Principals Report
Principals Newsletter Article
It has been a busy start to the term where we have regularly had staff and students away from school due to COVID and other ailments. On average each week we have had at least one staff member and students from one or more classes absent due to COVID, in addition to this we've had further absences connected to the regular strains of flu and gastro illnesses that occur at this time of year. This has certainly had an impact on how everything has operated at the school from the classroom to our front office. A big thank you to our staff, students and parents who have helped to keep our classes going, and stay healthy themselves. We have had to cancel our Open Night and planned Pupil Free Day due to this situation, these events simply would not have had the impact they are meant to have.
On our school events, this week past we had our school trip to the Quorn Area School Sports Day, well done to our students for the efforts that they put into their events on such a beautiful day. We also have planned our own sports day for September the 2nd at which Marree Aboriginal School and students from SOTA are expected to compete. Being a little later in the year, hopefully the weather will be kind to us, it can flip around a little, but the odds are in our favour!
Kim Adele took our footballers and one netballer to Port Augusta also earlier this term. The boys played as part of the Quorn Team and performed well against good opposition, going down in a semi final where they kept the top placed team almost scoreless in the second half, a great effort. Well done to all the boys who attended on this, the level of competition that the Port Augusta schools offer is quite high and from the sounds of it our boys showed a great attitude and competed well.
Last Wednesday TADSA (Technology for the Aging and Disability SA) visited the school to work with some of our students in the area of designing bikes and trikes which accommodate personal needs such as balance. The primary role of TADSA is to provide personalised assistive technology equipment and services to those who live with a disability, a role which they have provided for 45 years. Rob Calder came up to work with our students and had a range of bikes with various assistive technologies incorporated. The experiences of our students was fantastic as they gained confidence in riding bikes with a sense of safety and fun. Rob stayed through lunchtime and gave the opportunity to some of our other students to try out the technology and consider the benefits that it brings. Many thanks to Optimal Support and Jacinta Dempsey who helped to organise the opportunity for this to occur.
Our Yura Muda camp to Vulhathana in the Gammon Ranges will be in Week 9 from September 19th to the 23rd for our Year 4 students upwards. The first note on this went out last week and there is more to follow.
As always if parents have any questions I can be contacted at the school on 86484003 or by my email at daren.oneill253@schools.sa.edu.au.