2 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Hello Swan Reach,

Welcome to term 2. We look forward to another successful teaching and learning cycle with a firm focus for ‘growth for every child in every classroom.’ Our teamwork with you and our students is critical in ensuring this ideal goal becomes a reality for our children. The Independent Learning Plans (ILP) we collaborated on last term are a vital cog in this endeavour. Thank you for reviewing and returning them so that the goals and support strategies can be embedded into your child(ren)’s learning programs. It is never too late to book a time to catch up with teachers to discuss your child(ren)’s progress and develop an ILP.

With the possibility of precipitation predicted by the bureau, we hope all those needing it receive it.

Best fortunes to our Pedal Prix team and support staff at the Loxton event this weekend. An opportunity to demonstrate the hard work in training and promoting Black Swan Racing – your teamwork is highly evident and we are sure that significant improvements will be made by the team.

NAPLAN ONLINE

This year SRAS students will engage with all NAPLAN testing using an online platform except for Year 3 writing which is paper based. This change is consistent with the department’s desire to use technology more effectively and also will begin preparing year 12 students for online SACE exams that have also started to transition

‘Online testing will provide improved assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information to help schools tailor teaching and learning to student needs.’ Further information can be found by visiting the Department for Education website.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL ROUTINES

These tips are a condensed copy from the website

Going back to school after a few weeks of fun and relaxation is never easy, but kids aren’t the only ones who struggle with it. Parents may also find it difficult when their kids head back to school, and many experience emotions ranging from sadness to anxiety and even resentment. Here are a few handy back-to-school tips that will assist to make the transition smoother.

1. Encourage kids to set goals and take responsibility
   Encouraging children to set goals and take responsibility for the upcoming school year is a great way to get in them in the right frame of mind. Research shows that kids who participate in setting learning goals are consistently more motivated and take learning more seriously.
2. Engage with their curriculum
   If you want to help your child set appropriate learning goals, it’s important to engage with their curriculum and be aware of what they will be learning and are expected to be proficient in. Most kids deal with some level of stress or anxiety about school. One survey found that 53 per cent of parents cite homework and schoolwork as the greatest driver of stress in their kids. But when parents are aware of what their kids will be learning, they’re better able to provide support and manage stress before school starts again.
3. Ease into the routine
   During the holidays, schedules are usually more relaxed and kids get used to going to bed and waking up later, which is one of the things that can make the first few days of school difficult. Kids are very sensitive to routines. If getting to sleep on time is a problem after too many late nights, you can try enforcing a No Electronics rule an hour before bedtime so everyone can wind down. Older kids can also use an alarm clock to take responsibility for their own mornings and evenings.
4. Get organised
   The more organised you are the easier your first back-to-school mornings will be, so take the time to plan your morning routine in advance. This may include figuring out what time you need to get up, what you’ll prepare for breakfast and laying out some outfits the night before.
5. Have fun with it
   School days may not be as exciting as holidays, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a sombre or boring time. Look for ways to keep things fun, whether it’s upholding family traditions, such as family breakfast and reading or watching a TV series together, or looking for extracurricular activities the kids will enjoy, such as swimming, football or music and art.

SCHOOL PHOTOS
Please be reminded that school photos will be taken on next Thursday, 9th May.  Students must wear school uniform.

STUDENT HEALTH

With winter approaching and known increases in flu cases and other infectious conditions, it is timely to share information to keep our entire community as healthy as possible.

The spread of certain infectious diseases can be reduced by excluding a person, known to be infectious, from contact with others who are at risk of catching the infection.

The following are some of the recommended minimum periods of exclusion from school, preschool and childcare centres for cases of, and contact with, infectious diseases, based on guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (opens in a new window) in December 2005 and the online  Australian Immunisation Handbook (opens in a new window). For the full list visit the following URL address.

John Robertson
Principal

Julie’s Column

Hi everyone and welcome back to school for Term 2. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays, spending time with your children and being out of routine. Not having to get up early, pack school lunches and bags, find uniforms or socks, then race off to school or to the bus have always been what I treasure about school holidays. Of course, spending quality time with my kids has always been terrific too and given us some great memories. And yes I’ll admit, getting back to the routine of school has sometimes been a bit of a relief after a busy holiday period. I’m sure I’m not alone there!

I have a series of books in my resources by Trace Moroney about different feelings. The back page of each book has background notes for parents which I think are really good to share with you. They read –

Self-esteem is the Key

The greatest gift you can give your child is healthy self-esteem. Children who feel valuable, and who trust themselves have positive self-esteem. You can help your child feel valuable by spending quality time with him or her, playing games, reading books or just listening. You can also help children feel valuable by helping them discover and become the person they want to be. Success follows people who genuinely like who they are.

However, happiness is more than just being successful. Helping your child gain the self-trust needed to deal with failure, loss, shame, difficulty and defeat is as important – if not more so – than succeeding or being best. When children trust themselves to handle painful feelings – fear; anger and sadness – they gain an inner security that allows them to embrace the world in which they live.

This article was written by Psychologists Bill Hallam and Dr Craig Olsson. I will share more articles by these Doctors in future newsletters.

Julie Maxwell
Pastoral Care Worker

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

This week I stopped to have a look into Mr Pfeiffer’s Yr 10 English class. They were working on comprehending video texts, by using a before, during and after approach. Comprehension is a key focus area that we are working to develop as part of our Site Improvement Plan to improve literacy across the school, with a teacher focus on “literacy is everyone’s business”.

Troy Cowland
Deputy Principal

UPPER SOUTH EAST ATHLETICS

Tuesday the 26th of March saw 23 SRAS students compete in the Upper South East (USE) Athletics carnival at Keith. Despite the early departure (6.30am!), the students were eager to compete against other country schools from across the region. Our school was combined with Meningie Area School to form a combined squad to verse the other schools of Coomandook, Karoonda, Keith, Tintinara, Lameroo and Mannum. There were multiple individual accolades throughout the day with special mentions to Madison Trezise-Donald (100m, High Jump and Relay), Michael Trezise-Donald (Relay) and Chelsea Haby (Relay) for making the SSSSA squad. The day was fulfilling and rewarding for both students, staff and parents who attended. The Hungry Jacks stop at Tailem Bend made the long drive home worth it, which refuelled exhausted participants.

PARENTS & FRIENDS NEWS

P & F LUNCH DAY

Parents and Friends will be holding a lunch day on Friday May 10th - Week 2, Term 2. Order forms were distributed on Monday 29 May, if you did not receive an order form please contact the front office as soon as possible. Orders will need to be sent to the front office no later than Wednesday 8th May.

MENU

Thanks for your support.

PEDAL PRIX – BLACK SWAN RACING

The first race for 2019 is this Sunday, 5th May at Loxton. The bus will be leaving Mr Carter’s house (next to op shop) at 7:20am Sharp and will return around 5:30pm. Students travelling by private car will need to be at Loxton, Pit 12 by 9:00am. A range of hot food and drinks will be available at various shops around Loxton or students can bring their own lunch. Mr Tun and the Home Ec students have cooked up some snacks for team members during the day. If any parents wish to help with marshalling there is a short questionnaire to complete to qualify for the position. Thanks to all our sponsors and we look forward to seeing staff, students and parents supporting us on race day.

Greg Griffiths

SRC – MOTHER’S DAY GIFT STALL

The SRC will be holding a gift stall on Thursday May 9 and Friday May 10 for students to buy gifts and make cards/letters for Mother’s Day. Costs will range from $1.00 to $20.00. Students are welcome to visit the Outdoor Music Area and buy something special for Mum!

Newsletter Information

Due Date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Tuesday 14th May 2019. Please note that as from this term the newsletter will be distributed via the SZApp and school website. Printed copies are still available upon request.

Articles can be emailed to dl.0423.info@schools.sa.edu.au clearly marked in the subject box as Newsletter, faxed to 8570 2325 or delivered to the library/front office.

Due to the way the Newsletter is now being set up, not all photos are included in the print copy, however there are several photo galleries included online and via the SZApp. Check out the details below to subscribe and get all the latest news from the school.

SAPSASA

Congratulations to Narelle Griffiths who was selected to form part of the Murraylands SAPSASA squad. Narelle represented Swan Reach along with swimmers from Mannum, Cambrai and Murray Bridge. The squad competed at Marion on Friday 20th March 2019.

UNIFORM REMINDER

Parents and Carers are reminded that black coloured clothing is not part of the school uniform. The appropriate uniform requirements are set out below.

Playgroup

Swan Reach Playgroup at SRAS Early Learning Centre. Tuesdays during term time 10am-12pm. All children birth to school age are welcome for indoor and outdoor play. Please wear sun-smart clothing, bring a hat, water bottle and fruit/veg to share for healthy snack time. $2 per session, per family. Contact Kristy Castle 0438857721

P-CMG

Parent-Child Mother Goose at SRAS Early Learning Centre. From 10am selected Thursdays during term (usually fortnightly). PCMG is a chance to get out of the house for babies and toddlers and their carers. Bond with your children and have fun using the power of songs, rhymes and stories. Trained facilitators Kristy and Claire lead a relaxed session for parents and children with a play and coffee n chat after. Sessions are free and there is no booking involved! Contact Kristy Castle 0438857721

Term 2 dates – beginning May 2, and Weeks 3,5,7,9 thereafter.

W-Sitting

Does your child W-Sit? Sometimes children sit with their legs turned out so that their feet are beside their bottom, rather than with their legs in front of them. This position is described at W-Sitting. Most children will occasionally W-Sit during play, but this is normally one of a variety of positions they use and normally only briefly. It can be of concern if this position is the only sitting position a child uses. W-Sitting places strain on the hips, knees and ankles and can lead to children being pigeon-toed due to increased rotation of the bones in their legs. For more information please refer to the information sheet.

School Bus Driver Required

Swan Reach Area School is seeking the services of a school bus driver to initially cover the morning bus run for the Department for Education bus. Applicants will need to have a minimum of a LR licence however MR is preferred. You will need to acquire driver accreditation through the Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure. To obtain this, a certificate of fitness to drive heavy vehicle needs to be completed by your GP, along with child related employment screening clearance from the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DSCI) that can be filed at school. An application for approval to drive a school bus will then be signed by the Principal. All the necessary paperwork can be obtained from the front office staff at school. Once you have completed the process you could have the opportunity to drive more shifts for the department and possibly for private contractors. Please note this is a paid position. Thank you for contacting the school to book in an appointment for DCSI clearance and for any further information you require.

River Run to the Reach and Street Party

Coming Events

Community Notice Board

Arthritis SA

Arthritis SA will be holding an information session in the Swan Reach Community Library on Monday 13th May, from 2-4pm. All Welcome.