Eastern Fleurieu R-12 Newsletter Week 3 Term 2 2024

R-12

Principal’s Report

Dear all,

In an era dominated by digital connectivity, the influence of social media on our children and young people cannot be underestimated. While these platforms offer avenues for communication, creativity, and learning, they also harbor hidden dangers that are impacting the well-being and development of our students. Over 80% of our student behaviour issues are connected with and escalated by social media and excessive screen time.

Recent announcements by the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, regarding proposed legislative changes for children under 14 to access social media is a step in the right direction as we attempt to address the growing concern surrounding this issue.

Mr Malinauskas said the proposal was fuelled by concerns that social media was contributing to mental illness in young people.

"We are seeing mounting evidence from experts of the adverse impact of social media on children, their mental health and development," Mr Malinauskas said. 

Mr Malinauskas said he was also concerned about how social media companies were using "addictive" algorithms to draw younger people in. 

The government said it was responding to concerns from experts and the wider community about how social media platforms were exposing children to illegal content and cyber bullying. 

The proposed measures aim to protect our youngest citizens from the potential harms of unrestricted social media use, recognising the need for enhanced safeguards in the digital realm.

As parents and educators, it's essential to remain vigilant and informed about the risks associated with social media. From cyberbullying and online predators to the detrimental effects on mental health and self-esteem, the consequences are enormous, and I fear that in many instances irretrievable. Research has also shown that excessive screen time and exposure to unrealistic standards contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and social isolation among a growing number of young people.

As a school we actively teach students about the dangers of social media, restrict the use of mobile phones in school and work with many young people to address the effects that social media has had on them personally as both a victim and perpetrator. It is frustrating when find that some parents actively support their children in non-compliance with the Government mandated ban on mobile phones and students who deliberately try and get around the internet filters at the school to access social media and gaming sites.

Students who continually do this will lose their right to the internet and will have to hand their mobile phone into student services immediately they enter school grounds.

We need your support in fostering open communication with our children about responsible digital use and encourage them to critically evaluate the content they consume, practice empathy and kindness in their online interactions, and prioritise real-world connections over virtual validation to help mitigate the negative impacts of social media on their health and wellbeing.

Collaboratively working together as a community, modelling responsible use of social media, knowing what our children are doing and watching, setting reasonable boundaries and expectations will empower our children and young people to navigate the complex landscape of social media.

Let us be united in our commitment to protecting the innocence and potential harm social media has on our children and young people, both online and offline.

Warm Regards,

Term Dates 2024

Eastern Fleurieu School R-12 Important dates

Get Ready for "Grease" at Eastern Fleurieu!

You know it, you love it, you sing and dance to it… GREASE!
We're so very excited that EFS will be performing the classic musical "Grease" this term, WEEK 7. Get ready for a night of high-energy music, dancing, and fun as our incredibly talented Year 7-12 cast bring this beloved story to life.

Performance Dates:

• Friday, June 14^th at 7:00 PM
• https://easternfleurieu.schoolzineplus.com/event/booking/choose-tickets/3740
• Saturday, June 15^th at 7:00 PM
• https://easternfleurieu.schoolzineplus.com/event/booking/choose-tickets/3741

Tickets: Tickets can be booked via the school website or can be purchased at the door. Adults $10, kids 12 and under are free.

Students from years 7 through to 12 have been working hard over the last 3 months to do this incredible musical, justice; hours of rehearsals, crazy amounts of choreography, and a high level of commitment. You would be bonkers to miss out on the opportunity to see these superstars on stage!

See you at Rydell High!

Check if you qualify for free home internet!

If you have a school aged child and have had no active NBN broadband connection in the past 14 days, your family may be eligible for free home internet until 31 December 2025, through the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).

To check if you are eligible, call the SSBI National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 and their helpful team can check for you. Callback, webchat, translating and interpreting services are available.

Visit the SSBI National Referral Centre website for more information.

Closing the Gap Expo

EFS students in Years R-12 had an enriching experience on Thursday, 21^st March as they attended the Closing the Gap Expo hosted by Sonder on Kaurna Country at the Adelaide Showground. From years R-12, our students immersed themselves in cultural dances and experiences, showcasing their commitment to celebrating First Nations' cultures. The day was filled with engaging activities from various stalls, promoting equality and health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The highlight included a delightful roast lunch, fostering camaraderie and appreciation among attendees. This event served as a reminder for all Australians to unite in closing the gap and ensuring equal opportunities for all. Kudos to our students for their participation in this meaningful endeavor! Thank you to the staff who attended the excursion, Ms Stevens, Charmaine, Tamika and Bryn!

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device to 7-12 Campus

Purchase your laptop here

Would you like to host an international student?

Information:

Apply here:  

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

R-12 School Uniform

EFS School Uniform Shop
9a Callington Road, Strathalbyn SA 5255

Term Time Open Hours

Tuesdays 8:30 – 10:45am
Thursdays 3:45 – 5:45pm

For uniform enquiries outside of our open hours, contact Ms Julie Martin.  

Bubbells Embroidery 

Phone: 0417 771 944           Email:bubbells@adam.com.au

If our open hours don’t suit you, we can take email and phone orders and we can arrange remote purchases for your convenience. 

Community News

Tuning Into Teens

Wednesdays, 15 May to 19 June, 4 – 6pm | headspace Victor Harbor, 10 Crozier Rd, Victor Harbor| FREE | Register here

A free 6-week workshop for parents, grandparents and caregivers. Parenting often feels like an emotional roller coaster that we are ill equipped to ride – particularly in the Teen years! But don’t worry, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help. The ‘emotion coaching’ tools from this program might just make the ride a little smoother, and ultimately support your relationship with your teen. Refreshments provided.

Friday Youth Hang Out at Milang

Fridays during school term, 4:30 – 6pm | Milang Youth Hub, Paddlesteamer Drive, Milang | FREE | Register here

A free social program for young people aged 10-18 years. Head on down to Friday Youth Hang Out at the Milang Youth Hub on the shores of Lake Alexandrina. The group meets every Friday afternoon during school term to hang out, try new activities and have fun.

Contact the Reclink Youth Activities Coordinator for more information: lyall.willis@reclink.org.au or 0432 304 166.

ASHBOURNE CAMPUS

14 Ashbourne Road, Ashbourne SA 5157 Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

Welcome back to Term 2, we hope all our families had a wonderful, safe holiday break. The students have all returned to the campus settled, demonstrating a high level of behaviour and learning engagement.

We will continue to focus on our class and yard consistent routines and the Eastern Fleurieu School values (Integrity, Respect, Determination and Team Work). The Global Competencies that the students will focus on in their classes and on Bush school day are, Character (Hakea class) and Character, Collaboration and Critical Thinking (Acacia class). I would encourage all parents to speak to your child/children about the school values and the global competencies, what they mean and how your child/children apply them to their learning and their personal growth.

We have several fun events happening this term, the whole campus camp ‘Zoo Snooze’, to the Adelaide Zoo on the 21^st- 22^nd June and the Student Creation Market on Friday, 28^th June this will be held at Ashbourne. Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day and NAIDOC week will also be this term. The students will take part in activities across these different important events.

Assembly will be held on Friday at 9:00am in Week 5 and 10, please join us in the Acacia class.

The Bush school theme this term is ‘Mini beasts’, the students chose this theme, they will learn about the important role mini beasts play in the natural environment. The students will investigate and learn about a variety of mini beasts, with a different focus each week. They will also plan, design and make individual creation projects to sell at the Student Creation Market in Week 9.

We have ordered our new Bush school T-shirts, the children and staff are excited for the arrival of these this term.

The design is a First Nations, ‘it tells a story of teachers and students coming and going from school. The teachers and students are represented by the different sized U shapes surrounding a meeting place. These circular shapes also symbolise the sun that gives us energy for our journey through life. Pathways and footprints capture the individual’s journey and their connection through the school. The dots on the shirt represent our ancestors past and present. They surround us on our journey to our next place’.

Regards,
Rebekah Fahey
Head of Campus

Bush Day Term 2

This week at Bush school the students learnt about worms, snails and slugs. There were so many new interesting facts. The students looked at the shell of the snail and the important role it plays to protecting the snail, stopping it from drying out and that the shell grows with the snail. The students discovered that there are many different types of snails that are on land and in the ocean, with different unique shells. The students made their own shell from clay. For our Art lesson the students chose one or more mini beast and drew it in the natural habitat. They used pastels and sharpers. We joined all the pieces together to make one large mini beast mural.

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Assembly

In Week 10 Hakea class ran our whole school assembly. They did a wonderful job welcoming all the families and sharing their learning and events from the second half of the term. The certificates for Hakea class went to Bradley, Sophie and Tony for demonstrating Character. The certificates for Acacia class went to Lily for Critical Thinking and Tyron for Citizenship.

Acacia Art

Last term Acacia's art lessons were based around Shaun Tan's (author/artist) book "The lost Thing".

Shaun Tan likes to mix animals and inanimate objects together to create interesting creatures.  He also likes to include textures such as brown paper and pictures from magazines. This is our interpretation of his artwork.

Uniform

On May 1^st an R-6 Uniform Expectation letter was shared by Jo Garwood on the school SZapp. The letter was a reminder to families that as we head into the cooler weather that students need to wear navy jumpers, navy or mid-grey leggings or track pants, the school dress or winter skirt. No black clothing, hoods or jeans to be worn. Students may wear navy beanies and a warm jacket. It gets very cold at Ashbourne, a warm jacket or rain jacket is a sensible idea. If you require any uniform items please see Leanne or Rebekah and we will support this.

Bush Day will remain as warm, sensible casual clothes that can get dirty. As we move into winter, a reminder to bring a warm jacket/rain jacket and water proof boots/shoes if your child has a pair. We do still go outside on Bush school day in the rain (unless it is pouring).

Dates to Remember

LANGHORNE CREEK CAMPUS

Bridge Road, Langhorne Creek SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

We have been enjoying extra curriculum experiences and learning since our last newsletter.

Near the end of term two we enjoyed a great turn out for our small campus sports Day. Ashbourne and Milang students along with families and friends of our campuses, joined us for a fun filled day. We ended with a tug-of-war between students and adults. The weather was glorious adding to a successful day.

We were very grateful to have Abbey Knight part of our teaching team in term one. This term we welcome back Mandy Hopkins in our 3-6 class along with teaching PE and History R-6. Students and staff are pleased to have her return to us for the remainder of the year. We also welcome Mel Brook who is joining us in Admin while Vicki is on leave. Mel comes with a wealth of experience in Admin and we appreciate her friendly and helpful manner to all.

We also welcome to our Pre-Service teacher Madelene Cross to our campus this term.

"My name is Madelene and I recently moved to Langhorne Creek; it truly is a beautiful place. I enjoy painting and all things involving yarn. I am grateful to be a preservice teacher at the Langhorne Creek campus, it is an amazing school, and I can’t wait to learn from the wonderful people here."

It has been great to have Work Experience students Kyra and Taya from our 7-12 campus join us for week 2. Kyra and Taya have worked alongside students and staff supporting learning programs. We have appreciated the friendly personalities and appreciate their time with us. We wish them both all the best as they continue their work studies at school. Thankyou both for choosing our campus! Thank you to Anna, Hannah and Mandy for hosting the work experience students.

Staff have revisited our EFS Consistent Routines with students, this is an EFS R-12 initiative to ensure students and staff are clear around school expectations, adding to successful learning outcomes for all.

Our school is coming together as we continue with the re organisation of our campus. Our STEAM classrooms are functioning well. All classrooms’ spaces have the technology needed to support teachers with our teaching programs. We are in the process of setting up our Library area, this is coming along as books are unpacked and sorted onto shelves ready for student borrowing.

Over the holiday break we have some soil brought in for our base for the propagation shed. Work is underway to level this area as we prepare the base, ready for pavers then erecting the shed. If anyone is experienced in this area, and able to help, please call Mel at the school to organise a time to help out.

We are looking forward to attending our R-6 camp at Arbury Park in Week 5. Please see the SeeSaw updates for students attending the daytime program only. We are grateful to the camp organisers to be able to offer this option to students and families. Please be sure to let us know your family’s needs so we can ensure a wonderful camp experience for all.

Looking forward to the remainder of this term.

Regards,
Les Cameron
Head of Campus

News from the Kind Koalas

Inquiry

We have been learning about birds in our science and inquiry time. We have learnt about habitats, features and different types of birds. We have pretended we are birds and sorted ourselves in our habitats. We made balloon whirly twirly birds that helped us learn how birds fly and how the force of air helps them. This has been a lot of fun so far and we have learnt a lot.

Sleepover

We had a school sleepover in our new classrooms at the end of Term 1. We ate spaghetti, played spotlight and watched a movie before getting cosy in our classrooms. We then had milo and toast for breakfast the next day. This was a lot of fun and we all loved it.

I loved playing spotlight at night. – Frankie
I loved just sleeping at school, it was fun. – Spencer
I liked watching the movie. – Evelyn
I liked playing spotlight and eating ice cream. - Mila

News from the Quirky Quokkas

Positive and Happy words

In class we brainstormed a heap of positive, happy words. We then chose a word each and made them into a colourful placemat using pastels. They turned out really colourful and bright.

SAPSASA Updates – comments from the students

Last term we trialled for the knock out footy team and we both made the team. We play next week at Strath against St Francis. We are looking forward to the challenge.

Hudson and Damien

Last term we went to Strathalbyn for the Cross Country run. Connor, Archie and Aidan made the team to go to Victor for the next stage. It was lots of fun and we are glad we were able to participate.

Archie, Connor, Aidan, Khiyaden and Liam

Playgroup

On Friday, 22^nd March we celebrated Harmony Day. The children engaged in a range of playful learning experiences including collage with orange resources, and orange playdough and painting. The children hand-squeezed oranges and enjoyed drinking the juice. At group time we read some stories from around the world and sang "Wash Your Face in Orange Juice."

This term we are exploring transport and we will visit the Milang Railway Museum later in the term. 

Regards,
Libby Thornton

Sports day

The small campus sports day was held in week 8 of term one at our campus. It was a great day full of fun and excitement. The scores were close: Finniss – 2106, Angas – 2142 and the winners for the day Bremer – 2177. 

It was a fun and enjoyable time, there was 8 fun activities throughout the day. Our favorites were newspaper hockey, hurdles, shot put, sprints and tug-of-war. There was a meal deal that the students could buy for lunch and it was yum! - Aiden, Liam and Rupert

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SAPSASA Athletics trial

Week 10 in term one the SAPSASA Athletics trial was held at the 7-12 campus. The Year 10 Fit to lead students coached the Year 4-6 students and a fun day was had by all.

Sleepover at Langhorne Creek Campus

We ended Term 1 with a School Sleep over. Students enjoyed fun activities, before a delicious spaghetti Bolognaise dinner and ice cream for dessert. A game of spotlight was great fun with students helping each other to avoid being caught by the spotlight, followed by a movie before bed. Our last day of term students enjoyed activities and games for our end of term celebrations.

Assembly

Congratulations to our Term 1, Week 10 Assembly Award winners.

Dates to Remember

MILANG CAMPUS

Cnr Cox and Rivers Street, Milang SA 5256     Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

The end of Term 1 saw the students thoroughly enjoy our joint Sports Day at Langhorne Creek. Harmony Day was also celebrated across the school with students exploring Immigration to Australia starting with First Nations people to the current day. The students listened to stories from child immigrants and then got to taste some of the food that has been integrated into our current diets, but originated in another country. They represented their learning by creating artwork on the paper plates that they used for their lunch. Check out the photos!

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We were also lucky enough to be invited to work with Ngarrindjeri locals in planting around the recently open and restored Milang Butter Factory. The 10 year project has seen the derelict building restored by the Milang community and now nominated for a Council Heritage Award. Students have watched to project develop over the years and no doubt will use the facilities in the future.

This term we have welcomed back the PAWZAWHILE Labradors to work with a group of Upper Primary students each week. This is a real highlight for some of our students and teaching them valuable skills about caring for others and building their confidence as they train the dogs.

Your children may have told you that Bu Kaye, our long standing Indonesian teacher is now on leave for the rest of the year. Merrilee Wallis will be teaching in her place and will change the focus to Filipino culture this term. We have also welcomed Darcy Springhall as our new PE teacher.

Although we were sad to say goodbye to two of our Junior Primary students, Jannali and Ziva we have welcomed back Molly and two new students Alaska and Delilah to the class, and also Tyler to the Upper Primary.

Please don’t hesitate to come in if you have any questions about our upcoming camp to the zoo!

Regards,
Susannah Cook
Head of Campus

Playgroup

Junior Primary Learning

Lots of learning happening in the Junior Primary class!

As part of our Literacy rotations, one group has been learning how to take part in ‘Readers’ Theatre’. This week’s play was ‘The Lion and the Mouse’. Each student chose which character they would like to play and the first lesson was spent practicing their lines. The second lesson gave them an opportunity to dramatise the play by adding expression and actions. When everything was ready, the students then performed the play in front of the class. They did such a great job of bringing ‘The Lion and the Mouse’ to life!

For maths this week, the ‘Blueberries’ have been learning how to write the numerals from 1-20. They had to count all the objects and then write the matching numeral. The ‘Oranges’ group have been learning all about ‘linear’ patterns. Linear patterns are patterns which increase or decrease by the same amount. The students had to make a linear pattern using ‘Lego’ blocks and then record how much their pattern increased by.

Mrs M included a maths lesson on measurement and we made Anzac biscuits.  They were delicious.

Upper Primary Learning

History

Last term we had a focus on History, and learnt about what life in Australia was like in the 1800s. We looked at how colonisation affected First Nation Australians, and what impact it had on their way of life. We also looked at what impact colonisation had on settlers from the First Fleet, and focused on what their way of life was like and how it differed from ours.

To coincide with our History unit, we ventured to Old Tailem Town for an excursion in Week 11. For many of us, this was our first time visiting the historic sight, and it was amazing to see history come to life in front of our eyes! Some of the buildings were over 100 years old! Here are some of the Upper Primary’s recounts on their time at Old Tailem Town:

I noticed that now its way more advanced then the olden days! –Aaliyah
I also liked the library because it was cool to look at and read a little of the old magazines. – Alastair
The whispering dish was super! – Axel
The school bell was really cool and different to our bell so as the seats. – Kaiden

At the end we did something called ‘the whispering dish’. It was where somebody whispered or talked into the dish and somebody at the other end could hear you. It was really fun and interesting. – Vanessa

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Science

This term the Upper Primary will be focussing on Chemical Science. We have started looking at reversible and irreversible changes of solids and liquids by growing our own salt crystals, separating granola and cooking jam drops asking the questions; can we return them to their original form?

Happenings at Milang

Students enjoyed a wonderful day at Langhorne Creek last term for our Small Campus Sports Day.

Enjoy the photos.

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Assembly

Well done to all our Award winners over the last few assemblies.

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Easter Seminar

The life matters team came and presented an Easter seminar, and the Milang Church of Christ provided everyone with some Hot cross buns, fresh from the Milang Bakery!

Reminders from Donna

Book Club

Orders due back Monday, 20^th May.

Zoo Snooze

Please return your child’s consent forms for camp and the Aquatics form.  Payment is due by Monday, 3^rd June, unless you have arranged a payment plan in advance with Donna.

The week before camp we will be sending home a list of what to bring and also a bag for you to pack everything in for camp.  Sleeping bag, pillow, clothes etc., will all need to fit in the bag.  Don’t worry they are quite large.  This will make it much easier and quicker to pack and un-pack the bus.

Attendance 

Please always contact the school if your child is late, call or come in and sign a yellow slip.  Also if your child is away or someone else is picking them up.  If we don’t hear from you your child’s absence is marked as unexplained.  A message from another student is not enough, we need to hear from a parent. If you are picking your child up early please come into the office and complete a green slip. 

Please continue to follow the guidelines for keeping us all safe.  If you need to come on site, please ensure you are sanitising when entering any buildings. Keep your visits brief and social distance at all times. 

Personal data checks

Please return any personal data checks that were sent home in a mail out in January with any changes and initial each page please. If there are no changes, please still initial and send back.

Dates to Remember

STRATHALBYN R-6 CAMPUS

34 East Terrace, Strathalbyn SA 5255     Ph: 8536 2455

Heads of Campus Report

Arbury Park Camp

The term started with a bang with our Year 5/6 classes heading off to Arbury Park Camp in Week 1.  All students enjoyed this wonderful outdoor experience, hiking the hills trails, investigating micro-organisms under the microscopes and spending time with peers playing in the great outdoors. With many schools unable to support overnight experiences, I thank and acknowledge our staff for putting their families and commitments on hold for three days to support.

New Staff

We welcomed three new staff to our teaching team and they are enjoying getting to know our students and staff.

• Ms Abbey Knight – Monday to Wednesday in Room 13
• Mr Ky Matthews-Hampton – Tuesday and Friday PE
• Megan Fry – Thursday JP PE
• SSO staff - Anthony (Thursday) and Jodie (Friday)

We are also currently supporting numerous pre-service teachers and some past students returned for work experience last week.  Across our site, students across the grades have been involved in the Nature Play Mini Festival, Cross Country and SAPSASA footy, choir and dance group, instrumental band – Rockers and our play activities have taken off.  Our site is full of opportunities for students to follow their passions and engage in new experiences.

House Captains for 2024

Developing our student leaders continues to be an important focus and this week we congratulate our new Sports House Leaders for 2024.

Badges for the Better

Our Badges for the Better program, an initiative from our 2023 School Captains will be reinvigorated by Mr Smith and school captains over the coming weeks.  Remember, out of school activities such as running water at footy, Scouts community work or canteen help at soccer, can be incorporated into points allocation, just chat to your child’s class teacher.

Picking Students Up Early

As a staff, we have reviewed our student pick up processes and just want to remind our school community that parents must go to the Front Office if an early pick up is required.  Our Front Admin staff, will ring over to class teachers and students will walk over to be sign out and collected. 

Why is this important? 

1. Missed Learning Opportunities: Leaving early means missing out on valuable learning experiences and reflection of the day.
2. Disruption of Routine: Leaving early can disrupt the daily routine and schedule of the student, potentially affecting their ability to stay organized
3. Missed Social Interactions: School is not just about academics; it's also a place for social interactions and building relationships. Leaving early can deprive students of valuable social experiences with peers and teachers.
4. Safety Concerns: Schools have safety protocols in place, and leaving early without proper authorization or supervision can pose safety risks for students.

Thanks to all that wait outside the classroom until the bell rings, this is also a nice opportunity to chat and meet members of our school community.  

Uniform

In line with our R-12 focus on uniform can I please remind families that non-school jumpers, hoodies and coloured undershirts are not part of our Uniform Policy.  Over the last year, we have also seen black bottoms, sports tights and bike shorts creep into our school landscape.  I would like to continue to work with all families to move back to navy blue/grey bottoms by the end of the term.  We have loads of second-hand options for purchase in the front office, with monies going to our Parent Club, please reach out if you need any support.

Regards,
Jo Garwood, Sophie Frost and Mel Pitt
Heads of Campus

Wellbeing

Hi EFS Families.

I am Emma Harris and I have joined the Wellbeing team, for Term 1 and Term 2 2024. My other roles at EFS are Autism Inclusion Teacher and R-6 Special Education Teacher (Millindilla- Room 29).

This year, staff, students and leadership have done a lot of behind the scenes work to create our school consistent routines. These routines inform how we move around the school, classroom expectations, voice level expectations and general classroom expectations. Having predictable consistent routines supports students, they know what the expectation is, promotes success and supports safety.

You may have seen some displayed around the school! Here are a few examples.

The wellbeing team have been putting together weekly wellbeing PowerPoints for classes to access. The PowerPoints are intended to go for 5 minutes and supports embedding our morning routines. ‘What’s on this Week’ promotes Berry Street Practices, including greetings, positive primers, expectations, school values and consistent routines.

Each day has ‘focus’.  This term we have Mindful Monday, Teamwork Tuesday, Woof Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday and Funny Friday. With these prompts, positive primers and brain breaks are linked to our daily theme. It has also evolved to become a platform to share whole school news, celebrations and events as they occur.

The response to the PowerPoints has been delightful to see, with students across classes talking about the funny positive primer of the day, what brain breaks they enjoyed and seeing the news within the school community.

Here is the Week 2 PowerPoint for you to see what we do!  

Regards,
Emma Harris
Wellbeing Leader

Southern Fleurieu Success

On Thursday, 9th May our R-6 cross country team ventured to Encounter Lutheran college to compete in the Southern Fleurieu Championships. 

Out of 9 schools EFS finished 3rd for the day. 

While all athletes represented their school with pride, we had some stand out performers. 

10 Year old girls - Marni (10th)

10 year old boys - Rocco (1st - BROKE RECORD), Ryder (4th)

11 year old girls - Zoe (10th)

11 year old boys - Sam (5th), Dylan (7th)

12 year old girls - Sierra (6th)

12 year old boys - Jack (3rd), Ashton (6th), Riley (8th), Jaeden (10th)

A tremendous effort by all athletes, displaying their support for their teammates and students from other schools.

Thank you to Michael Kenyon, Susie Martin and our other parents and family members for their support on the day. 

Regards,
Darcy Springhall

Nursing Home Visits

For the last five Mondays, a small group of Year 6 students have been walking across to the Strathalbyn Aged Care Facility to connect with the residents. Our school Youth Worker Hayley Lepe has been working alongside the Lifestyle and Leisure Coordinator at the home to build a program that facilitates intergenerational friendships between our students and their residents. Each Monday, this group spend time together making craft, experimenting with art, playing bingo and getting to know each other.

In the early weeks, both the students and residents seemed a little shy and reserved in getting to know each other. The majority if the students had never entered an Aged Care Facility before, and some of the residents don’t see children visiting very often. At first, the students stayed close to me and leant on my support to find their way in the home and in their conversations. Now, the students confidently greet residents in the foyer, they say hello to the staff at the front desk and they lead me through the home, knowing exactly where to go to meet their residents down the maze of corridors. The residents expect to see us now and as soon as we round the corner, arms rise in waves, smiles shine on faces and the students flitter through the home to find their now familiar friends. For me, what I see is our 10 girls showcasing their humble nature, their exceptional manners, their senses of humour and their genuine kindness and interest into the lives of the residents.

This last week, I have sat with each of the children in this group to capture their individual reflections on this group so far. Please note, two students whom are very involved and appreciated in the group have chosen not to have their words published. See below for the student’s recounts; in their own words:

We get the old stories of how life was in their past. My favourite part of hearing their past is seeing the changes in their faces when they talk about the times and the people that they have loved in their lives. When someone has lost the privilege of their memory, I notice that they still remember the important parts, the parts that stand out for them. It makes me happy just hearing their important memories. - Emily

I enjoy seeing the people there, I enjoy speaking to them about their life. I like hearing what they’ve done when they were younger. I’m getting to know the people and learning what they like and enjoy. I’m hearing stories about what sports they played; there’s a guy there who played football like me. He was the captain of his team and now has a missing finger! He always pretends he’s bitten it off to make me laugh. He’s actually really funny. - Maddy

My favourite moment was probably when we were playing bingo and the person I was sitting next to won a chocolate prize and I just missed out. Someone on the table noticed I was disappointed and he found an old, smooshed chocolate in his pocket and offered it to me. I declined his offer but I still thought it was really sweet. It made me feel really grateful to have someone so much older and wiser than me- that does not know me well- still sweet enough to offer me something of theirs. - Acacia

My best memory there has probably been playing bingo when I was the person in charge of calling out the numbers. Apparently I was making everybody laugh. I was making up my own bingo calling numbers like ‘1 and 0… my age, number ten!’ When a man won his prize, I made a lot of noise, clapping and yelling out his name. I think this made them all happy and I could tell by their smiles. - Ruby

I’ve enjoyed getting to know the older people and hearing how they lived when they were younger. I remember meeting a lady who was turning 105. She was really quiet but she always had a smile on her face. I remember one of the ladies won a chocolate in bingo, but she didn’t offer to share it with me! - Sierra

I have enjoyed going to the home to talk with some new people and getting to know them. While doing some of the crafts and stuff, it was nice when I helped a lady who couldn’t see well. I was nice to her and I helped her out with that. I think maybe it would have made her feel happy and stuff. - Lily

I liked on my first day, one of the residents welcomed me. She was very funny and caring. I like that every time we enter the foyer, the same man sits in the same chair reading the paper and he always gives us a big wave and smile. I like that they can talk to me about their personal stories, even sad ones. One day, I was sitting with two friends that lived there and because one was telling me some sad things about her life, her friend got to learn something about her that she didn’t know. Another thing I like is that at my school, lots of students assume I’m a boy because of my short hair. On my first day there, they all knew I was a girl and I thought that was really crazy and cool. One of the men there said ‘hello there little lady!’ when I sat with him. - Mackenzie

During my time at the nursing home, I’ve learned how to communicate about troubling matters, and how to connect with people older than me. Before I went to the home, I never really thought about how older people think. I’ve enjoyed my time there connecting, learning and talking to older people. I thank Hayley, the residents and the workers at the nursing home for this wonderful opportunity. - TIlly

This program was initially set up to be a one-time visit with hopes of becoming ongoing, but I wanted first to see first how the students and residents responded. On the first day, we were invited back weekly due to such promising responses from the residents, and excitement and engagement from the students. Now, I have optimistic plans to continue visiting these residents; strengthening the friendships forming and celebrating the growth in character that each of these children are experiencing. I am very proud of each and every one of these students. Well done, girls.  

Regards,
Hayley Lepe
Social Worker

What’s Been Happening in Millindilla?

This year in Millindilla we have happily welcomed 4 new students and their families.

Every Thursday we are lucky enough to hop on the OSHC bus and go to swimming lessons at Swim School in Mount Barker. The students thoroughly enjoy their lessons and developing their swimming skills.

On Friday afternoons each week we go to ‘The Riding Patch’ and go horse riding, which is so much fun and a time that the children really look forward to. It is a wonderful, bucket-filling way to end the week.

At the end of Term 1, Room 29 went on an excursion to the Adelaide Zoo. This was funded by the Ladies of Variety charity and was an amazing opportunity for the children to travel to Adelaide on a bus and experience all that the Adelaide Zoo has to offer. The children loved seeing all of their favourite animals and they saw the Easter Bunny there too!

In Room 29 we have been learning about the zones of regulation, our feelings and what makes us happy. The students created a kaleidoscope coloured background for their piece of artwork and then drew a picture about what happiness means to them.

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Regards,
Sally Nurse and Shane Nethercott

Tech Update

It's been a busy start in Tech as most of our students are getting hands on this term.

Our Junior Primary students have been exploring how to use Computational Thinking as a way of solving problems, understanding how to write algorithms to move their Blue-Bots from one place to another, as well as how to break complex problems down into smaller, easier to solve problems.

Our Middle Primary students are taking this a step further, using Ozobots (a golf-ball sized robot) to solve mazes, follow treasure maps and even catch Pokémon.

Lastly, our Upper Primary students are building on the work they did with AI and Machine Learning last term, using AI to create pictures of crazy objects and characters, then using 3D modelling software to re-create the picture as a 3D object.

Plenty more fun and creativity on the way this term!

Regards,
Tom Bilney

Mini Nature Play Festival

Last Friday, Rooms 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, and 31 participated in Nature Play SA’s mini festival in our Front Garden. The session was fully packed with curiosity and anticipation.

The children were immersed in a variety of nature exploration, fun activities, and hands-on experiences. The setup from the team was great, and there were plenty of spaces for children to do each activity.

Some of the activities included:

• Bushcraft skills
• Water play
• Potion Making
• Nature Watercolour Painting
• Creature Clay Making
• Loose parts play
• Cubby making

Cubby building and potion making were fan favourites! Students used their agency to manage their own time and move across different activities based on their interests.

Thanks to the Parent Club, who subsidized the costs to ensure that every child could participate in this unforgettable experience.

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Regards,

Year 5/6 Knock Out Football

On Wednesday, 15^th May our boys took on rivals St Francis de Sales in the first round of the statewide schools Year 5/6 football competition.

The game started at a blistering pace with EFS settling first and three early goals through Cooper and Dylan and Tyrian. St Francis hit back with a late goal themselves but found it hard to get past the EFS defence led by Sam, Riley and Levi.

The second quarter saw EFS jump further ahead with Hudson, Jordan and Rocco getting busy. Goals to Fraser and Jack saw EFS in a great position at the half.

In the third term St Francis lifted and EFS struggled to kick accurately, until a tidy bit of forward craft saw Dylan snag his second for the match.

In the last quarter EFS held firm, repelling many St Francis attacks thanks to Isaac, Nathan and Jaeden. The EFS forwards worked hard in congestion to try and extend the lead with Ashton and Riley leading the way enabling Jordan to goal, sealing the solid win and booking our ticket to round 2.

Final score EFS 7.7 (49) defeated St Francis de Sales 2.2 (14)

Best: Cooper, Fraser, Rocco, Jordan, Hudson, Tyrian. 

Goals: Dylan 2, Cooper, Tyrian, Fraser, Jack and Jordan 1 each.

Regards,
Darcy Springhall

Karra Yerta Camp

Imagine seeing a whole new world through the lens of a microscope, creatures so small they are barely a pin drop, but blown up on a large screen, we were able to see their limbs moving and the beautiful designs and patterns on their tiny bodies. This was an experience of Freshwater Life enjoyed by all at the Arbury Park Outdoor School Camp in Week 2 of this term by nearly 180 students. It would not have been possible without the planning and hard work of our staff at EFS and the wonderful support offered by parents and carers.

The Arbury Park teaching staff all worked thoughtfully with each student to create an atmosphere of joy, excitement and encouragement as we marvelled at the wonders of working in their outdoor school, which was so efficiently and capably run. We slept in heated dorms, had warm showers and meals that were full of goodness and left us feeling full and satisfied.

Students worked together in teams, being sure not to leave any stone unturned, in an endeavour to accomplish the enormous spider web challenge, bridge building and plank walking across sinking sands to ensure all the group achieved their goals safely. Life in the Magic Forest now has a whole new meaning as I recall how one student used his rope skills to begin building a connection from one side of ‘a swollen, rushing river’ to the other side and then shared these skills with another group so that all were able to build their bridge and get across safely too.

Have you ever been told you have a mountain to climb? Well we did this round trip through the Mount George Conservation Park past towering tall candle gums, over rocky outcrops and past grass trees to the peak where the vistas across the valleys were a sight to be seen and then down the other side. This six kilometre journey stretched muscles, endurance and tenacity levels of some, but as we all sat down for a beautiful dinner that night, sore muscles were soon forgotten as children relished the feast set before them and some began to sing familiar tunes they had learned from Bu Kaye in Indonesian over their school years at EFS. These girls tapped out the actions, sang the tune and said how sad it was that as Year 6 students, they would not have Bu Kaye as their teacher again.

Teams of students, parents and staff worked together to build shelters with a range of equipment and their problem solving skills, to create safe spaces for a bush environment. Students also built their own shared campfires and cooked damper on a stick, then enjoyed the smoky, crusty shell and soft dough with jam. What a treat!

We are so thankful for such a wonderful opportunity to build connections with new people, work together in teams to accomplish shared goals and to appreciate our local Adelaide hills natural environment. Many thanks to Sophie, Helen, Lyndall, Donna and Kym for their hard work in organising this camp.

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Regards,

Performing Arts Update

Junior Primary Learning

Each week we warm-up with a movement/freeze activity following drum rhythms. Term 1 included learning to read basic rhythms, learning rhymes, singing and playing un-tuned percussion. In Term 2 we are extending our knowledge of those rhythms by using tuned percussion including Boom Whackers (pitched tube instruments), Xylophones and Metallophones then finally Bucket Drumming with drumsticks.

Regards,
Suzanne Minards

Dates to Remember

STRATHALBYN 7-12 CAMPUS

11 Callington Road, Strathalbyn SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

WHAT WENT WELL SINCE THE LAST NEWSLETTER?

It has been wonderful to see so many families visiting the campus for various events over the last few weeks. We have had four successful Open Days for prospective families who had the opportunity to visit classrooms, meet teachers, explore our facilities, and listen to students talk about their learning. Student Leaders were fantastic hosts and tour guides, and their work on behalf of their peers makes us very proud.

Learning Conversations were well attended during Week 1, and we completed around 130 appointments. Thank you to those families who attended or have contacted teachers to discuss their child’s learning needs in other ways.

I am pleased to see that uptake of recycling opportunities is slowly, but surely, starting to improve since the arrival of our new bins. Students have several options for depositing their litter into bins similar to those at home. We also have cages around the campus to enable students to separate and deposit 10c bottles, rather than disposing of them in the yellow recycling bins. We have seen an increase in proceeds in just one term (more than double!) which is reinvested into improving the school grounds.

If students have any ideas about how these funds should be used, ask them to contact student leaders who will make sure their ideas reach us.

STUDENT LEADERS

Student Leaders have been busy hosting assemblies, reviewing our House Points system, creating a feedback system for the student body and providing updates via the bulletin.

Later in Term 2 they will be involved in another state-wide Student Forum focused on Learning Agency partnering with the Department for Education.

REMINDER – BUS BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS

Unfortunately, we are receiving reports of concerning behaviours from a small number of students on school buses.  For the most part our students are doing the right thing, but to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of some of the important behaviour expectations on all buses at all times (this includes one-off journeys for excursions and extra-curricular activities).

• All students are required to display to the same standard of behaviour as is expected at school.
• SEATBELTS must be worn at all times.
• While on the bus students must remain seated and not change seats.
• Students should not move from their seats until the bus has stopped and doors are opened.
• Student behaviour should not distract the driver or hurt and annoy any of the other travellers.

I remind families that if their child is found to be in breach of these expectations, action may be taken in line with the school’s and DfE behaviour policy. Repeated behaviours could result in a period of suspension from the bus and/or school.  A bus behaviour agreement with further detail will be shared with families via Schoolzine in the coming days; we are requesting acknowledgement of these expectations via a digital signature.

As ever, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school and we will do our best to help you.

Regards
Vanessa Coker
Director of Secondary Education

Important Dates to Remember

GO Foundation

On Tuesday, 5^th March the GO Foundation scholars were invited to the Adelaide Zoo for their first Cultural Connection Day. The day was full of inspiration, culture and opportunity. The students were privileged to start the day with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Mickey O'Brien.

The students then heard speeches from the co-founder, Michael O'Loughlin where he spoke about taking responsibility for your own learning, always trying your best and surrounding yourself with positive role models.

We then had some tucker and had a look around the Zoo where we saw lots of different animals and were even lucky enough to see the lions at feeding time!

We ended the day listening to Trent Hill share his knowledge of different Aboriginal artefacts, telling us stories and playing the yidaki for us.

Congratulations to our GO Foundation Scholars, Abbie, Brodie, Lewis, Max, Saber, Tyler, Jannali, Ziva, Lachlan, Abby, Addison, Brooklyn, Ivan, Jaeleo, Tait and Tanisha

As we bid farewell to this enriching day, we eagerly anticipate the adventures and opportunities that lie ahead for our scholars in 2024. Here's to continued growth, learning, and cultural connection. Until the next event, onwards and upwards!

Regards
Megan Wood
R-12 First Nations Leader

Year 12 Retreat

The Year 12’s had lovely weather for their retreat getaway at Mylor Adventure Camp in Week 3, Term 1.

They were split into six different coloured groups to compete against each other to see who gained the most points and come out Retreat Champions. Students participated in many team activities including low ropes, raft building in the pool, a challenge course, river race, archery, archery tag and team building.

During free time students entertained themselves in the pool, playing gaga ball, climbing a large tree in front of the dorms, playing on the courts, chatting and hanging out.

Before going on camp, a group was responsible for creating and planning the night activities. These consisted of night one’s reverse age rave, where students and teachers dressed up as if their age was reversed (e.g. 17 turned into 71). For the second night the students had organised an outdoor movie night, although the hired equipment did not work. After some problem solving, they ended up using the TV in the chapel at camp, making it an indoor movie night. While watching the movie the students each had a bean bag to sit on and had access to a dessert bar overseen by the teachers.

Some student highlights were “that everyone blended together and got along with each other even though we all have our own groups,” and “the river race, because our team had good teamwork”.

Overall, an awesome few days for our Year 12’s to begin their final year of schooling!

Written by Year 12 Student, Amber

Year 10 Adelaide Holocaust Museum Excursion

In Week 8 of Term 1, the Year 10 History classes went on an excursion to the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre. We did this to ensure we can further understand the events that took place during World War II. We also heard from two Holocaust survivors in Andrew Steiner, the founder of the museum, and Eva Temple, who was only a baby at the time. We did two activities on the day, one being a scavenger hunt around Victoria Square, and then we explored the museum and had a Q&A with Andrew and Eva. Both were fun, and super educational.

Written by Year 10 Student, Amelia

Creative Crafts with Purpose: Stage 1 Child Studies

Across the past month, our Stage 1 Child Studies class recently completed a project designing toys for kids of various developmental stages. The photo shared here showcases our students alongside their diverse creations, each toy tailored to support different areas of development like cognitive, emotional, and language skills.

This hands-on project taught our students not just practical skills in the craft of their choice, but also the importance of understanding and catering to the developmental needs of others. From sensory-rich soft toys for toddlers to challenging puzzles for older children, these crafted items are thoughtful contributions to the learning journey of their intended young recipients.

We're proud of our students for their meaningful work, demonstrating not only their creativity but their capacity for problem-solving and their determination. Great job to all our young creators for making a difference through their projects!

Regards
Holly Stevens
Senior Leader, Middle Years

SACE Art Show Visit

Pixels and Paintbrushes

Recently, students from Year 11 and 12 Art, Design, and Digital Communication Solutions classes went on an excursion to Adelaide to immerse themselves in genuine art experiences and find inspiration for their own artistic expressions and assessments.

First stop was The SACE Art Show in Light Square Art Gallery, which showcases the best pieces of art from the 2023 Stage 2 cohort Art and Design students. Students were amazed at the high standard of artwork produced from students across the state, including EFS’s own graduates, April and Bree, whose work was on display. It is a unique experience for students to be able to access such a high calibre of artworks and folios, with students taking notes and photographs to help guide their own processes.

Following this, Art and Design students explored the Art Gallery of South Australia, immersing themselves in a treasure trove of artworks spanning different eras and cultures. They viewed the exhibition titled “Inner Sanctum” which “illustrates the private or sacred spaces we create and the faculty of imagination that allows us to see culture and society differently’. Meanwhile, Digital Communication students roamed the Botanical Gardens guided by Ms Macaulay, capturing the splendour of nature through photography.

Throughout the trip, students showcased impeccable behaviour, showing respect for the art and enthusiasm for learning. As the excursion concluded, students returned with fresh perspectives on art and creativity which we look forward to seeing translate into their learning.

Regards,
Hannah Playford 
Multimedia, Visual Art, PE Teacher

Year 8 Environmental Science Excursion

Mannum Waterfalls

Fieldwork is an essential opportunity to develop skills and environmental understanding within the Environmental Sciences subject. In term 1, Year 8 students learned about Landscapes and Landforms. Specifically looking into the: characteristics/features, processes, rock types, hazards/disasters and the impact of invasive species.  As a part of their research, students participated in a Fieldwork excursion to Mannum Waterfalls on Wednesday, 10^th April.

The falls are a geological phenomenon with large granite outcrops rising from the plains around the Reedy Creek to provide natural waterfalls. Alongside these outcrops are walking trails for those who wish to enjoy the scenery at close proximity.

Across the day, students participated in hands on activities to learn more about the environment around them. These activities were: Water and Soil Quality Testing, Fieldwork Sketching, Sighting Native and Invasive Species and Photography

By all reports, students had a fantastic day exploring the Mannum Waterfalls and enjoyed the hands on learning activities.

Regards,
Kelly White
HASS-Workplace Practices-PLP

Agriculture

Ag Fest Careers Festival

As Eastern Fleurieu School students journey through their educational pursuits, it's essential for us to support and guide them in exploring various career options. One such opportunity presented itself at the AgFest Careers Festival held in Yankalilla. This event served as an eye-opening experience for students interested in pursuing careers in agriculture, offering a glimpse into the diverse and promising opportunities within the industry.

 At AgFest 2024, our students had the chance to participate in a series of informative sessions covering different sectors of agriculture. From discussions on traditional farming practices to presentations on cutting-edge technology, these sessions provided invaluable insights into the wide range of career paths available in agriculture. By exposing our young people to such diverse opportunities, AgFest empowered them to make informed decisions about their future career paths.

One of the most enriching aspects of AgFest was the opportunity for our students to hear from industry leaders about their personal journeys and experiences. These stories not only inspired our children but also provided them with practical advice on how to navigate the complexities of the agricultural industry. By learning from the successes and challenges faced by these leaders, our children gained valuable perspectives that will undoubtedly shape their future career decisions.

 A highlight of AgFest 2024 was the keynote address delivered by prominent author and TV presenter, Shaun Evans. A prominent figure in the agricultural community, Evans shared his vision for the future of food production and the challenges that lie ahead, sparking thought-provoking discussions among attendees.

AgFest 2024 was a valuable experience for our students, providing them with a deeper understanding of the opportunities available in the agricultural industry. A good day was had by all with stunning weather helping make the day a real treat.

A Grateful Acknowledgment to CMV Farms

In the heart of our educational journey, milestones are not just achieved; they are celebrated as tangible proofs of growth and learning. This year, our Year 10 Agriculture students at EFS have experienced the wonderful process of winemaking with the production of a beautiful Shiraz ferment from grapes generously donated by CMV Farms Langhorne Creek. As our wine now begins its journey in the barrel, we pause to extend a heartfelt thank you to CMV Farms for their invaluable contribution to our students' learning experience.

Regards,
Ryan Garnett
Agriculture and Science 

Mathematics

Year 9 Maths

This semester in Maths, students cover the topics Indices, Pythagoras, Trigonometry and Algebra. Assessment tasks include tests and one assignment. Year 9 and 10 Maths give a good grounding for SACE Mathematics in Years 11 and 12.

Food and Hospitality

In Term 1, the Year 11 Food and Hospitality students completed two design practicals, focusing on current trends within the food and hospitality industry.

The first being “Sensational Sangas”, which centred on the current Sandwich trend circling TikTok and the industry. Students made their own breads, experimented with filling combinations and homemade sauces.

The second was “Dare to Eclair”, where they designed a signature eclair for a French patisserie, which had a unique flavour profile hitting multiple tastes and textures.

Regards,
Tess Maple and Laura Brooksby
Food and Hospitality Teachers

POWER TECHNOLOGY – YEAR 10

We are delighted to report on the progress of the Semester 1 Year 10 Power Technology class.  This class uses the same Automotive Workshop as our VET Certificate 2 students. It is designed to give students opportunities for exposure to mechanical technology and the broad range of career and employment opportunities available in this expanding and diverse field.

Students are taken through the basic requirements and responsibilities of safety in a workplace, with a strong emphasis on the challenges faced by new workers. They develop skills and adapt to new challenges and experiences, including discussions about real workplace accidents and scenarios. A safety-first mindset is built into the course by using tools, like a job safety analysis to look for and manage hazards in a new job or environment.

With these important ideas in hand, we move on to the theory and practical elements of the main course, where students develop and apply their knowledge of mechanical systems.  From a solid theory base, each students receives their individual 4-stroke engine, which they get to disassemble, while taking careful notes.  These notes form their own instruction manual as the engines are then carefully reassembled to manufacturer’s recommendations on things like valve lash and torque specifications. All the careful work is then tested, with each engine fitted to a starting frame to see if it will start up and run.

With around half of the engines completed, testing has gone extremely well, with all the engines starting easily and running nicely. 

Students are now moving into theory units where they look at engine systems in the school’s vehicle fleet.  They are preparing to undertake a full service and vehicle inspection, producing a comprehensive and costed vehicle service report.

We very much look forward to seeing a mix of the current students and new faces in Power Technology B in Semester 2, where they will work in teams to study, test, disassemble and rebuild a fullsize car engine.

Regards,
Dave Jennings
Design and Technology Teacher

YEAR 7-9 9-A-SIDE FOOTBALL COMPETITION

On Thursday 2nd May we took two-year 7-9 girls’ team and two-year 7/8 boys’ team to compete against other Fleurieu schools down at Encounter Bay.

Our EFS Navy boys’ team did well all day winning all but two games to Investigator and Encounter Lutheran finishing 3rd overall. With their closest game against Investigator College 2.1 to 3.4, but credit to these boys as they showed great sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the game and the whole day. The other boys’ teams EFS Green won 3 games, drew 1 and lost 3 games finishing equal 4th overall. With the closest game being the draw against Victor Harbor 4.2 to 4.2. A great contested game with the ball being scored quite a bit for a short amount of time to play.

Both of our girls’ teams did quite well only losing one game each. Our EFS Red girls team only lost to our other EFS team and drew against Investigator finishing 2nd overall. The other girls’ team, EFS Gold won all but 1 against Victor Harbor 0.2 – 3.1. They started to get tired towards the end of the day but took out the overall win, finishing 1st place overall. Both girls’ teams showed great teamwork and determination throughout the day to come away finishing 1st and 2nd overall in the girl’s competition.

Cows Create Careers 2024

The Year 9 Agriculture cohort is excited following the kick-off of the 2024 Cows Create Careers program. The stars of the show? None other than our adorable new additions - the calves, have arrived, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey of learning and discovery.

At the heart of the Cows Create Careers program lies a celebration of Australia's prominent dairy industry, renowned for its excellence and innovation on the global stage. Through this initiative, our students can explore the diverse career pathways and high-quality dairy products that are at the forefront of our food supply.

But the excitement doesn't end there! As part of the program, our students will have the chance to showcase their knowledge and skills in competitions against schools nationwide. With significant financial prizes up for grabs for both individuals and the school, the stakes are high, and the opportunities boundless. We wish all our students the best of luck as they embark on this thrilling pursuit of excellence!

A Big Thank You to Brett Fiebig

It is with immense gratitude that we acknowledge Brett Fiebig's invaluable contribution to our school community. By generously donating the use of his dairy calves for our Cows Create Careers program, Mr Fiebig has not only demonstrated his unwavering commitment to education but has also provided our students with a unique and enriching opportunity to engage with agriculture in a meaningful way.

Regards,
Ryan Garnett 
Agriculture Teacher

Harmony Day

For Harmony Day this year, Thursday 21^st March students at the 7-12 Campus were invited at recess and lunch to come to the FTX building and contribute a leaf to the Harmony Tree. The idea was for students to think about what things in their life makes them feel connected to community and culture, or what are some of their favourite things about their culture.

Some responses included, Freedom, Family, Music, Different Kinds of Food and Friendship.

Students were also encouraged to wear a splash of orange in show of support for all the diverse cultures celebrated at EFS.

The day was also celebrated with music, bracelet making and face paint.

Regards,
Kate Yabsley 
Youth Worker

YEAR 9/10 ZONE VOLLEYBALL

On Tuesday the 7th of May we took two Year 9/10 boys’ teams and two Year 9/10 girls’ teams to Reynella East College to play Zone Volleyball.

The Year 9/10 girls' teams had lots of numbers which was great to see so many getting involved with Volleyball. One of our girls’ teams won all of their games. This put them first in their pool where they then crossed over with other pools and didn’t do so well. They lost the last two games of the day to finish 4th overall. The other girls' team did really well considering the teams they were up against. Winning one game against Tatachilla. These girls finished 4th in their pool where they then crossed over with other pools and lost both of their games finishing 10th overall. These girls overall had a great day playing against some tough competition against Reynella East College.

The Year 9/10 boys’ teams had a slow start to the day still getting used to each other and the game. Both of our boy's teams had hard competitions against Reynella East College, Investigator College and Seaford. One of the boys’ teams won a game which was great to see with such a hard competition. One team finished 4th and the other team finished 5th in their pool where they then crossed over to other pools and unfortunately lost both of their games. They ended the day on a positive note and got to play each other in the last game which was a great hard-fought game to watch and see their skills progress over the day.

Greenhouse Project

During Term 1, an exciting new facility was constructed at the 7-12 Campus – a greenhouse that will be the site of a new native plant propagation program.

The Stage 1 Biology class is currently investigating local native species and how to prepare and plant their seeds. The students have discovered that some native seeds require special treatment before they can be planted. Some need to be exposed to smoke, some need to be soaked in boiling water, some need be cooled in a freezer and some even need to be rubbed with sandpaper. Preparing the seeds is only part of the challenge – some native seeds are notoriously fussy about how and when they’re planted.

The ultimate goal is to grow a wide variety of native plants and to work with Landcare groups to revegetate local areas. Biodiversity (the variety of animal and plant species in an area) is extremely important and the Fleurieu region is home to a huge variety of native animals that depend on our local plants for food and shelter.

Special thanks to all the staff that have supported this project, particularly Marty who has been very generous with his time and expertise!

Regards,
Jordan Berry
Science Teacher

Do it for Dolly Day

Dolly’s Dream – 10^th May 2024

Friday, 10^th May is ‘Do it For Dolly Day’. Three of our year twelve students Georgia, Ranii and Cortni with the help of staff put together a sausage sizzle and cake stall to raise funds for this cause. Students were also able to wear blue in show of support. The idea was to spread the words “It’s Not Weak To Speak, Speak Even If Your Voice Shakes”. 

Dolly’s Dream was created by Kate and Tick Everett following the shattering loss of their 14-year-old daughter, Dolly, to suicide, after ongoing bullying. Kate and Tick’s goal is to prevent other families walking this road. They want to change the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide, through education and direct support to young people and families. Dolly’s Dream is proudly brought to you by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

A big thank you to Woolworths for the donation of sausages and bread and also to Pik a Pie for their donation of donuts. All money that was raised will be sent to the foundation.

Regards,
Kate Yabsley 
Youth Worker

Interschool Athletics

On Wednesday the 3^rd of April Eastern Fleurieu took around 60 students to SA Athletics Stadium to compete in the Interschool Athletics Competition, one of the only whole school events Eastern Fleurieu still competes in. Our combined team score was 558, finishing 6^th overall. Our total female score was 270.5 finishing 6^th overall and our total male score was 287.5 finishing 7^th overall. All the students that attended did a tremendous job on representing the school showing great determination and teamwork with some students filling in for events they weren’t originally entered in for due to lots of students pulling out last minute.

Some great results from students on the day were:

• Maya finished 3^rd in U14 Girls Shot Put, 3^rd in U14 Girls Discus
• Marley finished 2^nd in U15 Girls Long Jump, 1^st in U15 Girls Hurdles with a time of 18.34 seconds, 2^nd in U15 Girls Triple Jump
• Riley finished 1^st in Open Boys High Jump with a jump of 1.77m, 1^st in Open Boys Triple Jump with a jump of 12.52m which he bet the standard of 12.20m set for this age group, 1^st in Open Boys 200m with a time of 25.10 seconds again beating the standard of 26.40 seconds.
• Levi finished 1st in U16 Hurdles with a time of 19.41 seconds
• Quba finished 2^nd in U14 Girls Hurdles
• Madison finished 1^st in U13 Girls 100m with a time of 15.23 seconds, 3^rd in U13 Girls 200m
• Josh finished 3^rd in U14 Boys 1500m
• Lacey finished 2^nd in U14 Girls 100m, 2^nd in U14 Girls High Jump
• Ruby finished 2^nd in U16 Girls Triple Jump
• Phoenix finished 3^rd in U16 Boys 100m
• Brooklyn finished 3^rd in Open Girls 100m
• Charlie finished equal 1^st in Open Boys 100m with a time of 12.65 seconds
• Jake finished 3^rd in U13 Boys 200m
• Brianna finished 2^nd in U16 Girls 200m
• Brooklyn finished 3^rd in Open Girls 200m
• Hamish finished 1^st in U14 Boys 800m with a time of 2.32 minutes
• Campbell finished 2^nd in U13 Boys Discus
• U15 Girls Relay (Kayla, Marley, Darcie and McKenzie) came 3^rd
• U16 Girls Relay (Ruby, Alannah, Levi and Brianna) came 3^rd
• Open Boys Relay (Jack, Riley, Charlie and Phoenix) came 3^rd

Well done to the Interschool Athletics team.

Library News

Jigsaws

More jigsaws than normal have been completed since the last newsletter. Many students participate in completing them, so a very big thank you to our jigsaw donors, who enable us to have so many for students.

Digital resources available on the School’s Intranet

These resources help students find valid, reliable digital resources and how to reference any sources used.

This safe and up-to-date digital resource helps students find reliable information because it has carefully edited articles on all major topics and the authors of the articles are identifiable and credible in their field. 

This resource predominately has videos and television shows.

This resource helps students to accurately reference both online and paper sources they are accessing for their school work.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is on again this year. It is back to the normal 12 books. In Years 7-9 4 of the 12 must be from the challenge booklist, but 8 are of students’ choice. In Years 10-12 all books are of students’ choosing.

Forms are available online or in our Library. Entries close 6 September 2024.

Regards,
Adrienne Carter
Teacher Librarian