striving to make the difference coomandook area school · -hour clinic with our year 7 10 students...

“Striving To Make The Difference”

Coomandook Area School

Term 2, Week 4 Newsletter 21st May , 2019

Principal: Kaye Fitton Governing Council Chairperson: Abbie Cross Phone: 85 733007 Fax: 85 733185 www.coomyas.sa.edu.au [email protected]

Respect

Honesty Persistence

Calendar Dates Term 2

May

20th SAPSASA Athletic Championships 27th Governing Council June

5th USE 9-a-side - Year 7-10 6th Cross Country at Oakbank 10th PUBLIC HOLIDAY 16th Pedal Prix – Victoria Park 17th – 20th SAPSASA Net/football Carnival

17th -19th Year 9/10 Bush Camp

20th – 21st Preschool – Year 5 Incursion/sleep over

Year 6/7/8 Storm Boy Coorong Excursion

Year 12 Retreat

21st End of Semester 1

24th Governing Council

25th School Photos

26th Choir Rehearsal at Murray Bridge

28th Pedal Prix Quiz Night

July

2nd 5 a-side Soccer

8th School Holidays Start

22nd TERM 3

Yr 10-12 RAP Presentation

28th Pedal Prix

August

7th Maths Quiz Night

Items for the newsletter must be submitted by

9am, Monday morning. Newsletters are printed

every fortnight. Thank you.

TIME FOR REFLECTION AND RENEWAL

It is almost 3 years since I took up the position of

Principal at Coomandook Area School. During this

time, we have made considerable improvements and

developments to our school. Some of the significant

changes include:

New Vision and Values

Community consultation in the formulation of

the Site Improvement Plan and Action Plan

Improvements in ICTs – Laptops for Staff, new

computers and iPads for students, 3D Printer,

reliable Internet

Extensive Policy reviews including Behaviour

Policy and Grievance Procedures

Use of electronic communications including

Day Map

Fabulous new Website

MYTERN Language – Building resilience and

health

Highly successful External Review

School Performance results

Opening of the Coorong Mallee Trade Training

Centre

Successful amalgamation with the Kindy

Significant change to teacher pedagogy

through STEM learning, Growth Mindset,

performance development opportunities and

professional learning communities

Implementation of the Department’s new

school improvement planning focus and our

system aspiration to become world class

From the Principal Kaye Fitton

Coomandook Area School Newsletter


Each day when I move around the school I am

continually amazed by the professionalism of our

teachers, the great work they are doing with students

and the level of achievement across all classrooms

and areas of study. Coomandook Area School is a

great place to learn.

The process of continuous improvement is important

to our system. We acknowledge our achievements as

a school, but we must also look to the future. We wish

to continue this advancement by building on the

strong foundations already set. To this end, I will be

working with our new Governing Council and families,

staff and students to set the course moving forward.

We value the opinions of our school families and

offer the opportunity for you to contribute to the

future directions of the school. We wish to devise a

Strategic Plan that will complement the new Site

Improvement Plan format. I invite you to complete

the Parent/Carer Questionnaire 2019 attached to this

newsletter and return to the office by Friday 31st

May. A paper copy will also be provided for your

convenience.

This informal survey gives the opportunity to

comment on our current programs and to share your

ideas for the future of our school. We look forward to

reading your opinions, suggestions and proposals and

incorporating the information you provide into the

school’s new Strategic Plan.

Say Cheese

School Photo Day is:

Tuesday 25th June

Have your child’s school memories captured forever

FOOTBALL 5 students were selected at the trials to play in the Open Team; Josh Watts, Mitchell McDonald, Harry Paterson, Brandon Schmerl and Max Gogel. They will play on Tuesday 21st of May at Karoonda against Glossop and Unity. 2 students were selected in the 8/9 Football Team; Fraser McDonald and Luke Batten. They will play against Murray Bridge and Unity at Ramblers oval on 23rd of May. NETBALL This was the toughest selection I have been to in all my years here at Coomandook. There were over 60 girls present! The selectors had a very tough job. Kendall Pickering, Kelsey Hutchesson was selected to play in the Open Girls team. Georgia Ballard and Claire Pitt were selected to play in the 8/9 team. Dates and games are yet to be confirmed.

STATE WOMEN'S U18 FOOTBALL Congratulations to Abbie Ballard on her selection in this team. She plays here first round this Friday at the Peter Motely Oval (Unley) and Sunday at the Karen Rolten Oval.

On the 8th of May our school was visited by Patrick from SANFL. He ran a 2-hour clinic with our Year 7-10 students focusing on skills for 9-a-side football. With a tournament coming up soon in Karoonda, our students were keen to listen to his tips. Students practiced catching, hand-balling, kicking, using their voices and finding space. After a few drills they got into a game. 9-a-side is similar to normal footy except they couldn’t tackle and played on a smaller field. Even though it rained, our students were determined to improve their footy skills and had a great time doing it. A big thank you to Patrick for coming to our school and organising fun and engaging activities. I look forward to seeing our students apply what they’ve learnt in the upcoming 9-a-side Football competition on the 29th of May.

School Photos

USE Sports Jenni Lutze

Sports Jenni Lutze

9-a-side Football Tamsin Martin



A big thank you to Jenni Lutze for applying for and winning Coomandook Area School a Sporting Schools Grant for the secondary school. This grant has given us the opportunity to bring in sport-specific coaches to run workshops with the students. Our focus for this term is netball and football. We have already been visited by SANFL and are looking forward to our netball workshop on the 29th of May. This is a .wonderful chance for Coomy students to improve their skills for the upcoming 9-a-side Football and Knock-out netball competitions!

A massive well done to all of the students who participated in this year’s Colour Run on the 17th of May. The SRC executives and Mr Wallis did a great job setting up the course. We began the run on the oval with a whole school photo! When the race started our students thundered off and up the path to the ag plots. For a while the primary students were out running the secondary! Max Gogel and Harry Patterson were waiting by the shed in the ag plots with coloured powder and a hose. Most students, who brought their white top and change of shorts were showered in colour. After passing the first colour station, students ran/jogged/casually strolled down to Parkin Hall Rd and up through a neighbouring paddock. This track led our runners up behind the houses and through a second colour station manned by Kendall Pickering and Josiah Peter. Our fast runners ran all the way up to the Old Dukes Highway. Once they reached the road, they looped back towards the school along the Dukes Highway walking path. Others took a short-cut. The final colour station was at the finish line. This year, students chose their own finish route. They could pass under the blue tent uncoloured or be showered with coloured powder under the green tent. Most students chose to end their run on the slip and slide, with a cloud of colour and some pretty epic dives. FUN RUN Fundraising does not end until Thursday the 24th of May. Money raised will be used to support students who compete in state sport. SRC will be collecting cash donation on Thursday. Just by raising $10-19 you can win bouncing putty, a key ring, a handball, a magic set or a unicorn hatch’em egg!

A big thank you to all those who helped organise such a great event and to those who participated and made the Colour Fun Run, enjoyable and entertaining!

Sporting Grant Tamsin Martin

Colour Fun Run Tamsin Martin



The Terrific Sunset Forest

By Casey This is so picture perfect and amazing it caught my eye. The hundreds and thousands of beautiful conifers, big, thin and straight keep catching my eye. Lime green leaves and dark brown branches, like an arrow trying to leave earth. Standing here I can just imagine the dirty, long stringy root underground. The sunset almost looks like it’s trying to peek behind the puffy clouds. So bright when I close my eyes it is like they are still open. This beautiful cliff looks like Uluru in paradise. All the lime green bushes and trees are just like the rocks on Uluru. Its almost like you can see a little house right on top of the cliff in the sunset. The sea almost looks like it is slumbering calmly like sleeping beauty. It could even look like the little rocks are poking up their heads to get some sea smelling air in their lungs. See the beauty of a reflection from the bright orange sunset. Right now it is so calm I could go to sleep on the lake and I think I would still be in the same spot. There are so many dirty, white, hard rocks here. If I went up to them and knocked on them hard enough I think I would break a knuckle or at least hurt it. If I was you and I had time to go on a vacation this would be my first suggestion.

Gastroenteritis, also known as ‘gastro’, is a common illness that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Many types of gastro are easily spread. Gastro should only last for a few days. If you have gastro, it’s important to stay home (away from work, school or childcare) until the symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours. To reduce your risk of catching or spreading gastro, wash your hands well after using the bathroom, preparing or eating food. There have been reported cases of gastro at school.

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing

any symptoms of gastro.

Year 6/7 Descriptive Heather Mattner

Health Information

Community News



Coomandook Area School “Striving To Make The Difference”

Parent/Carer Questionnaire 2019 Have Your Say – An opportunity to contribute to the future directions of the school

Dear Families,

As the school reviews its vision and values, and works towards the formulation of a new strategic plan, I invite you to all to

contribute by sharing your thoughts and ideas for the future of the school. It is almost 3 years since I took up the position

of Principal and during this time we have made considerable improvements and developments in our school. However, we

wish to continue the advancement by building on the strong foundations already set. We value the opinions of our school

families and offer the opportunity for you to have your say by responding to the following informal survey. This survey is

also being sent home with the electronic copy of the school newsletter. You may wish to consult with your child(ren) in

completing the survey.

Please return to the Front Office by FRIDAY 31st MAY. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Kaye Fitton,

Principal

Your Name (optional):

Number of Children enrolled: Year level(s):

How many years have you been associated with the school?

What are the best things about Coomandook Area School?

What are the various things that make Coomandook unique?

What aspects of the school must be continued into the future?



What aspects of the school need improvement?

Do you think the school’s current vision accommodates the future aspirations for our school? YES/NO

“Coomandook Area School is dedicated to providing an engaging learning environment where children are inspired to thrive

and reach their full potential.”

Do you have any suggestions for changes/inclusions to the school’s vision?

Are you familiar with the school’s behaviour policy? YES/NO Do you have any comments about the way student

behaviour is managed at the school?

Do you have any comments about the subjects/courses offered at school?

Do you have any specific comments about the use of various Technologies in the school?

Do you have any specific comments about Sporting opportunities in the school?

Do you have any specific comments about the Arts programs including Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Music in the

school?

Is there anything else you wish to comment on about the future directions of the school?

Thank you for your input. (Please return to the Front Office by FRIDAY 31st MAY 2019)

striving to make the difference coomandook area school · -hour clinic with our year 7 10 students...

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