27 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

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

Dear friends and families,

Although this term started a bit hectic with Covid lockdowns, our students and staff were able to maneuver through smoothly and enjoy the term with its full capacity. Our excursions and incursions are back on track and students are taking part in many activities. As you will read through in this edition of the newsletter, Book Week and National Science week were celebrated at our campuses with great fun and enjoyment.

The recently added playgroup also brought our families together and will be a platform for learning and networking. The increase in the number of participants has made us extremely happy.

The covid safety measures are still in place and we would like our parents also to be vigilant about these protective rules and implementations. We greatly appreciate the support and cooperation of our parents until now.

As a final note, we will be kicking off a free after school soccer club at the Golden Grove campus for boys and girls. To obtain more information please contact the Golen Grove campus front office. You will also be receiving a link for an expression of interest.

Kind Regards,
Atilla Sinik
Campus Principal

Community Engagement Events at Golden Grove Campus

English classes, Cooking, Zumba & Playgroup, with the addition of Gilles Plains Playgroup are in full swing! Our Parenting workshops will begin on the 26th of August. These sessions will cover connecting with children, managing emotions, children behaviour and more. Hope to see you at the hub! (Bookings Essential)

Kind Regards,
Dr Mehmet Aslan and Mr Hannan Hassan
Community Engagement Manager

Primary Coordinator (Golden Grove)

We are in full swing in Term 3 as our school invites community and businesses to enrich the learning for our students. For our elder students we conducted an Online Safety course to help navigate the online space and how to use its benefits all the while avoiding the negatives. Our primary classes took part in a Science Incursion as part of Science Week. They became detectives and sought to solve a puzzle using forensic techniques such as fingerprint, blood and data analysis. We are also in the early stages of orienteering and I look forward to growing this in the school to develop student skills. Book Week is right around the corner and it is always so exciting to see the effort students put into their costumes and take part in activities centred around the themes of some texts.

Teachers will be conducting phone interviews this term for students who require support to meet the Year Level standard. While not all families are required for a parent teacher interview, now is a good time to check in with your teacher to learn how your child can thrive in upcoming assessments and begin to target areas of growth as before we know it, the end of the year will be upon us.

Finally, just some housekeeping. The frequency of early leave requests for students has increased and we kindly ask that if your child needs to leave early for an appointment, please provide sufficient notice to the office. We respect that appointments do arise but we also would like to limit the disruption to daily learning as much as possible. Thank you for your support on this matter.

Mr Myles McLean

Primary Coordinator (Gilles Plains)

It has been an exciting start to Term 3. After a week of remote learning it is good to have everyone on campus. Many events have been taking place this term. We just celebrated Book Week with the traditional costume parade and the book activities. Thank you Ms Lisa Preston for organising the day for us. At the end of this term we will be celebrating the finals of Pinnacle’s Got Talent. Many children have signed up for this event and auditions are happening right now.

We have also purchased many games and toys so that students will be meaningfully occupied during recess and lunch. Giant chess sets, snakes and ladders and balancing toys have kept both upper and junior primary enjoying their breaks.

Soon Year 3 and 5 students will be receiving their NAPLAN results. If you have any questions on how to interpret the data, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Once again, thank you for your support.

Kind Regards,
Shalini Moss

Library

This term is very exciting. Week 5 was Science Week and there were lots of Science related activities in the library for students to explore. We had Kylie Covark, author of ‘Does it Sink or Does it Float’ read to the reception to year 2s. I hope this gets them excited about studying science.

Week 6 is Book Week, this is always an exciting time. Children’s Book Council of Australia each year brings children and books together to celebrate Book Week. The Shortlisted books have been out for a few months, the winners of the Book of Year awards will be announced on Friday 20th August. Please encourage your students to read these amazing books. This year’s theme is ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’. In the library we have been reading books in the library with this theme. Thursday 26th August is the Book Week parade at Golden Grove and Wednesday 25th August is the Book Week parade at Gilles Plains, where students have the chance to dress up and parade in front of the students. It would be great if costumes were more creative and individualized. Have fun and enjoy the day.

Keep reading!

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” - Jim Rohn

Kind Regards,
Ms Lisa Preston
Librarian at Golden Grove and Gilles Plains

PASTORAL CARE

Golden Grove Campus year 10 students thoroughly enjoyed their Pastoral Care Term 2 Camp,followed by a laser tag excursion. Our after school PC programs are still continuing. We look forward to seeing all girls during PC activities.

Kind regards
Girls Pastoral Care Teachers

SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

This week our Golden Grove and Gilles Plains students had the opportunity to attend an online safety session delivered by the wonderful Zac and Sophie from the Carly Ryan Foundation. Zac and Sophie delivered very informative and engaging sessions covering self-protective behaviours, safety and online challenges, resources and where to seek help.

The session that was delivered to our year 5-6 students covered enormity of the online world, its opportunities, its risks and the responsibilities of being positive digital citizens. The year 7-10 sessions covered critical thinking online, digital literacy, online etiquette and using the internet to build opportunity rather than compromise it.

It is very important that online safety continues to be discussed at home. The link below includes information which will help inform you on the different apps your child may be using. I have also attached a family online safety contract to help you and your child agree on and establish safe online usage.

Kind Regards,
Zina Al-Mufti

MUSIC

I have been so impressed by your children so far this term! Some students have been making and mixing their own music using iPads; some have been listening and responding to how music makes us feel; and some students have been learning to read, write and play their own compositions in treble clef. I love sharing the joy of music with your children just as much as I love the joy they share with me in return!

Mrs Sarah Hateley
Music Teacher

FOUNDATION – GOLDEN GROVE

Students are enjoying learning about community helpers this term and how they help keep us safe. They were delighted when they had the opportunity to dress up and role play different helpers in our community. The Year 10 students also came to visit our classroom to read stories to us which students thoroughly enjoyed. It was lovely to see both high school students and foundation students interacting together in a friendly manner.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Daniella Di Cola

YEAR 1 – GOLDEN GROVE

Students are enjoying learning about transport, healthy eating and persuasive texts this term. We have been discussing how transport has changed over time and the transport used depends on the person's age. The class has been writing some very convincing persuasive texts, especially that the teacher should buy them Oreo’s. We were so lucky to have an author come and interactively share her book with us during Science Week. The class are very excited about Book Week, our excursion and the concert item we have started preparing.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Sarah Watkins

YEAR 2 - GOLDEN GROVE

Brring! The alarm sounded loudly at the jewellery store. The Year 2 students were tasked with solving the crime. The scene was taped and the students combed for evidence. They found part of a footprint, a DNA soaked hankie and a fingerprint. The forensic scientists took the evidence back to their office. The ‘Diamond Heist’ case file was opened, and a thorough investigation to find the culprit of the diamond heist began. Will they solve the crime of the century? Stay tuned for more details.

Kindest Regards,
Bianca Villani
The Year 2 students at Golden Grove

YEAR 3 – GOLDEN GROVE

Year 3 has been learning about day and night in Earth Science. We struggled to complete our shadows investigation with no direct sunlight to cast shadows. However, with some creative thinking and fantastic teamwork our class came up with an interesting solution. Ask your child how we managed to overcome the obstacle of trying to study shadows during an overcast winter week. We also enjoyed a fabulous forensic science incursion during Science Week and identified our main suspect! Great work Year 3, keep up the brilliant effort.

Kindest Regards,
Mrs Kylie Burton

YEAR 4 – GOLDEN GROVE

This term we have been exploring Narrative texts in English and using the Seven Steps to ensure writing is successful. To enhance our learning we have also been investigating ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl which has great scenes of imagery, description, tension, dialogue and an exciting ending. In Technology, we have been learning about Algorithms. Students have experimented with planning an algorithm to send their Bee-Bots through an obstacle course.

Kind regards,
Miss Jessica Tripodi

YEAR 5 – GOLDEN GROVE

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

I hope you have been keeping well.

In Science, our focus has been on Earth and Space. Our class has been busy learning about the planets and investigating characteristics of objects in the Solar System, in particular their size and distance from the sun. We also focused on the rising and setting of the sun, rotation & revolution and the 8 different phases of the moon. Next week we will be visiting the Adelaide Planetarium for an excursion - we can’t wait!

Kindest Regards,
Miss Sawafta Natasha

YEAR 6 – GOLDEN GROVE

Recently, the Year 6s have been working on their Yearbook and reflecting on events this year and in the past. We are planning the Year 6 Graduation too and they are all excited to spend the night with family, staff and friends as we recognise their transition from childhood to teenage schooling. Please enjoy a selection of photos from some events this year as we reflect on 2021.

Kind Regards,
Mr Myles McLean

YEAR 7– GOLDEN GROVE

This Term we visited the Van Gogh Alive art exhibition. The exhibition was so breathtaking, as it not only had rooms which made you feel like you are part of the artwork, but it also had massive projectors which projected inspiring quotes about the artwork shown on screen. The audio which was played in the background made the exhibition so much more interesting, and many moving artworks were shown. These all contributed to our amazement. We enjoyed the exhibition greatly!

-Meesha Ali

I haven’t ever been to another exhibition before, however this one blew my mind away. Even when I had arrived home I could still feel myself in that room admiring all the artworks one by one. I love how it was executed. I loved the music, animation and most importantly the arts and quotes made by Van Gogh himself.

-Anisah Ruzehaji

This term we are focusing on chemistry in Science lessons and we are also learning the great importance of water. We have learnt many different terms and methods that we were later quizzed on. That we have been taught with ease and simplicity throughout the term. We have started the term with a very fun and enjoyable presentation about tracking down objects that have been washed away down the toilet. We have also just recently competed in a competition with both campuses which we learnt many fun facts in. Overall this term has been very fun and interesting and a great joy to participate in.

Year 7 Girls

YEAR 8 – GOLDEN GROVE

We went to the Van Gogh exhibition on the 11th of August. Bruce Peterson used Multi-sensory and high-definition projectors with cinema-quality sounds to give the visitors a modern experience. The exhibition was designed to make us feel like Van Gogh is the one telling his story. Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous and influential artists in history. Van Gogh Alive is an exhibition that immerses you in the life and artworks of Van Gogh.

-Jinna Al-Ani

As I walked out I realised how much effort, time, care and love people had put into this exhibition. Truly it was a magical experience . Vincent Van Gogh once said ‘’What is done with love is done well.’’ and I think this exhibition proves that.

-By Wadeeha

Kind regards,
Year 8 Teachers

YEAR 9 – GOLDEN GROVE

As part of the Creative Digital Media curriculum, Year 9 CDM students were given the opportunity to attend the Van Gogh Alive exhibition. Having dazzled over 7 million visitors across 65 cities worldwide, Van Gogh Alive is currently touring Australia. From start to finish, visitors are surrounded by a vibrant symphony of light, colour & sound that has been called an ‘unforgettable’ multi-sensory experience.

‘It was a wonderful experience. I loved the music! The addition of music, lighting and projections gave me an emotional connection to the artworks. It told his story which was kind of sad.’

-Aysha Siddiqua

Kind regards,
Mrs Mungall

YEAR 10 – GOLDEN GROVE

As part of the Creative Digital Media curriculum, Year 10 CDM students were given the opportunity to attend the Van Gogh Alive exhibition. Gogh’s works have been exhibited and admired for over a century – but never like this. Using digital technology Van Gogh’s masterpieces come to life, giving visitors the sensation of walking right into his paintings. This super-scale show allowed students to see these famous artworks from new angles and discover unique perspectives.

‘Van Gogh Alive was a phenomenal experience that we will remember forever.’

-Busra Nur Akhan & Zaraa Rajaji

Kind regards,
Mrs Mungall

FOUNDATION – GILLES PLAINS

We have hit the ground running this term, with learning about who keeps us safe in our community, how to call 000 and sharing all that we know about our favourite numbers. The start of Term 3, has also been a blast with Red Nose Day and Science Week. We are becoming experts at identifying different Materials and naming their properties!

Kind Regards
Ms Victoria Makowiak

YEAR 1 – GILLES PLAINS

This term Year 1 students have been busy learning basic gymnastic skills like body shapes, balances and rolls. Trying to remember to point your toes and extend your arms and legs fully can be challenging at the same time as remembering each balance! We also had a lot of fun for Red Nose day and enjoyed watching the SRC Science Show for Science Week. Later in the term we will visit three different transport museums to complement our learning of past and present transportation types in HASS.

Warm regards
Mrs Sandra Holland

YEAR 2 – GILLES PLAINS

This term has had a very exciting and busy start. We have had so much fun in Science mixing different ingredients together. We got messy making slime and playdough. During Red Nose Day we enjoyed all the games and activities. Enjoy some of our happy snaps below!

Warm regards
Mrs Eleni Rocca

YEAR 3 – GILLES PLAINS

Welcome back to Term 3.. what an interesting start it was! Thank you for all your care and commitment to your child’s education during our time of home learning. Here are some happy snaps of the wonderful things we have done so far since returning to school. We have harvested our broccoli, created popcorn poetry and had fun at our Red nose day carnival!

Kind Regards,
Miss Kerry Apergis

YEAR 4 – GILLES PLAINS

The Year 4s are having a smashing time learning about Narratives in English. We’ve challenged ourselves to make our stories as interesting as possible using sizzling starts, dynamic dialogue and detailed descriptions. We’ve also strived to use new vocabulary from our ‘word books’. Below are some of our best starts (so far)!

Kind Regards,
Miss Mubarak Ashimajy

YEAR 5 – GILLES PLAINS

What a fantastic term we have had so far! The Year 5s have been doing some great artworks inspired by the Indigenous artists they have been learning about, I am so proud of their efforts. We have lots more planned for the remainder of this term with an excursion to the planetarium, book week and Pinnacle’s Got Talent. I also want to once again congratulate our debating team and their coach, Mrs Moss, they are currently undefeated and sitting top of the leaderboard in this competition.

Kind Regards,
Mrs Nicole Scriven

LOTE - Arabic

The 3/4 Advanced Arabic class has been going over reading the texts from (learn Arabic book) and learning new vocabularies.

Past, present and command verbs were revisited as well as masculine and feminine forms of nouns. Students also learnt about possessive pronouns.

Students have to create a poster about their school and present it as part of their speaking assessment.

Warm Regards,
Soheir Habib
LOTE Teacher

RV - Religious Values

This term we are studying about Prophet Muhammad in most primary classes. Students have a chance to read, watch, listen and discuss about different aspects of our Prophet's life and personality. We also have activities and projects this term about the teachings or Sunnah of the Prophet.

Warm Regards,
Mr Akif Okumus
RV Teacher

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