Dear Community

A warm welcome back to our students and families after the Term 1 holidays. It's remarkable how over a couple of weeks the weather can change from warm school days through to the cooler mornings we are having now. Families need to ensure our young people have their school rugby tops, hoodies and puffer jackets handy and ready to go for school each morning.  From the many conversations I have been part of over the past two weeks, it appears that students and staff had an enjoyable break and have returned feeling enthused and motivated for the term ahead. Term 2 is certainly a time of great focus on learning and teaching and, for taking on the many opportunities and supports that are available for students. Given this, our students have made a fantastic start to their learning in Term 2 with settled classrooms across the school.

Make Each Day Count

By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.

We have lots in store for this term, including the Bay of Fires Art Exhibition excursion; Bitlink and the AMC visits, a BMX show, The Premiers Reading Challenge and Winter Sports get underway, Cross Country carnivals and visits by both Launceston and Newstead Colleges.

Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick. Keep trying to create a solid routine, to set your child up for success for the rest of the year.  If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.

Lifting Literacy

We want every student at St Marys District School to reach their potential. This means supporting them to develop the literacy skills that will help them navigate life.

This year all Tasmanian Government schools are taking steps to introduce a new way of teaching literacy. This follows the latest national and international research about how our brains learn to read. 

Our teachers are boosting their skills, as it is important that every teacher in Tasmania has a common understanding of best practice when it comes to teaching literacy.  From the beginning of this year, all our teachers started this training in how to teach reading based on the latest evidence and on June 7 our Teacher Assistants will also commence this training.  We will provide regular updates on our lifting literacy practices through future newsletters.

You can read more about how Tasmania’s school system is introducing a new way of teaching reading on the DECYP website.

Digital Skills - Support our child’s online learning at home  

Digital skills are critical to every child’s success, but supporting online learning can be overwhelming.

The Digital Skills for Families team are delivering a program to help Tasmanian families support online learning at home. Spending time online at home gives children an opportunity to practice what they are learning at school. Positive home environments help children develop the skills and independence they need to succeed in a digital future. 

Learn about communicating online with schools, digital education at school and how to support online learning at home.

Digital skills for families is offering free:

• information sessions
• workshops
• one-to-one help

in libraries, schools and community locations statewide.

To assist the Digital Skills for Families team in developing programs to really meet SMDS families needs, the following link will take you to a survey where you can help shape the programs offered in our local communities.

Please find the link to the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/03WHtjcJu5. All responses will be anonymous, and do not require signing in

 More information and resources can be found at www.libraries.tas.gov.au/digital-skills-for-families/

OR Email digitalskillsforfamilies@libraries.tas.gov.au.

Mobile Phone Policy

It is timely to remind parents and students of our Mobile Phone Policy, aligned to DECYP requirements for all schools. Mobile phones are required to be switched off and passed in during class teacher at the beginning of the school day. While we live in a world surrounded by technology, we are aware that mobile phones are causing a distraction from learning and can impact on the development of respectful and supportive relationships.   

Mobile phone conditions of use: 

• Mobile phones must be switched off and passed in at the beginning of the school day and collected from the office at the end of the school day.
    
• Year 11/12 students must have their phone turned off and stored in bags during class time. If Year 11/12 students have no scheduled classes, they must be in the 11/12 classroom or student common room if they wish to use their mobile phone.
  
  
• Earphones are not permitted at any time, with any device, unless directed by the teacher where audio is required for the learning task when using a device.  
  
  
• Students with ‘smart watches’ must have them set to ‘aeroplane mode’. 

Please be aware that any communication between parents and students during the school day, will need to be through the School Admin Office. 

 Staffing Update

During the holiday break, I was informed that Matt Moon was the successful applicant for a permanent teaching role at Winnaleah District High School. I would like to wish Matt every success as he takes on this position from next week and thank him for his contribution to our school during Term 1.  Heather Barnett has joined our staff for Term 2 to cover the teaching load that Matt has vacated.

Sadly, we also have had to farewell Jordan Disley from his part time role on our 4/5 class. Due to personal circumstances Jordan and his partner Barbara will be leaving Tasmania and returning to be closer to Jordan’s family. We wish Jordan and Barbara safe travels and hope we see their return to the Fingal Valley at some time in the future.

I look forward to a busy but productive term ahead and please remember, every school day matters.

Regards

Carolyn Watson

Kinder was buzzing last week with very excited children coming back to school after the holidays, very happy to see their friends and tell them all about what they had been up to. Over the next few weeks in Kinder we will be exploring and learning about shapes, their attributes and looking for them in our familiar environments, we will be creating art works using shape. We will also be looking at colour and colour mixing, exploring how colour makes up our world and colours suit different purposes, we will be engaging in some science experiments as well as visual art experiences.

In letters and sounds we will be exploring rhymes and rhyming words, we have been reading Dr Seuss books. We also wrote a class story using the First Nation symbols that we know, we are currently in the illustration stages of this.

Last week we had our first visit to the farm, this was very exciting and the children were able to help Craig feed the 5 week old calves. We spent time exploring the farm meeting all the animals that live there and feeding the chooks. We will be visiting the farm every Wednesday from 9.45am until recess time.

Last week we had our first session of LIL for term 2 in the PAC, focusing on gross motor development. It was fantastic to be joined by so many families from the community. This week LIL will be in the Kinder classroom focusing on “The Wheels on the Bus”.  We are looking forward to you joining us for this session.

Our Hospitality students are curently looking at foods from around the world.  Our first lesson was exploring our very own backyard - Australia.  The students had a lovely time making these unique rolls which are packed full of flavour.  Play around with spices and create your own unique flavour base.  Highly recommended with some tomato relish or good old fashioned tomato sauce.

Homemade sausage rolls with spiced kangaroo mince recipe

Makes 4 long sausage rolls

INGREDIENTS

• 50g unsalted butter
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tbs thyme leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tbs finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1 tsp toasted coriander seeds, crushed
• 1 tsp toasted cumin seeds, crushed
• 1 tsp toasted caraway seeds, crushed, plus extra to scatter
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1/2 egg, lightly beaten, plus extra, to brush
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 200g kangaroo mince
• 150g beef sausage mince
• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, defrosted
• Serve with sauce

METHOD

1. Heat butter in a large frypan over high heat. When the butter starts to foam add garlic and herbs. Stir to coat in the butter. Reduce heat to medium and cook. Add stock, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
   
   
2. Stir in the spices and onion powder. Season then cook, stirring, for a further 2-minutes. Remove mixture from heat and leave until cooled completely.
   
   
3. Place the cooled liquid in a large bowl with egg, breadcrumbs and both minces. Season and mix to combine. Divide the mince mixture into 4 equal portions.
   
   
4. Preheat oven to 220°C. Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper. Cut pastry sheets in half. Place a mince portion down the centre of each piece of pastry and brush edges with extra egg. Roll up to enclose filling, and cut into 4 pieces. Place on trays, seam side down. Brush with egg and scatter with extra caraway seeds. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately with sauce.

Some Year 7 students posing with their completed Term 1 project, the mini basketball game.

Completed a half check joint, which is a new woodwork joint that they have just learnt. This was the students' first attempt at this joint and it has been completed to a high standard.

Mrs Youdale is very grateful to work with the Prep-1 students in Science.  They are positive, locked on to learning and fantastic.

1. ENE Athletic Carnival 4 April
2. ENE Combined Athletic Carnival 11April

A team of more than 40 Grade 3 – 6 students were selected to represent our school at the first of 2 regional athletic carnivals that were held at the end of Term, 1 based on their athletic performance at our school Grade 3 – 6 Athletic Carnival held on 28 March.

It was such a privilege for supervising teachers and teacher assistants -  Karen Bramich, Emma Woods, Emily Van Galen and Ros Smith – to accompany a very excited team to the St Helens Sports Complex for a wonderful day of competition against  Bicheno and St Helens students.

• Our 9 Grade 3 students (Jack W., Jye F., Thomas F., Jack F-S., Coen B., Sadie P., Indi E., Joan R., Evie C.) were excited at the prospect of competing in their very first ENE event. Our Gr. 4 – 6 students who competed were:
• Grade 4: Ashley M., Luka W., Kayden G., Declan B., Leo R., Reed B., Macey G., Evie B, Cortesse L., Bridie W., Maddison D., Bella Mc.
• Grade 5: Lily W., Ella S., Ellie H., Cobia B., Asha W., Amaya A., Kylah P., Ollie B., Hamish D., Jett W., Kyuss B., Rayne K.
• Grade 6: Levi W., Cohen P-C., Oliver J., Bentley C-W., Hamish B., Ella G., Shiloh F., Billy T., Jordy T.

Our students competed in a range of Track and Field events including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, High Jump, Long Jump and Shot Putt.

We are SO proud of all our athletes no matter what place they achieved in their events.  A number of our students achieved 1^st – 3^rd places and received ENE place ribbons for their efforts.  These students where then selected to compete at the Combined ENE Athletic Carnival the following week on 11 April.  A combined team of St Marys, Bicheno and St Helens students travelled to St Helens to compete against another combined team from Winnaleah, Scottsdale, Ringarooma and Bicheno.

Students who attended the Combined ENE Athletic Carnival were:

• Indi E., Declan B., Evie B., Macey G., Ollie B., Cohen P-C., Ashley M., Hamish D., Levi W., Bentley C-W., Cobia B., Jack W., Kyuss B., Ellie H., Asha W., Lily W., Ella G.

It was an honour for Miss Bramich to announce the 2024 SMDS Team Captains for both ENE Athletic Carnivals.  Congratulations to Levi W. and Ella G.  Their athletic representation and experience over the years earned them their co-captaincy and to lead our team members at both events.

At the end of the ENE Combined Athletic Carnival, six of our students were selected to compete at the State Athletic Carnival to be held in Launceston on Friday 10 May.  We wish the following students who are attending the carnival all the best!!  We hope to provide a report on their performances in the next newsletter.

• Macey G., Hamish D., Levi W., Cohen P-C., Ella G., Ollie B.

Please enjoy this selection of photos of our students from the ENE Athletic Carnivals.

DIVISION 1

2024

St Marys District School participated in the Inter-High Swimming Carnival at Launceston Aquatic in the last week of term 1.  We had a small team of very talented swimmers who represented our school with amazing determination, pride and resilience, up against much larger schools in the Division 1 carnival.

We hit the pool, beginning with the Medley relays and then into the 50m Freestyle events where Sienna M finished second in heat one for the Grade 7 girls.  We were super excited when both Harley H and Helayna M finished first in their heats of the 50m freestyle.  Any place ribbon in the Division One carnivals is an outstanding achievement, and we congratulate the following swimmers for their amazing achievement:

Rob W - 3^rd 50m Butterfly             

Sienna M - 2^nd 50m Breaststroke & 50m Butterfly & 3^rd 50m Backstroke   

Helayna M - 3^rd 50m Breaststroke & 50m Backstroke

Outstanding achievements came from the following students who participated in so many events to gain points for our school. What a mighty effort and thank you for your commitment.

A special mention to the following students who stepped up and filled in extra events for the day.

Congratulations to our students for representing our school with such courage and for finishing 5^th overall to retain our place in Division 1 for next year. Our team was very short in numbers this year, so we are hoping to build on participation for next year so we can aim to have a swimmer in every race.

Thanks to Mr Wardlaw for supporting our team of swimmers again this year and to our support squad of parents that travel up to Launceston to cheer on our students.

Laura Swanson

This year, ANZAC Day fell in between the Easter Break and the Term 1 School Holidays.  ANZAC Day is an Australia-wide public holiday where many people take the time for quiet reflection, remember family members or attend ANZAC Day Services. 

People who live in our East Coast Community, those who may have been travelling through the region for a day or so, or those who may have been on holidays in and around our beautiful East Coast environment, may have taken a moment to attend one of the community Dawn or 11.00am ANZAC Services.

The following photos are from the St. Helens Dawn Service and the amazing sunrise that morning. The sunrise locations are looking out onto the bay in St. Helens and the sky at Diana’s Basin.

These notices have been sent home to parents in the last fortnight.  If you did not receive one and would like to receive a copy of the notice, please contact the school office on 63 723 900.

PRIMARY

• Australian Early Development Census - Prep students 21 May 2024