27 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Hello Swan Reach,

The end of the term looms and once again, another school holiday is drawing near. Where does the time go? What is it about maturing that makes time seem to pass by more quickly? Is it because as adults we are more consumed with ‘busy-ness’? How nice it might be to return to younger years where each season seemed to last a lifetime and holidays seemed endless. Regardless of this phenomena, semester 1 closes with a whole school assembly in the gym on Friday 5th July at 1:30pm followed by early closure at 2:15pm.

During holidays, families can experience an increase in sibling rivalry as brothers and sisters spend more time together. Arguments are part and parcel of growing up and our children are more exposed to conflicts than previous generations, through technology and mass media. Knowing how to assert and to listen are important life lessons for getting along and treating others with respect. You tube celebrity, Kid President, shares the following advice:

‘Let's treat people like they are PEOPLE, people! There's a lot of disagreeing going on in the world right now. So, it's time to teach us kids how to disagree with people without making everybody feel terrible. Here is Kid President's 6 Steps to learning how to disagree with people. Remember, just because we disagree about which is better, dogs or cats, doesn't mean I can't be a good friend and listen to all the reasons why you like cats’ Kid President

His video can be seen at the following URL address:

Have a wonderful and blessed holiday; whatever your family has planned SRAS wishes you the best and hope you have a terrific time.

SCHOOL SUPPORT – KEEPING SAFE; CHILD PROTECTION CURRICULUM (KS;CPC)

Traditionally SRAS teachers facilitate most KS;CPC learning in term 3 using resources and training from the SHINE organisation. SHINE SA is the Department for Education’s approved training provider for Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) professional learning. All Department for Education sites are required to provide the KS:CPC to all children and young people from Preschool to Year 12.

‘SHINE SA provides a range of services to support schools to implement a whole school approach to relationships and sexual health education. In South Australia, SHINE SA has a Memorandum of Operational Collaboration with the Department for Education to support schools in this area. This support increases the confidence and capacity of teachers, counsellors and support staff to facilitate a consistent and comprehensive relationships and sexual health education program in line with Principles of best practice. The program will enable students to develop the skills to establish respectful, positive relationships and feel comfortable to access services.’

For effective home-school collaboration in providing best practice for this essential but ‘tricky’ topic, and to build a common understanding and language, parents can access resources and information from SHINE SA through the following URL:

‘Parents play an important role in providing sexual health information to their children and research suggests that quality communication is critical to developing children’s socialisation and confidence. As well as this, it has shown to reduce risk-taking behaviours in regards to sexual activity. There is a variety of resources and support available to parents and schools.’

Together we can better educate our students and children to be more knowledgeable and safe to discuss age appropriate sexuality topics, and give them a voice because students have a right to have a say about matters that affect them, particularly in sexuality and relationships education. Although a student voice approach is challenging, it is necessary as it enables students to channel their strengths and become producers of information rather than consumers.

WELCOME

A warm welcome to new student, Abigail, who is joining our year 11 cohort this week. We wish her the very best in her endeavours at SRAS.

LEADERSHIP

SRAS will be capably led by Mr Troy Cowland (Acting Principal) and Mrs Horstmann (Early Years and Primary Leader), for the first 6 weeks of term 3 while Mr Robertson is on long service leave.

STUDENT FREE DAY (SFD)

A reminder to our community that the first Monday, 22nd July, of term 3 is a Governing Council approved SFD.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: RE INDUSTRIAL ACTION
The  Swan  Reach  Area  School  will  not  be  significantly  impacted  by  the  Industrial  Action  being  taken  by  members  of  the  Australian  Education  Union  on  Monday  1 July  2019.  Swan  Reach  Area  School  will  be  open  and  education  programs  will  be  provided  as  normal  where  possible.  Thank  you  for  contacting  the  school  if  you  have  any  questions  regarding  this  information.

Mr John Robertson
Principal

IN THE CLASSROOM

This week I stopped to have a look into Miss G’s 6/7 Literacy Class where the students were combining their spelling and literacy topics to create their own educational board game. Some were focusing on prefixes, root words and suffixes, while the others were focusing on including the school wide comprehension focus, questioning. Through this class activity, the students were encouraged to demonstrate their learning through creation.

Mr Troy Cowland
Deputy Principal

PEDAL PRIX DINNER

Wow! What an amazing event the Pedal Prix Dinner turned out to be. The meal was outstanding and the school band smashed out a few tunes including “Nothing’s Sweet about Me,” captivating the whole audience. They were also impressed by the video of the Loxton race that Cassie Wiebrecht had put together. This was a real eye opener and it was great to see the looks on the crowd’s faces and their reactions as they watched the students perform in full race conditions. Well done, and thank you Cassie. During the night the Pedal Prix team worked tirelessly, preparing, serving and cleaning up after the meal. The bike was on display and students were involved in talking to many people as they asked questions about the Pedal Prix races. The Agriculture class also set up a produce display selling off their citrus and tomatoes. We continue to promote the keys to success, and this hit a new high as the students demonstrated outstanding team work, organisation, resilience, persistence and confidence. All students contributed to “front and back of house” management and this was noticed by many. Thank you also to the staff that attended and helped out. The night provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Swan Reach Area School and the students are to be commended on their efforts, raising over $1300 to go towards a new Pedal Prix bike. Well done, everyone.

Mr Greg Griffiths
Pedal Prix Teacher

YEAR 2-5 BOOK REPORTS

The following book reports have been submitted by Maliyah Haby and Benjamin Loechel.

SRC News

LIVING SAFELY WITH PETS

On June 18th a lady came to the school with her dog “Bear”, to teach us about being safe around dogs as well as about cats. She taught us how to greet a dog and how to safely get away from an angry dog. She also told us what an angry dog looks like and how it is telling us with its body that it is angry and doesn’t want to be touched. She also told us that if there is a dog on a lead with its owner you want to pat it, you have to ask the owner first. If the owner says “yes”, then you put your hand out in front of the dog and let the dog smell your hand so that it can trust you enough to let you pat it. When you go to pat it, make sure you pat the dog on the back so that it can see you pat it. At the end of the talk, she gave us pamphlets, stickers and activity sheets. We all had so much fun when she came to the school and we learnt so much.

Cora and Olivia
Year 2-5 Class

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

Due Date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Tuesday 23rd July 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.

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.

THANK YOU

A HUGE thanks to the Agriculture students of Swan Reach Area School for the donation of citrus and tomatoes. The money raised from the sales will help support the Variety Bash and Kids with Cancer.

AJ & George
Swan Reach Hotel

Coming Events

Community Notice Board

Kids Club

3:15pm-4:30pm FRIDAY 28th June 2019, at the Swan Reach Lutheran Hall. For Reception to Year 6 students. Cost $1. Enquiries Phone Taryn 0427 702 377 or Kristy 0438 857 721.

Swan Reach Hotel Social Club.

Karaoke Night. 6th July 2019, 7:30pm, come along and join the fun.

Australian National Maritime Museum at the Swan Reach Town Hall

The exhibition “Submerged – Stories of Australia’s Shipwrecks” will be open from June-August from 10am-3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Free Entry.

Joyful Noise – Girls Night Out