Pinnacle College eNewsletter

12 April 2022

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parents, Friends and Students,

Welcome to the second edition of the Pinnacle College Newsletter.

Ramadan Kareem to everyone. I hope we all enjoy this blessing month and make the most of it.

The Covid19 has taken a different turn and is now slowly becoming part of our daily lives at school and home. As you are also all aware, it affects the attendance of students as well as teachers. The students who can’t make it to school due to getting covid19 or being isolated has been an ongoing problem for the last several weeks. However, the situation is not as gloomy as it looks hopefully for the upcoming term. With the restrictions being eased, we are hoping that students' learning will be back on track again with a better attendance rate from the teachers and students.

The construction has been going according to the plans. The compaction of the land has been finalised and the foundation will be laid in the coming days. I will be notifying you regarding the milestones of this project regularly with this newsletter.

We have been giving great importance to our school lunch time and after school clubs recently. The introduction of the secondary girls' basketball club on Thursday after school and the soccer club on Tuesday after school are all signs of this commitment. As part of this strategy, the new keyboard club will be starting in term 2. The newly established STEM club will bring new excitement to the school community. You might be receiving a 3D printed gift from your son or daughter during the year with our newly purchased 3D printer.

I hope this will only be a start for many other new projects for the Pinnacle students and maybe even to open new doors to compete with their peers in the state or interstate.

Finally, I wish you all a great month of Ramadan and I look forward to seeing you in term 2.

Kind Regards,
Mr Atilla Sinik
Campus Principal

SECONDARY COORDINATOR

This term has been quite interrupted with the spread of COVID 19. Secondary teachers have done their best to provide support through the use of Google Classrooms and face-to-face learning. Until the restrictions are lifted in the holidays, we ask that students continue to enter school via the gates by the gym, while temperature checks are required. Thank you to all parents/caregivers and families for supporting their children during this time. Please continue to stay healthy and safe as we prepare to move forward with these new restrictions.

Our new SRC and leadership group has already begun making plans for lunchtime sports, new food and drink options in the canteen and other improvements amongst the school. Congratulations to all the SRC’s and Miss S, who ran a brilliant Harmony Day assembly in the courtyard. What a fun way to start the week! It was lovely to see everyone dancing and celebrating together.

The new secondary block is coming along! Foundations are being laid and retaining walls have been built – progress!

Miss Andrews is underway running the afterschool sports club. This is a great opportunity to participate in a range of selected sports and for the students to develop their skills and fitness.

During term 2, we are hoping to hold a keyboard club after school. This will run for year 4-10 students at Golden Grove. This will be an excellent opportunity for those who wish to learn or develop their skills in piano.

Please continue to drop-off your child/children no earlier than 8:30am and collect them by 3:45pm at the latest. We appreciate issues may arise but please be aware that there is no duty supervision outside of these times.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Kind Regards,
Molly Affolter

PRIMARY COORDINATOR

As we near the end of term, it is a suitable time for parents and their children to reflect on assessments and their report to understand their strengths and areas of growth for Term 2. These points can then be noted before coming to the Parent Teacher interviews that will be occurring in Week 4. Parents may wish to also organise meetings at the end of the term to discuss Term 2 content and what skills students can focus on in preparation. With NAPLAN to commence in Week 2, students may also wish to focus on comprehension strategies.

Kind Regards,
Myles McLean

JUNIOR PRIMARY CURRICULUM COORDINATOR

In Junior Primary, there are so many activities that are included in our school term. Once again, our students’ learning has been richly enhanced by a special visit from Life Education and Healthy Harold. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Life Education will visit our Gilles Plains campus in Term 2. The program focus is on three main areas: physical health, social and emotional wellbeing and safety.

In the last few weeks, students from Foundation to Year 2 had lessons in the library with our special visitor Jade. We moved away from the traditional classroom where children were exposed to songs, characters, videos, activities and role play. The children were also joined by Life education's most loveable mascot Healthy Harold the Giraffe. Healthy Harold helps the educator deliver fun and engaging lessons that empower children to make safer and healthier choices.

Literacy skills in the early years

In order to make a good start in reading and writing, children need opportunities to converse and for others to listen to them, this will help develop their speaking and listening skills. This is an important part of learning as it helps children feel confident when it comes to conversing with friends and teachers. Being part of everyday activities, such as preparing meals, tidying up, putting shopping away and getting ready for occasions offer you the chance to talk with your child and allow them to build upon their vocabulary skills too. Whilst you speak to your child, they are able to hear the way language is put together into sentences for a purpose.

Books are such a rich source of new words for your child, whilst reading to them they are exposed to words that you would not use in everyday conversations. Children need to have a wide range of vocabulary to have the ability to understand the meaning of books. Please read aloud to your child and share books as often as you can. Children love listening to stories and always ask questions about the meaning of words and love answering questions about the stories.

Ways you can support your child at home:

Read to your child everyday
Set up a place where your child can experiment at home. This could be an arts and crafts corner with materials.
Set up a writing station where your child can have time to sit and write.
Encourage creative play outside.
Make words with magnetic letters
Orally retell stories using figurines and materials.
Ask questions about the characters and the events of the story.

Kind Regards,
Maria Vokolos

Upper Primary Curriculum Coordinator

As we are well and truly over halfway through Term 1, I would like to thank the primary staff who are continuing to give students an educational experience which is as normal as possible in these times. Our teachers are continuing to innovate and be creative with the experiences they provide for their students in our School, even with COVID-19 being present within the community. Excursions have continued to take place: Year 1s attended the Adelaide Zoo, Year 2s doing cooking, Year 5s going to Cleland National Park, the Year 3s saw a show at the Fringe and Foundations going to the Adelaide Zoo. These are examples of how Pinnacle College provides our students with opportunities outside of what is possible within the walls of our School. We have also included STEM in our curriculum this year. Students will learn simple coding and design technology using various software.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding your child’s learning. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Kind Regards,
Shalini Moss

SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

Ramadan Mubarak to all of our students, parents and staff.

Although it is inevitable that our routines have changed due to Ramadan starting, it is very important to maintain a healthy routine. A healthy routine can include:

Light exercise (going for a walk/jog, short cycle)
Going to sleep earlier
Maintaining a healthy diet - avoiding oily, sugary foods and drinks.
Balancing study and personal time: this includes figuring out what time is best suitable for you to complete your studies, taking frequent breaks, setting small realistic daily goals etc.

This is also a great month to reflect and connect with Allah (God), strengthen your relationships with family and friends and even create new healthy habits. Wishing you all a blessed month.

Kind Regards,
Zina Almufti

SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Students of high school focussed on the great contribution of Pythagoras to mathematics. Students learned what Pythagoras theorem is and where we can apply it. They focussed on Linear relationships and its application. Students used the online program ‘Math Space’ each week to improve their mathematical skills.

Kind Regards,
Sami Hussein
Head of Mathematics

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

Last night our Community Leaders Friendship & Dialogue Iftar Dinner was held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. A highlight was the attendance of Her Excellency, the Hon Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia. We were most pleased to see Her Excellency at our intercultural event.

This was a most socially cohesive event and a soothing experience for all in attendance. All our speakers and presenters were warmly received by the guests. Our keynote speaker was Mr. Bruce Djite (Former Socceroo) and his presentation was quite inspirational and moving. Our guest speakers, Dr. Zuleyha and Mr. Lenard’s speeches gave us different perspectives on our lives.

Anatolian Sufi Music Group and Quran Recitation were very spiritual and divine. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed listening to these talented teachers. Kahoot Competition (Pinnacle College Graduates) did a great job! It was so entertaining.

Kind Regards,
Dr M Aslan, Community Engagement Manager

FRONT OFFICE NOTICES

Please see the Front Office Noticeboard below.

LIBRARY

This month we have focused on Inspirational Women. We have lots of biographies and stories about a variety of women. For Harmony week, we had a puzzle of all the different places students were born.

Many of the classes have been learning about how to take care of books and how to find books in the library. Please take care of all books, the better we take care of them – the longer they will last.

The upcoming holiday is a great time to complete the Premiers Reading Challenge. If students have not borrowed enough books from our library the public libraries are a great place to find a wider variety of books.

There is a Book Cup competition where the year 5 and 6 students will read 5 books and compete in an inter-campus quiz competition during book week in August. It is not too late to join the Book Cup club. Just come and ask in the library.

Keep Reading,
Lisa Preston

PASTORAL CARE

The year 7 girls learnt about being compassionate and kind towards one another this week. They had a discussion focussed on projecting positivity so we organised a fun art activity accordingly. In this activity, the girls picked out a friend and made them a little canvas as a token of appreciation and kindness.

Year 6-10 Pastoral Care students attended a special workshop in the spirit of holy month Ramadan. Our guest, brother Saad came in to speak to girls about effective ways to prepare for the blessed month, both spiritually and mentally. The students enjoyed the session very much. We wish everyone who observes Ramadan a blessed and fruitful month ahead. May this month bring you peace and wellness.

Kind Regards,
Pastoral Care Team

MUSIC

Term 1 has come and gone so quickly! I continue to be impressed by students’ creativity and talent in the field of music. It was wonderful to be part of this year’s Harmony Day celebrations, watching as music brought students from all year levels together in dance.

The choir began meeting weekly this term, learning some new songs to perform together. I look forward to this continuing throughout the year.

Kind regards,
Mrs Sarah Hateley
Music Teacher

ART CLUB

In Junior Art Club, students have been busy making colourful mobiles and suncatchers. We have also been creating cute and crazy animals from craft materials. The Senior Art Club has been creating some digital artworks using the Apple pencils and Procreate application, we have also made slime and have started decorating some pottery.

Kind regards,
Mrs Jocelyn Mungall

FOUNDATION

The Foundation class were so lucky to be a part of some special Harmony Day activities. The Year 10 Secondary girls had planned special activities as part of their Integrated subject. The foundation students participated in craft, painting and dancing. We all had such a fun time.

Kindest Regards,
Mrs Vokolos

YEAR 1

I can’t believe we have almost reached the end of term 1! The Year 1 students thoroughly enjoyed their excursion to the Adelaide Zoo where they consolidated their understanding of living things and what animals need to survive. Students also looked amazing in their traditional cultural outfits for our Harmony Day celebrations. I look forward to many more exciting learning experiences in Term 2. Enjoy a restful break with your families.

Kindest Regards,
Mrs Centofanti

YEAR 2

In the second half of Term 1, the Year 2 students learned about their Connections to Australia and the rest of the world by completing an inquiry project. Students composed their own questions, interviewed their parents and collected artefacts. They curated the findings of their investigations as interactive posters, just in time for our Harmony Day celebrations.

Kindest Regards,
Ms Villani

YEAR 3

A chaotic start to the year but we have made it to the end of Term 1, just! Thank you to parents for being patient as COVID has struck not only me down but yourselves, yet you’ve continued to help your children. We’ve had a fun term, being Bug Scientists, Fringe Show guests, Indigenous Australian Historians and Maths Data Collectors! A very busy term, with lots of NAPLAN prep homework. Only a few more weeks to go!

Kindest Regards,
Mrs Rees

YEAR 4

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Firstly, I would like to wish Ramadan Mubarak to those celebrating. I hope this month brings good health, prosperity & blessed days for everyone! Recently, we celebrated Harmony Day and it was wonderful to see students embracing their cultures. It was a great opportunity to learn about our differences and connect over our activities. Students also had their excursion to Cleland Wildlife Park and it was an amazing experience to learn about Australian Animals and their adaptations + lifecycles.

Over the holidays, students will be given homework. It is also imperative students revise over comprehension skills, complete daily reading tasks and revise written and mental strategies for addition and subtraction.

I hope everyone has a safe and blessed holiday. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Term 2!

Kind Regards,
Miss Sawafta

YEAR 5

We are almost at the end of the first term. I appreciate all of your support throughout this disrupted term. We have had a few downs with illnesses but the ups have outweighed those downs. I have welcomed the birth of my beautiful daughter. I have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know your amazing children. I look forward to term 2 and am hopeful for the stability it will bring.

I would also like to wish a happy Ramadan Mubarak to all those celebrating!

Kind Regards,
Mr Incoll

YEAR 6

Recently, the Year 6 class has taken part in a basketball sports clinic through Sporting Schools. Students learnt skills necessary to teamwork as well as drills such as crossovers and dribbling. This culminated in match-based play where students put their competitive skills to use. In mathematics, students have been using real world situations to help them understand fractions, decimals and percentages and their interrelationship. By focusing on pizza (fractions), canteen money (decimals) and test scores (percentages), students are able to more easily calculate the correct number.

Kind Regards,
Mr McLean

YEAR 7

Year 7 Physical Education - SA School Sports

The Year 7 students, along with Year 8’s and Year 9’s, participated in SA School Sports Touch Football and Basketball competitions. The girls had a fantastic time. They improved their skills, competed fiercely and showed great sportsmanship. It was great to see so many Year 7’s participating.

Kind regards,
Bridget Andrews

YEAR 8

Year 8 Humanities

During term 1, the year 8 girls have been studying ‘Japan under Shoguns’, where the students developed a journal entry analysing ‘A day in the life of a Japanese Samurai’. The students made some excellent models and shared them among the class.

Year 8 Science

This term in science we learnt many things, such as how to use a microscope, what cells are, and how to write and perform a scientific report.

We learnt that there are many different types of cells in the human body. These are called STEM cells and are all essential to our body, even though they can be 1 millionth of a millimetre in size!

As part of our scientific report, we observed how adding milk at different times to coffee can affect its temperature, how different specialized cells look and how adding celery to coloured water highlights the xylem and phloem.

To finish the term off, we learnt how to use a light microscope and observed many different objects under it. We were able to see all the cells and it was a new and exciting way to look at everyday objects.

-Maha year 8 student

Kind regards,
Year 8 Teachers

YEAR 9

Year 9 Visual Arts

The Year 9 Visual Arts class was able to attend an excursion with the Year 10 Visual Art students to the Art Gallery of South Australia. They were able to view the Free State exhibition and participate in a professional Observational Drawing Tutorial. We then went to MOD to view the interactive invisibility exhibition. It was a great day!

Kind regards,
Year 9 Teachers

YEAR 10

Year 10 Integrated Learning

The Year 10 Integrated Learning class received a visit from Cam Sutcliffe and Will Northeast from the Port Adelaide Football Club. This visit allowed students to participate in a football skills training session, preparing the students for the big competition coming up at the Power Intercultural Program Carnival. Big kicks: mad skills!

Year 10 Visual Arts

The Year 10 Visual Art students had the opportunity to visit several interactive art exhibitions this term. Students have also participated in a professional ‘Observational Drawing Tutorial’.

Kind regards,
Year 10 Teachers

RELIGION AND VALUES

Ramadan Kareem,

The blessed month of Ramadan has arrived before Term 1 finishes. Holy Ramadan gives the opportunity to cover the social and cultural aspects of Islamic tradition. Ramadan themed learning activities such as drawings promote many cultural aspects as well as lesson content and discussions aimed to increase their awareness on social aspects of the Holy Ramadan.

Wishing your families, a blessed and rewarding month.

Kind Regards,
Gulsum Altunkopru
RV Teacher

LOTE - Arabic

Dear parents/caregivers,

We are at the end of another term! What a busy term it has been!

This term we have had some amazing new challenges. We explored:

Year 4/5 class: Students continued with their topics from their assigned textbooks with a focus on reading and building sentences. Furthermore, we focused on building vocabulary that will enable students to develop their comprehension of the Arabic Language and its use. They are starting to build their own sentences. The students had an Arabic project about Ramadan. Well Done to all students.

Year 6 class: Students will have the opportunity to work on an Arabic project “Muslims Manners in Ramadan”. The students have to write about one of them and create a poster to present in front of the class.

Warm Regards,
Mrs Soheir Habib
Mr Alaa Ahmed
LOTE Teachers