EE Term 3 2025 Newsletter

OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

Our Mission

Our mission is to foster academic and creative excellence in a respectful and nurturing educational environment. We strive to support student wellbeing and provide meaningful learning experiences that develop socially responsible and resilient life-long learners. Through collaboration and leadership, our students will engage in, and contribute to the community, both locally and globally.

Our Vision

At Pinnacle College, we celebrate diversity and uniqueness in an innovative and inclusive learning environment. Our vision is to equip students with the confidence and skills to reach their potential and meet the challenges of the future as global citizens, leaders and innovators.

Principal’s Message

Hello all parents, students and greater school community members. Another term, another newsletter article!

Term 3 was a very busy term for our students. From Science Week experiments, to our Secondary Sports Day, from Language Week festivities to our Swimming Week for our younger students, a lot happened. I can imagine our students are ready for their Term 3 break!

As is custom in the Principal newsletter article, I have a few reminders for our readers:

- While the term break is a great time to relax and wind down, it also presents an opportunity for our students. For our Year 11 and 12 students, the break is a fantastic time to revise and prepare for end of year assessments. For our younger students, I encourage our parents to support their children to set aside some time for some exercise, reading or picking up a hobby. We all know how addicting technology can be!

- Parent support at home: One of the most important factors for determining student success is parent involvement at home. Students learn and improve at an accelerated rate when parents are more involved with their school work. This does not mean that a parent has to sit down with their child every night of the week for homework completion. Asking students about what they are learning, reading together or setting up a more effective study environment at home are all examples of what can be done to be more involved. I urge all parents to be as involved as possible to assist with their child’s learning for Term 4 and beyond.

- Thank you! The traffic during after school pick up has improved immensely over the period of Term 2 and Term 3. I thank all parents for following the instructions of staff on duty. A kind reminder for all parents to kindly avoid parking in the bus zone. We have had times where the bus had a difficult time parking near the footpath due to traffic and cars parked in the bus zone. This presents a risk for other drivers and students.

Thank you for your ongoing support in assisting our school with teaching and educating our

Students.

I wish all of our parents and students a restful term break and hope that we are all recharged for

Term 4!

Kindest regards,
Omer Faruk Demirbas
Elizabeth East Campus Principal

Deputy Principal’s Message

As Term 3 comes to a close, there has been a wonderful buzz of activity and community spirit across our school.

For our Year 12 students, this was their final full term of schooling. We were incredibly proud of the effort, determination and leadership they displayed as they continued to prepare for their final assessments and future pathways.

The term was filled with many highlights. During Science Week, students demonstrated their scientific skills with exciting experiments on stage at assembly, sparking curiosity and plenty of “wow” moments. Book Week reminded us of the joy of reading, with our primary students delighting the school community in their colourful costumes during the much-loved Book Week Parade.

Our younger students also made a splash in Primary Swimming Week, enthusiastically developing their skills, confidence, and water safety.

We were also proud of the many students who participated in the ICAS assessments, taking on the challenge in English, Mathematics, Science, and Digital Technologies. These opportunities allowed our students to extend themselves academically and celebrate their achievements.

Language Week gave us the chance to celebrate the rich diversity of our school. Students and families shared food, stories, and history, reminding us of the many cultures that make our community unique.

Another highlight was our Secondary Sports Day, which was filled with energy, teamwork, and house spirit. A big congratulations to the Torrens Dragons, who were the overall winners on the day!

Looking ahead to Term 4, we know it will be another exciting and important chapter. Our Year 12s will sit their final exams and celebrate their schooling journey at their Graduation Ceremony. Year 10 students will take part in Work Experience Week, gaining valuable insights into future career pathways. For our primary years, the End of Year Ceremony and Year 6 Graduation will be special occasions to showcase talents and celebrate milestones.

Thank you once again to our staff, students, and families for making Term 3 so memorable. We look forward to finishing the year strongly together in Term 4.

Warm regards,
Thomas Schlicker
Deputy Principal

Teaching and learning coordinator

Term 3 has been buzzing with exciting opportunities for our students to stretch their minds and celebrate their love of learning.

Firstly, congratulations to all students who participated in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee. This national competition challenges students' spelling and vocabulary skills, and we were proud to see our students step up with enthusiasm and confidence. Their preparation, focus, and resilience were impressive!

Our students have also been involved in the ICAS assessments across a range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Digital Technologies. These optional, academic tests provide valuable insight into students' strengths and help us extend learners striving for academic excellence. Well done to all participants for giving it their best effort.

And of course, Book Week was a wonderful celebration of reading and storytelling! With this year’s theme, “Book an Adventure,” students and staff alike embraced the joy of books through dress-ups, shared reading sessions, author visits, and creative activities across all year levels. A special thank you to our library team and teachers for making it such a memorable week.

It’s been a joy to see students engaging so positively in all these opportunities. Their growth, curiosity, and love for learning continue to shine through.

Warm regards
Nibal Al Bayati
Teaching and Learning Coordinator

Library

WOW, what a busy term in the library. Book Week was fantastic. There is much more to Book Week than just dressing up for a book week parade. The Purpose of Book Week is to introduce, explore and celebrate the joy of reading.   Thanks to all the teachers and classes that put a lot of effort into promoting books with the wonderful door designs and promoting reading in the classroom. The Book Week parade for primary classes was a great way of students dressing up as their favorite book character. Thank you to all the parents who put in a lot of effort into the student costumes. 

Premiers Reading Challenge of South Australia has also now been completed.  This state-run incentive which promotes reading more books and increases literacy levels.  Those students from year 3 and above that have completed the PRC will receive an award later in the year.  Reception, year 1 and 2 complete this as a class, so they will automatically get the award.

Next term – Week 5 will be the last week for students to borrow books.  They can return books until week 7 or 8.  This provides the library staff to make sure all student library books have been returned for the long break.  Please visit the public library for books over the long break.  They have more than just books, they will have lots of events for students.  Their program will come out later this year.

Keep reading,
Mrs Lisa Preston
Mrs Mucella Kot

Counselling Team

During Term 3, the primary focus of counselling centred around supporting students experiencing anxiety and stress related to academic pressures, including study load and performance expectations.

Counsellors employed a variety of therapeutic approaches to help students build resilience, cultivate a growth mindset, and establish positive behaviours and routines.

R U OK? Day, observed nationally in Term 3, played a key role in fostering a culture of care and connection within our school community. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and the importance of checking in with others. It encourages students to recognise the power of a simple conversation in making a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

At Pinnacle College, we used this day as a platform to educate students on how to identify when someone might be struggling, and how to approach these situations with empathy and confidence. Through workshops, classroom discussions, and visual displays, students explored the four key steps of the R U OK? conversation model:

1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen with an open mind
3. Encourage action
4. Check in

Students were encouraged to reflect on their own mental wellbeing and the importance of reaching out, both for themselves and others. The day highlighted the value of meaningful peer support, and reinforced the message that no one should face challenges alone.

By embedding the values of R U OK? Day into our school culture, we aim to build a more supportive, resilient, and compassionate community where students feel acknowledged, connected, and safe to seek help when needed.

Warm regards
Jesse Agostino & Maysa Tabet
School Counsellors

New Wellbeing Initiatives

Our Student Wellbeing Officers, Casey and Nicole are pleased to announce the introduction of our new initiative to further support the wellbeing of our students.

In recognition of the growing number of students with ADHD, Autism, and other diverse needs, the College established a Wellbeing Room for students. This space has been operating for all of term 3 and provides a safe and quiet environment for students who may need time away from the traditional classroom setting.

The Wellbeing Room operates alongside our new Wellbeing Program, which is designed to support students’ social and emotional development while providing tailored learning support in a goal-focused manner.

These initiatives reflect Pinnacle College’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and nurturing learning environment for all students.

Thank you,
Casey Burton, Nicole Walters.
Student Wellbeing Officers.

Team SA Shines at the National Harmony Cup!

In Week 6, a week-long tournament – the Harmony Cup National Championships – was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, bringing together independent Islamic schools from across Australia to compete in futsal and basketball.

For the very first time, South Australia was represented at the event, with 30 students from Pinnacle College, Playford College, and the Islamic College of SA combining forces to form Team South Australia. The team featured Year 5/6 boys, Year 5/6 girls, Year 7/8 boys, and Year 7/8 girls.

The group stayed at Treasure Island Resort, where students took part in a number of bonding activities during their down time, helping build strong connections across schools. With little preparation, Team SA entered the championships as major underdogs against traditionally strong states.

But what a debut it turned out to be!

• The Year 7/8 Boys produced a thrilling run, winning the Grand Final in dramatic fashion – defeating powerhouse NSW in penalties, 7–8.
  
• The Year 5/6 Boys also reached the Grand Final, narrowly going down 4–1, an outstanding achievement in their first campaign.
  
• The Year 5/6 Girls bowed out in the semi-finals on penalties, while the Year 7/8 Girls competed bravely in the group stage.
  

Individual recognition was just as impressive:

• Musa Kamara was crowned Tournament MVP.
  
• Orhan Kot and Abdulaye Kamara were selected in the All-Australian Team in their divisions.
  
• On Day 2, both primary teams claimed basketball championship trophies, with Muhammed Ali named Basketball MVP.
  

The week was more than just about results – it was about bringing students together, creating lifelong memories, and showcasing the strength of South Australia’s Islamic schools on the national stage. Staff and students described it as an unforgettable experience, and the team is already looking forward to returning bigger and stronger next year!

Primary

Foundation

This term, our Foundation students attended their very first swimming lessons. They practised floating and learned how to ask for help in the water if they ever feel unsafe. The highlight, however, was the free play sessions, splashing, laughing, and enjoying the water toys brought endless smiles and built their confidence.

Warm regards,
Ms M

Foundation / Year 1

We enjoyed a visit from Bryce, a proud Kaurna man. He taught us how to make traditional paint from white ochre. We crushed it between stones and added water. Then we painted a story using traditional Aboriginal symbols, that they have used for centuries to tell their stories.

Warm regards,
Mrs Murfin

Year 1

This term in Geography, we learnt about ways to care for places. We used mind map posters to write or draw our best ideas. When we care for places, we don’t just make it look nice - we also look after the animals and plants that live there!

Warm regards,
Mr Brady

Year 2

Term 3 was a fun and busy time in Year 2!

We learned about time, explored narratives in our writing, and celebrated Book Week with amazing costumes and a love of reading. Language Day was a great chance to enjoy different cultures, and Swimming Week was a big hit, with students growing in skill and confidence. Thank you to our families for your ongoing support—we’re excited for Term 4 and wrapping up a wonderful year!

Warm regards,
Mrs Musa

My New Gallery

Year 4A

What a wonderful and busy term it has been in Year 4! Students have shown persistence, creativity, and teamwork across all areas of learning. In Mathematics, we explored decimals, fractions, and calculated elapsed time using real-life problems. Students also practised explaining their strategies clearly and enjoyed challenging themselves with problem-solving tasks. In English, we developed our writing through narratives, and shared thoughtful ideas during class discussions.

We also focused on building positive relationships, working respectfully with peers, and celebrating each other’s achievements. It has been a joy to see students grow in confidence when presenting their work.

Thank you to families for your ongoing support. We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday break!

Warm regards
Mrs Pietrantonio and Mrs Nibal

Year 4B

What a busy and exciting term we have had in 4B! Earlier this term we celebrated book week, where our students came in all sorts of creative and colourful costumes! Many of us went swimming and learned many new skills in the water.

In mathematics we have covered many different topics, including fractions, mapping and data displays! We learned coordinates using bee bots and even created displays about how many siblings our students have. In English we have been learning how to write interesting and compelling narratives using Sizzling Starts and Exciting Endings!

It has been a lovely term of collaboration and learning and we look forward to one more exciting term!

Warm regards,
Ms Newton

Year 5 

This Term, students wrote persuasive letters to the Deputy Principal, suggesting ideas for the new school building. They practiced using strong arguments and clear language to make their voices heard. Hopefully, he listens to the students, and we get a pool and a cinema in the new space!

Warm regards,
Mr T

Year 6 

This term, Year 6 students explored the states of matter through a hands-on science experience in the high school lab. They investigated whether salt or sugar would crystallise better. Over the course of several days, students observed the changes, discussed their findings, and drew thoughtful conclusions based on the scientific knowledge they had gained throughout the term.

Warm regards,
Ms B

Primary RV

In term three students learnt about Prophet Muhammad SAW including his family, childhood, character, beautiful manners, prophethood and migration to Medina. Students memorised surahs, such as Al-‘Alaq, Al-Fajr, At-Tariq, Al-Infitar and different du’as. The Year Two class went on an excursion to Wandana masque and learnt how to make wudu and pray in the mosque. It was great fun, Alhamdulillah!

Secondary

Arabic

Language Week Fun!

On Thursday, 5th September (Week 7), we celebrated Language Week at school, and it was an amazing day! The Arabic and Turkish departments worked together to organise a fun program full of culture, music, and food.

Students performed Arabic and Turkish roleplay videos and sang songs that got everyone clapping along. Parents joined us too and brought lots of delicious traditional Arabic and Turkish food for everyone to enjoy — and the best part, it was free!

It was so much fun to see students, teachers, and families come together to celebrate languages and cultures.

A big thank you to all the parents, teachers, and students who helped make Language Week such a special and unforgettable day!

Warm regards,
Birol Sanli

Art

Term 3 went like a blizzard for Art and Technology students full of making, designing and coding. Year 7 Art students worked on Cultural Masks while Year 8 Art students learned about Traditional Islamic Art and Calligraphy. Year 9 Art class have been busy learning about Environmental Art and Year 10s explored the diversity of First Nations Artist Collaborations. Year 7 Technology students have been busy designing and building their own robots using LEGO EV3 kits whilst preparing for the upcoming Sumo Bot Challenge. Year 8s explored CGI techniques and stop motion animation. Using HTML and CSS, Year 9 students designed their own web-pages on global issues. We wish them all the best in their well-deserved break!

Warm regards,
Selen Morkoc

English

It’s been another action-packed term in the English Department, and we’re excited to share some highlights with you!

Year 10 YouDebate Experience
 Our Year 10 students had the incredible opportunity to attend the YouDebate event in Sydney, organised by the Australian Uniting Foundation (AUF). This was an awesome chance for our students not only to engage in high-level debate but also to network and make lasting friendships with students from our sister schools. The experience enriched their lives by building confidence, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. Many students left feeling inspired, motivated, and excited to bring new ideas and perspectives back to the classroom.

Book Week Celebrations
 This term also saw the excitement of Book Week! This year, our A Building was transformed into something truly magical with a Harry Potter theme for Book Week. 🪄⚡ From Platform 9¾ to the spellbinding decorations, our students and staff were immersed in the wonder of Hogwarts right at school.

We are especially proud to have had more involvement than ever before in Book Week celebrations, with activities and displays that highlighted the power of stories to bring us together.

A massive thank you to everyone in the English Department who worked so hard to make the week enchanting— a team effort that brought the magic of reading to life.

Farewell to Year 12s
 A huge congratulations to our Year 12 students who have completed the monumental task of their Comparative Analysis. This challenging assessment represents a significant milestone in their English journey, and we wish them every success as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Your dedication, resilience, and love for literature have been truly inspiring. We are confident you will continue to achieve great things!

PAT Testing Complete
 We’re pleased to report that PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) Reading testing for Years 7–10 at both Elizabeth East and Golden Grove campuses has been successfully completed. We look forward to analysing this valuable data to enhance student learning, particularly in developing literacy skills and understanding the four key question types in the PAT Reading test. This insight will guide us in tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs of each student and further support their growth.

As always, we are proud of the achievements of our students and staff and look forward to continuing to foster a vibrant, engaging, and inspiring English learning environment.

Warm regards,
Carmine Guglielmucci Head of  English Department
Pinnacle College – Elizabeth East Campus

Humanities

The Year 8 Humanities students have begun studying the topic of Coastal Change and Management in Geography. Students have been using Australia’s diverse coastline as a basis for a case study. With the current concern of algae bloom, students have been analysing the cause and effects of the algae bloom while also considering the long term effects which this poses on the coastlines ecosystem.

Warm regards,
Nicole Roelofsen

Year 11 Physics

This term, our Year 11 Physics students demonstrated their creativity and scientific thinking by designing and conducting their own experiments on sound and light waves. Their investigations covered a wide range of fascinating concepts, such as measuring the thickness of a strand of hair using light diffraction, exploring interference patterns with diffraction gratings, testing how different materials block sound, examining sound wave interference, investigating refraction of light, and modelling water waves in the ripple tank.

Some of the work produced by the groups was already at a Year 12 level, showing a depth of understanding and initiative well beyond expectations. These hands-on projects allowed students not only to apply their theoretical knowledge but also to experience the excitement of discovery through practical inquiry. The ingenuity shown in their designs reflected both curiosity and problem-solving skills, qualities that are essential for future scientists and innovators. Well done to all Year 11 Physics students for their enthusiasm and commitment to learning this term.

Warm regards,
Nazan Toryan

Year 12 Physics

In Week 7, our Year 12 Physics students attended an excursion to UniSA, where they engaged in a series of advanced experiments on Electromagnetism and Light. Using a Teltron tube, they determined the charge-to-mass ratio of an electron and explored the Hall effect, gaining first-hand insight into the foundations of modern physics. The Light experiments included investigating interference phenomena through discharge tubes and 2D interference patterns, as well as an innovative activity measuring the thickness of a strand of hair using interference techniques. The day gave students valuable exposure to university-level facilities and equipment, providing an enriching and inspiring experience that deepened their understanding of physics in real-world applications.

Alongside the excursion, our Year 12s have been attending weekly after-school revision classes, consolidating key concepts from Term 1 in preparation for the SACE external examination. Attendance has been excellent, with students showing real commitment and determination to achieve their best. We wish all our students continued success in their studies and every confidence as they progress towards their final examinations.

Warm regards,
Nazan Toryan

Maths

Term 3 has been a busy term for our students. Of particular importance is the conducting of the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) for all Year 7-11 students. Students have conducted the PAT tests in their class, allowing teachers to identify areas that need improvement in the cohort. We are confident that the PAT testing will allow our teachers to better understand the needs of the student cohort, improving the quality of mathematics teaching over time.

Warm regards,
Omer Faruk Demirbas

SACE

Round 1 and Round 2 subject selections for 2026 Year 11 students have now been finalised, following information provided to students and parents about subjects and SACE requirements. Meanwhile, current Year 11 and 12 students undertaking Stage 2 subjects are beginning their focused preparation for the upcoming SACE examinations.

SACE Coordinator, Sami Hussein