28 October 2022: Week 2 Term 4

Kaurna acknowledgement

Niina Marni. As we feel the earth beneath us, the wind around us and the sun above us, we acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of this land. We pay our respects to past Elders and will work with present and emerging Elders to protect and care for this unique land of ours. We also extend this respect to other First Nations peoples.

Principal's report

No matter where you’re from or what language you speak, on behalf of our staff, I wish our community.

Happy Diwali, Deepavali, Bandi Chhor Diwas and Tihar!

For those of us who are learning about the celebrations of our community:

Diwali , Deepavali, or Divali, also known as the Festival of Lights is a Hindu religious festival and one of the most important festivals within Hinduism.It generally lasts five days (or six in some regions of India), and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashwayuja (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November).  One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" (sourced from Wikipedia).

My goodness what an exciting start to the term: Year 6 Exhibition, Sports days, Colour Run (Take III),  Excursions to Monarto and Alldinga - and we’ve only just started!

Teachers are busily shaping the final Units of Inquiry for the year, starting to write reports and at the same time we are preparing for 2023.

Class groupings are being shaped over the next two staff meetings so I would ask that if you have decided your child is not returning in 2023, please let the school know.  We currently have over 100 children on our waiting list and would love to be able to welcome new students and their families to our school community.

As previously communicated, if family have any information critical to their child’s learning or wellbeing needs please request through dl.0647.info@schools.sa.edu.au

As is best is practice across our department, requests for desired teachers are not considered. The educators and students themselves provide us with important information that is used to configure classes.  Consideration is given to:-

• Friendships
• Separations: where children are not productive/supportive of each other.
• Learning strengths and challenges
• Learner profile attributes
• Wellbeing data

This information is used to shape classes for 130-150 children for each year level, considering their needs individually and as a group.

M&S Polling

You will be receiving an email to vote on the 2023 Materials and Services Charge (School Fees).  On behalf of Governing Council, I am writing to request your support of its recommendation to increase the legally recoverable amount for the 2023 Materials and Services Charge by $10 to $470 for Year Levels Reception – Year 6. Please vote ‘Yes’ as this will enable us to continue to maintain our current programs.

Celebrating Success

Congratulations to all students and staff who participated in last Thursday night’s Year 6 PYP Exhibition. The passion that was evident in students' presentation was energising. It was wonderful to see the amazing efforts and enthusiasm that went into the children's projects and to discuss with students their learning over the term.

Putting the safety of our students first

The changes to the drop-off and pick-up of students on Highfield Avenue has significantly improved the safe passage of student to and from school. Whilst there has been some inconvenience to those who previously used Durham as a ‘kiss ‘n drop’ there were many near misses with parents parking across Highfield waiting for spaces to become available.

I would like to request that parents use the round-about at the intersection of Highfield and Inverness rather than performing three point turns along Highfield.

Fiona Voigt, Principal

A big change in staffing is about to happen at LPPS!

New Pastoral Care Worker (PCW)

Our school community has become very used to seeing the cheerful and very helpful face of Tegan Jolly in our front office for the last five years. Over the last three years Tegan has also been studying and has just completed her Masters in Counselling.  This is already on top of her qualifications of having a Bachelor in Health Science, majoring in psychology. 

We are so excited to announce that Tegan will now be placed at LPPS as our new Pastoral Care Worker (PCW). Pastoral Care Workers are employed through an external service provider and in this case, Tegan is employed by the Schools Ministery Group. For the rest of this year Tegan will be working on Thursdays, supporting the current wellbeing programs and students in the school who may have social and emotional needs. During 2023, Tegan will increase her time as our Pastoral Care Worker to two days. 

As Tegan is employed by an external service provider, a note will be coming home soon for our parents to give permission for their children to work with Tegan, if the need arises. 

Tegan will be a fantastic value-add to the wellbeing team already established at Linden Park. Although she is employed by the School Ministery's Group, religion or influences of religious beliefs will not be part of any work or conversations that Tegan will have with students. Tegan's role will be to support the wellbeing of the students at Linden Park.

• modelling and mentoring students with positive relationship development
• supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of students (friendship concerns, grief, conflict resolution, self-regulation, etc)
• support school engagement of students in learning opportunities
• support the development of community engagement
• participate in and contribute to general school activities

Tegan is a highly enthusiastic and passionate educator at LPPS. Although Mel Owen-Turner and Debbie Foster are going to miss her administrative expertise and contagious optimism in the front office, we are so very thrilled to still have her working within our school. 

Tegan is looking forward to writing more about her role in our next Newsletter.

Rachel Pontifex, Student Wellbeing Leader

Staffing update

We are fortunate to have new staff join our dedicated team at Linden Park Primary School.

Please welcome (left-right):  

Chinkel Patel (IT Support) & Anne Carthew (SSO-Finance)

What wellbeing means to our Leadership Team

What is your role at LPPS?

• Rachel - Student Wellbeing Leader. I work with students, staff and parents to help support the social and emotional learning of our students.
• Alice - Literacy Coach and year 3 classroom teacher. I work with staff implementing strategies to improve literacy achievement across the school.
• Josh - Numeracy Coach and year 4 classroom teacher.
• Nicole - Deputy Principal, Curriculum and Pedagogy to improve students learning. I coordinate the International Baccalaureate Primary Year Program.
• Heidi - Deputy Principal, Inclusion: I work collaboratively with families, staff, and allied health professionals to ensure that students are supported to reach their learning potential.
• Fiona - Principal:  I have responsibility for the learning and wellbeing of all learners, staff and students. I engage with families and community endeavouring to create a learning environment that is inclusive of all.
• Tina / Henry - Assistant Principal Operations (Henry as of week 5, term 4)
• Harry - Sports coordinator (I organise out of hours’ sports, SAPSASA sports, debating, chess and the ICAS and AMC competitions). I am also a PE teacher and year 3 classroom teacher.

• Debbie - Business Manger. I am responsible for the school’s administration, finances, facilities and ancillary staffing.

What do you do to help your wellbeing?

• Rachel - As soon as I get home I walk my Golden Retriever Winnie in the park.
• Alice - Spend time with friends, camping, reading books and play Sudoku.
• Josh - I like to play with my four daughters at home or go for a run.
• Nicole - I love to read and am a passionate lifelong learner. Nothing is as relaxing as curling up with a good book.
• Heidi - I love spending time with my family, coaching my daughters netball and watching them play sport.
• Fiona - I walk with friends in the hills and near the beach. I enjoy theatre with my daughter.
• Tina / Henry - Tina loves her garden and preparing her house for her new baby. Henry enjoys watching NFL, yoga and spending time with his nieces and nephew.   
• Harry - I love to play football, spend time with friends and spend time with my dog Opie.

• Debbie - Spending time relaxing with family and friends. I also enjoy reading a good book in a warm sunny spot.

Where is your favourite place in the school?

• Rachel - Anywhere there is laughing and fun.
• Alice - At the top of the small oval. I can see all of the beautiful grounds and all the way out to the sea.
• Josh - In my classroom teaching the amazing students in Room 23.
• Nicole - The library, the ‘hub of the school’. It is the centre point of the school for our community to access anytime for learning, interest or leisure.
• Heidi - Reading with and working alongside our reception children during investigation time.
• Fiona - Being in the yard with our students and families.
• Tina / Henry - Tina loves to still visit the Early Years classes. Henry enjoys yard duties when he can play with the students, especially over at Mariner.
• Harry - Playing and teaching sport with our students in the gym or COLA.

• Debbie - Looking out over the oval from in front of the uniform shop.

What is your favourite thing about working at LPPS?

• Rachel - How the students will often ask about the welfare of the staff!
• Alice - All the people!
• Josh - The fantastic staff and students!
• Nicole - That diversity is valued across the school. Our staff, parents and students bring with them a wealth of knowledge and prior experiences particularly around culture. The use of the inquiry approach helps to use these experiences.
• Heidi - The strong sense of community and diversity.
• Fiona - The energy that everyone brings to our school; the commitment by every member of the team to provide exciting learning opportunities for our learners.
• Tina/Henry - The commitment that the teachers have to the improvement of students outcomes.
• Harry - Our students make it a great school to come to everyday.

• Debbie - Our amazing students, staff and parent groups.

Rachel Pontifex, Student Wellbeing Leader

Library News

As of week 3 students who have an overdue book will not be allowed to borrow from the library.  Many of the current overdue books have been overdue for many weeks. 

If your child cannot locate their overdue books, please speak to a library team member. Invoices will be sent home for any overdue books.   

The last week for all students to borrow will be in week 5. All students must return their library books to the library by week 7. 

Students will be able to continue to borrow take home reading texts (readers) until the beginning of week 8. Weeks 8 and 9 will see a stocktake of the take home reading texts and library books.  

Thank you for your support.

Andrea Kipperman & Russell Hanson, LPPS Teacher Librarians

Year 6 Exhibition 2022

In the final year of the PYP, students carry out an extended, in-depth, collaborative investigation known as the PYP Exhibition. This year with the Year 7 to transition to high school students moving on, it is the first year that we have offered our Year 6 students to participate in the Exhibition experience. Students were required to engage in a transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues or problems. The idea around the Exhibition draws on all the things students have learned, the attitudes and behaviours they have developed, as well as the skills students have developed over their entire schooling experience. It also provides schools and students with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the transition of learners to the next phase of their education (high school).

After a term of meticulous research, collaboration and inquiry into a range of areas, our Year 6 students were able to share their learning on Thursday the 20^th of October. It was an amazing night that our parent community could participate in without previous restrictions. Students investigated a range of focus areas around the central theme ‘Sharing the Planet’. They began their research using the IB concepts and developed three 'big questions' that linked to the central idea of ‘Individual contributions to society leads to people feeling valued and improves quality of life’. 

Students were grouped into interest groups of about four people who were doing a similar topic. The focus of the Exhibition was around collaboration and so it was important for students to work with others during the investigating stage. Staff across the school gave up their time to help mentor groups to ensure students had ample opportunity to verbalise their learning and discuss their planning. Despite sometimes feeling overwhelmed with the magnitude of work, they have come out with flying colours and showed motivation, passion and commitment beyond their years. They should all be commended for a fantastic Exhibition night, an incredibly well self-directed term and a successful finish to the PYP. Well done! A big thank you to the Year 6 teachers and staff that mentored students for all their hard work.

Nicole Scrivener, Deputy Principal

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State Champions – South Australia Junior Chess League

Congratulations to students Cindy and Charlotte C. who participated in the U12 State Girls Chess Championship in Term 3. Both girls did incredibly well with Cindy placing in 1^st place and Charlotte finishing in 3^rd place. A fantastic achievement from both girls who also participated in the U10 State Championship (boys and girls) in the school holidays with both girls finishing in equal 3^rd place at the event.

A big congratulations from everyone at Linden Park Primary School.  Great work girls!

Harry Slee, Sports Coordinator

Year 1: Monarto Zoo Excursion

As part of our Unit of Inquiry into 'Sharing the Planet' Year 1 students visited  Monarto Zoo over two days located at Old Princes Hwy, Monarto South.  

This session includes a walk from the Visitor Centre that culminates at the Chimpanzee platform. It is a multi sensory and interactive experience that utilises the natural bushland of Monarto to engage students. 

The students recognised that the living world is an important part of our daily lives as they explain observations and compare findings. They were encouraged to be creative and confident individuals who can think deeply and broadly when using the environment as a resource.

"We had great fun on a bush walk and tour of the zoo, looking for signs and indicators of wildlife and learning about how animals adapt to their habitats."

Year 1 Teachers

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Student snap shot

Congratulations to Oliver Tian (Room 25), who received an Excellence in Writing award in the Write 4 Fun writing competition for his entry called The Skeleton King Battle.     

A great effort Oliver, well done! 

Lesley Kong (Teacher - Room 25)

2022 LPPS Parent Volunteer of the Year nominations

The Minister for Education Volunteering Award for Outstanding Service is a way to recognise people in school communities who make a significant contribution to enhancing and uplifting the lives of others by volunteering.

At Linden Park Primary School we have many volunteers who help make the teaching and learning at our school possible.

If you know of someone who has made an outstanding effort to support the Linden Park Primary learning and sporting environment in 2022, please nominate them for the 2022 LPPS Volunteers Award (e.g. helped on excursions, parent volunteer coach of after hours sport).

You can nominate as many people as you wish.

Please email your nomination with a short sentence as to why they ought to be shortlisted for the Award to dl.0647.info@schools.sa.edu.au before Friday, 11th November.  We will then shortlist the candidates and conduct a community vote.

Please help us acknowledge our valued volunteers.

Linden Park Primary School Governing Council

SportSA Jumpers

Term 4 - Orienteering

After-School Orienteering

For four weeks starting Thursday 3/11, at various near City locations. 

Come and enjoy this exciting navigation sport!

All sessions are free. Maps and equipment supplied. 

Beginners are welcome to attend (Parental supervision is required).

Contact  Aylwin Lim for details. ayllim@netscape.net

Vampire-O

Come celebrate Halloween with a twilight event on Saturday 29/10 at West Terrace Cemetery!

$15 per team/family. Dress up for prizes, but watch out for vampires!

Twilight Series

Friday evenings during summer at various Adelaide parks, starting on 18/11.

See Orienteering SA website for more info. https://www.sa.orienteering.asn.au/

Aylwin Lim, Coordinator, Central Adelaide Schools Zone.

Student free day - reminder

Student free day

Monday, 7 November 2022.

Aerobics try outs - 2023