11 December 2020
Newsletter Articles
OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
Our Mission
Pinnacle College strives to establish and maintain a safe and nurturing environment so that every student may reach their full potential and achieve a high level of academic excellence determined by state and federal standards.
Our Vision and Values
When you enter Pinnacle College you will be met with a friendly smile. Our level of pride is displayed by our teachers and staff. Apart from a high standard of education at our well-maintained campuses, we aim to develop responsibility in our students, alongside appreciating and valuing different cultures, possessing positive behaviour and a high ethical conscience. We also guide students to accept actions, widen their view of the world which in turn enables them to learn from the consequences of their choices. Studying in a diverse multicultural community, students have the opportunity to widen their view of the world, enabling them to help each other and be productive both now and in the future.
Principal’s Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families well and safe. This will be the last newsletter for 2020. We are now at the end of our school year and what a year it has been! Currently, our teachers are finalising the reports highlighting for you the achievements of our students. It is so hard to believe how far we have come as a school in the community, considering a global pandemic and other challenges.
Despite all these challenges we were very fortunate to go back to our normal lives and end the year on a high note. Despite all these challenges, on behalf of the Pinnacle management team, I would like to acknowledge and thank the students, parents and staff of Pinnacle College for such a wonderful year.
This year we have been able to conduct both graduation ceremonies at Elizabeth Campus. Year 6 graduation ceremony was held on the 3rd of December and Year 12 graduation ceremony was held on the 10th of December. I would like to congratulate both students and parents and their constant supporters and teachers. Also, I wish them all the best for their future endeavours.
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, although we were not able to host any families at school grounds, we have started live streaming for each event. We would like to continue live streaming next year, too. All the events are on Youtube and can be viewed again.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our parents for their patience and continued support this year. We still have a lot of work to do together and I strongly feel we are certainly on the right path. Although challenges were thrown at us, it has been a very welcoming and memorable first year at this wonderful campus.
Every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning and farewells are always hard and heart-breaking. This year from Elizabeth Campus, four teachers are leaving and three of them are moving to another state. They will be working at our sister schools. I would like to thank Afra Kalkan, Emre Secgin, Sade Secgin, Tracy Schache for their tremendous effort who helped to make Pinnacle College a better place. I hope they will be a great model for their new students.
I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday break and look forward to a better and a Covid-free 2021.
Gokhan Kot
Campus Principal, Elizabeth East
Counselling and Inclusive Ed
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As I sit here in the last week of school reflecting on the past year, all I can say is WOW! I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all the staff members, students, parents and wider community of Pinnacle College. I want to celebrate the many successes of our community and use our learning experiences to guide future practice. We have some very exciting projects lined up for 2021. I look forward to supporting the ‘Growth and Wellbeing’ of all our students in the future.
Kind regards,
Mehmet Kavlakoglu
Library
What a fantastic year. Please keep reading over the break. Have your students read to siblings or pets or grandparents. All the primary students should have received a 'Summer Reading Challenge' card or use image in this newsletter. The Playford public library https://www.playford.sa.gov.au/community/library-services/programs-and-events or other public libraries) is a great source of activities and books. Visit their websites for more information. We have an exciting new catalogue system. You can view this from anywhere. Have a look at the link below.
https://au.accessit.online/PNN02/
Front Office Notices
EOYC
A week ago, the whole high school got together to celebrate the end of year, recognizing students for their effort and commitment to learning, and handing out awards for best achievement in different areas. Congrats to all of our students for a fantastic 2020!
Primary
Foundation
Your children have done a great job in such a strange unpredictable year. I have enjoyed getting to know all your children and wish them luck as they move on to Year 1. We have ended the year having a little fun. Baking gingerbread cookies and going to the park for a picnic lunch. Enjoy your holidays, take care and stay safe.
Year 1
Hello beautiful Year 1 families,
This year has been an interesting one to say the least! We have studied both at home and at school. We have all had to learn very quickly to be resilient and flexible. Students, you have shown me bravery, courage, perseverance and passion for your learning this year more than ever before. It has been a testing time for all. I am so extremely proud of your efforts this year and how you continued to strive to be your very best no matter where you were! Hopefully, 2021 will bring lots of learning and fun, simply in the classroom!
Parents, thank you for trusting me with your child’s education. I will miss these students greatly and will always treasure the memories that we created together.
All my love,
Miss Rowlands
Year 2
Congratulations on another successful year!
I am so proud of what the Year 2 students have accomplished! They entered my class as young students, and are leaving the year as improved learners ready for Year 3. They have been able to accomplish some of their goals and I am so happy to have watched them grow.
Remember to always keep working hard and practice over any content in the holidays like reading and times tables. Next year is the NAPLAN year too!
Wishing everyone happy holidays and a safe new year!
Miss P
Year 3
Happy Holidays from the Year 3’s!
Year 4
Dear Parents and Family,
Congratulations to our Year 4s on a successful year! 2020 has been full of challenges and unexpected change of events, however we have come out on top! I am proud of all my students as they have all grown and reached some personal goals this year. All students have demonstrated great persistence throughout their learning and I hope to see more of this in year 5.
‘This year we have had so much fun despite Covid-19. We have learnt a lot such as reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, persuasive and narrative texts, division, chance, multiplication and so much more! We would like to say a big thankyou to our teachers Ms Watkins and Miss Marcoionni’
Adn Rauf
I would like to wish all families a happy and safe break. Remember to keep practicing times tables and reading and let’s get ready for NAPLAN!
All the best,
Miss Marcoionni
Year 5
Dear Parents,
We have had a challenging but exciting year. Despite all the challenges with Covid-19 students demonstrated great persistence and worked hard to achieve their goals. Congratulations to all of the students for their incredible efforts.
In Science, students worked in groups to experiment with shadows and explored how the distance between the object and the light source can affect the size of the shadow. Well done scientists!
Mrs Nesibe and I would like to wish all families a peaceful and relaxing break!
Warm Regards
Mrs Nesibe and Mrs Nibal
Year 6
Dear parents,
It was a year full of obstacles due to Covid-19, but the grade 6 students overcame the challenges and difficulties caused by this virus. The grade 6s, completed all tasks and assessments for their subjects with effort and persistence. They prepared for graduation with excitement and are now ready to end the chapter of their primary school lives.
Mrs Nibal and I would like to CONGRATULATE all our grade 6 students
We wish them the very best for the coming educational school years up ahead.
Regards,
Mrs Nibal and Mrs Nesibe
Arabic
The year One Arabic class has been actively learning how to read and write in Arabic throughout the year. The class has been using all sorts of resources, from reading and singing from Youtube to interactive websites, all the while practicing in their notebooks. Before the end of the term students practiced basic self-introduction in Arabic language from greetings to saying their age.
Music
The students were asked to reflect on their learning in Music this year. Here is what some of them had to say:
“I enjoy Music because it’s fun and it calms me down a lot. Music really interests me. I love listening to it.” Suheera Yr 3
“I can use Chrome Music Lab, and I used it lots.” Yafi Yr 3
“I never had Music in my old school and I’m happy I tried it. Music makes me happy.” Anonymous Yr 3
“I have learnt to play the ukulele. Even though I had one at home I never really played it, but now I learnt it I can play it at home.” Hadiya Yr 4
“I learnt to play and tune my ukulele. I enjoy Music because I can learn new things every day.” Anonymous Yr 4
“My favourite part of Music lessons is you can play and learn new things that you didn’t know.” Anonymous Yr 4
“I enjoy Music because I love dancing and singing so I love to do it every day. Music gives you a happy feeling.” Fatima Yr 5
“My favourite part of Music lessons is improvising because I get to try different instruments.” Sameer Yr 5
“I enjoy Music because it helps me get things done without any delay. Thank you for giving me the chance to get to know more about Music!” Elif Yr 5
“This year in Music I’ve learnt about Tango music and playing the 12 Bar Blues on iPads. I want to improve on making a harmony with my voice and creating songs with new instruments.” Shaharin Yr 6
“I learnt about foley effects and how music can drastically change a movie scene’s mood.” Abdulloh R Yr 6
“I am most proud of having fun playing instruments in Music.” Ali Yr 6
I wish you all a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break, and all the very best for 2021.
Tracy Schache
Music Teacher
Secondary
Art
We reached the end of another year. Term 4 has been very productive for all year levels. Year 7s learned about Mondrian and abstract modernism. Year 8s explored options of using text in art through font creation and word art. Year 10 design elective students came up with their dream room/escape space whilst learning about how culture and style determines interior design.
English
During the last term of this year, Year 10 students used their creativity to conjure up science fiction worlds of their own invention. The result was a series of original and exciting short stories. In 2021, you will be able to pick up from the Front Office a copy of our first Sci-Fi Anthology, featuring some of our budding writers.
Thank you to all our students for a great year filled with challenges and fun. Have a great holiday!
Best wishes from the English Department
PE
This semester the year 10 Sports Elective class participated in a range of alternative sports. Korfball and Ultimate Frisbee proved popular, with 10G students Asraa Al-Sarraf and Subhinor Abdulwali two of the sport’s biggest fans. “It’s really is nice to do something unique else rather than Basketball and Soccer” said Asraa. “It’s like a breath of fresh air”, said Subinhor.
Mr. David Hannan.
Humanities
For Geography studies this semester, our Secondary classes partook in a Coastal Management excursion where they observed longshore drift, the effects of tourism and erosion on the Adelaide coastlines. This excursion was a valuable experience for students to gain a first-hand understanding of real life knowledge of what they have learnt in the classroom.
Science
2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. Even though we had fear, uncertainty and disruptions throughout the year, our students have achieved both academic and personal growth. Students have adapted and built resilience from their time in isolation. Next year the science department aims for more hands-on activities, practicals, and excursions (which we had minimal of this year).
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who helped keep the community safe with their children and I hope next year will bring a fresh start. Happy holidays.
Kind regards,
Nicole Neong
Mathematics and Science teacher
Pastoral Care
Annual Alumni BBQ - 2020
Pinnacle College graduates had an amazing time together with their high-school friends and teachers in November. Everyone had flashbacks of their high school years and this reunion triggered some unforgettable memories. Team games and delicious food brought lots of joy and fun to this gathering.
