Filter Content
- PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
- 2021 SURVEYS
- 2022 KINDER ENROLMENTS - NOW OPEN
- FINGAL CAMPUS
- GRADE 5/6 THE GREAT WAVE
- DRAW A PET PORTRAIT
- 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION
- SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
- ICE HOCKEY COMES TO FINGAL!!!!!
- KINDERGARTEN GYMNASTICS in HPE with Miss Bramich
- KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2/3 HPE with Miss Bramich
- SCIENCE WEEK 2021
- FOOTBALL
- HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS
- TAS TAFE: ONLINE APPRENTICESHIP EVENING 2021
- NEWSTEAD COLLEGE INFORMATION EVENING
- STAY ON TOP OF COVID
- SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
High Expectations at St Marys District School
At SMDS we are very proud to say that we have high expectations around our core values of Respect, Courage, Aspiration and Growth. A large amount of our day-to-day work is dedicated to helping our students grow in these key areas throughout their whole school journey. During the past 2 years, our students and staff have worked together with the support of parents and the school association committee to lift the profile of our school, which has resulted in improvements in uniform, respectful interactions, and behaviour. We are now ready to take the next steps in building a culture of Respect and to further build on our school culture.
In consultation with the leadership team, staff and student leaders, we will be focussing more closely on Respect in the Senior School. Whilst we can show respect in many ways, such as opening a door, being on time, turning up prepared for a lesson, wearing our uniform correctly or even simply greeting someone as you walk past, the major focus for the rest of this year will be on language. A key lesson that we are trying to teach the students is the concept of “time and place” as well as “Respect”. A learning environment is one of many places in the world where the use of foul language, homophobic comments or racial slurs is completely unacceptable. Indeed, it would be accurate to say that these things are not acceptable anywhere.
Our students and staff deserve to be in a learning environment free from foul and inappropriate language. Therefore, moving forward, should a student make the choice to use inappropriate language such as this, the resulting consequence will be an immediate lunchtime detention. A formal letter will also be sent home, so that parents are kept informed of what has occurred. Repeated poor choices will result in parent contact and an internal suspension. Being very clear about our high expectations for appropriate language use, and the resulting consequences of not respecting them will support our school community to be the best that it can be. By working together and communicating effectively, we will further improve the learning environment at SMDS, our students’ ability to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner as well as to be respectful human beings.
We look forward to working closely with families and the broader community as we continue with the great responsibility that is educating your child - both academically and socially. We are so very proud of the students that we are lucky enough to have with us, of their growth and courage and of the way that they form such a close community. We know that this initiative will help our students even further, to support a learning environment and to teach life-lessons that will last the rest of their adult lives.
COVID Update
With the ongoing issues with COVID on the mainland and the unpredictable nature of the current pandemic, it is timely to consider what this means for us at St Marys District School.
The current risk of an outbreak in Tasmania is very real.
As a school community, we are asking students and families to abide by the changes we put in place in 2020 to mitigate any likelihood of community transmission. At SMDS this means:
- Keep your children home if they are unwell, particularly if they exhibit respiratory like symptoms, coughs, colds and flu-like symptoms.
- Have yourselves or your children tested if you or they have any respiratory like symptoms.
- Avoid sending your children back to school if they are unwell, even if they are COVID free.
- When visiting our site, check in at the main office, maintain physical distancing and abide by the maximum room limits displayed.
- If on-site for any events like parent teacher, sporting events etc please sign in using the “Check-In Tas” App. These QR codes are located around our school.
- If dropping your children at their classrooms, sign in using the QR code displayed if entering any buildings.
- Sanitise when entering our site.
- Follow any stay at home or isolation orders that may affect you or members of your family.
As a school we have a detailed plan about what happens if we have any community transmission of COVID-19 in Tasmania again. During these still uncertain times I ask all of our community to not be complacent about the risks caused by COVID-19, remember the strategies we need to use to keep each other safe and please follow all our school-based management measures if you are on our site for any reason.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Warm regards
Carolyn Watson
Principal
We have two very important surveys coming up which, with your co-operation will assist us in future planning for our school. The first survey is the 2021 Parent Satisfaction Survey. We encourage all parents to participate in this survey. If you need confidential support completing the survey, please contact the School Administration Office.
2021 PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY
Each year the Department of Education conducts School Satisfaction Surveys in Tasmanian Government schools, to gain feedback on what you think our schools do well and where you think we may improve.
We encourage you to complete the survey about St Marys District School. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school planning and decision-making.
You can complete the online survey at any time until Friday 17 September 2021. Survey link: https://ncv.microsoft.com/5Aj1ix2OKa
All responses are anonymous and confidential with the survey carried out on a secure website.
Feedback is only accessible to the school principal and teachers and relevant Department of Education staff, in online summary report formats with no individuals or families identifiable.
For any assistance please contact Education Performance and Review by emailing: schoolsurveys@education.tas.gov.au.
Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.
Carolyn Watson
PRINCIPAL
Students in our school have been invited to take part in a wellbeing survey being conducted in Term 3, 2021. We are doing this as part of the Department of Education’s 2018 – 2021 Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy. This letter provides key information about the survey.
Purpose of the survey
Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of how they learn at school. The purpose of the survey is to seek students’ views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school. Students in Years 4 to 12 will be invited to participate in the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. The information collected will help our school, the Department of Education and our school community to support young people’s wellbeing.
What is the survey about?
The survey asks students about their social and emotional wellbeing; school relationships and engagement and learning in school; physical health and wellbeing; and after school activities. Students’ answers will be kept confidential – no one (including school staff) will use the results to identify individual students.
What is involved?
Teachers will arrange for students to undertake the survey during class time. Students will be asked if they would like to participate and are able to withdraw at any time. If you do not want your child to participate, please complete the form at the end of this letter.
Will students’ information be kept confidential?
The Department takes measures to ensure students’ personal information and their identities remain anonymous when participating in the survey. Participating schools with fewer than five (5) students undertaking the survey will not receive a school report in order to protect the confidentiality of students.
What will happen if a student is distressed during or after the survey?
Whilst the survey questions are not expected to distress students, the survey includes questions that ask about topics such as students’ happiness and experiences of being bullied. Teachers will inform students that:
- if they find the survey uncomfortable or distressing, they should leave the survey screen immediately.
- that it is not compulsory to take part in the survey as a whole, and
- students may also skip individual survey questions if they wish.
Students may want to speak to an adult about concerns or issues raised and will be supported to do so.
What do I have to do?
If you agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, you do not need to do anything. If you do not agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, please complete the attached form and return it to the school by Thursday 26th August 2021.
Where can I get more information?
More information about the survey, including examples of the survey questions, can be found in the attached requently Asked Questions.
If you would like further information on the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey, this can be found at Annual Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey - The Department of Education Tasmania or can be collected from the school.
For questions or concerns, or to view the questions, please email schoolsurveys@education.tas.gov.au or contact our school office on 6372 3900.
Sincerely
Carolyn Watson
PRINCIPAL
Wellbeing Survey - Parent Information Booklet
Wellbeing Survey - Student Information Booklet
2022 KINDER ENROLMENTS - NOW OPEN
We are now taking enrolments for our 2022 Kindergarten for all students born in 2017 (Students must be 4 by the 1 of January 2022). Enrolment forms are available at Launching into Learning Sessions or the school Administration Office. If you would like to discuss your child's enrolment, please contact us on 0363723900 to make an appointment.
To prepare your child for Kindergarten, we offer Launching into Learning sessions every Thursday morning. Kinder orientation sessions will be offered to parents and new kinder students during term 4.
Kindergarten at St Marys District School provides 15 hours of early learning experiences for children in a facility located in a natural play space, which offers children the opportunity to explore outdoors, develop motor skills and an appreciation for nature.
Kindergarten provides opportunities for children to:
-
- play with, and alongside other children
- develop personal independence
- develop confidence
- build social skills
- explore their world
Families are an integral part of their child/children’s learning and partnerships with families are important to our school. Engagement with us about your child’s learning empowers the family’s role in their education, while improving learning outcomes. We welcome ongoing conversations as we work together.
If you would like more information about Kindergarten at St Marys, please speak to our friendlly LiL staff. More information about Kindergarten in Tasmania and preparing your child for transition to Kinder can also be can be found at the Great Start Early Years web portal.
POETRY - TERM 3
Students have commenced Term 3 with a focus on Poetry.
Poetry plays an integral part of the literacy curriculum because it assists with building listening, speaking, and reading skills. Poetry supports building vocabulary. Students are exposed to words they have not heard before and can learn to use them in context. Students can also learn how words are used or chosen for effect to create imagery. Poetry also assists with students building their individual creative thinking skills.
Students have been writing acrostic and kenning poems.
An acrostic poem is a poem in which certain letters of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase when read vertically.
Kenning poems are phrases of two words that replace a noun in poetry, often found in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems. Kennings are like a riddle. Kennings are commonly used in poetry to describe something without saying what it is. Each line in a kenning poem has only two words, these words are joined using a hyphen. The two words are usually a noun and a verb, or two nouns.
The energetic and imposing picture "The Great Wave" (Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura) is the best-known work by Japanese artist Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849), one of the greatest Japanese woodblock printmakers, painters and book illustrators.
"The Great Wave" was created around 1831 as part of a series of woodblock prints called "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" (FugakuSanju-rokuKei).
The most eye-catching feature of the painting is the extended wave as it is about to break with the crash of its claw-like crest.
The wave is about to strike the boats as if it were an enormous monster, one which seems to symbolise the irresistible force of nature and the weakness of human beings.
Reflecting our focus on tsunami, 5/6 students created their own interpretations of "The Great Wave".
During Friday afternoon activities in the art room, students are creating portraits of their pets and are showing what talented art students we have at St Marys District School.
100 DAYS OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION
On Monday 2nd August, the Prep/Year One class celebrated one hundred days of school in 2021. From the beginning of Term One, we have been counting the days we come to school using tens frames. This has helped us get better at counting by tens all the way to one hundred. To celebrate, we wrote about how we would spend $100, decorated ‘100’ biscuits and created artworks to show how we will look when we make it to 100 years old! We had a great day and look forward to continuing our tally of days at school.
St Marys District School is excited to announce that the annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held both the at the St Marys campus and the Fingal campus from Monday 23rd August to Friday 27th August 2021. The Book Fair is part of our celebration of Book Week.
The Book Fair will be set up in the foyer of the main office at St Marys Campus. Books will be available for purchase between 8:30 am and 3.30 pm. Books will also be set up in the Stone Building at the Fingal Campus and available for purchase from 8:30am to 10:30am. Credit card, phone, online or cash transactions will be available at the St Marys Campus. Credit card facilities are not available at the Fingal Campus. Details for phone and online purchases are on the back of the attached flyer.
All profits from the sale of books will be used to purchase books for our school libraries. The school is entitled to purchase books to the value of 30% of all sales. If we are able to sell $500 worth of books, we will be able to purchase books to the value of $150 for our library for everyone to enjoy!
If you are able to support our Book Fair, come along and purchase some great books and support reading development in our community.
All students will be given the opportunity to visit the Book Fair in small groups to look at the books. In addition, we will post images of some of the books available on our Facebook page throughout the week.
Parents are more than welcome to visit the Book Fair. Our Covid Safety Plan will require parents to sign in at the front office and adhere to the venue capacity limits, physical distancing and hand hygiene requirements. These protocols will be monitored by school staff for everyone’s safety.
We look forward to seeing you and sharing many fantastic fiction and non-fiction titles together. If you have any queries, please contact Ros Smith on 6372 3900.
ICE HOCKEY COMES TO FINGAL!!!!!
What's happening in PE at the Fingal Campus?
Fingal Campus students have been engaged in a variety of activities designed to meet the requirements of the Australian HPE Curriculum. Activities to suit the Prep – Grade 2 students need to reflect the development of foundation manipulative skills (catch, throw, hit, strike, kick), body management (roll, pivot, balance), locomotor skills (run, hop, skip, jump) and emotional development (fun, sharing, enjoyment). For Grade 3 – 5 students, it is important to include opportunities for the development of games sense, strategic thinking, problem solving, fun, engagement and competing fairly.
So how could we play ice hockey without a flat surface to hit a flat puck? We have to think outside the box that’s how!!!! Please enjoy this range of photos of our amazing Fingal students in HPE lessons with Miss Bramich.
KINDERGARTEN GYMNASTICS in HPE with Miss Bramich
Our Kindergarten children are learning how to move their bodies using foundation skills in gymnastics. These skills include taking off on one foot - leaping, landing on 2 feet together after a jump, hanging from a height, twisting and pivoting, tumbling and supporting their body above an apparatus. In Term 3 our students will be learning how to manoeuvre across monkey bars, balance with confidence on a low bench or the balance beam, take off on a spring trampette onto a crash mat and attempt different ways to show how their body can be balanced when still (static) or moving (dynamic). Physical Education has its own “language”. Our students are learning words and meaning (vocabulary) that relate directly to HPE learning. It is important in HPE however, to support our students’ literacy and numeracy through movement. You will notice in the pictures, that our children are learning number sequences as they move from one activity station to another (activity 1 – 10). As they move around the gymnastics activity stations, they are also learning the Tasmanian indigenous words for numbers 1 – 10, and how to say the name of some animals using Tasmanian indigenous language.
KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2/3 HPE with Miss Bramich
How do we wiggle our toes? How do we move things with our toes and feet? How can we hold, hit and strike objects with bats, sticks, feet and hands? Please enjoy these pictures of our students learning how to move safely in different directions, manipulating a range of equipment safely and learning the fundamentals of modified games and sports, such as “Boffo Ball” and indoor hockey. Our students are certainly aware that physical movement and playing with others can be challenging and fun at the same time. Understanding how the body moves and how different movements can develop aspects of physical fitness are important HPE concepts. Our students are also understanding how physical movement is a wonderful tool that supports the development of self-confidence and clear thinking. It also helps with positive decision making and solving problems.
St Marys District School staff and students welcomed UTAS – Young Tassie Scientists on Tuesday 10th August.
Years 5 through to Year 8 participated in science demonstrations as a part of celebrating Science Week.
The Young Tassie Scientists (YTS) program aims to broaden the profile of science and engineering to students and the general public throughout Tasmania and to provide insights into working as a scientist or engineer.
YTS involves early career researchers and scientists who are passionate about their work and can connect with a range of audiences. They present talks and activities based on their work to schools and communities around Tasmania, and are widely profiled ambassadors for science, engineering and technology during National Science Week.
More information about the scientists, their specialist fields and supporting resoucres can be found on their webpage at: The Scientists - Young Tassie Scientists
Stay tuned for our next newsletter when we will share how Science is celebrated in our primary classrooms!
It was Sam, Max and Jakobe’s last junior football game with Longford Football Club on Sunday. They played in the elimination final at Prospect against North Launceston where they unfortunately lost.
The boys have been travelling to Longford up to twice a week, plus game day over the course of the season, as well as representing St Marys in the Winter Sports Roster.
Special mention to Sam who played his 100th game during round 10. Congratulations Sam!
Students who play with the East Coast Swans have one game before the finals round. We wish them the best of luck and hope they manage to make the finals.
CLASS |
TEACHER | HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENT | DUE DATE |
GRADE 7 -TERM 3 HOMEWORK TASK- EARTH AND SPACE |
Mrs Heather Marshall |
Grade 7 are now learning about Earth and Space. Our focus is on the moon, Earth and sun. We will be focussing on the sustainable use of water and recycling. Grade 7 will be asked to design and build a model biodome from scrap material they find at home. It does not have to be a working model, but they will need to identify and label how they recycle water and overcome any other challenges. Students will be asked to bring their biodome to school and present their design ideas. Please encourage your child to begin immediately. Presentations, will begin in class on or after September 6th. |
The biodomes will need to be presented at school in week 8 and 9 of this term (from the 6th of September).” |
CLASS | TEACHER | MAJOR ASSESSMENT TASK | DUE DATE |
Grade 8/9 HASS | Adalia Draghici |
There are two components:
|
Friday 17th September |
Grade 9 HASS | Adalia Draghici | Students will create and produce an artefact in the syle of a primary source from World War 1. | Monday 13th September |
NOTES: Students have been handed asessment task sheets in class. A copy of the assessment task sheet is also available on CANVAS. Students are given time in class to work on their assessment. There is an expectation that students will work on their assessment at home if they don't complete it during class time. |
Class | Teacher | Major Assessment Task | Due Date |
Grade 9 Science | Keziah Green | Students need to complete the Chemical Bonds Practical Report started in class | Friday 20th August |
Note: Students have access to all support materials available on CANVAS. Students are given time in class on their assessment up to, and including Friday 13th August. There is an expectation that students will work on their assessment at home if they don't complete it during class time. |
TAS TAFE: ONLINE APPRENTICESHIP EVENING 2021
TasTAFE will be holding an online apprenticeship evening on Wednesday, 25 August 2021– 6pm on Facebook Live.
Viewers will be able to find out everything they need to know about Australian apprenticeships.
This event is ideal for school and college students, parents/carers of school students… or anyone of any age who is considering an australian apprenticeship.
The expert apprenticeship panel will discuss:
- why apprenticeships are a great career option
- what’s involved with an apprenticeship
- pathways to gaining an apprenticeship
- how the apprenticeship system works
- what employers are looking for when hiring an apprentice
- apprentices and employers will share their inspiring stories
An online jobs board will be launched straight after the event listing a wide range of apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities - including school-based apprenticeships.
To register, please follow the link: https://www.tastafe.tas.edu.au/apprenticeship-night
NEWSTEAD COLLEGE INFORMATION EVENING
Prospective students and their parents are invited to attend an information evening on Tuesday 17th August at 6.30 pm in the Newstead College auditorium. This session will allow students and parents to meet the Principal and teachers and receive further information about our curriculum offerings, TCE, ATAR, tutorial programs and student support services.
COVID Safety kits
Tasmanians must remain prepared for the reality that new cases of COVID-19 can occur in any community and that rapid responses and lockdowns may be required to deal with these cases. In other parts of Australia, states have responded to new outbreaks in their communities by implementing restrictions and short periods of lockdown. This remains a possibility in Tasmania, particularly as people move around the state and the country more freely.
While our Health authorities continue to prepare for a case or cases occurring, we must all do our bit to make sure we are undertaking daily activities safely and are prepared for the challenges COVID-19 can present with little warning.
Each of us should have in place a COVID safety kit that contains items to improve our personal safety and the safety of the people we come into contact with. Items in this kit can play an important role not only right now, but in the event that new community safety measures are introduced or cases of COVID occur in our community. Where applicable, you should already be using some of these items. If there are things you need in the event of a lockdown, get them ready now. This prevents panic buying and the need to go out when staying at home is the safest option.
A few basic items can help reduce your COVID risk every day and ensure you’re prepared if local cases occur or new community safety measures are introduced.
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
Grade 5 - Camp to Scotch Oakburn College Valley Campus - 19th August 2021 - 20th August 2021
SECONDARY
WHOLE SCHOOL
Science Week - Wednesday 18th August 2021- Science Inquiry tasks
Book Week - Book Week Parade - Wednesday 25th August 2021
NOTICEBOARD