Leadership Report

Life at Magill School is always busy but the last few weeks have felt like someone has hit the fast forward button!!!

We've been busily preparing for building works by moving all the classes out of the Penfold open space unit. All Reception and Year 1 classes have now moved into their new classrooms. The students and teachers have done an amazing job in moving without a fuss and there has been minimal disruption to the learning program. I want to thank the teachers that moved for their hard work in preparing for the move. They gave up much of their spare time, including weekends, to meet the short timeline.  

All teachers and children have been preparing for the move and many of our primary students have assisted and welcomed their new buddies to the unfamiliar surrounds of the Murray and Ferguson buildings. It is wonderful to see our older students look out for the younger ones. 

Here's a few 3D drawings to remind you of what the new building will look like. 

Thank you to all the parents who came along to the mathematics parent workshop this morning. Attended by 38 parents, OSHC was a buzz as Helen Booth from the Mathematics Association of SA presented current research and best practice in mathematics education. Children joined their parents to engage in maths game play and demonstrate the skills that they're putting into practice in the classroom. Further information can be found on the Numeracy page.

The Year 4 and Year 5 students recently went on camp. We spoke to them not long after returning and here is a summary of their recollections.

Abi, Eliza, Henry and Imad from F3 eagerly shared their impressions of the Year 5 camp. They particularly enjoyed the food, activities and the dorm, stating that the boys’ dorm was very luxurious. Archery was a highlight for many students, and the raft building in the indoor heated pool was also exciting. The stand out activity of the three days was the Flying Fox, a 300 metre zip line, travelling at 40 km/hour over very muddy terrain. 

The crate stacking challenge required team work and persistence, and the evening activities – Quiz and Movie Nights, provided great opportunities to relax and extend friendship connections.

When asked about their Year 4 camp experience Ava, Aidan, Inesh and Olive in F8 had lots to talk about. Their eyes lit up when recounting their experiences with the Tube Slide, outdoor Lazer Skirmishing, learning about survivor tactics, playing disk golf and the challenge of the Labyrith. Again the food was a highlight with delicious toast, pancakes, sausage sizzle, steak and salad. There was lots of enthusiasm when describing the old manor, which looked like a haunted house and felt like they were going back in time. ‘The beauty took away the scariness’, said Ava.

The students acknowledged that camps are a great experience and an opportunity to develop their growing independence. They enjoyed the opportunity to explore the outdoors, build their knowledge in different areas, and really expand their social skills and develop wider friendship networks.

Students expressed their thanks to the teachers, parent helpers and camp educators. They recognised that without their commitment, careful planning and enthusiastic participation, this experience would not have been possible.

Lastly, winter is officially over  and  spring is upon us,  even though it is still very chilly, we look forward to the days slowly warming up over the coming weeks. Spring also means that SunSmart hats need to be worn every day at playtime and when outdoors for extended periods of time. Please make sure your child has a clearly labeled SunSmart school hat at school every day. 

Don't forget that next Friday 9th September is a school closure day for the Royal Adelaide Show. It has been a few years since the last show and I know that there is much excitement about its return. 

We look forward to the next few weeks with Sports Day on the 21st September where we plan to welcome parents back in some capacity. More information about that will come in the next week or so. This will be followed by the Festival of Music performance on the 22nd September.

Kind regards,

John Iannunzio

Principal