6 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Hello Swan Reach,

Term 3 is progressing well as we embed ourselves in teaching and learning routines – our core business. For all students, term 3 can be likened to the Aussie Rules 3rd quarter analogy. Some in the AFL call it the premiership quarter and is the one most likely to set up teams (and individuals) for success. This is particularly true for our seniors as they prepare for stage 1 and 2 exams and the finish line, early in term 4.

Working hard now is paramount for our learners; they have their semester 1 grades and teachers have shared their expertise about how they can improve their outcomes. Learning is hard but by responding positively to feedback and applying the 5 keys for success (Organisation, Confidence, Persistence, Getting Along and Resilience), ALL students can be successful and demonstrate growth in all learning areas. They’ll need your support from home. Together home and school provide the firm educational foundations, dispositions and attitudes to develop successful learners. Together, We Can Do It!

FAREWELL

SRAS wishes Olivia the utmost success in her new education setting with her siblings. SRAS thanks Hayley and Clinton for all their sustained support given to our school, students and community. Hayley will continue with her current role as president of the P&F and continue to build this valuable committee’s efforts in re-engaging with SRAS and supporting students and families.

WELCOME

We warmly welcome Miss Sally Stewart to our team. Her 1:1 and small group SSO role will be important to assist Literacy and Numeracy for targeted students in the 1-3 class. She is highly organised and keen to build her skills to best support learner’s growth, and is being mentored by experienced SSO, Mrs Jill Lienert and Teachers, Mrs Rosenzweig and Mrs Thomas.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Department for Education continues to adhere to and apply advice from SA Health. They are keeping a watchful vigil on the state of COVID-19 in neighbouring states and keeping sites updated as needed. As we have seen, the COVID-19 pandemic can be unpredictable. It’s important we remain well prepared.

School and preschool staff must:

• Have the most up-to-date contact details (including phone number) for all parents/carers so they can be quickly contacted in the event of a temporary closure or regional closure.

SRAS continues to facilitate the recently re-opened services:

• Playgroup
• Occasional Care
• Parent Child Mother Goose (PCMG) – To be confirmed
• Normal Community Library hours
• Assemblies
• Intra state excursions
• Most school sports
• Volunteers onsite

SRAS is thankful to the adherence and application of community members in maintaining our COVID-19 free environment. Thank you for continuing to follow the advice below given by Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, based on the current COVID-19 risk level in South Australia:

• Parents / Cares and Volunteers staying onsite for an extended period (eg Playgroup, PCMG, meetings) must sign at the front office with a COVID-19 site entry form.
• Community members accessing the library must sign in on the community library register
• All adults onsite need to continue adhering to social distancing and hygiene practices – using sanatiser and covering coughs and sneezes
• If you’re unwell, thank you for staying home. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, cold or flu, no matter how mild – this applies to staff, students, parents, carers and volunteers (ALL)

MYSTERY OF THE ADOLESCENT MIND

“Adolescents are a mystery to many adults — especially their parents. It is a time when three of the great changes of human life occur: the ability to reproduce, the establishment of an identity and the formal commencement of logical, rational, reasoned thought, though the attainment of logical thinking is fairly patchy from where I sit. Just how do their minds work anyway?”

This introduction to expert Australian psychologist, Andrew Fuller’s article, ‘Into the Mystery of the Adolescent Mind,’ evokes curiosity within the reader to want to know more. His full article is linked to this newsletter (below) for you to review and learn more about how neuroscience is teaching and informing us about the developing minds of our next generation – a worth-while read; wish our own parents knew this!

STUDENT & FAMILY FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Below is the link to our newly developed, student and family friendly, Site Improvement Plan (SIP). SRAS thanks Wakerie Primary School, for letting us use their template to simplify our SIP to show what key teaching and learning SRAS is focussing on. It is highly important for our students and families to know and understand what our key priorities are. Your feedback on ideas to add further clarity is welcomed. Thanks for calling 8570 2053 and share your thoughts with the principal.

Mr John Robertson
Principal

STUDENT FLASHBACK

Swan Reach Area School would like to share some student’s stories and make this a regular feature of the newsletter. This week the focus is on the class of 2015.

Abbey Davies - Completed a Bachelor of Nursing in 2018 and her graduate year of nursing in 2019 at Port Pirie. She is living in Clare with her partner and working as a registered nurse at the Clare Hospital.

Brooklyn Williamson - After leaving school Brooklyn worked for Kidman’s feed lot to save money. She then travelled overseas and worked in London as a Nanny. Although she enjoyed the experience, she was happy to return to Australia and try something closer to home. She took on a position as a cook on a cattle station near Marree, far north of SA, however, she was more interested in working with cattle. This opportunity came along and she is now working with cattle on Princess Royal Station near Burra. She has her own place and is loving station life.

Nathaniel Pillar - Nathaniel has been working shifts at Hungry Jacks, Murray Bridge. He recently enrolled in a uni course at Mawson Lakes to study IT Cybersecurity.

Hayden Donald - Hayden is currently studying Software Development at TAFESA, Mt Barker. The course is full time, but he is finding it very enjoyable. He is hoping to extend his knowledge and attend Uni SA to further his qualifications. He is very happy and living in Murray Bridge at the moment, and looking forward to working in the ever-changing IT industry.

Nicole Carter - Nicole studied at university and graduated with a Bachelor of Software Engineering. She won an internship and spent six months in Sweden working for the SAAB company. She has been working on satellite communication and received an award from SAAB in recognition of her efforts.

Karl Grieger - Karl is very busy and working full time on the farm at Cooinda in Swan Reach. He handles fruit, sheep and cattle meeting the demands of the industry and the family business. He has recently renovated a house on the property and lives with his partner who works in Childcare at Gawler.

We were unable to contact Ahlia Fioretti or Christian Helle-Broe.

Parents and Friends Report

Parents and Friends had a fantastic meeting Friday to get the ball rolling again for the year. We will be joining in the celebrations on the Basketball Grand Final, 21 August, 2020 and holding a lunch day to add to the party atmosphere. Party is the theme so think party pies, fairy bread, cake and popcorn. $5 for a plate of party food. Keep an eye out for the invites going home. RSVPs will be on the Swan Reach Area School Parents and Friends Facebook page or to the school. Please forward orders to the school or via the facebook page by 14 August, 2020.

Cheers,

Mardi Le Brun
Secretary

IMMUNISATION EVIDENCE REQUEST NOTICE

SCHOOL LUNCH ORDERS

We thank the Swan Reach General Store for supplying lunch orders for the school. The menu and ordering details are below. Please note there are no lunch orders available on Wednesdays.

SRAS WEBSITE

The Swan Reach Area School website is where you can find all the school information including the newsletter, forms and polices. Please visit the link below:

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

Due Date for the next Newsletter is 10:00am, Tuesday 18th August, 2020. The newsletter is 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.

PLAYGROUP

Swan Reach Playgroup at SRAS Early Learning Centre. Every Tuesday 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.

For more information contact the school on 8570 2053.

P-CMG/Playgroup

Parent Mother Goose sessions will soon return to Swan Reach in the Early Learning Centre. Dates and times to be advised. 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 lead a relaxed session for parents and children with a play and coffee and chat after. Sessions are free and there is no booking involved!

SILENT AUCTION

The Swan Reach Area School is offering a TaskAlfa 4551ci Printer/copier under the conditions of a silent auction. The printer comes complete with a set of toners and waste container. The machine measures 1600mm in length, 800mm depth and 1200mm high and is in very good condition. The machine has no warranty and the school will not be responsible for machine maintenance, service, consumables or any associated management. Therefore, all responsibility lies within the purchaser and communication with Kyocera for all matters. All offers should be forwarded to the front office in an envelope marked – PRINCIPAL- OFFER- SRAS PRINTER no later than 9am, Friday 21st August 2020. The successful tender will be notified by COB on Friday 21st August, 2020 and be available for collection.

Coming Events 2020

Community Notices

Community Library News

The library is once again open for borrowing. In accordance with Covid-19 procedure we ask you not come to the library if you are feeling unwell or have cold/flu symptoms. Use sanitiser and maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres.Many of you may have received overdue notices and possibly fines in the last week or so for overdue items. Accordingly, the Public Library Service Consortium is working through the impact of Covid-19 and has set down a minimum standard for notices to ensure that overdue items are followed up and library items circulate through the network efficiently. Notices are set out as follows:

1st notice - checkout receipt when borrowing takes place.
2nd notice - pre-overdue email as a courtesy reminder of the due date.
3rd notice - overdue notice from the checkout library.

A final notice may be issued by the library which could include a fine to cover the costs of materials replacement.

It is not the intention of the Swan Reach Community Library to charge fines nor issue bills for items held at our library. However, replacement costs may be incurred under conditional circumstances. This courtesy does not extend to all other libraries in the consortium and fines will be issued by these libraries. Fines or associated costs will be waivered if the item/s is returned in due course. If you have any queries regarding this information, contact me at the library and I will be happy to sort out any problems. Don’t forget click and collect is still available and take advantage of the digital online library.

Regards,

Mrs Leanne Griffiths
Library Manager.

Community Library Hours

Recess time - 10:40-11.00am
Lunch time -12:40-1:25pm

Phone - 8570 2298

Kid’s Club

FRIDAY 21st AUGUST
3:15 to 4:30 pm
At the Swan Reach Lutheran Hall
For Reception to Year 7
Cost $1
Enquiries Phone Taryn 0427702377 or Kristy 0438857721