YAS-News Term 1 Week 1 2023
A note from the Principal
Hi everyone and welcome to our first newsletter for 2023. I trust you all had a great break and managed to spend some quality time with your families. We will begin by welcoming to our YAS family the following new staff:
Jess Mikulcic - Middle School, Narissa Dunn - Middle School, Alana Jade - Primary School, Rebecca Catt - Primary School.
Once again our learning focus across the school will be to improve our writing. Our goal is “ For all ( R-12) students to demonstrate at least 12 months growth in writing per year for the next three years.” All our students will have personal goals in this area as well and Numeracy and Social and Emotional Wellbeing. Your child’s classroom teachers will share their goals with you across the year.
We are implementing three- way conversations, (teacher, students and families) in alternate terms to school written reports as a way to provide authentic student voice in their learning. These will look different depending on the year levels of students and more information will follow.
You may have noticed in the media over the holidays the increase in school fees at most schools. We are NOT one of those schools. We have actually decided to reduce our fees to support our families with the increase cost of living in recent months. We do ask that when you do receive your accounts that you pay as promptly as possible as this is the money we use to provide the resources back to your children, to support their learning. Its very important that if you feel you may be eligible for School Card that you apply on line as soon as possible. The office staff can assist you in this process. If you need to part pay your school fees, payment plans are available so please come and ask our staff.
Our year 10, 11 and 12 students are now enjoying a new learning space as we have moved the senior library to the back of the school and have developed this space into two classrooms, an office for our Senor Leader, a kitchen space for our students and a lounge area. Feedback from the students already is they are really enjoying the new furniture.
Since Christmas there have been many teacher cars parked at the back of school unloading all sorts of goodies for their students and making their learning spaces very inviting. A recent article I read, said on average a teacher spends $1500 of their own money each year on beautifying their learning space and extra resources for the students. Last Sunday I walked around all the rooms and the care and creativity in each learning space was amazing. If you have more than one child at our school, you will notice different resources in different learning areas and this is purely a teacher decision. When we have our acquaintance evening in week three, you will all get to have a look at what I am talking about.
Once again welcome to all our new staff and new students and families. I look forward to working with you all to ensure you all have the best year possible. A reminder that I am out the front of school on most mornings , so stop and have a chat or let me know if there is anything I can help you with.
Happy term one everyone!
Mobile Phones in Schools
We have updated our mobile phone rules for students in line with the department’s statewide policy to support safe and productive learning environments.
This means, from Monday 6th February ( Week 2), students must keep their mobile phones and other personal devices (such as smartwatches) off and away at school.
There will be no change to the existing arrangements for students with extenuating circumstances, such as students who use their personal device to manage a medical condition.
These updates will help our students learn free from distraction and encourage more meaningful face-to-face time with peers.
We appreciate your support as we implement these new rules.
Christine
A note from the Pastoral Care Worker
Every day the sun rises, is a new beginning.
2023 is upon us, in fact January has come and gone, and February waits for no one.
A new year with new beginnings, perhaps a new school, new friends, new teachers, new classrooms.
When we’re approaching a new situation, it may be helpful to reflect on the past, but don’t dwell on it.
Look ahead - with gratitude. Perhaps with gratitude that the past is in the past or that the present, presents a new beginning to get up and have another go.
There is an old saying “ you can’t look back and keep the furrows straight “. Ask a farmer, they will tell you, you must look ahead, glance behind, but don’t shift your focus to where you’ve been.
The future is before us, the new challenges and triumphs are ahead of us .. buckle up and launch into 2023 with hope, faith and optimism.
Kind regards, Wendy
Welcome to our new reception children!
We would like to welcome all of our new Reception students and families to YAS. What a week they have had! They have been busy learning about our school and making lots of new friends. We are very proud of the way they have settled in and look forward to a very exciting year!
Emma Zimmermann, Rebecca Catt and Emily Cameron
Bahasa Indonesia - Connecting with Makassar through the SDGs
Last year, we had Pak Muhlis from our sister school in Indonesia visit in Term 4. During his stay he worked with some Year 3/4 students creating images for a mural based around the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) "Life below water".
Once Pak Muhlis and the students had drawn some of the creatures found in the sea around Makassar, we put them onto a mural and the students painted it with Bu Ellin. We are very excited to have the mural going outside the Indonesian room and have asked students in our sister school in Makassar to send us some drawings to make another mural depicting the SDG "Life on land", which will showcase the flora and fauna found in and around Makassar in Sulawesi.
The teachers at Makassar also loved the mural, when it was sent to them on our Whats app group and are looking forward to collaborating on the next mural.
This is one of the ways we are connecting with our sister school and increasing our Global Citizenship at YAS.
Immunisations
The SA School Immunisation Program will be offered in school for all Year 7, 8 and 10 students. Immunisation consent packs have been sent home through your child. It is important that you read the information contained in the packs.
All parents/ legal guardians are to complete and return the consent cards, even if you do not consent.
If you have not receive an Immunisation Consent pack from your child, please ask at the school office.
Year 7 and 8 students are offered the HPV, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough vaccine.
Year 10 students are offered the meningococcal B and meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
If you have any further questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact the school and ask for me Hafiz (secondary teacher).
Kind regards, Hafiz
BOOK CLUB - Issue 1
Please see below the link to Issue 1 of Book Club. Orders close on Wednesday 15th February.
Preparing for a Bushfire
Our school has detailed plans in place to keep your child safe on catastrophic fire days or in the event of a bushfire.
To help us keep your child as safe as possible, parents and caregivers can prepare for the fire danger season by:
- making a bushfire survival plan with your family
- providing us with your up-to-date contact details
- advising the school/preschool if your family’s personal bushfire survival plan will impact school attendance
- talking to your child about what will happen in a bushfire emergency
- liking the CFS, SES and SAPOL pages on Facebook
- adding the emergency information hotline 1800 000 279 to your contacts.
Parents and caregivers should also read and save the new bushfire and your child’s school or preschool brochure. This resource explains what our school will do on a catastrophic fire day or in the event of a fire.
Get the brochure by searching ‘bushfire information’ on www.education.sa.gov.au.
National Walk Safely to School Day
Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 19 May 2023. Please save the date.
This May will mark the 24th anniversary of National Walk Safely to School Day. Championed by the Pedestrian Council Australia, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking, or alternative active transport (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children, not just on 19 May, but every day.
Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking (or similar) also has a favourable impact on children's cognitive and academic performance.
