N E W S L E T T E R · complete tasks with confidence. Owen W Mrs McCracken & Miss Cameron Putting in 100% effort in all tasks and using a positive attitude. Emily A Ms Mitchell &

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.

Principal – Kirsty Trahar

Chairperson Governing Council – Dan Dowdell

57 North Terrace, Mount Gambier. SA 5290

Telephone 08 8724 9811 Fax 08 8725 0254

Email – [email protected]

www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au

Issue No 8, 21/05/2020 - Week 4, Term 2

GENEROSITY - RESPECT - HONESTY - LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER

COMING EVENTS WEEK 5

25/05 PUPIL FREE DAY

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

08/06 PUBLIC HOLIDAY

SCHOOL PRIORITIES AND KEY DIRECTIONS

Students and staff across the school have shown that learning is the priority at McPark. It is timely to reflect on the

past few months, take from it the elements that could make a difference and move towards our core business of

learning.

The increased use of technology has been one change that has occurred and will shape the way that we operate

in the future. Access to equipment has been a focus area and we have reviewed priorities so that additional iPads

and Chromebooks can be purchased. The use of Google docs and Seesaw as a tool for quality learning will

continue to be used and refined.

This year’s Site Improvement Plan (SIP) builds upon last year’s work involving spelling, writing and numeracy.

Recently staff reviewed our literacy agreement to include the changes that have occurred in practice since it was

written in 2012. The inclusion of word study programs such as ‘Words their way’ and ‘Read, Write Inc’ have been

included to ensure consistency across the school and ensure appropriate developmental progress is made in the

area of literacy in all classes. It is expected that all students will make one year’s growth in their learning. Having

consistent agreements and systems to monitor student progress will assist us to reach our goal of raising student

achievement outcomes across the school, as highlighted in our ‘External Review 2019’.

Through our focus on making learning explicit and visible we will be implementing consistent and sustainable

teaching practices that provide engagement and challenge for all students. This term we will be focusing on

developing a common understanding of the characteristics of a McPark learner. It is our aim that this will be

communicated to the school community by the end of term 3. Students and teachers will focus on the qualities of

learning in order to develop these lifelong skills.

Monday’s Pupil Free Day will focus on building teacher capacity and efficacy through the design and moderation

of quality learning tasks, but also in staff understanding of the Professional Standards which underpin their work.

Learning from each other through collaboration and structured team discussions will lead to improved teacher

practice and student learning.

Kirsty Trahar, Sharon Day, Daniel Castle, Lia Jordan

Senior Staff

NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WEEK

At McDonald Park School we have a dedicated band of volunteers including

parents, other family members and members of the wider community who

volunteer their valuable time to our school on a regular basis. The list of tasks

the volunteers perform is lengthy: Governing Council and the various

subcommittees that are part of the council, volunteering in the garden and

kitchen, helping out in the resource centre, taking books home to cover,

working in the canteen, listening to reading, going on excursions and camps, LAP volunteers, attending working

bees, helping out on special days eg sports days, fundraisers, school sports coaches and all the other little things

that they do on a regular basis. Whilst it currently looks different we look forward to these things happening again

soon.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the wonderful job

you do all year and let you know that we appreciate your time greatly and

look forward to celebrating the year at our volunteers morning tea in term four.

N E W S L E T T E R

http://www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au/


CHICKEN UPDATE

On Wednesday the 6th of May we got five chickens from Grant High School. We named them Milo, Nugget, Luna,

Honey and Snowflake. They’re Isa Brown chickens and when we got them they were eight weeks old. Now they

are nine weeks old. They cost $10.00 each. The chickens are pullets. Pullets are teenagers. They love the rain and

they love children. They love going outside and in the coop. We pick food from the garden for the chickens. We

all love the chickens. Adelle W, T1

On the 6th of May we got chickens for the garden. They’re pullets and they were

$10.00 each, so it was $50.00 total. The chickens live in the garden. They came from

Grant High School. They are very curious. Their names are Luna, Snowflake, Nugget,

Honey and Milo. James S, T1

We got chickens on Wednesday

the 6th of May. They are nine weeks

old and are in the coop in the

garden. Their names are Luna,

Snowflake, Nugget, Milo and

Honey. They came from Grant High

school. They are Isa Browns. They

like to go inside their coop when

people are in there and outside

when people are outside. They are

teenagers and when chickens are

teenagers they are called pullets.

Phoebe B, T1

Last week we got some pullets. They are nine weeks old. We got them from Grant High School. Their breed is Isa

Brown. We got them for $10.00 each. We got five of them. Their names are Milo, Honey, Nugget, Snowflake and

Luna. We got them on Wednesday the 6th of May. Havana B, T1

On Wednesday the 6th of May we got our chickens from Grant High School. They were bigger than we thought. The

chickens are nine weeks old, when they are 20 weeks old they are able to lay eggs. They are kept in the school

garden. Each day we go up to the garden to check on them, make sure they are okay and make sure they have

food and water. I can’t wait to look after them on the weekends. Ava E, T1


ART OR VANDALISM?

Art or vandalism? That is the question N5 and N6 students are asking themselves! Students worked collaboratively

to create an inspired artwork around the McDonald Park School grounds. They needed to find a suitable location

and consider how best to use line, colour, pattern and symmetry. All of the 6/7 classes are currently investigating

street artists and the different styles & mediums they use.

RESOURCE CENTRE

Aussie bread tags for wheelchairs

T5 and T6 are continuing to collect bread tags to donate to ‘Aussie bread tags for wheelchairs’. Please send your

plastic bread tags to these classrooms or the resource centre. We will send them to:

‘Aussie bread tags for wheelchairs’ in Adelaide who will send them to recycler’s Transmutations’ in Robe.

The money raised will be sent to Africa to buy wheelchairs for those in need.

Please help us with this worthy project, which also helps the environment!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Continue sending your finished Premier’s Reading Challenge forms

to the resource centre.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Next Wednesday, 27th May is National Simultaneous Storytime. To celebrate, we read the story ‘Whitney and Britney

Chicken Divas’ with other Australian children at 10:30am, along with Denise Scott on the Play school Storytime

couch. The challenge is for as many to join in as possible! This is a gorgeous story about two chickens who are jazz

singers and love sparkle and bling! Staff and Students are asked to add something fabulous to their day next

Wednesday – think tiaras, bow ties, diamantes, feather boas, top hats, sequins, waistcoats and shine.

Visit https://www.alia.org.au.nss for more information about this event. Scroll down for resources to have fun at

home. Registration for joining in at home can also be made on this site.

https://www.alia.org.au.nss/


ROOM N6’s PHOTO CHALLENGE

N6’s “one word” weekly photo challenge. Last week’s challenge theme was ‘Water’.

N6’s “one word” weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge theme was ‘Happiness’.

Austin B

Alex L

Bane L Brianna S

Skye W

Ella O

Alexis M

Felicity K

Jase M

Keeley W

Lucy B

Jett D


VISION AWARDS

TERM 2, WEEK 2

Our awards are centred on our school vision. Students

will be recognised for their collaboration, respect,

engagement, problem solving or progress (thriving).

McDonald Park School community will work

collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and

engaged problem solvers.

COLLABORATION

Presented to By For

Molly H Mrs Fox &

Ms Bundy Being always willing to work

with and help others.

Chelcy K Mrs Cooper &

Mr Castle Working collaboratively in

groups and being an

engaged learner, displaying

confident leadership skills.

Laura D Mrs Bisnov Listening and using feedback

from her peers in order to

improve her work

RESPECT

Presented to By For

Madalyn M-

C

Mrs Spencer,

Miss Teakle &

Miss Treacey

Using her initiative and

recognising others that need

help and support.

Tyler C Mrs Cooper &

Mr Castle Showing respectful behaviour

during learning time.

Tahlia M Mr Bigg Always using her manners and

showing respect to her fellow

students.

THRIVING

Presented to By For

Matilda S Mrs Wilson &

Miss Teakle Developing confidence to

make new friends, engage in

class discussions and

complete tasks with

confidence.

Owen W Mrs McCracken

& Miss Cameron Putting in 100% effort in all

tasks and using a positive

attitude.

Emily A Ms Mitchell &

Mr Long Working to a high standard in

all curriculum areas.

ENGAGEMENT

Presented to By For

Xavier F Mrs Wingard Outstanding effort in at home

learning to create an Easter

market.

Dominic A Mrs Wilson &

Miss Teakle Working hard in class and

engaging in group discussions.

Piper J Mrs Fox &

Ms Bundy Consistently trying in all areas

of her learning and never

giving up.

Harper C Mrs McCracken

& Miss Cameron Showing engagement in all

lessons by asking questions.

Hamish M Mrs Spencer,

Miss Teakle &

Miss Treacey

Following instructions, listening

to the teacher and working

hard in class on his task.

Sophie C Ms Huitema &

Miss Teakle Her continued commitment

towards learning and

producing work she can be

very proud of.

Alexis B &

Family

Mrs Dew Effort they put into their home

learning activities.

VISION AWARDS

TERM 2, WEEK 2

ENGAGEMENT

Presented to By For

Tyler M &

Family

Mrs Dew Effort they put into their home

learning activities.

Carey G Mrs Bisnov Being an engaged learner in

HASS lessons through taking

notes, listening, asking

questions and responding to

questions.

Indianna N Ms Mitchell &

Mr Long Always being switched on with

her learning and being

organised.

Lily K Mr Bigg Engaging well in lessons and

class discussions and getting

along well with her class

mates.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Presented to By For

Deklan T Ms Huitema &

Miss Teakle His ability to think

mathematically when solving

problems, using a range of

math strategies.

COMMUNITY NEWS


COMMUNITY NEWS

Documents

N E W S L E T T E R · complete tasks with confidence. Owen W Mrs McCracken & Miss Cameron Putting in 100% effort in all tasks and using a positive attitude. Emily A Ms Mitchell &