Dear Families,

We come to the end of another hectic yet successful term. I am always amazed at the energy throughout our school. From the Governing Councillors, the members of various Committees, the parent volunteers helping in class or on excursions and the dedicated sporting coaches, all of whom are generous with their time. Thank you.
Our teaching staff feel a sense of accomplishment when we review site data and see improvement.

For example the Yard Behaviour data showed a significant decrease in the numbers of students who had hurt or harassed others.

We continue to have a focus on reinforcing positive play behaviour and teaching social skills through the Friendly Schools and Families Program, the Child Protection Curriculum and Program Achieve. Cross age sharing between classes has also been a great way of supporting responsibility and social learning across the school.

We believe that:-
• the Behaviour Code has been more consistently implemented.
• strategies to encourage more active play through taking groups to the park at lunchtime, boys or girls only park day, utilizing the ELC yard and setting up a variety of activities each lunchtime have been successful.
• opening the library or technology room has provided other options.

Literacy Data
Running Record reading levels for all Year 1/2 students have been assigned and forwarded to DECS. Our data shows that children continue to read above expected levels for their age group. The Year 3,5,7 NAPLAN results were posted to parents last week. Our students showed overall improvement in Writing, Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar and Numeracy while the Reading mean score was consistent with last year.

Facilities
During the two closure days, ICT infrastructure was upgraded. Each teaching unit now has wireless connections. A projector is being installed in the technology room along with new cabling and power points to tidy the floor space.
The zip track blinds which have been installed in the O’Brien Street and Maxwell Street verandahs seem to have prevented rain sweeping through the doorways and protecting carpeted areas.
The Multi Purpose Hall project is one week behind schedule due to the recent wet conditions. However, foundations are being excavated ready for the slab to be poured this week.

Fitness & Fundraising
Our community fundraiser, Jump Rope for Heart, raised $3,400 with 10% being returned to the school.
This is an outstanding amount for a small school so congratulations to the children.

The Fun Run on Monday was another vigorous event. We were very pleased at the level of participation and hope that the students continue to be active and stay healthy.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday.

Pat Cardone – Principal

A reminder to parents that school banking day is on Fridays. Please leave your child’s bank deposit book at the Front Office.

Until Sunday 31st October 2010 for every $10 spent at Coles Supermarkets, Coles Online,
Bi-Lo and Pick’n Pay customers will earn a Coles Sports for Schools voucher worth 1 point (given at check out).

Students collect these vouchers from family, friends and neighbours and drop them into the voucher collection box in the front office. Points will be tallied later on for the school to redeem new sporting equipment.

We are looking for parent helpers to mount and label children’s art for the Exhibition.
Please let the Front Office know if you can help on the following days – Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th & Wednesday 13th October. Thank you.

Parent Workshop Sessions
Feedback due by Monday the 20th of September

Overview
The School is planning for a bright and exciting future.

Our new Strategic Plan will look ahead to 2015 – It’s all about Valuing our children…Building their future.

Hear about the planned directions and priorities for the School for the next 5 years, and have your say.

After the Sessions, your Education Committee and Governing Council will finalise the Plan and it will be communicated to all parents, students and staff.

The Sessions will cover:
Strategic Plan Overview Workshop T3 2010

If you did not attend the planning sessions or would like to provide additional feed back you can via an email please send this to

admin@sturtstcs.sa.edu.au
feed back is due by Monday the 20th of September

Dear Families,
We always look for opportunities to draw on the talents of people in the community. Instrumental teacher, Jan McAskill who teaches here each Monday and Wednesday is a great vocalist and has sung in bands for many years. We are thrilled that she has agreed to work with the Senior Choir and we look forward to hearing them perform at assemblies.
Picture: Senior Choir

A number of children have also been given the opportunity to be involved in drama classes. Carina Gun, a registered teacher and Nick Buckland have been working with students fortnightly and are enjoying watching children’s skills and confidence grow. They have had extensive experience on stage and screen and are now enjoying passing on their love of acting to others.
The children work on specific areas of acting such as characterization, mime, improvisation, script analysis, stage skills and voice work, giving them the opportunity to develop their creativity and imagination.

Acting is all about observing and reacting to others and therefore the classes also help to develop student’s social skills by enhancing their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Teaching children resilience and optimism and finding positive solutions to problems can give them to the tools to help them to cope with what life has to offer in the future.

At Sturt Street Community School we are planning for a bright and exciting future. Our new Strategic Plan will look ahead to 2015 – It’s all about Valuing our children……Building their future. It’s everyone’s Plan – so please join us at a parent workshop session to hear about the directions and priorities for the next 5 years, and have your say.

After the sessions, your Education Committee and Governing Council will finalise the Plan and it will be communicated to all parents, students and staff.

2011 Classes
The school is already gearing up for next year, planning our teacher vacancies and classroom structures. We are keen to know our expected enrolments to assist with this planning. Could you please inform the school via email or the enclosed slip if your child will not be attending Sturt Street Community School in 2011. We have a number of children who are on a waiting list and we would like to offer them a placement if your child is leaving school.

Class Allocation
At the beginning of Term 4 we commence the class placement process. If you have any comments or preferences in relation to your child’s placement for next year could you please put them in writing addressed to me. All comments will be considered. However, as it is very difficult to meet all requests and the final decision on class placements will rest with the leadership team.

Regards,
Pat Cardone – Principal