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Another amazing community turn out at the Ski for Life event last Friday. Thank you Mr Clinton Griffiths for providing extra entertainment by winning and wearing the pink tutu. Well done to our SRC who raised and donated funds to the ‘Walkers-On-the-Water’ team and also to our School Captains on making their first community public speech. Many thanks to our staff who organised, supervised and assisted to make the event for all our students, preschool to year 12.
The Ski for Life speaker, Ben , once again spoke well about how mental ill-health can, and does afflict any of us. He consistently encourages all that when experiencing such difficulties, it is more important than ever to talk to a trusted person about it.
The Ski for Life priority, to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues, closely aligns with SRAS’s WeMatter focus. Through events like this, we continue to take further steps in building our positive school community. This helps children (and adults) feel that the school and community is a safe place where needs can be met. Research shows that when children and families are connected to school and community that children (and adults) are less likely to develop mental health problems and succeed better at school and in the community.
Furthermore, positive school communities create opportunities for children, families and staff to feel included. They build bridges to help everyone benefit. Well done SRAS and local communities on a successful joint venture.
Coming soon will be the media release from Mid Murray Our Town (MMOT), whose team submission won $100,000 to raise mental health in the Mid Murray Council area, with a focus on Swan Reach Community. The decision to focus on Swan Reach rather than the whole Mid Murray Area was made after careful consideration by the MMOT team; taking aboard feedback from the Fay Fuller Foundation that our community has activated members (such as Ski-for-Life), and to concentrate on a smaller region as a blue print for the future. SRAS will ensure a copy of the release is included with our next newsletter.
SPORTS DAY
Congratulations to all students for their participation in this year's Athletics Day. Well done, and thank you to Mr Coleman who did an excellent job in organising the event which was fun and inclusive for all.
DAYMAP
SRAS apologises that Daymap won’t be accessible to our community until the start of term 2. We are highly frustrated with the slow and inadequate ICT support we are receiving, as most of the faults can only be rectified by them. Mr Troy Cowland is highly persistent and is outsourcing what support he can to an expert in another Area School. We are beginning to open access to students, so hopefully by the start of term 2 they’ll be able to assist families at home. We are also looking at organising a support sessions for families ASAP after term 2 begins. Thank you for your patience.
3 WAY CONFERENCE
Parents, Carers and students are strongly encouraged and invited to book in for these conferences in week 8 (Monday 15th Mar, Tuesday 16th Mar & Wednesday 17th Mar). The format will be the same providing you with the opportunity to meet with a core team (where possible) of your child(ren)’s teachers and SSOs to set relevant learning goals using the Individual Learning Plan(ILP) template. Data about your child(ren)’s achievement against national and state standards will be viewed on the ILP form and Education Dashboard application on the smart board.
NOTE WELL:
- The school will close early on Tuesday the 16th March at 2:20pm to allow for parents and carers to access earlier time slots
- Buses will depart at 2:30pm
- Conferences will begin at 2:40pm
- Early Learning Centre (ELC) conferences will be offered on preschool days over the course of this term. Mrs Trish Horstmann will organise these separately.
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
This week SRAS has staff engaging in two major professional learning workshops:
- The Berry Street Education Model is a progressive training program that enables teachers to increase engagement with challenging students and successfully improve all students’ self-regulation, growth, and academic achievement.
- Sheena Cameron’s reading comprehension strategies. This workshop takes this research and turns it into classroom practice. It is based on Sheena’s experience of teaching strategies in a real classroom. It answers questions such as, ‘Are the strategies hierarchical? How long should I spend teaching each strategy? and ‘Do I teach them to the whole class or in groups?
Professor John Hattie places significant emphasis on the importance of evidence-based professional learning for teachers. Both of the programs above are highly endorsed by the Department for Education and will be crucial learning for staff to further embed wellbeing for learning through the Berry Street program and further skills and knowledge to continue embedding our Literacy Site Improvement Goal to improve students’ reading achievements.
Professor Helen Timperley supports this understanding and advocates that:
“Teachers who are engaged in cycles of effective professional learning take greater responsibility for the learning of all students; they do not dismiss learning difficulties as an inevitable consequence of the home or community environment. As they take more responsibility, and as they discover that their new professional knowledge and practice are having a positive impact on their students, they begin to feel more effective as teachers.” Teacher professional learning and development (page 9). https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.524.3566&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Our recent positive School Review is testiment to the impact of effective teacher training by SRAS staff in the past 4 years that have improved Literacy and Numeracy outcomes for our learners – evidenced by our PAT data.
PAT READING
2018 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 74% 37 out of 50 students
2019 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 82.9% 34 out of 41 students
2020 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 90% 28 out of 31 students
PAT MATHS
2018 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 64% 32 out of 50 students
2019 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 60.9% 25 out of 41 students
2020 - Year 3-10 at SEA = 70.6% 24 out of 34 students
Mr John Robertson
Principal















Congratulations to Cora O'Shaugnhessy, Koby Bolt, Bailey Taylor and Jackson Blakeley Pine who have completed their primary schooling this year. We wish them well as they transition into secondary school next year.
Mrs Sarah Bolt & Mrs Yuka Endersby
Teachers
This year's Self Esteem Course was a tremendous success. All student's participated at the highest level and engaged in a range of activities as part of their learning experience. Presentations were held at the Nildottie Hall on Friday 4th December with all students attending the event.
Mr Jayden Coleman
Self Esteem Coordinator
What a terrific night we had celebrating the success of student learning and achievement at Swan Reach Area School. School captains, Michael Trezise Donald and Kailem Dahmes did a great job hosting the evening and everyone enjoyed the student presentations and items.





































10-11-12 March | Staff Training Days |
15-16-17 March | 3-way Conferences |
16 March | 3 way conferences, early dismissal, 2:20pm. |
22 March | Governing Council 5:30pm |
23 March | USE Athletics at Karoonda Area School |
26 March | SAPSASA Swimming |
2 April | Good Friday |
5 April | Easter Monday |
7 April | SSSSA Athletics |
9 April | End of Term 1, early dismissal 2:10pm |
18 April | 2021 Swan Reach Classic Car and Motorbike Run |
23 May | 8-hour Pedal Prix - The Bend, Tailem Bend |
July 31 | 12-hour Pedal Prix - The Bend, Tailem Bend |
11-12 September | 2x6-hour Pedal Prix - Murray Bridge |
Opening Hours
During the school holidays, the library will be open to the community.
Holiday hours are set out below.
KIDS CLUB
3.15pm-4.30pm. FRIDAY 19th March at the Swan Reach Lutheran Hall, for Reception to Year 7 children. Cost is $1 each. For more information please contact Taryn 0427 702 377 or Kristy 0438 857 721.
SACWA NILDOTTIE and DISTRICTS BRANCH - 2021 CALENDAR DATES
EXHIBITION
An exhibition of paintings by Tanuna artist:Marco Angelo is now on display in the Gallery at the Swan Reach Women's Rest Rooms (Victoria St). There is also pottery by various artists until the end of April. Opening times 10am-1pm; Monday, Wednesday & Saturday, and when a volunteer is available.
BIBLE STUDY
Swan Reach Christian Women's Group invite you to join them for Bible study and fellowship each month. 11am, second Tuesday of the Month at the Swan Reach Lutheran Church Hall. BYO lunch. For more information please phone Taryn 0427 702 377 or Josie 0419 708 224. All welcome.
PURNONG TRASH & TREASURE
The 2021 SWAN REACH CLASSIC CAR & MOTORBIKE RUN TO THE REACH will be held at Len White Reserve on Sunday 18th April, 10am-3pm.