication, resilience, and commitment to our students make an immeasurable difference in our school community. They not only impart knowledge but also provide support and care, adapting their teaching methods to meet the needs of our students.

Thank you to students and families who acknowledged our teachers as part of celebrating World Teachers Day. Messages and small tokens of appreciation were gratefully received. Thank you.

Maintenance, Facilities and Grounds

Over the October holiday break, there was a major Library air conditioning upgrade. This project was well overdue and included the installation of a new large bulkhead as well as a complete refit of the entire system. Many of our air conditioning units are coming to end of life, having been installed all around the same time many years ago. Once a system fails, replacement falls on the school to fund.

Also, over the holiday period, we upgraded 11 of the classroom screens with large 75” TV screens. The existing screens had been in place for over 12 years. The students appreciate seeing a crystal-clear display without having to have the lights off!

Final Student Free Day 

A reminder that our remaining Student Free Day for 2024 is this Friday, 8th November. On this day, school staff will be working with Kirsty Lush from Real Schools. Real Schools is about enhancing school culture through a focus on building partnerships and embedding Restorative Practices into our school.

Planning for 2025

Planning is underway for the 2025 school year, which includes organising staffing, class structures and placements. To assist with our planning, we would appreciate it if you could advise us if your child(ren) will not continue their schooling at Coromandel Valley PS next year. If this is the case, please contact the school via phone 8278 3693 or email dl.0104.info@schools.sa.edu.au This does not include any current Year 6 students. Thank you.

Participating in school sports offers our students so much more than just physical activity. It fosters teamwork, resilience, and self-discipline, while promoting healthy habits that will benefit students throughout their lives. School sports also provide opportunities for leadership and sportsmanship, encouraging all children to grow both on and off the field.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our volunteers. From coaching and team management to organising equipment and transportation, the dedication of our volunteers makes after school sports programs possible. As we approach the end of the school year, we would like to take the opportunity to thank each and every person who has volunteered their time to coach, manage, umpire and coordinate school sports in 2024.

We would also like to take the opportunity to make special mention of our sports coordinators, without whom after school sports would not run:

Jason Holmes – Basketball

Jon Ferris – Cricket

Kate Merritt & Nikki Maas – Soccer

Janita Bentley - Netball

After a number of years in these roles, Janita Bentley, Kate Merritt and Nikki Maas have decided to step back as coordinators of netball and soccer. These two sports have a combined participation rate of over 150 students. Ensuring that each and every student has the opportunity to be a part of a team is no small feat. As such, we would like to thank them for their commitment and for helping us foster a vibrant, active school community!

We are seeking a volunteer to act as the coordinator of netball for the 2025 season. If this is something you are willing and able to do, please email Kate O’Driscoll at Kate.ODriscoll722@schools.sa.edu.au

Chris Schneider (Governing Council Sports Representative)

Kate O’Driscoll (Assistant Principal)

On Thursday 24th October, all year 1 students visited Watchman House and Winns Bakehouse Museum, as part of our Places Change unit of inquiry. They learnt about the history of both buildings, how the local Winns Precinct was established and about the families who lived and worked in the area.

On Thursday, we visited Watchman Cottage and Winns Bakehouse.  First, we went in, it was nice in there and there was a big hole, in the hole you put meat.  Next, we walked to Winns Bakehouse, and we got to see how far the oven was.  Finally, we did a treasure hunt and me and George found all the things - Max

Yesterday I went to Winns Bakehouse I saw the bee hive and a huntsman on a manikin. We played red rover all over and I saw a plaque on a rock - Ivy

On the 24th of October We went to Winns House and Watchmans House.  First, we went to Watchmans House then we sat on the ground to talk about history.  Finally, we went to Winns Bakehouse to do a treasure hunt.  We saw some bees too - Jimmy

On Thursday, we went to Watchmans House and Winns Bakehouse with the class, and we learnt about history.  First, we did a hunt; then, we played Red Rover all over.  Finally, we got to see the bath, and then we went back to school - Serena

Thursday 24th October we went to Watchman House and Winns Bakehouse with our class 1P.  It was a history walk, we saw how long the oven was and played a game - Alice

Yesterday our class went to Watchmans House and Winns Bakehouse.  First, we watched them; then we had a talk about what we were going to do.  Next, we went to the Bakehouse and played Red Rover - Clancy

As part of our inquiry into ‘Art and Artists’, the Year 2’s visited the Art Gallery. A special thank you to the parent and grandparent volunteers for making the excursion possible.

Sacha (2GT)

“On Wednesday my class and the other year twos went to the Art Gallery. Firstly, we went to the upside-down horses. It was two horses hugging each other, with no heads. Secondly, we visited the red string room, its actual name is ‘Absence Embodied’. It represents blood vessels. I like the red string, but why can’t it be blue string like veins? Finally, we went to the Brent Harris artwork. I thought it was fabulous! I loved the Art Gallery, I can’t wait to go with my family!

Harrison (2OT)

Yesterday, I went to the Art Gallery with my class for our unit of inquiry. First, we went to do a stop motion animation. We cut shapes, then we put them on a screen, and then it would take a photo and we would move it slightly and it would take another photo. Next, we had recess, and then we all split into groups of three or four. My group went upstairs and looked at the artworks there. There was this really cool one that had a lot of red string, like a web or blood vessels. Last we got a guided tour by Nick. Nick showed us this really blurry painting, but he told us if you stand further away it’s less blurry. Then we got on the bus and went back to school. It was really fun! 

Mehrnaz (2T)

On the 16th of October. All the year 2’s went to the Art Gallery. First, we arrived by bus and then we got inside. I have already been to the art gallery so it is not new for me. My Mum was a volunteer me, her, Ella, Erin and Charlotte were in a group together. Then it was the guided tour we went to a section in the gallery to look at pictures and objects to look at. Also, it was snack break/Recess time, it was not a very long time.

After it was a guided tour, we went to a room where the guide was named Stephanie and she took us to the art room, which was Japanese art. Finally, it was a lunch break while we were eating some people were playing games on the grass. Finally, we did animations at the studio and we used black paper and cut them into different shapes even organic shapes. We went back to school at about 2:30.

Recently, the Year 3/4 students, went on an exciting excursion to the Maritime Museum, where we explored different aspects of maritime history and life at sea. We had a fantastic time learning about the history of maritime encounters, life on ships, and how people travelled and traded across the oceans. It was an unforgettable experience full of hands-on activities and new discoveries. 

One of the highlights was the Encounters program, where we learned about early interactions between Aboriginal people, Macassan fishermen, and European navigators. We discovered key moments, such as the arrival of European settlers in New South Wales in 1788 and the meeting between British navigator Matthew Flinders and French explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1802. These encounters made us reflect on how different groups connected and how First Nations people experienced these events. 

We also got to explore a full-size trading ketch called Active II. During the Ketch program, we learned how these small cargo ships transported goods between South Australian ports from the mid-1800s until the 1980s. We tried to imagine what it was like to work, eat, sleep, and navigate on board—it would have been a tough life at sea! 

In the Life on Board program, we learned about what it was like to migrate by ship from England to South Australia in 1836. We explored where people slept, what they ate, and how they managed during the long voyage. We also talked about how sea travel has changed over time, from sailing ships to steam ships, and now to modern cruise liners. 

Author of the Month Writing

Competition for October

Congratulations to last month’s author winners for the Halloween themed writing competition. The Literacy Leaders had another very difficult task with the judging. There were plenty of great stories to entertain the audience. These are the lucky winners for this month.

Look out for November’s author of the month – this time with a Christmas theme.

Who will have an amazing story and win next time?

Premier’s Reading Challenges

Congratulations to everyone who received their certificate or medal for entering the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2024. Keep up the great reading!

Coro’s Scholastic Book Shop

For a short time only, the Scholastic Book Shop will be back at the Coro Library. If you would like to make a purchase, you can do so with cash or credit. Keep your eye out for the flyer and prepayments using the QR code too.

Shop dates are:

• Wednesday 20^th November – lunch and after school
• Thursday 21^st November – before and after school and at lunch time
• Tuesday 26^th November – Before and after school and at lunch time

8.20 – 9.15 before school

12.50 – 1.30 at lunchtimes

2.50 – 3.30 after school

This is a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping and support our school at the same time.

Over the last few years, our school has been able to purchase many wonderful new books and resources for our students, from money raised through purchases made at the Book Fair.

Cash and credit facilities are available, or you can prepay online using the QR code. (See flyer for details)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Keep your eye out for the chance to win a $10 voucher to use at the Scholastic Book Shop at the library.

Opening Hours

Remember, the library is open every morning for borrowing and browsing from 8.15 am and after school until 3.30 pm.

Michelle O’Connell

Teacher Librarian

Whole school UOI

Term three at Coro was not just science week, but Science Term!  We explored the theme of “Species Survival” and looked closer at local native species.  Thank you to our amazing grounds keeper, Keith for his time, effort and expertise with this project. 

Students examined how people use data to develop scientific explanations and considered how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem. This was undertaken through our whole school inquiry into local species and their survival. Students selected and researched information related to a local native Australian species, then selected how they were going to take action (poster or sign, movie or construction). Students communicated this product with the wider school community.

We are excited to partner with the Onkaparinga Council and place seven nesting boxes in the Wetlands area of Frank Smith Park for possums, birds and microbats to use in this area.

Funding was received from Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant and SA Power Networks to complete these whole school projects. 

Science Week Competition

Congratulations to Aurelia C, Lucy Y, Ethan F, Alfie B, Marlee E and Anderson K who were winners in the Science Week competition. Their posters were made into signs and are being installed in the new garden area, near the new universal ramp. Thank you to Matt and Terry Howe Printing Services for the amazing final product.

Keep an eye out for the signs, that remind us to take care of our garden space.

YELP findings and recruitment for 2025

The YELP group would like the community to know about our recent findings in the nesting boxes using our cameras.

One box had five rosella eggs ready to hatch one week and two bouncy balls/ping pong balls on top of those eggs in the next week. The students were most disappointed, as this means the eggs wont hatch as the parents cant make the conditions right for incubation. Unfortunately this box will need to be emptied by a contractor with a tall ladder and a fee attached.

Mrs Todd is about to advertise for the 2025 YELP leaders.  If you think you might be interested, please keep an eye out on seesaw for an application or see Mrs Todd for more information.

Children’s University is an innovative program that engages children and young people in exciting, out-of-school learning opportunities to increase their chances for educational achievement and rewards them for taking responsibility for their own learning. 

The children have been involved and worked hard all year in various activities and recorded their hours towards graduation.

We had our graduation on Friday, 1^st November at Bonython Hall, on North Terrace.

We had 26 students who graduated and represented Coromandel Valley with pride, ranging from Reception to Year 6.

Bronze Awards 30 hours- Maxwell, Channa, Channy, Edward, Chloe, Adeline, Jack, Rebel, Ryker, Clancy, Edward and Penelope.

Silver Award 65 hours- Erin, Evy, Quinn, Aurelia, Olivia, Anderson, Jeffrey, Eliza

Gold Award 100 hours – Charlie

Bronze Certificate 130 hours – Zoe and Logan

Bronze Degree 330 hours – Amelia

Bronze Postgraduate 430 hours – Charlotte

Gold Postgraduate Certificate 600 hours- Jasmine

A big thank you to Vicky (SSO) who has collected passports and recorded the children’s hours and various other tasks throughout the year. Thank you to Mrs Campbell for helping us out on the day and thank you to Mr Warncken for supporting the program and doing a great job at introducing us on the day.

Kind Regards

Mrs Wendy Thompson

 CU Coordinator

Last week, three of our girls played in the Southern Heights district Aussie Rules team in a 3-day state carnival. They played 9 games against the other districts, winning 4 and finishing 5^th in Division 3. Although it was quite hot, the girls loved the experience. Well done Eva, Mira, and Allana!

On Friday 18th October seven Coromandel students attended the Girls' Chess Tournament held at Loreto College. They battled it out over 7 games of chess with 49 students competing in total. Coromandel Valley PS finished in 4th place overall.

Congratulations to Lydia and Dakota who competed in their very first chess tournament. It's brave to go and give a new activity a try and they both did very well and got their first wins!

A big congratulations to Willow with 4.5 wins and Amelia with 4 wins who both got awarded distinction certificates for their efforts and beating their personal bests.

Elise, Olivia and Piper played well and Olivia was excited to win the lucky chess board game on number 7 and get a special keyring.

Piper won the Fair Play award for encouraging students from other schools which was a great honour and reflection of her kind behaviour towards others.

It was a pleasure to take this group of students and I hope their passion for chess continues. 

Carrie :-)

YEAR 4's and 5's only*** If you love singing and want to continue your singing experience in a choir outside as well as during school time, SAPPS choir is for you! This is the South Australian Public Primary Schools choir and gives students amazing performance opportunities as well as recording the repertoire for the Public Schools Music Festival. Please see further information in the link below; https://festivalofmusic.org.au/students/the-sapps-choir.