PRINCIPAL ANNOUNCEMENT

I am pleased to share the attached letter from Sandy Richardson (Education Director), announcing my re-appointment at Highgate for the next 5 years.  I look forward to working with our staff, students and community to continue our journey of innovation and improvement (as well as finishing the oval!)    Letter Highgate School Community

SCIENCE WEEK

This week was Science Week around Australia. The theme this year, was Innovation for future business. With that in mind, we celebrated the success of our Oliphant Science Award entrants on Tuesday. Students confidently presented their projects to parents and their peers, explaining their work in great detail. Congratulations to our 2 winners this year: Clara Stutterheim (R-2) and Mikhil Jayasundera (3-4). In addition, Claire Wells, Noah Herdem and Patrick Cook (R-2) were highly commended, along with Adelaide Donovan-Lawlor, Macy Lines and Charlotte Tessier (3-4). Well done to ALL of the Highgate School Oliphant Science awards participants and thank you to the parents who supported our young scientists.

During the week, buddy classes set to work to design a chair for a teacher of their choice. These designs were based on teacher profiles and by all accounts, were highly innovative and specifically tailored to meet teachers’ requirements, including features like a treadmill for the teacher and her pet dogs, an Adelaide crows colour palette and various types of storage to accommodate teachers’ hobbies. Innovation opportunities continued at lunch times, with a paper plane challenge. Students used their research skills to find ways to innovate their paper planes and practised throwing techniques to increase the distance their planes could fly. We were impressed with their persistence and the distances their planes were able to reach! In addition, students enjoyed hearing stories from the Space Station and working on their creative thinking skills throughout the week.

Oval Update

A date at last……project is due to commence on 31/10/23 and scheduled to be finished before the end of the holidays.

R-3 Play Equipment

The remaining play equipment will be installed at the beginning of September.

School Calendar

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

Term 3 Assemblies

25/8 Whole School – Book Week

15/9 Rooms 22,23,26 (Early Years) Principled

22/9 Rooms 4 & 18 (Primary) Principled

29/9 Whole School

Book Week  – Parade next FRIDAY

This year, the theme for Book Week is “Read. Grow. Inspire.” As a result, we are working hard to inspire students to be authors and contribute a piece of writing to our Highgate Authors’ Headquarters. Many students have already completed their pieces of writing in class and some have asked if they can write more at home to add to the space. They certainly can if they want to. We will check contributions to make sure they are appropriate for all students to read. This will be in the Glass Room in the library during Book Week. Students can visit that space during lunch and library times to read each other’s texts. Parents are welcome to visit as well before (8:30-8:55) or after school (3:15-3:30) that week.

Thanks to our Year 5 Library Leaders, various reading and book-related activities will be available during the week for students to engage with. Our Library Leaders have been busy surveying students to find out their favourite books, so there will be something for everyone! Start thinking about a character costume for the Book Character Parade during assembly on Friday, 25^th August. Home made creations are VERY welcome. Please do not include weapons such as toy swords or guns in your child’s costume. If your child is likely to be uncomfortable in the costume all day long, please make sure they can independently arrive at an alternative for after the parade.

Get to know our staff team………..

Nicola grew up in the UK (East London, Essex & Suffolk) and migrated to SA in 2005, after a teaching exchange in 2003. She loves gardening and DIY.  Nicola has three grown up children, a granddaughter (soon to be joined by a baby brother) and a husband who is very good at putting up with her late nights at work. Nicola plays the accordion and can still turn a cartwheel!

Sarah grew up in country SA and was very sad when she had to go to boarding school and leave her horse behind. Sarah is thoroughly enjoying her time at Highgate. She loves travel & food and spending time with lots of friends.

Genevieve grew up in Quebec. learning English at school as well as some Spanish & German. She migrated to SA for love in 2002.  Genevieve is passionate about bilingual education and ballet (apparently still able to dance ‘on pointe’ whilst expecting Elise!)

Reports and Student Learning Journeys at Highgate School

This week, students’ reports and Learning Journeys were sent home for parents. Highgate School written reports include achievement and engagement grades for all subjects. They also include written comments from classroom teachers about English, Mathematics and a general comment based on students’ learning disposition and the attributes of their learner profile. In addition, students in the bilingual French program, receive comments on their French abilities.

At Highgate School, we also compile Student Learning Journeys, which provide a record of students’ progress through our program of inquiry each term. Because our program of inquiry is “transdisciplinary”, these Learning Journeys are a record of learning in several different subjects. This includes Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Health, Art, Technology, Chinese, Performing Arts, PE, English, Mathematics over the course of the school year.

Teachers provide written feedback on specific items of students’ work in Students’ Learning Journeys, so as to provide the context for these comments. Teachers do not comment on this work again in the written reports. Students include a piece of work from each specialist teacher each semester. Thus, the learning journey and written report constitute a complete package of reporting when combined with Parent/Teacher interviews.

IB Happenings: Assessment and reporting

The IB and Primary Years Program has a strong focus on assessment and reporting. The fundamental philosophy of assessment in PYP schools is that assessment should be designed to inform teaching and further learning and that students can become competent learners with the skills to learn in a self-directed manner throughout their lives. This means that assessment of student understanding focuses mostly on identifying specific strengths and areas for further learning and that students are active participants in the assessment and reporting processes of the school. Our reporting system is designed to reflect this by:

• informing parents in detail about students’ learning,
• including students’ voice through reflections and student chosen work,
• providing work samples for students to share with their parents,
• providing parents with opportunities to contribute to students’ learning,
• avoiding doubling up on information in different formats

The reporting system includes the following formats:

Verbal conferencing: Opportunities for parents and students to meet with classroom teachers exist all year, by appointment, as well as specific interview times in Term 1 and Term 3. These are opportunities for teachers and parents to establish positive relationships and discuss student progress and learning goals. It enables parents, teachers and students to work together to support students to grow and learn.

Student Learning Journeys: Each student has a Student Learning Journey book or folder, which includes assessment tasks completed by students each term. Most items in the Learning Journey are based on the Transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry, which address Australian Curriculum outcomes from more than 1 subject area. Teachers include single point rubrics and brief explanations of the goals of the tasks and an indication of how students have performed on the task and what their next steps in learning are. In addition, students are encouraged to make choices about some tasks they want to include in their Learning Journey. Together, these two types of student work provide a detailed record of students’ performance in the context of set tasks. Student Learning Journeys importantly provide a context for parents to have positive conversations with their child about their learning. We ask parents to provide positive feedback on each Term’s work once they have had a conversation with their child about it. The combination of the conversation and feedback ensures that parents are active participants in their child’s learning journey at Highgate School.

Written reports compliment the Learning Journey, by including detailed teachers’ comments about English/French and Mathematics, effort and achievement indicators in all subjects as determined by students’ performance on the outcomes in the Australian Curriculum.

Further information

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

Tips to support your child’s use of French at home

French Homework Club

Every Mondays from 1.05pm until 1.35pm in the Glassroom.  Support is provided in French for all learning areas.

Volunteers needed

If you have completed your volunteer requirements and you have some time to come read with students in FRENCH, please contact Genevieve.  This could mean listening to students read in French or even sharing one of your favourites with a class.

A bit time poor, but would like to share a book?  Organise to video yourself reading and share with Genevieve. Alternatively, come in at school for support with filming.

genevieve.papineau947@schools.sa.edu.au

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

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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.

Message from Violet in Room 7

I have read this article about tree planting and the decrease in trees in the Unley council area. This is sad for our local environment.

The school community that fills out the most surveys can win and I’d love Highgate to win one of the tree vouchers or native plant packs. It would be nice to plant even more trees at our school.

Here is the survey:

https://yoursay.unley.sa.gov.au/trees?fbclid=IwAR3QAvDi3qB5zns7_CL3Reeovu927wGSwP4l-mLLw4C7VIUKpp44s27gdPI

Nova 919 Handball Competition

Lincoln & Michael Meng played each other in the Nova 919 Handball competition, with Lincoln taking the winning spot.

Congratulations to both boys on their achievement.

2024 Enrolments

We are open for 2024 enrolments at all year levels, with some remaining spaces for this year. The department has relaxed restrictions around zoning and we are able to accept out-of-zone enrolments where capacity exists. If you have children at Kindy/Pre-school and intend to enrol them with us, please make sure that you have completed an EOI.

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.

Knockout Round 2 Boys Netball

Highgate hosted this round of boys netball.

Round 2 results:

Highgate 42 vs Ingle Farm 3

Highgate 40 vs Virginia 4

The boys now qualify for State finals day on Monday 28/8 at Priceline Stadium.

Knockout Round 2 Girls Netball

Highgate hosted this round of girls netball.

Round 2 results:

Highgate 34 vs Fulham North 18

Highgate 42 vs West Lakes 20

The girls now qualify for State finals day on Monday 28/8 at Priceline Stadium.

Boys/Girls Basketball Carnival

The boys and girls played at the new Wayville Basketball Stadium on the 9/8.

The boys won 3/5 matches throughout the day; the girls 2/5 matches in the very competitive basketball competition.

Boys:

Highgate 41 vs St Francis de Sales 6

Highgate 23 vs Eastern Fleurieu 25

Highgate 45 vs Magill 8

Highgate 19 vs Paringa Park 23

Highgate 30 vs Flagstaff Hill 18

Girls:

Highgate 23 vs Lockleys North 16

Highgate 2 vs Stella Maris 26

Highgate 18 vs All Saints 7

Highgate 8 vs Concordia 20

Highgate 2 vs Paringa Park 24

Girls Knockout Round 2 Soccer

The girls travelled to Tatachilla Lutheran College to compete in round 2 of knockout soccer on 15/8.

The girls were fabulous in their matches, just falling ever so short of finals day.

Highgate 6 vs Aldgate 0

Highgate 2 vs Port Noarlunga 1

Highgate 3 vs Tatachilla 4

Boys/Girls Table Tennis

On Friday 11/8, Highgate competed in the Primary Schools Table Tennis Championships at Houghton Table Tennis Club.

Entering 3 boys teams and 2 girls teams, the students played many matches over the day.

The girls were able to secure 1st and 3rd position in their classification.

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.

Sturt Basketball Trials

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

Softball

Please direct any questions to Sara Pettet at sara@missfitmovement.com.au or 0410 836 368.

Children’s Art Classes

Fullarton PCC

Sturt Academy Flyer

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

Christmas Pageant Mini Float Competition

Club de Pétanque d’Adélaïde

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.