Kapunda Primary School Newsletter

National NAIDOC Week

This week students and staff have been involved in a number of activities as part of National NAIDOC week. Held in the first week of July, NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. National NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. 

The 2023 National NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders. Across every generation Elders have played and continue to play an important role and hold a prominent place in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and families. They share their knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, in essence teaching the generations to come.

I’d like to thank Kerry Giles for her work in organising the activities.

External School Review Directions

This week I received confirmation of the 3 new directions following our External School Review earlier in Term 2. They are as follows:

Direction 1 

Provide opportunities for teachers to moderate in a range of subject areas to enable consistency and ensure the provision of assessment tasks which stretch and challenge students enabling high achievement

Direction 2 

Continue to strengthen the use of high impact teaching strategies including learning intentions, success criteria, goal setting and differentiation to ensure they become sustained and embedded practice 

Direction 3 

Strengthen the connection with parents to ensure they are working in partnership with the school to support students to achieve their identified next steps in learning.

They will also be published on the school webpage.

The leadership team will discuss what these new directions mean for future learning and connection to the SIP.

I thank students, staff and parents who took part in the review and look forward to working with them in actioning the new directions over the next 3 years.

A Growth Mindset & Hope

The concept of a Growth Mindset was developed by Psychologist Carol Dweck in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

A Growth Mindset (as opposed to a ‘Fixed Mindset’) is one where people believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Students who embrace growth mindsets believe they can become ‘smarter’ if they work hard and persevere. They may learn more, learn it more quickly and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve their learning.

What does thriving look like for you?

Take a moment to think about your mindset. In simple terms, you have just three possibilities regardless of where you find yourself in life:

So in all these difficult times successful people are seeing this as an opportunity to challenge themselves and learn new skills and capabilities. They are choosing to THRIVE.

Which possibility are you choosing?

The research consistently states that students with higher levels of HOPE experience improved mental and physical health as well as academic outcomes.

Mid-Year Student Reports

On Wednesday you would have received your child’s mid-year report. The reports provide a graded assessment (except for Receptions) for each curriculum area as well as a description of strengths and areas for improvement in English, Mathematics and Science. The mid-year student reports complement information shared at during Parent/Teacher interviews and support conversations and updates throughout the year. As always, parents/carers are welcome to contact their child’s teacher to make a time to discuss the written report as required.

Staffing update

I’m pleased to announce that Linda Travers will continue in Room 22A whilst Tammy Kearns is on leave.  Lauren Boyle will continue working in Room 9 on Wednesday whilst Emma Valentine will continue teaching PE/Health fortnightly on Wednesday. 

Student Device policy

As you would have seen in the media, the State Government has introduced a ban on mobile phones and personal devices in state schools. At our last Governing Council meeting the Student Use of mobile phones and personal devices policy was presented and approved by members. The policy had been sent out to families early in Term 2 for feedback whilst staff and students were also consulted.

This policy comes into operation on the first day of next term (Monday 24 July Term 3, 2023).

Reflecting on Term 2

It has been another productive and rewarding term for students and staff. As site leader, it is great to see the wide range of learning programs and activities provided for our students.

Some of the highlights of Term 2 include …

• Year 3/4 AFL Max and Year 5/6 Woodhouse camps
• Mini Concert put on by our Instrumental music students
• Targeted professional learning on Pupil Free Day to enhance teacher capacity in Big ideas in Number and Reading
• Purchase and installation of 3 new Smartboards, providing teacher and students with improved ICT equipment
• Introduction of new student polos, just in time for school photos
• Successful External School Review

I wish you and your children a safe July School holiday break. Hopefully you are able to spend some quality time together as a family.

See you all again on Monday, 24th July.

Kind regards,

David 

TERM 2

Thursday 6th July to Friday 7th July    Middle Primary Camp (AFL Max)

Friday 7th July            Last Day of Term 2 – Early finish @ 2.10pm

Term 3

Monday 24th July               Return to School for Term 3

Friday 1st September        Father's Day Stall

Monday 4th September    School Closure

Tuesday 5th September    Pupil Free Day

Wednesday 6th Sept to Friday 8th Sept    School Dentist

Friday 22nd September    Rotary Achiever Award

Friday 29th September     Last Day of Term 3 - Early finish @ 2.10pm

Please note that these dates are subject to change

Winners Junior Primary

Lucas Mickan 

This student is a confident, resilient and hardworking student. He shows initiative in class, helping with small jobs and tasks without being asked. He consistently challenges himself with learning tasks, often asking to complete the hardest Maths tasks or to be challenged with his writing and spelling. He is a leader in group tasks, often making sure that everyone has a voice and is included. He openly seeks feedback on how to improve and strives to do better each and every day. He quietly works behind the scenes, checking in on other students and making others feel included and special. If someone is upset, this student will stop what he is doing and check in on them, making sure they feel safe and valued no matter who they are. It is this sort of kindness and leadership that has made him stand out and be nominated for the Rotary Achiever Award. He is a well-deserving recipient.

Congratulations Lucas Mickan! 

Millie Farley 

This student is a supportive, caring and diligent student in our class. She is inclusive with her peers, always offering to include others in group tasks and regularly checking in with them when upset. She openly enjoys being challenged with her learning, taking on feedback and addressing it immediately in her work. She happily shares her understanding of concepts and isn’t afraid to make mistakes whilst learning, showing a growth mindset. She always has a positive attitude in the morning as she bounces into school with a smile and a joke. She consistently strives to demonstrate our school values and the keys to success, so much that this is her third time nominated in three years! She is a well-deserving recipient.

Congratulations Millie Farley! 

Winners Middle Primary

Eddie Valentine

This student has been nominated by his peers as he shows and uses the School Values and Program Achieve Keys successfully. His peers have recognised he makes sure everyone is ok, is kind and funny. He consistently helps out in the classroom and takes on extra jobs if he sees something needing doing. He gets along with everyone and makes sure everyone is ok. This student is a true role model for the Persistence key, through actioning feedback, working hard to complete tasks, using the "I can do it" attitude and never giving up. Congratulations on being successful for this term's Rotary Achiever Award.

Congratulations Eddie Valentine!

Sarah Jones

This student is a responsible student who works hard to follow the School Values and Program Achieve keys. She has been nominated by her peers for being a positive role model, being kind, funny and nice. She also doesn't let things stop her. She always bounces back from a problem and works hard to improve her learning through actioning feedback and working on her goals. This student goes out of her way to help out, not only in the classroom but also in the yard. A well-deserved nomination and winner of this terms Middle Primary Award.

Congratulations Sarah Jones!

Winners Upper Primary

Sam Mullins

This student was nominated by his peers for the following reasons:

• He is funny
• He is very kind to others
• He is very helpful and responsible 
• He is very sporty, but works hard to achieve goals and complete his work
• He gets along with everyone
• He is a loyal friend
• He always brings joy with him when he walks into the room
• He shows great leadership qualities

His teachers couldn't agree more and are very proud of the way this student consistently displays all of our school values and keys to success.  

Congratulations Samuel Mullins!

Amalie Doran

This student is very deserving winner of the Term 2 RAA award. She reflects our school values daily in the classroom and in the yard.  Her peers noted the level of respect she demonstrates for staff and students as well as her kind and caring nature. She is always willing to help her friends if they are injured or upset. She is a hardworking and dedicated member of our class. She strives to do her best at all times in class, determined to achieve her goals and persisting even when the learning is challenging.  This student is a well-liked and respected member of the class with an engaging sense of humour and enthusiastic approach to everything she does.

Congratulations Amalie Doran! 

Dear Families,

Congratulations to the students who have now completed the 2023 Premier’s Reading Challenge.  So far this year we have had 83 students complete the Challenge.  If your child has recently completed the Challenge please ask them to return their PRC record form so that their name can be added to the Premier’s Reading Challenge board in the library.

Please note all completed PRC record forms need to be returned to me by Friday, 8th September, 2023.  If your child needs another record form, please ask them to see me in the library.

Thank you,

Davina Holthouse