Posted in Leadership, special events

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!

Have a safe and happy long weekend, we’ll see students back on Wednesday the 16th.

Kind regards,

Paul and Anthea

Posted in Leadership, special events, Sport

Leadership Update #19

Dear Families,

It has been a big week for staff and students with the External School Review taking place. We welcomed Katherine Holman and Rebecca Read to our school to showcase our programs and student learning. They met with varied groups of students, parents and staff to ask them questions about the effectiveness of the school’s planning and teaching processes. We are very proud of all of our community. Katherine and Rebecca commented on our student’s abilities to articulate their understanding of their own learning, the involvement of the parent community and the high level of collaboration between staff. Results will be published and shared with the community early next term.

The Department has released another update for the Transition of Year 7 to High School next year. Please find details below about a focus on your child’s learning and the benefits of a High School setting for specialist teachers and resources.

19_7tohs-parent-update-week5-term2-2021.a4

Congratulations to our two Pedal Prix teams who competed in the Australian HPV Super Series at Tailem Bend. Our teams placed 10th and 31st overall after the 6 hours of racing. What an incredible achievement!

On Wednesday our girl’s Netball team participated in the first round of School Sport SA Netball Knockout competitions. Our team was unsuccessful against Clapham PS in the first game, but won in the second against Calvary Lutheran. Congratulations to the players and thank you to the volunteers and families for their support.

On Thursday our students from Reception to Year 3 attended the Dream Big Festival at the Festival Centre. All students saw a stage version of Alison Lester’s ‘Magic Beach’. After the play the R-2 students participated in a Silent Disco and the Year 3 students visited the SA Museum. Thank you to all the volunteers who went along with our students.

Today Happy Valley Primary hosted Round 1 of the School Sport SA Girl’s Football Knockout. HVPS successfully defeated Braeview in the first game and were defeated by Flagstaff Hill in the second. Thanks to our players, Mr Carter, OSHC and parents for supporting our students.

Please remember to check in via QR codes when attending Out of School Hours Sport. Have a great weekend!

This Sunday, 20 May our school is having a Working Bee. Please come along if you are free between 12pm and 2pm for a general clean up including the Million Trees Forest.

Kind regards,

Paul and Anthea

Posted in parent community, special events

Pedal Prix

Thank you to our Pedal Prix team parents for organising themselves so quickly to ensure our team had their first Victoria Park practice.

Saturday morning saw both cars and most of our riders racing around the city track. Riders had a change to get to know the cars at speed and allowing parents to check out the cars. Riders have 2 more weeks before their first race at The Bend track up at Tailem Bend. We wish them all the best!


Posted in special events, student wellbeing

Crazy Hair Day

Thank you to everyone who participated in our last day of term casual and Crazy Hair Day! All gold coin donations are going towards the Parent Resources in the library. We raised $245.25!

Parents, did you know that you can borrow from the school library?

Please see Robyn in the library about getting your own library card. Our resources cover a range of topics including the health and wellbeing of children and many books on parenting.

Posted in special events

Term 2 Casual Day

Our Term 2 Casual Day raised funds for a student called Esther in Malawi. We have been supporting Esther’s education for a few years and were thrilled to be able to raise $296.30 towards her learning this year.

Our Student Representatives came up with this term’s theme of “Dressing from Around the World”. We had many wonderful examples of this. Thank you to students and families for supporting Esther!

Posted in special events

Acquaintance Night Questionnaire – The Winners

Thank you to everyone who attended our Acquaintance Night last Tuesday. There was a fantastic buzz around the school as students and families took tours of their classrooms, specialist areas and our grounds.

A huge Thank You to the incredible OSHC staff providing the sausage sizzle with all proceeds to the CFS and to Sheena-Margot in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen who made some delicious sushi and had some amazing homemade treats for families to purchase.

This year our school provided the opportunity to enter  a competition by answering questions from all of the classrooms from around the school. We had lots of entries and thank everyone for their participation. Up for grabs were two $5 canteen vouchers which were won by Billie and Oscar! Congratulations!

Posted in special events

‘Little or Large’ stall next week

Next week, one of our Year 6 students, Kiara, will be opening up her ‘Little or Large’ pet toy stall again. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 3pm to 3.40pm, please pop by and have a look at what Kiara has been creating. She would like to pass this message onto you:

The proceeds are going to Adelaide koala and wildlife rescue and all my items are made from clean, recycled fabrics (except the pet bed stuffing, which is new for hygienic reasons) which are also washable and everything is double stitched or double knotted for pet safety.

We would like to acknowledge and commend Kiara in her fundraising efforts.