2 August 2024

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents, Families and Community

With the first half of the year already behind us, I thought I would take the time to update you on progress we are making in implementing our Strategic Plan, with our core focus to embed a Synthetic Phonics program in the early years, and adopt a Multi Tier Syem of Support in Reading (MTSS).

It is exciting to think just how far we’ve already come this year, with our Prep-Year 2 teams adopting the UFLI phonics program, and the whole school already implementing common teaching strategies to lift our students abilities in reading through the MTSS.

The Power of Phonics

One of the cornerstones of our literacy education is our phonics approach. Phonics provides our students with the essential building blocks of reading, enabling them to decode words, understand their structure, and ultimately, read fluently. In our Prep to Year 2 teams, we have been undertaking a common phonics block every morning after Daily PE, which involves a number of key concepts, including phonic awareness, segmenting and blending, and spelling. We are already seeing some positive early signs that this approach is providing our early years students with the building blocks they need to be able to meet the requirements of the English curriculum. Phonics instruction continues in the upper primary classes to support the broader literacy program.

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

In addition to our phonics program, our implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), an initiative being rolled out in all schools by the Department of Children and Young People, is establishing some fertile ground on which to enhance students’ ability to read. The MTSS is a comprehensive framework that provides varying levels of support based on each student's needs. It is an approach that aligns perfectly with our commitment to personalised education. Tier 1 is all about ensuring we are using best practice teaching methods to cater to the reading needs of students in our classes; Tier 2, small group support, with the aim of elevating student understanding so they can succeed in a Tier 1 program; and Tier 3, for those students who need one-to-one intervention and support.

This year, we have conducted screening to identify which specific areas of reading our students are succeeding, and where they need support – word recognition, oral fluency, or comprehension. As a staff, we are focusing on building a deeper understanding to effectively teach fluency in our first step, as it is a cornerstone of reading success. Not only are our teachers being trained in successful teaching strategies, our Teacher Assistants are too, thus ensuring we are all on the same page and all skilled in best practice.

A Community Effort

None of these achievements would be possible without the collective efforts of our exceptional teachers, dedicated support staff, and you, our parents. Your involvement and support play a crucial role in our students' success. As I have highlighted before, your involvement in our home reading program is critical to student success in reading. Please continue to read with your children through our home reading program, so we can ensure the students at Snug achieve their potential.

Kind regards

Kath’s Spot

Every four year Olympics come around again and I find myself watching from my loungeroom, or checking results on my phone, I think just wanting to share in the journey alongside of our country.

During this week we’ve seen our proudly Tasmanian Ariarne Titmus take to the pool on more than occasion, and I’m sure many of us were cheering her on as she took out gold in 400m freestyle, but then we’ve seen her take to the water again against fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan only to come in second taking home the silver to the younger Aussie who claimed the gold.

For me though, the pride that was shown for Mollie from Ariarne was immense.  Yet through the excitement and hype of the event, I believe she still feared what others may think of her.  Perhaps feeling like she had let others down. She commented “I hope nobody looks at me any differently.  I’m just the same old goofy Tassie girl, out there living her dream.  Here I am from little old Launie, a town of 90,000 people, and I’m out here living the dream.  I hope that inspired kids back home”.

Even in such a wonderful moment, despite hesitation and fear, she was able to identify that her great efforts, may not have gained a gold, instead may have inspired a whole new generation.  A new bunch of young people that may be watching on, may be inspired to live out their dreams, and aspire to achieve great things too.  

Sometimes we can feel let down or disenchanted by our own efforts or achievements, but it’s important to take the time to reflect and try to see the moment for what it is and be able to rest into it.  It’s the reflection that generates growth.

Be inspired.  And don’t forget to check out some wonderful Olympians, showing us, all their efforts of many years of training and discipline.  Jack McVeigh, a Tassie Jack Jumper chosen to play in the Aussie Olympic Boomers basketball team, recently said “Listen kid. Dreams do come true” and “Everytime you fail, you are one step closer to where you want to be.  Fail more.  Failure is the best way to learn”.  Let’s embrace it!

Book Fair

Our Book Fair will be held in our school office from Monday 19 August until Friday 30 August. EFTPOS facilities will be available, as well as cash. This gives our students a couple of weeks to save for a special book and/or maybe do an extra job or two at home to help buy something they’re going to love! 😊

Book Week Parade

We are going to hold our Book Week Parade on Thursday 22^nd August.

This year we are trialling something a little bit different as we are going to go on a Community Walk. This decision has been made as last year we had so many families dress up and wanted to celebrate the effort by sharing this with our community.

We will leave school around 9am and walk down Snug Beach Road and swing around via Snug Village for the residents to view the parade. I will send out a map and the schedule of classes and departure times as it gets closer.

Little Sprouts - Movers and Explorers

Book Club

Book Club orders are submitted and paid for online via the Book Clubs Loop. Please go to this link. It’s a very straightforward process to sign up and then super quick and easy to place orders. The Loop for the current book issue will be closed off on Friday 9 August need to add so ensure you have your orders in by then. Books will arrive to school and be distributed to students a few weeks later.

Kitchen-Garden News

Kitchen

Lunch Provision options for next Tuesday 6 August:

Garden

Volunteers always welcome, classes start at 2.00pm.

REGISTRATION TO WORK WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE (RWVP)

A reminder that volunteers will need a Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP). Details are here if you need to apply:

Outside School Hours Care

2024 Information and Enrolment (Including Re-Enrolment)

Coming Events 2024

For more information please see our school calendar by clicking the link below: 

Community Notices

Model Train Show

Kingston autism workshop for parents

Kingston Musicianship Class

Batter Up – T Ball at Channel