13 December 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

The last half of the term has been a particularly busy one for staff and students. On November 16th and 19th we had our Pupil Free Days where we developed a 3 Year School Improvement Plan. The plan has three simple but measurable goals which all have an improvement focus that will be evaluated each year for the next three years. Our goals link to improvements in Reading, Oral Language and Numeracy. Each goal comes with measurable targets by which we can measure improvements in student learning and these are data based, linking to our most reliable data measures such as NAPLAN, PAT and Running Records. The goals relate to lifting student achievement in these areas, but also keeping students at higher levels of achievement when they get there. Once approved the plan will be signed off by our Governing Council Chairman and myself, from here it will go on our new school website, along with our Whole School Literacy and Numeracy Plans.

On the 27th of November we had Paul Unsworth from UniSA come to the school to train three of our staff in the planning and design of Virtual Reality products. This STEM program can be run down to our Junior Primary classes and has real applications in the local area, with staff able to use the technology for cross curricular topics which enable students to design products based on our local area that can then be put up on the internet. This training will be shared with our staff next year with the aim to develop STEM approaches using the technology that are part of integrated units.

Last week we ran our swimming lessons as part of our Aust Swim program. Natalie Hewett from Kadina came up and ran an engaging swimming and safety program. Students were divided up into four groups for the lessons and received tuition which focused not only on swimming techniques but also got students to think about their actions on issues of safety. As the week went on the temperature of the water finally picked up a bit and the students were more able to put up with the initial cool morning temperatures. Thank you to Natalie who ran a great program covering water safety and swimming.

It is the end of the year and the last month has been crescendo of activity which we can now resolve with a few announcements concerning 2019. In the last month through Schoolzine I announced that both Sacha Uern and Vinny Urbancic will not be back in 2019. Sacha is going to Adelaide to work at Blackwood Primary and we will miss her greatly around the school and town. Vinny is going to Flinders View Primary for a year and will also be missed for the positive relationships he was able to develop with students and his innovative curriculum in the areas of Maths, Science and PE.

I am now in a position to announce two new appointments for 2019. We will welcome Lidia Szlezak to Hawker to teach Maths and Science in 2019. Lidia already has experience in teaching multi age classes from JP levels through to Year 12 and has taught a variety of subjects in SACE. She has an extensive teaching background having been involved in University Education before moving on to teaching in schools. We have also advertised and appointed a teacher librarian for next year, Ailsa Green who is currently teaching at Naracoorte Primary School. Ailsa has an extensive background in Digital Literacy, Learning Intervention, teaching EALD students and delivering curriculum to multiple year levels. Her background in inquiry based learning will fit in well with our Learning Design Assessment and Moderation approach to teaching. Ailsa also has a strong background in information technologies, teaching coding skills in the use of Scratch software, web page design, getting students to set up their own blogs and iMovies and podcasts. She will be a valuable addition to our school staff. We look forward to the arrivals of both Lidia and Ailsa next year.

Our 2019 enrolment will necessitate a restructuring of our class arrangements in 2019. At this stage I can announce that Amanda Hilder will continue to teach our F – 2 students, whilst Hayley Brown will now teach a Year 3 – 5 class, with our Year 6 students next year becoming a part of a Year 6 – 8 class for the delivery of all areas of the Australian Curriculum. This class will receive most of its teaching from Mphilisi Manombe and Lidia Szlezak, with extra curriculum in the areas of LOTE, Technology and Kitchen Garden. At the top end we will still deliver curriculum to our Senior Students who will also have access to subjects delivered through the Open Access College, Edward John Eyre High and the Far North Partnership. Sasha Andersson will continue to teach Indonesian, Adnamatna and Music to the F – 10 Year levels, while Joelle Sharples will be involved once again in the Kitchen Garden curriculum and Travis McDonald will return to Hawker once again to teach Digital and Design Technology.

At the last Governing Council meeting for the year, two pupil free days (January 29th and 30th) were approved for the start of 2019. The start of next year will be a little different from normal, with staff at Hawker Area School attending the two days at Roxby Downs where the focus will be on Literacy. These days were agreed to by the Far North Partnership as our agreed pupil free days for 2019. At the two days our Primary staff and some or our Ancillary staff will receive instruction in Read Write Inc., a synthetic phonics program, which has been shown to be highly successful in accelerating students through their initial learning of Oral Language, and then through the other parts of the Big Six components of reading. Right through the partnership there will be an investment in Read Write Inc. as our chosen approach to the teaching of phonics.

Our secondary staff will also be traveling to Roxby Downs for PD in Literacy Improvement in the Middle Years facilitated by Katrina Spencer who has played a leading role in teaching and learning in the Far North this year. The second of the two days will focus on SACE Improvement and collaboration. This will include SACE Subject “LINKING” across the partnership, also Collaborative LAP task designing across partnership schools and the development of professional networks across partnership.

Thank you to all our families for all your support this year. With the weather just starting to warm up, we have confirmation that we live in Hawker! I would like to wish you all a great Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing you all in 2019.

Mr Daren O’Neill
Principal Hawker Area School

Foundation – Year 2

Signing off from the strange and mysterious land of the little people…

The students have cleaned out their drawers,
And taken all their work off the walls.
Cardboard and cellophane fly,
With split pins and scissors on high.

Borrowers have returned all their Library books,
And received some favourable looks,
From proud adult staff who have worked very hard,
To guide so futures aren’t barred.

Play practise has been daily
Children working not to fail
With their intention on the night
To make folks proud not feel fright.

So as a busy and challenging year closes
We look back understanding how things go
When we work hard, take our time,
Respect and be kind.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Best Wishes to you for all of the school holidays and I am looking forward to welcoming my new Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 class in 2019.

Mrs Amanda Hilder
Foundation – Year 2 Teacher

Year 3-6 class

What a busy term it has been! The 3-6 class had their class sleepover in week 6 which was a huge success. They had a talent show, watched movies, played games and spent some quality time together. It was a super fun night spent with friends and the kids were very well behaved.

We watched the movie ‘Wonder’ at the beginning of the term which had great messages about kindness, friendship, and acceptance. The class really enjoyed the movie with some kids getting rather emotional. It showed them how important the key messages in the movie are, and has encouraged many positive conversations over the term.

In English learning about the different types of poems. The students came up with some very funny and creative poems. These included Acrostic poems, Haiku’s, Limerick’s, Cinquain’s and Ode’s.

In HASS this term we learned about the Australian continent, our neighbours and similarities and differences between places. The class had a great time using their iPads to find out as much as they could about our country.

It’s been a massive year with lots of memories made. I hope everyone has a fun filled holiday and I look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year.

Miss Hayley Brown
Year 3-6 Teacher

Year 7-12 class

We have come to the end of 2018 and it is incredible how this year has swiftly glided by. 2018 for me has been a very productive year and there surely are a lot of positive achievements that we need to celebrate.

The 7 - 9 English class focussed on narrative writing, poetry analysis and poetry writing this term. In their narrative texts the learners deliberated on skills of incorporating descriptive language, creating atmosphere and bringing some gothic elements in their stories. In their poetry writing they incorporated poetic devices such as rhyme, alliteration, imagery and onomatopoeia. There is nothing as rewarding as seeing one’s class blossom. If I sit back and reflect on how my Year 8 to 9s were in regards to their English skills 2 years back and compare to where they are now and what they have achieved within 24 months, all I feel is joy; and great joy! Our Hawker kids make me exceedingly proud because they definitely have got grit and resilience. With these attitudes; I am very optimistic they’ll be super successful in their future lives.

In Geography the 7-9 class completed their field work which was started in the last few days of Term 3. Their investigations on tourism in Wilpena Pound and Castle Rock were partly a success and partly a challenge for most, nevertheless, they did improve on their inquiry skills, including the use and interpretation of maps, photographs and other representations of geographical data. They gained critical analysis skills when they had to finally synthesise their findings and present these in report format. They gained knowledge and understanding of crucial information on the plant and animal life in their researched landforms and explained how humans are influencing the change of the landscapes there.

The SACE Stage One Essential English, Essential Mathematics, English and PLP results have already been confirmed by the SACE Board and three of our students have passed. The SACE Stage One candidates should give themselves a pat on their backs because we know they put a lot of effort in their work in order to reap their excellent results.

The Stage Two results will be out on the 18th of December. The SACE Board still needs to confirm students’ exam results and external assessments but all school assessment grades have been confirmed. Hawker Area School this year has been very lucky to have candidates of the calibre of Mariah, JR and Kimberly. We are glad that they are graduating and moving on with their lives. I would like to extend my thanks to the parents and caregivers for continuing to be supportive to our learners at this very advanced and critical stage.

I wish the 7 - 12 class a marvellous restful festive season over the coming holidays. I know most of you were crying because Mr Urbancic is leaving but the sweets and cakes you’ll eat over this joyous time of year will definitely cheer you up. So; Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2019. I wish you all the best!

Mr Mphilisi Manombe
Year 7-12 Teacher

Physical Education and STEM

I would first like to begin by graduating JR, Kimberly and Mariah for successfully completing their Year 12 studies and achieving their SACE. Their final exams were held a couple of weeks ago and they should all be extremely proud of their hard work and achievements throughout their schooling journey. They have all been a privilege to teach and I wish them all the best for their future endeavours, I know they will all have bright and successful futures ahead.

To all the students in the school, the end of the year is a nice chance to take a moment, reflect and look back where we have come from. Presentation Night was an example of all the accomplishments and growth you have achieved throughout 2018. All of you have grown and improved in some way or another this year and everyone is proud of how far each and every one of our students has come. Let’s keep this going in 2019 and beyond.

Personally I would like to thank all staff, parents and families for their support at all sporting events this year. It makes my job so much easier as many hands make light work. Simple things such as giving your children the opportunity to attend these events is greatly appreciated by myself, and does not go unnoticed. For a small school Hawker Area provides our students a lot of different avenues to find success in sporting events. Compared to other schools we have a vibrant sporting culture which is evident to from our high participation rates to our active recess and lunch times.

As most of you are aware I will be leaving Hawker Area School at the end of this year to teach at Flinders View Primary School as their F-7 HPE teacher. Hawker has been a massive part of my life over the last 4 years and I am grateful for the experiences, memories and people I have met along my journey. This school community is very much underrated and a lot of hard work occurs behind the scenes away from public eye. The sacrifices our school staff makes to educate our students is selfless. Often having to move long distances from family, friends and loved ones and using their valuable downtime during weekends and holidays to visit them. I shall miss you all and hope that I have in some way improved your life positively.

Good luck to those staff and students leaving at the end of the year. I wish Daren, the entire teaching staff and students all the best too. I say see you later, thanks for the memories and please stay in touch as I am just down the road in Port Augusta. I hope everyone has a fantastic break and happy holidays. Stay safe, be merry and all the best for 2019.

Mr Vinny Urbancic
Physical Education Teacher and STEM Coordinator

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all ……..

Wishing you Sparkle,
Wishing you Cheer,
For a Bright Merry Christmas
And
A Happy New Year!

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