4 March 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Hi Parents and Families,

Firstly, can I just thank you again for the incredible way you have been supporting the school this term. We have just been so appreciative of everyones’ thoughtful approach around Covid, and how you have understood our challenge, and supported us by adhering to the public health orders around the virus.

COVID Update for Snug

We found out this week that the health directive for schools for the remainder of the term is for us to continue with a similar operational approach we have undertaken so far this year - that is, no large whole school gatherings, asking parents to come and go from the school site quickly, parents wearing masks when on site.

What we are also very aware of is the disconnect that this policy position is creating for you all, especially for those of you who have not yet touched base with your child’s classroom teacher, or been involved in our Snug . Snug is rightly proud of its links to the community, and this ongoing health situation has made this more challenging, but thanks for bearing with us in these difficult times.

Meet the teachers Week 7

In week 7, we have asked our teachers to arrange a time to meet you online. We know it’s later in the year than usual to say “Hi” but for those of you who have been unable to do so, it will be a chance to say meet your child’s teacher, and get a brief outline of the teaching and learning program for the year. As always, if you’d like to chat with your teacher personally, please arrange a time for a call with them at a convenient time.

Teachers will contact you via Seesaw or Dojo shortly with a time for the online meetings – they are expected to take about 15 minutes.

School Improvement

In our efforts to continually improve, and provide your children with a quality education, every year we focus on a few key areas for development as part of our annual Strategic Plan. This year, our professional learning focus is going to be around our use of assessment, and how we use that to inform our teaching to support student learning. Additionally, we will continue to work on our instructional models – the HOW we teach. We are also exploring our community/school partnership, and will shortly be reaching out to you with your ideas about how we can enhance these school/community links.

Kind Regards,

Blair Curtis
Principal

Kath’s Spot

‘Acceptance’ - it’s a noun and means two different things really. One is defined as ‘the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered’ and the other ‘the process or fact of being received as adequate, valid or suitable’.

In a world today when, even as adults, we tend to still be anxious about needing and wanting to be accepted by others, I think the value of teaching acceptance to others is deeply important.

To look at another human, differences and all, and be able to accept them into what I might be doing, invite them to be part of my group, or join in my activities, could be hard but is oh so important. Is it something you find hard to do?

I recently was chatting to a friend who had spent the weekend away with his daughter completely hearing able, but they had turned their voices off for the whole weekend and used Auslan to sign the whole weekend together. What was interesting for the daughter was that she commented to her father at the end of the weekend that no matter where they went people stared at her, excluded her and the like, despite the fact that she could hear everything they were saying.

If those around you could hear what you were thinking or saying to others, would it be kind and accepting? We are working with our students this week on accepting and including others. How about we all work on a little project of doing that this week!

Many Blessings

Kath Dolliver
Chaplain

Class in Focus – Kinder A

Kinder in the first few weeks of 2022 has seen us explore, create and make new friends. We are focusing on our wellbeing and belonging to a group - we are all in Kinder, we all belong.

School Photos

School Photo Day is this Wednesday 8th March for all students (excluding Kinder B) and this Friday 11th March (for Kinder B students only).

Kitchen-Garden News

Volunteers always needed and welcome! Please contact the office if you can spare some time.

Little Sprouts (and Little Movers!)

Hello Little Sprouts families,

Welcome to a new year of learning together and the excitement of some new beginnings with our “Little Movers” program!

In alignment with the Department of Education’s Return to School Plan unfortunately Launching into Learning (LIL) sessions at school are on hold for the first five weeks of term 1. This will help to limit the number of people on site. We are very much looking forward to when we can gather again at school.

The Department of Education will also be providing a range of resources you can use for your child’s learning at home. These resources are available on the Great Start page (https://www.facebook.com/GreatStartTasmania) and support your child’s development at different ages and stages. On this site you will also find tips for connecting, with extra support for you and your child if you need it. In addition to the resources available on the website 20 minute online LIL sessions will be released weekly via the Great Start website. We will share these on our page as they become available.

At this stage, we are hoping to be offering our first Launching into Learning sessions in week 6.

Tuesday 15th March: Little Movers will be held weekly from 9.00am – 10.00am in the school gym. Mrs Andrea Lockwood (Kinder B teacher) will be doing a gross motor program with a story and song to finish the session.

Wednesday 17th March: Little Sprouts will be held weekly from 9.15am – 10.30am in the Kindergarten room. Mrs Jane Martyn (Kinder A teacher) will be running this program. As both Kinder classes are operating from the same room this year, it will be a variable timetable for Little Sprouts, with a few more ‘out and abouts’ than normal. Kinders will be at Library and Bush Kinder during Little Sprouts time but hopefully it will all coordinate.

Pending timetables…

Play2Learn

Play2Learn is an early learning program that helps parents prepare their kids for school. It’s fun and free! Check it out!

Snug Primary School Website

Please check out our school website if you haven’t recently. It’s been updated with all the current COVID data provided to us by the Department of Education, as well as our usual school calendar, enrolment forms, health information, OSHC documents, Little Sprouts updates, links to contact us and so on. The address is:

Outside School Hours Care

2022 Information and Enrolment (Including Re-Enrolment)

2022 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!

Kids Matter eNewsletter

Kingston Library - What’s On

Coming Events

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

Community Notices

Youth Activity Program

Margate Family Fun Fair

2022 TERM DATES