Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

I would like to thank all parents and carers who took the time to attend parent teacher conferences last week to discuss student learning. In a first for our school, the secondary sector hosted an exhibition of learning on Monday. Our staff and students engaged parents in the academic and hands on learning opportunities at our school.

Our Year 7-9 students entered Campbell Town’s first ever team in the Kids’ Cancer Project ‘Write a Book in Day’ I have previously worked with a number of teams in other schools and our students were simply outstanding. They extended their skills in creative writing and illustration and displayed exceptional maturity in their team oriented approach to constructing their book. The students worked for eleven hours straight. The resilience, patience, respect and determination they displayed typified the Campbell Town spirit. A big thanks to all staff, students and families who supported this aspirational learning opportunity.

We continue to implement, our system reading priority in a highly co-ordinated manner across the school. We are absolutely determined that no student be left behind and that every student be given the opportunity to grow, extend and thrive. Our secondary sector will be introducing an intervention program called MacqLit in Term 4. This program is evidence based and one of two programs endorsed by DECYP as a learning intervention for reading. We have identified students who we believe could benefit from this program and will be providing information to families early next term.

We are currently undertaking a review of the way in which our students leave the school grounds, catch buses and cross the road at the end of the day. We are identifying opportunities to increase student safety and to make supervision by duty staff easier and more effective. We will be communicating a plan about this early next term.

Two of our staff go on maternity leave at the end of this week. We wish all the best to Lyrae Rattray and Georgie Curtin. Lyrae and Georgie are exceptional educators who bring commitment, knowledge and care to their work for our students. They also share a keen sense of fun and lift those around them with their cheery optimism and kindness. We look forward to welcoming both back to our staff in 2025 and having them visit with their new arrivals in the meantime.

We had two teams represent us this week in the Merino Wether Challenge attended by regional schools from across the state. There were a small number of awards presented and our teams took out two second places in the awards. We were proud to be the only school represented by a team of primary school students – who took out one of the two awards we received. Another outstanding hands on learning opportunity led by Jill Bennett and a committed team of staff.

Wishing all of our students and families a safe and happy holiday.

Kind regards

Mike

On Thursday 21 September a group of 12 students came together from Grade 7/8 and Grade 9 to represent Campbell Town District High in the Write a Book in a Day Competition. The challenge aims to develop collaboration, creativity and time management skills. Giving students from all around Australia the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of kids with cancer. Starting at 8.00am and ending at 6:45pm the day was full of ideas, creativity and compromise. Our student group came together at the local Banjo's Bakery meeting room to write a romance book about a butcher and a busker and her young brother Max who brought the two together in a story we call ‘Sailing Away’. The book takes place in Geelong were a 24-year-old Ruby and 26-year-old Dembe realise their undying love for each other through jealousy, longing, a potential drowning, overstepping family and hopeful love. Will they find happiness in each other?

By Eden

On Wednesday 27 September students from our Secondary Agriculture and Grade 5/6 classes competed against students and sheep from 13 other schools across our state in the Schools Wether Challenge. Our wethers have been wonderfully cared for by students right across our school including Year 11/12 students. Our sheep have been prepared ready to put their best hoof forward in the competition. The sheep were judged on their body composition, presentation and wool quality with each sheep getting shorn. A few weeks ago, our students had Evelyn Archer visit to discuss the finer points of wool qualities and attributes. It was such an engaging and informative session. We placed 2nd in the body composition and presentation, an outstanding effort indeed! A huge thanks to Jill Bennett for her commitment, expertise and guidance in preparing the wethers for the competition.

Meg Barber

Teacher

Last week our Secondary Sector held a Celebration of Learning Afternoon, coinciding with Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences. The afternoon was a huge success with numerous displays of the outstanding work undertaken by students in all subject areas, including Foods, 3D printing, all Core subjects, Photography, Agriculture, eSports and Film Studies. We had a record number of parents attend over the week. The highlight of the afternoon had to be the hot savouries, scones and student made rhubarb jam and cream.

By Elvie and Ava

As a part of our learning about body systems in Year 9 Science, students dissected pig hearts. This provided an excellent opportunity to further understand how this organ works, which way the blood is moved through the heart and what each component of the heart looks and feels like. Students were highly engaged and enjoyed exploring the features of the heart. Students also had the opportunity to dissect a pluck and were able to compare the lightness of the lungs with the heart, liver and other organs.

Meg Barber

Teacher

On the 25th of September the Grade 10’s visited Symmons Plains to participate in the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program. On the day we visited six different workshops that looked at various aspects on staying safe on the roads. The highlights of the day included going to the pit lanes to watch a visual demonstration of stopping distances and listening to the experiences of someone who suffered an acquired brain injury in a car accident. Thanks to the Rotary Club who volunteered their time. We really learnt a great deal.

By Jackson

In Project Implementation we have been serving various classes of the school on Mondays. We have made a mix of meals, with examples such as mexican mince with rice and yoghurt as a dessert, pasta bolognese with steamed vegetables, butter chicken and chicken & vegetable curries. We have really enjoyed this experience and the changes that have occurred during the year. We have far less waste now, as students become more adventurous and try new foods. This school community service has allowed us to be assessed against a TASC course and gain points towards our TCE.

By Madison, Daniel and Elijah

START TO TALK ABOUT CHILD SAFE SPORT

Parents, carers and sport organisations are being encouraged to talk about how they can create child safe environments through the Start to Talk national child safe sport awareness campaign.

The campaign was developed by Play by the Rules in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Reponses to Child Sexual Abuse which identified sport clubs as having an important role to play in the prevention and detection of abuse.

Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.

Visit the campaign website for information and resources for sporting clubs and parents, for example,
A Parents/Carers Guide to Selecting a Safe Sporting Club.

E-SAFETY RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

As parents and carers, you play an important role in protecting your child from harm in the digital world.

Thankfully, there are many resources available to support your child to safely navigate this world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences.

Online resources include advice sheets, home learning and family activities, webinars and videos to help you talk with your children about online safety.

Here are just two recommended eSafety resources for further information and support: