6 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Reading with your children

With the school year well underway, our teachers are working hard with your children to provide them with targeted and engaging learning opportunities. One way you can help us is to find time to read with your children. You can start this process with your very youngest children, drawing attention to pictures and words. As they get older, read to, and with, them and talk about the stories you are reading.

There are a lot of resources out there to help parents to read well with their children. Here is a great resource from the Department of Education and Training in Queensland.

New Gym

As you are likely all aware, our new school gymnasium is looking fantastic and is very close to completion. It’s an incredible space and will be a valuable resource for our school for many years to come. The final sign off is close – we will let you know when the doors open. There will also be an official opening at some time in the future too.

School Association

The School Association had its AGM last week and elected new members and officers. The association’s new chairperson is Chris Morgan; the vice chairperson is Ben Andrews; the secretary is Ali Nichols-Howe; the treasurer Elanor Bell; our committee members are Skie Mitchell, Alison Wright, Kirsty Morgan, Hannah Townsend and Natasha Cowles. Staff representatives are Dearne Coad, Michelle Norman (OSHC), Kath Dolliver, Loretta Woolley and Blair Curtis as Principal Representative. Jo Malone also attends as School Business Manager. Thank you to everyone who is involved in this critical arm of the school; the direct conduit between the community and the school.

I would also like to thank outgoing chairperson Brendan Coad and treasurer Michelle Rathbone, for their outstanding contribution to the association in previous years.

Eat Meet and Greet

A big thanks to everyone who came along to last week’s Eat Meet and Greet session. It was a wonderful opportunity for teachers to walk you through their program and provide you with a little more information on what your child’s schooling will look like this year. An extra thanks to those of you who helped out with the barbecue and food.

Enjoy the long weekend, we look forward to seeing you all back here on Tuesday.

Kind Regards,
Blair Curtis
Principal

Kath’s Spot

Rain is such a wonderful welcome to so many of the farmers and for all those with empty water tanks, but when the rain comes down on your roof what does it mean for your family? Does it mean cuddling up on the couch with a movie and popcorn together while wearing your uggies and lighting the fire? Or does tension rise when everyone is stuck in a small space together, with little space to run and play?

Yesterday, as the rain poured down and as all our students had recess and lunch inside, I saw some wonderful ideas of activities that kept everyone happy and learning in different ways. Some groups drew pictures and did puzzles, others played boardgames and cards. Some classes in the past have done box work, or craft, and others have read or listened to someone reading a book out loud.

In my home I know there will always be moments when everyone may be a bit restless, or be in each other’s faces and need a little bit of space. However I find having a few ideas up my sleeve before a wet and rainy day comes our way is always helpful. When we were away recently on the mainland we battled staying out of the way of the fires, only to then be hit with huge thunderstorms. All five of us were stuck in the small caravan through heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Yes, I can hear your sympathetic sighs! Some of us ended up cooking for us all and we also had a few awesome games of Splenda, Sequence, and Uno. And with 5 different rubix cubes on board we started timing how quickly we could complete them - me not so successfully - and Eli even made an iMovie about how to complete a ‘Pyramix’ (a pyramid shaped rubix cube). We still had moments of boredom and frustration, but we did all manage to stay moderately calm - Yay!!!

What I would encourage is, rather than having a huge long list of ‘possibilities’ for your child to do, whether it is on a wet day or even just after school or the like, instead maybe just have a couple of options; “would you like to cook something or play a boardgame?”. Some children will cope with lots of options but for others it may become overwhelming and anxiety may rise in making a decision. Sticking to just a couple of options may help the process and get them onto having fun more quickly. Hopefully that too means you have a moment of space for that cuppa you have been waiting for all day.

Many Blessings

Kath Dolliver
Chaplain

Assembly Awards

New Staff Bio – Louise Legro

Hello Everyone,

My name is Louise Legro and I am the new Prep teacher. I have been at Howrah Primary School for the last 7 years and have taught both in the north of the state and overseas. My motivation for transferring was that I no longer wished to see Davey and Macquarie streets on a regular basis during peak hour traffic!! The school’s positive and inclusive reputation has extended further than the Channel area and reached me on the eastern shore and for these reasons I was so pleased I had been offered Snug Primary School in 2020.

The warm welcome and support I have been given by all staff, students and parents has made me feel even more excited about being a part of this community. I would like you all to know I am passionate about early childhood education. I am still teaching in a classroom (after many years…which we won’t go into!) because I am still learning heaps and enjoying motivating students to be curious and courageous thinkers who take risks with their learning.

I’m not sure if I should say this but I have inherited “The best class in the universe!” and am looking forward to an exciting year of inspiring and encouraging my prep students to always give their very best effort. I want to extend an invitation to come and see our awesome Prep learning and to have a chat.

Once again thanks to all who have made me feel so welcome.

Regards Louise Legro

PE News

State Athletic Trials – 2 March 2020

Oscar NH: 400m (1st), 800m (1st), 200m (2nd)
Max S: 400m (1st), 100m (2nd), 200m (3rd)
Fletcher M: 800m (4th), Long Jump (1st)
Lydia C: 200m (5th), 400m (5th), 800m (5th)
Sophia H: 400m (3rd), 200m (4th)
Oliver W: 200m (1st), 800m (4th)
Jordan W: 400m (4th)

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)

2020 Information and Enrolment (Including Re-Enrolment)

2020 Enrolment and Re-Enrolment information is now available from the office and OSHC. There is new and important information that families need in these packs, so please be sure to collect one ASAP. Thanks!

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.

Kids Matter eNewsletter

Kingston Library - What’s On

Coming Events

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

Term Dates for 2020