Eastern Fleurieu School R-12 Newsletter Week 3 Term 4 2024

R-12

Principal’s Report

To celebrate receiving the recent Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, our Room 20 students enjoyed a special presentation of replica awards. This recognition highlights our school’s exceptional efforts in inclusion and wellbeing, made possible thanks to the contributions of our amazing students!

It was a pleasure to attend the ‘Length of Service’ ceremony in the holidays and see Jerry Blair and Dave Jennings recognised for 30 years of service to public education. They have been at EFS for many years and are testimony to what exceptional teachers are, and the dedication many teachers put in to producing outstanding students/citizens. I have received very positive feedback about these two teachers from members of the community and as a school congratulate them on their 30 years of service.

Photo credit Luke Simon Photography

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

Term Dates 2024

Eastern Fleurieu School R-12 Important dates

Our talented Performing Arts students from Years 7-12 proudly present... Aladdin!

Bookings are now open, follow the links below.

Thursday, 31st October 5:00pm https://easternfleurieu.schoolzineplus.com/event/3877

Friday, 1st November 7:00pm https://easternfleurieu.schoolzineplus.com/event/3878

Saturday, 2nd November 7:00pm https://easternfleurieu.schoolzineplus.com/event/3879

ASHBOURNE CAMPUS

14 Ashbourne Road, Ashbourne SA 5157 Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

Welcome back for the final term of 2024. This year has gone by at an incredible speed. The students have shown a tremendous amount of growth in their learning and within their individual character. They have demonstrated care and compassion for each other, grit and tenacity when approaching learning and challenges and dedication to be their best self.

We are looking forward to all the events this term. We will go to Glenthorne National Park with Nature Play SA for an excursion for Bush School. The Art Gallery, Talent Show and Year 6 graduation will be held on Thursday evening in Week 7. In Week 8 we will see how well our milk cartoon boats sail at the Milang Milk Carton Regatta.  Finishing the term with the Whole School Sleepover on Thursday Week 9.

Our new 2025 students will take part in four transition visits before attending a full day on Step Up Day, Friday Week 8. We have two new reception students, a Year 1, Year 3 and two Year 5 students joining our wonderful campus in 2025.

Regards,
Rebekah Fahey
Head of Campus

Bush School

This term the students have chosen to focus on Ancient Times, they will explore different time periods and how the natural environment and the cultures evolved and changed. The different civilizations the students will learn about include, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Chinese, Persian, Roman, Maya, Incan and Aztec.

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In Term 3 we had a visiting class, Lyndall and Vikki’s Year 4/5 class from the Strathalbyn R-6 Campus. The students had a fun day making damper twisties, water colour, clay making, building cubbies and web of life. It is so lovely to see their excitement to play in the scrub and be part of our unique outdoor learning program.

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Mandy Foot

At the end of last term as part of book week we were lucky to have Mandy Foot, author and illustrator come to our campus to share with the students her process of how she creates her illustrations and stories. It was a wonderful experience to see how a story character comes to life from the imagination of the author.  The students had a go at drawing their own elephant character.

LANGHORNE CREEK CAMPUS

Bridge Road, Langhorne Creek SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

Welcome back to Term 4, we are looking forward to the final term with lots of learning and events as we finalise another great year at Langhorne Creek. This term our Year 6 students continue to participate in extra transition visits in preparation for their next stage of schooling in Year 7. Our R-2 Koalas class welcomes new reception Ebony and her family to our school community.  We also have Kindergarten transition to Reception class students joining us. Last term PAT Assessments were completed with students. Staff are using data to support learning programs to increase student learning outcomes.

A huge THANKYOU to our families and students who attended our first working Bee on campus for some time. Plants planted and garden areas mulched, Yanun Circle created with great thinking (using motorised post hole digger). Propagation shed well on its way to completion, shelving set up in our kitchen area in STEAM room. We enjoyed a sausage sizzle cooked by parents and refreshments to keep us going. Awesome team effort and collaboration from all who attended. Our students and staff would like to express our huge gratitude to everyone who attended and helped. Our students in attendance proudly shared their family’s involvement with our school community as we did a walk and talk with all on following Monday. We look forward to finalising a couple of jobs around the school. Please check message from school mobile and share your interest if available.

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Over the holiday break we had our building team onsite to erect verandah’s to both teaching buildings. Students and staff are extremely grateful for this protection from the weather. Verandah’s have been well used over the past few weeks

Staff and students are working well with our learning programs and participating in preparations for our end of year concert and fete. We look forward to presenting a great show on the night.

Regards,
Les Cameron
Head of Campus

Assembly

Congratulations to our Term 3, Week 10 Assembly Award winners.

SACA Cricket

Last term we had two people come in from SACA to run a cricket clinic. We learnt new skills like bowling, throwing and batting. We all got a poster about the Big Bash games. It was really good to have the people come in and run the clinic. - Archie

Science Fossils Workshop

We had Peter and Sue who run 'Science is Real' come and do a workshop with us about fossils. Students participation and engagement was exceptional. 

It was really fun and we got to go on a hunt for fossils. - Rupert
It was calm and fun. I loved the mix and match of the old animals. – Seth
I enjoyed looking at all the old fossils and doing the scavenger hunt. - Aiden 
I learnt a lot and really liked looking at the fossils. – Esther

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Learning in Junior Primary

We have been doing lots of great learning in our Junior Primary class. We have been learning about sharing, grouping, and making arrays in maths. This will help us with addition, subtraction and multiplication.

In creativity hour we have been working on our 6 C’s and our engineering skills as we work together to build paper rollercoasters. We had a set of design rules to follow and used our creative thinking skills to create our designs out of recycled materials. We will test them out next week to see if a toy car will stay on the track.

Quokkas Visit Monarto Safari Park

Last term we went on an excursion to Monarto Zoo. It was so much fun. We all researched an African country and an African animal to do an oral presentation. It was fun learning and the excursion to Monarto was a great experience! - Seth

My favourite bit was seeing the American Bison. - CJ

I liked seeing the cheetahs chilling in their yard. - Hudson

I loved watching the chimps. – Kailee

Mozzie Creek

Last Friday we were lucky enough to have a Year 3 class from Strathalbyn Campus join us for an excursion to Mozzie Creek. We started the day off playing a web of life game, where we had to pretend to be animals finding food, water and avoiding the predators or natural disasters. We then discussed the prey, predators, and natural disasters animals face in Australia.

We headed off to Mozzie Creek to complete some activities. We had a weaving craft, a leaf bookmark craft, bird watching and hut building to complete. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed getting to know some year 3’s from another campus.

I liked the bird watching. – Ivy

I liked watching the birds with Miss Anna. – Poppy

I liked the bird watching and the campsite building. – Isabella

I liked doing the hut building. - Chayce

I liked playing the web of life game. – Kyle

I enjoyed making the nature bookmarks. – Kailee

I liked meeting the other Year 3s and making some new friends. – Frankie

MILANG CAMPUS

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

Head of Campus Report

Welcome back to Term 4!

After a sensational finish to the term with our Spring Concert and Art Exhibition we have welcomed back our students with lots of holiday stories. We hope that some of them were able to get out on their bikes after a really successful bike day in the last week of term. Some students who had never ridden before were able to get started which was lovely to see and we have noticed more students riding to school now which is great.

Please enjoy the photos of our events and classroom learning and take note of the important dates for this term; our Year 6s are transitioning to high school and already we have welcomed new Reception students!  It looks to be a very eventful term, see you all at the Regatta on Thursday, 5^th  December!

Regards,
Susannah Cook
Head of Campus

Playgroup

This term at playgroup we are telling fairy tales and favourite stories using puppets and props. We are singing nursery rhymes.
This week we celebrated National Grandparents Day.

Junior Primary Learning

The students always enjoy Technology with Mr Bilney on Fridays.  

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Happenings at Milang

Spring Concert and Art Exhibition

Congratulations to all the students at Milang Campus for a wonderful night of drama, dance, music and art at the annual Spring Concert and Art Exhibition. Held in the Milang Institute the students performed ‘Snow White and Her Fabulous Friends’ and ‘The Real story of the Big Bad Wolf’ having learnt all their lines throughout the term and made their own props and costumes. This was followed by the choir and then a variety of dances the students had choreographed themselves. Families were then invited to view the range of artworks produced by the students throughout the year. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all! Enjoy the photos!

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Year 10 Visit

In Week 2 the Year 10 Cross Disciplinary studies class came to Milang to share their learning with our students. They had been exploring different cultures around the works and brought food and activities from a range of countries for the students. Our students particularly loved the face painting and trying some new foods!

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Assembly

Cycling

Enjoy the photos from our cycling day last term.

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World Teachers Day

Our teachers were spoilt with a lovely morning tea last Wednesday organised by our Pastoral Care worker, Bonnie.  The spread was put together by some ladies from the Lutheran Church, and it lasted all week. Bonnie also decorated some lovely magnets for our teachers. We are so lucky at Milang to have a wonderful supportive team of fantastic teachers.

We also celebrated Miss Amy’s upcoming wedding.  Congratulations to Miss Amy and Clay. 

Reminders from Donna

Book Club

Orders due back 1^st November.

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

Sports Day 2024

Congratulation everyone on another fantastic Sports Day, filled with energy, teamwork, and memorable moments! Our students showed outstanding sportsmanship, cheering one another on and giving their all in every event. From hurdle races and long jumps to tug-of-war and relay competitions, each activity demonstrated the dedication and determination of our young athletes, all striving to earn points for their team.

Thank you to all the students, teachers, and Canteen team who made this day possible, as well as to the parents and community members who came out to support our teams.  A special thanks to Mr S, Ms Frost and Donna for their leadership of the day and the 7-12 Fit to Lead students supporting each event.  Congratulations to our champions, Rankine, Spirit Cup winners - Dawson and to every participant who put their heart into each event.

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Gala Night

We are looking forward to seeing all families attend our Gala Night on Friday, 8^th November.  It has been amazing to watch students take the lead, from the organisation, to stall creation, planning menus and activities.  We hope you enjoy our snippets on Facebook and new school sign.  A ticketing system will be in place instead of cash on the night, to avoid the line, you are welcome to visit Helen W (Finance Office) to pre-purchase your tickets.  Please see letter below for further information. Monies will go towards upgrade of our basketball court.

New Reception Transition and Student Enrolments for 2025

Our 50+ new receptions for 2025 have happily started their visits to our campus.  Their final visit will be Step Up Day on Friday, 6^th December.

The end of 2024 is fast approaching and we have now begun planning for 2025. Each year, a small number of families relocate to other parts of the state or interstate for family or work reasons and we have new families starting at our school after settling in the Strathalbyn area. The number of students in each year determines our staffing allocation and class structure for the next year. It is therefore essential that if your child is not returning to Eastern Fleurieu School in 2025, that you notify the school in writing or by email as soon as possible.

Year 6 Graduation

On Wednesday, 11^th December we will join all our Year 6 students for their graduation evening.  Can all families ensure they have completed RSVP link to support numbers on the night? 

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

Gala Night Preparation with Room 9

This year, Room 9 and Room 11 will be having an Ice Cream and Gala Night stall.

We were writing down our first ideas that we wanted to do for Gala Night and then we did a whole class voting. - Tessa

We thought about what we were going to sell and talked about it in groups. - Cody

We did some in class voting to decide on our food. We decided if we were going to do sweet or savoury foods – we decided on sweet. – Henry B

We listed the materials that we would need for our stall. - Neve

We are organising crepes and ice creams for Gala Night. They will be yummy. - Clara

We have ice cream – the best you can ever get – and crepes too! - Archie

Here are some photos of us designing posters, and of some of our planning!

Regards,

Shape Monsters with Room 21

Room 21 has been working on shapes for the last few weeks. We have been naming, identifying features, and sorting them. Year 1s have been doing the same with 2D shapes as well as 3D shapes. To finish off the topic we made some Shape Monsters. The only rule on what they needed to look like was that they be made from shapes only. They could have as many arms, legs, eyes, or teeth as they wanted to. Students used coloured paper to create their monsters and identify how many of each shape they used. They did a great job!

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Regards,

SciWorld Incursion with Room 25

Year 2s participated in an incursion in our school gym. SciWorld brought in a 7 metre planetarium where students were immersed in a show about celestial objects like the Earth, Sun, Stars and Planets. We took off from Earth, checking out star consolations then into space where we ran into planets, all the way to the nebular. This supported and consolidated our Term 3 Earth and Space Science program.

We were then highly entertained and inspired by an amazing scientist conducting explosive experiments never seen before on a school campus! Room 25 cannot get enough of science, we LOVE it!

Regards,

Transition and Taster Day with Room 6

It has been a busy semester for Room 6, filled with lots of emotions around transitioning to high school. In the last week of Term 3, the majority of our class attended the 7-12 campus for Taster Day. 

To start the day we did a big welcome circle on the COLA and checked in. It was nice to see how many new people were around! We then started the day off in a STEM lesson with Mrs Martin. Here, we had the challenge to build the highest tower out of tape, spaghetti, string and a marshmallow. The tower had to hold the marshmallow at the top! 

After recess we had an orienteering lesson with Miss Beveridge-Naylor. Eventually we were able to run around the school in the rain! Once we had finished that, we had PE with Mr Blair and played some games. 

For the last lesson of the day, we had an insight to Agriculture and was able to feed goats and pat and hold the chickens!

Have a read below to have some insight on how our Year 6’s are currently feeling about their transition to High School.

I am a bit scared, sad, and happy because I’ll be meeting new people; but I’m upset as some of my friends aren’t going to EFS next year. I am going to miss the teachers here, all the work and my little buddies.  I am looking forward to doing new lessons and catching up with some of my other friends. - Chloe

I am sad and happy to be learning new things, but sad some of my friends are leaving and won’t be with us next year. I’m going to miss my little friends and all the good and kind teachers. I am looking forward to cooking and making new friends. - Jasmine

I am feeling ok I guess, because I’m just ok. I will miss everything about primary school, and not really looking forward to too much in high school. - Chace

I am mad because I will miss primary school but I am looking forward to having Performing Arts again. - Lucian

We enjoyed agriculture because we fed the goats. Taster Day helped us by showing us the usual routines and where everything was. We were feeling nervous and excited, because we had never spent a full day there. But we were excited because we were going to the high school. We will miss Miss Clark, mainly because we won’t have our favourite teacher. We are looking forward to the longer lessons, the CANTEEN and more things to learn. – Elli, Marisa, Emily

I enjoyed Ag, Orienteering and PE. I learnt my way around the school. I am feeling nervous and will miss the teachers here and lessons. I am looking forward to a bigger area and opportunities. - Logan

Taster day was ok, I enjoyed it for a bit but then I got tired, but it's good Healthiness and STEM was good fun. - Horatio

I enjoyed taster day and it helped me know things. I will miss primary school of course, their OJ cups and frozen yogurts. The school seems fun. - Naite

I am feeling excited because I get to go to a new school, make new friends and meet new people. I will miss seeing Chloe, Harper and Miss Clark every day. I am looking forward to making new friends and going to school with Havy. - Sierra

I feel happy because I get to meet new people and go to a different high school. I will miss seeing my best friends, Harper, Chloe and my sister every day.  I’m looking forward to making new friends and going to high school with my best friend Sierra! - Havanah

I am feeling excited, but mostly nervous because I don’t know anyone. I will miss my awesome teachers and friends. I’ll also miss going to school with none of my siblings. I am looking forward to making new friends, new classes and learning a new environment. - Tilly

I enjoyed going to the school and seeing my old friends. Taster Day made me feel more comfortable. I am nervous because I think I will get lost. I will miss being in one class and do all my work. I am looking forward to the canteen and cooking. - John

Taster Day was good seeing my old friends that moved there. It made me feel more confident. I will miss having good people and a good teacher. I am looking forward to PE, the canteen and science. - Kayden

It was good seeing my sister and buying stuff from the canteen. Taster Day made me happy as I have my sister. I am feeling nervous because I think I will get lost. I look forward to the canteen. - Hunter

I am feeling nervous because I think I will get lost. I will miss having a nice teacher and people. I look forward to being able to cook and do cool science. - Oliver

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Regards,

All Things Sport!

What a massive couple of terms we have had for sport!

We saw Rankine take out Sports Day in emphatic fashion, from Dawson, Davidson and then McLean. Dawson took out the Spirit Cup award on the day highlighting their sportsmanship and teamwork on the day.

Our house captains led from the front all day and worked tirelessly to assist their teammates to achieve their very best. I cannot thank them enough for all the hard work they put in throughout the lead up to Sports Day, including giving up their play breaks to support their peers with football umpiring and skipping clubs.

We have had students represent the school in Football, Soccer, Cricket, Tennis, Basketball, Athletics, Cross Country and Netball.

Rocco added to his State Champion Cross Country win, also being crowned the State Country Champion in the 1500m and the 800m, while bringing home a bronze in the 4x100m race. We also had Fraser come second in Shot Put and the 4 x 100m relay.

It was amazing to see former pupil Matty Roberts play in this year’s AFL Grand Final for the Sydney Swans. What a journey he has been on since his days at EFS. Despite the loss we are so very proud of Matty and all he has and will continue to achieve.

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Regards,

Room 11 Heads to Mozzie Creek

On Friday, 18^th October Room 11 went to Langhorne Creek campus for an excursion. We played 'Web of Life', learnt about the history of the campus, made new friends and built cubbies, bird watched and created a natural bookmark at Mosquito Creek. The students loved the day and can't wait to visit again soon! 

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Regards,

Car Building with Room 27

Last term Team 27 went to high school to build some wooden cars with the Year 8s. We had so much fun working with our Year 8 buddy and cannot wait to sell these at Gala Night in Week 4!

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Regards,

STRATHALBYN 7-12 CAMPUS

11 Callington Road, Strathalbyn SA 5255    Ph: 8536 2455

Head of Campus Report

I can hardly believe its Term 4 already. At this bittersweet time of year, we celebrate with optimism the opportunities that lie ahead for our departing Year 12 students, the “Class of 2024”, whilst preparing for the excitement of new beginnings with our incoming cohort of 2025. It is a time of mixed emotions for students, staff and families and we do appreciate the magnitude of these events for transitioning students; we are privileged to be sharing these special moments with you.

WHAT WENT WELL?

The start of Term 4 has been eventful with some new arrivals on our farm. The breeding goats program is now most definitely underway with the birth of our first baby goats – the new ‘kids’ are proving to be a little mischievous. We had the annual River Run in Week 1 with some runners achieving fast times, while other students chose to enjoy a mindful walk down the river path in what was quite extreme humidity during a relatively cool spring. The Year 12 students have successfully completed their mock exams and are now prepared for the real deal in the coming weeks.

ASSEMBLIES, AWARDS AND CELEBRATIONS

Our Week 1 assembly acknowledged outstanding achievements from many students who received certificates for Excellence in Approaches to Learning and School Values Awards, with one student in each sub-school receiving the Principal’s Recognition Award. Student leaders, House Captains and other student volunteers have shown a developing confidence when planning, hosting and presenting assemblies. 

Student Leaders and House Captains hosted a further assembly in Week 2 so that all students could take part in the annual announcement of the winners of the coveted House Shield. Congratulations to Sturt House who dominated the House Points for 2024 and won the House Shield by a clear margin!

This assembly also included the presentation of the new House Champion Award (which recognises the biggest individual contributor of house points in each house), and the announcement of our new 2025 House Captains. Initiated by student leaders, these changes came about because when this presentation used to happen later in the year, many of our senior students missed out. Through consultation with school leaders, the students were able to provide a strong rationale for hosting this assembly in Week 2 which will now be an annual event. All house points that are awarded from Week 3 onwards will be included in the tallies for the following year. We are impressed by the student agency leveraged by this group throughout the year.

The timing of the special assembly was perfect, culminating in a whole school farewell to our Class of 2024 during the last minutes of their last official day of school.

LOOKING AHEAD

In Week 9 of Term 4 we will run a range of challenging activities for the remaining students, focused on interhouse competition, special interest, teamwork and skill development. There will also be a final awards assembly on the last day of term for students in Years 7-9. The canteen will be closed in Week 9 so please ensure your child brings a packed lunch to school as they will not be permitted to leave school grounds to purchase food during breaks.

As we approach 2025, please look out for notices from Schoolzine and Ed Smart in your emails which will contain information to help prepare your child for a Quality Start in the New Year. If you are not already connected to our social media, we recommend you follow us on Facebook and Instagram to ensure you are up-to-date with the latest news and announcements.

You are welcome, as always, to contact the school for assistance or clarification at any time.

Regards
Vanessa Coker
Director of Secondary Education

Preparing for Pathways to Employment Post School

Regards
Merryn Gomez
Assistant Principal Inclusions and Wellbeing

FREE Interactive Program for Parents

Regards
Merryn Gomez
Assistant Principal Inclusions and Wellbeing

Assembly Awards

Middle Years

Senior Years

Nunga Tag Carnival

Year 9 Geography

Adelaide Zoo Visit

Year 9 Geography students visited the Adelaide Zoo on the Monday, 19^th and Tuesday, 20^th August to conduct fieldwork on various animals and their biomes, including rainforest birds, Sumatran tigers, orangutans, siamangs, and pandas. During their visit, students gathered information on the unique environments these animals inhabit and identified key threats to both the animals and their ecosystems. They collated their findings into printed booklets and took photos to support their investigations. Based on their work, students developed recommendations to positively impact the biomes, offering practical solutions for both the zoo setting and global conservation efforts.

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Regards,
Michael Jamieson
Teacher 

Successful Year for Our Show Teams!

Our show teams have had a tremendous year, filled with hard work, dedication, and incredible achievements across the board. We are proud to share the highlights from this year's competitions.

Merino Wether Team

Our Merino wether team worked together seamlessly, presenting their animals to an exceptionally high standard. Their professionalism and showmanship have improved significantly, reflecting their commitment and growth. This year’s show posed some challenges, but the students rose to the occasion, handling themselves with great composure and learning valuable lessons along the way. A special thank you to Radnor Merino Stud for generously donating our Merino wethers—your support is deeply appreciated!

Led Wether Goat Team

Our Led Wether Goat team had a remarkable showing, with nearly half the team earning ribbons! We proudly received a second, two thirds, a fourth, and a fifth-place ribbon. Considering the difficulties in sourcing goats this year, we are especially grateful to Skipworth Boer Goats and Bayern-Hof Kalahari Reds for their contributions. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both our team and the breeders.

Steer Team

This year, we entered four steers:

Bottlesford Biscotti (Murray Grey) from Bottlesford Murray Greys

Jillangalo Jed (Red Angus x Simmental) from Jillangalo Livestock

Kilkerrin Kingston (Poll Hereford) from Kilkerrin Poll Herefords

Warrawindi Winston (Limousin) from Warrawindi Farms

We are thrilled to announce that Warrawindi Winston placed 2nd on hoof in his class on Sunday, going up against some strong competition. Even more exciting, Winston went on to win Grand Champion Carcase, a truly prestigious honour! Additionally, Bottlesford Biscotti took home 3rd place in the export carcase class and was the highest-placing Murray Grey carcase. We are extremely proud of these results and our students' efforts throughout the year.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all the breeders who supported our teams this year: Radnor Merino Stud, Skipworth Boer Goats, Bayern-Hof Kalahari Reds, Bottlesford Murray Greys, Jillangalo Livestock, Kilkerrin Poll Herefords, and Warrawindi Farms. Your generous contributions and continued support made these successes possible.

Congratulations to all the students and teams on their hard work, resilience, and achievements this season. We look forward to seeing what next year brings!

Regards,
Lisa Halling
Teacher 

Year 8 Poultry Club

Eastern Fleurieu School’s Year 8 Poultry Club recently achieved outstanding results at the Royal Adelaide Show. Nine students cared for nine chickens over six weeks, ensuring they were well-fed, hydrated, and meticulously groomed. Their dedication paid off, with five chickens taking first place in their categories, alongside a third and fourth-place finish. A rooster won both a Special Prize for best overall school bird and Champion for the High School competition. In the weeks leading up to the show, the students went above and beyond by cleaning and moisturising the chickens' legs and washing their feathers. Before placing the birds into the show cages, they oiled the chickens' wattles, combs and legs, and wiped their feathers to ensure they were pristine. On Wednesday, 4th September the team proudly visited their winning birds and described all their hard work to Ms Coker, who came down to the show to celebrate the success. A special thanks to Trudy Hull and Michael Hall for lending the chickens, and to Trudy for her generous guidance in teaching the students about poultry care.

Regards
Michael Jamieson
Teacher 

Year 8 Tech Collaboration

During a recent collaborative project, Year 1 students teamed up with Year 8 students in the high school tech building to create small timber cars—either sedans or utes—using the new laser cutter. This hands-on experience not only allowed the younger students to engage in a creative activity but also provided Year 8 students with the opportunity to model leadership and communication skills. As they worked together to assemble the cars, the Year 8s guided their younger peers, fostering teamwork and enthusiasm in preparation for the upcoming R-6 GALA night, where these unique creations will be sold. It was a valuable experience that highlighted the importance of mentorship and collaboration across year levels.

Regards
Mr Gomez
Teacher 

Festival of Music

The Concert Band performed at the Festival of Music on Friday 13^th September in the Quartet Bar of the Adelaide Festival Centre. Hot on the heels of their recent tour of the Barossa Valley, the band was in fine form and played an impressive 30 minute set covering an array of styles which was appreciated by the audience who didn’t take much encouragement to join in!

It’s been a big year already for music, but it’s not stopping yet! Our next Music Showcase will be on Thursday, 14^th November in the Performing Arts Centre.

Regards,
Shayne Tarling
Teacher 

Year 9/10 Girls Basketball

On Thursday, 12^th September, Eastern Fleurieu School (EFS) hosted Cornerstone College and Victor Harbor High School in Round One of the state-wide knockout basketball competition. The girls took on Cornerstone first, who took on an early lead with exceptional 3 point shooting. EFS grinded away and increased their defence, to narrow the margin heading into the last. A dominant last quarter saw them run away with the win by 4 points at the final buzzer. EFS then took on a strong Victor Harbor side and were slow to get started, leaving them to play catch up for the remainder of the game. With cheering from R-6 students, the score gap was decreased in the last, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Victor Harbor who took the game by 9 points and progressed to Round Two of the competition. A huge thankyou to umpires Boyd and Caitlyn who were amazing across all three games for the day. Best players for EFS were Darcy and Isabelle.

Regards,
Kelly White 
Teacher 

Outdoor Education

Year 11 Stage 1 OED Mountain Biking Excursion

In Week 9, seven enthusiastic Year 11 students, Miss Humphries and Mr Doody, set out for an unforgettable day of adventure at the Kuitpo Forest mountain biking area. Under the guidance of local mountain biking expert James Frankel, the group was eager to test their skills on the forest’s renowned downhill trails.

After a brief warm-up and de-sensitizing to the heights and steep declines, the students were ready to tackle their first challenge: the downhill trail known as "Cloud 9." The ride pushed everyone’s maneuvering skills to the limit as they navigated steep descents, sharp switchbacks, and dodged natural obstacles like trees, roots, rocks, and muddy puddles.

The weather couldn’t have been better—sunny skies highlighted the beauty of the forest, with wildflowers blooming along the trails and stunning views that rewarded the group at every turn. Whether speeding downhill or conquering uphill climbs, the students faced each challenge with determination and courage.

It was a day of adventure, learning, and team spirit, as each student conquered many hills—one way or another!

Regards
Dani Humphries and Tom Doody
Teachers 

Year 12 SACE Recital Night

The Stage 2 Recital Night was held on Tuesday, 17^th September, providing our Year 12 Music students an opportunity to perform for family and friends. All students performed to a high level, impressively tackling some demanding repertoire.

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Regards,
Shayne Tarling
Teacher 

Flinders University Enrichment Program

Year 10 students travelled to three different Flinders University campuses to attend the Flinders Enrichment program. 44 students in total attended the event which provided them with an insight into a range of Tertiary courses. The students had opportunities to learn about possible future pathways and engage in a variety of hands on activities. The attendees were also able to challenge academic experts in their field of interest with several questions to gain a deeper understanding of the subjects offered. A highlight was students engaging in an exercise sports science class and undertaking a range of fitness tests.

Regards
Andrew Moulds
Teacher 

Year 7 Ambassadors Welcome Future Students

In early Term 2, our Year 7 Student Ambassadors had the exciting opportunity to visit several feeder campuses and schools across the region, including Milang, Ashbourne, Langhorne Creek, Strathalbyn R-6, and Callington Primary. These visits allowed our Ambassadors to connect with Year 6 students and answer one of their most pressing questions: “What is high school really like?”

The Year 7 students shared their personal experiences, covering a wide range of topics from participating in Sports Days and music programs to choosing diverse subjects and trying their hand at cooking. They openly spoke about the nervousness they felt on their first day and how quickly they settled into the rhythm of high school life.

The visits were a fantastic opportunity for both the Year 6 and Year 7 students to bond, creating a sense of excitement and easing the transition into high school. It was a positive and memorable experience, leaving the Year 6 students with a clearer picture of what lies ahead and helping them feel more confident about the journey to come.

Regards,
Rachel Baltussen
Teacher 

Inter-House Netball

Biggest congratulations to our Middle School Inter-house netball winners STURT! Going head-to-head against Flinders who were undefeated, Sturt brought their A-game taking home the win and the house points winning 12 v 5.

SA Stableford Golf Championship

Perfect conditions at the North Adelaide Golf Course on Monday, 23^rd September set the scene for an incredibly close finish in the School Sport SA Teams Stableford Golf Championship.

Congratulations to Kobi, Cooper and Ollie who represented EFS and came home with two awards!

They finished second in the overall scoring competition just behind Westminster and Scotch College who tied for first.

We were also awarded the Bottroff Shield for the school with the highest average score across all eligible players (33.33), edging out Immanuel College (32.33) and Scotch College (33).

Well done to all players for their efforts.

Regards,
Mark Nielsen
Teacher 

Volleyball Fleurieu Cup

On Tuesday, 22nd October four Eastern Fleurieu School (EFS) teams competed in the Year 7/8 Fleurieu Cup at Reynella East College. The event featured 45 teams from 9 different schools. Our teams performed exceptionally well, winning more games than they lost. Congratulations to everyone for representing EFS proudly!

Regards,
Jerry Blair
Teacher 

Special Presentation

In celebration or Mr Kent's Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, Room 20 students were treated to a special presentation of replica awards recognising that Mr Kent couldn't have done it without them!

Regards,
Merryn Gomez
Teacher 

Mannum Waterfalls

On Friday, 20^th of September the 8A, 8B, and 8C Environmental Science classes travelled to Mannum Waterfalls to conduct fieldwork. Students had the opportunity to test water and soil samples from multiple areas along a 1.5km hiking trail and made observations about erosion and land degradation. Students were consistently positive, smiling through the brief pockets of rain and displaying brilliant teamwork skills that align with our school values.

Regards,
Antonia Beveridge-Naylor 
Teacher 

Variety Goolwa Animal Farm Visit

On Thursday, 26^th of September, Room 20 (the Special Options Class) from Eastern Fleurieu School went to the Goolwa Animal Farm. We were invited by Variety - the Children’s Charity SA. They were able to make this possible because of their sponsors, hard-working fundraisers, and Variety supporters.

After we arrived and collected the animal food, we fed the donkey and horses. Then we fed the chickens, ducks and geese. They were so excited for food. There were so many of them.

The next thing we did was go to the petting zoo and hold the rabbits and guinea pigs. The rabbits were a bit frightened. The guinea pigs were so cute. The guinea pigs loved eating the celery and carrots.

We had a bird talk and then Alan took us for a ride in the back of the trailer around the field. After that we headed back, Alan showed us the snake and we gave it a pat. When we finished with the snake talk, we headed over to the mini golf.

We all had a blast. It was so fun to do this excursion as a class. We are so grateful to Variety for this opportunity.

Variety also have a Grant Program which you can read more about here: 

Regards,
Kate Densley
Teacher 

Integrated Health Industry Experience Excursion

On Friday, 27^th September, the Stage 2 Integrated Health Pathways class concluded their workplace experience sessions at the Strathalbyn Hospital. As a part of this course, the students explored the importance of infection control policies and procedures, staff mental health, LMA procedures, and intravenous catheter insertion. 75% of the Stage 2 class have applied for a University position in 2025 and this opportunity has been fantastic to allow the future health and nursing students to engage in industry skills.

Thank you to Courtney at the hospital for her time and the opportunity to take part in these rich learning opportunities, promoting industry immersion opportunities for these Year 12 students.

Regards,
Brittanie Thompson
Senior Leader

FOOD AND HOSPITALITY

Year 10 – High Tea Event

Our Year 10 Food and Hospitality classes recently showcased their culinary skills by organising their own High Tea event as part of a group assessment. Each team was tasked with designing either a sweet or savoury dish to present for the class.

This task emphasised key aspects such as recipe suitability, healthy alternatives, quality control, presentation, and effective teamwork.

Students explored a range of innovative ideas and flavour combinations while focusing on creating visually appealing presentations. One of the classes even embraced a thematic approach, presenting a delightful high tea featuring Asian-inspired recipes.

It was a wonderful and enriching experience, allowing students to collaborate and enjoy their creations together.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the dishes that were beautifully plated:

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Regards
Tess Maple
Teacher 

Year 9 Global Fashionistas

In Term 3, the Year 9 Global Fashionistas class designed and created a tote bags or bucket hat using upcycled materials. The students learned sewing skills and got creative by repurposing old fabrics and clothes to make something new and useful. They also explored fast fashion's global and ethical impact and how reusing materials can help reduce waste.

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Regards,
Laura Brooksby
Teacher 

Year 12 Gratitude Dinner

On Thursday, 19^th September the Year 12 Food and Hospitality students hosted a memorable Gratitude Dinner to honour their Year 12 teachers and leaders. The class worked collaboratively to plan, prepare, and serve a menu featuring a Mexican-Asian fusion consisting of mocktails, a starter, and a variety of entrees, mains, and desserts for 20-plus guests. The evening was a spectacular showcase of the skills, creativity, and professionalism the students have developed.

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Racing Careers SA

On Wednesday, 25^th September a small group of students were given a unique opportunity to attend the Strathalbyn Racecourse for some specialised insight into a 'day on the track'. Clare Lindop, an experienced member of the racing industry and Development and Training Officer of Racing SA, guided students through many aspects of a race day set up, stable hand duties and racehorses competing. Thank you, Clare and Racing SA for an invaluable opportunity and insight for our students.

Regards,
Britt Thompson
Senior Leader

Year 10 Work Experience

In Week 10 of Term 3, our second round of PLP students completed their work experience at venues all around South Australia (plus one interstate!) Students conducted themselves in a professional manner and all reports from employers were extremely positive. There were several job and apprenticeship offers made to our students, which is very exciting. Congratulations to all Year Tens on their efforts in completing work experience this year.

EFS would like to thank the following businesses for accepting work experience students in 2024;

AK Phillips
Adelaide Hills Farm Barn
Adelaide Hills Metal Fabrication
Alchemy
Alexandrina Council
All Trends Auto & Tyres
Altamura Constructions Pty Ltd
Anytime Fitness Littlehampton
Apollo Print and Promotion
Baile Books
Banks Race Development
Bates Farm Machinery
Beaumont Built Construction
Beyond Ink
Biddle Build Pty Ltd
Black Stallion Barber
Bridge Hotel Langhorne Creek
Bullant Bobcat and Maintenance
Callington Primary School
CFS Mt Barker
Charlil Hair Design
Community Living Australia
Crystal Rainbow
Dalwood Painters
Delatorre Construction Pty Ltd
Eastern Fleurieu School Strath R-6 Campus
Edge Early Learning Mount Barker
Edge Early Learning Strathalbyn
EFS Langhorne Creek
Elite Hancock Electrical Pty Ltd
Envirocare C/o Minda Inc.
G & J East Strathalbyn
Geelong Sports Medicine Centre
Glen Semple Electrical
Greencross Strathalbyn Vet Centre
Horsemed SA Pty Ltd
Inverbrackie Border Leicester Stud
Kitchens Direct
Kookaburra Homes
KT Electrical
Macclesfield General Store
Maxwill Racing Engines Pty Ltd
Meadows Primary School
Mount Barker District Hospital
Mount Barker Mechanical and Exhaust
Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary
NS Data and Electrical
Nutrien Ag Solutions
O’Brien Electrical Goolwa
Peter Shearer
Philips Builders
Physiyoga
PJ Custom Carpentry
RAAF
Radio Goolwa
Refresh Beauty and Skin Care
Rival
Riverport Veterinary Hospital
Robin Hood Hotel
Roger Zellar Carpentry
Roofing Solutions Pty Ltd
Second Nature Conservatory
Short Cut Motors
Society and Co.
Spacecraft Joinery
Steam Ranger Heritage Railway Signal and Telegraph Section
Strathair Refrigeration & Electrical
Strathalbyn & District Aged Care
Strathalbyn and District Health Service
Strathalbyn Kindergarten
TCM Nominees Pty Ltd (Tripod Group)
The Detailing Syndicate Pty Ltd
The Hive
Topcat Roofing
Wakefield Press
Wild Essence Hair Littlehampton

Regards,
Kelly White
Teacher 

Congratulations!

Eastern Fleurieu School, and especially the VET Automotive Technology Department are delighted to congratulate alumnus Jaiden on his graduation as a fully qualified mechanic. 

Jaiden has been extremely successful since leaving the EFS Certificate 1 program and finding employment with Mercedes Benz, achieving their Apprentice of the Year Award for the last 2 years. 

We are always very happy to hear from students who have taken advantage of training opportunities at the school and developed engaging and rewarding careers and wish Jaiden all the best as he is continuing to expand his training as a Diagnostic Technician with Mercedes in Melbourne.

Regards,
Brittanie Thompson
Senior Leader

Ready to Learn Room – Reporting System

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are introducing an updated reporting system in the 'Ready to Learn Room' for students in year 7-12 who regularly access this space. This system uses a Goal Attainment Scale to track student progress and success in their social emotional regulation skills and ability to return to learning. 

Goal Attainment Scale:

Much More Than Expected: Indicates the student can self-regulate independently and no longer requires support.

More Than Expected: Indicates the student can self-regulate with minimal assistance.

Expected Outcome: Indicates the student can regulate with the expected level of staff support.

Less Than Expected: Indicates the student needs more staff intervention and relies on co-regulation.

Much Less Than Expected: Indicates the student struggles to engage with regulation strategies and requires further intervention.

This structured system allows students, staff, and parents to monitor the student's ability to regulate emotions and track progress over time. We encourage you to review these reports to actively support your child's growth and development.

Regards,
Inclusion and Wellbeing Team

Ekiden Relay

This year we had 3 teams competing for the first time in the Schools Sports Ekiden Relay. The Ekiden relay is a race against other schools around the state, and each team consists of 8 runners, doing a variety of distances to a total of 20.6km. All teams competed well, pushing themselves and achieving great, competitive times.

Results;

Year 7 to 9 girls achieve a time of 1:43:10
Year 7 to 9 Boys achieve a time of 1:21:16. Special mention to Sam with the fastest time for the Runner 5 leg (1.5km) 4:53
Year 10 to 12 Boys achieve a time of 1:27:25

Regards,
Caitlin
Student

The Rite Journey Camp

During Week 10 in Term 3, Year 9 students attended camp as part of The Rite Journey Program. It was a camp that challenged them both mentally and physically, but also one that helped them grow in unexpected ways.

The solo camp was one of the year's biggest challenges. Spending time alone, away from the distractions of everyday life required students to dig deep and build resilience.

The students also had the chance to finish Term 3 with incredible experiences on the river at Murraylands Aquatic Centre, including knee boarding, kayaking, and sailing.

Overall, it was a fantastic way to conclude Term 3, showcasing the growth and determination of the students as they tackled challenges along the way. A special thank you goes to Bridgeland Motorcycles for helping fix a part on one of the quad bikes at very short notice, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Appreciation is extended to everyone involved in making the camp a success.

Regards,
Curtis Perry
Middle Years Leader

Student Spotlight: Amber

For her Major Assignment in Digital Communication Solutions (Snap Shoot Sell), Amber created a stunning coffee table book titled Farm Friends, which highlights the exceptional photography skills she has honed over the past two years. Each image captures a unique story, reflecting Amber's creativity, dedication, and outstanding work ethic.

The dedication statement in her book reads as follows: 
Farms and the animals on our properties hold a special place in our hearts. Bringing us joy, love, and memories. Every farmer knows the importance of the animals. Whether they are a friend, worker or livestock, they all have a purpose and belonging on the property.

This set of images is to showcase the beloved animals and tranquility that can be seen on the properties.

Thank you to the Cross’s, Michelmore’s & Jackson’s for allowing their animals to be captured and included.

Every image is dedicated to our farms and farm friends.

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Regards,
Hannah Playford
Teacher 

World Suicide Prevention and R U Ok Day Festivities

Wednesday, 11^th September

This year at the 7-12 Campus we combined World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK Day.  We did this to highlight the importance of both global and local efforts in mental health. Encouraging everyone to check in with each other and ask, "R U OK?" helps build a supportive community where people feel seen and heard. It’s a reminder that small acts of kindness and genuine concern can make a big difference. Our commitment to this cause is a powerful way to promote mental wellness and create a culture of care.

At lunch time on Wednesday we created a relaxed and supportive environment with picnic blankets, fruit, games, and live music in the hope of providing a sense of community and well-being. By offering a space where students can unwind and connect with each other, we were helping to reduce stress and encourage open conversations about mental health. The live music from the student band added a personal and uplifting touch, enhancing the overall atmosphere. It was great to see staff and students enjoying the fun to create a positive impact on students’ mental health and well-being.

Regards,
Kate Yabsley
Youth Worker

Year 10 Cohort Participates in Road Awareness Program (RAP)

Our Year 10 students recently participated in the Road Awareness Program (RAP), a powerful and engaging initiative delivered by the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS). RAP aims to educate young drivers about the importance of road safety, emphasising responsible driving habits, the dangers of speeding, and the impact of poor decision-making on the road.

Through real-life stories and interactive discussions, students were encouraged to think critically about their behaviour as road users. This program is a key step in preparing them for the responsibilities of driving and highlights the vital role they play in keeping our roads safe.

The session left a lasting impression on many students, sparking meaningful conversations about road safety and personal responsibility. We are proud to see our Year 10 cohort take these lessons to heart as they continue their journey toward becoming safe and responsible drivers.

Regards,
Jen Turpin
Senior Leader

Former Eastern Fleurieu Student’s Success

My name is Jasmine and I’m the head technician at Ultratune. I’ve always loved cars and motorbikes; my Pop would take me to the Bay to Birdwood most years. My passion really kicked into gear when I laid my eyes on a lime green 1969 Dodge Challenger with a matte black racing stripe one year, and from that moment the love and wonder has never stopped. I needed to know everything, and I was fascinated how everything would work in perfect harmony to create something so beautiful that speaks to the heart and soul.

School was never my thing, but I really enjoyed a full year of Power Technology in Year 10, where I decided that I could make a living out of my passion for cars and machinery.  I did some work experience and dropped out a month into year 11 to pursue the offer of an apprenticeship.

Earlier this year I graduated as a fully qualified Tradesperson, which was a pretty massive milestone.  It hasn’t been a simple journey, but I have followed my passions and beliefs, worked on the challenges and found success in a place where I am happy and continuing to learn. 

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of learning something new every day, learning something stupid manufactures come up with to over-engineer anything they can. New technology is being made every year, and the complexity and capacity of modern vehicles is amazing.  It’s exciting to learn about. My favourite part about this trade is that you can never know everything, and that’s what makes it so much fun. There are so many pathways in the automotive industry you can branch off into, in my biased opinion it’s the best industry to be in.

Regards,
Jasmine
Former Eastern Fleurieu School Student

Year 7 English

This term in English the 7J and 7M classes are undertaking novel and film studies. We are reading The Wizard of Oz and will compare the narrative structure of the Heroes' Journey in this text and our film text, The Lion King.

The 7J and 7M English classes were also excited to recently receive the bookmarks they designed to be etched on the laser cutter earlier in the year.

Regards,
Jade Aylen
Teacher 

VET / Power Tech

PROJECT 253

Beginning with the encouragement of Mr Kent, we started looking around for a V8 for the Automotive workshop.  We found a collection of slightly tired parts, but at the right price and a deal was done.  TAFE Lecturer John, and the 2023 Cert II second year students tore the engines down and evaluated what we had.  The Short Block was refurbished and reassembled by Brandon Lee, while a run stand was assembled and the engine was test fitted into the cradle at the end of 2023.

In 2024, the Certificate II crew refurbished the starter motor, carburettor, distributor and cylinder heads. The run stand received a radiator and cooling fan, with the students developing a fail-safe switching system to avoid overheating.  Students took care of wiring gauges, warning lights and relays.  The 253 was then sent to Mount Barker Mechanical Repairs and Exhaust (http://mtbarkermechanical.com.au/), who very kindly supplied a high quality custom exhaust. (Thanks so much, Trevor!).

Initially running the motor revealed a couple of problems with mismatched components, but the First Year Cert II crew have seen to remedies for both hardware and wiring issues and, at time of writing, we are about a day away from start up.  The video will be on the EFS Social Media sites when it happens.

This has been an amazing project, with help from local families in sourcing a bell housing, the hard work of students keen to see and hear it run, the diligent and patient guidance of John Copeland and the cheerful and valuable assistance of students who helped to make an assortment of parts that contributed to the build (Thanks Diesel!).  

In addition to all the learning and teamwork to get it this far, engine will provide a valuable range of opportunities for Year 10 Power Technology students and the Certificate II Automotive students for years to come.  Thanks to Mr Kent, for greenlighting the project, and to Marty, for his tireless assistance with the odd requests that it has generated.

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Regards,
Dave Jennings
Teacher 

Aladdin Jr Performance

Join us for the enchanting performances of Aladdin Jr at Eastern Fleurieu School, where our talented young actors will bring the beloved story to life! Experience the magic of Agrabah and enjoy unforgettable characters, dazzling music, and vibrant choreography.

Performance Dates and Times:

Thursday, 31^st October at 5:00pm
Friday, 1^st November at 7:00pm
Saturday, 2^nd November at 7:00pm

This is a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to come together and celebrate the creativity and hard work of our students. Don’t miss out on this delightful adventure—come and be part of the magic!

Regards,
India Carnell
Teacher 

River Run 2024

In Week 1 of Term 4 the annual EFS 7-12 River Run was held in warm and sunny conditions!  We had great participation and it was a successful event! Ryan was the overall champion of the 3.3km race running in a very fast time of 11:59.  Alyssa was the fastest girl over the line winning the girls event for the 4^th year in a row!  Year Level champions were awarded at the whole school assembly on Friday. Congratulations to all award winners. Sturt House scored the most points on the day taking out the shield for the winning house for the River Run 2024!

Regards,
Mark Nielsen
Teacher 

Library News

Jigsaws – Term 4

The donated jigsaws are still popular. They are a great challenge. Here are the ones that students have completed since the last newsletter.

Regards,
Adrienne Carter
Teacher