8 August 2023
Principal’s Report
Landscaping Improvements: Making Our Campus Beautiful
We are excited to share some fantastic news about the recent landscaping improvements that have been taking place on our school campus. These improvements create a more visually appealing environment and foster a sense of pride and belonging within our school community.
One of the primary focuses of our landscaping project was the creation of vibrant gardens and green spaces throughout the school. We also seek to facilitate more dynamic and engaging learning experiences by enhancing outdoor classrooms and gathering spaces across the school. These areas provide learners and teachers an alternative setting for lessons, discussions, and extracurricular activities.
Our commitment to enhancing the beauty and functionality of our school does not end here. We have exciting plans for the future, including expanding our garden spaces, exploring opportunities for outdoor art installations, and redeveloping our playgrounds. We will continue transforming our school into a place of inspiration and wonder.
We value your opinions and suggestions. If you have any ideas or feedback regarding our landscaping improvements or other school enhancement initiatives, please share them with us. Your input is essential as we strive to create a school environment that brings out the best in everyone.
Excursions
We are delighted to emphasise the significance of educational excursions and field trips as an integral part of the learning experience here at Quorn Area School. These outings provide our learners with unique opportunities to explore, discover, and apply knowledge beyond the confines of the classroom. We firmly believe that excursions are vital in shaping well-rounded individuals and fostering a love for learning that extends far beyond textbooks. Recent and future excursions feature strongly in this newsletter, and we would like to acknowledge the support of our volunteers and committed staff who bring this vital aspect of learning to life.
Educational excursions offer a hands-on and immersive learning experience that allows learners to witness the real-world application of concepts taught in the classroom. Whether visiting a museum, a historical site, a nature reserve, or a science centre, learners can see theories and ideas come to life. This practical exposure helps them connect theoretical knowledge with real-world scenarios, making learning more meaningful and relevant. Excursions also provide an excellent platform for learners to bond with their peers and teachers outside the classroom. The shared experiences during these trips help build stronger relationships, promote teamwork, and develop social skills. We know that memorable experiences are the ones that leave a lasting impact. Educational excursions create lasting memories for our learners, which can shape their educational journeys positively. Therefore I am informing the community that we have purchased a minibus that will arrive early in term four. Having our own bus will remove barriers to learning outside the classroom, significantly reducing costs and improving accessibility.
Celebrating Your Child's Report: Acknowledging Growth and Success
Acknowledging Growth and Effort
Over the last month, we have posted interim and NAPLAN reports to caregivers. These reports testify to the growth and effort your child has put into their studies and personal development. We take immense pride in celebrating their achievements and progress, both academically and socially. Behind every grade is a story of determination, resilience, and a commitment to learning.
For some learners, this term's report shows remarkable progress and improvement. We are delighted to witness their dedication to overcoming challenges and willingness to seek assistance when needed. We value academic achievements, the effort and the positive attitude our learners bring to the school community. Their desire to participate, engage in class discussions, and support their peers enriches the learning environment. As we celebrate the successes, we also recognise that growth involves continuous learning. Some learners may have areas for improvement, and we assure you that our teachers and staff are committed to providing the necessary support and guidance to help them thrive.
As we move forward, we encourage learners to set new goals and aim for further achievements. With the continued collaboration between school and home, we are confident that your child will reach even greater heights.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child's report further, please don't hesitate to contact their teachers or our leadership team.
Thank you once again for entrusting us with your child's education. Together, let's continue to nurture their growth and success.
Andrew Gilsenan-Reed
Primary Report
Year 4/5/6 Class News
Primary Assembly Recap
The Year 4/5/6 class ended last term by celebrating our hard work at our Week 10 Primary Assembly. Our learners shared their work with the rest of the Primary School and some of their families, which was a wonderful chance for them to showcase their efforts. Audience members were given information about our Numeracy and Literacy topics from last term, the outcome of our term Geography project and a short snippet of some skipping skills from our Jump Rope for Heart PE unit.
Design and Technology
This term, the 4/5/6 class will be buddying up with Miss Neu’s F/1 class to discover ‘Farms of the Future’. To prepare for this topic, the 4/5/6's have been working on designing a piece of technology that could exist on their future farm, such as apps, helpful scarecrows and various drones and robots. You can see some of their designs below. This is sure to be an exciting unit for both classes!
Science
Our Science topic for this term is ‘What’s the Matter’, where we will investigate the different states of matter (liquids, solids and gases) and experimenting to explore the key properties of each one. We completed an experiment last week where we discovered the property of viscosity and discovered that honey is a very viscous substance! I’m sure the learners will have many fun facts to share with everyone over the next few weeks.
Instrumental Music Program
This year, QAS has been able to offer the Instrumental Music Program for learners in Years 4-6. As part of the program last term, our young musicians met with their teacher Kate Mawson and a group of musicians from the Adelaide Youth Orchestra to further develop their skills. The Adelaide Youth Orchestra also performed for the Primary School, where we were introduced to different instruments and how they can be used to create emotions/feelings. A favourite was the Disney medley, where we had to try and guess the movie from the music. We also got to see our very own QAS learners performing. It was a great chance for them to practice performing a piece for their peers and inspire others to take up the program.
SAPSASA Netball
Congratulations to Shelby Finlay, representing the Northern zone, who successfully competed in the SAPSASA Netball Carnival in Adelaide at the end of Term 2. Shelby’s team went through the week undefeated, winning all nine matches to take out the Division Four championship.
SAPSASA Golf
Congratulations to Ashleigh Scott, who recently participated in the 2023 South Australian 12 and under school qualifying golf event. It’s great to see our students participating in various sporting activities. Great work, Ash!
100 Days of School
Last term, our Foundations completed 100 Days of School! We celebrated the day with a dress-up parade, reflecting on how far we’ve come by sharing our learning journal and workbooks, crown-making and decorating biscuits. It’s wonderful to be a part of their learning journey, and we are so proud of all they have achieved so far. Congratulations Foundations!
Jump Rope for Heart
Thank you to ALL the students involved with Jump Rope for Heart!
Thank you for the effort in skipping and fundraising for the Jump Rope for Heart program last term. Together we raised an incredible $2951, which will all go towards vital heart research and education programs.
We’ve loved seeing many smiling faces skipping on the playground and in P.E. lessons. Our Jump Off Day was a huge success; see the day below.
Premier's Reading Challenge
Premier’s Reading Challenge: The competition ends Term 3, Week 7. Please hand in forms to the front office or Miss Neu as soon as you finish. You don’t need to wait until the end date. For more information, see Miss Neu or visit the link below:
Upcoming Events
Book Week – Read Grow Inspire
I invite families to celebrate Book Week with us on Thursday, 24th of August (Week 5) at 9 am in the Gym. This year’s theme is Read, Grow, Inspire. We will start our celebrations with a costume parade where learners can dress up as the theme or favourite book character. This will be followed by story-sharing time and a dance party.
Watch the video below for more information about this year’s theme.
Sports Day
Sports Day is on Friday, August 25th. Learners in Years F-2 will participate in modified events. A timetable and more information will be sent home before the day. The day can’t run without the amazing support of our QAS community. If you can help on the day, please get in touch with Kate Neu or Sarah Bury.
STEM Day
Primary school learners will participate in a STEM day on Monday 2nd of October to celebrate National Science Week.
Primary Assembly
Primary Assembly will be in the gym on Thursday 5th of October, at 2:30 pm. The Foundation/1 Class will host this Term’s assembly.
Whole School News
NAIDOC Celebrations
Yesterday we welcomed some valuable volunteers into the school to facilitate activities to celebrate NAIDOC. This year the theme was ‘For Our Elders’. Across every generation, our Elders have played and continue to play an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the great work of Hanna Dunn, our Aboriginal Community Education Officer (ACEO), who is currently on Maternity Leave. Her organisation and dedication to ensure the NAIDOC activities were well planned are very much appreciated, as was her time sourcing the volunteers. I know Hanna spent many weeks planning this special event for us.
Aileen, Kerri and Elijah arrived at school shortly before 7 am to ensure the fire was lit for one of the day’s events. Aunty Kae and Cooper performed a Welcome to Country before the students dispersed into groups to complete the planned activities. There were four activities for the learners to participate in throughout the day.
Aileen and Kyley shared their stories around our campfire. Campfires are traditionally a communal place to share time, stories and songs. Our learners cooked traditional ‘twisties’ on the campfire, which were extremely popular!
Auntie Kaye and Cooper spent time in the classroom, delivering Aboriginal stories and activities to the learners.
Kerri and Elijah assisted learners in the Art Room, where they could paint a piece of Aileen and Kerri’s late brother’s Aboriginal artwork on a ceramic tile. We have plans to create a lovely piece of furniture (table) for the Aboriginal Education Office. Watch this space!
Tyra and Raymond Lander facilitated a group session where the students created ‘Message Sticks’. Message Sticks are a traditional form of communication between communities that Indigenous Australians use. The learners enjoyed creating their own designs on the Message Sticks; we will have them on display shortly for you all to see.
I want to thank Aileen, Kerry, Elijah, Auntie Kaye, Kyley, Sharlynn and Danny for volunteering their time to share their knowledge and experience with our learners. Also, our students Tyra and Ray Lander facilitated a session, and Cooper McMillan, Timmy Brady and Renae Churchill were all busy assisting on the day.
Finally, on behalf of the Quorn School Community, I would like to congratulate Hanna and her partner Cameron on the safe arrival of their daughter Millah Audrey Finlay. Millah was born on 2/8/23. We hope you are settling into home life well, and we very much look forward to meeting Millah soon.
Sarah Bury
Secondary Coordinator
Pichi Richi Train Ride
Last term, we had the chance to ride the Pichi Richi to Woolshed Flat, where we had a picnic lunch and explored the area, including the old schoolhouse. It was a fantastic experience for our school to engage with the Pichi Richi, which is a part of our community. Thank you to the members of the Pichi Richi who took the time to drive the trains and answer questions posed by our learners. I would also like to thank the Parents and Friends of QAS for their support and time, Senga Reed for conducting the tours of the school house, Monique Griffiths for putting together a video of the excursion and all the staff at QAS who worked to ensure the success of the excursion.
Melbourne Cup Visit
It was an exciting time for the Quorn community during the school holidays when the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour stopped by and visited us. The town was abuzz with excitement. Students took the opportunity to have their photo taken with the iconic trophy. Thanks to everyone who organised this great event!
Sports Day
We look forward to our annual Sports Day, scheduled for Friday, the 25th of August. Please familiarise yourself with the information below.
House Keeping
Students in Years 3-12 are asked to meet in their designated House classroom at 8:45 am SHARP for a team roll call. Kanyaka – GC5 and Yarrah – GC4. Make sure to be dressed in your colours!
F-2 students will meet in their usual base classrooms at 8:45 am. All students will make their way down to the oval at 8:50 am.
The first event will be the 100m dash for the Junior Primary students at 9 am, followed by the 400m age group events. There will be programs distributed on the day.
Events Program
The program will be completed and published on Schoolzine during Week 4.
Food Options
A canteen will be available on the day, and pre-orders for lunch are encouraged. The menu will be provided during Week Four on Schoolzine. Please ensure your child has a water bottle and snacks throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Timing/Measuring Of Events
We are actively looking for volunteers for jobs to ensure that the day runs smoothly. Please see Sarah Bury if you can be of assistance. We can’t facilitate all events without volunteer support. We require timers for track events and volunteers to measure the field events.
House Meetings
A House meeting for students in years F-12 will be held during Week 4 to ensure that the House Captains/Vice Captains prepare their teams for their events and discuss all housekeeping matters.
Events to be Completed Before the Day
1500m, Year 3 -12 – Wednesday, Week 4, Lesson 2A
800m, All Ages – Monday, Week 5, Lesson 2B
Javelin, U14/U16/Open – Tuesday, Week 5, Lesson 2B
After School Opportunities
Sports Day training will be on Thursdays of weeks 2, 3, and 4 from 3:15 pm-4:15 pm. We would love parent/volunteer assistance. If you are confident in a particular track or field event, we encourage you to come and share your knowledge and expertise at these times.
SAPSASA Athletics
Quorn Area School will be selecting a team of athletes (Years 3-6) who were born in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 to represent our school at the SAPSASA Athletics Carnival, which is being held at Stirling North Primary School on Monday, the 4th of September. The results from our Sports Day will determine the team we take. Please remember that attendance to school needs to be at 85% for students to attend. Successful athletes from this event will be invited to compete in the School Sports State Athletics Carnival held at SANTOS stadium on the 18th of September.
SARAH BURY
Diary Dates
School Teaching and Ancillary Vacancies
We currently have vacancies for two ongoing teaching positions advertised for 2024. If you or anyone you know would be interested in teaching at Quorn Area School next year, please apply via the links below.
Ongoing Teacher, Quorn AS - Primary
Ongoing Teacher, Quorn AS – English/HASS
If you want to work in a support role at Quorn Area School, please register your interest through the Employable Ancillary Register; the link is below for you to begin.
Ancillary/Support Registers
Ancillary and support positions in schools, preschools and early childhood services include:
- Aboriginal community education officers
- School services officers
- Early childhood workers
- Government services employees
- Hourly paid instructors.
Search for advertised ancillary or support positions.
If you're interested in working in a support role in public education but the right position isn't advertised, apply to our ancillary staff register. If your application is approved, you can be considered for future positions.
Secondary Report
Growing Careers Project – Work Inspirations
September 19th and 20th
Thanks to QAS’s partnership with the Smith Family, we have successfully locked in our ‘THIRD’ Work Inspiration Program event. This will involve our Year 9-12 learners participating in a two-day program focusing on various career opportunities. Last year we were lucky to learn about different career prospects within the Port Augusta Council, Uniting Care Wesley and SANTOS. It was amazing to talk with and listen to many employment opportunities, some of which we were unsure existed!
This year, we will visit Sun Drop Tomato Farm, McDonald’s, Arid Land’s Botanical Gardens, and the Port Augusta Hospital. Thanks to the amazing support of The Smith Family, these two days will be fully funded for QAS students. Learners will be provided with transport and lunch on both days. This will be another fantastic opportunity for us to undertake research leading up to the event and to plan some questions that might be beneficial as we visit these work organisations. Consent forms with more detailed information will be distributed this week. Please return to Sarah Bury ASAP.
GMUSG Conference and Trade EXPO – Wednesday 16th August
Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf (GMUSG) is an industry-owned cluster of contractors and suppliers carrying out operations there.
Once again, we have been strongly supported by The Smith Family to attend this incredible event, and we greatly appreciate their sponsorship to offer these experiences to our learners at QAS.
Our Year 9-12 learners will attend the annual GMUSG Conference & Trade Expo in Port Augusta, featuring over 300 exhibitors. This will be a good networking opportunity for the school, and with so many companies exhibiting, this is a valuable opportunity to connect students with employers and learn about potential career opportunities.
Tickets are usually $700 per person, and we have been fortunate enough to have this cost covered by our partnership with The Smith Family.
Please see the link below to explore the exhibitors at Central Oval on the day.
More information and consent forms for the Work Inspirations and the GMUSG conference excursions will be distributed shortly.
Career Activities
The secondary learners have been participating in some career activities delivered by Mrs Griffiths and Mrs Bury in the extended care group time on Fridays. We are currently working through the content of the ‘This is Me’ program.
This Is Me
This is a self-awareness activity. Some other pre-approved activities recommend that a student completes this or another self-awareness activity before participating.
Purpose: This activity is designed to help students understand how others’ perceptions of their strengths and interests may help them to gain further insights and knowledge about themselves.
Following this, we will continue to complete the following topics throughout the year.
Your Career Journey Interview
Students are tasked with coordinating an informal interview with a family member or friend outside of school concerning their job, their career and educational pathways, and their challenges in reaching their current role.
Presenting your strengths
This activity is designed for students to investigate and gain knowledge about senior school subject selections. The activity specifically focuses on students understanding what they must consider when selecting subjects.
Exploring Your Careers
This activity allows students to explore current data and information about the Australian job market and their preferred occupations. The purpose is for students to consider information about different occupations and how this knowledge influences their career choices.
Sarah Bury
Secondary Coordinator
Year 9/10 Whyalla Science Excursion
On the first Tuesday of term, Year 9 and 10 Science classes took the bus for their first field excursion. We had to leave at 07:45 to make it to Whyalla to visit the Steel Works museum. Of course, there were opportunities for photos in front of HMAS Whyalla and to check out the museum displays. There were displays of different features of the industrial northern city. We saw the goggles and speedos of the first swimmer from Port Pirie to Whyalla (83 km) and, of course, the Giant Cuttlefish. We were gifted by the generous arrangement of the GFG alliance a free bus tour of the Whyalla Steelworks through the museum. GFG stands for the Gupta Family Group. Sanjeev Gupta purchased it in 2017 and plans to use a new Electric Arc furnace to retire the coking coal plant and make low-carbon steel using natural gas and hydrogen to convert magnetite ore. We found that the distinctive black smoke stacks are planned to be clear in 2 years and have the capacity to increase to 1.5 million tonnes per year (or a 50% increase). A successful expansion should ensure that the city will have growing employment for many years and that the air will be clearer too. One of us thought it would be an interesting place to look for a challenging career.
After much learning, it was getting a bit tiring. But the next stop would both challenge and wake us up! Whyalla Dive shop kitted us all in new rubber skin-tight outfits! We looked uniformly cool in our new all-black pairing with snorkel and flippers. We took a wrong turn next on the way to Point Lowly, so our chance to cuddle fish was delayed. The bus driver got us there safely, though “Yipper” and “Cole” welcomed us as our dive masters who ensured we could snorkel comfortably. We learned all about a Cuttlefish cuddling in a very intimate manner. We checked it out for ourselves, but the larger males mate with their chosen girlfriends head-on, holding each other with their tentacles. The lady cuttlefish places the sperm pellet behind her gills until ready to lay her eggs. Most cuttlefish only live for one year, except for the late developers, who generally wait another year to grow. These giant cuttlefish (can grow up to one metre long!)
We spent 30 minutes in the cold Spencer Gulf viewing this maritime intimacy, and the foam suits kept most of us warm (unless we forgot to zip up the main layer … oops). But it was still an amazing opportunity. We did not have waterproof cameras with us, but it is hard to forget the electric blue displays of the males impressing potential mates anyway. Besides the Sepia Apama dating and mating displays, we saw starfish, sea urchins and, of course, the ink blots from frightened giants and Yipper’s intense blue eyes.
DC, Mrs Bury and our bus driver got us safely back around 5 pm to school, and we were all pretty tired at the end of a long day, but would we encourage others to go on an excursion like ours to Whyalla?
… No cap… Yes!
Bryan Crosby
Secondary Science & Maths
Design & Technology
Students in Year 12 are now working on their major projects, completing the designing component and are well underway with constructing their cabinet ideas. To complete the course, they have eight weeks to finish their projects and develop a folio outlining the construction and research into their ideas for end-of-year moderation at the beginning of Term 4.
Students in Year 11 are also developing their projects and starting the skills component of the SACE course for Year 11, giving them experience of what is required for Year 12.
Younger students are currently developing skills in technical drawing, project ideas, and using portable and static machinery safely. This term, we focus on graphic communication, drawing pictures and developing our project management skills while building a small storage cabinet.
Miscellaneous Items
ADFA Open Day
Whyalla University Open Day
Mid North Christian College – Aviation Open Day
Australian Apprenticeships
Certificate III in Screen and Media
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