17 November 2022

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 - Gilles Plains

Dear Parents and Friends,

Welcome to the first edition of the Term 4 newsletter.

I cannot believe how fast the year has gone and we are already in Term 4. While we are working to conclude the year, we are also finalising the intake of next year Foundation students. The classes are almost full and we are very grateful for the interest shown to Pinnacle College. We will do our best to make our community happy and satisfied with their experience in this school.

This year for the first time our Gilles Plains campus participated in Children’s University program which has been organised by Adelaide University every year. This has been a great experience for our students after having a STEM collaboration with the University of South Australia. After our Golden Grove secondary students' amazing experience with UniSA, this final initiative became the icing on the cake. They participated in an award ceremony in Bonython Hall at Adelaide University and received their certificates from one of the professors from Adelaide University. We really enjoyed the night and this program will be extended to Golden Grove primary students in 2023 as well. Well done to all of our students who worked towards collecting all these hours to receive the awards.

A group of Golden Grove students have received the Premier’s Be Active challenge this year again and they had the opportunity to meet the Premier of SA, Peter Malinauskas last week. They enjoyed the atmosphere with him and additionally the school received a $1000 grant to be spent on sporting purposes. I would like to thank those students and Mrs Jocelyn Mungall for her support in this organisation.

It has been a busy term so far and will be much busier with all the ceremonies that will take place in a few weeks of time. Looking forward to seeing you all at the ceremonies.

Kind Regards,
Mr Atilla Sinik
Campus Principal

PRIMARY COORDINATOR

Dear students, Parents and Caregivers,

We have arrived at the end of the year's final term, which has been packed with learning, events, activities, and more.

I'd like to highlight our Children University graduation, which took place on November 8th at Adelaide University. We had 11 of our students graduate on that day. I'd like to thank all of the parents who assisted their children in accomplishing this amazing achievement. We plan to continue this fantastic work with more students next year.

Also, I'd like to mention that our campus will offer a mobile dental service for our students this term, beginning in week 8. A brochure has been sent home with your child, with an attached form for you to complete, if you are interested for your child to use the service.

Finally, an issue that has come to our attention is parents stopping their cars in the school driveway, to drop off or pick up their children. This is creating a line of traffic. Please park your car first before dropping off or picking up your children. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your ongoing assistance.

Kind Regards,
Mr Ola Abdelmonem

JUNIOR PRIMARY CURRICULUM COORDINATORS

Dear Parents,

Happy Term 4 everyone! Not long to go now! I was recently invited to see how students can benefit from learning outside the classroom. Outside environments extend learning beyond the four walls of the classroom into a space where students can learn, grow and play with nature. The Junior Primary team will incorporate some outdoor learning into our teaching as the weather improves and we can explore our school grounds in different ways!

A reminder that EOYC tickets can be purchased at the front office for $5. This year we don’t have to cap numbers and can invite the whole family along! The students have been working tirelessly, learning some fantastic performances to entertain you on 5th December at the Golden Grove Arts Centre.

Kind Regards,
Chloe Rees

UPPER PRIMARY CURRICULUM COORDINATOR

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It has been an excellent start to Term 4 and it is impressive to see the positive attitude that students have returned to school with. It is evident they are working towards demonstrating accountability, cooperation and engagement in their learning in the final term of the year.

Next year, we will be working with the updated Australian Curriculum which now sets a higher standard for educational achievement in Australia going forward. It has been decluttered, allowing teachers to focus on what matters most, and it is evidence-based. There is a stronger focus on phonics in English and on mastering essential mathematical facts, concepts, skills and processes. Students will be introduced to concepts and processes at the right time. History has been significantly decluttered too, allowing more time for in-depth teaching. In addition, there is a strengthening of explicit teaching of consent and respectful relationships from F–10 in age-appropriate ways.

Thank you for your support and let’s complete this academic year by working together to ensure your child succeeds.

Kind Regards,
Shalini Moss

SCHOOL EVENTS & SRC

On Friday 21st October, students enjoyed a much awaited Sports Day. Finally the weather was kind to us and the event was a wonderful day for all! Then in Week 3, all students enjoyed a whole school Mathematics incursion, with lots of interactive and hands-on activities.

Also, a group of students attended their Children’s University Graduation on Monday 7th November. They all looked wonderful in their graduation gowns and caps and should be very proud of their efforts.

This term students have also received their certificates and medals for the Premier’s Reading Challenge. A special thank you to our wonderful librarian Lisa Preston for all her efforts!

Looking forward, we have a casual day on the last day of the term and also our annual concert and awards night.

We look forward to ending the year on a high and I would like to thank you all for your support for our events throughout the year.

Term 4 Dates to Remember:

Mrs Sandra Holland

MUSIC

Did you know Music is a great subject to learn about almost anything? It incorporates history, literacy, numeracy and much more. This term the students have been busy learning about beat, rhythm and tempo. Beat is the pulse we hear or feel in Music as it plays, it is constant and the same and only ever changes its speed which in Music we call Tempo. Rhythm are all the sounds we put to the beat, they vary in length. We have been playing with what kinds of rhythms we can fit into beats which students have had to use their numeracy skill to piece together. For example, a set of quavers (the students know them as titi) fits into one beat so each quaver is half a beat long. The students have needed to fit a number of rhythms into three to twelve beats, so have had to do Maths to work out how much of each type of rhythm they can use. Fascinating right? It’s been great to see what some students are coming up with, and the creativity that is coming out so they can make their own Music pieces!

Ms Amanda Drury

LIBRARY

This term we are focusing on Games to coincide with International Games in the Library Month.

You can think of reading books as a game:

BOOKOPOLY Rules

OBJECT: The Object of the game is to read as many books as possible by working your way through all the types of books in the library.

PREPARATION: Place yourself at the beginning to get ready to READ. Each player can choose the speed and complexity of their reading at their own level.

THE LIBRARY: The Library holds the Titles of the books in the library. But books may also be acquired from home, friends or public libraries.

THE PLAY: Starting Reading, each player can choose books in the Easy Fiction, Junior Fiction, Series, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Secondary Fiction or Nonfiction categories. But make sure you can read the category before moving on to the next category.

PAYING FINES: If you do not return your library books on time you will need to pay the fine to the front office.

BOOK CHALLENGE: When you need a Challenge – Please find a book in the library that is a little above your comfort reading

LIBRARY QUEST: Find a book in a genre that you have not read before…

WINNERS: We are all winners as long as we continue to read.

END OF GAME: Last week of borrowing is Week 6 for Gilles Plains campus,

REMINDER: ALL books due by the end of the year - 14th December 2022. We need to have all books returned before the end of term.

Mrs Lisa Preston
Librarian

PE DEPARTMENT

Dear Parents

Year 4&6 students have been learning Badminton in PE class this term.Students are very excited as they will be learning a new sport. By practicing badminton, they develop hand-eye coordination which they can also use in their everyday life.

Kind regards,
Mr Veysel Olku

FOUNDATION

Dear Families,

It has been an amazing start to term 4, the final term for this year! The foundation class have been incredibly enthusiastic to get straight back into learning and are enjoying learning about characters and setting in narrative writing.

They enjoyed an exciting and eventful sportsday and have been working extremely hard at rehearsals to get themselves ready to perform at the end of year concert!

Thank you for your continued support!

Kind Regards
Miss Kiya Norris

YEAR 1

Dear Parents,

Term 4 has started with no hesitations in Year 1. Students have been busy learning about European and Indigenous seasons, fractions, character descriptions, heating and cooling of materials and beginners tennis skills. Students showed lots of enthusiasm when making their own paper out of recycled paper, during our incursion. We would like to wish Abdullah Ansari all the very best, as he and his family move interstate.

Great efforts from everyone thus far this term. Let’s keep the class learning and reading efforts going !

Kind regards,
Ms Victoria Mackowiak

YEAR 2

Term 4 has begun in earnest and sadly we are already halfway through! Year 2 had a fabulous day on Sports Day in Week 1 and cheered each other on throughout the activities. In Science we are learning about living things and how offspring can look similar or different to their parents. To help us with this we have silkworms in the classroom and we have seen them growing bigger every day. Students have also been writing some fantastic persuasive texts, especially their “would you rather?” task for speaking this term.

Mrs Sandra Holland

YEAR 3

Dear Families,

Welcome to our last term for this year!

Students in year 3 have been enjoying learning about money in Maths; they particularly loved using the mini sets from Woolworths to calculate change in a ‘real life’ scenario. We also had some fun during our Maths incursion in week 3, where students worked together to solve the hands-on activities. I would also like to congratulate Aaizah, Amr and Amolika for graduating from Children’s University this term. Well done on all your achievements and participation in the program!

Kind regards,
Mrs Kerry Sangermano

YEAR 4

Dear Parents,

What a start to the term! In writing we are learning to write our persuasive texts to include a sizzling start, three good arguments and an exciting ending. In Maths we have completed Chance, Multiplication and Money. I am happy to say students are picking up the concepts quickly.

Sports Day was an exciting day for the students. Students put on their team colours and had a good time in the races and games. Many were cheering their teams on and helping the younger students with the games.

The End of the Year concert is drawing near, please ensure you get the necessary clothing to compliment what costumes that the students will be wearing. In Week 5, I will collect all the clothing and keep it in school for the full dress rehearsal.

Thank you so much for your cooperation.

Kind regards,
Mrs Shalini Moss

YEAR 5

Dear Families,

The Year 5s have been busy trying to make the most of Term 4, the shortest (but most hectic) term of the year. In English, we’ve been learning about Poetry and reading our class novel, ‘Storm Boy’ by Colin Thiele. We have been practicing for the End of Year Concert and can’t wait to perform for all of you!

Kind regards,
Ms Mubarak Ashimajy

YEAR 6

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Year 6 has had a unique start to term 4 with my absence, but have nonetheless made an excellent start to their final term of primary school and their last term at Gilles Plains. Our class has enjoyed lots of interesting topics to start term 4. We’ve been designing theme parks, analysing and writing poetry, learning about how businesses operate, reversible vs irreversible changes, and many more. We have also been preparing for graduation and moving on to year 7 next year.

Kind regards,
Mr Peter Sowerbutts

LOTE - Arabic

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

This term has started off very energetic and productively, with our year 1 students finishing the Arabic Alphabets with short vowels and beginning to read short words with Sukoon.

We continue to practise reading Arabic dialogues in year 2l3 and learn about Arabic punctuation and question words. Year 4/5 are having fun while practising for the EOYC.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards
Mrs Ola Abdelmonem

LOTE - Turkish

Merhaba everyone!

This term, year 1 Turkish class has started learning about animals, while year 2 and 3 is studying new vocabulary and phrases related to clothes and weather. Moreover, year 4 and 5 Turkish class has engaged in learning about places and body parts in Turkish.

Warm regards
Mr Ahmet Sonmez

Choose how to add this event to your calendar:

Apple Calendar iPhone, iPad, Mac - Download .ics file

Outlook Desktop Outlook - Download .ics file

Android Calendar Android devices - Download .ics file

Other Calendar Google Calendar, Yahoo, etc. - Download .ics file

Download Event