Secondary students have now had two weeks and primary students four weeks, back on-site undertaking face to face learning again. We have been very impressed with how well they have transitioned back to learning and re-engaging with their teachers and peers, upholding our high expectations and demonstrating our school values of courage, aspiration, respect and growth.  We know that our students have been very well supported with their learning despite the pandemic, due to our online Canvas courses and regular live VTT sessions that students were able to undertake whilst learning from home.  We continue to be impressed with the level of resilience that our students have been able to demonstrate as they have transitioned back to learning at school.

Since returning, teachers have been able to evaluate where students are at with their learning and are planning their teaching to support the next steps for each student.  Teachers are continuing to work collaboratively to ensure teaching and learning experiences are high impact and closely connected to student need and curriculum priorities.  Families will receive a mid-year report in week 3 of Term 3. This report will outline where students are in their learning and wellbeing.  Whilst this will not be as detailed as our normal mid-year report it will still give parents an understanding of where students are at with their learning in key subjects, English and Mathematics for Prep to Year 6 students and English, Mathematics, HASS and Science for Years 7-10 students.  Learning progress in these subjects will be described as: working towards, working at or working above the standard.  A wellbeing comment will also be included in the report to provide additional information about your child’s return to on-site learning.

Schools continue to remain safe places to be and as the restrictions are continually lifting here in Tasmania, I would like to reassure families that we will continue to have our safety and hygiene guidelines in place including hand hygiene routines and cleaning protocols.  All schools have a very detailed Safety Plan in place as per Government requirements.  We will continue to provide information to families about the implications on the restrictions on educational activities as they arise. and we are hoping that we will be able to undertake activities such as winter sport soon.

I would like to thank families for their ongoing support of ‘Stop, Drop and Go’ and ‘Collect and Go’.  Next week we will continue to support this strategy for drop off and pick up of students.  We will also be trialing the next stage of the lifting of restrictions regarding parents being on-site.  Any parent who wishes to deliver their child to the classroom door, or in the case or the P/1/2 classrooms to the green gate, may do so as long as they follow the requirements listed below.

Parents wishing to walk with their child to the classroom door must:

· Park in the school driveway or pool carpark.

· Walk up the driveway and enter the school by the Administration office entry.

· Sign in using one of the two sign-in books that will be located on tables in the admin foyer (Sanitiser will be provided).

· Accompany their child to the classroom door.

· Return to the admin office to sign out.

· Use the driveway path to return to your vehicle.

Please note, parents must maintain physical distancing of 1.5m from other adults while onsite at all times and must not enter classrooms or other indoor spaces. Parents wishing to meet with teachers are still required to contact the school to make a suitable appointment time to meet or have a phone or online meeting.

I would also like to remind and thank students and families for their continued adherence to our clear uniform policy and guidelines.  I understand that with cold weather it is important to remain warm and dry but I remind all families that we have a clear uniform standard that allows for a variety of choices of items in order for students to layer and remain warm and comfortable.  During Terms 2 and 3 students can wear a warm coat outside when needed, but these must be removed when entering classrooms.  A reminder that non-school hoodies and sport tights or skins are NOT part of our uniform, nor have been ratified by the School Association who approve our uniform standards and policy.  Changes to the policy can only be made through the School Association and proper process.  We are very proud of our school and of our students and believe that high standards of uniform, behaviour, being properly equipped and regular attendance give each and every one of our students the very best chance of learning well and achieving their very best.  Thank you all very much in advance of your anticipated support and understanding.

We continue to make improvements to our school with the primary block panels having been painted to match our new building colours and the P/1/2 building currently getting a face lift.  New carpet in the 10/11/12 classroom is scheduled to be laid during the upcoming holidays with a date for painting this space still to be confirmed.  We are also beginning the planning process around emptying our MDT/Art building in preparation for a redevelopment later this year.

Mrs Ellen Redden will be taking maternity leave from the end of Term 2 and we wish her and her family the very best as they await the arrival of their baby.

As this is the last newsletter for the term, I wish everyone a lovely holiday and time for everyone in our school community to take a well-deserved break. Stay safe everyone.

Best wishes,

Carolyn Watson

Principal

The Department of Education (DoE) has released updated government primary and combined (district) school intake areas, to apply from Term 1, 2021. These updated intake areas will only apply to families who enrol a child in a government primary or combined (district) school for the first time from Term1, 2021.

This means that for parents with children already enrolled in our school, the updated intake areas do not apply to your family. If your child has a brother or sister who hasn’t started school yet, they can still enrol at our school.

Our school’s updated intake area map can be found here https://publicdocumentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/St-Marys-District-School-Intake-Area-from-2021.pdf.  This map is the same as the Proposed Map released by DoE last year in stage two of the Intake Area Review consultation process.

Why do we have intake areas?

Intake areas ensure that every Tasmanian child can enrol at a high quality government school close to where they live. Attending a school close to home helps children feel part of their local community. Intake areas also help ensure schools have the facilities and staff to best support their students’ learning.

Where to get more information?

If you would like more information about our school’s intake area, or help finding out whether a particular address is within our intake area boundary, please contact us directly.

Alternatively you can contact Learning Services Northern Region: phone 6777 2440 or email Learning.Services.NR@education.tas.gov.au) 

If you have questions related to the Intake Area Review please visit the DoE Intake Area webpage Here you will also find answers to Frequently Asked Questions

You can also contact the Intake Area Review team at the Department of Education by phoning 1800 816 057 or email intake.areas@education.tas.gov.au

Grade 7 students have been investigating attributes and properties of water.  Students have learned that a molecule water is made up of 1 atom of Hydrogen and 2 atoms of Oxygen.  Students demonstrated this through the making of paper models of a molecule of water.

Students have compared water with a common oil to determine the similarities and differences between them.  Water was not easy to move using a toothpick.  When students tried to split the drop into two, they found that the water drop changed shape but the water drop tried to stay together.  When the same experiment was done with the oil, students noticed that the oil moved but tried to move back towards the original droplet.

They discovered that a water drop is higher and rounder than a drop of oil.  They predicted that oil might be heavier than water. 

Students explored what would happen when oil drops were added to water and water drops added to oil.  They observed that the oil surrounded and covered the water.  When students tried to move the water and oil with a toothpick they found it was quite challenging.

Students were required to research and write up a definition of molecules and atoms including components of atoms.

CELEBRATING BEING DIFFERENT

Everybody is unique and different - that's what makes each of us special.   Our Grade 1/2 class has been looking at what makes them different. 

"Today you are You, that's truer than true.  There is no one alive who is Youer than You."  - Dr Seuss

Germs have obviously been a hot topic amongst our students during recent times.  Our grade 3-4 class have painted their own versions of what germs look like.

Some kids may think that germs are bugs or other gross stuff. Actually, germs are tiny organisms, or living things, that can cause disease. Germs are so small and sneaky that they creep into our bodies without being noticed. In fact, germs are so tiny that you need to use a microscope to see them!

This is a selection of the Art work which 4-5 students have created over the past few weeks.  The students have enjoyed helping to choose the art they would like to create and have produced some beautiful, colourful art that has really brightened up our classroom.

Pete Cromer is a contemporary Australian artist based in the Colac Otway region of Victoria. 

Inspired by the optimistic personalities in people and wildlife that Pete's art reflects, please enjoy these birds by Grade 5/6B.

Our Secondary students were pleased to get back into the kitchen again last week.   Students prepared a very colourful Pasta Primavera, with the results tasting as good as they  smelled.  

The word “primavera” means springtime in Italian. In an era before out of season produce and cooking was commonplace, pasta primavera was the recipe to use for the best and brightest of spring vegetables.

Enjoy these poems and short story beginnings of Grade 10 student writing. We worked on developing personal style, using great verbs and writing brilliant first lines.

They say when you drown its not the lack of oxygen that kills you but the final breath where the water invades your body, I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m sure I’ll find out.

Lani Haas

A light flickers on, a man waits at the doorstep, leather jacket, dark sunglasses and a grin with one golden tooth. “Hello, Elijah.” Without being invited in, he ducks under the taller man’s arm and enters the house, his eyes are wild, shifty, alight with excitement. “I have a proposal for you.”

Amy Norris

It was like it was a reminder that we were not in control, or a message from mother nature herself that she did not like what we had done to her earth. It came from the earth and was merciless, no man-made object could stop the river of death it created. It sat there dormant for years showing no signs of movement until the 4^th of February 8 days after the ‘houses’ were installed. The day where we lost it all.

Bridie Aulich

The waves crash against the sand like an asteroid plummeting towards earth

The waters cold like a snow blizzard in the middle of nowhere

The waves move into the river like a snake silently waiting for its prey

The rain races down the trees to surrender itself to the river

The river ends where the trees go dark and no one can see no more

The water is soft and quiet

When you’re under you can hear nothing but your thoughts

You can start to see your memories flash back

But then suddenly gone again as fast as the rain falls.

You can feel your face break the surface as you take a breath of air and the frosty air surrounds your face.

The sun is on your face as it vanishes behind the trees and suddenly your standing in a river of darkness.

The river of darkness moves slowly and slickly through your legs and into the darkness.

Kate Aulich

Not every one will see your magic

It’s T

        R

            A

                G

                     I

                        C.

I do my best because I’m counting on you… you counting on me

I’m not trapping you, I want you to be free

Be who you wanna be

Like a sun

Alas a bee,

You shine brightly

Find you,

Find me

You’ll know where I’ll be.

No foe can fight your generosity

Come along friend

Thick and thin, through til’ the end…

Ellie Gamble

New calves at the farm

             

Nelson Being Fed

Feeding Freddo

The Kinder Class visiting the farm

Winter vegetables

Photos by Hunter

LOOKING AFTER YOUR HANDS

With all the extra hand washing, a lot of students and adults are suffering with dry and sore hands lately. You are obviously doing a great job of keeping your hands clean, however, if our skin becomes cracked, not only can it become painful, but it becomes harder to keep our hands clean.

My advice is:

• Make sure that all soap is rinsed off properly – soap can dry the skin.
• There is no need to use alcohol hand rub right after a handwash, they are both equally effective.
• Use a simple moisturiser, frequently.
• If your hands are cracked and painful, your local chemist will be able to help with some over the counter cream which should help clear it up.

Esther Beveridge, School Nurse

A few thoughts as we have just “turned the corner” from the shortest day of the year.  It also seems we have “turned the corner” from the coronavirus crisis, with our lives beginning to return to some degree of normality.  Throughout our life-times there will be many times when it seems we are going through a period of long darkness, coldness, or isolation, but like the seasons we experience every year, there will be turning points when things look so much brighter, warmer, connected and alive. I am reminded of a craft activity I did with the children at Fingal Campus in March: “Without change, there would be no butterflies”.

 Let us all look forward with courage and hope.

Hannah Rubenach-Quinn
Chaplain – Tuesdays and Wednesdays

At the beginning of the year, all parents/carers had the opportunity to give permission for their child to participate in minor excursions without the requirement to sign a permission form for every excursion. Minor excursions include visits on foot or by vehicular transport to places of educational value within the local community that last for less than one day.

With the changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic we are providing the opportunity for parents and carers to change their preference that was provided at the start of the year. The school will ensure that relevant safety and health precautions will be implemented, including COVID-19 requirement, during the course of the excursion. All other excursions including those with inherent risk will require you to sign a separate consent form prior to the excursion, as is currently the case.

If you wish to change your child’s current permissions or would like further information please contact the school by phone or email. If we do not hear from you then the current permission arrangements will remain in place.

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

School Banking

As coronavirus restrictions begin to ease across each state and territory, we have decided to restart the School Banking program from Term 3, 2020.

Our first banking day for Term 3 will be on Tuesday 21st July.

Treetop Savers rewards

Our School Banking program has exciting rewards to encourage children to practice good savings habits. This year, we've include some environmentally friendly and reusable rewards, plus others that encourage creativity, as well as indoor and outdoor play. Two released each term, available while stocks last.

Term 1

• Terry Denton's Activity Book
• Mini Soccer Ball (size 2)

Term 2

• Treetop Stationery Set
• Treetop Handball

Term 3

• Tomato Seed Kit
• Magic Mist Drink Bottle

Term 4

• Snakes & Ladders Game
• Emoji Wallet

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS