RESPECT
PERSISTENCE
RESPONSIBILITY
CONFIDENCE
Newsletter 05 | 26 March 2015
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au
YEAR 8 SUCCESS IN TRANSITION
In 2015 we enrolled 125 students into our Year 8 program. At JPSS we have high expectations of
young people in regard to their engagement and success in learning. We are passionate about the
educational outcomes of all students and want to push them to achieve their best. As part of this we
monitor achievement, attendance and behaviour regularly to track their progress at school.
This week I have reviewed the performance of Year 8’s who are in their first term at our school. I
used data as well as conversations with leaders and the teaching team to identify those young
people who have settled into our school culture very well and show the qualities we seek in all young
people (Respect / Responsibility / Persistence / Confidence).
Tomorrow I intend to post a letter home to more than 50 Year 8 students acknowledging their
success in transition and their contribution as role models in our school. I will invite them to lunch
st
next Tuesday 31 March where I will formally thank them, make a small presentation and supply
lunch for those whose start to secondary schooling has been exemplary.
Coming Events
Next Week:
April 3
Good Friday
April 6
Easter Monday
April 8
Report Collection and
Interviews, 3:30 – 7:00
April 10
Last Day Term 1
Dismissal 2.25pm
There are many success stories among the 600 plus students attending our school. Year 12’s have
had a very positive start to the year, teachers frequently tell me how well they are working and of
the pleasing results in their initial assessment tasks. Recently students led a ‘Closing the Gap’
assembly with activities to support achieving Indigenous Health Equality by 2030. Term 1 outdoor
education kayaking excursions, a leadership development course, students leading facilities
improvements and qualities programs are significant highlights.
April 27
Term 2 Commences
April 30
Year 8 Immunisations
June 3
Yr 11 RAP Driver Ed
Seminar
Last week’s JPSS Sports Day is featured in this newsletter. The spirit of competition, healthy rivalry,
active participation and support for each other regardless of house teams or athletic ability was
sensational. Sports Day showcased our school and students in the best light possible.
June 4
Year 8 Immunisations
June 5
Student Free Day
June 8
Queen’s Birthday PH
May 6-13 Op Flinders Boys
Leadership Team
 Year 8 students Ethan Nitz, Jakob Sims and Alex Giles involved in student voice activities in recent weeks.
Principal:
Roger Nottage
Deputy Principal:
Michael Gaunt
Assistant Principals: Kim Bennett
Graham Hoile
Rachel Gray
Kate Greenhalgh
Lisa Key
School Links
NAPLAN Equating Test
Material & Services Charges
John Pirie Secondary School has been selected to
participate in the 2015 NAPLAN Equating test, which
will be conducted between the 27 April and the 8 May.
This will involve a group of Year 9 students completing a
55 minute written Language Conventions test.
The information collected from the equating test will be
used to:
 Enable NAPLAN test results completed year to
year to be reported on the same assessment
scales
 Ensure that the quality of the final NAPLAN
tests will enable students to demonstrate their
best abilities and learning
 Ensure future NAPLAN tests are valid and
reliable
Results from NAPLAN Equating tests are not reported
back to the school or to the students who complete
them, and the results do not affect a school’s or
student’s final NAPLAN results in any way.
Parents of students who have been selected to
complete the test will be contacted by letter.
Lisa Key
Assistant Principal
Material & Services Charges 2015 are overdue. Please
pay ASAP. If you believe you are eligible for School Card
please apply now.
Lynne Madigan
Finance Officer
John Pirie Secondary School 0886320414
Year 9 NAPLAN Testing
From 12 until 14 May, Year 9 students will complete the
NAPLAN tests to assess their Numeracy and Literacy
skills. The tests are completed simultaneously by year 3,
5, 7 and 9 students across Australia. Students do not
need to learn specific skills in order to complete the
NAPLAN and will have opportunities to become familiar
with the NAPLAN tests and ways to show their answers
before they start.
All students are expected to complete the NAPLAN.
Information collected by the tests will:
 Provide us with detailed information about
what students can and cannot do
 Help us to plan learning programs appropriately
 Identify students who require learning support
 Confirm the information we collected last year
about students’ skills through online
Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT).
If parents wish to withdraw their children from NAPLAN
for philosophical or personal reasons, they need to
make an appointment to discuss this with the principal
before the 8 of May. If students are not officially
withdrawn from tests by this date, but refuse to sit the
tests, their results will still be counted.
Please contact me at school if you would like any more
information about NAPLAN.
Lisa Key
Term 1 Reports and Parent Teacher Evening
Staff are currently preparing reports that will reflect
student achievement and attendance from the first
eight weeks of the year. As in previous years the
arrangement for distribution of Term 1 reports will be
through parent teacher interviews. These will be held
on Wednesday evening of the last week of term (Wed.
8th April 3.30 – 7.00 pm). Care group teachers are
forwarding further information and booking
arrangements. All families are asked to make a time
where they can meet with their child’s care group
teacher to collect and discuss the information in the
report. Subject teachers will be available if further
detail is required about performance in a specific
course. If this evening is not suitable for any families
then alternative times can be arranged through the
school.
Graham Hoile
Assistant Principal
Term 1 Working Bee Postponed
There are a number of events on this weekend that
mean participation by staff, students & parents is
limited. Governing Council has decided to postpone the
Sunday 29/3/15 Working Bee until Term 3. More
information regarding this will follow in future
newsletters.
Roger Nottage
WHS Evacuation Drill
On Wednesday 18 March, JPSS held its first evacuation
drill for the year. Emergency drills occur regularly
throughout the year to prepare staff and students for
real emergencies that could occur such as a fire or a
lock-in. The drill was very successful, with students
moving very efficiently to the oval area while staff
collected class rolls to account for all students.
Feedback was collected from both staff and students to
ensure the next drill is just as successful.
Kate Greenhalgh & Lisa Key
On Behalf of the WHS Committee
JOHN PIRIE SECONDARY SCHOOL | striving for excellence
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au
Sports Day
Last Thursday saw John Pirie Secondary School’s Annual
Sports Day take place at Memorial Oval. With the
weather forecast at 34°C, eager staff commenced set up
at 7.00am and ensured the tents were sturdy and
hurdles were buffed. The students in attendance
displayed extremely good spirit and put on some
spectacular athletic performances in both the
traditional track and field events as well as the novelty
events. Both staff and students were dressed in
appropriate house colours with some going a step
further and covering their body and hair with paint!
This was going to be an awesome day.
The leader board was neck and neck for the majority of
the day with final results coming down to the finals
events – Neilson ended up the overall winners,
knocking off a gallant Hewett, followed by Lewis and
Ross. There was only 13 points between first and
second, which is the closest sports day we have had in a
while.
During their historic victory Neilson competitors were
responsible for all 4 records being broken on the day.
Rushad Pavri secured a new record in Open Boys
Hurdles with a time of 15.22s, Jeremiah Scrutton broke
the U16B High Jump record with a 1.72m leap. Scrutton
also broke another standard in the U16B long jump,
setting the new record at 5.55m beating the previous
mark by 15 cm. The final record broken occurred in
U16B 4x100m relay which featured Jeremiah Scrutton,
Kirby Gadaleta, Brenton Binell and Fraser Wyatt. It is of
note that these four runners finished 1-4 on the U16B
Trophy leader board.
Kimberly Harvey and Jasmine Lloyd from Neilson
dominated in the running events for their age groups,
both coming extremely close to record times. Decklan
Gray from Hewett was an outstanding new competitor
in the under 14 boys winning 6 events. Mark Skipper
from Hewett was a stand out in Open boys sprints.
Marlee Biddell was a solid performer for Ross finishing
tied for second in U14G Trophy along with Abby Wilton
from Lewis.Travis White was the strongest Ross
contributor compiling a total of 67 points on his way to
the Open Boys Trophy. Lewis made some noise in the
U14B 4x100 relay team, finishing a close second to
Hewett. 2015 showcased a fantastic effort in individual
and team events.
The Outstanding Effort Awards were given to students
who were deemed to show great participation
enthusiasm and good sprit throughout the day. For the
females, Alysha Ledger displayed excellent participation
levels and great leadership for the Hewett house, while
for the males you couldn’t go past Brendon Binell from
Neilson, who continued to participate in many events
without complaint as well as supporting his peers.
Events of this scale require a great deal of effort, hard
work and good will, which JPSS has in great supply. A
special thank you must go to the following people for
their assistance in the preparation and running of the
event: St. John Ambulance Australia – Port Pirie Division
who worked hard all day to support our staff and
students, the Port Pirie Regional Council for the use of
Memorial Oval, Mr Graham Hoile, Ms Kate Greenhalgh
and Mrs Leanne Hoile for their efforts in helping to
mark the oval and members of the Sport & Recreation
Committee who assisted in the preparation and running
of the event. Ms Jayne James and her staff for moving
the canteen to the oval and keeping everyone well fed.
Finally, a big thank you to the students, staff and
spectators of John Pirie Secondary School who helped
make the day so successful.
The students and teachers now look forward to the
Interschool Athletics carnival which will take place at
SANTOS Stadium on Monday 30 March.
Overall Results for the day were as follows:
HOUSE POINTS
1st Neilson – 1919
2nd
3rd Lewis – 1557
4th Ross - 1481
Hewett
-
1906
AGE GROUP CHAMPIONS
U14 BOYS
U14 GIRLS
U16 BOYS
U16 GIRLS
OPEN BOYS
OPEN GIRLS
st
1 – Decklan Gray (Hewett) – 90 pts
nd
2 – Jake Walsh (Neilson) – 76 pts
st
1 – Nikita Chilcott (Hewett) – 57 points
nd
2 – Abby Wilson (Lewis)
Marlee Biddell (Ross) – 53 points
st
1 – Jeremiah Scrutton (Neilson) – 72 points
nd
2 – Kirby Gadaleta (Neilson) - 69 points
st
1 – Kimberly Harvey (Neilson) - 91 points
nd
2 – Chloe Olsen (Ross) – 48 points
st
1 – Travis White (Ross) – 67 points
nd
2 – Westley Wyatt (Neilson) – 64 points
st
1 – Jasmine Lloyd (Neilson) – 92 points
nd
2 – Alisha Brooks (Neilson) – 68 points
Maciej Jankowski HPE Co-ordinator
JOHN PIRIE SECONDARY SCHOOL | striving for excellence
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au
.
JOHN PIRIE SECONDARY SCHOOL | striving for excellence
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au
Art
Uni Pathways Excursions
Once again John Pirie Secondary School is providing
opportunities for year 9 and 10 students to travel to
universities in Adelaide to participate in educational
activities. The activities are predominately Maths and
Science activities which are engaging, incorporate
modern technology and give the students a taste of
University education.
The first trip for 2015 was the year 10 group of 43
students in week 5. The students participated in
Geocaching which gives the students the opportunity to
use modern technology and learn navigation skills. The
other group were working with sensory technology.
'Earlier this year the Port Pirie RSL approached John
Pirie Secondary School to produce a large scale mural
that displayed the horrible living conditions suffered by
ANZAC soldiers during World War One. This mural is
part of a new installation that will be featured in the
museum of the Port Pirie RSL which honours the
Centenary of Anzac. The mural has progressed greatly
over the term and is the culmination of many hours of
effort from many Year 9 and Year 10 students. The
mural will be publicly available for viewing at the RSL
museum on the 25 of April next month.'
Some of the feedback from students was;
“I enjoyed learning about geocaching and how to use
navigation skills”.
“It has been good to get to see the universities over
the last two years”.
The year 9 group will have their first experience on
Thursday 9 April. They will participate in the Engineers
without Borders activity and also visit the Planetarium.
International Women’s Day
On Friday 6 March a group of girls in Year 10 and 11
went on an excursion to the local Anglican Hall for an
International Women’s Day celebration. It was the first
time students from John Pirie Secondary School had
attended this annual event. Soroptimists and the Port
Pirie Library supported a visit from Australian author
Loretta Hill. The girls enjoyed a beautiful lunch prepared
by the local Lions Club and sat back to enjoy Loretta
giving an account of how she became an author, as well
as her persistence in getting her books published.
Loretta also spoke of the process she uses when
writing. Kristin Wilsdon, Yr 11, found the experience
fascinating and was intrigued when Loretta described
her writing process as including developing the
characters first and then letting the plot take her on the
journey.
The excursion was valuable and left the girls with an
impression of what it is like to be a fiction writer. The
girls represented the school well and were inspired to
continue their efforts in writing. It was a great
experience to take part in. We look forward to
celebrating the day again next year.
JOHN PIRIE SECONDARY SCHOOL | striving for excellence
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au
Out of School Hours Care
First Session Free
Working, studying or just need some time off in the
afternoon?
Airdale after school care offers a fun and educational
environment for your child between 3-6pm
weekdays.
We offer entertaining and developmentally
appropriate activities, qualified staff, homework
assistance and a nutritious afternoon tea.
The service is offering a free first session so you can
see all we have to offer.
Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate are
available for families. Call 86330066 for enquiries.
The April holiday program will be available at your
school front office from April 30th.
Bookings are essential.
JOHN PIRIE SECONDARY SCHOOL | striving for excellence
A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540
P (08) 8632 0400
F (08) 8632 3195
W johnpirihs.sa.edu.au