Looking back on a very busy year that started with me being a new teacher to Hawker Area school. I had come over from two years at Port Augusta Special school. I remembered Daren from my days at Jamestown Community School where Daren was also working back around 2003. I was very excited to be part of the staff at this school. 

Term 1
Term one began with Peter being the main SSO assisting in the SWAN room and Jarvo on Fridays. He was able to show me the ropes and help me settle into being the Teacher in the SWAN room.

The SWAN room began the year with three students. Ruby, Khloe and Logan. It was to be a new thing for them to have Ruby join the class after working Solo with Anna the previous year.

Ruby settled in very well and enjoyed doing lots of music with Sarah and Peter who lent us his violin and keyboard for a while.

We had been granted $2000 for a grant application that I put in last November from the Music Strategy group and we purchased some fruit shakers and 24 Chromatic Tone Chimes. I was interviewed on Radio ABC to talk about how we would use the new equipment we purchased with the grant money.

Early in Term one we had a week of swimming lessons and all three students really enjoyed the experience of being in the water and building up their confidence. Especially Ruby who was a little difficult to get out of the pool when the it was time to get dressed and return to school. What a wonderful way to cool off in the hot summer sun!

In week 4 we had the Hyper Gym people come up and they were here for two days. All three students had a try on their equipment on both days. They enjoyed exploring the various pieces of soft equipment that they provided for the students and listening, sometimes, to their professional advice on how to get the most out of the day.

In week 8 Ruby and Khloe joined the 3-12 students in Adelaide for the school camp with assistance from their parents who took them down and stayed with them at the accommodation. Peter drove the bus to help transport students to various events over the week. I know they all had a fantastic time and what an amazing experience for all concerned.

I stayed back in the SWAN room with Logan and Malcolm was my SSO for the week.

We did a few different activities and celebrated Harmony Day on the Friday wearing Orange, making jewelry and coloring in our Harmony card and eating different food that was orange…

In week 9 we went on an excursion to the Port Augusta Special school where we had the opportunity to meet staff and students and have a play time in their new playground. Peter stayed back to do his PE lessons and Mija kindly offered to drive the bus with Malcolm being our SSO help too.

It felt like a long drive but all of the students enjoyed being out and about. We stopped at Quorn to buy snacks on the way home and a good day was had by all.

On the last day of school Peter, Jarvo, myself and the SWAN students went for another small local excursion. We took the school bus to the local shops and students used money to purchase an ice cream. We took our ice-creams to the local park and had a little Picnic and play before heading back to school.

During term one we had a very busy time and I heard a little whisper that we were to be getting a new student in Term 2. More on this exciting news soon.

Term 2 
Term two rolled in after a lovely holiday break where I went to Adelaide with my daughter to visit her Nanna and celebrate hers and Nannas birthdays with a lovely meal at Café Primo TTP, also a visit with my husband to Broken Hill to visit my son, his partner and our two grandchildren.

Term Two saw a new student Dan arrive in our class. He stayed for some of the term and was starting to settle in very well after a couple of weeks. Dan was with us until the end of week 5.

Going back a little to the lead up to Mother’s Day, the students did a little activity and had their photo taken to give a gift to their mothers.

Week 3 and we had a walk to school day on the Friday with students meeting at the Park and walking together back to school. Staff enjoyed the opportunity to purchase a take away coffee from Flinders Food and mostly our students walked very well. Logan was not impressed when we arrived at school because he wanted to walk some more!

Week 5 came around very quickly with Do it for Dolly Day on the Tuesday where we all dressed up in Blue and made a donation.

In week 8 Peter and Sarah went to Whyalla for a Positive Partnerships training course. We packed up the school car on the Tuesday afternoon and headed over to Whyalla to book into the very nice motel the school organized for us. We attended two days of training which was fantastic and met lots of people who work in a similar area to us. We ate more than we should and came back Thursday afternoon full of good ideas and feeling very positive about our work in the SWAN class.

In week 9 the SWAN class had an excursion to the Port Augusta Special school. We had Mija drive the school bus and Malcolm came along as SSO support. We separated by year level and attended some of the school day with the other students. We had time to socialize and make new friends at lunch time and then we got back into the school bus for a ride home with all our freshly cooked chicken nuggets.

What a whirlwind term and soon it will be holiday time.

Term 3
In term 3 we saw the return of Dan who came back to the SWAN room in week 3. We were all very happy to see him again and he has settled into the school routine very well, being our most chatty member of class.

In week 2 we celebrated NADOC and Khloe and Ruby joined in with the activities provided by some of our parents and local community. Thank you so much for your time, the students really enjoyed themselves.

Also, in week 3 was school photo day on the Monday and some lovely photos came of this experience. I was very proud that they were able to feel comfortable having their photo taken. We have had lots of practice with this over the year. Miss Sarah loves to take photos of her students working or having fun.

In week 5 we had book week with opportunities for students to dress up and a parade around the school to show off our costumes. Well done every one.

In week 6 there was Open Day with opportunities to mingle and look around the classrooms. 

Week 7 was a busy week with Wellbeing Day where our students had plenty of opportunities to try new activities over the course of the day.

Also, in week 7 we had Sports Day. Thank you to those parents and family to helped out so that students who wanted to take part were able to.

In week 9 we did our last trip for the year to the Port Augusta Special school. We travelled in the school bus driven by Mija, we had Amy, Jarvo, Malcolm, and myself accompany students for the day. We had the chance to join one of the classes and to have playtime at lunchtime with their students and staff. A fun day for all.

A busy and fun term that flew by so quickly and then it was time for another beautiful holiday.