9 December 2015
Newsletter Articles
From the Principal
End of Year Reports
End of Year Reports will be sent home with students on Monday 14th December. These are short, summary reports about student achievement in 2015. The main feedback report was sent home in the middle of the year.
What will be in the report (Prep-Grade 6)?
You will receive information about your child’s achievement against the Australian Curriculum for English, Maths, Science and History. This will include information about their effort and behaviour in these learning areas. Students in Grades 3-6 will receive an A-E rating for each subject. Students from Prep-Grade 2 will receive a written description about their achievement (e.g. Joe is performing at the standard expected). The report cover will describe what students are expected to be able to do in their year level.
You will receive a written comment about their learning in the Australian Curriculum Geography.
There will be a short general comment from the class teacher.
Who are reports for?
Reports are written for parents, not children. Feedback from parents around Tasmania is that parents want accurate information about their children’s learning. In some cases you might not wish to share the report with your child.
Remember to look carefully at effort and behaviour boxes and to read the written comments. Some children may receive D or E ratings even though they have worked very hard and made fantastic progress. Ratings are against the Australian Curriculum and do not necessarily reflect effort or progress this year.
C ratings (or ‘at the standard expected) do not mean ‘satisfactory’ as they might have done years ago. The Australian Curriculum sets high expectations for all learners. A C rating means that students are doing well and are similar to most students in their grade around Australia.
D ratings do not mean ‘unsatisfactory.’ A D rating means that students have nearly made a C rating and they are approaching the standard of learning expected for their age.
If you have any questions about your child’s reports, please contact your child’s teacher.
Reports and Class Placements
Reports and notification of class placements will be sent home with students next Monday. Reports are a short summary report about student achievement. The major report was sent home in the middle of the year. A letter will be included with the report with further information.
It is not possible to change student class placements. Students have been placed with consideration to learning needs, class balance and student friendships. Classes are now full. Moving a student to another class is extraordinarily difficult.
Students will meet their new teacher where possible on Thursday 17th December. Some of our teachers are currently working at other schools and will not be available, however children will still be able to see their new classroom and meet their classmates.
Staffing
Unfortunately we are still waiting for confirmation of school staffing for next year. We will let people know the names of class teachers as soon as we are able. We hope to receive this information by the end of the week. A letter will be sent home outlining 2016 staffing as soon as it is available. Unfortunately this process is out of our control.
I would like to thank Belinda Simpson for her fantastic work as a senior staff member during Term 3 and 4. She will be undertaking duties closer to her home in Launceston in 2016. Belinda has done a wonderful job and we wish her all the best on her new role.
End of Year Pool Picnic
When?
Tuesday 15th December. All classes will be at the pool at different times, as outlined:
|
Class |
First Swimming Time |
Lunch Break |
Time leaving pool (15 mins after last swim or after lunch break) |
|
Kinder Spicer |
11:00 |
12:00-12:30 |
1:30 |
|
Kinder Gillow |
11:00 |
12:00-12:30 |
1:30 |
|
P/1 Thomson |
11:45 |
12:30-1:00 |
2:30 |
|
P/1 Fulton |
11:45 |
12:30-1:00 |
2:30 |
|
1/2 Gilmartin |
12:30 |
12:00-12:30 |
2:30 |
|
1/2 Hewitt |
12:30 |
12:00-12:30 |
2:30 |
|
2/3 Achilles |
10:00 |
12:30-1:00 |
1:00 |
|
3/4 Edwards |
10:00 |
12:30-1:00 |
1:00 |
|
4/5 Walsh/McGinniss |
10:00 |
12:30-1:00 |
1:00 |
|
5/6 Locke-Grace |
10:00 |
12:30-1:00 |
1:00 |
|
5/6 White |
10:00 |
12:30-1:00 |
1:00 |
Where? George Town Swimming
Pool
Transport? All classes will walk to and from the
pool with their teacher
Lunch? Students are invited to order from our
BBQ, using the usual lunch order process.
Hamburgers - $2
Sausages - $1.50
The pool kiosk will also be open for purchases to be made.
What will your child need?
Hat
Towel
Bathers/board shorts
A rashie or t-shirt
A bag for their wet gear
Optional:
Personal sunscreen, goggles, sunglasses and swim caps
We will be encouraging all children and adults to keep themselves safe in the sun by using slipping, slopping, slapping, wrapping and seeking shade !
Christmas Parade
A reminder that the Christmas Parade is this Saturday evening. Students walking with the school need to meet near the George Town Fire Station at 5.40 pm. Students should be dressed in the theme ‘A Storybook Christmas.’ The parade will start at 6.00 pm. Students need to be picked up in the Community Hub carpark in front of the Child and Family Centre (not behind it like last year) as soon as the parade is finished.
Leavers Dinner
The Grade 6 Leavers Dinner will be held on Monday 14th December. Photos will be taken in an outside area.
There will be limited time for official photographs at this time as we have many students to get through before the dinner begins. It is important that:
- Students arrive on time
- Photos taken with family or friends are taken before the designated time or at home before you come
- Parents and other family members do not get in the way or hold-up the photographer – this will mean that students do not get photos taken in time!
The designated time is for official photos only. Personal photographs need to be taken at another time.
Please respect the privacy of our children by not posting photos of other people’s children on Facebook or other social media sites.
Choir visit to Ainslie
On Wednesday, 16th December, students from our Early Childhood and Primary choirs will travel to Ainslie House at Low head to present a mini-concert for the residents and staff.
As we have before, we will be presenting posies of flowers to the residents. We will be accepting donations of small flowers, buds or greenery from gardens on the morning as early as possible. If you can spare something beautiful from your garden, please let us know.
|
Thank You and Well Done Congratulations and well done to Ruby Gower who was presented with a medal for being the highest fundraiser at our recent Adidas Fun Run – Ruby raised in excess of $400!! |
|
Assemblies are held in the gymnasium each
Monday at 1.30 pm. |
Kinder Day Change
Due to the Pool Picnic at the George Town Pool on Tuesday 15th December there will be a change of Kindergarten days for the final week of term.
There will be no Kindergarten on Monday 14th December.
Kindergarten students will attend school on Tuesday 15th December.
Prep Orientation sessions
A Prep Orientation session will be held next Wednesday 16th December for all parents and guardians of students in Kindergarten. You will see your child’s new classroom and meet their teacher for 2016. Sessions will run from 2.40-2.55 pm. Parents will meet in the corridor outside Kindergarten just before 2.40 pm in order to be taken to the Prep area.
Prep teachers will share some information about how Prep operates, including some of the daily routines. They will also share any information that you need to know ready for their first day.
Easy Ways to Develop Independence in Kids
By Michael Grose
If you are anxious about your child’s safety and tend to be more protective than you want, then start creating JUNIOR VERSIONS of independent living, so that kids can learn to stand on their own two feet rather than be dependent on you.
A major challenge for parents is to find ways of safely moving children from being reliant on adults to a position of independence. This can be tough because your natural instinct is to nurture them.
Training for independence starts from a young age and continues into adolescence and beyond. Developing independence is one of the best ways to promote self-confidence.
When you teach children to do jobs for themselves, you send a powerful message that you believe that they are capable. Your actions speak louder than words.
Developing independence in kids can be tricky these days. Recently I heard a brilliant, yet deceptively simple idea that all parents can use to develop independence in their kids of any age.
I attended an advanced presentation skills seminar, conducted by Australian professional speaker Glenn Capelli. Glenn said that many speakers complicated matters for audiences, making things too complex. One way of making it easy for audiences to learn is to create a JUNIOR VERSION of whatever we are talking about.
He likened this to the way that many sporting bodies have now developed modified versions of adult sports, so kids can learn the basic skills of the sport in fun, enjoyable ways.
I had one of those light bulb moments as I listened, and realised that effective parents create JUNIOR VERSIONS of the GAME all the time to help kids develop the skills of self-sufficiency and independence from a very early age.
Here are some examples:
- We get toddlers to smooth the doonas and arrange their teddies on their beds – that’s a JUNIOR VERSION of making a bed.
- We encourage early primary school kids to make snacks, prepare breakfasts and help prepare a meal. That’s a JUNIOR VERSION of cooking an evening meal.
- We drive primary school kids half way to school and let them walk the rest. That’s a JUNIOR VERSION of walking to school.
- We let an early teen go to a local cinema with friends. That’s a JUNIOR VERSION of going out without adult supervision.
There are plenty of ways to create JUNIOR VERSIONS of independent living every day so kids can become more self-sufficient.
What JUNIOR VERSIONS of independent living are you creating for your kids?
If you are anxious about your child’s safety and tend to be more protective than you want, then start creating JUNIOR VERSIONS of independent living, so that kids can learn to stand on their own two feet rather than be dependent on you. Remember, REDUNDANCY is your aim as a parent!
Similarly, one way for kids to develop self-help skills is to create JUNIOR VERSIONS of what you already do, so they can develop the skill-sets needed to look after themselves, and help out the rest of the family. Now that’s an idea worth thinking about!
strategies from the 7 wrong ways list.
Merit Certificates
The following students received Merit Certificates at Monday’s assembly:
|
Prep/1 Thomson |
|
|
Piers Nicholls |
90% accuracy spelling first 100 words |
|
Bella Garner |
The greatest improvement in spelling the first 100 words from September to November |
|
P/1 Fulton |
|
|
Gabe Schreuder |
Being a marvellous mathematician |
|
Austin Evans |
Always being an attentive listener and making an outstanding effort with all his learning activities |
|
1/2 Gilmartin |
|
|
Joel Long |
Creating a map and writing about his favourite place at school |
|
Samuel Boyd |
Creating a map and writing about his favourite place at school |
|
Zachary Shields |
Creating a map and writing about his favourite place at school |
|
1/2 Hewitt |
|
|
Abbey Garner |
Always being kind and caring to others |
|
Riley Cox |
Trying really hard in writing and spelling |
|
Ashley Byard |
Working hard in writing and reading lessons |
|
2/3 Achilles |
|
|
Brayden Triffett |
Persistent effort and focus on his geography project |
|
Imogen Davis |
Consistent focus during learning tasks |
|
3/4 Edwards |
|
|
Lily Upston |
Her consistent outstanding work ethic |
|
Nicole Nettlefold |
Her consistent outstanding work ethic |
|
Larissa Ellmers |
Her consistent outstanding work ethic |
|
4/5 Walsh |
|
|
Jonty Ellis |
Completing History research within given time frame |
|
Lily Andjelkovic |
Cooperating with others and always speaking kindly to her peers |
|
5/6 White |
|
|
Piper Martin |
For her thoughtful and detailed work. Piper is keeping her work standards high right to the end of the year |
|
Braylee Robertson |
For working well on self-directed tasks such as our Christmas contract |
|
5/6 Locke/Grace |
|
|
Tyler James |
Applying his understanding of decimals to thousandths |
|
Taylah Leonard |
Working in her own time to make artwork for our performance |
Good Choices Awards
Students are recognised when making good choices at school. They receive a raffle ticket which is placed in a “lucky draw box”. At each assembly up to 4 Early Childhood and 4 Primary students’ tickets are drawn out. Students can then redeem these for a small prize at the office.
The following students are recognised for making good choices at school:
|
William Jarman |
|
Taylah Leonard |
|
Madelyn Boyd |
|
Amber Webb |
|
Dylan Johnson |
|
Bella Garner |
|
Keegan Jacobs |
|
Harley Matthews |
