Dear parents and caregivers,
Week 6 has just ended and the students at Playford College continue to flourish daily. It is with great enthusiasm that we celebrate the teaching and learning and the great experiences our students continue to receive. We continue to thank parents and caregivers for their continuous support with the following:
- Making sure your children receive enough sleep every night.
- Making sure your children have an early healthy breakfast.
- Ensuring your children brings healthy food to school daily.
- Making sure your children are wearing correct and clean uniform.
- Supporting your children in completing their homework every night.
- Supporting your Secondary children during their exam weeks as this puts pressure on them.
- Having positive conversations with your children about their school day, friends, and teachers.
- Communicating with teachers whenever needed or requested.
- Everything else that you already do.
Some of the highlights of the last two weeks have been:
- The Soccer tournament for the Year 7/8 boys that took place on Friday of Week 6. It was great to know that our students won both their matches but more importantly, our students were congratulated for their great manners and exceptional sportsmanship.
- The Basketball tournament for the Year 7/8 boys that took place on Wednesday of Week 6. Our students won one match, lost the other and congratulated the winning team.
- The Primary Spelling Bee competition that started on Tuesday of Week 6. Our selected Year 3-6 teams were celebrating by practising their spelling even harder.
- Our Year 10 students started their exams today since they will head off to their camp on Wednesday next week. Then, they will have a week of Career Exploration Week Placement before they return to school in week 9.
- Last week, a group of Year 9 and 10 boys represented Playford College in the Port Adelaide Multicultural Cup program. Students competed against other schools involved in the program and displayed excellent sportsmanship. We congratulate the students on winning the Road Safety presentation they not only submitted but recorded it on the same day!
- Selected Year 9 students participated in ‘Altitude Day’; a leadership centred program organised by YLead. It was wonderful to see our students engage and interact in leadership-based activities and discussions with other schools.
Please remember that Monday 12/06/23 is a public holiday so we are looking forward to seeing your children again on Tuesday next week.
With blessings,
Chris Riemann and Racha Hammoud Makki
Heads of Schools
Head of Primary
Assalamualikum dear Parents/caregivers,
It is exciting to see the Primary School students involved in many activities recently. They have started with the Spelling Bee, collecting blankets for their Blanket Drive donations for the homeless shelters, SAPSASA, Basketball carnival, Football league and many more activities that have taken place in the classrooms!
I congratulate and thank all the Primary School teachers in continuously supporting, encouraging and engaging our students in these activities.
It is great to see students follow school rules. They are arriving at school on time, wearing correct uniform, walking nicely to their classes and caring for one another. They have continued to show respect towards their teachers, school staff and their peers. The overall attitude and manners of the students have been wonderful.
Please continue to communicate with your child/children’s teachers regarding any day to day follow ups and if parents want to raise any other matters, feedback, suggestions or concerns. You can email us on: leadership@playfordcollege.sa.edu.au
You can also ask for myself, the Head of Primary, and I will make myself available for a chat.
I want to thank all the parents who are communicating with their children’s class teachers through ClassDojo. We appreciate your support towards the school and the staff.
May Allah reward you and bless you.
Khuda Hafiz, Wassalamualaikum,
Head of Secondary
Welcome to the end of Week 6! Time is flying by, and as we approach the exam season, there's a lot happening at our school. Let's dive into the updates and important information.
First off, our Year 10 students have kicked off their exams this week, starting with Maths and English. Next week, they will tackle Science and Humanities and Social Sciences. We understand that exams can make students feel apprehensive, but we believe this experience will be valuable for their academic futures. Taking exams is a skill that requires practice and learning from experience. While we provide guidance on preparation and revision throughout the semester, it's through firsthand experience that students truly grasp these essential skills. By Year 10 and 11, it can be too late to fully develop these skills for the high-stakes exams in Year 12. However, it's important for students to realize that their final grades and their identities extend beyond exams alone.
Please note that the Year 10 exams are slightly early this year because next week the students will be on camp. This camp promises to be a wonderful experience where they will learn different skills and enjoy each other's company in a supervised setting. Following the camp, in Week 8, they will participate in their Career Exploration Work Placement, also known as Work Experience. While some students may still need to finalize their placements, we encourage parents to support and guide them in finding opportunities. If you have any placement offers for Year 10 students, please reach out to the school.
On Thursday, 26 selected Year 9 students participated in a leadership day called Altitude Day, organized by the YLead program. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to step out of their comfort zones, interact with peers from other schools in the Playford Council area, and engage in activities and discussions centered around leadership. The students represented our school exceptionally well, and they left the event feeling inspired and equipped with a better understanding of how to approach their goals.
On Friday last week, a group of Year 9 and 10 students took part in the Port Adelaide FC Cultural Cup. They played modified Australian Rules Football against other schools known for their high cultural diversity. Our students displayed excellent athletic ability and skill. Additionally, the boys won the Road Safety presentation they submitted, which was recorded on the day. We look forward to seeing it! Furthermore, some of the boys had the opportunity to attend the Adelaide Oval match on Saturday, where they proudly showcased their cultural diversity by waving flags alongside other participants. More details are found later in the newsletter!
In the past two weeks, secondary students have had various off-campus opportunities to participate in sporting competitions. Mr. Ben Evans organised soccer and basketball events for Year 7 and 8 boys, and the girls will have their basketball opportunity next week.
As we approach the end of Semester 1, it has been a busy and enriching time for students. They have been working on assessment tasks and are now entering the revision phase for examinable subjects. We wish all families a positive experience during the exams, and we want to ensure that students feel supported and empowered to demonstrate their learning effectively.
To parents, your role during this demanding period is crucial. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Foster a Positive Environment: Create a supportive and encouraging atmosphere at home. Reinforce your children's belief in their abilities and offer words of encouragement.
- Emphasise Effective Study Habits: Help your children develop effective study habits and time management skills. Encourage them to create a study schedule, break down subjects into manageable chunks.
- Encourage Healthy Habits: Remind your children about the importance of self-care during the exam period. Encourage them to get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in physical activities. A healthy body and mind contribute to better concentration and overall performance. Many students feel that studying all night will help them succeed, but there is so much evidence that this can backfire for students. Sleep is essential.
I understand and appreciate that for Muslim families, faith plays an important role in daily activities. I encourage parents to not separate your child’s exam experience but incorporate Islamic principles and practices that align with your beliefs into your children's study routine. These practices may include seeking blessings, strength, resilience and guidance from Allah and reflecting on the purpose of education from an Islamic perspective; a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and a means of fulfilling their responsibilities to Allah and society.
As we navigate through this challenging period, let us continue to support the students, nurture a positive environment that combines both academic excellence and spiritual growth. Together, we can help them achieve their full potential while staying grounded in their faith.
Faith In Our College
Salam alaykom,
We pray this update finds you well.
We find ourselves as always, with God's love and blessings evident in our lives.
With the teaching and learning, the different faith events coming up, pastoral care and more, we are constantly striving to provide a vibrant spiritual environment for our students.
Some of our updates are:
- Our Hajj program coming up aims to facilitate our journey to the Beloved.
- Our pastoral care excursion saw students going bowling! It was a fun and relaxing time, especially for those who were winning.
- Our MoU with UniSA is setting the scene for our Islamic renewal that seeks to help our staff take steps towards a more Islamic approach to their pedagogy and praxis (teaching practices).
We hope these updates reflect the blessings of God and that we continue to see His blessings always.
With peace, love and light,
From our Custodians
Playford College has developed a student-led initiative, 'the custodians', in hopes of building our Islamic faith. Our Secondary Custodians participate in projects that help improve our School Salah (prayer), use the PA announcer to recite Surahs, Duas and other news. Girls and boys rotate positions across the days of the week to assist in a smooth running Salah, and importantly, to create a spiritual environment for the day. It is amazing to start our school day with the words of Allah. Our Islamic trivia, as mentioned by our School Captains in the last newsletter, continues to be a positive!
It is awesome for students like myself and others to participate in these projects! It gives us a chance to develop Playford College into the school we want it to be and to learn leadership skills, communicational skills, and overall to turn into young Muslims who will change the world!
With Salams,
Sana Ahmadi on behalf of our Secondary School Custodians
Primary School Updates
Foundation
In Spelling and Phonics, Foundation students have been practising writing tricky words. Students sound out words, then identify the sounds that were tricky in order to correct the spelling of it. Last week, they learnt the long 'i' sound as the split digraph 'i-e'.
Year 1 - Adelaide Zoo Excursion
As part of their learning on biological sciences, the Year 1 students visited the Adelaide Zoo. Students have been learning about living things and their external features. Through the excursion, they were able to apply their learning and construct more learning from their zoo experience. Although it was a wet day, students enjoyed themselves as they participated in all the activities!
Year 2
The Year 2 students focused on Mass during Mathematics. Students weighed different items around the classroom using balance scales and had many discussions about “heavier or lighter” items.
In Art, the Year 2s enjoyed playing with sand art, and creating their own artwork with an Indigenous focus.
Year 3
In Arabic, the Year 3 students have been revising writing different hobbies. Students are able to apply and revise their learning in various means, including Education Perfect, Surah Memorisation, Reading and Writing different word categories, such as hobbies!
Year 4
The spelling superstars in Year 4 are thriving and exceeding expectations each week. The care, pride, initiative, and attention to detail that so many students continue to display is beautiful to see. The students are super excited for the Spelling Bee, with almost all of the class keen to take part. A big thank you to Mrs. Collins for organising such a fun school activity that lets our phonics shine.
The Year 4 students have been creating complex and compound sentences in English. After given simple sentences, students expanded them, ensuring to use verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions and interesting words!
Year 5
In Art, the Year 5 students have been learning about Paul Cezanne. The students learnt about his techniques and his influence on other artists. Cezanne is known as a Post-Impressionist and called 'the father of modern art' because he showed how free art could really be. He encouraged artists to explore colour, shape and space without needing to make sense in a traditional, realistic way.
Year 6
Last week, the Year 6 students enjoyed a hands-on and immersive learning experience in Science. They investigated reversible and irreversible changes as well as the chemical and physical changes of matter. Students also soak up the pleasant weather through engaging in outdoor activities!
Secondary School Updates - SportS filled fortnight
Inter-School Soccer Competition
Last week the Year 11 and 12 students participated in a friendly Soccer Competition with Pinnacle College. The tournament was played to promote the Women's Soccer World Cup that is being held in Australia. Congratulations go out to our students who organised the well received inter school match, and inshaAllah there are more in the future!
Volleyball Tournament
Last week, students from Year 9 and 10 participated in a Volleyball tournament against other schools across South Australia. Students played with enthusiasm, teamwork and support, which was evident in the 3/4 wins by the girls team!
Port Adelaide Multicultural Cup
This year Playford College was introduced to the Port Adelaide Football Club’s Multicultural Power Cup program. The program celebrates cultural diversity, promotes inclusion and builds social cohesion by recognising the positive contribution of different cultures within Australia. As part of this program, boys in Year 10 were required to design the guernsey, which they would wear when representing the school at the carnival, as well as create a road safety video. This work was in the lead up to the Power Cup carnival on Friday 2nd June, where they competed against the other schools around Adelaide involved in the program. On Saturday 3rd June, participants were also invited to attend the Grand Final matches of the carnival and be involved in a multicultural parade on Adelaide Oval before the Port Adelaide v Hawthorn match, which was a great experience for our students. They were also presented with the THINK! Road Safety award at the President’s lunch. We look forward to offering the program to all Year 10 students at Playford College next year.
Below are snapshots from the program!
Year 7/8 Basketball Tournament
On Wednesday 7th of June, the Year 7 and 8 boys played a basketball tournament against Ocean View College and St George College. They played exceptionally well, winning 32-21 in Game 1, and good opposition in Game 2. Our students tried their hardest and represented Playford College with pride!
Science - Cell Practical
The Year 8 students have been learning about plant and animal cells in Science. To apply their learning in a fun and education way, students made cell cakes! They used different toppings, icing and fondant to create the organelles within the cell, labelled them and wrote the functions!
The Community Hub
This Term, the Community Hub has been holding Parenting Sessions with the School counsellor, sister Mardiya Jawad. These sessions happen on Thursday 9:30am to 11:30am and all parents are encouraged to join!
Counsellor's Corner
The adverse impacts of verbal abuse on children’s development
Verbal abuse is a type of emotional abuse that uses language and behaviours to manipulate, intimidate and control another. Verbal abuse can be in different forms such as constant yelling, threatening, blaming, shaming and name calling.
It is the most neglected part of child abuse, which can have very serious effects on a child’s development mentally, physically and socially. Unfortunately, verbal abuse may exist in many families as a form of “tough love” or “discipline” however can cause children to feel humiliated, ashamed or unloved.
Consequently, if exposure to verbal abuse to children is common and frequent this may result children to replicate that behaviour or hesitate to inform parents or teachers when they are verbally abused by others.
Short term impacts of verbal abuse on children:
- 1- Developing an inferiority complex and isolate themself from others
- Feeling apathetic, not interested and not motivated to do anything.
- Developing very poor self-confidence, and therefore not be able to trust themselves.
- Bullying others.
Long term impacts of verbal abuse on children can include developing :
- Eating disorders as a result of constant verbal abuse regarding their physical appearance.
- Depression and sleep disorders.
- Speech disorders as a result of constant threats and emotional abuse.
- Addiction, as children with lowered low self-esteem and self-confidence are at a higher risk of developing addictions.
- Behavioural issues, as children who have experienced verbal abuse are at a higher risk of developing anger issues.
Term Dates
12/06/2023 – Monarch’s birthday (Public Holiday)
13/06/2023 - Year 11 Exams Commence
20/06/2023 – Years 7-9 Exams Commence
26/06/2023, 27/06/2023 and 30/06/2023 - Parent/Teacher Interviews (Secondary School)
28/06/2023 to 29/06/2023 - Eid Al-Adha (Holy Day - No school) *(To Be Confirmed)
03/07/2023 - Year 12 Trial Exams Commence
07/07/2023 – End of Term 2
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