25 June 2024

Principal’s Report

As we reach the end of another successful semester at Quorn Area School, we want to thank you for your continuous support and collaboration. The growth and achievements of our learners over the past months have been remarkable, and it wouldn't have been possible without your involvement.

Achievements and Highlights:

• Academic Success: Our learners have performed exceptionally well in national assessments. We look forward to sharing individual NAPLAN reports with caregivers in early term three. Seeing so many young learners celebrating their success in literacy and numeracy as they move into higher groups has also been pleasing. These changes will offer them more significant challenges and are a tangible reward for their hard work and dedication.
• Extracurricular Activities: This semester, our learners participated in various extracurricular activities, including sports, music, art, and cultural events. Their enthusiasm and creativity were truly inspiring.
• Mid-Year Intake: We have enjoyed meeting our new foundation learners and their families during the transition visits in recent weeks. We look forward to sharing the learning journey with them from next term. Special thanks go out to Kate Neu and her team for facilitating the visits and working collaboratively with families to ensure the next learning chapter is stress-free.

Events:

• End-of-Semester Celebration: Join us for a celebration event on Thursday, 4 July, at 2:30 pm in the school gym. The traditional end-of-term primary assembly will also include unveiling a new mural and highlights from our NAIDOC Week celebrations. We want to offer our special thanks to Monique Griffiths for her leadership and the community members who have committed their time, expertise, and energy to plan and run activities during our NAIDOC celebrations.
• Junior Primary Block: The refurbishment of the junior primary foyer and toilets will be completed during the holidays. We look forward to exploring the new learning space, and we are sure our learners will appreciate the new toilets.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: We encourage all caregivers to contact teachers directly to discuss your child's progress and set goals for the remainder of the year during the early stages of term three. We have moved away from set times and days for the appointments to offer flexibility to families who have struggled to make the times in the past. Don't hesitate to contact teachers directly; they will happily meet in person, online, or over the phone.

Reminders:

• School Break: The school will be closed from 8 July to 19 July for the semester break. Classes will resume on Monday 22 July.
• Progress Reports: Reports will be posted home on Wednesday, 3 July. Please review them and feel free to contact teachers for any clarifications.

We are excited about the continued journey ahead and look forward to achieving even more in the coming semester. Thank you once again for your unwavering support.

Andrew Gilsenan-Reed

Primary Report

Foundation Excursion

At Quorn Area School, we believe in the power of experiences that nurture curiosity and creativity. The Foundations were lucky to attend the ‘Grug’ theatre performance and Shark and Art exhibition in Port Pirie this term. This excursion exemplifies our commitment to providing well-rounded educational opportunities that inspire a lifelong love for learning. Below is a brief video that captures the excitement and curiosity the learners experienced on our adventure in Port Pirie. Lastly, thank you to all the families who could attend and ensured the unique experience of an excursion was offered to all our learners.

News from the Year 1/2 Class

Literacy

Exploring Literacy: Spelling, Reading, and Procedural Texts

This term has been filled with engaging activities that ignited our learners' passion for reading, writing, and spelling. We dedicated time to perfecting our spelling skills, focusing on correctly using digraphs in our spelling words. Through the RWI program, learners have delved deeper into Set 3 sounds, enhancing their phonics knowledge and fluency.

Our learners have been practising reading Red words swiftly, building their sight word recognition and fluency. This skill is crucial for fluent reading and comprehension. A highlight of this term has been learning how to write procedural texts. Learners have eagerly embraced the challenge of explaining step-by-step processes. Their favourite topics included setting up traps for the Easter Bilby and organising Easter egg hunts. The creativity and attention to detail in their writing have been remarkable.

We celebrate the progress in literacy skills and our learners' joy and enthusiasm in their learning journey. Their dedication to improving their spelling, reading, and writing abilities has been truly commendable.

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Numeracy

Exploring Australian Coins and Counting Adventures in Numeracy

Greetings from our numeracy corner! We `have been diving into the exciting world of numbers, focusing on counting strategies with Australian coins.

Our young learners have been busy identifying Australian coins by their distinct colours, shapes, sizes, and the iconic animals depicted on them. From the tiny 5-cent coin featuring an echidna to the larger 50-cent coin adorned with the iconic kangaroo, our learners have enjoyed learning about each coin’s unique characteristics.

Equipped with their new knowledge of coins, learners have been practising writing addition and subtraction sentences. Whether counting how many coins they have in their piggy banks or figuring out how much change they would get at the store, learners gained practical skills in handling money and basic arithmetic.

One of the highlights has been mastering counting sequences. Our learners have confidently counted to 100 by 2s, 5s, and 10s—a challenging and rewarding skill. Their favourite game, "Buzz," has been a hit! In this game, they count to 100 by 10s and the excitement peaks when the last person says "Buzz" instead of 100, earning them a stamp of achievement.

D&T

Designing Fun: Our Arcade Game Adventures in D&T

Over the past nine weeks, Year 1/2 learners have embarked on an exciting journey of creativity and innovation as they designed and built arcade games using cardboard.

Some learners worked with partners, while others confidently pursued their own unique designs. Witnessing their imagination come to life through their creations has been inspiring. Throughout the project, learners have learnt to use tools safely and effectively. They have gained valuable hands-on skills from measuring and cutting cardboard to assembling parts while enjoying every step of the way. There were also moments of frustration and setbacks when initial designs did not work as expected. However, these challenges became valuable learning opportunities. Our learners built resilience by persevering with tasks, finding alternative solutions and improving designs through trial and error.

One of the most important lessons learnt was the value of making mistakes. Learners discovered that setbacks were not failures but stepping stones to success. Each mistake led to insights that fuelled creativity and problem-solving opportunities. As the project neared completion, we celebrated the arcade games our learners had crafted and the growth in their skills, confidence, and resilience. Their enthusiasm and dedication have genuinely shone through in every game created. The skills our learners have honed will serve them well beyond the classroom, preparing them to tackle any future challenges confidently.

HPE

Fun with Skipping Ropes in PE!

Over the past eight weeks, our Year 1/2 learners have mastered the art of skipping ropes in their PE classes. From basic jumps to fancy footwork, they have been honing their skills and having a blast while doing so.

For many learners, practice made perfect. Seeing how their dedication has paid off with visible improvements in their skipping abilities has been inspiring. More importantly, learners’ confidence levels have soared as they enthusiastically tackled new challenges.

"Skipping rope is fun!" exclaimed one learner, reflecting the sentiments of many who have discovered the joy in mastering a new skill. The excitement was real during PE lessons, where laughter and encouragement filled the air as classmates cheered each other on.

Kindness Blooms in Health Class: Lessons from "Chrysanthemum"

In our recent Health lessons, we embarked on a journey of empathy and kindness inspired by Kevin Henkes’ beloved book, "Chrysanthemum". This heart-warming story encouraged learners to explore the power of words and their impact on others.

As we followed Chrysanthemum’s journey through the ups and downs of being teased for her unique name, we discussed how unkind words can leave lasting marks—much like the crumpled paper we used to symbolise their effect. We crumpled the paper a little more each time we heard unkind words, illustrating how hurtful comments can damage someone’s spirit.

However, the most powerful moment came when we tried to smooth out those crumpled papers. Despite our best efforts, the wrinkles remained, reminding us that even though apologies are important, scars from unkindness can linger.

In the end, we made a promise to one another to nurture kindness and respect in our school community. Just as we could not completely undo the wrinkles in our papers, we understood that they cannot be fully taken back once unkind words are spoken. Our goal now is to prevent those wrinkles from forming in the first place by choosing our words carefully and treating each other with empathy and understanding.

Yulia Ko
Year 1/2 Teacher

SAPSASA Netball

Local Carnival

Flynn, Kobe, Callan, and Lucas collaborated with students from Hawker Area School to take part in the recent local SAPSASA netball competition in Port Augusta. Despite mixed results, their sportsmanship and determination deserve commendation. Well done, boys!

Regional Carnival

Five students from Quorn Area School are participating in a regional event in Adelaide this week. Maya and Ellie are part of the Northern netball team, while Flynn, Kobe, and Lucas represent the North Eastern netball team. We eagerly await news of their performance in the upcoming days.

SAPSASA Cross Country

Ellie Bury participated in the SAPSASA Cross Country event at the Oakbank Racecourse. Competing in the 11-year-old age group, she completed the 3km race in 13 minutes and 39 seconds, securing 37th place out of 170 competitors. Congratulations to Ellie on this impressive achievement!

Secondary Report

Lawn Bowls

The Year 7-10’s have had a wonderful experience engaging with the Quorn Bowling Club volunteers over the past three weeks. This collaboration has proven to be a fantastic opportunity for our learners to be mentored and taught the game of lawn bowls by seasoned experts.

The volunteers at Quorn Bowling Club have been incredibly dedicated to creating a supportive environment. Their expertise has enhanced our learners' sports skills and fostered a strong sense of community and camaraderie. Seeing our learners' enthusiasm grow as they improve their techniques and enjoy the game has been a joy.

We are also delighted to highlight the valuable contribution from Bret Herbert of Lawn Bowls SA. Bret visited our program and facilitated several sessions on lawn bowls, providing additional insights and professional guidance. His involvement has further enriched our learners' experience, offering them a broader perspective on the sport and reinforcing their developing skills.

This partnership highlights the positive impact of community involvement in our programs at QAS. We are immensely grateful to the Quorn Bowling Club volunteers and Bret Herbert for their time, commitment, and passion for teaching. Their efforts have made a significant difference, and we look forward to continuing this successful collaboration.

MNSEC Formal

On Friday, 21st June, a few year 11 and 12 students attended the MNSEC school formal in Peterborough. They met at school for a group photo of them dressed up before being driven on the school bus to the venue. It was a lovely night and an opportunity for the students to celebrate with other students in the Mid-North region. 

Wellbeing with Dorothy

Friday Fun happens every Friday during the first break. The children can take part in weekly activity making and creating. Here are photos of their fun on Friday during the biggest morning tea and other activities throughout term two.

Miscellaneous Items

Free Family Event presented by QAS and UNI SA

School Magazine 2024

Aviation Course – Open Day