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

19 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Monday 17th June our school celebrated the opening of our Performing Arts Centre and our refurbished classrooms and administration block.

Here is the speech that was given at the opening by our Student Representative Council President, Erinn Spilslbury.

Good afternoon, invited guests, staff and students. My name is Erinn Spilsbury and I am President of our Student Representative Council. On behalf of students and staff, I would like to warmly welcome you to St Marys District School. In particular I would like to acknowledge the presence of the honourable Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education.

Today we celebrate the opening of our Performing Arts Centre and our refurbished classrooms. The new development has greatly benefited the school culture and positively impacted student learning. The facilities are invaluable for individual growth and student progress from Kinder to Grade 12. They enable us to create, learn and collaborate in a way we could not before the development.

The upgraded technology in the Performing Arts Centre and classrooms allows teachers and students to efficiently share media and learn in a modern environment.

In our new classrooms, innovative furniture creates versatile learning spaces, and the design of the bi-fold doors allows opportunities for students to work collaboratively. The option of the breakout areas also benefits smaller groups of students allowing them a quiet learning environment.

The Performing Arts Centre is of remarkable quality and inspires students to perform and create to the best of their abilities. So far this year we have recorded our own songs as part of the song maker’s workshop. We now have the space to work on our own, in groups or with a mentor. By having the drama and music spaces together, we can collaborate and rehearse easily for our major productions and performances.

This space is not just for students, it is for the community too. The space has the ability to accommodate for events and performances and we can’t wait to showcase our Arts on Tour production to the community here at the end of the year. The Performing Arts Centre is utilised by a variety of community groups, including Hub 4 Health, Launching into Learning and the East Coast Choir.

The inclusion of the common room provides students with a spacious indoor area to socialise during break times. This area is a popular, warm, inviting space with great facilities including the canteen and student operated café.

The new development has changed the way we learn and interact at St Marys District School. We now have a modern, inspiring and functional learning environment where students feel connected, can grow, aspire, act courageously and build respect.

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

SECONDARY CROSS COUNTRY

The secondary cross country was held on Tuesday the 4th June. The day started off very cold but those who ran soon warmed up.

Results 2019

Grade 7 Girls

Grade 7 Boys

CHAMPION:

Zali Taylor

CHAMPION:

Caleb Broughan

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Rebecca Harrison

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Isak Oswald

Grade 8 Girls

Grade 8 Boys

CHAMPION:

Darshini Barnes

CHAMPION:

Jack Hendley

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Alice Woolfe

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Jakobe Tatnell

Grade 9 Girls

Grade 9 Boys

CHAMPION:

Sofia Agostonelli

CHAMPION:

Jakobe Tatnell

Grade 9 Girls

Grade 9 Boys

CHAMPION:

Sofia Agostonelli

CHAMPION:

Louis Langoulant

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Kate Aulich

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Nathan Spurling

Grade 10 Girls

Grade 10 Boys

CHAMPION:

Tahlia Randall

CHAMPION:

Connah Tuck

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Tara Guy

RUNNER/UP CHAMPION:

Tom Jarvis

House results:

1st

DUNCAN

287

2nd

BLACKWOOD

284

3rd

DALMAIN

278

KINDER – GRADE 6 CROSS COUNTRY AND FUN RUN

We couldn’t have asked for a better day of sunshine on Tuesday June 4th, for our Kinder – Grade 6 Cross country and Fun Run. The courses had been set out brilliantly with tracks, bright red arrows, land marks, farm paddocks, turn-styles and even a ‘magic forest’ to navigate around. With wonderful support from secondary students at checkpoints and running with the Kinder – Grade 2 students, encouraging cheering from students and teachers in house areas, plus wonderful support from many parents and friends – we had a magnificent carnival. Thanks to Jeff, Olivier, Murray and Rodney for assisting the HPE staff with setting up aspects of the course. Our Grade 3 – 6 students competed in the ENE Cross Country event at Winnaleah on Friday 14th June. We wish our team all the best. Please enjoy these happy snaps of our students lining up in their house coloured clothes, ready to participate for house points and aspire to do their best.

Congratulations to our Gr. 3 – 6 Cross Country Champions

Grade 3 Champion Boys:
Fletcher Mason

Duncan

Runner Up:
Ryan Gorham

Dalmain

Grade 3 Champion Girls:
Lily Bunton

Dalmain

Runner Up:
Emily Gillies

Blackwood

Grade 4 Champion Boys:
Jaxon Harrison

Dalmain

Runner Up:
Wally Freiboth

Dalmain

Grade 4 Champion Girls:
Henna Bunton

Dalmain

Runner Up:
Mia Hibberd

Dalmain

Grade 5 Champion Boys:
Tysen Gamble

Blackwood

Runner Up:
Henry Legge

Dalmain

Grade 5 Champion Girls:
Helayna McGiveron

Duncan

Runner Up:
Ava Howorka

Dalmain

Grade 6 Champion Boys:
David Turner

Blackwood

Runner Up:
Luca Guy

Blackwood

Grade 6 Champion Girls:
Alice Mills

Blackwood

Runner Up:
Kiara Worrall

Duncan

Congratulations to DALMAIN, the winning house for 2019.

1st

Dalmain

731 points

2nd

Duncan

614 points

3rd

Blackwood

610 points

ENE CROSS COUNTRY - WINNALEAH

With the day change we were hoping for a bit of sunshine and we were lucky. We left the frost in the valley and climbed over the mountain to a beautiful day. It is unbelievable how lush and green it is over there.

Our Grade 3 boys ran first and we had Brodie Faulkner (5) Fletcher Mason (10), Ryan Gorham, Ping Li and Lachlan Miller all running their hardest. They were followed by Sophie Syka (6), Paige Johns (8), Emily Gillies (10), Mieka Swanson and Mimi Burbury who worked well as a team and kept together well.

Jaxon Harrison was our first podium finish with a great 3rd place. He was followed to the line by Wally Freiboth (5), Byron Woods, Dominic Locket and Connor French.

Mia Hibberd (10) was our first Grade 4 to finish with Henna Bunton, Katie Jones, Shakayla Bosworth and Malika Butwell-Blair all finishing strongly.

Tysen Gamble was not feeling the best and stumbled across the line in 3rd place with Henry Legge in a commendable 6th place and Daniel Cook in 12th place.

Then there was a bolt right out of the blue… Helayna McGiveron bolted to the line well in front of her rivals.  Alex Syka finished 10th followed by Ava Howorka, Gipsy-Rose Worrall and Cortney Smith.

Our Grade 6 teams were depleted by sickness but David Turner finished 2nd in fine style with Lucas Guy, Thomas Squires and Ashton Gillies all running well.  Kiara Worrall and Alice Mills did a marvellous job to finish the day.

JUGGLING WORKSHOP

On Thursday 6th June, a professional juggler by the name of Kylie Grade came to St.Marys School for 2 days. She is from the Suitcase Circus in Western Australia and does club juggling, meaning she juggles with clubs. She taught the secondary students and Fingal students first and then taught the St.Marys primary students on the Friday.

We were taught to make our own juggling balls out of balloons, plastic bags and wheat. Afterwards we started juggling. We started out with learning warm ups and then moved onto juggling with two balls. We learnt fast and were soon laughing at our mistakes and learning from them. When we moved onto three balls, it go hard. It was like being a robot that was working in overdrive. It was hard for the reason that we had two balls in one hand and one ball in the other. After the three balls we were taught how to huddle.

Huddling in juggling means two people standing next to each other and juggling together. Coneeka and Sofia were shown how to do it as an example of what to do. We then went off on our own and tried it ourselves.

We would all like to thank Mrs Watson and Miss Smith for setting up this wonderful day of juggling and laughs. We learnt some new, valuable skills and can use them later on in life.

Thank you to Kylie Garde for spending her time with us, what a wonderful two day was had by all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCRxqamHNEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e_ZJxy-rP0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ56Hjl1yMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvp2yHJVqsI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPkO6RTqb58

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO_YVM5M39E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-lexgpfKHE

PRIMARY MUSIC

In Music, our Kinder – Grade 6 students are engaging in many wonderful learning opportunities. This term there is a big focus on “voice”. Our Kinder – Grade 2 students are learning to use their voice in “call and response” songs. They are listening to the pitch of the song, performing the actions of the lyrics and developing confidence to sing by themselves or in a group. They have also begun learning about ‘composition’. By using shape and colour, our Kinder – Grade 2 students are writing and performing their own music. Our Grade 3 – 6 students are also learning how to use their voice and how history can be recorded in song.

Grade 3/4's are learning how songs are written to describe aspects of culture. They have been learning about music of the Caribbean, particularly the song “Day O” from Jamaica – a song composed about the long hours and hardships of picking bananas on the plantations. The students have extended their understanding of pitch and melody and have written some funny lyrics to the “Day O” melody.

The Grade 5/6’s have been learning about Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history through song. They have been learning about the indigenous singer and composer Kev Carmody and how his song “From little things” tells the history of aboriginal land rights, fairness, and ethical decision making. Students have delved further into song structure (verse, chorus, bridge) and have been writing their own song lyrics.

Please enjoy these snap shots of Music in action across our grades.

WINTER SPORTS

Three weeks ago we took our netball, soccer and football teams to Launceston to verse other schools in Launceston. So far both netball teams have won all their games, Division Two’s first game was against Deloraine and the score was St Marys 30 and Deloraine 13. The division three team played Cressy and the final scores where 17 St Marys and Cressy 2. Round two was played and St Marys won once again with the Division 2 final scores St Marys 45 and Riverside 5. I would like to say congratulations to the Division 2 team for being moved up a division making them the first team from St Marys to be in Division 1 ever!! Well done girls.

Soccer teams have played two amazing games- winning both of them. Their first game was against Star of the Sea and the final scores were - St Marys 5 and Star of the Sea 0. The second game was a bit more challenging, with the end scores being - St Marys again with 5 goals and Cressy scoring only 3. Over all they played outstandingly well with their new team mates.

Football won their first game with the scores being St Marys 36 and Riverside ending up with 30. The second game however, they weren’t as lucky with their final scores being St Marys 36 and Cressy 67. Overall football has put an amazing amount of effort into both of the games that they played.

Overall everyone that has participated in winter sports have done an outstanding job, so a big round of applause for those people and a round of applause for all of the teachers that have given up their time to help out and make winter sports possible.

Bridie Aulich and Larna Malley

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHS (STEM)

On Wednesday afternoons Grade 2/3 and 3/4 have been enjoying using the new STEM primary resource trolley. This trolley was purchased through a successful STEM grant application put forward by Amanda Hughes in 2018.

The students individually designed their ideas and then worked in groups to prototype their concepts. As you can see lots of team work was required and some great models were created. We are looking forward to using the resource trolley more and undertaking new STEM Challenges. Thank you for this great resource.

TENNIS SKILLS CLINIC

On Tuesday 11th June Grade 7 and 8 students participated in a tennis skills clinic, delivered by local Sporting Schools coaches Matt Collins and Ron Lowe.

These clinics provide our students with the opportunity to develop their tennis skills and support into develop stronger school-community links.

CAMPBELL TOWN SHOW

Once again our primary students submitted art and craft work for the Campbell Town Show. We were very successful with many 1st and 2nd places plus some Highly Commended.

GRADE 1/2 WOOL ART

Using a piece of contact as the background we used a variety of coloured wool to create a design. Some of us made our wool art into pictures of things or made an abstract piece of Art. This is the amazing art that we showcase at The Campbell Town Show. Special congratulations to Emily Barnes, Elka Woods, Elise George whose art was awarded first prize.

LIFT – KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2

As part of our Feed My Family program, parents participated in a Food Handling Information Session with Paula, from the Break O’ Day Council. This session explained how to keep foods safe for consumption; including safe preparation of food, safe thawing/reheating and safe storage practices. Did you know that you can obtain your “I’m Alert” food handling certificate free online? If you would like more information on how to obtain certification, please contact Mrs Bec Mason via the school office.

For anyone who has a Food Handling Certificate, a Working with Vulnerable People card and some free time, our Canteen Manager, Mrs Emma Cook, would love parents as canteen volunteers on a regular or casual basis. If this sounds like you, please contact Emma via the school office.

LIFT games are now being borrowed regularly in the K-2 area. Playing games with your child at home, is a simple and effective way to support academic, social and emotional learning, and it is fun! Please encourage your child to regularly swap their game from the tub in their classroom – we assist students to do this. If any parts of a game are lost/missing/damaged please send them back with a note so they may be replaced. If you are unsure how to play a game, many demonstrations can be found on YouTube or further instructions on Google. We hope our families enjoy these resources.

EC1 FINGAL

EC1 students are exploring procedural texts. Listening to and reading instructions, writing their own and applying them in practice are the main areas they have been working on.

GRADE PREP – RAPUNZEL’S TOWER

In our Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subject we read the delightful fairy-tale Rapunzel. Our focus was to design and create a 3D tower, the characters and the setting. The students used a procedure to follow to create the fairy-tale scene. They needed a base, card for the tower and the characters and wool for Rapunzel’s hair. Here’s what we created:

GRADE 11/12 WORKING WITH STUDENTS

Grade 11/12 students undertaking our Working with Children course, have been working closely with our Kinder students helping them develop Gross Motor skills. It has been a wonderful experience for all involved. Congratulations to the Grade 11/12 students who have managed the children and activities beautifully. Have a look at our fun photo gallery!

BAY OF FIRES YOUTH ART PRIZE 2019

There were over 335 entries from Tasmania in the Bay of Fires Youth Art contest. The quality was diverse and of a very high standard and our students at St Marys District School produced work that was judged as being some of the best.

Claire Ward – 1st place - Kindergarten – Grade 2

Sophia Syka – 3rd place – Grde 3-4

Alexandra Syka – 1st place in the Grade 5-6 – 3rd prize for the people’s choice

Lily Haarmann – 3rd place in the Grade 10-12

Other Finalists were—Halle Gillies, Etta Cornelius, Kayden Goss, Bella Pursell, George Austin, Lily Bunton, Dominic Lockett, Katie Jones, Bella Robson, Kayden Rigby, Courtney Smith, Heleyna McGiveron, and Zoey Jones.

ASSIGNMENT – HOMEWORK SCHEDULE

Class:

All Grade 7 and Gr8B and C

Teacher:

Heather Marshall

Assignments /Homework:

Should be writing up their Home Chemistry report and students are invited to submit their work early for feedback

Due Date:

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

SECONDARY

Orientation Day Grade 10 students
Inter- High Cross Country Postponed - Selected students in Grade 7-10

WHOLE SCHOOL

MISCELLANEOUS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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