The end of the term is coming upon us quite quickly it seems after a term of school events and success for our students. Our new teachers, some who are returning as well, have settled in to their positions at the school.

For the time being our construction work at Hawker has come to a close. This has included in the past year:

• Our perimeter and internal fencing
• The new surface and basketball / netball / tennis courts along with expanded quality hardcourt play area
• The DAP toilet project
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The DAP and staff toilets project was completed recently, creating new toilet facilities for our staff and students with disabilities. This includes a toilet for our SWAN students, that can also be used by staff and visitors with specific needs such as the use of a wheelchair. In addition to this, our staff toilets were also replaced and modernised in association with the project.

For a while this term due to multiple versions of illness, attendance has been a challenge. In particular, through early to late March, instances of Gastro illnesses, another virus and also COVID started to work their way through the town and the school. This had an impact on attendance, in particular in the week leading up to our initial Swimming Carnival. This was postponed due to high levels of absence as a result of illness and also due to families keeping students home. During the week leading into March 22^nd the school, on some of these days, had less than 50% attendance. As a result of this staff and students at the school have refocussed on the basics of good hygiene:

• Washing hands at each break
• Using hand sanitiser when necessary
• Using a waterbottle at school
• Reporting when they are feeling unwell

From now on, we are asking parents to equip their students with a waterbottle, labelled with the student’s name that comes to the school with the student each day. In addition to this please keep your students home if they are feeling unwell.

NAPLAN testing was held this term over early March, with students from Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 participating in the online and paper (Year 3 Writing) tests. In all, 11 students took part over a week and a bit. All the online tests proceeded without any connectivity issues, with students completing the tests using an iPad or Laptop and a set of headphones.

After our participation in the Quorn Swimming Carnival earlier in the term our students were able to take part in the Hawker Area School Swimming Carnival on Wednesday March 27^th.  This was after the initial postponement from Friday March 22^nd , due to the impact that illness was having on our attendance. The carnival started at 11am, with a break built into the middle of the day to allow students a bit of fun splash time. Students participated in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke races, along with some relays and novelty events in and out of the pool. The Parents and Friends provided some barbecue nourishment of sausages and bread with onions (if desired), along with some drinks, which were consumed with enthusiasm by students and staff. The day was a big success; a reflection of the organisation and commitment by Hayley Brown, returning this year to teaching in the Health and Physical Education area. Many thanks also to staff, students and parents who helped out on the day.

Students have settled into their classes this term, with access this year to teachers once again in specialised areas. This is really appreciated at small schools such as Hawker. This year we have, returning after a break with parenting, Emily Fels, who is teaching in the Arts area, with the Multipurpose room as her base. Hayley Brown is teaching Health and Physical Education to all three classes and coordinating our sporting involvements for our students. Travis McDonald has returned this year to once again teach in the Design and Technology area to students in Year 3 to 10. We are once again offering Instrumental Music which is being delivered online and face to face by Kate Mawson from Open Access. Valuable support at our end is being provided by our resident musician, Lisa O’Neill. Numbers of music students have progressively increased since the start of the year.

After our Acquaintance Night earlier this term, Parent Student Teacher Conferences will be happening in Week 11, on Tuesday April 9^th and Wednesday April 10^th after being delayed by health and attendance issues. A booking system has been set up through our Session Keeper Portal on Schoolzine. This opens up on Tuesday morning at 9am, with an invite having gone out on this Monday just past, through Schoolzine. Check out the link on the Schoolzine Newsflash or just click on it here https://hawkeras.schoolzineplus.com/Parent Student Teacher Interviews Term 1 2024 to make a booking on one of the nights: Interviews are available in 15 minute timeslots with individual teachers, students are expected to attend as well if possible.

In addition to our Parent Student Teacher Interviews we have also lined up the opportunity for all parents to book a meeting with Mission Australia, who regularly come to Hawker Area School to support families in our community. Apart from supporting families on NDIS plans, Mission Australia’s capacity to support also now can extend beyond this parameter, hence making the opportunity available to book an extra meeting when already at the school. The Mission Australia option can be found on the Session Keeper Portal. They will be available from 2pm on each day. The communication from the Mission Australia Community Engagement Facilitator Rebecca Neilson reads as follows: Representatives from Mission Australia/NDIS will also be coming on these days to address any inquiries you may have regarding NDIS. Topics for discussion encompass NDIS access and eligibility, comprehension and utilisation of your NDIS plan, navigating the portal, effectively managing supports and budgets within your plan, and methods for finding and engaging providers. Additionally, parents and community members have the opportunity to have a chat with the Community Engagement Facilitator to discuss recognised community gaps such as employment opportunities, inclusive sporting activities, and available services. These bookings are open to all parents to consider attending.

A big thankyou to everyone, staff, students and parents who have put in during this term, when our staffing at times has been extremely thin on the ground. I will be on Long Service Leave in the first two weeks of next term, during which time Jan Love once again will be acting Principal.

Mr Daren O'Neill

Principal 

 

Here we are at the end of term 1, 2024!  What a great term I have had in my new role as a Non Instruction Teaching Time provider.  It has been hard for me to relinquish control as a home group teacher but I'm getting over it!  

I am teaching HASS, Science and Design Technology to F-2 and HASS and Science to 3-6.  I think we have all found our groove now and routines are working well.

 

Speaking to the photos I have included in this article, 

 

In F-2 part of our learning in HASS this term has been about Australian houses around 1900 (wood stoves, water cooled fridges, oil lamps, candles, toilets etc...). In Science students have been experimenting with water density, drawing experiment results with labels, learning about mangrove environments and birds with special features depending on what prey they catch.  In Design and Technology students have been learning about simple pneumatics with the spider depending on a Web to scare Miss Muffet.

In Year 3-6 part of our learning for this term has been conducting experiments in Science including setting them up, execution and observations, written explanations, extended vocabulary and precise drawings.

I look forward to continuing in this role next term and hope to inspire all the kiddos in my care to be the best scientists, historians, socially aware humans, designers and engineers they can possible be!  No pressure!  ?

Mrs Amanda Hilder

Foundation - Yr 2 Science & Technology / Yr 3-6 Science & HASS Teacher

SACE Scholarships and STEM Opportunities

Last year, Madison Hately was one of the seventy recipients of STEM Scholarship offered by the state government. This scholarship will support Madison in her studies of SACE Biology, Mathematics, and Chemistry. Recently, Madison attended the University of Adelaide STEM scholarship induction, where she had the opportunity to participate in various STEM workshops and explore the campus through a city and campus tour.

Madison has also joined the STEM Girls Academy at UniSA, allowing her to connect with university lecturers and staff while participating in on and off-campus STEM events throughout the year. These experiences will further enhance her scientific and research skills for her future university studies.

In addition to these achievements, Madison has been selected as a Rural Youth Ambassador for this year. The Rural Youth Ambassador program, a part of the larger Rural Inspire initiative, aims to develop ambassadorial skills and capacity among young people in rural and remote communities. We are proud of Madison's accomplishments and look forward to seeing her grow and thrive in these exciting opportunities.

Science and Mathematics

Our students have been actively engaged in exploring Biological and Chemical Sciences this term. They recently took part in a thrilling "mystery crime" investigation in the lab, using microscopes to identify different types of powders on one of our Snuggles family of sloths, our beloved mascot. Through this hands-on activity, students honed their scientific skills and critical thinking abilities.

In Mathematics, our focus has been on numbers, measurement, and Index Laws. Students have been learning to calculate area and volume for various shapes, with a practical application of these skills in everyday scenarios such as calculating the area of a floor plan.

We are incredibly proud of our students' dedication and achievements this term. As we continue to foster a dynamic learning environment, we look forward to more exciting experiences and successes in the coming months.

Miss Sharon Lam

Mathematics / Science / Research Project Teacher

Design and Technology

Year 3-4  Students have been learning how to mark timber materials using measuring tools and try squares. We have been busy in building a device to hold books straight on a shelf so they would stay vertical.  This involved using hand tools to cut the timber and the disk sander to clean up the edges and shape. Learners used glue hammers and nails to complete the project.  Small boxes were also made for holding chocolate Easter eggs.

Year 5-6 Students have been looking at the design process, investigating an idea, researching pictures on the internet, making models in card board and have started to develop their project cutting out materials, learning how to use portable tools and equipment to cut the timber and shape for projects.

Year 7-9 Students have been busy developing project ideas, developing skills in investigating, designing making and evaluating projects, problem solving while constructing projects.  Students have made models of their project ideas to scale to help understand the size and shape of the final design. Learners have been developing skills in using the thicknesser to change the size of materials and the circular saw to cut materials for projects, small shelf ideas and storage devices.  While others are focusing on developing skills in using the welding equipment to join materials for stools and trolleys.

McDonald, Travis

Design and Technology Teacher

We began the term playing modified games of T-ball in each class, to suit the different ability levels. Then when the weather really heated up we utilized the town gym and began playing table tennis. The year 7-10 class helped to construct the tables, which was a lot harder than we anticipated! There have been lots of arguments and frustrated players but also a lot of skills have been learned and fun has been had. Even the students in the F-2 class who found the sport particularly difficult at first have been able to hit the ball back to their opponent. We have also had a focus on Fundamental Movement Skill based games in the F-2 class which they have really enjoyed.

 The Hawker Swimming Carnival held in week 9 was a huge success. A big thankyou to all the parents who supplied lunch and the students who didn’t want to swim but happily volunteered as timers on the day. We can’t pull off events like this without this support. Heysen came out on top with a score of 135 points and Arkaba made a good comeback with a score of 122 points, after being about 35 points down earlier in the day. Jimmy Morgan and Esme Teague were the boy and girl champions of the day, and Sammy Haywood gets a special mention for participating in every single event! Well done everyone!

Health and Physical Education Teacher - Miss Hayley Brown

Instrumental Music

     This year we are fortunate to be continuing music lessons online with woodwind/brass teacher Kate Mawson from the Open Access College at Marden. There are four continuing students and seven beginning students playing their choice of trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, trombone or flute. I supervise and assist the students during these lessons in the multipurpose room each week.

     Kate has produced a new program this year which sees the continuing students revising skills learnt last year and then progressing to more challenging pieces, as well as providing a comprehensive learning path for the new players. The students are learning the fingering and breathing for their instruments, reading music notation, learning about rhythm and counting and learning to write the notes on the stave. They are working towards completing their “Black Belts” to be Music Ninjas at the end of book one. Book 2 will introduce various TV and Movie themes and songs that the students know, working towards playing together as a school band.

    Twice a term Kate visits in person for lessons and to help with instrument maintenance. We are looking forward to another visit from a group of musicians who are part of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra later in term 2, along with the chance to practise with and perform with the orchestra members.

Keep on practising everyone!!!!!

School Services Officer / Muso - Lisa O’Neill

Our SWAN classes have had a great start to the year. In Term 1 our main focus has been on getting our students back in the swing of our school routines and working on making sure all our lessons and activities have PODD based visuals to help aid us in communicating with each other. This term our DAP toilets were completed and we are all excited for a much easier toileting routine.

Ruby has done well with settling back into the school routine. We have been using more visuals to communicate which has made it a whole lot easier for staff and Ruby with a lot of less frustrated moments. Ruby’s favorite activity has been painting using different colors and also mixing colors to make new colors.

Khloe has particularly loved the sensory play using colored shaving cream and sea creature toys. Khloe has done an amazing job this term in remembering the school routines and has been trying hard to follow the school rules.

Logan had grown so much in the last term in his confidence and resilience with his work activities with only minimal prompting from staff. He enjoys spinning in his bowl seat and flicking through his favorite books.

We can’t wait to see how the rest of this year goes for our SWAN students and to watch them learn and discover all the amazing things they can achieve.

School Services Officer 2 - Anna Oakey

Acting Business Manager 

Howard Yam

Dear Hawker Area School Community,

Over the past couple of months, I have had the pleasure of working with the students and staff at Hawker Area School. Apologies, if I have not already introduced myself.  I have recently arrived from Adelaide and have been honoured to have joined this beautiful community as a Student Services Officer (SSO).

I come to Hawker with a deep passion for education and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. One aspect of my role, that I have been particularly focused on, is working closely with the wonderful students in the Swan Classroom (Logan/Khloe). The Swan Classroom helps provide students with diverse needs a nurturing and tailored learning environment. It is a space where every student is valued for their unique strengths, and where they are supported in reaching their full potential.

As an SSO, my role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, all aimed at ensuring that every student has the support and resources they need to thrive. I understand that every student is unique, and that their needs and challenges may vary. That’s why I am committed to taking the time to get to know each student individually, to understand their strengths, their interests, and their goals. By building strong relationships based on trust and understanding, we can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.

In my short time here, I have already had the privilege of witnessing the incredible dedication of the teachers and staff at Hawker Area School. Their unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of each student is truly inspiring, and I am honoured to be able to support them in any way that I can.

I am incredibly excited to embark on this journey with the Hawker Area School community, and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you better in the days and weeks to come.

Thank you for welcoming me with such open arms during my transition into this role. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can do to support you or your child.

Warm regards,

Samuel Weiner

Student Support Officer

We have had a great start to the program with lots of healthy conversations happening.
There have been some very difficult ones too, with children dealing with grief of loved ones, through death and people moving away.
The Snuggles family of sloths are a great hit with several age groups and helpful with cuddling and active play.

We have had active Breakfast club get togethers, with so many donations already this year.  I’d like to say a big thank you to Foodbank and many local individuals, caregivers, parents and grandparents.
The children have eaten a whopping 10kgs of fruit or veg for recess so far this year.
Looking forward to Easter week and lots of smiley people.
Happy Easter to All!

School Pastoral Care Worker - Mrs Robyn McInnis