Eastern Fleurieu R-12 Newsletter Week 7 Term 3 2024

R-12

Principal’s Report

Whole school staff training days are vital for fostering a cohesive and effective educational environment. These days provide a unique opportunity for all staff members, leaders, teachers, administrators, and support staff to come together to align on the school's and department’s educational goals and strategies. Through engaging in collective professional development, staff can share best practices, explore new teaching methodologies, and develop a unified approach to addressing the diverse needs of all our students.

On Friday 30^th September we started with a welcome session, including an Acknowledgment of Country where 2 of our First Nation Students were featured learning from each other on how to play the Yidaki or Didgeridoo.

Session 1. Exploring the new SA Curriculum and its links with Effective Learners.

Session 2. Various literacy sessions on topics like Dibels, AI, Data/Differentiation, and Trauma-Informed Practice

Session 3. More focused sessions, including Dibels Next Steps, Science of Reading, Close Reading, and other selected teacher sessions.

Ultimately, whole school staff training days are an investment in the quality of education provided to students. Dedicating time to continuous learning and professional growth, schools can create a dynamic learning environment where students are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you to the wonderful staff who facilitated the training on the day and all the unseen work that goes into these days with catering and organisation. We have a unique team at EFS.

Warm Regards,
Ian Kent
Principal
Eastern Fleurieu R-12 School

Term Dates 2024

Eastern Fleurieu School R-12 Important dates

Community News

Strathalbyn Show Monday 7^th October 10am – 4:30pm

Science Week

National Science week was held in Week 4 of Term 3 (10^th -18^th August). Our 7-12 Science Classes hosted some of the Junior Campus students, giving them a taster of what they could look forward to in years to come.

On Wednesday of Science Week, Miss Clark’s Year 6 class joined up with Mr Berry’s Year 8 class for some fun science activities. The two classes used a square of cloth, two zip-ties, string and a tennis ball to design parachutes that would deploy a few seconds after the tennis ball was launched. Figuring out how to fold the parachute so it would fit inside the tennis ball - but not wrapping it up so tightly that it wouldn’t deploy – was one of the main challenges.

The tennis balls were loaded into cannons that sent them flying high into the air. Some parachutes deployed perfectly, and others required a bit of re-packing, repair or adjustment before they were re-launched. It was excellent seeing the student’s problem-solve and take setbacks in their stride – very important skills in any area of science. To finish things off, one of the cannons was loaded up with treats and for a few minutes it rained lollies on the back oval.

I loved it! It was amazing, it was nice and fun and engaging and the lollies were yummy. - Logan

I had fun, I liked running around and shooting out parachutes and shooting lollies out of the cannons. - Ruby

it was really fun because we got to make stuff and take it home. It was really cool to shoot our creations out of cannons and learn how parachutes work. - Elli

Miss Lampe (7D) with Ms Parry (Year 5)

Miss Lampe and 7D hosted Ms Parry's delightful Year 5 class. They explored the properties of solids, liquids and gases, then made the non-Newtonian fluid Oobleck.

Mr Doody (7E) with Ms McInnes (Year 4/5) 

The year 7’s displayed a solid understanding of lab procedures and the science behind the lesson. It was great to see the older students sharing their knowledge and skills with the younger students and then supporting them to participate in the “doing bit” of the practical and recording their observations.

Miss Martin (9B) with Mrs Diepgrond (Year 5/6)

The current topic of Ecosystems, saw the lesson revolve around the concept of living vs non-living. The students worked collaboratively to sort items by considering the 8 characteristics of living things. The second half of the lesson involved a practical task involving ‘Sewer Lice’, students needed to use their skill of observation and inferencing to determine if these creatures were in fact alive!

The teamwork and passionate discussions that evolved between the students was exciting to witness and both classes enjoyed the opportunity to share their knowledge and establish connections. 

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Regards,
Jordan Berry and Keegan Taylor
Teachers

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Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)

ASHBOURNE CAMPUS

14 Ashbourne Road, Ashbourne SA 5157 Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

It is wonderful to be back on our beautiful campus with our delightful students. What a busy and fun filled five weeks we have had, full of learning.

We have celebrated and participated in Science Week, Bully No Way, Book Week and a whole school excursion to Wittunga Botanic Gardens. The students demonstrated their full engagement through each of these events and shared their new learning with their families at our Week 5 Assembly. I am always grateful to be the Head of Campus at Ashbourne, I am proud of each of the students and the school journey they are on. I look forward to watching the personal and learning growth of each student over the next 14 weeks of 2024.

Regards,
Rebekah Fahey
Head of Campus

Book Week

Our students enjoyed the Book Week Parade on Friday, 23^rd August. It was lovely to have so many parents watch the student’s parade around in their amazing costumes.  It is one of my favourite days of the year, the students have the opportunity to embrace their imagination, passion and dreams. All the costumes were fantastic.

Acacia Class

For Book Week Acacia students all designed book covers that tied in to their costumes. Can you guess what they were dressed up as?

Wittunga Gardens

On Tuesday, 27^th August as part of our whole school Bush Day the students from Ashbourne Campus went to Wittunga Botanic Gardens in Blackwood to participate in a Mini Beast program with Nature Play SA. The students had the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna life at Wittunga, they loved seeing the turtles, ducks and bird life in the pond.

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Bush School

This Terms theme is ‘Prehistoric Times’, the students are learning about the different time periods and the animals that evolved and died off during these times. The students are very passionate about Bush School and this day sets us apart from the other campuses. The students get to come together as one class, once a week and learn in and through nature. Over winter we have the opportunity to have a camp fire and the students get to cook. This term we have made toasties.

LANGHORNE CREEK CAMPUS

Bridge Road, Langhorne Creek SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

It is great to see our new receptions settling in well to our campus. Great work Miss Anna and Miss Hannah for your work with our Kind Koalas. We welcome a new SSO to our campus; Tony Guttilla, we are pleased to have him join our SSO team.  We have commenced a new eating lunchtime trial across R-6 campuses, having lunch at the first break. We are doing our best to support students as we trial this change.

Over the past weeks students and staff have been busy with learning programs.

Book Week 2024 was celebrated on Wednesday, 28^th August with an awesome parade with students and staff dressed up as favourite book characters. What a massive effort by all families, students looked great. It was lovely to see so many family and community members join us for the parade and remain for sharing books together in our updated library space. We look forward to Mandy Foote, visit next week for a session about authors and illustrators.

Small campus Growth and Development at Milang campus sessions, included a visit to the recently renovated butter factory for a tour, followed by a delicious lunch at the Milang Community Centre, with community members. Before returning to campus students enjoyed a game of capture the flag. An awesome day with our Year 6 students across small campuses. Our Year 6 students are participating in transition to high school programs as they prepare themselves ready for the next stage of education. 7-12 staff have provided interesting and relevant programs for our students to learn about their 2025 school.

Our Campus Advisory Committee (CAC) members are working with our school community as we explore options to upgrade our playground equipment. Our CAC chairperson along with some members met with Stuart from Adventure + as he shared possible options. Keep an eye out for CAC fundraiser information to support us to raise much needed funds to support this upgrade along with further information to come as available.

Our Kind Koalas enjoyed an excursion to Glenthorne National Park on Thursday, thankfully the sun shone on them, as the explored the national park.

Staff have participated in training together on Student Free Day, along with Maths learning with colleagues on Wednesday. We are very fortunate to have these rich learning opportunities to support our teaching and learning programs for students.

With some brighter days coming our way we are working with our CAC members to have a Working Bee on Sunday 8^th August to do some jobs in our yard. Look forward to seeing those of you who can join in.

Regards,
Les Cameron and Staff team
Head of Campus
Langhorne Creek Campus

Book Week 2024 - Reading is Magic

Book Week was a wonderful week at Langhorne Creek Campus. We held our Book Week Parade on Wednesday morning, there was a great crowd of parents and grandparents in attendance to watch. This was followed by shared reading in our new library space and book week activities including book mark making and book reviews.

During Book Week we read and reviewed some of our favourite picture books from our library.  -  Poppy

LC Koalas Book Reviews T3 W7

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For Book Week we all dressed up as a character from our favourite book. We all went to a lot of effort and it was lots of fun. I dressed as 'Thing 2' from Cat in The Hat and I dress up as Batman. We did a parade and lots of community members came and joined in with shared reading. It was a great day.  -  Isaac

I like being a dinosaur. -  Eli B

All of the costumes were excellent and I loved dressing up as a minion. -  Chayce

I liked that everyone loved my rocket ship. -  Kyle

It was so nice seeing everyone dressed up and I loved being Mary Poppins. -  Esther

Everyone dressing up was fun. -  Archie

Seth: I loved dressing up as Inspector Gadget and I am grateful that my mum went to so much effort. -  Seth

Interviewers:  Isaac and Archie

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Our Wonderful Community

Mrs Hopkins worked with the Koalas and Quokkas during HASS on what we love about our school community.

News from the Kind Koalas - Miss Anna and Miss Hannah

Father’s Day

We wrote letters to the special men in our lives to thank them for all that they do. We also decorated coasters.  -  Eli

LC Koalas Fathers Day T3 W7

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Glenthorne National Park Excursion

On Thursday our class went on an excursion to Glenthorne National Park. We had lots fun exploring and playing on the huge playground.

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News from the Quirky Quokkas - Mrs Hopkins and Miss Hannah

Quokka Finds A Friend

We read one of our new library books called "Quokka Finds A Friend' and then we drew and painted our own Quokkas. The book was really interesting and we recommend it for all to read! -  Emerson

Assembly

Congratulations to our Term 3, Week 5 Assembly Award winners.

Playgroup

This term the children have been discovering several unusual creatures. Together we have learnt more about alpacas, llamas, aye ayes, yaks, star-nosed moles and axolotls. 

We also celebrated Superhero Week and some of the children dressed up as their favourite character.

The children are enjoying a range of new resources including bikes, sandpit trucks, tractors and excavators. Last week we held a Teddy Bears Picnic.

We are looking forward to our end of term excursion. 

LC Playgroup T3 W7

Regards,
Libby Thornton 
Playgroup Co-ordinator

MILANG CAMPUS

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

Head of Campus Report

Please enjoy the range of photos in our newsletter showcasing our events over the past few weeks. Both classes have been out and about consolidating their learning around Milang and surrounds. We are fortunate that the school bus is available to transport students on these excursions and we have a qualified driver as many schools are unable to take students on camps and excursions because of the high cost of hiring a bus.

Our students thrive when they are engaged in learning with members of the community and we thank all the people who have supported us to make this happen.

Regards,
Susannah Cook
Head of Campus

Wear It Purple Day

Playgroup

Bonnie’s Break times

Junior Primary Learning

We were lucky enough to spend some time with Annette and ‘Bramble’ from Pawsawhile. Each week, Annette visits our school with six beautiful Labrador dogs in tow but with the Upper Primary students away on an excursion, the Junior Primary were able to use this time to get to know ‘Bramble’. We had lots of fun taking Bramble for a walk around the oval and rewarding her with yummy treats.

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To finalise our learning about ‘Trains’ and to celebrate the completion of our reward chart, we went on an excursion to the Nurragi Walking Trail. This trail follows the old Sandergrove to Milang railway line. We started at the beginning of the Finniss Road to Milang section of the trail and followed the path through to the Milang Foreshore Playground. From start to finish, we ended up walking just over 5 kilometres so a big ‘thumbs-up’ to all the children for showing great determination and perseverance.

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Upper Primary Learning

Some of the student’s thoughts about the visit from SAPOL:

We had a visitor at our school, her name was Senior Constable Libby Bruce, she is an officer and has worked as one for 35 years and she talked about cyber safety. A.W.A.R.E stands for:

A -- appropriate
W – who
A – accurate
R – respectful
E – environment

She showed us a video about different police jobs, and she also showed a video of someone accidentally showing the viewers their: school, house, mail, mums name. The ‘grandma test’ the grandma test is: if your grandma/principal sees you post something online; how would she feel about it? Do you think she would think it’s appropriate or not?

She talked about how the police uniforms have changed, and she showed us all the things she has to carry on her belt. She told us about cyber safety and not to trust everyone on the internet.

It was very interesting.

Mount Lofty

Determination. Teamwork. These two EFS school values were demonstrated by the Upper primary students from Milang Campus who took on the challenge of walking from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit. In high spirits they marvelled at the waterfalls before embarking on the climb to the top. It was gruelling in parts, but they all worked together to ensure everyone made it to the top! After a quick lunch at the top the trip down was a lot quicker, and with students offering words of encouragement to other walkers on their way up they returned to school exhausted, but elated. Well done to everyone!

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This term in Upper Primary we have been exploring lots of hands on maths activities to help us apply our knowledge. We have found that being able to rotate and move around our learning space; as well as use our hands for different activities helps us to apply what we have been learning about and see it in a different light.

We have been focusing on number, and have built up our multiplication skills using MAB blocks, counters and lots of different games.

Lego Challenge

Lego challenges have started up again this term after having a bit of a break.  This is a great opportunity for our students to work together in groups of different year levels to collaboratively create something special based on the theme for the week.

Red Cross Anniversary

On Wednesday, 7^th August the students were invited to the Milang Oval for the celebrations of the 110^th Birthday of the Milang Red Cross. This is another example of community groups being welcoming and inviting of the school students.  They enjoyed a sausage and a cup cake as well as learning about some of the history of the Red Cross.

Assembly

Book Week

Students from Milang Campus enjoyed a week of Book Week activities, including making some book marks, a visit to Strathalbyn Library, Butter Factory Book shop and of course dressing up as their favourite Book character.  This year’s theme was Reading is Magic, so we had quite a few dragons, a unicorn, Harry Potter.  The students really love dressing up and particularly love it when the staff do as well!

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Reminders from Donna

Book Club

Orders due back Friday, 13th September

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. 

STRATHALBYN R-6 CAMPUS

34 East Terrace, Strathalbyn SA 5255     Ph: 8536 2455

Heads of Campus Report

Book Week

What a magical experience our students enjoyed throughout a fun, filled Book Week aimed at capturing the enchanting and transformative power of books.

This year’s theme, "Reading is Magic", celebrated reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. The magic of reading lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in the worlds they are building.

Throughout the week, students enjoyed variety of exciting activities, including:

• book readings, library scavenger hunt, staff favourite book Kahoot
• book week parade
• book swap

and in Week 7, a special visit from author/illustrator, Mandy Foot.

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

Performing Arts Update

Term 3 has built on knowledge and skills from Semester 1. Now using tuned percussion (xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels) the students are well practised at finding the musical alphabet, playing multiple notes and rolling their mallets (beaters) to create a different tonal quality for 7 beats. We have also learned to play some simple melodies. From this familiarisation they have been able to move on to creating small rhythmic patterns based on word (syllabic) rhythms in small groups based on a theme such as Book Week.

Regards,
Suzanne Minnards

Sports Day

What has Room 3 been up to?

Book Week Dress Up

Preparing for Gala Night

Olympics with Room 28

The Olympics were so much fun! We collected newspaper articles, designed our own Australian uniforms.  These were very colourful. We then designed our own medals based on if Strathalbyn had the Olympics.  These were extra special and Mr Bilney took all of our ideas a printed a 3D medal.  It looked awesome!

We then participated in our own Olympics.  We had cup blowing contest, longest standing jump, accuracy throw with cotton balls and javelin with cotton buds! We then had our own Olympics for our Potato competitors.  This was hilarious fun.  We had diving (with the biggest splash) Potato and spoon race, Break dancing (How long our potato could spin for) and we had shot put with our potato.  All in all we had such a great time and have really been inspired by the Olympian athletes.

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Regards,
Donna Prusa and Emma Cooney

STRATHALBYN 7-12 CAMPUS

11 Callington Road, Strathalbyn SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

In Term 3 teachers have been collaborating on the implementation of high quality, consistent routines with a particular focus on welcomes circles. The purpose of the welcome circle is to create a connected and fun start to the day for all students, with activities centred on promoting positive relationships and school values.  Important elements of the welcome circle include:

• Each student greeted by name
• Positive primer (a fun, icebreaker activity)
• Sharing announcements and daily notices
• Setting values and expectations for the day (readiness for learning)

When engagement is high, welcome circles offer students the opportunity for social/emotional development through enhanced peer to peer interactions and improved teacher/student relationships.  Respectful, authentic relationships help to foster a safe, inclusive learning environment and improve wellbeing for all students. Furthermore, participation in the welcome circle ensures students know all relevant information for their day and hear about a range of extra-curricular opportunities. Please encourage your child to arrive at their classroom by 8:50am to maximise participation in this important daily ritual.

WHAT WENT WELL?

Our student free day last week gave our R-12 staff team the opportunity to explore the new SA Curriculum. EFS staff are optimistic about the unique opportunity the emerging learning standards bring for learners to not only evidence their content knowledge, but important learner dispositions and capabilities. There were also a range of workshops focused on enhancing the literacy outcomes of students. At the 7-12 Campus the learning focused on the use of digital tools (including AI) to evaluate, create and differentiate class texts to meet the diverse needs of learners.

2025 SUBJECT SELECTIONS

This week the 7-12 leadership team have been meeting with families to finalise their subject selections for 2025. This process informs our timetable development and staffing for 2025 so it is vital that students select their courses carefully. All students currently in Years 8-11 are required to complete this process. If you missed the course selection conferences, please contact the school as soon as possible to arrange a time to discuss your child’s selections.

TERM 3 EVENTS

As usual you will find our newsletter packed with amazing achievements and rich learning experiences. Since our last newsletter some highlights include a Music Tour, 7-12 students supporting R-6 students with practical lessons in Technology and Science and, of course, our Steer, Goat, Poultry and Merino Wether teams are at the Royal Adelaide Show this week!  Still to come in Term 3 are the Rite Journey solo camps, work experience and transition for our 2025 Year 7 students.

We wish all of our students the best of luck with their chosen pursuits.

Regards
Vanessa Coker
Director of Secondary Education

Science Lessons at the 7-12 Campus

Regards,
Belinda Parry and Monique Hausser

Inclusion and Wellbeing Team

EFS are very fortunate to have an extensive team of passionate educators providing Wellbeing supports to the young people in our school community. You or your child can get in contact with the Inclusion and Wellbeing team by contacting Student Services to book an appointment on 85362455 or you can send an email to the team at: DL.0796.Wellbeing@schools.sa.edu.au.

We have been introducing different members of our Wellbeing Team in our Newsletters and today we would like to introduce you to one of our Youth Workers, Kate.

Name: Kate Yabsley
Role: Youth Worker at 7-12 Campus
About the role: Within our Inclusion and Wellbeing team our three Youth Workers work closely with our Inclusion & Wellbeing Leaders and PCW to promote student wellbeing initiatives within our school community. Youth Workers provide direct wellbeing support to students and support families to connect with community services and referrals. Kate has a wealth of knowledge around mental health services and support and often provides guidance to families navigating NDIS.
Interests: Musicals, True Crime, Reality TV, Spending time with her dogs, a beautiful King Charles Cavalier (Sheldon) and Silky Terrier (Lilly)
Places you will find Kate at EFS: Kate works Monday-Friday and can be found in in the Youth Worker Office (in the library building), Room 1 or in the yard.

Wear it Purple Day

Wear It Purple Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity within the LGBTIQA+ community, was a success this year with a unique and engaging basketball event.

In an effort to honour and support young people from the LGBTIQA+ community, a special basketball game was organised, pitting staff against students in a spirited and inclusive match. The game was more than just a friendly competition; it was a celebration of diversity, with every participant given the opportunity to play. Students rotated in and out of the game, ensuring that everyone had a chance to join the fun and experience the sense of community that Wear It Purple Day embodies.

Alongside the basketball game, a presentation was shown in classrooms throughout the day. This presentation aimed to educate students and staff about the importance of Wear It Purple Day, highlighting the positive impact of supporting and celebrating LGBTIQA+ individuals. It featured inspiring stories of athletes from the LGBTQIA+ community who have made significant contributions to the world of sports, demonstrating how inclusivity can foster excellence and unity.

Wear It Purple Day is more than just an occasion for awareness; it’s a call to action for creating supportive environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Through the combination of sport and education, this year’s celebrations successfully underscored the message that diversity is not just accepted but celebrated. The basketball game served as a lively reminder that inclusivity can be fun, engaging, and impactful. A huge thank you to all involved!

By coming together in the spirit of unity and respect, participants not only enjoyed a memorable day of sport but also contributed to a greater cause of fostering understanding and acceptance within the community.

Year 7 Camp at Arbury Park

Our Year 7 students recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to Arbury Park, Bridgewater, where they experienced a unique blend of education and adventure. The camp was designed with the purpose of bridging Year 7 Geography and History through fieldwork experiences, focusing on essential areas such as "Water in the World," Indigenous Perspectives, Citizenship, Global Perspectives, and Collaboration. This immersive experience allowed students to connect classroom learning with real-world applications in a fun and interactive environment.

The camp kicked off with an engaging program that intertwined educational objectives with thrilling activities. Students explored the theme of "Water in the World" by participating in hands-on activities that highlighted the importance of water conservation and the water cycle within Arbury Park. These activities not only reinforced their geographical knowledge but also instilled a deeper appreciation for this precious resource.

Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives was a significant highlight of the camp. Students had the privilege of learning about the rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of the First Nation people. Through storytelling and interactive sessions around a fire at night, students gained insights into the deep connection between Indigenous communities and the land, fostering a sense of respect and understanding.

The camp also focused on citizenship and global perspectives, encouraging students to think beyond their immediate surroundings. Through collaborative projects and discussions, they explored what it means to be a responsible global citizen. These activities emphasized the importance of teamwork, determination, integrity, and respect—values that are at the core of Eastern Fleurieu's school ethos.

One of the standout moments was the "Web of Life" game, which took place on Tuesday. This interactive game emphasised the interconnectedness of all living things and the impact of human actions on the environment. It was a fun and enlightening way for students to understand complex ecological relationships and the importance of sustainable living.

The camp fostered a sense of community as all Year 7 students from different groups came together to laugh and learn. Sharing meals and participating in activities like the "Web of Life" game provided ample opportunities for students to bond, share experiences, and build lasting friendships. These moments of togetherness were invaluable, reinforcing the school's commitment to teamwork and collaboration.

Throughout the camp, Eastern Fleurieu’s values of Teamwork, Determination, Integrity, and Respect were evident in every activity. Students demonstrated teamwork by working together in various challenges, showed determination in overcoming obstacles during outdoor activities, upheld integrity in all their interactions, and displayed respect for each other and the environment.

In conclusion, the Year 7 camp at Arbury Park was not only an educational success but also an exhilarating adventure that left students with lasting memories and valuable lessons. The combination of fieldwork experience, cultural learning, and personal development has truly enriched our students’ educational journey. We look forward to more such enriching experiences in the future, continuing to nurture well-rounded, informed, and compassionate global citizens.

Regards,
Jen Turpin
Senior Leader

Flinders University Open Day

On Friday, 9^th of August a large group of our Year 11 and 12 students visited Flinders University (Bedford Park Campus) for their annual Open Day. Due to our strong connection with Flinders University and their guaranteed entry program, many of the students who attended are anticipating attending this campus to begin their tertiary education journeys in the next two years.

Students who attended were given the opportunity to tour the campus as well as attend information sessions provided by different faculties. They were able to investigate on campus living arrangements and the many food options available. There were interactive activities all around the campus, with the opportunity to win prizes and ask students and staff questions about course options.

Mrs Thompson, Mrs Turpin, Mrs Martin and Mr Moulds were lucky enough to see multiple alumni from Eastern Fleurieu R-12 School undertaking their studies on the day and some students were very excited to see 2023 graduate, Brady (pictured below), as he moved from class to class.

Once again, an awesome day hosted by Flinders University for staff and students!

Regards,
Brittanie Thompson
Senior Leader

SOUTH AUSTRALIA VOLLEYBALL SCHOOLS CUP 2024 – YEAR 9 and YEAR 10 GIRLS

On Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Sunday 18^th of August we took two girls teams to the South Australia Volleyball Schools Cup competition where we played at various locations. The Year 10 Girls played Brighton Secondary School first up at Mount Lofty, where they came out firing and played some very good volleyball. They won the first set but unfortunately lost the last two sets. Then played Endeavour College which was another tight game with some great volleyball skills. Winning the first set 25-14 then losing the second set 22-25, with the last set being close having to do a count back on total points which gave us the win. On Friday the girls played Murray Bridge and Reynella which they both won. They all showed great teamwork on Friday sticking to our game plan of having 3 hits followed by a great smash to win multiple points. We finished 2^nd overall in our pool meaning that we would play 1^st of pool A which was against Paralowie on Sunday. It was an early start to the Sunday morning at Brighton Secondary School which showed in our first set against Paralowie losing 21-25. However, the next two sets were tough, but some great volleyball was shown by all winning the second set 25-22 and the last set 24-12, which meant we were through the Grand Final against Brighton Secondary School. The girls were so pumped for this game, and it showed. There were hardly any serving errors, they were getting 3 hits and smashing the ball, playing smart by hitting just over the blocker or to deep corners and covering Brighton’s smashes as well. Our first set was 25-13 and the second set was 25-17, with Eastern Fleurieu taking out the win and winning gold.

Our Year 9 girls volleyball team had an impressive run at the State School’s Cup competition. They began the tournament with a hard-fought match against Heathfield High School, resulting in a well-earned draw after three competitive sets. The team then showcased their skills by defeating Pulteney Grammar, Roma Mitchell, and Hallet Cove, which earned them a second-place finish in their pool based on percentage. On Sunday, the girls continued their winning streak by overcoming Reynella East College, who had topped their pool, securing a spot in the grand final. In a thrilling rematch against Heathfield in the grand final, our team played two highly competitive sets but ultimately fell short. Despite the tough loss, the Year 9 girls proudly received silver medals for their outstanding performance in the Year 9 Girls Division competition.

Congratulations to all the players for their dedication and hard work!

Regards,
Kelly Bahr and Kristen Rothwell
Teachers

Outdoor Education

Onkaparinga River National Park

Our Stage 1 Outdoor Education class, made up of 8 Year 11 students—4 girls and 4 boys—recently enjoyed a fantastic day at Onkaparinga River National Park. With Miss Humphries and Mr. Doody guiding the way, the students learned essential belaying and climbing techniques. The beautiful spring weather, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine, provided the perfect backdrop for the day's activities. The group worked together seamlessly, supporting each other as they developed their skills. They also challenged themselves with a thrilling abseil down from the top of a cliff. One student even helped with belaying despite wearing a moon boot for a broken toe, showing true determination and teamwork!

Regards,
Dani Humphries
Teacher

Year 10 Outdoor 3 Day Bushwalk

The year 10 Outdoor Education class spent three glorious days in week five, on their 3-day bushwalk. The students participated in a 4km orienteering course on the first morning, followed by the 3 km walk carrying full packs to camp in the afternoon. After their tents were set up, students had time to complete some of their journal, where they wrote about how they were feeling about camp and being in the outdoors. Dinner was cooked on Trangia’s, probably a little earlier than most were used to eating, but we made use of the daylight. The second day we hiked about 15km’s and students participated in numerous roles like front and back markers as well as leading the group with navigation over a predetermined section of our route. We all successfully completed the walk, although there were a few whinges and complaining as we neared camp in the late afternoon. On the last day students walked around 5km to our pick-up point, but in one section through native vegetation they were asked to walk individually for a little over 500m, enabling them to soak in the tranquillity of the outdoors while taking in the surrounding noises. Several of the students mentioned this was the best part of the walk!

Regards,
Tom Doody
Teacher

SSO Week Celebrations

It's SSO Week and we're thrilled to celebrate and recognise our amazing EFS 7-12 SSOs! Our whole school community genuinely value everything they do and the incredible impact they have. They are truly the heart of EFS. Thank you!

Year 9 Architecture

Architecture students in Mr Jamieson’s Year 9 and Mr Gomez’s Year 11 classes hosted a Q&A session with two practicing architects, Jenny Watson and Justin Smith. Both architects are Melbourne based, so the meeting took place virtually via Teams on the teleconferencing system in our school Principals’ office. Year 11 students Chloe and Layla chaired the meeting with great professionalism, and everyone was given the opportunity to ask Jenny and Justin questions about their 10+ years of experience working in the design and construction industry. The architects shared live views of current project 3D models on Revit, the very same software students are learning at EFS. This unique opportunity built powerful industry connections and highlighted Eastern Fleurieu School as a leader in design and construction career pathways.

Regards,
Michael Jamieson
Teacher

Year 6’s Visit for Science Week

On Wednesday of Science Week, Miss Clark’s Year 6 class joined up with Mr Berry’s Year 8 class for some fun science activities. The two classes used a square of cloth, two zip-ties, string and a tennis ball to design parachutes that would deploy a few seconds after the tennis ball was launched. Figuring out how to fold the parachute so it would fit inside the tennis ball - but not wrapping it up so tightly that it wouldn’t deploy – was one of the main challenges.

The tennis balls were loaded into cannons that sent them flying high into the air. Some parachutes deployed perfectly, and others required a bit of re-packing, repair or adjustment before they were re-launched. It was excellent seeing the student’s problem-solve and take setbacks in their stride – very important skills in any area of science. To finish things off, one of the cannons was loaded up with treats and for a few minutes it rained lollies on the back oval.

I loved it! It was amazing, it was nice and fun and engaging and the lollies were yummy. - Logan

I had fun, I liked running around and shooting out parachutes and shooting lollies out of the cannons. - Ruby

it was really fun because we got to make stuff and take it home. It was really cool to shoot our creations out of cannons and learn how parachutes work. - Elli

Regards,
Jordan Berry

Stage 1 Chemistry – Titration Experiments

Earlier this term, Mr Berry’s Stage 1 Chemistry class completed an experiment using an analytical technique called ‘titration’.

Titration is process in which a solution with a known concentration is used to determine an unknown concentration. Titration is used in both research and industry for tasks such as:

• The quality control of food and drink products
• Testing the acidity of wine
• Monitoring levels of pollution in waterways and soils
• Analysing the purity of medicines and calculating correct dosage for patients

In this experiment, the students analysed a cleaning product containing cloudy ammonia to see if the manufacturer’s claim of ’20 grams per litre’ was accurate.

Hydrochloric acid was reacted with the cleaning product and an indicator was used to determine the end-point of the reaction. The students had to try and determine the precise point at which the solution changed from yellow to a faint orange colour – not the easiest colour change to spot!

The results showed that the product contained 17.5 grams per litre of cloudy ammonia. The students investigated the possible reasons for the difference from the manufacturer’s claims – the loss of ammonia from the bottle over time, errors during the experiment or possible manufacturer error.

A second sample of cleaning product was taken from a bottle that had been sitting on the shelf for over 10 years. Analysis showed that this sample only contained 10.5 grams per litre of cloudy ammonia - a definite sign that cleaning products lose their effectiveness over time.

The class did a fantastic job of collecting, interpreting and analysing the results from this experiment.

Regards,
Jordan Berry

First Nations

STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress

On Thursday, 29^th and Friday, 30^th October in Week 6 some of our First Nations students in Years 6 to 10 attended the STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The theme for this year was ‘Cultural Innovators – 65 + Thousand Years in the Making’, honouring the deep STEM knowledge within Aboriginal culture and inspiring the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Have a look at the range of engaging STEM activities the students participated in over the two days.

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Regards,
Emma Cooney
First Nations Coordinator 

Music Tour 2024

From Monday 26^th to Wednesday 28^th August, the EFS Concert Band and Vocal Ensemble went on tour to the Barossa Valley.

Across the three days, they performed at five schools (Riverbanks College B-12, Tanunda PS, Angaston PS, Nuriootpa PS and Kapunda PS), and enjoyed several stops along the way, visiting Melba's Chocolate Factory, the Whispering Wall, Barossa Bowland, and two of Australia’s ‘big things’ – Map the Miner and the Big Rocking Horse.

Each performance consisted of a few pieces each from the Concert Band and Vocal Ensemble, plus demonstrations of the various instruments being played in the band. The audience at each school enjoyed the variety of music performed and enthusiastically joined in, clapping along and waving their arms with the Vocal Ensemble in Love Runs Out and Crowded Table, and yelling “Ghostbusters!” at the appropriate moments with the Concert Band.

With each performance, the students grew in confidence, refining the show, encouraging audience participation and supporting each other. They demonstrated all the school values throughout the trip, but teamwork and determination were most prominent as they became a well-oiled machine – loading, unloading, setting up, packing down, and loading up again.

Please enjoy a selection of photos from our trip!

Regards,
Shayne Tarling

Stage 1 Food and Hospitality

Terrific Tarts Unit

The Stage 1 Food and Hospitality students completed their AT1 Design Practical, which centred on designing a signature tart, suitable for a wedding dessert. Students experimented with tart bases, fillings, and presentation elements, to elevate their design ideas. Their tarts were presented to current Year 12 students, who gave feedback, which will help our Year 11 students continue to grow and thrive in the kitchen.

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Regards,
Tess Maple

Year 9 FTX

Global Foods Banquet

As part of the Year 9 Global Foods unit, students chose a country to research, prepare and present a signature dish from, highlighting key ingredients and flavours.

Some of the countries and dishes chosen were Thai Satay Skewers, Indian Butter Chicken, Brazilian Brigadeiros, Chinese Kung Pao Chicken, Spanish Churros, Filipino Buko Pandan Salad, and Greek Pita with Tzatziki.

The Year 9s were so excited for this event and to be able to serve their dishes as part of a Global Foods Banquet for teachers to try and provide feedback. The results from all students were outstanding and delicious! They should be very proud of their efforts!

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Regards,
Tess Maple

Library News

Jigsaws

Our kindly donated jigsaws are remaining popular. The current one is quite challenging.

Thanks to the parents who had a go at the jigsaw while waiting for their subject selection appointments.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

This is due 6^th September. Please return forms to the Library desk or to me at Adrienne.Carter407@schools.sa.edu.au before then.

Regards,
Adrienne Carter