St Marys District School
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13 Gray Road
St Marys TAS 7215
Subscribe: https://stmarysdistricts.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

st.marys.district.school@education.tas.gov.au
Phone: 03 6372 3900

7 December 2017

Newsletter Articles

GRADE 6 TRANSITION DAY

In preparation for their transition to St Marys District School (SMDS) next year, eight year 6 students from Bicheno participated in a range of activities and classes with the year 6’s from SMDS over three days at SMDS. On the first day students got a taste of what a day in the life of a year 7 would be like by attending a range of classes in different subject areas. It was fantastic to see all students fully engaged in the tasks and learning opportunities that the teachers designed for them.

The following days activities were designed to promote team work, collaboration, critical and creative thinking and problem solving. Students had to work together to design, build, code and construct their own robot, all in one and half hours! The resilience and determination from all students was fantastic to see, as well as the team work and sportsmanship displayed when they learned how to play European Handball.

On the last day students got the chance to ask questions about secondary school in a thought box activity with Miss Smith and Mr Spykers. They also participated in a workshop with Victoria to support strategies in coping with change. Finally we finished the day off by having a BBQ lunch and watching the SMDS student band play some awesome tunes! The students developed some excellent relationships with both staff and students at SMDS and we look forward to them learning with us in 2018!

Tom Spykers
AST 7-10

Transition Day
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Transition Day
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School Calendar

Sync Calendar

School Calendar

Term 4 Commences

All day

LIL 10.30-11.30 Kinder

All day

Pre Kinder Group 1 9-10am

All day

Grade 3 Sleepover

16 Oct 2025 - 17 Oct 2025

TasBGas Construction Skill Set Student interviews - Ref Tanya time tbc

All day

Construction Skill-Set Interviews

All day

HoL PL - KG, WI

All day

Kinder Excursion- St Marys Town Hall Children's Week

All day

Pre Kinder Group 2 9-10am

All day

LIL 10.30-11.30 Kinder

All day

NC/LC Enrolment Interviews

All day

Grade 9 Camp - CYC Blue Lagoon

27 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Immunisation Catchups - if required

All day

Grade 5 Camp Rostrevor

29 Oct 2025 - 30 Oct 2025

LIL 10.30-11.30 St Marys Hall

All day

Pre Kinder 9-10am

All day

Transition visit 4 BPS Y6 to SMDS - OPTIONS Day

All day

World Teachers' Day 2025

All day

Student Free Day - Professional Learning

All day

Recreation Day (Northern Tas only)

All day

HoL Pyegana Dairy Co

All day

'Knock Knock' Performance K-4 PAC

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Kinder Excursion Serpentarium

All day

Pre Kinder 9-10am

All day

LIL 10.30-11.30 PAC

All day

Sporting Schools Surf Groms Gr 5/6

All day

Secondary Athletics Carnival

All day

PAC/Common Room closed for Student Exhibition Set Up

07 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

RYDA (Simmons Plains)

All day

National Theatre Company Water Literacy Performance 3-6 2.15pm

All day

National Theatre Company Water Literacy Performance K-2 1.30

All day

2025 Student Exhibition

All day

Year 11/12 EOY Lunch @TBC

All day

LIL 10.30-11.30 Kinder

All day

Inter-High Athletics @ St Leonards

All day

Pre Kinder 9-10am

All day

Recurring event

DAVID ESCOBAR – CHESS

David took part in the 2018 Australian Chess Titles which were held at Queen’s College in Melbourne.

He played seven games over two days as part of the open Secondary section. There were sixty one players in this section aged between 14 and 20. Of the seven games David won four and drew one, tying for 12th but on a count back, finished 15th.

This has been a wonderful experience for David, who would like to acknowledge all those who helped him financially and supported his chess development over the years.

David Escobar
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David Escobar
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DERBY CAMP

On Wednesday the 29th of November a group of twenty four students travelled to Derby. On the way the bus broke down at a little lookout at the Blue Tier. Once the bus had got back on the road we were on our way to Derby.

Once we arrived at Derby we set up all our tents, some bigger than others. We then had to go on a relaxing three hour walk to a river where we could refill our drink bottles. When we got back to camp everyone did their own thing until the next day.

The next day we went mountain bike riding on the tracks at Derby. We rode two different tracks that were very fun and exhilarating. We saw at least five snakes with Ethan Parker running over one and nearly hitting Codey with it. We then came in for lunch. After lunch the other group went mountain bike riding. That night everyone made sure their tents were waterproofed and prepared for the rain that was scheduled.

On Friday we woke up and packed up our tents and went abseiling. After that we went back to camp and waited for the bus. On the way back we stopped in St Helens for lunch.

And that was our Derby camp.
By Fraser Russell, Leo Taylor, and Tom Jarvis

Derby Camp
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Derby Camp
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FUNKY REINDEERS BY GRADE 3-4

Students have been manipulating and experimenting with combinations of different techniques to create certain effects. We have been exploring and experimenting with visual conventions such as line, shape and colour to develop an individual approach to a theme or subject matter.

Funky Reindeers Grade 3-4
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Funky Reindeers Grade 3-4
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ST.MARYS GRADE 6 TRANSITION LUNCH AT WHITE SANDS RESORT

Quotes from some Grade 6’s on their Transition Lunch at White Sands

“I liked the pool and my fish and chips” – Max Salter
“I liked the cinema and being silly with my friends” – Maggie Egan
“I liked all of the trip, start to finish” – Eric Trivett
“I liked swimming, watching a movie and eating with my friends” – Tyler Garth
“The food was good. It was nice to hang out with my friends” – Jakobe Tatnell
“I liked how all of the boys (except Elvis and Keshon) were casually dressed and all of the girls were dressed fancily” – Zoe Johnson
“The lemonade was refreshing and delicious. I liked hanging out with my friend” – Chelsea Jackson
“I liked dressing up with friends and taking photos” – Evie Simpson
“I really liked hanging with my friends and eating lunch” – Elvis Russell
“I loved my ice cream sundae and how everyone froze in the pool” – Coneeka Thow
“I loved the fish and spending time with everyone” – Jasmine McKimmie

Grade 6 Transition Lunch
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Grade 6 Transition Lunch
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGWyTQDYOOA

CRICKET

Following the Country Gold Cricket Carnival, Max Salter and Jakobe Tatnell were selected to try out for the Northern Force Squad for 2018.

LIFT

This week the cooking room has been buzzing with excitement and wall to wall sprinkles! Grade Prep/One Gray/Mason and Grade 1/2 Bennett/Burbury have enjoyed making gingerbread men and other gingerbread biscuits. They linked their cooking with their literacy tasks; watching the story of the Gingerbread Man on YouTube, retelling the story with the beginning, middle and end, writing a procedural text on how to make gingerbread, and sequencing procedural pictures. All the students have been learning what a recipe structure looks like, discussing the ingredients and the method. They also had the chance to hone their measurement skills using standard cup measures, teaspoon measures, speed of the mixer, temperature control on the oven and cooking time using the clock. We had many parents and grandparents in for parent help, which the teachers were very grateful to have! The children loved having them there to join in and share their knowledge and stories. Have a wonderful Christmas and we will have more fun and festivities next year!

Kind regards,
Mrs Mason.

Lift
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Lift
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CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES IN GRADE PREP/ONE

Prep/One Gray/Mason have been getting into the Christmas spirit. They have made paper chains and paper Christmas puddings, testing out their cutting, threading and pasting skills. Both tasks were very tricky, and students bravely shared their most difficult aspect of the task, offering tips to others who may experience the same difficulty when it was their turn. Reflecting on tasks and problem solving are important aspects of learning. In Prep/One we encourage learning from mistakes. The students and teachers were very proud of their final creations.

Check out our gingerbread cooking in the LIFT section Gallery of this Newsletter!

Our class photo gallery shows some students decorating Christmas trees with various materials to display on the light table.

Prep One
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Prep One
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COMBINED ENE SWIMMING CARNIVAL - LAUNCESTON

A great day was had by the students who represented our region at the Combined ENE Swimming Carnival at Windmill Hill Pool on Tuesday 5th November 2017.

Combined Ene Swimming Carnival - Launceston
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Combined Ene Swimming Carnival - Launceston
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LINC TASMANIA SUMMER READING CLUB

Get ready for the LINC Tasmania Summer Reading Club! Online registrations opened on 1 December 2017.

Enter the Read and Win Competition at your local LINC or library this summer. All you need to do is read 10 or more books to go into in the draw to win an iPad. Complete your Summer Reading Club Log to enter at your local LINC/Library.

Visit the link below for more information:

https://www.linc.tas.gov.au/features/Pages/Summer-Reading-Club.aspx

LINC TASMANIA YOUTH ARCHIVE + HERITAGE HACKATHON

The Youth Archive and Heritage Hackathon is ON!

Are you in grades 7 - 12? Create and share something new using something old from our online archives. Have fun, get creative and go into the draw to win a Go Pro.

Create something new from Tasmania's digital archives for your chance to win one of 2 Go-Pros between 1 December 2017 – 25 January 2018.

This competition is open for Tasmanian students who are in grades 7-12 in 2017. Go to the online entry form.

More information from:

https://www.linc.tas.gov.au/features/Pages/YAAHH.aspx

MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN

Staff, students and some parents may have noticed Mr Wardlaw sporting a fine moustache over the month of November. Mr Wardlaw’s ‘Mo’ returned for the 2017 Movember fundraising campaign. This year with the support of community, Mr Wardlaw raised $1,700.00 for this important fundraiser, which he has been participating in since 2008. Nic’s total fundraising efforts for the Movember Campaign totals an amazing $8,954.00. Well done Mr Wardlaw – it just goes to show how easy it is to make a difference!

SANTA SHENNANIGANS @ FINGAL CAMPUS

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