Pinnacle College eNewsletter

11 November 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 Parents, Friends and Students,

It has been a great term again at Pinnacle College Gilles Plains and Golden Grove campuses with our students’ educational and entertaining activities. I will leave all these fantastic memories with the rest of the newsletter, and I will provide you with some updates regarding the other matters.

Gilles Plains construction updates;

We have successfully received some state grants, and a part of the grant has been channelled to Gilles Plains campus for the facilities upgrade. We will install new shade areas in the new building and expand the students’ play area.

Parents are facing some difficulties in and around the car park due to some issues. We have been in communication with the school’s architect to find a solution to this problem. We have almost concluded our design and drawings and will discuss this matter with the ISSA as they are the site’s landlord. Once we get approval from their board, we will proceed with the council application. The new design consists of extra paving and kiss&drop zone as well for the safety of our students.

Golden Grove construction update;

We have now gone for the tender for the secondary building construction. The process should be finalised by the end of the year, and hopefully, the site will be prepared for the works early next year. Our goal is to finish the construction by the end of 2022 so, sit tight and wait for the great news.

Golden Grove site has received another grant for after school soccer training, and it has been going well. We have applied for this grant for 2022 and both campuses, and depending on the grant availability, it will be ready for our students.

End of Year Ceremonies

They will be held again at the Golden Grove exhibition centre; however, due to the restrictions, there will be ticket limitations for our parents. We are very sorry for the inconvenience but, we are all doing our share to keep SA safe for everyone. The Gilles Plains EOYC will be on 30th November, and Golden Grove will be on 1st December.

I am looking forward to seeing you on the night.

Kind Regards,
Atilla Sinik
Campus Principal

Library

This term we have been having fun with games in the library. Some games have been library related and some are just fun. Libraries from all over the world will be celebrating ‘International Games in the Library Week’ Nov 7-13. Some of the local libraries will have events on - check them out.

It is also beginning to feel like the end of the school year. The libraries at Golden Grove and Gilles Plains campus have grown this year in quantity and quality of books. We have had some great library monitors and lots of activities relating to reading.

Week 5 is the last week to borrow books. This gives the library staff time to make sure all library books are returned and accounted for. Please return ALL books by week 8. We really need to have all books returned, especially all readers.

If you plan to clean up around your house over the summer break and have good quality books. We will accept donations next year. The books that do not get cataloged into our library may be passed on to be shipped to disadvantaged counties through South Pacific School Aid.

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

MUSIC

Music is in the air! As classes are preparing for their End of Year Concert items, I seem to be hearing music everywhere I go. I have loved seeing your children discovering new talents through singing and dance.

This term in JP, we have also been identifying how and why music can feel a certain way. Some music makes us feel like we’re happy and the sun is shining; some music can feel spooky and scary; and some music makes us feel calm and at peace. Using Kimochis - these cute, small feelings pillows - is one of the fun ways we’ve been able to discuss this together. In our photo, Abdullah and Zohair are holding some of their favourite Kimochis.

Mrs Sarah Hateley
Music Teacher

Art Club

It has been a busy semester for the Art Club. We have been experimenting with tie dye and creating fun crafts and artworks. The Senior Club has been creating resin keychains and jewelry while the Primary Clubs have been creating the same from shrinkable plastic. It has been a fun semester with our creative and crafty club members!

Mrs Jocelyn Mungall

FOUNDATION – GOLDEN GROVE

This term students have enjoyed reading different fairy tales including The Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Gingerbread Man and The Three Little Pigs. We have learnt how to sequence these stories in the correct order and identify the beginning, problem, resolution and ending. I was very impressed at students' writing abilities to retell each main event in the story using complete sentences.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Daniella Di Cola

YEAR 1 – GOLDEN GROVE

This term students have been learning about narratives in English. We have been looking closely at character descriptions and analysing their appearance, personality and feelings. We were so lucky to have two year 10 students doing work experience in our class. Students are looking forward to our cooking incursion, concert and show and tell all in week 8.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Sarah Watkins

YEAR 2 - GOLDEN GROVE

This term the Year 2 students are learning about Australian notes and coins. They learned how to make given amounts using a range of notes and coins. To engage students in this topic and provide them with practical experience, we designed, made and ran our own shops. The students enjoyed their role of both shopkeeper and shopper as they practiced adding money and providing change.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Bianca Villani

YEAR 3 – GOLDEN GROVE

In term 4 Year 3 students have been learning about Biographical texts. We have been looking into the purpose of these texts, the language types and conventions used, and the difference between Autobiographies and Biographies. Students will soon start writing their own biographies about a person who has made a positive impact on Australian society. With students choosing people such as Adam Goodes or Scott Morrison, these Biographies are sure to be interesting reading.

Warmest regards,
Mr Peter Sowerbutts

YEAR 4 – GOLDEN GROVE

This term the Year 4 students are learning about Persuasive writing. As part of this learning, students are required to watch their favourite movie at home and then in class they will be writing a persuasive movie review to persuade their classmates to watch their favourite movie. In order to practice writing persuasive texts, we have been focusing on the structure and the language features of persuasive texts. We have been practising debating in class, using persuasive language to convince others of their point of view for an issue.

Kindest regards,
Miss Jessica Tripodi

YEAR 5 – GOLDEN GROVE

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you have been keeping well.

This term students have been learning about Poetry in English. We have been learning about the following poetic devices: Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Hyperbole and Repetition. It has been great analysing different types of poems. We are currently busy working on our own poems! Here’s one about school which we investigated earlier this week.

Round and round the playground,
Marching in a line,
I’ll hold your hand.
You hold mine.

Round and round the playground
Skipping in a ring
Everybody loves it
When we all sing.

Round and round the playground
That’s what we like:
Climbing on the climbing frame,
Riding on the bike.

Round and round the playground,
All together friends.
We’re sad, sad, sad
When the school day ends.

Kind Regards,
Miss Sawafta Natasha

YEAR 7– GOLDEN GROVE

In science we are learning about forces, we did a science experiment to check out cool ways to activate static electricity using balloons and wool cloth. We made static electricity. Thanks to Mrs Aslan, we all did a great job. We made balloons repel and attract each other by using like and unlike charges.Observing the bending of tap water towards the balloon was fun too.

Ameerah Shawqy

On the last day of school in term three was a perfect wrap up. We did an experiment “egghead”which was an egg that we had to protect from cracking at a 3 metre height. It was an amazing job of explaining and summarizing the topic in a very great way.

We started term 4 by learning about static electricity. We did the attraction of electricity experiment which was very enjoyable and fun where placed balloons on each edge of a ruler and rubbed the balloons which created static electricity. once we finished that experiment, everyone rubbed their balloons against my head and my hair was sticking what I can say, my hair is electric!

Ziya Shaikh

YEAR 8 – GOLDEN GROVE

LOTE - Year 8 Excursion

On the 1st of November, 2021 of week 4, the year 7 & 8 Lote Arabic classes went on an excursion to the Botanic gardens with Mrs.Soheir and Mr.Mahmoud. It was an exciting trip and we got to see a variety of different plants and lots of beautiful places and things.We even ordered some food and played some games as we explored the area. We saw giant plants, creeks and ponds and even some ducks too. It was a fun and great experience.

Kind regards,
Maira Khan

YEAR 9 – GOLDEN GROVE

Girls Statewide Volleyball

On Friday 22nd October, the year 9 girls participated in the statewide volleyball competition. The girls won their match against Playford College and continued to improve throughout the day, demonstrating their skills and fair play. The event was held at Mars Sports Complex where we competed against 5 other schools. Well done girls!

Kind regards,
Miss Molly Affolter

Year 9G Accelerated Mathematics

This term in Math, the year 9 accelerated class has been learning about statistics. We have conducted an investigation on the consistency of data. To do this, in small groups, we each baked a set of muffins. Measurements of the weight, spread, and depth of each muffin was used as the foundation of the investigation.

The investigation involved calculating measurements such as mean, median and mode, as well as standard deviation. We organised the data into a variation of tables, graphs and box plots. Ultimately, they decided what would be most important in determining which data set was most consistent throughout the various properties.

Mrs Tugba Balci

YEAR 10 – GOLDEN GROVE

Girls Tag Rugby

At the end of term 3, the year 10 (plus some year 8’s and 9’s) took part in the 8-10 girls Northern Zone Tag Rugby excursion. We nominated 2 teams and the girls had perfect weather for the day with the year 10 team finishing in 3rd place. An enjoyable day for all!

Kind regards,
Miss Molly Affolter
Year 10 Teacher

RV - RELIGIOUS VALUES GOLDEN GROVE

Year 7 RV students have been busy making mind maps to summarise our RV topics, which are on Fasting, Zakah and Hajj. Students worked cooperatively in their groups and designed great mind maps to summarise these important topics. Great work everyone.

Year 8 RV students have been busy writing letters or poems to our Prophet (saw) to highlight their learning on our Prophet’s life, his miracles, amazing character and personality. Great effort girls.

Kind regards,
Mrs Nesibe Sezen

PASTORAL CARE – GOLDEN GROVE

During the last day of Term 3, Year 6, Year 9 and Year 10 girls had a movie time. Students enjoyed the movie and spent valuable time together before the holidays.

Year 7 and Year 8 &10 students, on the other hand, had a weekend program over the Term 3 holidays. Students were occupied with reading & discussion sessions along with various games & activities. As part of this program students also visited Tree Climb as their excursion activity. Students had a fantastic time and were busy climbing up and beyond :) The girls were fearless and persistent. Great climbing everyone.

Regards,
Pastoral Care Department

Term 4 started off busy in Year 7 & 8 pastoral care. Students are enjoying some art and knitting activities. Time to work with our skillful fingers :) Great effort team...

Regards,
Mrs Nesibe Sezen

LOTE - Arabic - GOLDEN GROVE

For L.O.T.E this term, the year 7 and 8 Arabic classes visited the Botanical Gardens. This was very fun and exciting as we got to see many animals and plants and biomes such as different fruits, vegetables and birds. We also got to see bats at the entrance! This excursion's purpose was to have fun and to write about it for our Arabic project which will be a conclusion of what we saw and did.

Maha

I really enjoyed visiting the Botanical Gardens as a way to refresh your mind and start the day with joy. Some of the things we did on the excursion includes; having a picnic, playing games like dodgeball and soccer, bonding with the year 8’s playing hide and seek, exploring the place and looking at the different varieties of plants, trees etc. It was really fun :)

Asmaa

FOUNDATION – GILLES PLAINS

This term in English, our big focus is story writing and reading. Students have been doing a great job with helping to read the fairytales, retell the main parts and sequence the pictures. Students are slowly progressing with their reading, so thank you parents for your support and well done Foundation students!

Kind Regards
Ms Victoria Makowiak

YEAR 1 – GILLES PLAINS

Year 1 has been learning all about what our Australian coins look like and how their size doesn’t mean they are worth more. For English, we have created characters and written really good descriptions of them. We are now writing some ‘sizzling starts’ to get our audience interested in reading our story. Students are also loving rehearsals for our end of year performance and I’m amazed at how talented they are!

Warm regards
Mrs Sandra Holland

YEAR 2 – GILLES PLAINS

This term we have been learning how to persuade someone to agree with our opinion. We have had so much fun persuading our classmates about our favourite topics. For Mathematics we learned about money. We used our knowledge to spend our Rocca Dollars and learned the importance of saving money.

Warm regards
Mrs Eleni Rocca

YEAR 3 – GILLES PLAINS

Dear Families,

This term, we have been working very hard in preparation for our end of year concert ‘All Around Australia.” In Art, we have been exploring the elements of dance; energy, time, space, body and action! We have been putting these skills to good use for our performance called ‘Straya.’ We can’t wait to showcase our skills on the night! Don’t forget to purchase your tickets from the front office to secure your seat.

Kind Regards,
Miss Kerry Apergis

YEAR 4 – GILLES PLAINS

Dear Families,

This term, the Year 4s are learning about ‘Money’ in Mathematics. We used play money to practice adding and subtracting notes and coins. It was truly an enRICHing experience and we can’t wait to utilise our new skills in the real world.

Kind Regards,
Ms Mubarak Ashimajy

YEAR 5 – GILLES PLAINS

This term we are delving into the world of poetry. We have tried our hand at alliteration, personification and rhyme schemes. We have also written limericks and haikus. Students are looking forward to their canvas poetry which they will complete in Week 8, They are also getting ready for their poetry recitation for Week 6.

Finally, we could like to congratulate Hisham Chama for winning the Best Speaker for Year 5 in the Debating SA competitions.

Kind Regards,
Mrs Shalini Moss

LOTE - Arabic - GILLES PLAINS

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

As the year comes to a conclusion, the Arabic students have been working diligently and plan to finish the term strong. At primary level, both the year 2 and year 3/4 classes have begun their term 4 assessments, after which, they will commence with revision. The 5/6 have also been working hard and completed their written assessment. At secondary level, students will soon begin their revision, in preparation for their semester two exams.