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Our DECYP Value in focus is Growth:
The value of Growth involves children, young people and adults aspiring to learn and improve even when it is tough. This is a vital part in the continuum of developing strengths and fostering an environment where disappointments in learning experiences can be reframed as an opportunity for improvement. Growth builds upon the work students do at St Marys District School in establishing a solid foundation of resilience to overcome obstacles, or to embrace challenges when they arise.
At St Marys District School, the value of Growth is supported through the provision of feedback (staff to student, student to staff), the encouragement of students to continue in striving for improvement in all aspects of their day as well as developing pride in who they are and who they are becoming.
Growth is change. Students at St Marys District School experience change through inclusive practice, understanding of themselves and their peers, participation in extracurricular events, collaboration, leadership opportunities and availing themselves of opportunities as they are presented. These opportunities build students’ existing skills into much stronger ones, vital in the 21st Century world that is their future.
Staff promote the importance of having a go. When Growth is combined with the values of Courage, Connection, Respect and Responsibility, students will have experiences designed to instil personal attributes which support them in a rapid and ever-changing world. A world that we adults will not be able to predict but one in which our children and young people need to be prepared for.
Swimming and Water Safety
For the last two weeks, students in Grade 3 to 5 and invited Grade 6 students have been participating in the statewide mandatory swimming program. We have seen enormous growth in the skills of our students in the pool, with many of them gaining a Golden Cap for their continued efforts.
Rock Challenge Finals
Three acts and their entourage made their way to the Rock Challenge finals held in the Launceston Convention Centre. While our bands were not placed at the end of the night, the Growth they demonstrated between the heats and the finals was evident. Further growth will occur as they examine the feedback sheets from the judges.
Evidences of Learning and Farm Open Afternoon
It was wonderful to see the number of parents, extended families and students participate in the Evidences of Learning conversations then moving on to explore our school farm while enjoying the produce from the farm prepared by the Hospitality groups. Growth in learning was evident for everyone to see and understand. We are fortunate that students have the opportunity to explore their learning in multiple and unique ways.
We have come to the end of a very busy term that has provided our students with a variety of events to enhance their Growth in learning and experiences. Through competitions, problem solving, leadership, collaboration and being adaptable, students have shown their strength of character in a number of ways. As we move into the holidays staff would like to wish all students and their families a very safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating break. Thank you to all staff for your ongoing work to ensure our students have best learning environment and experiences available.
As Term 4 commences we welcome back Carolyn Watson, Michele Bennett and Leonie Youdale who have all been enjoying their Long Service leave. We also see the return of Keziah Green from maternity leave and welcome Matt Pinkerton who will be joining our secondary team.
Term 4 for students commences Monday 14 October.
Sandra Cook
Acting Principal
On Tuesday 10 September our Year 10 students participated in a Careers Fair hosted by St Helens District School and BODEC. Students were exposed to a range of career presentations with hands on learning opportunities. All students followed a schedule for the day and moved around four group rotations. Some of the exhibitors included Blue Screen Media, Cement Australia, the Defence Forces, Easy Tiger, RACT, BODC, White Card preliminary workshop and many more.
The Year 9-10 Visual Art students have been diligently working on their clay animal sculptures using handbuilding techniques. The results are turning out beautifully, showcasing their creativity and craftsmanship.
Term 3 MDT – Top Speed 67km/h
The Year 9 and Year 10 MDT students were set a challenge to design and build a CO2 powered drag car within a strict set of criteria around size, axle positions plus other restrictions. The intention was to race them at the end of the term. The race happened today within the school gymnasium.
To add some extra interest the local police were invited to come along to use either the laser or radar speed measuring devices to measure the actual speed of the cars.
There were two police officers, Chris and Andrea, who arrived and used these devices to check the speed of the cars.
The students chose to race against each other with the winner progressing to the next round. The final winner was Max G and his car was measured 3 times with a maximum speed of 67 km/h. Congratulations Max.
The police had positive interactions with the students, even allowing some of the students to use the radar to measure the cars 'top speeds’.
Overall, it was a very successful day and the students did themselves proud with their car designs and constructions.
What a privilege it has been for me to again be Teacher-in-Charge of our annual SWSP! Though it is a 10 day program, it probably takes about 10 weeks to plan and organise! All student aquatic consent forms need to be sighted and checked, followed by the collection and signing of the Major Excursion Consent and Medical forms.
Our students are then placed into swimming groups that will maximise the learning opportunities and outcomes for each student. Each student’s daily 50 minute lesson is planned meticulously by our team of instructors to provide aquatic experiences that will allow each student to confidently progress from Stage 1 (non-swimmers/beginners) to Stage 2 (intermediate/developing) and finally to Stage 3 (competent and efficient) over the three years from Grade 3 to 5.
After the holidays, each student will receive two Evidences of Learning to take home. The first is a formal DECYP assessment card detailing their level of aquatic attainment. This progress report includes the mandatory collection of attendance and absence information over the ten days as well as progress in both stroke development and water safety/survival skills. Students who have not participated will receive this record of attainment card with their attendance/absence and participation details entered accordingly. I would like to share with families that this year is the first year that the SWSP will be formally recognised and included in our Grade 3 – 5 HPE Australian Curriculum assessments. Each child will receive this second assessment in the form of a rubric attached to their SWSP skills attainment card.
I would like to acknowledge the team of SWSP instructors who have worked alongside me over the last ten days. We welcomed the knowledge and skills of Mrs Georgie Dudgeon, who, not only is a specialist SWSP instructor, but worked at St Marys with me in the HPE team a few years ago. It was wonderful to see her back at St Marys. We also had the privilege of having Mrs Elise Frost on the SWSP instructor team this year. She provided our students with a range of wonderful learning opportunities to support the development of swimming strokes and water safety skills. Finally, we welcomed the return of Mrs Dylis Fyle to the SWSP instructor team. Her expertise and wealth of knowledge ensured the students in her groups were given every opportunity to shine! Thank you all – it was indeed a pleasure working alongside you!
There is just too much to detail regarding our students’ SWSP achievements. Suffice to say, we have awarded a few of the prized “Golden Caps” to students who have demonstrated a degree of courage and progress above and beyond that normally observed. After the holidays, families will be receiving notices about our Term 4 Grade 3 – 6 HPE Aquatic lessons and the Grade 3 – 6 Swimming Carnival. In the meantime, please enjoy this selection of photos from our 2024 SWSP.
The Grade 1-2’s had the task of doing some observational drawing of and inspired by flowers donated by the Secombe Family.
EXPLORING WITH COLOUR
Our students are enjoying the new half court basketball/netball space in the Primary Playground, now that the long-awaited goal posts have arrived.
This space was developed with funding from the SMDS School Association. The Association were very impressed with a persuasive text provided by a group of students, and felt that this project was very worthwhile.
The Primary and Secondary socials were successful events and students were engaged and having fun with the different activities and dances planned by our Student Leaders. Thank you to the staff who volunteered their time to supervise and those who helped with set up and decorations.
Please enjoy our photos
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
- Grade 6 Activity Day - Rostrevor Excursion - Wednesday 23 October 2024
- Kinder - Senior's Week and International Children's Day Excursion - Wednesday 23 October 2024
SECONDARY
WHOLE SCHOOL
NOTICEBOARD