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Diary Dates
Pupil Free Day
Friday 1st November
Year 3-5 Swimming
Weeks 4 & 5 4th –15th November
New Reception Information Evening
Tuesday 19th November
Year 7 Graduation
Wednesday 11th December
Principal: Mr Iain Elliott
Deputy Principal: Mr Joel Catchlove
Senior Leader: Mr. Aaron Bayliss
Phone: 08 8293 1204
Fax: 08 8293 1673
OSHC: 08 8293 8085
Email: [email protected]
Web: blackforestps.sa.edu.au
Find us on Facebook!
Newsletter
Term 4 Week 1 No. 17 - 17th October 2019
From the Principal
Staffing Update
Our Deputy Principal, Joel Catchlove, has recently been appointed to the
Deputy role at Old Noarlunga Primary School, beginning in January 2020.
Joel has worked at Black Forest Primary School for the last 9 years in a
number of roles, including as a relief teacher, classroom and specialist
technologies teacher, before moving into the leadership team as Senior
Leader and Deputy Principal. While he is sad to leave Black Forest he is
looking forward to working with and developing his skills with a new
community.
On behalf of the whole school community I would like to thank Joel for his
outstanding contribution to our school over the past nine years. He will be
sorely missed, our loss will be Old Noarlunga’s gain. We will miss Joel’s
calmness, wisdom, logical thinking and ability to work through tricky
situations in a highly professional and empathetic manner.
NAPLaN Analysis
In the last newsletter of last term I provided some data about our latest
NAPLaN results. While NAPLaN is only one measure, and one that gives us
a snapshot of achievement over two years it is still useful information for us
to look at trends. I provided information about our year level cohort
achievement results. Again, useful data for us and interesting for looking at
trends. What I find more useful and perhaps more important is growth
measures between tests. The growth between tests is an important measure
because no matter what the level of achievement is we can determine what
improvement has been made between tests for the same cohort of children,
for example our current Year 5 students compared to what they achieved in
the 2017 Year 3 NAPLaN tests.
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1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
RESPECT ENDEAVOUR COLLABORATION RESPONSIBILITY CREATIVITY
Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating School Values
Thomas T, Spencer L, Zoe S, Asher N, Hargun K, Alastair W, Charlotte R, Oscar W, Deborah G-B,
Jensen G, Ayden B, Lilly C, Scarlett E, Scarlett W, Jasmine C, Obie P
Learning Achievement Award
Oliver G, Kai W, Joshua D, Silvie T, Zachary B, Levi W, Sarim A, Lily E, Soraya H, Charlotte H, Eliot H,
Lily T
Thank you for helping our school to be a safe and happy place to work and learn
While there are variances between the amount of growth between different test aspects (Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Grammar
and Punctuation, and Spelling) I also like to look at the overall growth (which is the average growth across all tests). This provides
a very quick snapshot of what growth looks like between Y3-5 and Y5-7. Our growth between tests for our current Year 5 & 7
students looks like this
Year 3 2017 to Year 5 2019 highest average growth for four years and almost 6% higher than the previous three year average.
Year 5 2017 to Year 7 2019 highest average growth for four years and 16% higher than the previous three year average.
Year 3 2015 to Year 7 2019 highest average growth for four years and 24% higher than the previous three year average.
While we are always looking to improve our results we should be very pleased with our 2019 NAPLaN results. Not only is the
individual year level achievement trending upwards but our growth between tests for the same cohort of children is also trending
upwards. I think this shows the improvement agenda our school has been on, and continues to be on, is the right one. Our staff
should be congratulated for the effort they have put into their own improvement journey, which is aimed at improving our
students’ learning outcomes.
From the Deputy
As has been announced, I have recently been appointed to a leadership role at Old Noarlunga Primary School, beginning in
January 2020. Over the last nine years I have learnt so much and greatly valued the opportunities I've had working at Black
Forest Primary School. I began at Black Forest as a relief teacher, and have greatly benefited from the mentorship, guidance
and collaboration of our skilled and dedicated staff, active and involved parent community and of course, the priceless
experience of teaching Black Forest students. While I'm excited about the challenges of working with a different community a
little closer to home, I will treasure my time at Black Forest. With your support, and the continued dedication of our leadership,
teaching and support staff, I know that Black Forest will continue to grow and thrive as a school that promotes and supports
the achievement of all students. I look forward to continuing to work with you all for the remainder of 2019!
Joel Catchlove, Deputy Principal
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Competition Details:
School kids/families: Take a photo of something you love or find interesting as you walk to or from school.
Use the hashtags #walktoberSA and #way2go to enter the competition for a chance to win a weekly prize (parents/family adults will
need to post the photo to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter).
Thanks to Scout Outdoor Centre there are two $50 vouchers up for grabs for each school week.
Enter via:
Walking SA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/walkingsa
Walking SA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/WalkingSA_au/
Walking Sa Twitter https://twitter.com/Walking_SA
The competition will run for the first 3 weeks of Term 4.
Prizes will be announced weekly on Monday 21 October, Monday 28 October and Thursday 31 October.
View the full Competition Terms & Conditions.
More walking = more fun = less cars = safer children.
Looking for some tips to help you plan your family’s active travel to and from school?
Visit the Way2Go website at https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/Way2Go/families/home
***
Mathematics Challenge and Extension
Each year Black Forest Primary School offers a range of challenge and extension opportunities in Mathematics, including through
the Australian Mathematics Competition and the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians. We offer our congratulations to all
students who participated in these experiences to push their mathematical problem-solving. A number of students have also gone
on to participate in the Enrichment Stage of the Mathematics Challenge completed at the end of Term 3.
Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians – Challenge Stage
Australian Mathematics Competition
Credit Ethan T, Daniel B
Proficiency Lucy C, Addison C, Ryan H, Annabel Q
Participation Joseph H, Louis B, Jordan L, Khali A
High Distinction Kai W
Distinction Owen B, Ethan Q, Jensen G, Jones J, Joshua R, Lewis B, Tom Y, Jasmine C, Annabel Q, Angelina Z,
Ryan H, Sarah C, Lucy T, Daniel B, Micah C, Ethan T
Credit Sophie C, Amy C, Thomas T, Levi S, Sam W, Oliver C, Aiden F, Donelly R, Khali A, Senithi G, Joseph H,
David K, Addison C, Sophie J
Proficiency Zoe A, Francis H, Sayuni H, Maeve O, Violet W, Elise V, Ari W, Eliana P, Ruby B, Matilda B, Jeremy T
Participation Reza H, Avik K, Mia B
1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
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INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AT BLACK FOREST – STRINGS
Our Strings Programme offers tuition in VIOLIN, VIOLA and CELLO to students in Year 3 and above.
We currently have 22 students involved and if you saw the Ensemble perform at the Centenary Gala Day, I am sure you would agree
that they are sounding great! They have weekly lessons with Strings teacher Margie Hopgood (although she is currently on Long
Service Leave so their teacher for Term 3 has been Sean Renaud).
INFORMATION & EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR 2020:
COST: Lessons are provided free of charge through the Department, but instruments (if not owned or purchased privately) must be
hired, either from the school (subject to availability) at a cost of $180.00 per year, or through a retailer. If hiring through the school,
payment must be completed by Week 5 of Term 1 (students are not permitted to take instruments home until full payment has
been made). Parents will be required to sign an agreement to pay for any damage caused to the instrument. There may also be
small, ongoing charges for music books.
COMMITMENT: Students are expected to commit to a FULL YEAR of tuition if they are accepted into the programme (ie from early
Term 1 to late Term 4). We also expect a decision from you by mid-Term 4 about whether your child will continue lessons the next
year.
Students are required to practise regularly at home (10-20 minutes at least 3-4 times each week).
Students are expected to attend Strings lessons promptly and to be pro-active in catching up for time lost in their regular class.
Early in Term 4 in Music lessons I will be asking students currently in Years 2 – 4 if they are interested in applying for the Strings
programme in 2020, and will outline the above commitments. Those interested will be given a slip to take home and discuss with
you. On return of the signed slip they will be invited to attend a “Come & Try” session with Margie, during which she will assess their
suitability.
Last year over 50 students came to the “Come & Try” session, which was wonderful; however Margie only had 8 places available.
She has a great deal of experience in selecting students to begin Strings, as well as the most suitable instrument for each, and she
takes this task very seriously. Sometimes it may be that they are not quite physically ready, but should try again the following year if
still interested. We expect parents to accept Margie’s professional decision. We will advise all candidates before the end of Term 4,
whether or not they have been selected for 2020.
Please feel free to see me for further clarification.
PENNY BAKER (MUSIC R-5/IMS contact at BFPS)
1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
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ROOM 22 NEWS
Sphero Robotics
For the last two terms room 18, 22 and 23 have been learning about coding
and programing Sphero’s. Room 22 held a Sphero Olympics. Some of the
events in the Olympics were relays, sprints, swimming, tennis, hurdles, and
lots more. The gold medal went to Jack and Ari, the silver medal went to
Georgia and Charlotte and bronze went to Kole and Angus. It was fun.
Here are some photos from our Sphero Olympics.
by Ari and Angus
1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
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Room 22: Green Screen Superheros
Last term Room 22 pretended to be superheros in front of a green screen for
Book Week. First Mrs Brett brought a green sheet and some superhero costumes.
After that we took turns taking pictures in some of the costumes. Then we went
on an app called Green Screen by Do Ink. This app will take away the green
background and put an image of your choosing plus props on top of any
background. Then it is done. By Aiden and Charlotte
1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
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1919 Centenary Celebration 2019
