NEWSLETTER

Principal – Kirsty Trahar

Chairperson Governing Council – Dan Dowdell
57 North Terrace, Mount Gambier. SA 5290
Telephone 08 8724 9811 Fax 08 8725 0254
Email – dl.1021_info@schools.sa.edu.au
www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au
Issue No 14, 27/08/2020 - Week 6, Term 3
GENEROSITY - RESPECT - HONESTY - LEARNING AND GROWING TOGETHER

COMING EVENTS
WEEK 7 WEEK 8 WEEK 9
07/09 to 09/09 SAPSASA netball &
football

BOOK WEEK

Book Week will be held week 2, term 4 (19 to 22 October). The exciting theme is ‘Curious creatures, Wild minds’.
We will have a Book Week parade on Wednesday, 21 October. At this point in time it will be virtual but students will
still dress up.
So, think about science, incredible people, people who challenge boundaries (mountain climbing etc), curious
occupations and fantastical creatures. Sloths, deep sea creatures, panda ants, yeti crabs, dodo birds, sea pens
and more.
Google unique animals for inspiration and look at our Premier’s Reading Challenge window. It is covered in curious
creatures! Adding wild hair or curious shoes can also be options.
We ask that faces are left uncovered (no masks or head coverings). Activities will be held in the resource centre
during the week to celebrate the fabulous range of shortlisted books. More details to come later!

NATIONAL RECOGNITION WEEK

School Services Officers & Support Staff
Week six is AEU SA Support Staff Week for School Services Officers. The AEU is the union representing school services.
At McDonald Park School we are very fortunate to have a terrific team of support staff helping to care for and
educate your children and run our school. We’d be lost without them. In recognition of their efforts our school
shouted them a coffee and presented awards. Most parents will have met some of the support staff including:
Samantha Blackall, Jan Boyanton, Michelle Clark, Samantha Clarke,
Courtney de Vos, Anna Doll, Kristy Drage, Shiloh Fennell, Elaine Hart,
Robyn Howard, Jill Lewis, Shane Lewis, Bernie Manser,
Julie McKinnon, Clinton Meyer, Sue Moelder, Connie Nieto, Katherine
Schofield, Sonya Shepherd, Michael Stojanovich, Evelyn Stratman,
Leigh Symons, Nicole Thompson, Linda Ward and Bronwyn Waters.

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.
 COVID-19
Thank you to all parents who have been abiding by
social distancing guidelines.
We respectfully request that the number of adults on
school grounds is minimised. We notice numbers of
adults on site have increased.
Please drop off and collect at the gate.
Use alternative methods of communicating with the
class teacher (not face to face).
Avoid congregating on school grounds.
Thank you in anticipation of these government requests
being followed by our community.
2021 ENROLMENTS
During term four we will begin the process of setting up
classes for the following year. It is essential that we know
as soon as possible of any changes in future enrolments.
If you know any new children who will be starting at
McDonald Park School in 2021 or of families leaving
McDonald Park School would you please contact us as
soon as possible? The allocation of teachers and
number of classes at each year level is dependent on
accurate information so we appreciate your support in
notifying any changes to the front office.
TRANSITION
Transition processes are underway for both secondary
and preschool students. Sites have already been in
contact to pass on information and begin planning to
cater for needs of individuals.
Teachers from McPark will visit the kindergartens to meet
children and being to get to know the children. Activities
have been planned to familiarize children with school
and visits have already occurred.
McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.
GUIDELINES FOR
CLASS PLACEMENT
 Class composition is based on expected numbers for
each year level and where possible to provide
flexibility to allow for the placement of new
enrolments.
 This school appreciates that sometimes, because of
special circumstances, parents should have input
into the class selection for their child.
 Whether a student remains with a teacher for more
than one year is at the discretion of the school.
 Students need to be distributed evenly across
classes within the school in accordance with
Department for Education guidelines.
 At the end of third term, a note will be placed in the
newsletter advising parents that the process is about
to begin and requesting that parents put information
in writing regarding their child’s needs. All requests to
be submitted by Friday, week one of term four. This
information needs to be completed annually,
requests will not be carried over for future years.
 Requests must be child focused and on the basis of
a welfare issue - medical or social / emotional need.
 Recommendations from pre-school teachers will be
taken into consideration when allocating
foundation students.
 Late submissions will only be considered in
exceptional circumstances.
 Prior to class selection, students will be given the
opportunity to list the names of five preferred
learning partners, to be acknowledged by parents.
 While all requests will be considered, allocation of
students to classes will ultimately be at the discretion
of staff.
 The process takes six to seven weeks to complete
and is completed as part of the staff meeting
schedule.
Next term we will begin organizing classes for 2021. If
parents believe they have information, which will help
with their child’s placement, please put this information
in a letter addressed to the principal, marked
‘confidential’ by the end of week one of next term. We
cannot promise that we will be able to meet every
request; however, the information will be taken into
consideration.
MCPARK ON FACEBOOK
McPark has a page on Facebook.
Search for McDonald Park School and
‘like’ our page to keep up to date with
what’s happening. We will post
information for parents and caregivers
on a regular basis.
Our newsletter can be accessed online at
http://www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au/whats_happening.htm
 VISION AWARDS VISION AWARDS
TERM 3, WEEK 4 TERM 3, WEEK 4
Our awards are centred on our school vision. Students will
be recognised for their collaboration, respect, PROBLEM SOLVING
engagement, problem solving or progress (thriving).
Presented to By For
McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively Tyler C Mrs Cooper & For being a problem solver
Mr Castle when working in his group to
to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem
construct paper towers.
solvers.
Chelcy K Mrs Cooper & For being a problem solver
Mr Castle when working in her group to
COLLABORATION construct paper towers
Presented to By For Seth M Mrs Spencer, For showing that he can
Maya H Ms Mitchell & Contributing well to the school Ms Bundy & problem solve and calmly find
Mr Long Miss Treacey an alternative way to do his
community at a class level
and with her lead learner role. learning.
Harper C Mrs McCracken Posing solutions to a range of
RESPECT & Mrs Fox school problems such as
rubbish and the toilet
Presented to By For cleanliness
Fletcher dV Mrs Pitkin & Making great choices for his Zachariah T Mrs Wilson & Zachariah has shown strength
Mrs Fox learning and always showing Mrs Fox in solving problems in his
respect to teachers and learning; remaining calm and
peers. optimistic.

THRIVING
Presented to By For COMMUNITY NEWS
Eden L Mrs Bisnov Independently writing a
persuasive text using the
appropriate structure and
language features.
Lucy H Mrs Bisnov Representing mixed numbers
with units of ones and tenths
as a fraction and decimal.
Mikaela F Ms Huitema & Writing a very detailed
Miss Horrigan description of her Aboriginal
symbol painting.
Harry L Mr Bigg Working well in science to
collect materials that
Aboriginals might have used
to make tools.
Millie P Mrs Spencer, Showing growth in her writing
Ms Bundy & and using descriptive
Miss Treacey language in her book making.
Tessie L Mrs Wilson & Demonstrating her personal
Mrs Fox best in all regards, gaining
resilience in friendships and a
strong work ethic. Well done
Tessie!

ENGAGEMENT
Presented to By For
Aaliyah P Ms Mitchell & Consistently involving herself in
Mr Long learning activities and
producing work to a high
standard.
Alexis B Mrs Dew Her enthusiasm for our news
topic, ‘talk about a flag.’
Alexis chose the flag of the
Philippines.
Phoenix F Mrs Dew For designing his own
Australian flag.
Gemma M Ms Huitema & Working hard on her reading
Miss Horrigan and learning her common
sight words.
Arabella SW Mr Bigg Engaging well in maths lessons
to solve problems and asking
for help when she needs it.
Lylah B Mrs Pitkin & Always displaying a willingness
Mrs Fox to participate in all learning
opportunities with a positive
attitude.
Bruce N Mrs McCracken Working hard on writing
& Mrs Fox sentences in his bookmaking.

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.
 RESOURCE CENTRE

Room 12 have been delving

into Australia’s Gold Rush with
Mrs Harding in resource based
learning this term. We are
exploring how significant past
events have shaped the
Australia we know today. Last
week we went prospecting in
our Stephanie Alexander
Kitchen Garden creek. Eureka!
We struck gold!

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.
 RESOURCE CENTRE
In resourced based learning this year the year threes from rooms T1, T5 and
T6 have been learning about the history of the forestry industry. On Monday
we went on an excursion to the Nangwarry Forestry Museum to consolidate
our learning. The museum has lots of tools and equipment that was used in
the forestry industry. They had lots of chainsaws and other tools used for
cutting down trees like saws and axes. They had more modern machines
like bulldozers, cranes and trucks. The oldest piece of machinery was a
Jinker made entirely of wood - even the wheels! The museum also had a
lot of information about fires. Being able to keep the forests safe from fires
was very important. We got to climb up a fire tower that used to be located
on the top of the water tower in Nangwarry. The museum was very
interesting and provided us with a lot of information to use in our learning
for the rest of the term.

If you would like to visit the Nangwarry Forestry Museum with your family it is open at any time, you just need to call the
contact number.

Entry includes a complementary tea and coffee.

Adults: $5.00
Children (under 15 years): $2.50
Children (under 5 years): free

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.
 SCHOOL UNIFORM ORDERS

McDonald Park School community will work collaboratively to develop respectful, thriving and engaged problem solvers.