Filter Content
Principals Report
After a busy term we come to the final week, coinciding with NAIDOC, with a variety of events occurring this week:
- On Monday we had the visit of the Silly Scientist.
- On Tuesday the Nilpena Excursion – whole school excursion to Nilpena Ediacara National Park. This will form a part of the Science and HASS curriculums in particular. Students looked at the interactive digital display which recounts the geological and biological evolution of the region. They gained an insight into the proliferation of fossils in the park, and also the fossil beds.
- Hawker Area School / Adelaide Youth Orchestra collaboration – Wednesday July 5th, this visit from the Adelaide Youth Orchestra will include a workshop for our IMS students at 1.30pm and a shared performance at 2.15pm.
- NAIDOC school excursion to Ikara Wilpena Pound resort on Thursday July 6th – leaving around 10am for activities and information presented by the resort. This will be a great chance near the end of term for students to experience some Adnamatna culture.
- Last Day of Term – Friday July 7th with assembly and dismissal. The assembly will start at 1.30, with the dismissal for holidays at 2.10pm.
School reports go home at the end of this week, these are the first of two written reports for the year, the second being our end of semester two reports. Parent Student Teacher Conferences will be held during term three, these will give parents an extra chance to catch up with teachers, with students present and review progress so far this year.
This years NAPLAN final results have come in with parent information to arrive at the school early next term. Since 2023 a new scaling system has been implemented to look at the test data. Tests each year are held at Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Reading, Numeracy, Writing, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation. The big change since last year is that there are now four proficiency levels used to analyse results of the individual test, which are relative to that year of schooling, they are ‘Exceeding’, ‘Strong’, ‘Developing’ and ‘Needs Additional Support’. With the introduction of the proficiency levels analysis of trends from one year to the next is now not possible, this will kick in in 2025, with the first lot of students to have undergone the tests twice in the new system. Parent packs for the NAPLAN results will arrive early next term, and these will be sent home to the parents of students who took part this year. It is important to understand that the tests are a guide to student progress against the Australian Curriculum, they are one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. This year nine students at Hawker Area School undertook the NAPLAN tests. The school does not make a specific comment on these results to the community.
After advertising for a bus driver recently we are in the position where the school will soon have an extra bus driver for our morning and afternoon bus runs, with another driver available for emergencies when no other drivers are available. This will mean the school will have three regular bus drivers, giving us the support we need for getting students in from surrounding areas to school and also drivers who can take students on larger bus trips when needed. The school is still in the process of looking for SSOs to work at the school, focusing on classroom support roles in each class.
This term sees Victoria Barratt moving back to Adelaide. Victoria started at the school in January 2022, teaching in the Year 3-6 class for 2 years before moving onto the Foundation to Year 2 class this year. Victoria has been a valued and important member of our staff and has developed many friendships in her time at Hawker and memories to take with her.
The school can announce that Amanda Hilder will be the Foundation to Year 2 teacher for the second semester. Amanda will be teaching in the areas of English, Maths, Science, HASS and Design and Technology. Amanda’s teaching responsibilities with the Year 3-6 class will be taken on by Ingrid Condon .
I hope that all our students, parents and staff have a happy and healthy break over the mid-year holidays and look forward to seeing everyone at the start of term three.
Mr Daren O'Neill
Principal
This term the F-6 students have been very busy growing and tending our beautiful veggie and flower garden. We hope you've had a chance to come and see it. Spring is coming and the 50 odd bulbs we've planted are promising to put on quite the show in Spring!
We have put on 2 successful Winter Garden Parties. For each party students have researched vegetarian recipes and had a go at cooking at least one item. We made menus and sent out invitations to class parents. Our first party got rained out, and the lights went out as families were sharing their vegetarian feast! No problems! People kept their good spirits high and had a good time.
There has been lots of learning around plants and environments this term, and how to care for them I can't thank all the students enough for their hard work and staying focused on a long project. We will keep the garden beds going next term but with less curriculum focus...we have some more grand plans. Have a look at the pictures and see if you can figure it out!
On the final Monday of this term we enjoyed at fun packed visit from the Silly Scientist. What a show. Great excitement and great motivation for science. I think there are a few things we will need to explore further in term 3.
Have a great break everyone, and I look forward to some great learning and connecting in term 3.
Mrs Amanda Hilder
Foundation - Yr 2 Science & Technology / Yr 3-6 Science & HASS Teacher
This term the F-2 class looked at two different artists. We did some group discussions of Joan Miro’s “Imaginary Boy” and tried our hand at painting our own version of it.
To finish the term we explored the work of American Pop Artist James Rizzi. We all really enjoyed his bright, colourful and fun style of art and took on a group art project depicting our community. Each student chose a different building in Hawker to observe, draw and paint to then cut up and display as a singular art work. The kids were so supportive of each other and work so well together and as a result produced a fantastic piece of art to display.
To end the term the 3-6 class focused on Naidoc Week as a theme. We were lucky enough to have Aunty Pauline join our class to tell the kids the story of the Robin Red Breast. The students then discussed the story and thought about how they could portray the story using art. We made the most of the sun shining and the fire pit to spend some time sketching out in the garden in the fresh air which was a lovely change of scenery.
The 7-8 Class spent the term practicing their portraiture skills and analyzing the London born/Irish bred artist Martin O’neill.
Miss Emily
Art Teacher
Teacher Librarian: Ailsa Green; CLA: Leonie McKenzie
“School libraries provide a social space to meet, collaborate, research, learn, share, and relax. The school library can be seen as one of the only spaces in a school which is truly free — the space that is not 'home' or a 'classroom', and which can be without academic, sporting, or family expectations.” The Importance of School Libraries in the Google Age
Our library is a safe place into which all are welcome. It provides access to stories, information, and technology. Through developing our own collection and connecting with the public libraries network in South Australia, we can provide resources that fit the needs of our community. The library gives students the independence to choose their own reading materials and to find resources that will help them develop their interest and strengths at their own pace. Thank you, parents/caregivers, for your support of the library and encouraging your child to develop good reading habits.
On May 22 @ 11 a.m., the school and kindy gathered in the library for the annual National Simultaneous Storytime. Stella, from NDIS/Mission Australia, read the story Bowerbird Blues, written and illustrated by Aura Parker. Afterwards, the students participated in an activity that Stella had created-finding items of blue around the school yard. Once found, these were placed on our bower display in the library.
 |
 |
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held from Tuesday August 6 to Thursday August 8 (Week 3, Term 3). Further information will come out early Term 3.
Reading is Magic is the theme for Book Week this year, which will be held from August 17-23. Our dress-up day will be held on Tuesday, August 20, so come dressed in your favourite book character or something magical ready for the paraded that will be held @ 11 a.m. on the Tuesday.
 |
Ruby doing one of her many math activities. This is her doing a ‘Color by Number’ worksheet. |
|
Ruby concentrating hard with her pattern activities. |
 |
 |
Ruby enjoying her recess with her little friend Logan. |
Ruby has had a great Term 2, completing work that has been set out and having fun with her peers in the yard, these have been some of the many highlights that I have seen Ruby achieve.
School Services Officer 2 - Anna Oakey
It’s been a busy term in the swan room with new SSO’s joining the ranks and plenty of visitors coming and going. The PODD training which was completed earlier in the term has allowed us to use the visuals around the room more effectively, and we’ve started to integrate PODD based activities such as emotions cards to help them identify the different emotions they feel so they can then tell us how they’re feeling.
Khloe has progressed a lot during this term and she’s been very happy and cheerful while she’s been at school. We have developed newer and more difficult activities for Khloe to complete as she has started to fly through all her previous activities without any assistance from SSO’s.
Logan has also shown a lot of development during this term. He excels in the maths activities that we give him and his ability to put things in order of smallest to largest and stacking shapes in the same colour order always impresses us.
We look forward to seeing how much they progress throughout the end of the year.
School Services Officer 2 - Ben Gent
Special Breakfast Club
This term, we introduced a special Breakfast Club that was met with great enthusiasm. In week 6, I prepared a traditional Hong Kong breakfast for our students. The menu included steamed buns, Hong Kong pancakes, honey dates cakes, and fried noodles. It was great to see our students enjoy the dishes and start their day with a smile.
PJ Day and Pumpkin Soup
On May 30, the SRC celebrated PJ Day with a cozy and comforting treat. I assisted the SRC in making pumpkin soup, which was a big hit among the students. It was a fantastic way to bring everyone together in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Soap Bar Fundraising Activity
In addition to our breakfast events, I also had the opportunity to support the SRC with their fundraising activity. We made soap bars as part of this initiative. I assisted the students in the soap-making process and designed the packaging to include production details such as which SRC student made each soap bar and the ingredients used. This hands-on project was not only a great learning experience but also helped raise funds for the SRC.
SSO / Administration / Finance Officer
Howard Yam
NOTICEBOARD