ENewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

Important Diary Dates

From the Principal

I would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere condolences to Mandy Wild whose dad sadly passed away on Monday.

Mandy will be away from school while she deals with the passing of her dad. I’m sure you will join us in supporting Mandy with this and sending her, and her family, our kindest thoughts.

On Monday we had our Governing Council meeting. What follows is some notes from our meeting:

Wellbeing

The school Wellbeing Plan is being completed and will be published very soon. The Wellbeing and Engagement Collection (WEC) is a survey that is done in years 4 – 9 to gauge the wellbeing of our students. The results of this survey are used to inform our wellbeing plan. The WEC survey will be done this term and we will be supporting children to complete the survey so that we have genuine data that we can respond to.

Kylie Heinrich, our Pastoral Care Worker, continues at NPS on Mondays and Fridays and has increased to 12 hours per week until the end of the year. Kylie does some work in classes with Kimochis and supports other individuals and small groups with emotions and general wellbeing. Kylie also does the Breakfasts in the morning and runs the coffee club. You can contact Kylie here at school if you’d like to talk to her on any other wellbeing related topics!

The school does lots of work with emotions and regulation. We talk about emotions, the existence of both positive and negative emotions, and how our body reacts to such feelings. We also use, and practice, several regulation strategies including the use of brain breaks, movement breaks, restorative conversations, sensory toys and so on.

Additionally, with our focus on reading this term we have been focussed on reading to students as a means of regulating. We are working to build their ‘stamina’ – the ability to either sit and listen to reading being modelled by a teacher, or the ability to focus on reading themselves. We ask students to focus on what is being read rather than focussing on drawing, playing with a toy, whispering to their neighbour etc. in order to build their vocabulary and, in turn, their comprehension. Please encourage reading at home and/or for your child(ren) to engage with reading while here at school!

Equity and Excellence

SAPSASA - is in full swing and Mr Ellis has been working hard to provide some great opportunities for our students!

Aboriginal Education – a section of the garden has been allocated as an Indigenous space and we are planning what to plant their. We are hoping to use the Saltbush that we already have in some Reconciliation Week cooking.

STEM – Makers Empire is being used in several classes and students are highly engaged in this.

PLAYGROUP – we have started a Playgroup on Monday mornings which combines with the already existing Coffee Club. Parents who came to Coffee Club should continue to come along whether they have a child or not!

Please come along if you think it might be your cup of tea, and encourage / invite friends along too. There are fewer Playroups in the Barossa on a Monday so we are hoping we are providing a service to the community that they will enjoy.

Effective learners

As previously mentioned we have a focus in our SIP (Site Improvement Plan) on Reading this year. To support this we have introduced a Spelling & Phonics program in the Years 3 – 6. We have also introduced an Intervention program with several groups of students are working on synthetic phonics. This fill any gaps in the

From the Deputy Principal

Maker's Empire 3D Design

We have been fortunate enough to receive an IT package through Maker’s Empire 3D design. As a participating school, we receive a package worth approx $8,500 including:

~ 1 x Professional Development Day

~12 Months subscription to Makers Empire program

~ Access to Naturally Brave Challenge Course in the Makers Empire 3D App

~ 1 x 3D printer bundle

~12 Months subscription to the Growing With Gratitude fully resourced online program

Introducing access to 3D design in primary school can be both engaging and educational, providing students with opportunities to develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Here are some benefits and considerations:

Benefits:

· Hands-on Learning: 3D design activities allow students to engage in hands-on, experiential learning experiences, which can deepen their understanding of spatial concepts and geometry.

· Creativity and Innovation: 3D design encourages students to think creatively and explore their imagination as they design and create objects, structures, or models using digital tools.

· Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Designing in 3D requires students to plan, visualise, and problem-solve, promoting the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to analyse and solve complex problems.

· Cross-curricular Integration: 3D design projects can be integrated across various subject areas, such as science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM), allowing students to make connections between different disciplines.

· Digital Literacy: Introducing students to 3D design software and tools helps develop their digital literacy skills, preparing them for future educational and career opportunities in technology and design-related fields.

· Collaboration: Collaborative 3D design projects encourage teamwork and communication skills as students work together to plan, design, and create their projects.

· Real-world Applications: 3D design can be used to create prototypes, models, or simulations that represent real-world objects or concepts, providing students with practical applications for their learning.

· Differentiation: 3D design activities can be adapted to meet the diverse needs and abilities of students, allowing for differentiation and personalised learning experiences.

At Nuriootpa PS, we hope by introducing 3D design, with thoughtful planning and support, educators can foster a learning environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills essential for success in the 21st century.

Wellbeing at NPS

Gardening for Wellbeing

Dear Families

We are excited to share an initiative happening at Nuriootpa Primary School and need your support in helping us achieve our goal.

At Nuriootpa Primary School, we are dedicated to providing our students with enriching educational experiences that extend beyond the classroom. One of our current projects is the development of a school garden, which will serve as an invaluable learning resource for our students. Not just in curriculum areas but as a positive wellbeing experience for everyone, a safe place to sit and savour, a place to have first-hand experience with agriculture, an environment which will expose NPS students to native plants and provide our First Nations students with a connection to country.

The school garden project aims to create a three vibrant outdoor spaces where students can engage in hands-on learning experiences related to environmental science, biology, nutrition, sustainability and developing positive well-being. Through gardening activities, students will have the opportunity to learn about plant life cycles, ecosystems, healthy eating habits, and the importance of environmental stewardship, as well as developing pride and ownership of the school.

While we have made significant progress in establishing the foundation of our school garden, we still need additional support to complete the project and ensure its success. We have received a grant to begin the initial stages of the garden and seeking further grant funding but any donations can make a significant difference in helping us ensure the project is successful for the students.

We will be holding a working bee on Sunday the 16th of June (information below this letter) from 10.00am to prepare the area for development. This will potentially involve moving existing garden beds, tidying the area, turning/improving existing soil and adding required infrastructure.

Some of the donations we are seeking are:

· Soil, compost,

· Seeds, seedlings, and plants

· Gardening tools and equipment

· Irrigation system installation

· Garden signage and educational materials

By contributing to our school garden project, you will not only help enhance the educational experience of our students but also contribute to the beautification of our school grounds and the promotion of environmental awareness within our community.

We deeply appreciate any support you can provide, whether through a monetary donation, in-kind contributions, or volunteering your time and expertise. Your generosity will directly impact our students and help create a lasting legacy for generations to come.

If you would like more information about our school garden project or how you can support us, please feel free to contact me at the school. Thank you for considering our request, and we look forward to working with you to make our school garden a reality.

Warm regards,

Michael Rostig

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What's Happening at NPS

Mrs Stokoe's Year 1 Class

Students participate in the Nuriootpa RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service

Year 4 Zoo Snooze

Adelaide Zoo: the playground was really cool and fun. We liked seeing all the animals and the reptile house. The night walk was really fun. We also saw some bats flying over above our heads when we were having dinner. Going into the toy making room was very cool and fun.

Going to McDonalds: When we went every year 4 got a happy meal with a drink of their choice and we also played on the playground which was high, big and super fun!

Adelaide Botanic Gardens: We had our recess and lunch there. We had a little play in the autumn leaves. We saw heaps of cool plants that some of us haven’t seen before including the giant lily pads.

Adelaide Oval: The last day of our excursion we went to the Adelaide Oval. We got a private tour of the Oval including going in the locker rooms. We went inside the score board which was pretty old. We actually went the day after the Showdown! We even got to see some people on the roof.

Written By Holly Gates and Lexie Snell