9 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Welcome back to Term 2

Congratulations to all students for the way they have returned to school this term with all classes settling quickly back into their learning and classroom routines. Term 2 is shaping up to be a busy one with lots of events and excursions populating the term calendar already. Please keep an eye on the school newsletter for an up to date calendar.

As the weather is cooling off and the mornings and some days are much colder now I would like to remind parents to ensure students are wearing or bringing a coat or an additional jumper or jacket for warmth when outside. Students are still expected to be wearing full school uniform when in our classrooms and during class time but when outside and during recess and lunchtimes they are encouraged to wear additional layers to stay warm.

ANZAC Day

At 6.00AM on the 25th April 2019, Erinn Spilsbury and Katy Bond attended the St Marys ANZAC Day Dawn Service and represented the staff and students of St Marys District School. Katy read the poem In Flanders Fields written by John McCrae while Erinn read the Address From Our Youth.

Monique Dufty, Jimmy and Wally Freiboth represented the staff and students at the 11.00AM service at St Marys. Monique read the Address From Our Youth, while Jimmy read the Commemoration of the Fallen followed by the Roll Call of the Fallen. Wally supported Jimmy in the playing of the drum. Later, Monique laid the wreath on behalf of our school community while Jimmy and Wally supported future services by going around with an Australian Army and RAAF hat so that attendees could contribute if they wished to.

Chloe Malley and Tahlia Randall spoke and laid the wreath at the ANZAC services at Bicheno. Ava Howorka, William Burt and Montanna Reece attended the 6.00 AM service at Fingal and laid wreaths. Lachlan Woods, Lily Woods, Luke Viney, Sage Lye and Luke Dolan laid wreaths at the Mathinna service at 11.00 AM. All students represented our school with respect and dignity.

I thank these students for their contribution to our communities for representing our school so beautifully. Many community members in attendance made contact with staff to commend the behaviour and attitudes of St Marys District School students. The following is one such comment made by a community member.

"We often hear about how badly students today behave, we hear negative comments about what goes on in the schools, but I want you to know that your students have done your school proud. They spoke very well, they are a delight to talk with and if they represent our next generation of adults. We are in safe hands."

School Association Committee 2019

Congratulations to the following school association members for successfully nominating for the 2019 School Committee:

Gary Barnes - Chair (Parent Member)
Sommer Howorka - Vice Chair (Parent Member)
Melanie Woods - Treasurer (Parent Member)
Sarah Williams - Secretary (Staff Member)

Amanda Jordan (Parent Member)
Emma Woods (Parent Member)
Vacant position (Parent Member)
Janet Drummond (Community Member)
Lisa Bean (Staff Member)
Lynette Yodgee (Staff Member)

Many thanks to the retiring members of the 2018 School Association Committee for their commitment, dedication and support of our students and broader school community. Your work has been appreciated!

Andrea Davenport
Paul Aulich
Natasha Speers
Rebecca Scarr
Janine Burt
Bruce Campbell

Please note that there is currently a vacant position on the 2019 Committee for a Parent Member. The committee is keen to hear from any interested parents who would like to hear more about being a member of the committee. We are particularly keen to hear from interested Parents who live in the St Marys/Scamander or Bicheno areas as this will support our committee to be truly representative of our intake communities. If you are interested please contact any of the committee members listed above or the school on 63723 900.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Grade 2 students led the STEM activity with the Pep students. Grades Prep, One and Two often work together and the older students instruct the Preps with activities. In this lesson we made parachutes. The students drew a design before they made it out of a plastic bag, string, tape and playdough. We then tested the parachutes outside in the wind.

GRADE 3-4 BENNETT

A group of Grade 3-4 students have been working with Mr Wilmot doing some woodwork.

They have been learning how to glue and nail wood together to make model vehicles.

They have been practising listening and following instructions.

Grade Prep -1 Wills - DATA COLLECTION

We have been collecting data about our eye colour, the number of letters in our names, favourite foods and displaying this information in a graph. The activity below is sorting a collection of teddy bears into colours and counting them. From the collection we were able to find out which colour had the most and least amount, the total of bears in the collection etc.

INDIGENOUS ART – PR1 Fingal

As part of Harmony Day and understanding other cultures, Fingal Grade 3-6 students studied Indigenous art from around the world. We looked at how different lines and patterns are used in art from different cultures and created some of our own artwork representing the ideas that different cultures use. Our artwork represents the cultures of Australian Aboriginals, Polynesians, Incans of South America and the Caribbean.

Grade 7-8 SCIENCE

During Term One 7/8A studied Biology in Science. As part of this unit, they learnt to use scientific nomenclature, classify organisms and explored feeding relationships between organisms. The cumulative task for the unit was to design a themed zoo to house several animals. Students needed to consider the interactions between animals when determining the layout of their zoos.

Students also considered the role of zoos and were asked to give a reasoned answer as to whether zoos are necessary.

Zoos are used as entertainment but are also good places to breed threatened or endangered species. I think zoos are extremely useful and helpful in keeping our ecosystem alive but then again I disagree with animals being kept in cages or small enclosures. I think zoos are better if the animals have large natural enclosures or if they release the animals into the wild if they are able to.

Georgie Featherstone

Some zoos take injured animals to keep them safe, while other zoos have programs for breeding nearly extinct animals. I don’t think that zoos are bad because most of the time the animals are there for a reason. Some animals can be treated cruelly in other countries but here in Australia they aren’t because we have the RSPCA.

Evie Simpson

Animals are natural wonders and humans are always curious to learn and see different things. Wild animals don’t have conscious feelings or thoughts so if they are in a comfortable tanks with daily food and a clean environment it’s an easy, calm life and they aren’t stressed. The only real downside is if animals are taken too young from their mothers but they tend to be fine. So I think zoos are a necessary thing.

Elvis Russell

The role of zoos are to protect endangered animals and for entertainment. I don’t like how zoos keep poor animals locked up in cages for people’s entertainment. They should let them out into the wild to be free unless they are sick or endangered.

Chelsea Jackson

ST.MARYS DISTRICT SCHOOL FARM

Agricultural Science (Food and Fibre) students Benji Bunton, Sage Lye, Amy Norris and Maceo Schneiders have made a presentation exhibiting the enterprises on the school farm. The presentation was shown to other agriculture teachers at the Food and Fibre Moderation Day at Lilydale at the end of last term. Every newsletter will show a different enterprise undertaken on the farm.

INTER-HIGH SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2019

We took a small but very determined team of swimmers to the Division One Inter High Swimming Carnival at Launceston Aquatic on the 29th March 2019. We arrived with time to jump in for a warm up swim and get used to the conditions prior to the first event. In our team meeting a few days before the carnival, we discussed what an amazing achievement it was for our little district school to be up in Division One, but also how challenging it would be to remain there. There were many examples of our students courageously taking on these challenges throughout the day, often for the betterment of the overall team score.

Every one of our participants gave their best effort in all their events and there was a wonderful sense of encouragement and team spirit throughout the day. Nic, Dilys and I are very proud of our team of swimmers and we recognise and appreciate the effort, attitude and determination you showed when representing our School.

There were obviously some outstanding individual performances on the day that I would like to recognise.

Congratulations to our Grade 7 swimmers at their first ever Inter High carnival. We were short on numbers due to illness, however your efforts were outstanding. Caleb Broughan, Jimmy Freiboth, Jack Cropp, Victoria Horwood and Bayli Casboult.

Thank you to the many students who stepped up into extra events on the day. Connah Tuck, Leo Taylor, Evie Simpson, Sam Jordan, Elvis Russell, Max Salter, Tae Thomson, Tom Jarvis, Larna Malley, Sofia Agostonelli, Monique Dufty, Sylvia Watson and Tahlia Randall.

1. Darshini Barnes- Darshini had nine events to swim in the four hours we were at the carnival. She went in three butterfly events, one outside her age group. She would literally finish one event, then have to go up and marshall for the next. I’m sure all the training at lunchtimes assisted you to get through that massive program of events Darshini, and we thank you for your outstanding efforts on the day.
2. Fraser Russell- Fraser also had about eight events for the day. Fraser has been a bit of a quiet achiever for our swimming team across the last four years. He has been part of wins in Division 2 and being bumped out of Division 1. He has always represented our school with a no fuss approach- just getting the job done. We appreciate your efforts Fraser, thanks for being an awesome team player.
3. Darcey Scott- I have heard a whisper that Darcey will be leaving us soon? I am pretty sure Darcey has represented our school in every sport possible during his time with us. What an amazingly talented sportsperson you are Darcey. We thank you for the outstanding way you have represented our school and the 100% effort you give to every event you do. Good luck and all the best for the future- you will be missed.
4. Kate Aulich – Kate has been at every lunchtime training session and has made huge improvements in her times this year. Thank you for your efforts Kate.
5. Bridie Aulich- Bridie also had a very big program of events on the day and swum her heart out. Her outstanding commitment to training sessions and her willingness to take on advice has seen her achieve awesome personal results in her swimming. Well done Bridie.
6. Aaron Mason- Super backstroke swimmer. Congratulations on your individual results at the carnival. You were not far off the pace against the club swimmers.
7. Ria Oliver- It was so great to see Ria step up to the challenge of the Inter High Swimming Carnival and for her to harness the natural talent that she has for swimming. Very proud of Ria’s efforts- Well Done.

LIFT

Preserving Workshop

On Monday 8th April, parents demonstrated courage and aspiration by attending our LIFT Preserving Workshop with their children from Kinder – Grade 2. In their short time together, they miraculously prepared, sterilised, cooked and bottled a range of donated produce. The result was yummy Zucchini Pickles, Tomato Kasundi, Preserved Lemons, Plum Jam/Sauce and Apricot Jam. Everyone took a range of preserves home and we shared fresh spiral apples with the children.

It was inspiring to see everyone working together, helping each other, cooking, laughing and having fun. Students’ cutting skills and food handling techniques were developed and the oral language benefits of cooking with the students was also great. They went away with an increased vocabulary and understanding of subject specific terms. This also generated discussion at home for many students, sharing their day with other family members – potentially increasing sibling’s vocabulary and understandings too. Together we grow!

Home Reading Kinder – Grade 2

As your child’s first reading teacher, you are key to their future success.

Recently, Mrs Wills offered a Prep parent information session on Home Reading. It was a great opportunity for parents to get answers to some of those burning questions about how to help children learn to read. If you would like help with your child’s reading at home, please make contact with Mrs Bec Mason via the school office on 63 723 900.

Our top priority for Home Reading is to foster a love of reading. That is it.

How do you foster a love of reading?

Value reading to your child – snuggle up on the couch and indulge in a book; talk about the pictures, talk about the story, point out letters e.g. “Oooh! There is a W, you have one of those in your name!” point out words that are familiar e.g. “Oooh! There is the word the again, I think it might be on every page!” make connections to your own life, have a giggle together and perhaps read a second book as well, or start a novel.

Help your child read their levelled book – if they are unsure of a word/ a page, or they are tired/uninterested for some reason, you can tell them what the word is, ask them to point to the word and say it and move on, or simply read the page/book to them. You can read a section and have your child repeat it after you, pointing at the words. You can even swap the Home Reader for a book of interest from home. Being read to is very beneficial for students, even up to Grade 6 and beyond. It models fluency, increases vocabulary and demonstrates expression in the text. Struggling and frustration at home is not necessary, fostering a love of reading is our priority.

Read a book for yourself - Children are watching us and they value what we engage in. Model your own love of reading, by finding a good book.

Starring Cobia and Taz. These videos demonstrate: prompting questions to help students decode simple words, how books can start conversations, how to quickly move past complex words for the purpose of fluency and comprehension, and one way to offer assistance when students show reluctance. Thank you to my actors and camera people, you did an amazing job!

“Reading with your child”.

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

Have you heard your child’s teacher use these terms and are not sure what they mean? In this video Edith Cowan University Associate Professor, Deslea Konza, explains.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

Calling all families to get on board with this the Premier’s Reading Challenge 2019. This term all Primary students (P-6) are striving to achieve the goal to read 10 books in 10 weeks!

Premier’s message:

“Reading is just like sport - the more you practise the better you get. I encourage students to take up the challenge of reading at least 10 books in 10 weeks. Reading and literacy skills are the basic building blocks of life, no matter what you aspire to do or be. This year you can also win book prizes, Hawthorn football game tickets and school visits by players.”

SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP

Music students from Grades 7-10 were given the option of participating in a two day Songmakers song writing workshop with multi ARIA Award-winning artist/songwriter, Katie Wighton (All Our Exes Live in Texas) and producer, JP Fung (Birds of Tokyo, Last Dinosaurs, Daniel Johns, Cold Chisel and many others). SongMakers project manager, Tina Broad, was also in attendance and gave the students a firsthand glimpse into the Australian music Industry and the role of APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association). The mentors were specially chosen because they have a depth of industry experience and are APRA AMCOS Ambassadors with international profiles.

Students were placed in groups based on their skills and were required to write an original song and arrange it within four hours ready to perform as a demo! The four songs were predominantly written about living in our region.

Most worked through recess and lunch to reach their deadline, a sample can be found on our school Facebook page.

The next day the songs were recorded with JP weaving his magic in creating some stunning demo songs.

Students are currently working on releasing the songs on cd for future sale to the community.

LUNCHTIME ON THE GREEN

All students and teachers gathered for ‘Music on the Green’ to celebrate a successful Term 1 for 2019.

Thank you to Mr. Wardlaw, along with the talented St. Marys District School music students who provided entertainment.

Congratulations to our Student Leaders who co-ordinated the event by providing a BBQ lunch and with the support from Mrs. Hodge and the hospitality team collectively raised $438.60

Funds raised will go towards outdoor furniture for our newly developed Performing Arts Courtyard.

SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Collaborative Education Opportunity – Kinder students – May 10th 17th, 24th and 31st May 2019

Feed My Family - Monday’s Term 2 - Grade 1-2 Cromb

SECONDARY

Utas Masterclass - for selected Grade 10 students

WHOLE SCHOOL

NAPLAN Online For Grade 3-5-7 and 9’’s - 14th – 24th May 2019

Premiers Reading Challenge

Walk Safely to School – Friday 17th May – Student Permission Form

MISCELLANEOUS

SCHOOL BANKING
REWARD PROGRAM UPDATE

Available in Term 2, we have two new reward items from our 2019 Polar Savers range for students to redeem.

Yeti Fluffy Notebook and Icicle Slapband Ruler

We also have in stock a number of reward items from previous years that are still available for students to redeem including a Handball, Sparkler Glitter Pens, Zoom Flying Disc, heat Reactor Pencils and Glow Light.