28 May 2020
Newsletter Articles
- PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
- DEPARTMENT OF STATE GROWTH – LETTER TO PARENTS
- NATURE ART – INSPIRED BY ANDY GOLDSWORTH (Artist)
- PIRATE DAY
- WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS
- GRADE 4-5A BENNETT/KELLY
- GRADE 3-4 GRAY/KELLY
- GRADE 5-6A BURBURY/ MARSHALL
- FINGAL CAMPUS
- VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY
- GRADE PREP-ONE BOVILL
- GRADE 5-6B FYLE/COOK
- LET’S GET MOVING
- SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome back to all our Kindergarten to Year 6 and Years 11 and 12 students. It is so exciting to have these students return to face to face teaching and learning at St Marys District School and I know I speak for our primary and 11/12 teachers when I say seeing these wonderful students arrive on Monday was definitely the highlight of the term. Students settled quickly back into their classrooms and have had much to share about their time learning from home.
I would like to thank parents and families for your support of our new ‘Stop, Drop and Go’ and ‘Collect and Go’ processes. Please note that on Kindergarten days, there is an additional lane operating as a Kindergarten drop and collect area. Below are a couple of reminders to ensure ongoing success and a smooth drop off and pick up for all students and parents.
Local children can be picked up from the turning circle via ‘Stop, Collect and Go’, from 2.45pm until 2.55pm.
Parents arriving after 2.55pm will be directed to the pool carpark and children will be walked to the carpark by a staff member.
Parents who are collecting children on foot are asked to wait near the old music room. Once your children have joined you we ask that you leave the school grounds using the driveway footpath.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are Kinder days and there will be the additional lane for Kinder drop offs and collection. Kinder vehicles will need to merge with the traffic in the turning circle to exit the carpark area.
As students return to school, there are a number of priorities. All teachers will be maintaining a watchful eye on student wellbeing, including supporting students to reconnect with their friends and teachers. Teachers will be contacting parents/carers to share how students are settling back into school and to talk with you in more general terms about your experience in having your child/ren learning at home. Students will also be given opportunities to share their learning and achievements from their time learning from home. This sharing will support teachers to align the teaching and learning that is happening in classrooms to what students can currently do, say and make, and to support every student with the learning that will come next.
As we look forward to our 7 – 10 students joining us on the 9th June we are also focused on ensuring our school is a safe place for every student and every staff member. Hand hygiene, strict cleaning regimes and physical distancing of adults remain the most important requirements at our school. As well as these protocols, it is essential that students and staff do not come to school if they are unwell. I would ask that parents are vigilant in this regard, and if your child/ren develop any cold like symptoms or are unwell that you keep them at home until they are well. It is also recommended that anyone with cold like symptoms contacts the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange to have a Covid 19 test.
I would like to finish by acknowledging the work of our teachers, teacher assistants, EFAs, Administration Team and Leadership Team. The St Marys District School staff team have worked incredibly hard together over the last weeks to support our students to continue to learn and our parents and families to supervise and support their children while learning at home. Well done and congratulations to each and every staff member for your incredible contribution to our school and students.
Kind regards,
Carolyn Watson
School Calendar
DEPARTMENT OF STATE GROWTH – LETTER TO PARENTS
Arrangements for Bus Services in Term 2
Dear Parents/Carers
As essential services, public transport is exempt from restrictions on gatherings and all bus services will operate as normal during Term 2. However, the continued operation of services is being regularly reviewed based on Public Health advice and updates.
As on-site learning resumes for all students, the number of passengers travelling on buses will increase. Students are encouraged to follow the following physical distancing measures where possible:
- If undertaking short trips, consider walking or cycling.
- When queuing at bus stops, keep a minimum of one metre from other passengers.
- Keep physical distancing in mind and choose a seat away from others where possible. Members of the same household may sit together.
- Minimise the contact with surfaces inside the bus as much as possible.
- Practice good hand hygiene and where possible, wash or sanitise hands before boarding the bus.
- Cough or sneeze into elbows.
- Do not occupy the first row of seats nearest the driver.
- Always comply with any requests from driver.
As a further safety measure, operators have been advised to clean school bus interiors each morning and afternoon using a commercial grade pH neutral detergent (not acid or alkaline), with a focus on high volume touch points such as handrails.
Please be assured that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of students when travelling on buses and to manage risks based on the best and latest evidence and medical advice. However, if you, or your child/ren are uncomfortable with the arrangements that are in place, you may wish to consider alternative means of transport.
Students should not use public transport if they are supposed to be in isolation or are unwell.
If you have any queries regarding the operation of bus services, please direct them to Passenger Transport at ptscontracts@stategrowth.tas.gov.au or (03) 6166 3343. New information on school bus arrangements and the fare amnesty can be found on the Department of State Growth website:
https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/families-community/public-transport
NATURE ART – INSPIRED BY ANDY GOLDSWORTH (Artist)





PIRATE DAY





Pirate Day
Ahoy! Students @home, students @school 'n our staff as well as a few salty sea dogs set sail on th' vessel o' th' seas - th' good ship SMDS fer a day o' piracy. 'twas a fantastic day t' celebrate community 'n connections. Pirates o' all shapes, sizes ('n breeds) went about th' day in high spirits, raisin' th' Jolly Roger 'n adventurin'.
Th' estate o' John Ryan, th' creator o' Captain Pugwash also joined us on our adventure by kindly allowin' us t' use images 'n shanties from his adventures. 'twas certainly a trip down memory lane fer many o' our crew.
WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS
Students have been learning how to use watercolours to create a realistic landscape.
Dominic |
Jackson |
Max |
Mia |
Nicholas |
Ping |
Ruby
GRADE 4-5A BENNETT/KELLY
In Grade 4/5 we have discussed the challenges that families have faced over the past weeks but also how even when faced with difficult times we can have hope and look for the positives in a situation.
Students wrote about things they were grateful for and for the support their parents gave them when learning from home.





We planted daffodils as a thank you to our families.





GRADE 3-4 GRAY/KELLY
Since returning to school students from Grade 3/4 Gray Kelly have spent time sharing thoughts about what it was like learning from home.
Students discussed both the positive and negative sides to their experiences and how staying at home affected them and their families.
From these discussions students drew pictures about positive things that they are grateful for and that make them happy.





GRADE 5-6A BURBURY/ MARSHALL
Grade 5/6B used pressed autumn leaves to create these pictures.
The shape and colour of the leaves helped students decide how they would use them.





FINGAL CAMPUS





FINGAL CAMPUS
Students at Fingal campus rebuilt their connections with each other by working on activities together in small groups. They also welcomed “Bella” and “Goldy” to the classroom. We are sure to be hearing lots of Bella and Goldy adventures and seeing Bella and Goldy inspired artworks into the future.
VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY
This week we had our first full virtual assembly with our P-6 celebrating being together from their classrooms. We hope to be able to record these in the future to share with our parents. The assembly gave everyone the chance to participate, even our Office staff.
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GRADE PREP-ONE BOVILL
Prep/1 have been enjoying their first week back at school. We have enjoyed seeing our friends again and learning together. We have continued working on our phonics (letter sounds) and we are currently working on the letter sounds ‘r’ and ‘m’. We hope you like the rockets we made!
We would also like to say a big thank you to our families and carers who have done a fabulous job at helping us with our learning at home! We hope you have had a chance to rest this week.





GRADE 5-6B FYLE/COOK





LET’S GET MOVING





Obstacle courses, fitness challenges and teamwork have been on the agenda in our gymnasium this week.
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
WHOLE SCHOOL
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTICEBOARD
Table Tennis - Community Group - St Marys School Gym
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