EDITION 3, Thursday Sept 29th 2016 To View Online Click on ' No Images? Click Here' No Images? Click here The Newsletter of the Roxby Downs Area School In this Edition:Regular Items: Principals Report, R-6 Assistant Principal News, Important Dates, Community Notices. Also in this Edition: -Student Leaders News -RUOK Day -Fathers Night -Book Week -R-2 Assembly and Awards Sept 9th -MILO Cricket -Meet Jess Bawden - R-6 Assistant Principal -Year 7s Community Education Garden -Yr 12s Finance Talk -Yr 10 Careers Camp -Exams, Exam Tips and Year 12 Formal IMPORTANT DATES: A range of important dates coming up this term. Dont forget early closure Friday 30th September 1.50pm. Last Day of Term! Early next term there is Bike Education for year 4-6 students, Market Day and Red Food Day. You can access all the Important Dates and a printable version at the link below. PRINCIPALS REPORT SAPSASA 2016: We had 5 of our students represent the our region in the Northern Districts team in Adelaide earlier this term. Congratulations to Jada Wellgreen, Ella Ramsey and Chloe Turley who competed in the netball competition. Congratulations to Owen Mulady and Zach Noll who competed in the Football completion. STAFFING UPDATE: Congratulations to Jayne WInter who has won the Middle Primary Coordinator role for the next 4 years. Welcome Ms. Parsons, Mr Perkins and Ms Perry, More detail in full report. Staff Planning for 2017: We are currently in the process of finalising our staffing for 2017 and so we do need an accurate count of student numbers in each year level for next year. I would encourage parents to contact the school between now and the end of the term if you know your children will not be returning to RDAS in 2017. STEM Initiative: As part of the State Budget in 2016-2017, Roxby Downs Area School has been allocated funding up to $3.5million under the State Governments STEM Works programme. At RDAS we have invested significantly in our infrastructure for Information Technology; upgrading our Wireless infrastructure and systems, installing Interactive White Boards across the site and through the development of our Computer Aided Designs (CAD ) programs. We are ideally placed to build on these developments across the site R-12, further enhancing the programmes we already have in place. The next 12 months will be an exciting time as we look to refurbish many of our classroom spaces the will make them more conducive to 21 century learning. More in the full Principals Report. Nuclear Waste Dump Conference; The State Government recently brought together 240 students and 60 students from across the state to discuss the implications of locating a ‘low level’ and ‘high level’ Nuclear Waste Dump in SA. The conference was attended by DECD managers and politicians, including the Premier, the Hon Mr Jaye Weatherall . Our site was represented by Mr Andrew Stanley and 3 of our senior students; Lochlan Herring, Rhys Owen and Lachlan Baker. Mr Stanley was on the organising committee for the conference and Lachlan Baker was one of the main student presenters on the day, standing on the stage and presenting to the 300 participants in a very accomplished and professional manner. The feedback I have received is that each of our students made a valuable contribution on the day and represented the school with great distinction. Women in STEM Luncheon: Two of our senior students were invited guests of BHP Billiton at a special lunch organised in week 5, to promote the involvement of women in STEM related initiatives. Renee Wurfel and Isabel Anderson were excellent ambassadors for our school and had the opportunity to be inspired by the many outstanding women who spoke at the luncheon. Thanks to BHP Billiton, for giving our students an opportunity to be involved in this initiative. Steve Bennett Principal R-6 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Interviews Optional interviews have been held this week. If you have not met with your child’s class teacher but wish to do so please make a time with them. Alternatively, if your child’s class teacher is requesting an interview with you, please work in partnership and attend a meeting. Your child is at the centre of all we do and the partnerships we have with you as parents are vital to contributing to their success at school. Parent Transition Visits For the past two weeks we have had parent tours for the new Transition students. If you have a child starting in Reception in 2017 you are welcome to attend our final tour on Friday 9th September at 9am. Please meet at the Front office. The next stage of the Transition process will be in Term 4 when children commence their day visits. Interviews Next week you will receive a letter home about parent interviews. Teachers can request an interview or Parents can as well. Please return them promptly. Sports day R-6 Sports day, Tuesday 27th September - was a huge success and thankfully the weather was beautiful!. Naplan Naplan results have been posted out on Friday 25th August with some very pleasing results. Bike Ed Next term then Bike Ed Program will be here and students from 4/5 Alchin 5/6 Greenfield, Smith & Higgins will be involved in the program. This program caters for year 4 to 6. Students will bring home notes could you please ensure they are returned by September 9th September. I would encourage students to get their bikes ready over the holidays ready for the program next term. We will be booking this program again for 2017 to ensure all students can access the program. Warm Wishes, Jess Bawden
STUDENT LEADERS NEWS RUOK Day FATHERS NIGHT On Tuesday the 6th of September the Year 2s hosted a Father's Night to celebrate all our amazing fathers! It was well attended, with many excited students and father/father figures engaging in activities such as building with lego/mobile, crafts and STEM challenges. Students proudly showcased their learning and classrooms, with time flying by super quickly! Many thanks to all that came along to make the evening such a success. Felicia - "I enjoyed doing activities and colouring in." Jordy – “I loved bringing Grandad, we built a garage.” Cody – “We got to build a tower that could hold oreos.” BOOK WEEK R-2 ASSEMBLY 9th SEPTEMBER Our R-2 students are consistently illustrating the RDAS Values of Persistence, Responsibility and Respect. Congratulations to our latest award recipients. This assembly also saw the audience being treated to a wonderful performance of 'My Grandfathers Clock' by Mrs Zeptner's Reception class. It was a grand performance that went like clockwork. ;-) MILO Cricket Meet Jess Bawden - R-6 Assistant Principal Most recently Jess lived in Tumby Bay for approximately 11 years (but explains that she is not missing the beach…..yet!) - lets see how she feels in the summer ! Prior to Tumby she lived in the Northern Territory for 6 years. Jess is the RDAS R-6 Assistant Principal and has been with us since the beginning of this year. Why did you decide to become a teacher?: Whilst at school I was a swimming instructor and really enjoyed teaching kids to swim. I was also told that I was good with the kids. In year 12, I pretty much decided that I would like to be a teacher so applied for University and was accepted. I did consider Nursing for a while prior to making the decision that teaching was for me. Most of my career to date has been as a Primary Teacher, though I did take on a School Counselor role for some 4 years in Tumby Bay. What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today? Social Media and Well Being : The pressure for students to have devices and the impact it has on their life. In a positive way we can connect in a variety of ways but sometimes it can consume their life. As educators and parents we need to find a balance to look after them by ensuring they are aware of how to keep safe and have time to connect the old way through face to face conversations as well. How do you motivate students to become active learners in the classroom? (How do you encourage class participation?) I think it is important to build positive relationships and provide students with opportunities to be leaders. What do you wish other people knew about teaching? : That as a teacher you put your whole life into teaching, its not just a job, it is a way of life. That teaching takes a lot of hard work and commitment but in the end the rewards are really satisfying. What interests do you pursue outside of school? I really enjoy sport – swimming and netball; I have coached swimming and enjoy umpiring netball. Following my kids and their sport. Doing nails (finger nails that is!), nail art. Watching TV series such as ‘Empire’ and ‘Chicago Fire/PD/Medical. What might (someone) be surprised to know about you? That I was a State Swimmer – Won a Bronze Medal at State Level Breaststroke. Jess has 3 lovely children of her own and explains "That if you notice the grey hairs…it is because I am currently teaching my oldest son to drive! " YEAR 7 COMMUNITY EDUCATION GARDEN PROJECT
YEAR 12s FINANCE TALK YEAR 1O CAREERS CAMP Week 4 saw the RDAS Year 10 students attend the annual Careers Camp. Basing themselves in Adelaide the students enjoyed visits to the University of Adelaide, TAFESA, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, Adelaide Oval, Bounce and even had time for a spot of Ice Skating. A huge learning experience and lots of fun was had by all. EXAMS and YEAR 12 FORMAL Its that time of year again for our Year 12 students. Finally completing assignments and preparing for exams. Weeks 2, 3 and 4 of Term 4 will see the Exam period in full swing.
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