Principal Team Report
SunSmart - no hat no play - in Term 4
The Auburn South SunSmart policy takes effect in TERM 4.
Students are required to wear their hats in Term 4 (and Term 1) at all times when playing outside.
Students who do not have a hat at school will be required to remain in shaded areas such as under the peppercorn tree for the duration of all breaks. Please ensure hats are in bags each morning!
Success in Science!
This week's principal report is written by Jo Kretsis and student Gabi Simcox, highlighting the excellent extra-curricula work our students are doing in the area of science.
Our students’ stellar performance in the Science Talent Search competition
Warmest congratulations to the twenty students who will receive awards and certificates for their winning entries into the 2019 Science Talent Search competition.
It was a remarkable collective effort by the students of our school considering they were competing with so many other students across Victoria. From the 20 received entries, 12 students received bursaries, 3 distinctions, 3 merits and 2 acknowledgement certificates. Students will be presented with their awards and certificates in our first assembly for the term that will take place on Monday 14 October. Further information regarding the 28th October Presentation Day ceremony for bursary winners at La Trobe University will be communicated in the near future.
Jo Kretsis
Young ICT Explorers competition
On Saturday the 13th of September Lawson Gallup in 6C and I (Gabrielle Simcox in 6B) went to Deakin University and represented Auburn South Primary School in the Young ICT Explorers Competition, against Victorian finalists in the Year 5-6 division. In all, there were 64 schools represented in the finals in various age groups.
All finalists had a limited time frame to set up and decorate their own booth presenting their project. Our invention was a water aerator called “AQUERATOR.” It is a mobile self sustaining water aerator, designed to prevent major fish kill and blue green algae in water. This was created as a result of identifying a problem specifically in the Murray Darling river system. The robot has three main sensors: a colour sensor to detect the blue green algae, GPS to identify areas where blue-green algae exist and its location if it gets lost or stolen, a dissolved oxygen sensor to detect the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water and last but not least a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the water. All the information gathered is sent back to a master control device, which in our case is an android phone. Our invention would then enable scientists to analyse the data and initiate action to help the river if needed.
After presenting to two judges we participated in a free digital technology class, where we were able to create our own world and learnt further programing skills. Two more sets of judges were interested in Aquerator, which was confusing because we had already been judged and unfortunately we had to leave the technology class early to present our initiative again. Later Lawson and I were asked to be interviewed on camera. Microphones were attached and together we answered questions related to our invention. The head of Google ICT and head of technology at CSIRO were among the judges interested in our invention, which was really cool.
Lawson and I were proud to be awarded 1st Place in Victoria, in the Year 5-6 division for the most innovative ICT invention. In addition, we have now been invited to present at the National Young ICT Explorers Competition in Sydney on 7th of December 2019. We will again be presenting Aquerator to more scientists and will compete against 7 other state finalists from around Australia for the national award.
Gabi Simcox
Production tickets on sale soon!
Tickets will be available for ALL Auburn South families to come and see the Year 5 and Year 6 combined production DAILY EXPRESS.
Seats will be limited, so make sure you get in early to avoid disappointment. This year's musical production will be held at the
Kel Watson Theatre at Forest Hill College and is sure to be a great success.
- Performance 1 - Tuesday evening October 29
- Performance 2 - Wednesday evening October 30
A Geddup message will be sent home soon with the link to the ticketing website.
Stay tuned!
New Kids Unlimited programs on offer THIS term!
Time is running out to enrol your child in a new series of extra-curricular programs on offer this term. Auburn South is working closely with KidsUnlimited to offer a wide spectrum of unique programs across the arts, sports and sciences.
DANCE, BASKETBALL, SENIOR CODING and CHESS will be on offer.
Without a minimum enrolment of 8 students per course we will not be able to offer these great programs in Term 4.
Commemorative Family Path Update
Thank you to all families members and staff that have purchased personalised pavers as part of the school's Commemorative Family Path initiative. I am delighted to inform the community that works on the path will commence late in October.
As part of of this project, the school has applied for a grant via the Depart of Education's 'Inclusive Schools Fund'. If successful, we hope to transform our native garden into a Sensory and Reflective Garden (see plan below). We were encouraged to apply for this grant by our local member, John Kennedy, who has written a letter of support for our application. Thank you to Andrea Clements (our garden specialist) all of the staff, parents and students that contributed content and letters of support for our grant application. We will find out in December if we have been successful and any updates will be shared with the community.
