Leadership Update #21

Dear Families,

This week has seen a change in the weather and Winter has arrived! We understand many of our students don’t seem to feel the cold, however, we encourage all children to have their school jumpers in case they need them. There are a number of jumpers in lost property, please remember to label all clothing so it is easy for students to find misplaced items. Please remember that all students must comply with the uniform policy. We have had a few children wearing jumpers from out of school sports and activities, please support your children to wear the correct uniform.

Next Monday is the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday followed by a Pupil Free Day on the Tuesday. Staff will be spending the day working in their professional learning teams on our Wave 1, 2 and 3 interventions and planning using the new Australian Curriculum resources.

Please find attached a Parent Update for Year 7 to High School in 2022. The update talks about benefits to all children and discusses the strengths and needs of all students moving into years 7 and 8, so that teachers can best plan for their learning and wellbeing. The Department’s key focus is to set all children up for success in high school, including those with additional needs.

On Thursday we had a number of students from our school representing Southern Valley at the State Cross Country Championships held at Oakbank Racecourse. Congratulations to those who competed in the cold weather, we’re very proud of you!

Our new student use of mobile phones and personal devices at school policy will be tabled at the next Governing Council Meeting to be held on Monday 21 June. Once endorsed, the policy will be distributed to families and will be in effect from Term 3, 2021.

We have had a group of students working in their own time, supported by Robyn and Wendy N to create an entry for a competition for a new nature play space at Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta. The park is Adelaide’s newest national park was officially proclaimed on Thursday 28 May 2020. It includes the former O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park located 16 km south of Adelaide in O’Halloran Hill.

Students from our school were invited to create an element they wish to see in the nature play space, guided by the information collected from the community at the 2019 open days. Three of our students completed entries which are due today. We wish Billie, Emma R and Isabella all the best for their designs!