21 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear parents and caregivers,

One of the things that has captured my attention at Snug Primary School this year is the school’s culture, which has struck me as positive, empathetic, and inclusive. This culture is not just a fluke, or a little good luck, or magic. It is the culmination and integration of many, many working parts, built over time by the hard work and dedication of students, staff and the community.

One of the things that makes Snug School such a special place is clear understanding and application of our SNUG CARES values. Whether it’s stepping into our school office where you are always greeted positively and with a smile, to the deep understanding and desire to provide a quality education to all from teachers and support staff, everyone is made to feel special – because they are.

Teachers are supported by wonderful senior staff, who are always on hand to lend help out when a challenge arises. The school has very well-developed practices and expectations, which students are familiar with. “You’re a Snug boy/girl” is a common refrain from our school leaders, and that is special too – it means you’re part of a wonderful school where you’re valued as an individual and supported, but it’s a place where you have responsibilities too. It also means we believe in you.

We are so lucky with our teachers, who just like our students, have a learning and growth mindset. We are currently working hard as a team to refine and implement a common instructional model, “best practice teaching” to be embedded throughout the school. We are doing our best to be the best for your kids.

Our community is one of the jewels in our crown. Already this year the school has received numerous offers of support from parents who want to contribute to Snug, and do their part to ensure it remains so. Community support is absolutely critical to our school, so to those who have, and continue to contribute, whether it being supporting a literacy program, or getting your hands dirty in our kitchen garden, being present at our school for events like the upcoming Eat, Meet and Greet, or just popping in to say hi – thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind Regards,

Blair Curtis
Principal

Adult supervision/arriving late

A reminder that adult supervision on school grounds begins at 8.30am every morning. Please try and avoid sending your child to school before that time. If they must come earlier, the school offers before school care.

There have also been a few students drifting in late each day. If students arrive after 9.10am, they will need to go to the office to sign in.

Scooters and Bikes

A reminder that students with scooters and bikes in the school grounds are not to ride them around until after the late bus left (usually around 3.10pm). Thanks for your co-operation with this safety issue.

Kath’s Spot

The start of the year can be a wonderful way to start something afresh, put new things in place, or drop things that have not been so helpful.

As a family we have sat down at a few points recently to map out each child’s sporting commitments, and for us that means mapping car drop offs and pick ups as well. As part of this, for Chris and me, it is working out what each child needs at this point in their life in terms of relationships or the ability to make new friends, or needing the opportunity to gain confidence or face anxieties. It’s all one step at a time hey, and sometimes I can feel like I have a huge weight upon my shoulders as I try to grow these young human beings. Do you ever feel this too?

It’s important to recognise that although we may feel the weight, it is not all on our shoulders. Everything in this world, and the lives of our children is not dependant on each and every decision we make. We have the space to make mistakes, to make a wrong call here and there. It’s okay for your child to start a new activity outside of school and at the end of the season realise it probably isn’t really their thing, and instead next season choose something different. We are constantly reminding our students here at Snug that ‘We are all learners’. The word ‘Learner’ is a noun, which is something that identifies who we are. A learner is ‘a person learning a new subject or skill’ according to the dictionary. So let’s do that. Let’s learn together, and during that learning… let’s try our best!

So, as the year begins, have conversations about new steps that you could put in place to try new things, and also what isn’t a priority in the timetable anymore. Don’t fill your timetable up with things that are not so helpful, or don’t help you or your child grow in a positive way. As we say here at school, make smart decisions. Choose Smart places to sit, where those around you are going to help you to achieve your goals. And let’s be those helpers for others to help them succeed too.

Here's to another great Term!

Many Blessings

Kath Dolliver
Chaplain

House Captains 2020

Swimming Carnival – Monday 24 February

A reminder that our swimming carnival, for Year 2-6 students, will be taking place on Monday.

Don’t forget to bring school hat, suncream, bathers, towel, warm clothes, plastic bag and wet suit (optional) as well as recess and lunch (if needed in addition to the BBQ lunch and Dearne’s biscuits that will be for sale) and a drink bottle with water.

New Staff Bio – Julie Waddington, Drama Teacher

Hello

Julie Waddington your new Drama Teacher here. It has been a huge first few weeks as I slowly meet and get to know all the students, I have the pleasure of working with this year. I am excited to be at Snug Primary, a school with a long and proud history of drama as a key part of the curriculum and school community under the wonderful direction of Mrs O’Malley.

I started my career as a science and drama teacher at Kingston High School over 20 years ago and in 2001 moved to Melbourne to do post-graduate studies in Theatre Director at the Victorian College of the Arts. Since then I have had an eclectic career in arts and education working in professional theatre, community arts, education from primary to university and with young people aged 5 to 25 in youth arts organisations. A career highlight was my role as Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre in regional South Australia for three and a half years. Since returning to Tasmania I have worked for a number of key arts organisations including the Tasmanian Theatre Company, Ten Days on the Island and most recently Tasmania Performs where I was an associate producer. I’m also an independent artist and I’m currently developing a new documentary performance work with a team of other artist mums that we hope to premier in 2021

But I’ve missed working directly with children and young people and am so happy to be back in the classroom, especially at Snug which is such a lovely community. I’m a Snug Primary parent too so I really know how great a school it is!

Since many of the students at Snug have had lots of experience with text based plays I am focussing the first part of the year on developing skills for creating improvised and/or self-devised performances with the students in years 3 to 6. I’m also looking forward to working with class teachers with some cross-curriculum activities. While things may look a little different in drama this year there will still be lots of opportunities for the students to develop their creativity and perform. Watch this space!

I hope to meet some of you soon at the Eat Meet and Greet.

Outside School Hours Care

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

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

Coming Events

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

Term Dates for 2020