Issue 14, 8 September 2023, Week 7 Term 3

Dear Families,

As we move into September, it is hard to believe we are over the halfway mark of Term 3. Students and staff have been busily implementing and engaging with quality teaching and learning. We have focussed on high quality teaching practices linked to our current goals for School Improvement, as guided by the Australian Curriculum. As I move around the school I thoroughly enjoy seeing students engaged in meaningful learning tasks that extend and support their current needs, whilst making connections to prior learning. This allows students to genuinely understand the why behind what they are learning.

An important part of any well-rounded approach to maximising student learning is the partnership between home and school. Beginning in the week starting Monday 18 September we will be conducting Learning Partnership Discussions and sharing Evidence of Student Learning alongside assessments. Classroom teachers will also be sending home samples of students' learning via our online platform Seesaw. We know that when we work in partnership with home with open lines of communication our students are happier and more engaged in their learning. The online booking system is now live to be able to book these meetings. If you are having any difficulty in making an online booking, please do not hesitate in contacting the school office. Michelle and Sharon will assist in guiding you through the use of the online system or can make a booking for you. I encourage all parents/guardians to come along to these important discussions.

School Satisfaction Survey

Regarding feedback, the 2023 School Satisfaction Surveys are now open! Every year the Department for Education, Children and Young People conducts School Satisfaction Surveys with parents and carers to find out what each school does well and where it could improve.

We would be grateful if you completed the short online survey. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school planning and decision-making.

The survey is open from Monday 28 August 2023 until Friday 22 September 2023 and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Take the online survey by clicking this link or pasting it in your browser: https://ncv.microsoft.com/Ulf3WnPdCr

The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

All families in this school received the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A snapshot of the survey results will be provided to schools. Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department for Education, Children and Young People staff.

Please contact the school if you require any assistance. All responses are secure and anonymous. We encourage all parents to complete the survey to give comment on our school’s direction, both for the remainder of 2023 and for 2024 and beyond.

2024 Classes

At this time of the year we start planning for the next year class models, staffing and student allocations into classes. Teachers are inputting important academic and social data to ensure we have the best placement for your child in 2024. In October we start allocating students into our 2024 classes.

We do not accept parent requests for teachers. However if there is an educational reason for wanting your child in a particular class or not then please email me, angela.crane@decyp.tas.gov.au before 13 October. We cannot always guarantee requests but will do our very best to accommodate each wish.

Early Years Playground Update

Construction of our brand-new Early Years play space is taking shape and we plan to officially open this space at the beginning of Term 4 with construction set to finish in the next three weeks. We feel incredibly lucky to be gaining such an amazing space for our Early Years students. While the play space will undoubtedly provide a huge amount of fun and enjoyment, it will also assist our students in creating social, creative and gross motor skills required as they develop. Experiences in the new play space will assist the students in exploring new environments, social situations, all while building independence and decision-making skills. We are really excited to open this space up to our community next term. In the meantime I encourage you all to take a look at the site when dropping your children off at school.

SAVE THE DATE - Year 5/6 Camp

Year 5 and Year 6 camp is set to take place on Tuesday 14 November through to Thursday 16 November at The Lea. This year we will be separating our Year 5 and 6 students into separate camps so we can tailor our programs to do team building as well as High School transitioning preparation. Our Year 5 students will leave school on the Tuesday at 9.00am and will need to be collected between 7.00pm and 8.00pm from camp on Wednesday 15 November. This will allow our Year 5 and 6 students to spend the entire Wednesday together. Our Year 6 students will follow, leaving on Wednesday 15 November and will need to be collected on Thursday 16 November between 7.00pm and 8.00pm. The agenda for all two days of camp is busy and filled with lots of exciting activities. Please note there will be a small cost for this camp due to activities being planned. There are many fabulous indoor and outdoor experiences that will be provided including but not limited to high ropes, flying fox, a bush walk and a fire pot. Mr Chris Anagnostis, our in-house school chef, is curating a delectable menu and will prepare meals for our students. Students will be sleeping in cabins with classroom teachers providing assistance in planning these rooms, ensuring Covid-19 regulations are adhered to.

We are really looking forward to time with your children outside of the classroom and helping to continue to build positive relationships which will be long lasting. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher or by phoning the front office and speaking to Mr Chris Anagnostis should you have any questions.

Ange Crane
Principal

Please click on the following link to register: https://forms.office.com/r/R55rccy5bP