After a disrupted start to Term 3 with the lockdown in SA, we were pleased to be able to welcome Yultiwirra students back to school last Wednesday.  Living with COVID and the subsequent implications entailed, has become our 'new normal' and I can't thank staff, students and parents enough for 'going with the flow' and showing flexibility when new restrictions are placed on us with very little warning or preparation time.

The imposed lockdown in SA resulted in our building project at Wairoa coming to a standstill which eventuated in the handover being delayed, and the school not having a space for the Wairoa students to work in for Week 1.  Thank you to the Wairoa students, staff and families for graciously accepting this situation, and seemingly effortlessly and efficiently moving to remote learning for one week.

We were delighted to welcome Wairoa students back on campus this week and the staff were excited to reveal the wonderful transformation and new learning facilities.  An occupation being offered to interested Wairoa students this term is to help design the interior space and suggest new furniture and furnishing requirements.  The builders are still on site finalising the exterior paving and painting but the finish date is in sight!  We look forward to ‘officially’ opening the space and welcoming parents on site to view the changes.

I would like to thank Paul Noon for managing the project and Pippa Milroy who has also been very ‘hands on’ in managing logistics and selections.

COVID UPDATE

As of midnight tonight, new restrictions come into play for South Australia.  We have received updated advice from SA Health, the Education Minister and the Association of Independent Schools (AISSA).

We have been advised the following activities can resume:

• Infant Program (as of week 3) - parents/carers wearing masks
• School assemblies - parents/carers wearing masks
• Extra curricular activities
• Incursions and excursions

The following measures will remain in place until further notice:

• Middle school students & staff to continue to wear masks
• Yultiwirra staff to continue to wear masks when they are moving around the school and working in areas other than their classrooms.
• Limiting the number of parents on site and parents who do enter the school grounds need to wear a mask at all times and use the QR code on entry.
• Parents are asked NOT to enter classrooms and meetings between staff and parents where possible, will need to occur over the phone or by Zoom.  
• Physical distancing protocols of one person per two square metres needs to be observed.
• If a student exhibits any symptoms of COVID-19 whilst at school, no matter how mild, they will be isolated, and parents will be contacted to arrange immediate collection.

We thank parents for keeping their children at home if they are showing any signs of being unwell. 

We will continue to regularly review and adjust the COVID measures and communicate these with parents.

We really appreciate the support and understanding that parents and school families have shown and continue to show.

Cathy France

Principal

Montessori Schools and Centres Australia (MSCA) is hosting The Rite Journey Parenting Plan by Andrew Lines on Wednesday August 11th at 7.00pm AEST.

This practical workshop is for ALL parents and uses birthdays as a ‘transition template’ for raising responsible adults. It will begin by exploring the world that our children live in, the effects of parenting styles of the 21st Century and will then move into providing parents with practical help on how to create responsible, respectful, resourceful, resilient young adults. Parents will leave with a template of their own…an action plan that they can start putting into place immediately!

Andrew comes highly recommended and has presented in our school previously and the feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive.

The school has purchased TEN tickets to gift to any parent who would like to attend this session. 

Please email reception@montessori.sa.edu.au if you would like a ticket - the first ten parents to do so will be emailed a free ticket! 

We strongly recommend you don't miss this great opportunity!  

Here is a review from one of our school parents when he last presented in our school back in 2019.... 

Andrew’s talk on how to support our children to be respectful, resilient, responsible and resourceful was inspiring. Andrew discussed ways of allowing the growth of our children and presenting them with age appropriate challenges and responsibilities, which aligns beautifully with the independence and child led learning environment within the Montessori classroom. One of his main points was about rituals, rhythms and the family culture, something which can be fostered through simple family dinners and bedtime routines to setting clear expectations and commitments as a family. This intentional family culture provides a predictable routine for little ones while also preparing a strong foundation of respect and connection as they move into adolescence. Andrew had a great way of relating to the audience and provided many (often humorous) examples of the differences between our childhoods and those of our children. It was refreshing to acknowledge these differences and to name them, a contrast to the feeling of overwhelm when considering the challenges of modern day parenting, such as screen time, social media and pornography.

Andrew also provided a thought provoking commentary of our risk adverse culture, highlighting the ways in which it has shifted over the years, stating that the fear of risk in our society has resulted in a removal of almost all decision making and risk taking from our children’s lives. This change absolves our children of any responsibility be it with their school report, time management or age appropriate independent adventures means they have no opportunities to grow and develop their sense of self or sense of responsibility.

Andrew’s talk reminded me of the work of Alfie Kohn.

"The way kids learn how to make good decisions is by making decisions, not by following directions.”  Alfie Kohn. 

These sessions are always so inspiring not only for the content and learning but for the sense of community and togetherness of The Hills Montessori School.

Robin Ovenden –Cycle 1 Preschool Parent

Book Week is coming up in Week 5 this term.  Lisa Goodwin (Cycle 2 teacher) is once again planning to 'work her magic' this year along with her creative parent helpers. 

If any parents would like to be involved in the creative team this year please email Lisa by this Friday 6th August; lisag@montessori.sa.edu.au and let her know your willingness!  Installations are always put in place the weekend before Book Week (21st/22nd August). 

The Book Week installations are always such a delight for our students and really bring the joy of reading and books alive!

Saturday 30th October

'The Hahndorf  Story including a traditional custodian’s perspective: – Peramangk Land – now and then – how much has really changed over the last 100 years'.

Earlier in the year, we shared news of a walking tour with Hahndorf Walking Tours and Peramangk and Kaurna Elder, Uncle Ivan Copley. Participants who attended the walking tour spoke highly of the walk, particularly Uncle Ivan’s rich knowledge and engaging presentation. The event is running again on Saturday 30th October and will have a focus on bush tucker.  The previous events were very popular, so we suggest getting in early if you are keen to learn more about Peramangk culture and the beautiful land on which many of us live and work.  

For more information, head to: 

https://www.visitadelaidehills.com.au/listing/shedding-light-on-peramangk-land-bush-tucker-by-a-waterhole

https://www.hahndorfwalkingtours.com.au/shedding-light-on-peramangk-land/