Newsletter 6 - Term 1 - Week 10 - 2022

Introduction

(by Acting Principal Bert Beekhuizen)

Dear parents, families and carers.

It is unfortunate that illness (including COVID-19) has returned to our school with several staff and students absent during the last two weeks. However, this has not reduced the enthusiasm shown by all towards their classroom work and towards the exciting events that have occurred during the fortnight.

Swimming Carnival

I was so pleased to be part of the excitement that was shown by students, staff and families at the swimming carnival last Friday. The skills and efforts of all students were amazing and the cheering for both the Redbacks and Scorpion competitors was constant. We all admired the willingness of students to participate and to try their best, even if the distance at times was challenging for some. The carnival proceeded smoothly and was well-coordinated by Mr Molnar and all staff. However, we were also so fortunate to have had the help of some of our older students throughout the day. They assisted some of the younger students in the pool and provided invaluable help with a range of other tasks outside the pool (even helping to take down the marquees at the end of the carnival).

Of course, everyone was extremely keen to know the winning team. There was lots of wild enthusiasm when the scores were revealed at assembly on Friday afternoon:

REDBACKS       519 points and SCORPIONS     499 points

REDBACKS WON BY 20 POINTS

I believe that it was the first time the Redbacks had won the carnival for many years, so it was extra special for the supporters. Again, thanks to Mr Molnar and staff for their hard work, to the students who helped during the day and to the families and friends who came along to support the event. Of course, CONGRATULATIONS to all students who participated.

Swimming Carnival

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Sad News from Mr de Beer

It was with sadness that we read on Thursday that Mr de Beer will not be returning to AAS as Principal. I know that Mr de Beer has been a wonderful leader who has worked tirelessly with staff, students and families to set up structures and processes to ensure that student learning is the focus of everything that we do. I know that everyone will miss Mr de Beer and would wish him all the very best with his family in New Zealand.

In the meantime, I have been asked (and accepted) to remain as Acting Principal at AAS while the position is advertised early next term to be filled for the commencement of term 3. I look forward to working with you all during the term.

“Banding Together” Event

It was extremely disappointing that it was necessary to postpone our “Banding Together” event on Wednesday evening. A lot of planning and practice had gone into the event but, due to the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 numbers since the weekend, we felt that it was critical that we did not host an event that could result in further escalation of illness. The planning group is keen to re-schedule the evening for the not-too-distant future.  

Assembly

Once again, congratulations to the students who were presented with Merit Awards at our final assembly of the term.

Each fortnight, it is great to recognise the special efforts that our students make, and I know that teachers often have a difficult task of selecting their class winners. At today’s assembly, we also had 2 recipients of the Principal’s Award – Cooper and Ieshah. On top of that, Ieshah also won the school’s Pennant Award. This is an award that is presented to a student who has won 4 Principal’s Awards. Ieshah has had an amazing start to 2022 and has been such a responsible student and wonderful role model. She was certainly a very deserving winner of this award.

Apple Education Session

This week a selection of year 4-6 students and teachers were engaged in a workshop run by Apple Education. Participants learned how to use features on iPads to create presentations that were both engaging and informative. This workshop was the beginning of an exciting partnership that we have developed between Apple Education and Alyangula Area School.

Mural Art Project

During the last three days of this term, up to fourteen students from our school participated in a special interactive Graffiti Mural workshop that was held in the GEAT building at Angurugu. Organised by GEAT, the project enabled students to work with highly creative Mural artists who designed amazing outlines that the students then painted. Several students and community members from Angurugu also attended their allocated sessions and the works have added incredible colour to Angurugu School walls and the community buildings. Despite the hot weather, the students persevered and were pleased to be part of the project. Well done to all participants!

Mural Art Project

Free Dress Day Fund Raiser

On Friday, 18^th March, the SRC coordinated their very forst event as SRC Members. Students and staff participated in a free dress day to raise much-needed funds for the Qld flood victims. We were so pleased to learn this week that the school raised $660.90. We would like to thank everyone who participated and for the generous donations that were received. It was a fun day with a great outcome for some very needy people.

Student-Free Days

Parents and carers are reminded that, in conjunction with the other 3 schools in the Groote Archipelago, Alyangula Area School will undertake two further days of training to explore the Berry Street Education Model on Thursday and Friday, 21 and 22 April. The program had been supported by School Council and has been approved by the Department of Education. Therefore, week 1 of term 2 will be a very short one for students – only attending school on the Tuesday and Wednesday. Please mark this in your calendar.

School Website

It is with great excitement that we can inform families that new school website has gone live. Through the hard work of at least two of our admin ladies, Sue and Olivia, the website looks like it will be far more vibrant and interesting than our previous site. Therefore, we can advise that this current newsletter will have been forwarded to families in the usual way (via email or hard copies). However, all future newsletters, from the beginning of term 2 onwards, will be available through the website (and not emailed). Of course, hard copies will still be distributed to families who prefer this option. We hope you find the website useful and would value any feedback that you might like to provide. 

We Are Hiring

Alyangula Area School currently have vacancies for Assistant Teacher / Tutor positions. If you are interested in working to support students and eligible for a Working with Children / OCHRE Card please contact Mel at the school on 08 8987 6366 or via email mel.dougherty@education.nt.gov.au

Happenings Around AAS

 Out and about in Year 2/3

The students in the Year 2/3 classes have been busy learning and creating this term.

For Health the students have learnt about things that make them healthy, from food, exercise, being sun smart, to how to make our minds healthy. In groups, they decided on a healthy message they would like to share with the class. The topics were fitness, healthy bodies, well-being, or healthy food. The messages the students came up with were amazing.

Health

For writing, the students have been researching and finding information about the Big 5 African animals, Leopard, Lion, African Buffalo, Elephant and the Rhinoceros. The students have been learning about how to write paragraphs, editing their work, to be safe using technology and how to present their information differently. The students got to choose from a flipbook, poster or a PowerPoint presentation.

Writing

For Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), the students have been learning about different significant places in Australia. The students had to research the information using technology, ensuring they were asking the right questions into the search engines and write down the information collected into their own words.  

HASS

During handwriting students have been practicing how to form letters correctly and how to write neatly on dotted thirds lines. Each week the focus is on different letters and the Year 3s are beginning to learn how to join their letters together. This week the students focused on a super sentence, where they had to improve a simple sentence by using adjectives and wow words to enhance their sentence. The students worked in groups to brainstorm lots of different wow words and adjectives to help them write. 

Handwriting

Emergency Contact Details

Sometimes it is important for the school to contact parents or guardians immediately, especially if your child has had an accident. For this reason, it is essential that the school has accurate, up to date records of home and emergency contacts (that is another family member or a close, reliable friend). Please inform us of any changes in phone numbers, addresses or emergency contacts on 8987 6366. 

Food in the School

Alyangula Area School is a health-promoting school. As a community we encourage students to eat healthy food. Students should not be bringing soft drinks/energy drinks and/or junk food/sugar food to school. This includes chocolate, lollies, gum and energy drinks.

Parents may bring a birthday cake / treats to the school when it is your child’s birthday. However, notification must be given to the class teacher at least two days beforehand so that the teacher can check if any student in the class has food allergies.

Summary of Upcoming Events