EDITION 5, Thursday November 24, 2016 No Images? Click here The Newsletter of the Roxby Downs Area School YEAR 12 CLASS OF 2016 RDAS Year 12 students were farewelled at an assembly on November 4th and enjoyed their Formal at the Oasis on November 18th. We wish all the year 12s good luck in their exams and best wishes for the future. In this Edition:Regular Items: Principals Report, R-6 Assistant Principal News, Important Dates, Community Notices. Also in this Edition:
IMPORTANT DATES: A range of important dates coming up in the last few weeks of term 4 including the R-6 End of year concert, Pool Parties, Splash Day and more. You can access all the Important Dates and a printable version at the link below. PRINCIPALS REPORT 2016 is quickly drawing to a close in what has been a busy and productive year for Roxby Downs Area School. Our focus this year has been on consolidation, a year in which we have strategically aimed to implement minimal change but consolidate on the initiatives we have put in place since the beginning of my appointment in 2014. Please read on and follow the prinitable link for a full version of my last Newsletter Report for 2016. ICT Development Our site has implemented significant changes to our ICT systems in recent years. Our focus this year has been directed towards the effective use of the Interactive White Boards (IWB’s) in all class rooms across the site; the establishment of the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) in Year 3-4 with iPad devices and the ongoing establishment of the BYOD in Year 7-12. The support of parents in Year 3/4 and in year 7/8 parents has been amazing; the take-up in devices in these areas has been very pleasing but there is still work to do in Years 9-12.....see link for more detail. Parent Communication: Our site has moved fully to an online medium in relation to communication. Daily rolls are marked online, student work is set and marked online and feedback is provided to students about their work online. Newsletters are all published online and the schools reporting system is also being sent out online in Years 7-12. Students are very confident in using these systems but we are aware that many parents are still not making use of the large source of information that is available to them online, in relation to their children. I encourage every parent to ...see link for more detail Attendance: Student attendance continues to be a significant issue, because it has such a large impact on student learning. If I had the power to wave a magic wand and change one thing in relation to our community, it would be that everyone would value the importance of attendance, because every minute counts. When we analyse student performance data, we discover there is a strong correlation between the students who have high absenteeism and those who struggle academically. It impacts in the early years as students are ...see link for more detail Intervention Support: Despite, or as a direct result of the attendance concerns I just shared, in 2016 we implemented an intervention policy, aimed at providing targeted support for students who have fallen significantly below their peers in the key areas of literacy and numeracy. All reception classes were allocated class room support in the form of an SSO for 20 hours per week. During terms 2-4 classes in years 1 to 6 were provided with support for ...see link for more detail. Innovation in Senior Secondary: In the senior secondary area we had 19 of our students involved in School Based Apprenticeships or Traineeships in 2016. SBA’s allow a student to get paid for working in their chosen field, specific training for that vocation, work off site 1-2 days per week and complete a...see link and story below for more detail STEM Initiative: DECD announced a major stimulus package to RDAS in May 2016, in the form of $3.5 million towards facilities upgrades in relation to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). We are currently in the process of identifying the priorities for how this money will be spent... see link for more detail. Student NAPLAN Results: One of the key priorities this year has been the need to become more strategic around the way we analyse the academic data we collect in relation to each child, working together to plan activities aimed at supporting the learning needs of each student. This has become more streamlined and effective over time, and as a result, we are beginning to see significant improvements in learning outcomes for our students...see link for more detail. Student and Staff Profile: During this year we had 7 staff go on maternity leave, which must be close to a record, continuing the long tradition of Roxby Downs being a young town with a high proportion of families with pre-school age children. Including SSO staff, we welcomed a total of 22 new faces to our staff this year which must also be something of a record. The challenge...see link for more detail. Parent Teacher Interviews: Parent teacher interviews were once again well attended in 2016. This year we used these sessions as an opportunity to collect parent perception data via a simple survey which was downloaded onto iPads. This process provided us with meaningful feedback from a broad cross section of the school community. The feedback was very positive...see link for more detail. Parent and Community Involvement: Parents and Friends (P&F) and Governing Council continue to play a major role in our school community. The P&F market days and the fashion parade have been well supported by the community and the money raised has gone towards major school priorities. In 2016 P&F paid $10,000 for the construction of a student bike rack, contributed $10,000 towards the new school bus and spent $7000 towards the purchase of a new school trailer. The P&F are ...see link for more detail. End of Year Message: Finally, to those staff, families and students who will be leaving us at the end of the year, all the best for the future and thank you for your commitment to RDAS throughout your time with us. For those of you who will be joining us again in 2017, have a safe and restful break as we look forward to 2016, it promises to be an exciting year. Best Wishes Steve Bennett Principal
R-6 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Kindy Transition: Our final week of Transition will be this week with another full day of school. We have enjoyed meeting our new additions and welcome the new families to RDAS. Bike Education Program: Our Year 4/5 and three 5/6 classes enjoyed a wonderful learning opportunity in week 2 & 3 learning the road rules for bike riding. 106 students across these classes had 7 sessions learning the correct way to ride on the bike. We had 4 days riding around town which students thoroughly enjoyed. This Program will be running again in 2017- for Yr 4-6 students. Kay-a –day: R-2 classes and Mrs Eli’s year 3/4 class have participated in ‘K-A-Day’ over the past few weeks. This has involved students walking 2 or more laps for 21 days - around the oval every day. This was to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer by being active and walking a kilometre a day. It has been great to see students walking and running around and marking off the days they have walked. A great initiative to get students’ active and talking about the importance of being fit and healthy. Please see some comments from students in Mrs Shippers Year 1 class - see story later in this newsletter below. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): In 2017 we will be continuing to roll out BYOD in the middle primary section of our school. We are encouraging all 3-6 students to bring ipads so we can continue to develop our programs across the 3-6 cohort. Please contact the school if you require any more information. A great Christmas present if you child is moving into these year levels. Yr 4-7 Swimming: In week 6 and 7 our Yr 4-7 classes will be having swimming lessons. A note was distributed to families letting you know the week and time of lessons. Please ensure students bring the appropriate swimming clothing. Our end of year R-2 Splash Day is Thursday 8th December and the Yr3-6 Pool Party will be Tuesday 6th December. Year 7 Transition: In week 6 our Year 6 students will be placed into 2 groups and have the opportunity to experience some Year 7 subjects as a part of the Transition Program. This will be run over 3 afternoons for double lessons. Students will have opportunities to go to Technology workshops, Home Economics, CAD (Computer Aided Design) and PE. A note went home early last week. Friday week 6 (November 25th) will be the Graduation Assembly in School Hall for ALL R-6 classes. Please come join us, followed by a Graduation Lunch. Classes for 2017: We are coming to the end of another school year and we are setting classes for next year. Please let the school know if you are leaving or if you know any families moving in with school aged children. We are increasing our classes across R-6 to cater for the growth this year and the new enrolments for 2017. Warm Wishes, Jess Bawden R-6 Assistant Principal VIPs visit Roxby Downs and RDAS On Tuesday 22nd November our site played host to a number of very important visitors. The Premier, Jay Weatherill, the Minister for Education, Susan Close, Minister Eddie Hughes and the Acting Chief Executive of DECD, Juliann Riedstra visited the school as part of their visit to Roxby Downs. Ms O’Sullivan and myself had an opportunity to update them on our key site priorities along with some of the major challenges we are currently facing. They were very sympathetic and offered their support in addressing some of the challenges in relation to staffing and budget allocations. Our Junior leaders (Ahoura Hosseini, Alexei Kraitor, Charlotte Miller and Madison Kelly) then led our guests on a very brief tour of the school, which included spending some time in Ms Eli's and Ms Fishlock’s Year 3/4 classes where the students had an opportunity to speak directly with the Premier. The Premier was extremely impressed with our junior school leaders and made a comment on how good they looked in their uniform. He also really enjoyed the time he spent with our Year 3/ 4 students and made particular reference to the quality of the many questions they asked. 2016 RDAS AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICES School-based apprenticeships and Traineeships (ASBAs) combine schooling at the senior secondary level (normally years 10,11 & 12) with training and employment. Planned learning in school and work is balanced between the needs of the student, the employer and the school, and allows the students to study SACE at the same time as commencing and/or completing a nationally recognised vocational training qualification as a paid employee. Jack, Heavy Vehicle Mechanic ASBA, RDAS, Monadelphous/CEG. RDAS is providing its students with individual VET (Vocational Education & Training) pathways through ASBAs, engaging with the community, industry and employers, and advantaging students to complete SACE for entry to University and Trade careers. This year 19 of our Senior Students participated in ASBAs with a large range of employers and are working toward completion of a variety of VET qualifications including - Community Services, Metal and Engineering, Hospitality, Information Technology, Retail Services, Construction and Hairdressing. Interested parents and senior secondary students simply need to contact the school to discuss ASBA options. Tayla French - The Year 10-12 Principal's Award recipient Yr 7-12 PRESENTATION NIGHT Tuesday November 29th saw the Secondary school celebrate another year of achievements from students. A long list of award recipients this year led by the 2 Principals Awards to Aisha Bastian and Tayla French. The Principal's Awards are based upon: · A high academic achievement. · A high level of conscientious effort, striving to reach their full potential. · A high level of school service, through committees and school representation · A high level of leadership at a school level Aisha Bastian - The Year 7-9 Principal's Award recipient -Consistently showing the school values of Respect, Responsibility and Persistence. Congratulations Aisha and Tayla ! Other Awards presented on the night included the naming of the School Captains for 2017, Conscientious Effort Awards, Academic Achievement and Dux Awards, School Values Awards, Year 12 Curriculum Awards and Year 12 Special Awards. Year 6 Graduation The Year 6 Graduation assembly and lunch for families took place on Friday 25th November. This sees a new chapter beginning with the current Year 6 students moving on to the Middle School in 2017. A new group of R-6 School Leaders /Vice-Leaders was also announced at the assembly. Congratulations to: Kyana Parks - Leader Lachlan Hamlyn - Leader Milly Wise - Vice Leader Judd Grillett - Vice Leader
YEAR 3- 6 MERITS - INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND COMPETITIONS FOR SCHOOLS 3-6 Assembly Awards 18th November COMMUNITY EDUCATION GARDEN Twilight Market Stall On the 19th of November the year 7 Community Education Garden team, held a stall during the twilight markets. They held a lollie jar contest, a lucky squares contest and placed 59 plants on sale. They sold 28 plants and both lucky squares and Lollie jar. The prizes were both donated back to the project by the winners- Gary Riebling (winner of the lucky squares) and Kimberly Solly (winner of the lollie jar- a guess of 76, the closest to the 77 lollies in the jar!). In total we raised $351.75 which will be utilised for next year's program. Thank You to- Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens for donating the plants, Gary Reibling for donating the $50 prize from the lucky squares. Kimberly Solly for donating the lollie jar. - Everyone who helped the Year 7’s sell all of the products and all of the product buyers. Article by - Andrej Vukotic RDAS 2016 SCHOOL MAGAZINE READY! Magazines have arrived!! Orders will be sent home with students shortly. If you did not get your order in – there will be some spare for sale at the Front Office limited numbers available. The cost of the Magazine is $20.00 including GST. SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOP 2017 First openings of the RDAS School Uniform Shop for 2017 will be: >>Tuesday 24th January 10am-12pm >>Wednesday 25th January 12pm-2pm
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