Opening of Intensive English Language Classes in 2024

We are pleased to announce that we will be opening two IELCs (Intensive English Language Classes) in 2024.  This classes will support students arriving in South Australia in our local area who require English instruction before entering mainstream classes either at Highgate, or in local schools.  Following our development, we have classroom spaces to accommodate this and meet the needs of our wider community.  A leader will shortly be appointed for the program and  EOIs for enrolments are underway.

Remembrance Day Assembly

On Monday we held our Remembrance Day Assembly, with special guests including Mayor Hewitson and Dr. Ben McCann.  The assembly was led by the SRC Exec team and we were treated to a very special performance of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda by room 7, led by Mr. Mike and two students playing the guitar. Thank you to our year 3/4 team for organising this for us all.

New Wicking Beds

The ‘La Nature’ green group have been discussing the importance of having a wicking bed for a vegetable garden with the goal of saving water. As one student described it when presenting in the assembly: ‘it’s like having a water reservoir under the garden bed.’ The water is stored in a layer of volcanic rocks (scoria) under the soil. This is constantly topped up with water to ensure that the plants are able to access the water source below them. This cuts down on evaporation, allows plants to ‘wick’ water through the soil to their root systems and produces some excellent yield!  Thanks to Wendy and Fiona for organising the grant money, purchasing the supplies and providing the opportunities for the ‘La Nature’ group. The canteen will benefit as well with fresh herbs for their cooking.

Sports Day

We are currently trying very hard to reschedule, but due to the venue and external organisations involved, we have not managed this so far.  If a date does align, it will be in week 7 and there will be a need for approx 50 volunteers at very short notice. Please check on emails early next week.

M & S Polling

You should have received an email this week regarding Materials & Services fees for 2024.  Please take a few moments to complete the poll before 22/11/23.

2024 Calendars – limited time to order

Exciting News! 🎉 Announcing the final fundraiser of the year: The Highgate Calendar Fundraiser, locally designed and made by a Highgate mum! 📆 Keep track of school activities, note cherished memories, and support local, all while giving back to our school. Find details on how to get your hands on these special calendars in the attached flyer. Let’s make every day count! 📚💙
Explore the calendars in more detail here:
http://bit.ly/3udr8Dw

Order on QkR under FUNDRAISING

Calendar Flyer

School Card

The 2023 School Card scheme is available for Low-income families who attend government school can get financial help with school fees – materials and services charges – through the School Card scheme.

School Card is available to families with children aged 4 and over who attend a school full-time.

Applications close: 24^th November 2023

For more information and this years income limits please use the following link: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme#title1

School Calendar

Check out our school calendar for upcoming events and assemblies.
Highgate Calendar

Highgate School Band

We are playing at the La Guinguette, on Saturday 2/12/23 at 12:30pm. This event is organised by the Alliance Francais at the Unley Village Green. We hope to see you there.

P & F Movie Night – Sunday 10/12/23 at 2pm

Movie night information flyer

$15 per ticket – available in QkR under EVENTS

EOY CONCERT

Please be aware that food box pre-orders will be open later next week.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Concert

Hamper of Hope donations welcome

This Christmas, The Salvation Army is preparing hampers of non-perishable food items to bring cheer to people in need. To support this worthy cause, we will have Hamper of Hope bags in the library and are asking for students/parents to bring any donations to the library to place in the Hamper of Hope bags before the end of the term. See below for the list of suggested items for donation:

Tinned food (ring-pull cans only) – fruits in juice, vegetables (eg peas, corn), legumes (eg lentils, chickpeas), soups, meat or fish, meals (baked beans, spaghetti).

Sweets and treats – custard powder, tinned plum pudding, shortbread, packets of jelly, chocolate and lollies, pancake mix, cake mixes, sweet biscuits, potato chips, popcorn.

Meal bases – dry pasta, rice, noodles, cooking oil, stir-fry/curry/pasta sauces, meal kits

Breakfast foods – cereal, spreads, savoury biscuits, sugar, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, long life milk or juice, iced tea.

Please make sure the expiry dates are not too soon. Thank you in advance for any donations you are able to make.

Term 4 Assemblies

24/11 9am  Rooms 21,25,27 – Year 1s Communicators NOTE CHANGE OF DATE DUE TO SPORTS DAY

1/12 9am Year 3-6 – Specialists Balanced

8/12 9am Year 2 Balanced

15/12 9:15am Leaver’s Assembly – students dismissed at 2.15pm

New Library Management System and Term 4 borrowing

As we continue to develop our library to support students’ recreational and research based reading, we will be upgrading our library management system at the end of the term. The new system will allow parents and students to search our catalogue online at school and from home, as well as to access electronic books from the same system as our library search engine. In addition, the new system will allow users to access the system in a range of languages, including French, Chinese and several other family languages. There are other great features of the new system which will allow us to better support student learning.

In order to implement this new system, we have set the last day for parents and students to borrow books as Friday 17th November, with all books due back at school by Friday 24th November. We recognise that there will still be three weeks left of school after that, so students will be able to access books in their classrooms until the end of the term, as well as in the library itself. The new system will be installed during the week ending December 1st. Next year, we will ensure that students are provided with training on how to use the new system and will similarly provide training for parents to access it from home and in the library.

Tips for transitioning to a new classroom or school

Children who have a positive start in their new class are likely to engage well and to experience academic and social success. A positive start is made possible when school and families work together.

A change of class or even school can present opportunities as well as challenges for our children and we know that with supportive adults, the challenges can be effectively managed. We all have a part to play in supporting children to manage this process well. We can do this by reminding them of their previous successful transitions both at school and at home.

We can also reassure children that their teacher will support them to be successful and confident through:

• Creating the safe conditions for learning.
• The explicit teaching of routines, roles and expectations in this new environment.
• Activities that support and develop positive relationships and provide strategies for when ‘mean on purpose or friendship fire’ behaviour occurs.
• Collaborative development of class agreement of conduct and grievance procedures.
• Development of class identity and how the group looks when operating at its best (class agreement).
• Sharing of personal character strengths and intentional teaching of strategies to build wellbeing.

We can also remind children that what will be different in the new class at Highgate school will be small in comparison to what will be the same. We can support them to be realistic about the new class and to look for new opportunities. We can challenge their unhelpful thinking by focusing on what is present as opposed to what is absent.

We can encourage a growth mindset by modelling curiosity and wonder in preparing for the new class. Questions such as those below can activate children’s existing problem solving skills and direct their attention towards a positive future:

• What do you already know about other class mates?
• What questions could you ask of your new teacher?

Making a Successful Transition

• What opportunities might there be to share your passion and be at your best?
• What might surprise you?
• What character strengths would be useful in getting to know others?
• What transitions have you already successfully made?
• What questions could you have and who do you need to ask?
• What new friends might you make?
• What opportunities for new learning might there be in this new class?
• How could you bring your best self to day one?
• What would you like others to know about you?

We also know that transition is not a one off or even one week event. We know that all children are capable and competent and can make positive transitions. We work to provide them with the support and scaffolds to develop personal resilience skills that can be called upon when needed. These skills are best taught in the calm times so that when they are in a flurry or stressed, they have a bank of skills to call upon. These include asking questions, practising mindful-ness and recalling prior accomplishments in making positive transitions and so knowing they can do it again.

If children are feeling uncomfortable, we can model the positive belief that the discomfort will be temporary and that they will experience the good feelings that come with learning new names, skills and routines and making a successful transition.

The International Baccalaureate (IB), Australian and French Curricula at Highgate School

A commonly asked question about the IB, Primary Years Program (PYP) is around the relationship between the PYP and curriculum. At our school, this includes both the Australian and French Curricula. Because there are a range of different types of schools using the PYP framework, there is no universal graphic to illustrate this relationship. I have created one to try to explain how it works at Highgate School.

You can see from the attached graphic that we are using the Australian and French Curricula as the basis for our teaching. The three pillars represent the International Baccalaureate, Primary Years Program (IB, PYP) framework. This is how we deliver the curriculum, with a view to our students’ completing their primary school education at Highgate matching the vision statement at the top of the graphic.

PYP AC FC graphic

PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program) Parent Sessions

Thank you to the parents who came along to the Unit of inquiry experience sessions earlier this term. In preparation for your child’s Student Learning Journey book being sent home at the end of the year, the remaining parent information sessions will focus on how to interpret and use these records of your child’s learning.

Please remember to book in for the remaining parent sessions via the Eventbrite link sent via Edsmart. The sessions will be as follows:

Getting the most out of your child’s Student Learning Journey:

Wednesday 6th December from 8:30-9:15am or 3pm until 4pm

Further information

We have lots of information about learning at Highgate on our website. Select the main menu button and then Learning.

Boukili

Check out this new app offering free books in French https://app.boukili.ca

Free online games to practise French

Give it a try: https://jeux.ieducatif.fr/

Support the establishment of a bilingual school in WA

Learn more about the project https://fabpsa.au/

Support the project https://fabpsa.au/supporting-us

Did you know that our Mission and Vision for the French Bilingual/Binational program is on our website, along with answers to FAQs. Visit our website, Main Menu, Learning and then French.

Highgate Snack Shack (Canteen) News

Can you help?  The Snack Shack is looking for volunteers, especially for our special days.  If you can help, please contact the front office.

Do you have ideas for our menu or special days?  We would love to hear from you.  Currently we have a special Sushi Day and Ice Cream day each term, but we are looking for other creative ideas for both our specials and our everyday menu.  If you have ideas you would like to share, please complete this form.

Did you know we are now making our own pizza in the Snack Shack?  We use “light” cheese and ham to make sure they fit with the Right Bite strategy.

Spare Clothes

We have had an increase in students requiring a change of clothes recently. Although we do have an emergency supply in the Front Office we are running low on certain items. If your child has borrowed clothes to change into we ask that you please wash and return these items to the Front Office. Additionally, please check that your child has extra clothes packed in their school bag for any accidents that may occur during the school day, especially during the wet weather.

Sport Registrations will open for Cricket soon.

A heads up that Term 1 2024 & Term 4 2024 Summer sports registrations will open in Week 7 on Qkr for Cricket (Year 2-6).

The cricket season runs oddly in that it is Term 1 & 4 of a school year.

Any questions,  please direct to Ben.Beazley939@schools.sa.edu.au

External providers are external businesses who run programs/clinics/lessons for students at Highgate School. Other providers are included for your information, but parents should give due consideration to the programs as they are not endorsed by the school.

If you wish your child(ren) to be a part of any of the below programs, please contact them directly.

School of Languages

The School of languages is currently offering 2024 enrolments.  Please see the flyer for more information.

SoL

Appleton Sports School Holiday Cricket Academy

Appleton Sports School Holiday Cricket Academy

Code Camp

Kelly Sports Term 4 2023

Kelly Sports T4 2023

Foundation Tennis October Holiday Clinics

Foundation Tennis Highgate afterschool program term 4 2023

Holiday Swim

Holiday Swim is a Royal Life Saving Society South Australia initiative bringing affordable and educational swimming and water safety lessons to pools and inland waterway locations across Metro and Regional South Australia since the 1950’s. The aim of the program is to teach children critical life saving skills and basic swimming skills, to equip them with the knowledge to stay safe in, on and around the water.

The aim of keeping the program affordable, is to reach families and communities that might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons, and as we approach the busy Summer months now is the time to equip them with the knowledge to save a life.

The program will be returning in December 2023 and January 2024 with the newly adapted Royal Life Saving Swim & Survive program.

Royal Life Saving also offer pathways into the aquatic industry with their ICONIC Bronze Awards. The Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross , Award of Merit and Distinction levels are designed for those wanting to further their knowledge and skill set, before moving into the aquatic industry as Lifeguards and Swim Teachers within the local communities.

Piano lessons – Chloe Grossman

Fullarton Scouts

If you are a boy or girl aged 6 to 18, come and try Scouts at the Fullarton Scout Group. We are currently recruiting in all age sections, and you and your family are invited to come to our hall at 1A Culross Ave, Myrtle Bank to have a look.

Our Joeys meet Wed at 6.15 to 7.15, Cubs Thurs 7.00 to 8.30, and Scouts Fri 7.00 to 9.00 during school terms.

It costs nothing to come and try, so give it a go!

For more details contact James Gardiner 0488507686 or gl.fullarton@sa.scouts.com.au

French Australian Chamber of Commerce (FACCI) event at the Club de Petanque d’Adelaide

7th Dec 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Registration ⇽ SA | Christmas Tchin Tchin at Le Club de Pétanque | French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Glue Up

Alliance Française

La guinguette

Save the date: Saturday 2 December
Village Green Unley

Alliance Francaise Adelaide – La Guinguette (af.org.au)

Le club de petanque d’Adelaide

Children’s Art Classes

Fullarton PCC

Sturt Academy Flyer

https://highgates.sa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sturt-Academy-Flyer-pdf.pdf

University of Adelaide – Fun and interactive workshop

No prior knowledge of French required

For more information, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/annual-french-workshop-tickets-518272395687?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please visit our website at Highgate School for calendar dates and further information about our school.

Our Front Office team are always happy to help with questions and can be contacted on 08 82719622.

Website Sign Up Option

We are now offering parents/caregivers and community members the opportunity to sign up to our newsletter through our school website
https://highgates.sa.edu.au/ – at the bottom of the landing page there is a subscription link.

The subscription mechanism is powered through Mail Chimp. Visit their website https://mailchimp.com/ to view their privacy policies.

When a new Highgate Happenings post is created on the school website, a subscriber will receive an email with a link to the new post.

If you do not wish to subscribe, you can view the new posts by visiting the school website https://highgates.sa.edu.au/ and scrolling down to the bottom of that page, or view the newsletter page directly here https://highgates.sa.edu.au/connect/news/

Please be aware that when you first subscribe, you will receive all HH so far.  After this, you will only receive the new ones.

We will continue to send out Edsmart messages each week with the link to HH.