From the Leadership Team
Dear families,
As we come to the end of another exciting term, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful achievements of our students. It has been a successful term of learning, with our children engaging in rich, meaningful experiences that continue to spark their curiosity and growth. From classroom activities to special events, we have witnessed their creativity, collaboration, and resilience.
This term has also been filled with fantastic community-building events, which have brought us all closer together. Whether it was through sports days, celebrations, or family involvement in school initiatives, we have strengthened our shared sense of belonging. Please enjoy reading through the last newsletter for Term 3 and seeing all of the great learning at Modbury School P-6.
NAPLAN results 2024
We are extremely pleased with our NAPLAN results for our Year 3 and 5 students. These results will inform teachers on how they can further improve their teaching programs and learning opportunities for students.
Phonics Screening Check 2024 results
The phonics screening check (PSC) tells year 1 teachers how their students are progressing in phonics. Phonics is taught from reception. It is the relationship between letters and sounds (alphabetic code) and is vital in learning to read. The alphabetic code contains simple and complex structures using patterns of consonants (C) and vowels (V).
Year 1 students should be able to decode at least 28 of the 40 phonics screening check words correctly. This involves decoding:
- all words with simple structures
- most words with frequent and consistent structures
- some words with complex structures.
This is not a pass or fail mark. It is an indication of the score a student might achieve if their phonics learning is progressing as expected. 98% of our Year 1 students were able to decode at least 28 of the 40 phonics screening check words correctly, which is a great achievement and demonstrates the quality learning program our students are engaging in at Modbury School P-6. Well done to our Year 1 students and their teachers and support staff.
ACER PAT Testing 2024 results
Congratulations to the year 2-6 students for their efforts in the Progressive Achievement Tests (Pat) over the last 2 weeks. The data collected from the Reading and Math tests will inform teachers on how to further improve their teaching programs and learning opportunities for students.
EMS
Early next term, we are migrating to a new Education Management System (EMS), which will replace our current managment system, EDSAS. EMS is a data storage system that all department schools will be using as of 2025.
EdSmart
Early next term, Modbury School P-6 will be using EdSmart to make communication between schools and parents more streamlined, safer and less stressful for you, as part of our migration to EMS. EdSmart is a digital system that replaces all those paper forms we used to send home for you to complete and return. It is an Australian tool trusted by hundreds of schools to improve communication in the school community, and we’re proud to be doing the same.
Best of all, it does all the work. You do not need to download any apps or remember extra passwords, registrations or logins, no extra hassle for you.
Here’s how it works.
Instead of paper forms coming home in your child’s school bag, you will be sent an email notification with a link to click that opens a secure web page version of the form to complete and submit. You can do this on your phone, tablet or computer at your convenience.
All the data you submit in the forms is held in a secure database only accessible to selected school staff. EdSmart will help us better manage any needs in the [School name] community with the extra time saved.
You can learn more about EdSmart at https://edsmart.com/parents
Sports Day
Congratulations to all of our students who participated in Sports Day this year. We were incredibly proud of the effort you showed during the events, the support you gave to your teammates and classmates, and the way you demonstrated our PBL school values of Kindness, Safety, and Resilience throughout the day. You can read more about the day further in the newsletter.
Festival of Music- Choir
On Saturday the 14th of September, our choir students met Mrs. A and Mrs. Slater at the Festival Theatre, where they joined with approximately 300 students from around South Australia to form a combined choir. The students performed to a crowd of nearly 6000 people and did an amazing job representing our school. Well done to all involved in Choir! You can read more about the Festival of Music later in the newsletter.
Play at Lunchtimes (PALs) Mentor Training
Last Thursday Mr. Venter held a training day for our students who had nominated to be PALs mentors for Term 4, and into 2025. Students began the day learning about the program, before trying out each of the games they could be leading as PALs mentors. After lunch, students from Room 7 joined in on the action. Having the younger children join the training session gave our older students an opportunity to apply their newly learned skills in an authentic context. They were able to see how explicit they needed to be in their instructions, and which games needed more support/preparation than others.
Our successful Upper Primary students will be responsible for selecting appropriate games, organising equipment, and supporting our younger children through play. This was the first year that Modbury P-6 has run the PALs program, and it has been incredibly successful in supporting students to build connections with peers, and with students from different cohorts, providing children with opportunities to solve problems, and in encouraging our older children to take on leadership opportunities. We thank our outgoing PALs mentors for a job well done, and look forward to seeing how our new mentors take on the challenge next term.
Premier's Reading Challenge
The 2024 Premiers Reading Challenge has now concluded. Between the start of the year and the 6th of September, students were challenged to read 12 age-appropriate books, and to record the title and author on their Reading Record sheet. For students in Reception - Year 6, the requirement is to read 8 books from the Premier's selection, and 4 free-choice books. Our students have done an excellent job completing the Premier's Reading Challenge this year, with 158 students completing the challenge.
Forms have been submitted to Alanna who is now finalising all of the data. All awards will be handed out during Term 4.
Peace Pole Assembly
Saturday September 21st was the International Day of Peace, and throughout Week 9 our students recognised this global event. Students participated in a 'Class Kindness Challenge', read stories about famous peacemakers throughout history, and made individual commitments to peace.
The week of celebrations culminated in our annual Peace Pole Ceremony, which was hosted by our Student Leaders and class Wakwakurna representatives on Friday September 19th. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the Rotary Club of Adelaide have donated 150 Peace Poles to schools and local organisations, and each year we meet as a school community to reaffirm our commitment to Peace locally and globally, particularly in our relationships with those in our community.
Congratulations to Kristie and Peter
On the 24th of April, after an extremely complicated pregnancy, Kristie Talbot welcomed her first child, a beautiful baby boy named Lincoln into the world weighing 1930g. Lincoln spent 14 weeks in the hospital, growing bigger and stronger every day. He now weighs in at over 6kg and loves to dance, smile, giggle, baths and cuddles, and has been lapping these up at home for 6 weeks now, continuing to grow stronger every day.
Parents and Friends Committee
At Modbury School P-6, our Parents and Friends Committee plays a vital role in creating a vibrant and supportive school community. This wonderful group of volunteers helps organise events, fundraisers, and activities that directly benefit our students and enrich their learning experience. Joining the Parents and Friends committee is a fantastic way to get involved, make new friends, and contribute to our school’s success. We warmly invite all parents and caregivers to consider joining – your time and talents, no matter how big or small, can make a real difference. Please read more about the Parents and Friends later in the newsletter.
Early Educators Day 2024
Early Childhood Educators’ Day is celebrated every year on the first Wednesday of September. This year, it was celebrated on Wednesday, the 4th of September 2024. This day is dedicated to acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of educators in various early learning services across Australia. On this day, we honour educators who significantly influence the shaping of our children’s futures.
The celebration is an initiative by the Australian Childcare Alliance and is celebrated with various activities and events planned by early learning service providers and families. It’s a day marked by joy, gratitude, and an outpouring of appreciation for our dedicated educators. A special shoutout to our Early Educators in our Preschool - Rose and Alanna for their dedication, efforts and care for our preschool children.
Smoking and Vaping near schools
We would like to remind our community that smoking and vaping are prohibited within 10 metres of the entire boundary of any school. This means that smoking/vaping along the footpath outside the school is not allowed.
Under the Tobacco and E-cigarette Products Act 1997, schools are smoke-free and vape-free. This includes early childhood services, education and children’s services facilities within 10 metres of their boundaries to address risks associated with passive tobacco smoking and passive inhalation of e-cigarette aerosol.
Visit Clearing the Air (SA Health) to learn more about new smoke-free and vape-free outdoor area laws.
The Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act 2024 took effect in Australia on 1 July 2024. The law establishes nationally consistent rules on the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of all vapes.
Father's Day
Our students enjoyed visiting the Fathers Day stall and spending their Modbury Dollars. Thank you to Marisa in her support of setting up the stall and also to Bianca for organising all of the Modbury dollars for our students.
Casual Day
Please remember that the last Friday of each term is a casual day. Students are invited to wear casual clothes this Friday for a gold coin donation- this is payable via the QKR! app, and will go towards fundraising for our community garden project.
ThankED
Do you know an amazing staff member who's making a real difference? Every day, those working in public education shape futures by insiring children and young people to reach their full potential.
ThankED gives you the chance to celebrate and thank public educatirs, as well as those people who work in support of them.
You can say thanks at any time, to anyone working in public education who has made a difference to you - visit www.education.sa.gov.au/webforms/thanked
School Security over the school holidays
We have beautiful grounds for our students to enjoy learning, playing and connecting with each other and it is important that we keep our school grounds safe and clean for our students.
If you see any visitors on our school grounds who are not respecting our spaces, please feel free to report them to Police Security on 81169230 or report direct to SAPOL on 131444.
The Leadership Team want to thank our dedicated staff, families, and wider community for your support. Together, we have created an environment where our children thrive.
Enjoy the break, and we look forward to another term of learning and connection.
Warm regards,
Sara, Ali and Sheila.
Leadership Team