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Ardtornish NewsletterTerm 4 Week 3 - 3rd November 2023
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No 18
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In this issue
Diary Dates
November 8th - Yr 6 High School Prep Day 10th- JAM Band Performance 13th -School Closure Day 14th -NFL Flag Tag Nationals – Gold Coast 15th - 6.30pm Sports Portfolio 22nd -2.15pm Finance Meeting 28th - Education Committee Meeting 7.30pm 29th- 6.15pm Finance Meeting December 4th -Governing Council 7.00pm, Yr 4-6 Choir to City 7th - Kindy Transition 8th - Kindy Transition, Christmas Stall 12th- Graduation 14th- Waterworld Rm’s 4, 6, 8, 11, 28 15th- Subway Meal Deal Road Crossing
Monitors Wed 1st Nov – Tue 7th Nov Amelie C, Tayah G, Ruby C Wed 8th Nov – Tue 14th Nov Oscar P, Caleb B, Lennex F Wed 15th Nov – Tue 21st Nov Agam S, Edward H, Alistair A Please arrive by 8.25am |
How Do We Know How Well a Student is Reading?
Evaluating a student's reading performance is important as it enables educators to monitor their progress throughout their academic journey. At Ardtornish, the Read Write Inc structured 'synthetic phonics' program efficiently matches children with reading materials tailored to their skill level and to deliver specific developmentally appropriate instruction within dedicated RWI groups.
The Read Write Inc program introduces 'decodable readers', of increasing complexity, guiding students toward achieving an independent reading level. This enables us to closely track students as they advance through the program's sequential steps, until they attain independent reading capabilities. Most students achieve this milestone around the end of year 2. During the independent phase, students learn to select texts from a diverse array of sources that cater to their unique needs and interests. As students move beyond a fixed reading series, teachers need alternative methods to monitor their progress. Until recently, the Department of Education mandated the use of the 'Running Records Levels' testing tool for early student assessment. However, this system-wide data collection method has proven to be inconsistent and time-consuming. Furthermore, recent research, in the field of reading science, showed that its underlying rationale does not align with best practices. In its place, the DfE is now introducing the DIBELS assessment system. DIBELS stands for 'Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills.' The DIBELS procedures and measures evaluate both fluency levels and comprehension skills and all APS teachers are trained to use it. Fluency levels are determined using the 'ORF (Oral Reading Fluency) assessment,' a brief one-minute process used to regularly detect risk and monitor the development of early literacy and early reading skills from R-7. By examining word reading fluency, the ORF assessment helps identify students with deficiencies in decoding, accuracy and fluency. Those at risk can be quickly identified for additional support. The underlying premise is that stronger readers exhibit greater pace and expression, and these abilities can be used to gauge a student's skill. Comprehension skills are evaluated using the 'MAZE assessment.' Students read a year level appropriate passage, with every seventh word replaced by three options. The final score is based on the number of maze words selected correctly within a three-minute time frame. Next year, we will use the ORF and MAZE reading to assess student-reading development. At APS, students at the independent reading levels engage in a robust literacy program with access to an extensive selection of books from both school and classroom libraries. In reading and library lessons, students learn to independently choose books and through the '40 Book Challenge’ they are encouraged to read extensively. In explicit English lessons, students learn effective reading strategies, expand their vocabularies, enhance their understanding of various text types, and improve their comprehension skills. Small group support is provided to students who do not make the expected progress. As independent readers, students possess the essential skills to tackle a broad spectrum of texts. Hence, at this stage our role as educators and parents, is to guide students in selecting and enjoying books that capture their interest and engagement, without the need to rely on a reading level score or a benchmarked text, fostering a lifelong love of reading. 
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Canteen ROSTERTuesday 6th Jenni F
Wednesday 7th Jenni F Thursday 8th Kristen V, Ling C Friday 9th Chris G, Sharon D Tuesday 14th Jenni F Wednesday 15th Deborah B Thursday 16th Deneice P, Tui M Friday 17th Anthea B, Chris G Credits on Accounts
Reminder to parents who have a credit on their account. This can be used towards any excursions, incursions or camps etc. To use your credit or if you have any queries please contact Cathy in the finance office by email [email protected] or by phone 82648099. Thankyou from Finance for your understanding in regards to QKR! and EFT payments being unavailable this week.
QKR! and EFT Payments are now back open. 
To the Parents and Students of Ardtornish Primary School,
Thank you so much for supporting National Bandanna Day this year. Held on Friday 27th October, Bandanna Day is the flagship fundraising and awareness campaign for Canteen. Canteen provides free and tailored support to young people aged 12-25 who are impacted by cancer. Whether they are dealing with their own diagnosis, a close family member’s cancer or the death of a loved one, Canteen provides support such as counselling, peer support events and youth friendly resources. Young people impacted by cancer are up to six times more likely to face mental health issues like anxiety or depression than their peers. After just six months of support from Canteen, almost two-thirds of young people report improvements in their mental health and overall wellbeing. Canteen also provides services for parents dealing with cancer in their family, because research shows that when parents are supported through cancer and communicate openly, their children are likely to experience less distress and anxiety. This Bandanna Day, Ardtornish Primary School raised $1210.00 for this amazing charity. On Friday 27th October, students from Room 28 took photos of people who had purchased a bandanna. Thank you once again for your support. Val Crozier Year 5 Teacher National Bandanna Day Organiser. 
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To ensure the timely closure of the 2023 School Card Scheme the last date for new forms to be accepted is 24th November 2023. No new applications will be accepted after this date.
Please check that you have received confirmation from the School Card section? If not, please contact the front office to check the status of your application. If you have not applied, and meet the eligibility criteria below, please complete the online form or collect a paper copy from the front office. Eligibility for School Card assistance is dependent upon the combined family gross income for the 2021-2022 financial year within the following School Card income limits. 
Applicants who apply for School Card assistance via an ED003A - Income Audit application form are able to apply via an online application form. The online application form is available at School Card 2023 .
Holiday Swim is a Royal Life Saving Society South Australia initiative bringing affordable and educational swimming and water safety lessons to pools and inland waterway locations across Metro and Regional South Australia since the 1950’s. The aim of the program is to teach children critical life saving skills and basic swimming skills, to equip them with the knowledge to stay safe in, on and around the water.
The aim of keeping the program affordable, is to reach families and communities that might otherwise miss out on the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons, and as we approach the busy Summer months now is the time to equip them with the knowledge to save a life. The program will be returning in December 2023 and January 2024 with the newly adapted Royal Life Saving Swim & Survive program. More information can be found at www.holidayswim.com.au |
Camp was really fun because I got to try heaps of new things. A few things that really highlighted camp was probably kayaking, knee boarding and sailing boats, because I had never done that before and they were good opportunities that im glad I had a go at. Oneida D
Rooms 4, 6 and 8 all went on a 3 day trip to Murraylands Aquatic Camp. The camp was phenomenal. The weather mixed with the cold water was refreshing, I think it's safe to say that everyone's favourite activity was kneeboarding. The amount of memories that were made will be a great story to tell, every moment was filled with laughter, happiness and probably a bit of lake water splashed in the eyes. Camp was a great way to reconnect with old friends and nature. This camp was one of the funniest. Amalie R
On camp I had so much fun. One of the highlights is when I did knee boarding with my friends, it was so fun I want to do it again. I also loved the food, we had burgers and ice cream. I also loved driving the boat. The dorms me and my group went in were huge. Maddy L
The Year 6 Aquatic camp was fantastic, my absolute favourite activity was knee boarding because when your'e being pulled by the boat it feels so intense, then when you stop you feel so relieved that you didn’t fall off and face plant. Harry M
Rooms 4, 6 and 8 all went on a 3 day trip to Murraylands Aquatic Camp. The camp was phenomenal. The weather mixed with the cold water was refreshing, I think it's safe to say that everyone's favourite activity was kneeboarding. The amount of memories that were made will be a great story to tell, every moment was filled with laughter, happiness and probably a bit of lake water splashed in the eyes. Camp was a great way to reconnect with old friends and nature. This camp was one of the funniest. Amalie R
On camp I had so much fun. One of the highlights is when I did knee boarding with my friends, it was so fun I want to do it again. I also loved the food, we had burgers and ice cream. I also loved driving the boat. The dorms me and my group went in were huge. Maddy L
The Year 6 Aquatic camp was fantastic, my absolute favourite activity was knee boarding because when your'e being pulled by the boat it feels so intense, then when you stop you feel so relieved that you didn’t fall off and face plant. Harry M
