18 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Our congratulations go to our Year 3 and 5 students and teachers for a smooth and challenging NAPLAN week. I was so pleased to see all students give their best during these tests and concentrate on showing what they know.

We have noticed some non-school uniform items creeping into our students’ attire recently. In particular non-school scarves and beanies and hair accessories. Student will be asked to remove non-school uniform items. Can I remind everyone that we pride ourselves in having a clear policy around uniform that has been co-developed with our School Association. Please refer to this if you are unsure about what is acceptable to our school community. This will be particularly important on our school photo day next Monday 21st May.

I am pleased to advise that Mr Ian Thomas will be Acting Principal while Ms Burbury and I study in the US starting Friday 1st June. Mr Thomas is an experienced educator who is currently working at Huonville Primary as Assistant Principal. He will be well informed about our priority areas and the brilliant things we do at Snug. I know our community will make him feel very welcome.

Ms Loretta Woolley will be stepping up to Assistant Principal and we welcome back Mrs Tracey Ozkilinc who will work with Mrs B-W and 3/4 A during this time.

We are very excited about the plans for our new Gym/Presentation Hall which are currently being finalised. The architects have been meeting with myself, Facility services representative Mike Van Der Veen, Mrs Jo Malone and Mr Dave Groves to design a fantastic space for physical activity and learning. We have shared the initial plans with the School Association and the Student Representative Council, and we are all impressed with the design features.

Bonnie Jeffrey
Principal

Kath’s Spot

This week, I have all three of my boys in Grades 9,5 & 3 carrying out the NAPLAN, which has meant early nights, and lots of vigorous discussion between the three of them. On Monday I heard my youngest basically lecturing the other two on making sure they include simple, compound and complex sentences in their writing task. He followed by telling them all about what makes a great writing piece, and he was excited about the possibilities of putting to task his knowledge.

I have always been a big advocate of encouraging students to try their best, but in all things I acknowledge that this is one test, on one day, which doesn't impact on any of their grades or their life. I always insist that I am proud of them, all of their efforts and of all of their learning.

Then Tuesday came around, and my youngest was so very disappointed that he had had a writing block, and it seems all his wonderful great ideas had hit a pause button. It was a perfect moment to be able to praise him for the opportunities he had taken through this to learn. Although he had hit a writer’s block, and found it hard to put pencil to paper, he had learnt more about how he as a person works, and what are challenges that he can learn from. Through this moment, he has learnt skills that will serve him later on in life. I am proud of him.

Sometimes for your children, they just need to know you are supporting them, don't you think? Even as school reports approach, I always stress to my boys, that it is not about the grade they get for their subjects, it is about the effort they put into that subject. A wise lady once said to me that "here at Snug Primary, we encourage everyone to have Excellent Effort, because with Excellent Effort, Excellence will come".

I also wanted to mention that next week is National Chaplaincy Week! I wonder whether you could ask your children, what they have appreciated about what I do in Snug Primary. It would be lovely to hear, from them, what has been helpful along their journey. Hopefully every little bit helps.

Many Blessings

Kath Dolliver
Chaplain

Assembly Awards

Class in Focus – Year 3/4C

In 3/4C we have been immersing ourselves in the expedition classroom Where? Where? Wedgie! This month-long investigation around Tasmania, streaming daily into our classrooms, takes a close look at the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle population. We are learning lots of interesting facts about eagles and the issues affecting their numbers. Students, teachers, families and communities are able to participate in the survey of the skies from 25th – 27th May, see the website below for further details.

We have been making our own eagle wingspan to scale. We have been looking at the feathers of birds and have made some of our own, experimenting with colours, patterns and textures. We had to measure out each wing and draw them onto a template. We then had to determine the area size of the wings to work out how many feathers we need to make. We are collaborating with 3/4D on this project and we hope to have our wings up in the corridor outside our classrooms in the next two weeks. Watch this space!

We’ve also been reading the novel Wedgetail, by Colin Thiele, and this has prompted some rich discussion, such as whether an orphaned eaglet should be raised in captivity knowing it cannot be released back into the wild?

At the end of this month we will spend a day in the outdoor learning area doing our own surveys on living things found in our bush classroom. We will build full-scale eagle nests, record and observe different bird species, and we may even toast a marshmallow or too!

School Photos

School Photo Day is this coming Monday, 21st May. A reminder to return envelopes to class teachers by Monday at the latest with correct change please. Family/Sibling order envelopes are available from (and must be returned back to) the office, again by Monday at the latest with correct change. Thanks!

School Disco

The SRC is running a School Disco on Friday 25th May. Times are as follows:

Kinder to Year 2 Disco - 5.00pm to 6.00pm
Years 3 to 6 Disco - 6.30pm to 8.00pm

Entry will be via the clock tower to the hall. $5.00 entry includes a packet of chips and a water or fruit box. Pre ticket sales will be via the school office beginning on Friday 18th May.

Students must be signed in and out by a responsible adult.

Glow products will be available for sale. A collection bin will be available on the night for those who do not wish to keep these.

If you are able to assist on the night with supervision please email loretta.woolley@education.tas.gov.au

Woodbridge School - Secondary Information Night

Monday 28th May, 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Entertainment Memberships 2018-2019

So you can see all the fantastic offers available for you and your family, we will be sending an Entertainment Book home with your child (eldest in the family) on Monday 21st May. To order your Book or your Digital Membership securely online, visit the link below.

eSmart

‘Little Sprouts’ and ‘Branching Out’

Please see below for our Term 2 activity programs:

Kids Matter eNewsletter

Facebook

Our Facebook page is one of our communication methods that give instant information about school events and celebrations. Please like our page and check regularly for all the brilliant learning opportunities at our school.

Coming Events

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

Community Notices

Hip Hop Class

Term Dates for 2018