6 May 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

How wonderful to see the much needed rain this week as we move into true autumn weather. A reminder that our sun safe and uniform policy does not require us to wear sun hats this term and a ‘Maroon winter beanie or Snug School Scarf’ is an acceptable winter addition. Please make contact with your child’s class teacher about acceptable inside slippers or footwear to keep our carpets clear of mud and wallaby droppings.

A reminder to parents dropping students off in the turning circle that this area should be kept clear for our bus services to use. Parents may drop students off but may not park nor leave the car on the yellow painted area. We have parking available in several other areas if you need to come into the school.

We wish our Grade 3 and 5 students all the very best for the National testing next week. The NAPLAN tests give our students an opportunity to show their skills and knowledge, and I thank teachers for thoroughly preparing our students.

Our school has been focusing on developing a Growth Mindset in students to help them when they are challenged at school and in life. We hope they can apply some of their skills as they tackle events like the Cross Country and NAPLAN tests. Practising saying things like, “this is hard but I like to challenge myself” or “I am going to put in my best effort”, is helpful thinking.

Bonnie Jeffrey
Principal

Kath’s Spot

Holidays are wonderful! I love being able to have lazy mornings, to be able to potter around with the kids, go for walks out in the sunshine and to even get a few of those little untidy corners or drawers tidy again. A few good mates and I had a thing going, where you would take a before and after pic and send the photos on a group message to be able to celebrate the achievement of completing the task. What a great encouragement and motivator.

We finished our holidays by taking the whole family to see Eddie the Eagle. A film based on the true story of Eddie Edwards, the British ski-jumper who participated in the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. It begins the story showing this young child who is absolutely set on becoming an Olympian. Despite everyone, including his father, telling him he will never become one, he shows great determination to find a way.

At one point Peary, his coach reads out of his former coach, Warren Sharp's book, “A true Olympian is not a God-given skill set. It is never giving up.”

In fact I have seen an interview with Ian Thorpe, some years back, in which he comments that he is not a talented athlete, but an exceptional trainer. His constant repetitious 'just keep going' attitude has helped him become an amazing and successful athlete.

As my children grow up, I am hoping my children know they are loved, cared for, safe and that they will have the confidence to be all that they were created to be. Sometimes it is hard as we look on, wondering inside how well they will do with somethings, but our job is to help them to know we are proud of them. I remember hearing the following wise words in an assembly, "if you continue to put in excellent effort, excellence will come".

What is it you personally are hoping to achieve this year, go on, go have a go, I believe in you!

Kath Dolliver
Chaplain

ANZAC Day 2016

Seven Snug Primary students and two Woodbridge District High students carried the WW1 banner of the15th Battalion 1st A.I.F. in the Hobart ANZAC parade. All students represented their schools with pride and honor. Snug students have carried this banner for many years and this year, for the first time, we led 4 descendants of two soldiers, John and Thomas Dwyer (brothers) who served in this battalion.

State Primary Athletics Carnival Results

We would like to congratulate the Snug Team for their awesome efforts at the State Primary Athletics Carnival that was held last Friday, 29th April, in Launceston. In particular, we’d like to acknowledge the following students:

Grade 4A: Kyle W (1st place – 100m dash, 3rd place – 4 x 100m relay)
Grade 4A: Maverick S (3rd place – 400m dash)
Grade 4A: Matilda N-H (1st place – 400m dash, 3rd place – long jump)
Grade 5B: Alicia Mc (1st place – long jump, 100m dash and 4 x 100m relay)
Grade 6A: Bree T (10th place – 1500m run and long jump)
Grade 6A Oliver J (2nd place – 1500m run)
Grade 6A: Oscar L (3rd place – 4 x 100m relay)
Grade 6A: Mitchell M-S (3rd place – 800m dash)

Class in Focus

Grade 4B Mr Simsons

Our Rock and Water Program this Year

• The branch that doesn’t bend breaks. Nina
• It’s about knowing when to be water and let the little things flow around you and when to be rock and stay firm and grounded. Harrison
• Rock and Water is knowing that you can rely on and trust your friends. Phoenix
• If you lose your centre and basis, you lose everything. Felicity
• It’s about knowing that true friends are friends you can lean on. That they will stand strong and will be there for you when you need them.
• I’m learning to be a bit more water because I can be a bit too much rock sometimes!
• Rock and water has helped me calm myself and not react too quickly to situations.
• Rock and Water is about confidence, balance and about being centred. Ayla

Kitchen News

Very unfortunately the wallabies have devastated our vegetable gardens over the holidays. Any fresh produce donations would be greatly appreciated! Please bring to Dearne in the kitchen or leave at the office.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2016

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) commenced in Australian schools in 2008. Each year, all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in common national tests which assess:

• Reading
• Writing
• Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• Numeracy.

The scheduled dates for the tests in 2016 are Tuesday 10 May, Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May.

The benefits of participating in NAPLAN testing:

• NAPLAN tests the skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.
• NAPLAN results provide valuable information on how your child is progressing against national minimum standards of literacy and numeracy skills expected for each year level.
• The NAPLAN tests provide you as parents with an individual report that shows your child’s results and a comparison of your child’s performance against all other Australian students in their year level.
• Teachers use the NAPLAN results to determine your child’s areas of strength and where future focus is required and how best to provide support or extension activities.
• School teachers use the online NAPLAN Toolkit to analyse your child’s results. The Toolkit provides detailed information right down to the individual question with links to teaching strategies.
• Principals, senior staff and others use NAPLAN results to inform school planning and to allocate resources and support including informing decisions around targeted programs and initiatives for individuals and groups.

The best way you can assist your child is by helping them to feel comfortable about the nature and purpose of the tests, and assure them that the tests will give them an opportunity to show what they have learned in class.

For more information about the national tests, please visit the national NAPLAN website at:

Entertainment Book 2016-2017

20% of every membership sold contributes to fundraising for our school. Help us achieve our goal by sharing this link with your Friends and Family. Thanks for your support!

Woodbridge School Information Evening

Woodbridge School cordially invites all interested parents of Grade 6 students to attend a secondary information evening on Monday 16th May from 5.00pm – 7.00pm. This evening is designed to give parents the opportunity to explore our facilities and gain an understanding of what we can offer your child. For more information, please refer to below link:

Chicken Pox

We have had some notifications of chicken pox in the school. Please refer to the Department of Health website before for more information regarding symptoms and treatment of chicken pox:

Do you have flair for our Fair?

We are looking for enthusiastic thinkers and ‘doers’ to join Dwayne Everett-Smith on the Fair Committee.

If you have a creative flair, have had experience with organising school events or simply want to help out with the organisation of our major fundraiser, please forward your contact details to our admin team.

We will all need to be ‘Working Together’ later in the year to make this event a success and are looking forward to the ideas that this committee develop.

School Banking

Wednesday is school banking day. Please remember to write your student number on the deposit slips. Replacement Dollarmite wallets are available from the office.

New Bankers are very welcome – for every new banker, the school receives a $5.00 commission and then 5% of every deposit made thereafter. Just head to any Commonwealth Bank with some ID for yourself and your child (a drivers licence and birth certificate, for example) and ask to open a Youthsaver Account for School Banking. You’ll be given a deposit book and Dollarmites wallet on the spot and will be able to begin banking the next business day - it’s that easy!

Rewards Program: For every deposit your child makes, they will receive a silver Dollarmite token. Once they have received 10 tokens then will then receive a gold Dollarmite token which they can redeem for an exclusive Dollarmite reward item (see below).

Competition! Every child that banks 15 times before the end of Term 3 will go into the draw to win an awesome adventure to meet Bob and Bindi Irwin at Australia Zoo (including 4 nights’ accommodation, 5 days’ car hire and $1000.00 spending money!). So keep those deposits rolling in!

Book Club

The current Book Club order forms are due back Wednesday 11th May. Please include the correct money in your orders as the office can’t provide change.

A reminder that parents can now pay for orders online via Book Clubs Loop. Log in to:

Good Character Checks

Many of you should have received your Good Character Check in the mail by now. Just a reminder to please bring this into the office so we can take a copy of it for our files as per Departmental Policy.

Sick Children

Children who have been vomiting and/ or have a temperature over 38 degrees are required to be kept at home for 24-48 hours. We understand this can be a difficult thing to juggle for families at times, however ask that you are respectful to our community in this way.

Little Sprouts

Thursdays 9.00am – 10.45am in the Kindergarten room with Mrs Jane Martyn.

Facebook

Like us on Facebook and keep up-to-date with all the fabulous happenings at our wonderful school.

Coming Events

Community Notices

Mini Soccer Stars

For the young ones who want to play soccer but can’t due to their age, here is their chance to put on shorts, socks and a training bib and have LOTS OF FUN! Please see below link for more information.

Term Dates for 2016