23 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Congratulations to our Arts on Tour ensemble for a very successful week touring around the state. I encourage you to attend our public performance on Thursday the 23rd of November in the school hall commencing at 7.00pm.

We are well into the busiest time of the year, winding down a school year and preparing for 2018. Tenders for the capital works have been received and we are now awaiting to hear who the successful applicants are. Work should start on site before the end of the term, so some exciting times ahead. I would like to thank and congratulate all staff particularly our Education Facility Attendants who worked above and beyond in relocating services around the school.

Congratulations to Laura Sliskovic on receiving Top 1% and Top of School Awards in her NAPLAN results. Laura attended the presentation held at Rose Bay High School, receiving her award from the Minister of Education Jeremy Rockliff.

End of year reports are currently being written and will be sent home in the last week of term, which is less than four weeks away. In our recent school based testing we have seen good growth in student outcomes.

We are preparaing for 11/12 delivery at St Marys District School in 2018. We have had strong support from our community in the return of 11/12 to St Marys and it is exciting to see our numbers of students making this a viable outcome for students, parents and the school. Mrs Francis is the contact person at school if parents have any questions about next year’s subjects and expectations.

I would also like to thank all our parents who have helped in classrooms this year. You are an integral part of our school community and the feedback you provided at a recent meeting with Ms Cook was valuable. The information is being collated and we will have strong policy that is functional and supported by all parties.

The new ‘Education Act’ continues to roll out and we are working on the development of new school based policies that are required due to the new Act. These will be reviewed by our School Association as they are developed. The Education Department are providing schools with policy templates to assist us in the formation of workable documents. There will be a new St Marys District School Association constitution drawn up based on one of those templates and will be endorsed by our School Association.

I look forward to seeing you all at the end of year assembly in our new Gym and next year in our new performing arts centre. This Presentation Day will be held on Friday 15th December commencing at 1.00pm.

As you are aware we have had a particularly dry winter, and we have already had an early start to the bushfire season. So a reminder to all our families to review your bushfire safety processes – the question is, are you and your family ready?

The ‘ Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2017’ reports that: …Despite significant rainfall during the winter of 2016 in many catchments, long term underlying dryness continues in some parts of Tasmania…

Tasmania is expecting above normal fire potential in the South, in the Derwent Valley and in the East, along the coastal strip. The fire season will commence early in these areas (eg. October), and… may produce significant fires. The remainder of Tasmania is classified as normal fire potential.

For households in bushfire prone areas: Tasmania Fire Service recommends a Bushfire Survival Plan is developed. Their template can be found below.

If you are unsure of bushfire potential in your area, check the TFS Community Protection Plans. If there is a plan for your area, it is considered to be bushfire prone. TFS Community Protection Plans can be found below.

For households not in bushfire prone areas: Red Cross’ Rediplan encourages every household to maintain a general emergency plan. Their REDIPlan guide and template can be found below.

BAY OF FIRES

On Thursday 2nd November, Grade 9A and 9B went on an excursion to Binalong Bay. As part of a unit on sustainable tourism, we visited the friendly staff at Bay of Fires Eco Tours. The Bay of Fires Eco Tours kindly offered to take the students on a mini boat tour, so they were able to experience the Bay of Fires from the water. Despite chilly winds, students had a great experience, and we thank Alisha and her family for giving us this amazing opportunity.

Bay of Fires

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Bay of Fires

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SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY

The Swimming and Water Safety Program this year included all the Grade 2 students along with the Grade 3, 4 and 5 students.

It was great to see the improvement made over the 9 days of the program.

The pool was in top condition and the temperature stayed at a pleasant level that enabled students to concentrate on their tasks.

Swimming and Water Safety

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Swimming and Water Safety

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Grade 3-6 Swimming Carnival

This years carnival was a great success with a good level of participation.

Following on from the Swimming and Water Safety Program it was pleasing to see so many more competent swimmers in all strokes.

The senior students showed the way with a very competitive approach – quickly building up valuable house points.

With a place in the school team and a possible trip to Launceston in the ENE team all swimmers were keen to do their best.

All novelty events drew crowds, with participants thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Thank you to all the parents and carers for your support.

DUNCAN 514
DALMAIN 502
BLACKWOOD 360

NEW RECORDS

Darshini Barnes

25m Backstroke 20.34
50m Backstroke 47.78
50m Freestyle 39.24

Helayna McGiveron

50m Breaststroke 1.13.55

Grade 3-6 Swimming Carnival

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Grade 3-6 Swimming Carnival

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SECONDARY ATHLETICS CARNIVAL 2017

The St.Marys District School Secondary Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday 7th November.

The day kicked off with some cold winds blowing, but the events rolled on, the temperature and sunshine increased dramatically to turn into a perfect day for competing.

The final tally for house points saw Dalmain come out victorious over runner up- Blackwood and finally Duncan trailing close behind. These scores definitely highlight the small difference participation points can generate and a great remind for future carnivals.

HOUSE POINTS

Dalmain 446
Blackwood 422
Duncan 414

Congratulations to the Dalmain competitors!

We would like to thank all competitors, students helpers and staff for their input in creating an enjoyable competition that promoted team comradery and an active lifestyle.

Two new school records were also set on the day by students Jake Kerr and Tiana Smith.

Their new records stand at:

TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONS

Secondary Athletics

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Secondary Athletics

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ENE SWIMMING

We entered a team of competitive swimmers for the ENE Carnival. Although we do not have many Grade 3 and 4’s girls, the senior students more than made up for it with two trifectas and other impressive swims.

It was a long day with six events and even longer if your only event was at the end.

Well done to all team members and congratulations to those listed below who made it through to Launceston.

MEMBERS OF THE COMBINED ENE TEAM:

Helayna McGiveron, Henry Legge, Liam Singline, Jazmyne Dawson, Jimmy Frieboth, Darshini Barnes, Taylor Jones, Ruby Churchill, Ava Lockwood-Roden and Sam Jordan.

ENE Swimming

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ENE Swimming

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PRIMARY CERTIFICATE WINNERS – NOVEMBER ASSEMBLY

Kinder

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Kinder

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Prep-1

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Prep-1

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Gr 1-2 Certificates

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Gr 1-2 Certificates

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Gr 2-3 Certificates

Gr 3-4 Certificates

Gr 4-5 Certificate

Gr 6 Certificates

VALUE CARD WINNERS – PRIMARY ASSEMBLY - NOVEMBER

The Values Cards winners in our November Primary assembly were:

Lochie Miller in Grade 1/2
Charlotte Robson in Grade 2/3
Emily Gillies in Grade Prep/1
Lilly Bunton in Grade 1/2
Jack George in Grade 1/2
Maddison Eyles in Grade 1/2

LIFT

This year, with support from Building Blocks, Sporting Schools and the School Association, LIFT programs have included Soccer, Art Sessions, Feed Me a Story Cooking, Mother’s Day Devonshire Tea, Father’s Day Bonfire and BBQ, Magic 123 Parent workshops and the Games Lending Library. All programs have had pleasing participation rates from our school families. By participating in our LIFT programs, parents have spent additional time engaging with their children’s learning, and research suggests that this will give your child the best start in life for future literacy and numeracy development. Thank you for supporting our LIFT initiatives throughout 2017. We look forward to continued fun and engagement in 2018. Please ensure all games are returned to the library during the last two weeks of school. If you need assistance to obtain your Working with Vulnerable People Card, please contact Bec Mason via the main office on 63 723 900.

The photo gallery includes photos of wonderful creations from Recycled Art sessions at Fingal Campus.

Lift

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Lift

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SCHOOL CANTEEN – Volunteers needed

Our school canteen is looking for volunteers – new or old families, mums, dads, grandparents etc to help staff the canteen. A helping hand is always appreciated. If you can spare some time once a week, or once a month, your help will be greatly accepted.

We know your time is valuable and if you can’t spare a full day, we will be happy to see you for half a day, just at lunch time or even to help prepare lunches.

Experience: Not necessary, all you need to learn will be learnt in a short space of time. If you prefer just working behind the scenes, we would still love to have you! You must have your Working With Vulnerable People Card and we are happy to help you obtain this.

Please contact our Canteen Manager Mrs Emma Cook or School Business Manager Lisa Bean on 0363723900 for more information.

CHILDREN AND HYDRATION

Now that the weather is warming up, as well as hats and sunscreeen, it is important to consider what your child is bringing to school to keep hydrated.

Our bodies are made up of approximately 70 percent water. Water has many important functions in the body, including; regulating your body’s temperature, digesting food and excreting waste. Your body loses water throughout the day when you sweat, breathe and urinate. It is important to replace the water you have lost to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated.

Children are at a greater risk of dehydration than adults. This is because in relation to their size, children have a larger proportion of their skin available to lose sweat and be exposed to heat. Additionally, children don’t always recognise that they’re thirsty, and if they’re not encouraged and reminded may forget to drink. Luckily, there are a few ways to tell if your child is hydrated.

How do I know if my child is hydrated?

Frequent bathroom breaks or wet nappies are the easiest way to tell if your child is hydrated. You can also look out for these common symptoms of dehydration:

• Headaches
• Poor concentration
• Thirst
• Cracked lips
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Lethargy
• Dark urine

How much water does my child need?

The amount your child needs will vary depending on their age, size and level of activity. For children under 8 years of age, at least 4-6 glasses of water is recommended. For children older than 8 years of age a minimum of 6-8 glasses is recommended.

If your child is playing sports or is very active they will need extra fluid. Kids will also need more fluid on hot days or when unwell.

Tips to help your kids stay hydrated

• Pack a water bottle for school and when you go out. Try a frozen water bottle in summer.
• Encourage your child to drink water before, after and during physical activity
• Always offer water with meals and snacks
• Encourage your child to drink water, even if they don’t like it!

Tips for kids who don’t like water

• Try adding slices of fruits such as lemon or orange to water, for variety and flavour.
• Let your kids choose their own drink bottle or serve water in colourful glasses or jugs.
• Be a role model! Make a point of drinking water with your kids.
• Experiment with temperature; try having a jug of water in the fridge, adding ice-cubes, or even warm water in winter.

Water is the best choice to keep your kids hydrated throughout the day. Water contains no extra energy and can quench your thirst.

Source: http://healthy-kids.com.au/

How to care for water bottles

It is recommended that children, parents, early childhood services and schools clean water bottles the same way they do cups and glasses.

When water bottles are not cleaned and stored properly they can get smelly, slimy or mouldy. To prevent this from happening:

• Fill water bottles with fresh water only
• Tip unused water out at the end of the day
• Wash water bottles thoroughly with soapy water every day – the warmer the water the better!
• Store empty water bottles with the lid off
• Some water bottles are dishwasher safe so use a dishwasher where available
• If extra cleaning is needed the following agents can be used: a sanitiser such as Milton or baby bottle sanitiser; vinegar; baking soda; salt; or denture cleaner
• Bleach is not recommended as it is not safe to consume and leaves an odour
• The plastic in water bottles can deteriorate over time – we recommend regular replacement of water bottles (at a minimum at the start of each year)

Source: Move Well Eat Well http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mwew

ALICE

Arts on Tour 2017

The art students needed to paint 9 new flats to create 3 new sets for Arts on Tour. Thank you Shan Wilmot for making the sets and painting them white ready for the design to be drawn on by Jill Lewis. A huge thank you to the following people who happily volunteered to give their much needed help to paint the sets:

Chloe Malley, Charlotte Harvey, Indi Tonks, Dakotah Thomson, Alyssa Cook, Hamish Rowntree, Mason Bucknell, Jade Kinnersley, Danni Ingram, Hayden Pou, Craig Freiboth, Amanda Jordan, Laura Sliskovic, Lolita Whytcross, Moochie Jarvis, Cameron Plowright, Tom Jarvis, Tiarna Cordwell and Tara Guy.

This year students were very competent in tonal painting and with a few instructions produced amazing work for the drama students to act in front of. Thank you again to everyone. Jill Lewis—Art Teacher.

Arts on Tour

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Arts on Tour

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WOOLMERS PREP/1/2 EXCURSION

On Tuesday, November 14th the Prep/1 and 1/2 classes took an excursion to the historic site of Woolmers in Longford. We had a fabulous day exploring the old buildings and the beautiful surrounds. Some of the highlights were looking through the old homestead that belonged to the Archer family, taking a trip through the underground cellar, exploring the two-storey shearing shed and wandering through the rose garden and maze. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed the day and as our tour guide said “ we were one of the best behaved group of children that have visited in a long time”.

Woolmers

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Woolmers

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FINGAL EXCURSION

To Space and Beyond

On Tuesday the 14th of November, Fingal Campus students ventured to the Queen Victoria Museum to Capture the Cosmos as a part of the Planetarium’s production. Students experienced a simulated night sky and video exploring the vast magnificence of planets and stars in our Southern sky. After, our curious students explored the museum’s factory, animal, and dinosaur exhibits.

Next, we bounced into experimenting with the effects of gravity at Airtime360. After all, every scientist must have time for fun in amongst their explorations.

We all had an excellent day, with a fantastic mix of fun and focussed learning experiences. Thank you especially to the parents who fundraised the money to make this special excursion happen.

Fingal Excursion

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Fingal Excursion

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GRADE 4-5 BATIK

The 4/5 class were given the opportunity to create a batik where they use jhanting tools and hot wax to create a design. Procian dyes were used to dip the batik and create the beautiful patterns. The batik’s were ironed in their final stage to get the wax out of the material. This is a traditional art form used by many Indonesian artists.

Amelia Mason Grade 4

COOKING WITH GRADE 2/3 CROMB

Grade 2/3 Croomb recently had a fun time in the cooking room, preparing some tasty Pizzas. Working in the kitchen not only develops cooking skills, it also encourages the use of maths skills for measuring, teamwork and provides an opportunity to learn how to work safely in the kitchen.

CHOIR

This term a group of Primary students joined students from St Helens, Bicheno and Scotch Oakburn College to form a collaborative choir.

The first session was held at St Marys where students learned to sing a variety of songs and participated in vocal exercises.

The second session was held in Launceston at Scotch Oakburn. Students were tutored by professional vocal experts and backed by a band of teachers and musicians, featuring Ruben Koops and Luke Parry (both finalists in Australian TV Talent shows).

Pete Cornelius was again an integral part of this program as well as our new vocal tutor to St Marys Megg Guy. The songs were recorded and we look forward to seeing the results of this session soon.

Choir

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Choir

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BRODIE AND THE AUST-X OPEN SUPERCROSS CHALLENGE

Many of you may not be aware, but we have a budding Motor Cross Rider who has just completed his first national race. Brodie Faulkner entered an online competition for the Aus-X Open in the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge in Sydney on the 11th November, 2017. He had to have a motor cycle Australian licence, completed 12 months of riding experience and provide a teacher’s report from school. People from Australia and New Zealand entered this competition and Brodie was fortunate to be selected – he was one of 20 riders chosen. The race was for 7-8 year old riders.

The racers were divided into two groups of 10 with one group racing on the Saturday and the other racing on the Sunday. Brodie had to be at the Qudos Bank Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park by 10am on the Saturday of race day. Brodie had a very busy day. He had to sign in to the event, was issued with new KTM riding gear in blue, orange and black, which he was allowed to keep and he was issued a racing bike. It was a 2017 KTM 50 SX. Brodie wasn’t able to keep this though. Throughout the day Brodie participated in 2 practice sessions and then was part of an autograph signing session. He wrote his signature on the number 5 spot on the poster. Brodie had one big wish for the day. He wanted to wear number 5 on his riding jersey. Why? He is a big fan of Wade Kirkland who also wears number 5 and who is a local hero. Brodie got his wish. Not only that, he also got the number 5 position at the start of the race.

Brodie really enjoyed the race after that. He started well even getting hole shot (first rider to the first corner) and he stayed on his bike for the whole race. When he finished he was in 5th position. An amazing effort Brodie! Brodie received a certificate and a number plate with signatures of some well-known riders.

Brodie said “It was lots and lots of fun. I know some of my friends and family were cheering me on while they watched the race on TV.”

Congratulations Brodie. We are sure you will continue to do well in this sport. For anyone interested in watching Brodie’s race in Sydney, follow the link below.

(photos supplied by Amy Faulkner)

Student Assistance Scheme - STAS

STAS is one of the forms of financial assistance available to assist with the cost of school levies. The scheme provides assistance for low-income families towards the cost of levies for students enrolled from kindergarten through to year 12.

If your financial circumstances have changed, or if you are enrolling your child for the first time, please refer to the guidelines to see if you may be eligible. Application forms are available from the school Administration Office, Service Tasmania Shops.

School Magazine 2017

Read all about the highlights of the 2017 in the St Marys District School Magazine!

The magazine has been sent to our printing company and should be ready for distribution to students at the end of the school year.

Parents were given the option to pre-pay for their 2017 magazine at book sales this year. However, only a small number of magazines were pre-paid. In order to keep costs down, if you did not pre-pay, we need to sell at least 75-100 copies.

If you have not pre-ordered or paid for your 2017 magazine, now is the time to do so! To secure your copy, please contact the school administration office. If you are not sure if you did pre-pay, we still have your book and levy list and can check if the magazine was paid for or crossed off.

The 2017 Magazine is $20.00 and can be paid for by cash or card. Here’s a sneak peek of what you will be missing out on:

Presentation Day Flowers

Can you help?

Once again we are appealing to the garden lovers in our community for donations of flowers for decorations on Presentation day. If you are able to help by donating flowers of have some time available to assist with flower arrangements, please contact the school administration office. If you are able to donate flowers, or vases etc, we would appreciate them being brought to the school on the morning of Friday 15th December.

Hoses and Ladders Bushfire Survival Game

Issue 10 of Tasmania Fire Service’s Bushfire-Ready Neighbourhoods has some timely information to assist individuals and communities prepare for the coming fire season. With conditions so dry on the East Coast, it is expected that there will be above normal fire potential along the coastal strip.

Visit the link below to download or order your bushfire ready resources, read the newsletter or access the Hoses and Ladders Bushfire Survival Game.