11:30am-1pm Outdoor Ed Rock Climbing (Holden Hill
Acknowledgement of Country
From the Principal
This year’s National Reconciliation Week was a very busy one for us at SAC. It began with a whole school assembly and Welcome to Country by Ngangki Warra, and this kick-started a week of action to raise our awareness, understanding and acknowledgment of First Nations’ cultures. Some of these actions were visible, such as our attendance at the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast and the Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration.
Other actions happened around the school in classrooms, engaging students in activities and learning experiences across subjects and year levels. For example, one Year 9 Science class spent a lesson learning more about how we might close the gap in First Nations’ health outcomes by addressing the issues around preventable blindness. This included linking in with the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation and learning about trachoma and cataracts. As always, our teachers (in this example, Ms Sandra Eustace and Ms Rosie Hicks) are leading the way in designing lessons that build understanding and create meaningful change.
9JV students reflect on The Fred Hollows Foundation:
"The Fred Hollows Foundation made me feel as if there is hope in the world for those who can’t experience the beauty of vision." Gabriela Ribeiro
"Fred Hollows is an inspiration; 14 people with the right determination made huge changes to the world." Balsar Mosleh
"It is shocking that this disease (trachoma) is so easily prevented and treated, but many people don’t get the access to these methods. It is amazing that Fred Hollows was able to set up his Foundation so quickly and that it has been able to help so many people, now worldwide." Rose Hurley
"Fred Hollows had a commitment to doing good things that will work and showed that one person can make a big difference. He treated every patient the same. The Foundation makes sure that First Nations Australian people trust their work ." Lara Spokes
"Seeing people like Fred Hollows gives me a sense of hope that not everyone expects to earn money from helping others and that there are people out there who are willing to do anything they possibly can to help the disadvantaged." Precieuse Aniella
"I wish I could say I was shocked to learn of Australian authorities’ ineffectiveness in actualizing their pledge to eradicate trachoma in Indigenous communities by the end of 2020." Sophia Vnuk
To close NRW, we created a sea of yellow last Friday to raise funds for Children’s Ground through our Wear it Yellow Day. All of these activities aim to raise community awareness so that we continue to take steps towards reconciliation action throughout the year ahead.
Camps and excursions provide some of the most memorable learning experiences for our students, so we have welcomed the return of these activities over the last few weeks. All Year 7 students have been on camp, giving them the chance to build new friendships and get to know their teachers in a different setting. Almost 60 Years 8 and 9 students took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Camp this week, led by our Dukes Leaders Alan Brown and Libby Butterworth. The growth and development that happens when students push beyond their comfort zone and try new things is significant and we are grateful to all the staff who brave the elements to make these trips possible.
It's been a cold week for swimming, but thankfully the indoor setting at Thebarton Aquatic Centre made our Reception students comfortable to take the plunge. These lessons are an important part of ensuring that all of our students develop an understanding of water safety. Nicole Wedding coordinates this program each year, and our primary teachers and support staff ensure that each student is encouraged to participate.
The Drum Corps, accompanied by some brass players, brought the courtyards to life with a conga line to launch Arts Week on Monday. A celebration of the Visual Arts, Music and Drama, teachers and students have planned this week together as a reminder of the power of the arts in education and in life. This was a subject dear to the heart of educator and academic, Sir Ken Robinson. In a TED Talk, he spoke of the importance of celebrating the gift of the human imagination: “We have to be careful now that we use this gift wisely… The only way we’ll do that is by seeing our creative capacities for the richness they are and seeing our children for the hope that they are. Our task is to educate their whole being, so that they can face this future.” I am so proud of and grateful to the wonderful teachers and support staff at SAC, who engage our students in the Arts and ensure that we educate their whole being. In Arts Week, we witness the creative talents of our students and staff and give thanks for the gift they are to this community.
Ms Paddy McEvoy
A Glimpse into Arts Week 2022!
WE ARE proud and grateful to the wonderful teachers and support staff
who engage our students in the Arts!
From the Careers Department
Careers & VET Coordinator
ICHM Discovery Day
During our recent Careers Expo, Year 11 students Georgia, Elsie and Zara investigated opportunities through ICHM and selected to take part in a discovery day. The day covered a range of exciting topics including international business and tourism, luxury hotel design and hospitality opportunities. Here’s what they had to say:
"The discovery day through ICHM was wonderful and such a great experience. We met a number of staff from ICHM, and also got to hear from previous students who are now working in the hotel industry. The tour of EOS/Sky Hotel was very interesting, and we discovered a lot about how the learning at ICHM is put into practice when both working in hotels and designing them. The entire day was very insightful and informative in helping us to understand options for studying hotel management. We would definitely encourage anyone who is interested in studying hospitality/business to go along to a discovery day!" Georgia, Elsie & Zara
Applying to UniSA and ordering preferences Tickets
Wed 27/07/2022 at 5:30 pm | Eventbrite)
Information for Parents and Guardians | Study at Adelaide | University of Adelaide
Information for parents: A guide to assist your child transition from high school to university (flinders.edu.au)
Year 5 started a podcasting unit to integrate technologies and media arts when they discovered Isla Franco’s dad, Daniel Franco, is the Managing Director at The Creative Synergy Podcast organisation. They invited him to come and speak to students along with Gabriela Vasconcelos, Marketing and Podcast Manager. According to Daniel, the three most important things about podcasting are (1) The art of questioning, (2) Listening and (3) Research and planning. They also learnt about the importance of editing out unwanted background noises and/or bloopers.
“Daniel was very brave to come in and answer all of our questions. He was very professional in the way he talked”. Savanna Hails 5JS
“I didn’t know that editing could take so long to do. When you listen to a podcast it sounds really clean but there is a lot of editing behind it”. Serena Thai 5VM
“It was such a great experience to have an expert in the field come and engage the students as they have real life experience”. Ms Szegedi, Year 5 Teacher
Using knowledge gained and classroom activities, students aim to create, record, and edit their own podcasts.
Ms Joanne Villis
Digital Technologies Coordinator
PIPALYATJARA Winter Drive
Since 2010, SAC students and staff have been visiting the tiny, remote community of Pipalyatjara in the north-west corner of South Australia. Located in the APY Lands, this community is home to approximately 150 people, including babies, toddlers, students, adults and Elders. Each year we serve the community by donating warm items to assist them in surviving the bitter cold of the desert winter. Currently the daily temperature is averaging 10-12°C.
Check the flyer above and see if your family can help our friends in Pipalyatjara.
All donations can be brought to Room R11 in the Undercroft so that they can be prepared for their 2000 km journey to Pipalyatjara. This drive will run until Monday 20 June.
Year 10 and 11 Drama Night
A night full of society refelctions and comedy!
Last week the Year 11 Drama class presented their play '4 a.m.' by Jonathan Dorf. This play looks at the people and personalities who are awake at 4am. We see early morning jogger, a letter writer, a DJ and many other teen characters. The play also included some scenes the students had written themselves that reflect their take on 2022 and who we are as a society. In contrast the Year 10s Drama classes (all three of them) performed a night of comedy to a packed house. Many laughs were had at the comic plays presented by the students. After many disruptions and students in isolation it was lovely to perform in front of a welcoming and friendly audience.
Mr Tom Coultas & Ms Lucy Newton
'Beaders' with Purpose!
Each Tuesday at lunchtime, a group of eager beaders meet to make beautiful Mercy bracelets displaying the school’s Mercy values of Justice, Courage, Hospitality, Compassion, Respect and Service. These bracelets will be sold on Mercy Day in Term 3. Look out for them!
Ms Mary Kotsionis
From the Catherine McAuley Library
Teacher‑Librarian & Information Services
Reconciliation Week - an important time in our library
Reconciliation Week was an important time in our library. Library sessions across year levels focused on the theme of “Be Brave. Make Change.”
Our younger primary students recognized Mabo Day by exploring Torres Strait Islander stories and songs. Primary students shared Bronwyn Bancroft’s book, Coming Home to Country, appreciating the stunning artwork and beautifully crafted text. Important sessions were shared by older students about The Stolen Generations. They engaged with a combination of written texts and visual texts shared by First Nations Australians to gain an understanding of this part of Australian history. The inquiry-based activity responses from students showed the significant impact this session had on all participants.
Primary students also enjoyed recess screenings of Jarjums episodes, while our senior students appreciated the opportunity to share a lunch time screening of Take Heart: Deadly Heart.
It has been wonderful to see our students continuing to appreciate and engage with the rich representation of First Nations authors, illustrators and stories in our collection, not only over the course of this significant week, but as a deeply valued part of our library.
Ms Ali Ripberger
Teacher‑Librarian | Information Services Coordinator
Year 5 students have been learning about Caring for Country and Land Management during Geography lessons. Students have learnt about Terra Nullius and explored traditional methods for caring for and managing the land. To coincide with Reconciliation Week 2022, students improved their skills and knowledge of Kaurna language. With over 250 Indigenous languages in Australia, students reflected on the importance of young people learning traditional languages.
Ms Vanessa Tapscott
Year 5 Teacher
Check out a few messages from our Year 5 students in Kaurna language!
A big thanks to Ivy from 5JS WHO was the instigator of the amazing doughnut fundraiser during Reconciliation Week
Ivy is continuing to: Be Brave & Make Change!
Reconciliation is an ongoing journey. Ivy, with the support of Ms Edwards, has shown just how much an individual can achieve. A future leader in the making. Thanks Ivy!