News
Literacy Coaching - Year 5/6/7
Our group of 7 students who have completed all Spelling Levels and work together with me, have a new name. We now call ourselves The Round Table Writers, (thank you Henry). We have a new focus, the etymology of words. All good writers love words, the sound of them, the impression words make on our feelings, the images words can evoke in our minds. It is important therefore for our writers group to have some understanding of how certain words have come into being. Each of us is choosing a word and exploring its earliest origins. Just as a Family Tree gives each of us an understanding of who we are and where we fit into the scheme of our family, so it is with the etymology of words. Our study will help us to have a fuller understanding of the various meanings of a word and how it came to have its present day meaning for us.
Regards,
Mandy Thompson
Literacy Coach
Principal's Report
What’s important in a School?
It’s been an incredibly busy couple of weeks here at SCMS as we’ve been here there and everywhere with both Primary and Secondary Interschools up at Maitland, a Year 5/6 Football Carnival at Maitland, Hockey clinics at the school and the Premiership Cup Incursion to SCMS. In between all of this we’ve been plugging away with our teaching and learning programs, as well as the interruptions that NAPLAN brought by being in Term 1 instead of Term 2.
Out of all those adventures the most significant moments were the incidental moments along the way.
It’s knowing it’s more important for our children to see the joy on the faces of our friends from Leisure Options getting to hold the cup, then getting to hold the cup themselves.
It’s knowing that the sportsmanship and care our students showed to each other at interschool to be a part of a team, is more important than the ribbons on their chest at the end of the day.
It’s knowing the guts it takes for students to make a microphone and speak a sentence at assembly is as important as the work they are holding up under their chins.
Finally, it’s continuing to build a culture of the ‘we’ rather than the ‘I’ is one of the most important thing we can teach our children at school. You’ll notice where possible, we are as inclusive as possible with our actions in our community. Whether it’s including every child in the relish making, every child holding the cup, group photos on Facebook rather than individual shots, it’s teaching our children that while individual achievements should be celebrated, the real joy lies in when we can share in these celebrations as a group.
While we are on the topic of Facebook many of our families give permission for our students to feature on Facebook posts. Facebook gives us the opportunity to share with the wider community some of the wonderful achievements of our children.
We’re incredibly conscious of ensuring the dignity of each child in these posts, and where possible asking for consent from each child (knowing by law we have consent from their parents).
You’ll rarely see us use first names, and you’ll never see us use last names. As mentioned above, group shots talk more about our school then individual shots, is far safer and teaches our kids more about being part of a community.
Building Schedule
For those of you that have been on site you would have seen that our R-2 building is nearing completion!
We are likely to take occupancy of this building sometime during Week 1 or 2 of Term 2. At this time our Junior Primary will move over to our new classrooms which are full of light, new furniture and contemporary facilities.
It’s an incredibly exciting time and I can only be grateful for the patience of our community through this build.
What happens next?
The builders will then turn their attention to the Middle and Upper Primary building and complete an entire refurb of this building. This will include the creation of break out spaces, a learning deck for our Upper Primary class, new carpets, joinery, and furniture.
A detailed plan will be sent to our community on where our Year 3/4, Year 5, Year 6/7 classes will be located throughout a 6-8 week period of Term 2 next week. This is currently being finalised as we move closer to handover.
Easter Reflection
Easter is a time of celebration and gratitude, but also a time of reflection and renewal. It is a time to pause from our busy schedules and appreciate the gift of life that God has given us. It is a time to reconnect with our families and friends, and to cherish the bonds that we have with them.
Easter reminds us that we are not alone in this journey of faith. We are part of a larger family, the family of God, that spans across generations and cultures.
This Easter season, let us take the opportunity to slow down and be with our families. Let us enjoy the simple pleasures of sharing meals, stories, and laughter.
Let us pray together and thank God for his love and mercy.
Importantly, let us also reach out to those who may be lonely or in need and show them that they are not forgotten.
God Bless,
Scott
Home Economics - Delicious Produce for Sale
Relish
Amidst the chaos of incursions and excursions across the school last week, we found the time to work with chef Jo on our first ever whole school Relish.
We started the process in October, planting out tomato seedlings that popped up in the old chook run, where the new building is now. We nurtured the apples, tomatoes and onions in the green space over the summer and have been able to prepare this beautiful relish with our own ingredients - which every student in the school has stirred with love and care!
There is a jar of relish for each family. If you would like one, pop a small donation in an envelope and send in with your child next week.
All donations go towards the seeds and seedlings for the Green Space.
Soup
Soup will be available for purchase at lunchtime for the whole school, with optional herb damper.
Using our own seasonal green space produce – pumpkins, potatoes, onions, garlic, herbs – All grown by the students in our Green Space.
Pumpkin soup or potato and bacon soup.
Lunchtime, Thursday April 13th - cost $2
All food made on-site by Chef Jo, please advise the school if your child requires allergy friendly options by Tuesday April 11th.
Hockey 2023 Season
Season starts 29th April with games played on Saturdays. Trainings at Minlaton, travelling to Maitland, Moonta, Minlaton and Kadina for games.
Currently looking for U8, U11, U15 and U18 mixed competion players as well as players for the Women's team.
Training dates to be confirmed.
For anyone interested in playing Hockey this year, please contact Joylene Button on 0438 341 215 or Katie Johnson on 0428 351 321.
Senior Primary News
Mathematics in the 6/7 classroom!
Our Year 6/7 class has been working hard to learn about mean, median, and mode. These three measures of central tendency are essential concepts in mathematics, and our students have shown great dedication to understanding them.
Throughout the term, our students have been practicing how to calculate the mean, median, and mode in various contexts. They have learned that the mean is the average of a set of numbers, the median is the middle number in a set of numbers arranged in order, and the mode is the number that appears most frequently in a set of numbers.
Our students have been using both manual calculations and digital tools like calculators and spreadsheets to calculate these measures. They will also be applying their knowledge to real-life examples, such as calculating the average score of a sports team or the average height of a group of people.
One of the highlights of this unit, has been how well our students have been working together to solve problems. Our students showed great teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Students have made excellent progress in their understanding of mean, median, and mode. We are proud of our students' hard work and dedication, and we look forward to seeing them apply their knowledge in the future.
Interschool Sports
Monday 27th March, five Year 7 students made the trip up to Central Yorke School to be the first to participate in the Secondary Interschool Sports Day. With rain all the way to Maitland we were anticipating the day to be cancelled but thankfully with a delayed start the nerves rattling and the cheering beginning sports day vibes started to take place. All students participated at a high standard enjoying their day. Due to the rain some events had to be cancelled which left students disappointed, but the track and some field events took place. Congratulations Max, Jada, Sam, Angus and Tanja for representing St Columba's for the first time in Secondary Interschool. You all did extremely well, and we are super proud of your efforts.
Tuesday 28th we trekked up to Central Yorke again with 20 students participating in the primary interschool sports day. It was fantastic to see so many parents come and be involved and cheer students on. The sportsmanship shown by students was evident, students stepping up taking on events last minute but to be honest the highlight of my day was seeing students giving everything a go pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and rewarding themselves by participating and telling me how proud they are of themselves after their event. Congratulations to the students winning the events on the day and receiving medallions. Overall, we placed in fourth spot which is an outstanding effort by all students. By the end of the day the legs were tired, the bodies were worn out but our students' hearts were full as some little things they mentioned were "I wanted to give up my legs ached, and I had a stitch in my side, but I just kept going" and "Champions keep going till they get it right". So, with the positive mindset of our students, a great day was had by all.
On Friday 31st four students travelled to Maitland to make a combined team with YAS and Warooka students to be involved in a SAPSASA Football carnival. The boys won 2 and lost 2 games, overall, it was a great day with them all thoroughly enjoying the day.
The final event was held on Monday 3rd April with Sam Phasey representing SCMS in the Secondary State Athletics Carnival at Santos Stadium in Adelaide. Sam participated in high jump, jumping 1.4m and placed 2nd. Congratulations Sam!
Congratulations to everyone involved with the past week of events, it was a busy and tiring week but highly successful.
Regards,
Suzie
Junior Primary News
In Year 1/2, the students have been learning addition skills and have collected natural resources, including leaves, rocks, and gumnuts; as maths manipulatives to develop their learning. This approach to learning mathematics allows students to engage with their surroundings and apply their understanding of numbers in a practical way.
By using natural resources, students gain a deeper understanding of mathematics and learn to appreciate the natural world around them. This approach to learning has encouraged creativity and problem-solving skills, as students must find ways to present their mathematics understandings.
We enjoyed going on a short excursion to forage and collect the resources.
