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- ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS' REPORT
- THE FAMILY AND SCHOOLS SURVEY
- GRADE 1/2 YOUDALE
- GRADE 7 CAMP
- LET'S TALK ABOUT TALKING!
- DITTO KEEPS SAFE
- SPORTING SCHOOLS - VOLLEYBALL CLINICS
- GRADE 5/6B CERAMIC BOWLS AND ART WORK
- HIGH SCHOOL NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- FOOTY COLOURS DAY with Miss Bramich
- GRADE 3-4 MUSIC with Miss Bramich
- PREP-GRADE 2-3 HEALTH with Miss Bramich
- PRIMARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION with Miss Bramich
- NARRATIVES BY GRADE 3/4
- POP ART SCULPTURES
- GRADE 3-5 SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY PROGRAM
- SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Congratulations to all of our students for the amazing work you have completed throughout Term 3. We have been impressed with the learning which has occurred academically and also in the development of work habits across all sectors of our school.
It is inspiring to see our students developing a clear understanding of what it means to be successful in each step of their learning and also being able to articulate what it is they need to focus on as their next steps.
Term 3 can be a difficult term in our community, with short, cold days and lots of rain!! However, as we welcome the warmer days of Term 4, we look forward to the continued learning of our students and in particular, supporting the important transitions for our students which will commence after the holidays. We will be supporting families as they prepare to send their children to school for the first time as Kinders in 2022. We will also be working to prepare our Kinders, as they get ready for full-time schooling in Prep, plan a range of activities and events to get our Grade 6’s and the Grade 6’s from Bicheno ready for high school together, complete planning with our Grade 10’s for 2022 and also support our year 12’s as they complete their compulsory education. Exciting times for all of these students and their families.
We wish everyone a restful and enjoyable holiday and look forward to working with you all again in Term 4.
Ros Smith and Andrew Martin
Assistant Principals
St Marys District School is taking part in a study and we need you to be involved!
The Family and Schools Survey will help us understand how families and schools can best work together to support learning outcomes for our children. Between now and Week 1 of Term 4, we will be encouraging all parents to complete a quick survey (no more than 10 – 15 minutes).
Have your say! It’s voluntary, confidential, quick and easy, comes in various formats (online, mobile devices, hardcopy) and can be completed at a time that’s convenient to you.
Please follow the link to complete the survey and enter the draw for a shopping voucher local to your area!
https://forms.office.com/r/MPgae4JLHZwould
Thank you for supporting our school community
In the Grade 1/2 classroom, children have been learning about places in Geography and using the information they have learned to add to maps. They are also learning about the language of location and direction in Mathematics.
Linked to this learning, children have been using their understanding of the features of maps to create their own artistic representations of treasure maps.
Children have also been focussing on bumping up the quality of their writing through editing and the use of adjectives to create images in their reader’s minds.
With some students experiencing many years since their last school camp due to Covid19, it was a high priority to get the camps program back up and running at SMDS.
Class teachers Rachel Hodge and Adalia Draghici did an amazing job organising a fantastic, fun-filled, team-based camp aimed at the core theme of connection. The camp was based out of “Nindethana” a guide group facility found on the western shores of the Tamar River just near Exeter. The students were in four teams, even making their own screen-printed team shirts, and competed in a number of teams based events across three days. Team members came from across both classes and were deliberately chosen so that new friendships and connections could be formed.
Teamwork, courage and strategy were all essential as the students pitted themselves against each other in: fashion parades, mini golf challenges, team sports, engineering challenges, beach art challenges, rock climbing, affirmation circles and various other smaller tasks. The dining was second-to-none and many students struggled finishing the vast quantities of food that we may have overordered!
Points were tallied and champions were announced, but in the end, none of that mattered. What really mattered was the connections, new-found respect and camaraderie that has come out of this camp. In the words of one particularly amazing student “we came into camp as class mates and strangers, but we left as friends, and even, family”.
Well done to all involved for their amazing efforts, positivity and good humour and a special mention to Mrs. Hodge and Miss Draghici for making such a special set of memories and lessons for the Grade 7 team.
Being able to communicate is an essential part of all our lives.
Most of us can talk. We learn it automatically from birth. But not everyone learns how to communicate well.
- It’s how we learn.
- It’s how we share our thoughts and feelings.
- It’s how we make friends.
- It’s how we share our stories and ideas.
- It’s how we get the job done when we move into the workforce.
If we can’t communicate well, we might struggle with learning and with life.
That’s why we want parents, carers and community members to know about the important role they can play in developing confident communicators.
Taking time every day to talk to your kids will help them develop these essential skills. But sometimes, it is difficult to get the converesation started. How many times have you asked "how was your day" or "how was school" and received a one word answer?
The Department of Education has developed some fantastic resources that help develop conversation and communication skills. Their new website, Let's Talk, has a whole lot of resources to support parents, carers and community members in starting conversations with our young people. There are age appropriate talk ideas, tips for getting kids and young people talking, ways to get involved, seek help and much more.
Please take the time to look at this fantastic resource by visiting Home - Let's Talk (https://talk.tas.gov.au). Updates, hints and tips will also be shared on our facebook page.
On Tuesday 14 September, Ditto visited St Marys District School as part of the Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Program.
Students from Kinder to Grade 3 listened carefully to Ditto’s messages in shows at both St Marys and Fingal Campuses.
The focus of the sessions were on Ditto’s 3 rules:
- We all have the right to feel safe with people.
- It is of to say NO if you feel unsafe or unsure.
- Nothing is so yucky that you can’t tell someone about it.
We thank Bravehearts for visiting our school and supporting the messages presented to our children about personal safety.
SPORTING SCHOOLS - VOLLEYBALL CLINICS
This term we received Sporting Schools funding to support the delivery of volleyball clinics for our Grade 7 and 8 students.
Sporting Schools is a funded Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities.
Sporting Schools programs are provided free to children and their families to help students build the confidence and capacity to be active for life.
Our students welcomed Bailey from Volleyball Tasmania who ran the four week skills and game sessions. We saw excellent improvements in skills and understanding of game rules and strategies throughout the sessions. Please enjoy the photos from some of the sessions.
GRADE 5/6B CERAMIC BOWLS AND ART WORK
Students have enjoyed creating various textures and designs as they explored working with ceramics. Adding the glaze to their pieces and firing in the kiln for a second time produced some coulourful results.
HIGH SCHOOL NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
A team of netballers headed to Launceston on Thursday 16 September to participate in the Northern Tasmanian High Schools Netball Championships. It was the first time that this group of girls had played together as a team. They did an amazing job gelling together and play a high standard of netball from the outset.
We played two tough games against St Patrick's College and Queechy High School, but despite our best efforts, lost to both. We then played St Helens in the cross-over round.
Sarah Cooper, our school social worker from 2020, turned up to coach as a surprise, lifting our spirits and sharpening our game. This enabled us to beat St Helens in a close and hard-fought game. Our final game was against Riverside High School where once again, we dug deep under Sarah’s guidance and came up with our second victory for the day.
The team consisted of Ella Triffitt, Darshini Barnes, Maggie Egan, Evie Simpson, Taylor Jones, Mia Gillies, Charli Pou, Hallie Thompson, Ava Howorka, Helayna McGiveron and Mikayla Quilliam. The girls are to be congratulated on the high standard of netball, sportsmanship, support for each other and maturity that they displayed throughout the day.
It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to accompany them.
Sue Bennett
FOOTY COLOURS DAY with Miss Bramich
In celebration of the last week of Term 3, and in recognition of the AFL Grand Final on 25 September (Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs), our students were encouraged to wear their favourite AFL team colours on Thursday 23 September. Miss Bramich and Mrs. Scolyer planned for some AFL activities for Preps – Grade 10 at recess and lunchtime.
Despite the howling wind in the playground, Grade 3 – 6 students were given the opportunity to participate in some AFL handball activities. Decked in their footy team colours, students engaged in this activity with fantastic enthusiasm. Well done to our students for demonstrating fantastic respect for each other and adopting the safety expectations required for sports activities.
Fingal Campus students were dressed in brown and gold, so much so, perhaps we should call it the Hawthorn Campus???
There were speckles of Collingwood and Richmond colours in between the brown and gold.
Well done Fingal Campus students for participating in the AFL Colours Day with awesome energy!!!
GRADE 3-4 MUSIC with Miss Bramich
Our students have been experimenting with “voice” – how to hum and sing melodies while attempting to keep in pitch. They are becoming aware of how to change the dynamics of their sound (loud, soft, fast, slow). By recognising different rhythmic patterns and recalling lyrics, our students are recognising the three main parts of a song – verse, chorus and bridge.
Our students are understanding the mechanism of the voice box and how a combination of controlling the muscles of the voice box and breathing out, creates high or low pitch. In addition, our students have been experimenting with:
- merrimbas and keyboards (percussion) and ukuleles (strings)
- playing a song, by striking notes on the merrimbas with different weighted beaters
- striking notes on the keyboard and by learning chords and strum patterns on the ukulele.
Each week our students also complete music theory tasks that complement the practical lesson and reflect the learning intentions and success criteria of the lesson.
PREP-GRADE 2-3 HEALTH with Miss Bramich
What is medicine? What is a drug? What is a poison? Who are the people who we can trust to give us medicine? What does medicine do? How should medicine be stored safely?
In Australian Health and Physical Education curriculum, as part of the Being healthy, safe and active strand, our students are learning about finding our answers to the above questions.
Our students are learning about how medicines can be used with purpose, in the right dose and that medicines should not be shared. They have learned about syrup, tablets, creams, puffers, injections and other ways in which we can give our body medicine. Students have participated in peer interviews, scenario discussions, watched video presentations and created bulls-eye and Venn diagrams to illustrate their knowledge.
Our students are able to recognise the skull and cross-bone symbol for poison. Our Grade 3 students have understood that some medicines, drugs and poisons are allowed to be used and that this is called legal. They can be purchased over the counter at chemists, supermarkets and service stations, or with a prescription from a doctor.
They are aware that some drugs cannot be obtained in this manner and are called illegal. Our students have discussed how medicines are used responsibly and that sometimes medicines are not used responsibly, that is, they are misused/abused. Our students have become aware of the Poisons Hotline 13 11 26 and the 000 emergency number.
Our students have also investigated the contents and purpse of a first aid kit. They have then created their own! Our school Business Managers and First Aid Officers, Lisa and Janine, were very impressed indeed!
PRIMARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION with Miss Bramich
What is physical literacy?
No matter where you sit in the stages of life: infant, early childhood, childhood, adolescence, young adult, adult or older adult; it is important to make good decisions about our health and wellbeing.
Physical literacy includes moving with confidence and competence on land, in air and in water. It includes participating in activities with other people, and of course, it means finding fun, happiness and enjoyment in physical activity. The HPE curriculum at St Marys supports the development of physical literacy for all students from Kinder to Grade 10.
Physical education is not just about using our total body and large muscles. There is a lot to learn about the smaller parts of our body such as our fingers and our toes.
What is manipulation? What does fine motor mean?
Manipulation is using our hands and fingers to brush our teeth, thread a needle, write with a pen, peg out clothes, use a rope to skip or pull, tie our shoes laces, catch a ball or hold a bat.
It means moving objects or doing an activity with our feet and toes such as putting on thongs, picking up something with our toes or landing gently on our feet.
Fine motor movements are using the small muscles in our hands, fingers, feet and toes to perform action. Nearly all fine motor movements involve our eyes – vision.
Day to day activities include using a phone, turning door knobs or keys, plugging in an electrical cord and using zips and buttons on clothes.
These pictures show a range of activities in our PE warm-ups where our students are using manipulative skills.
Year Option Art students were asked to create pop-art pieces of art and several students chose to create sculptures with ceramics.
GRADE 3-5 SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY PROGRAM
Grade 3 – 5 Swimming and Water Safety Program (SWSP)
Friday 15 October – Thursday 28 October 2021
Dear Parents/Carers
As Tasmania is an island state surrounded by coastline, as well as inland waters and other aquatic environments, swimming and water safety are necessary life skills that add to our health, fitness and wellbeing. Activities such as fishing, boating, water play, swimming, surfing and diving require swimming and water safety skills.
In acknowledgement of the importance that water safety and swimming capabilities play throughout our lives, the Department of Education mandates that all students learn to be safe and competent in water environments, as a component of the primary curriculum. Every effort is made to ensure that each child is made to feel safe and relaxed during this program.
The Department of Education Swimming and Water Safety Program (SWSP) consists of 10 lessons over two weeks for each year group in years 3, 4 and 5. Due to the Student Free Day on Friday 30 October, we will commence in the first week of Term 4, Friday 15 October and conclude on Thursday 28 October.
This year the SWSP Instructor Team will be:
- Karen Bramich - Instructor and Teacher-in-Charge
- Carol Bennett - Instructor
DAILY ORGANISATION INFORMATION
Your child will need to bring along the following items every day throughout their program:
- Swimming gear – including bathers and swimming cap. Bikinis, floppy T-shirts and baggy shorts are not suitable.
- Towel/s and a plastic bag to put wet items in.
- Footwear, such as thongs, crocs, or sandals, is to worn when moving to and from the gym change-rooms to the pool.
- For safety reasons, hair clips, necklaces, bracelets, ear studs and dangly earrings are not to be worn in the pool (Sleepers are allowed).
- A sturdy clip-lock bag with a wet face-washer or hand towel with your child’s name on it.
- Any medication (e.g. asthma medication) that may be needed at the poolside.
Swim session times and groupings
A swimming timetable with student groupings (Stage 1, 2 or 3) has been completed and will be issued to students in Term 4 prior to the commencement of the SWSP including transport arrangements for students from the Fingal Campus.
Changeroom and poolside SWSP Covid - Protocols
We would like to advise you that the SWSP will operate under our current pool Covid19 safety plan. Showering after swimming lessons is not permitted under the current regulations. All other site Covid19 protocols such as signing in using the Tas App, 1.5 metre physical distancing and room density allocations must be adhered to.
Swimming caps
For health and safety reasons, it is Department of Education policy for all students to wear swimming caps. All students will be provided with a house-coloured swimming cap. Students may bring their own cap which must remain at school for the duration of the SWSP.
Lesson timing
Consideration has been given to running SWSP sessions as closely as possible to the regular daily timetable. As a result students are able to order lunch from the canteen if they choose to.
- All students will need to bring their usual recess, lunch and drinks.
- We advise students to bring an extra water bottle as swimming can be very thirsty work and despite being in a water environment, dehydration can occur.
- Before and after your child’s daily swimming lesson, your child will resume normal school lessons.
Attendance and non-participation
- Daily student attendance will be taken as per a normal school day.
- Absences or non-participation will require parent/carer communication (written note, phone call, email) with an explanation.
- It is a program requirement that a detailed attendance record of daily student absence and non-participation is provided. A medical certificate will be required for on-going illness/injury or non-participation.
Goggles
- An important aim of the program is that students become competent while performing aquatic skills without the use of goggles.
- Some components of the program, in particular the survival components will be assessed without goggles.
- Some components will allow the use of goggles, such as lap swimming for stroke development.
- Students will be discouraged from using goggles in warm-ups, unstructured play and during water adjustment and orientation games.
- As goggles are unlikely to be worn in many family aquatic recreational pursuits, and more than likely not in an aquatic emergency, all water safety and survival work including assessment will occur without goggles. If there is a medical allergy requiring goggles, a medical certificate should be provided.
Photos
When an activity permits, the instructors will take photos of student development and achievement for the school newsletter and magazine, adhering to media consent permissions which are already in place.
Illness, injury or infectious diseases
- Students with deep open wounds or infectious diseases should not enter the water.
- Students with bandages or serious injury may not enter the water.
MAST boat safety day and swimming survival assessment day
We welcome the services of Mr. Ian Ross (Chief Education Officer with Marine and Safety Tasmania) to our SWSP Team on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 October. Each student will attend a 50 minute session about boat safety. During this time our students complete two modules. Student participation in these sessions will be reflected on the SWSP progress report sent home at the completion of the SWSP.
All students whether Stage 1, 2 or 3 will be required to bring dry clothes to wear for a survival swim. If your child is in Stage 1 or 2, they will require shorts and a T shirt. If they are in Stage 3, they will require long pants and a long-sleeved top. You will receive a separate notice alerting your child what day they will need to bring their dry clothes and when they will be participating in the MAST boat safety session.
We are looking forward to commencing this year’s Grade 3 – 5 Swimming and Water Safety Program and we look forward to celebrating our child’s progress. Students will receive a progress report at the completion of the program. If you have any questions regarding the program, please feel free to contact the school administration office on 63723900.
Karen Bramich
SWSP Teacher-in-Charge
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
Primary Assembly - Tuesday October 12
PIRLS - Tuesday October 10 for year 4 students
SECONDARY
WHOLE SCHOOL
NOTICEBOARD