29 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

To align with the Department Strategic Plan the school is adopting the Department of Education Values. We are currently working with students to unpack these values. Look at the great feedback we are getting from the students.

ASPIRATION – STUDENTS DEFINED IT AS GOALS

1. To learn
2. To be respectful
3. To be healthy (e.g. hydrated)
4. To be safe
5. To have positive relationships
6. To have positive thoughts (e.g. growth mindset to having a go)

RESPECT – STUDENTS DEFINED IT AS SHOWING APPRECIATION

1. People (Everyone – Yourself, Staff, Teachers, fellow students, family, elders)
2. Your surroundings (Classroom, school and the environment)

COURAGE – STUDENTS DEFINED IT AS –THE WILL TO DO SOMETHING

1. Have a go at your work
2. Take risks (e.g. with your learning)

GROWTH – STUDENTS DEFINED IT IN TWO WAYS. Your mind/mentally, growing tall/growing up.

1. Having a growth mindset
2. Extending and expanding your knowledge

Bruce Campbell
Principal

School Attendance and Engagement Audit

The Tasmanian Audit Office is working on a performance audit report on High school attendance and student engagement. The aim of the report is to provide parliament with an independent opinion on the management of student attendance and engagement in Years 7 to 10, in government schools.

National research has shown that attendance and engagement affect student attainment and future achievements.

Work for the report will involve data from all Tasmanian government schools offering Years 7 to 10, as well as visits to schools and discussions with staff, students and families. To initiate the discussions the Tasmanian Audit Office has prepared a survey for students which will be made available through high school intranets.

The audit plan, which lists the areas we are interested in, is available on the Tasmanian Audit Office website at the link below:

Grade 9/10 Orientation Camp

This year the 9/10 group began the year with three days of challenges and workshops designed to build team work, resilience and relationships. The home groups competed for the coveted prize of a wireless speaker by completing small and large challenges. The Amazing Race consisted of a race from school to the top of Paddy’s Head and back, with road blocks along the way. The challenges highlighted our students’ amazing talents and attributes. Some highlights were: Harry Madden’s guts of steel; Hamish Rowntree’s amazing origami skills; Lily Haarmann’s muscles; Erinn, Elijah, Dakota, Breanna and Monique’s exceptional song writing and fire twirling abilities; Matt Grayson’s house of cards and Dakotah and Seb’s coat of arms masterpieces. Most of all it was inspiring to see the leadership, encouragement and co-operation shown by all students. The camp was certainly a challenging way to start the year but everyone worked together; supporting and laughing their way through the days. It has been fantastic to see the positivity and collegiality continue in the classrooms as we have started the official timetable and settled into the learning year. Special congratulations must go to Claire Neyland and Jordan King for giving up their dignity in the name of points, the students who summited Paddy’s Head and last but not least: 9/10C who were the overall winners of the challenges and now the owners of the speaker.

Kinder to Grade 6 Athletics Carnival

This year the Kinder to Grade 6 Athletics Carnival was a great day held on our Primary Oval on Tuesday 20th March 2018. With major changes made due to the construction, we were apprehensive about the condition of the top oval but thanks to the hard work of Olivier and Rodney we ended up with a great venue.

The best part was the laughter and excitement of the students who had a great day.

We realise there were many extra events on the program but with a new format it was better to have more in case!

It was very pleasing to see so many parents and friends supporting the students on the day.

Thank to those who helped with timing, placing, setting up and cleaning up.

Good luck to our team who will re representing our school at St. Helens on Wednesday 28th March.

New records were set by Mia Gillies – Grade 6 Discus and Henry Legge - Grade 4 long jump

The final scores in the house competition were:

Grade 7 – 10 Swimming Carnival

St Marys District School held the secondary swimming carnival on Wednesday 14th March 2018. The day started on time with the warm-up across the pool house relays, with Duncan taking an early lead. The morning’s events were all 25m and we saw the fall of a number of records, both recent and some long standing. Students enjoyed cheering for their house teams and there was plenty of support from our parents as well! Student leaders provided a BBQ lunch and our Grade 7/8 students enjoyed the addition of the water bomb activities on the lawn. By the end of the day, there were 11 new records set by four students across a number of different events. Congratulations to Anne Stewart, Charlotte Lockwood-Roden, Aaron Mason and Mason Bucknell – our new record holders. Also a big shout out to our students who didn’t break any records but showed resilience and strength of character by participating to the best of their ability and gaining points for their teams. Overall, a really enjoyable day. Now we look forward to the Inter-High Carnival on Wednesday 28th March and maybe even coming away with a trophy or two………..you never know! Good luck to all our swimmers.

Grade 7-10 Swimming Carnival Results 2018

1st Place - DUNCAN 550
2nd Place - BLACKWOOD 420
3rd Place - DALMAIN 255

CHAMPIONS AND RUNNER-UP CHAMPIONS

NEW RECORDS

BREAKING NEWS

At the Division 2 Inter-High Swimming Carnival our Secondary Swim Team have just won the:

Junior Shield
Senior Shield
Aggregate Shield
and
one of the Girls Combined Age Relay team has broken a record.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME IN THE NEXT ISSUE

INTER HIGH SWIMMING TRAINING

For the majority of this term, a group of dedicated high school students and have been meeting at our pool before school for swim squad training with. Mr Wardlaw and Mrs Fyle have provided some excellent coaching and the results have been outstanding, as demonstrated by the number of records broken in our recent Secondary Swimming Carnival.

On Friday 23rd March, world-renowned coach, Milt Nelms joined the group for a training session. Milt has worked with some of the biggest names in swimming, including five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorp, four-time gold medallist Dana Villmer and four-time gold medallist Missy Franklin.

Throughout the session the students were very focussed and keen to implement Milt’s suggestions on all aspects of technique. We are sure our students have made the best of the wonderful opportunity offered by Milt and the teaching staff who have given up their time to manage the swim squad. We are hoping for some exceptional results at the Inter High.

GRADE PREP-ONE GARTH

In Prep/One the students have been busy creating books about the four seasons. We have been thinking about appropriate clothes for each typical season; which can be tricky in Tasmania where we sometimes get four seasons in a day! Students were able to identify major seasonal changes in the weather and the environment, then illustrate these in their booklets. Each child decided on a title for their book, and some even wanted to include a blurb on the back!

Students have also been playing games such as Go Fish, Rotten Banana and Flip Pool. These games have enabled students to practise cooperation skills, taking turns, playing by an agreed set of rules, being a good sport (especially when you get the Rotten Banana and have to put all your words back), number recognition, the sequential order of numbers, and sounding out three letter words.

The Gallery includes the Prep/One’s Seasons booklets, a few samples of number stories they created, and some games fun!

DEVELOPING OUR WRITING IN GRADE 5-6 NICOL

Students in 5/6 Nicol have been working on developing stronger writing. We have been looking at nouns, verbs and adjectives and trying to think of more interesting and descriptive words we can use.

We wrote poems using descriptive nouns and verbs.

Life

by Katy Bond

Adults shout
Kids scream
Boys yell
Girls gossip
Teachers screech
Men interrupt
Students converse
Women chat
It is hell!

We changed the sentence “Johnny walked to school” by using more descriptive verbs and then created art about it. See some of our pictures here.

We replaced boring adjectives with bright and colourful ones in these photos.

We wrote descriptive poems about animals

RED PANDA

by Olivia Bonner

Soft red panda
Cute red panda
Endangered red panda
Cuddly red panda
Sleepy red panda
Red red panda
Orange red panda
My red panda

SLOTH

by Jazmyne Dawson

Cute sloth
Slow sloth
Furry sloth
Fantastic sloth
Adorable sloth
Silly sloth
Smart sloth
Big sloth
Fat sloth
Huggable sloth

ARCTIC FOXES

by Mia Gilles

Fluffy Arctic foxes
White Arctic foxes
Cute Arctic foxes
Fast Arctic foxes
Smart Arctic foxes
Protective Arctic foxes
Skittish Arctic foxes
Territorial Arctic foxes
Loveable Arctic foxes
Unpredictable Arctic foxes
I love Arctic foxes

PANDA

by Katy Bond

Fat panda
Lazy panda
Hungry panda
Big panda
Baby panda
Cuddly panda
Sleepy panda
Slow panda
Black and white panda
I love pandas

Building Works

Our building works are progressing well, with props and bearings installed and side walls removed. Earthworks have commenced for the entry ramp and stairs, as well as for the extensions for office spaces at the rear of the building. Rendering has taking place to prepare window cavities for the new windows. Inside the building, framing up is taking place for the library and library pods, foyer and some of the administration and support offices. At the music room/performing arts end of the building we are beginning to see how the space will work, with window openings between practice rooms being created, as well as door openings and preparation for the stage. Pouring of the slab took place on Friday March 23rd. Behind the scenes there has been a lot of electrical and communications work going on, relocating switchboards and the data connection between block 1 and the current Library/Administration space.

The works have revealed what a substantial building this was at the time of its construction, with internal and external walls, even the roof of the circular former staffroom being poured cement. We have loved seeing images from the construction of the school and other memorabilia coming to light on the St. Marys Connections, St. Marys, Tasmania. Family, Friends & History Facebook Page and hope to start sharing some items we have discovered recently in our archives very soon.

Our building team were very impressed with the photo below of the concrete roof of the building being poured by gentlemen in top hats.

If you have any historical images or articles relating to the school, we would love to receive digital copies of these, or if you are willing to trust us with them, scan your originals.

PRIMARY DRUM PERFORMANCE

First performance for 2018 Taiko Drumming:

Went off with a BANG!!!

Grade 1-2 Science

Grade 1-2 Bennett worked with some students from Miss Papworth’s 5-6B class to make slime. They learnt how some substances change when they are mixed with others.

TORN PAPER PORTRAITS

Some torn paper self portraits by Grade 1-2 Bennett

LEARNING IN FAMILIES TOGETHER

Learning In Families Together (LIFT) is a Kindergarten to Grade 2 initiative at St Marys District School.

Purpose of LIFT:

• Supporting positive relationships between home and school: Kinder – Grade 2.
• Building confidence and skills in families to support literacy and numeracy everyday-learning at home.
• Promoting and providing opportunities for active parental involvement at school.

LIFT at St Marys District School looks like:

• Games Lending Library – students Kinder-Grade 2 are encouraged to borrow a game, during normal library lessons, to take home and play with the family. The games practise literacy and numeracy skills. Prep-Grade 2 students should have started borrowing games already, and Kinder students will start borrowing games after Easter.
• Various parent help programs will usually be held on a Tuesday afternoon throughout the year, such as cooking, gardening, sport, art, etc. Parent help is always encouraged, however, you do need a current Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card to participate. WWVP cards are available via online registration www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children/application and an identification photo taken by Service Tasmania within 3 weeks of online registration. Volunteer WWVP card fee is $18.60, to be paid at Service Tasmania. Processing can take up to 6 weeks.
• One-off events – in the past we have held Mother’s Day Devonshire Tea, Father’s Day breakfast, and Father’s Day Bonfire and BBQ. Keep an eye out for upcoming events this year. WWVP cards are not required for any events or assemblies, however, please remember to sign in at the office.
• Workshops for parents – these are run by request. Topics vary from Coaching Positive Behaviours in Children, to Home Reading Strategies and anything child/learning related. If there is a child-centred topic that you would like more information on, or support with, please feel free to contact Bec Mason (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) via the Main Office 63723900.
• Our LIFT Committee includes Bec Mason (Staff), Kristen Woods (Parent), Bree Piscitelli (Parent), Tanya Greenwood (Building Blocks), Gary Barnes (Fingal Neighbourhood House and School Association) and Bruce Campbell (Principal). If you would like to volunteer your time to our committee, events, or programs, please contact Bec Mason via the Main Office 63723900.

FLOWER DISSECTION IN GRADE 7/8 SCIENCE

In Grade 7/8 Science, students have been learning about body systems. Plant systems are an important learning area, with student’s dissected Lycoris squamigera, commonly known as Naked Ladies, Surprise Lily, Magic Lily or Resurrection Lily. A part of the practical was using microscopes to see pollen on the stamens and the ovule’s in the middle of the flower. One resource that St Marys has obtained is a class set of phonescopes, which are a microscope attachment for a mobile phone. This allows students to use their phone camera as a microscope, with the additional bonus of capturing pictures and videos of their observations.

The phonescopes were a resounding success in all three Grade7/8 classrooms with the school having to rely on students having their own mobile phones, this can make the interactive part of their learning challenging. The Science Department encourages the community to donate any old phones to the school to ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage with technology in a positive way.

Please find some of the amazing photos that were captured from the phonescopes (not all are of the flowers, but demonstrates our students natural curiosity). This is just a small contribution that mobile phones can have in our students learning at St Marys District School.

PRIMARY ASSEMBLY

Classy Koala Award

Grade Prep-1 Merit Certificates

Bentley Coker-Williams

Marley Paul

Cooper Sweet

Grade 1-2 Merit Certificates

Connor McPhee

Lilly Bunton

Noah Smith

Etta Cornelius

Paige Walker

Grade 2-3 Merit Certificates

Leilani Taylor

Bella Pelham

Bo Bryant

Ruby Hoskinson

Wally Freiboth

Reuben Woods

Fletcher Mason

Grade 3-4 Merit Certificates

Koby McCullagh

Zuri Taylor

Jayden Garth

Malika Butwell-Blair

Rhys Zorn

Grade 5-6A Nicol Merit Certificates

Mia Gillies

Ty Zorn

Zoey Jones

Jazmyne Dawson

Grade 5-6B Papworth Merit Certificates

Jack Cropp

Achounta Butwell

Tyler Trivett

Frank MacDonald MM Memorial Prize

Travel to Belgium and France

The Frank MacDonald MM Memorial Prize is open to all Tasmanian year 9 students. Winners will be selected from around Tasmania. The winners will be part of a Study Tour of Belgium and France for approximately 10 nights to visit landmarks of war time through structured tours.

Frank MacDonald MM was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania in 1896. He died on 23 August, 2003 at the age of 107 as Tasmania’s last World War 1 veteran. Frank MacDonald MM was also the last of the 40th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, the only all Tasmanian Battalion raised in World War 1. He was responsible for repairing signal lines between the Battalion headquarters and trenches and received the Military Medal for working courageously under heavy fire. He also served in World War II and received the Legion of Honour in 1998.

To enter the completion, students must address one of the three prize topics. Please see attached images or request an Information Sheet from your teacher or the Administration Office.

For More information and winning entries from previous years please visit:

Defence Force Recruiting

Upcoming Information Sessions

Defence Force Recruiting will be holding a number of information sessions over the next couple of months around the state. Please refer to the fliers below for information on dates and times and how to book.

SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE

Hi, my name is Esther Beveridge, I am the new School Health Nurse for St Marys District School and will be at the school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

My role is to promote health and wellbeing, and undertake Kindergarten health assessments.

I am currently putting together a plan of topics/ideas for education sessions to run and will be working with the staff and students to identify areas for education sessions. I can also talk to students privately or in a group about any health questions or concerns they have.

I will be undertaking Kindergarten health assessments, which include vision, hearing, oral health and growth and development. These assessments are also available to all students at St Marys if any concerns or issues are identified by teachers or parents. Parental consent will always be obtained before these assessments are undertaken.

I am looking forward to getting to know the students and parents.

World Autism Awareness Day

Monday 2nd April 2018

World Autism Day is on April 2nd and Autism Tasmania has developed the following resources to raise community awareness and understanding of autism. Autism Tasmania is an independent voice for the Tasmanian autism community and provide information, assistance and resources for people on the spectrum and those who support them.

Downloadable posters and resources can be found below and on their facebook page.

Mindful Kids Practice: Coming Back to the Positive

What went well today? Kids and teens can explore this eight-minute guided meditation for noticing the positive.

This guided meditation is from Mark Bertin, and it’s an eight-minute practice for noticing positive moments throughout the day.

One way our brain keeps us safe is by staying very focused on whatever seems wrong or off or dangerous. Sometimes, it’s important to notice that kind of thing: Take care of yourself or find someone you trust to help.

Sometimes, what happens instead is that we can’t stop thinking about something we don’t like. You may feel stressed by a test, or a friend, or your parents. It can be hard to let go of that kind of thought. Sometimes, it takes practice to focus on the good stuff, too.

You may feel stressed by a test, or a friend, or your parents. It can be hard to let go of that kind of thought. Sometimes, it takes practice to focus on the good stuff, too.

1) Lie down somewhere comfortable. Let your arms and legs fall to the ground. Close your eyes gently.

2) Start to notice how your body changes with each breath you take. Each time you breathe, your belly moves up, and your belly moves down. If it is easier, put a hand on your belly. Or if you want, put a stuffed animal there.

Each time you breathe, your belly moves. Your hand, or your toy, rises, and then falls. See if you can count ten breaths that way. Breathing in, one, breathing out, one. (Repeat for nine more inhales, and nine more exhales.)

When you lose count, don’t worry about it. That’s normal, and happens to everyone. Come back to whatever number you last remember.

3) Now, shift your attention to your day. Breathing in, focus on your breath as your belly goes up. Breathing out, focus on something that went well today.

With each breath: breathing in, noticing your belly move, and with each breath out, noticing something that went well today.

4) Now, picture something about yourself that makes you proud. Breathing in, focus on your belly moving. Breathing out, picture something that makes you proud about yourself. If nothing comes to mind, that sometimes happens. If that’s how you feel, picture what you’d wish for yourself instead.

5) Finally, bring someone to mind who makes you happy. Before we end, try one more practice. Breathing in, notice your belly move. Now, breathing out picture someone who makes you happy.

As you come to the end of this practice, take a few deep breaths, and start to wiggle your arms and legs. Pause and decide what you’d like to do next.

It’s normal to have thoughts that make us feel scared or bad. We should never ignore anything important, but it’s useful to focus on the rest of our lives too. Take a few minutes every day to notice what has gone well, and see what happens next.

This article was originally published on Mindful.org, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring, guiding, and connecting anyone who wants to explore mindfulness. Go here to view the original article https://www.mindful.org/mindful-kids-practice-coming-back-positive/

ST.MARYS NETSETGO! PROGRAM

Please see below details of the upcoming program to be facilitated by Jacqui Lockwood and Natasha Speers.

Participants are to register online via the link below. This will generate the participant pack which will be sent directly to your home address within 4 weeks of registration. The pack includes a T-shirt, ball and collectable player cards.

Simply click on the link, select "Find a Centre", enter "7215" in the postcode field and hit search. Select the green "Register" tab for the St Helens Netball Association and follow the prompts ensuring you select the St Marys program.

It is preferred that registration is completed prior to the first session. If you opt to "Pay later" via direct credit to the Association account please ensure this is done within 48 hours of registration for ease of reconciliation.

For program details please contact Jacqui on 0409 512 946 or Natasha on 0419 591 905.

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