Tasmania Reads Week March 24-28 

On Wednesday 26 March, we held a whole school event to celebrate Tasmania Reads Week. This week is a statewide event to promote a rich reading culture amongst communities, led by Libraries Tasmania. Students and community members were invited to the Performing Arts Centre to engage in a whole school read aloud of ‘The Highway Rat’ by Julia Donaldson. We are thankful to Mrs Angela Barratt for providing us with such an entertaining and engaging retell of this story.  

The next part of the celebration was a game called ‘The Masked Reader’. Like the TV show, The Masked Singer, the audience is presented with a series of participants, incognito and unrecognisable. Each participant read a text, ranging from song lyrics to the picture book and novel. Cryptic clues gave the audience some insight into who was dressed up in the costume. It wasn’t always easy to guess the masked reader, but we are grateful to Mr Innis, Miss Antonopoulos and Ms Youdale for sharing the stories with us.  

Finally, Wally, Isaac, Oskar and Charlotte presented their version of the picture book, ‘I Love Lemonade’, by Mark and Rowan Sommerset. Their theatrical ways and funny storyline had the audience in hysterics. These students showed great courage and leadership in stepping up to perform. Thank you to all participants and audience members for a memorable afternoon. If you were unable to join us for this event, we hope to see you at the next organised event at St Marys District School.  

In Music, our early childhood have been investigating "sound". They are learning that sound is all around us; they are beginning to identify the two main types of sound - noise and music.

There have been some terrific discussions from our students. Some comments by students have included "I love MY dog's bark, but my neighbour's dog barks all the time and it's a yucky noise!", "The rain is a noise but it sounds like music!"

They have been identifying that noise can be unwanted and disruptive such as a door banging in the wind or students being too noisy in the classroom. They are also describing when noise can be enjoyable and pleasant, even though it's not music, for example loud shouting and cheering at the Athletic Carnival or listening to a kookaburra laugh. They are beginning to understand that music can be pleasing to the ear due to different pitches, rhythm and melody. Our students are learning that sound is created by vibrations. Sounds from musical instruments, our voices, traffic and thunder are caused by vibrations.

Recently students created a musical instrument -  a paper drum brush. They have been experimenting with making 'noise' and 'music'!

Please enjoy these pictures of our students singing, dancing and illustrating their understanding of sound, noise and music. 

Year 7 HaSS enjoyed some hands-on practical aerodynamics applications to our learning. We are investigating First Nation Peoples and their ancient past. While looking at their tools and resources, the Boomerang is a marvel of engineering that has far reaching applications today with their design being used in planes, buildings, wing tips and much more. We were successful in having our planes come back to us.

Did you know there are two types of Boomerangs? One that is designed to come back and one that is designed to make an impact. 

A beautiful blue sky day set the scene for a wonderful K – 6 Athletic Carnival. Our students, dressed in a sea of blue, green and red were constantly reminded by supervising adults to keep hydrated, keep their St Marys house-coloured sun hats on and to re-apply their sunscreen during the day. 

For many weeks in Physical Education, our Grade 3's had begun their very first experiences with track and field events. Our Grade 4's were re-visiting the skills from the previous year and the Grade 5/6's students were able to focus on further development and refinement. Our K – 2 students had experienced a few weeks developing their run, jump, hop and throw skills using a range of different equipment in readiness for their carnival on the 75m track. 

Our carnival ensures all students are able to participate in a range of fundamental movement experiences for our K – 2 students and a combination of traditional track and field events plus non-traditional activities for all Grade 3 – 6 students.   

Whilst chanting and cheering, our Prep – Grade 6 students assembled for the annual Athletic March Past. Staff members and students made their way down the school driveway to the oval – picking up the Kindergarten students on the way. 

The carnival began with the first whole Primary event -  The House Pursuit!  House groups assembled at three different starting points around the oval.  On “GO”, the first house to run around the oval and back to the starting point with all its K – 6 members together earned the first bonus 50 house points for the day!  Dalmain took out the honours for the House Pursuit!  

We would like to acknowledge and thank our volunteer parents Renee and Kellie who took charge of the recording and timekeeping duties – very competently supported by a team of amazing Secondary students. Over twenty Secondary students took command of different events on the day, ensuring that event rules and safety regulations were adhered to. Thank you to Kellie and Renee and each and every Secondary student! 

A huge thanks also to our Leadership Team, Admin Office Staff, Teachers, TAs and members of the EFA team - every member of our school community lent a hand to support the organisation and running of the carnival. 

We would like to recognise the Grade 3 – 6 Track and Field Champions. Champions and Runner-up Champions are determined by the total of points earned as a result of coming 1st – 4th in a range of events. We have two sections – Track Champions and Field Champions. Congratulations to the following students who will be presented with Championship pennants in the near future. Of special note – it is the first time in Miss Bramich’s experience at St Marys (since 1997) that we have had a three way tie for Champion in one of our grade groups!!  What a tussle!! 

TRACK CHAMPIONS - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m

1st   Dalmain  275 points

2nd Blackwood  268 points  

3rd Dalmain 258 points 

Please enjoy this selection of photos;  what an amazing day! 

On a very warm Tuesday March 26, students representing St Marys District School attended the East, North, East Athletics Carnival (ENE).

For students in Year 3 this was their very first opportunity to attend ENE. 

Students travelled to the venue at St Helens by bus and represented our school in high jump, long jump, discus, shotput, relay, sprint and distance races.

Students who qualified to participate or represent St Marys District School as reserves did our school proud. They were terrific sports, tried their best and demonstrated respect for fellow competitors, officials and the venue. 

The five week drama short course was an enjoyable experience for all, and I was so proud of the efforts of all the students who attended.  

With a new short play script every week and plenty of enthusiasm the students showed their talent, with great expression and a supportive attitude towards each other.  

They enjoyed being creative with costumes, and it was a joy to watch each student grow and develop in their confidence.  

Throughout the 5 weeks the students demonstrated our school values of: 

• Growth through confidence gained and ‘have a go’ attitude. 

• Courage by taking themselves out of their comfort zone. 

• Connection by working with their peers to be creative.  

• Respect by listening to others and sharing ideas. 

• Responsibility by taking care of the environment that we worked in and keeping all props tidy.  

Great job everyone. 

Mrs Kirk. 

DALMAIN 331                  BLACKWOOD 302                        DUNCAN 187

CHAMPIONS AND RUNNER-UP CHAMPIONS

NEW RECORDS 

Secondary students came dressed in their house colours ready to participate in this year’s secondary swimming carnival.

Students who attended the carnival participated in a variety of ways including swimming in races, playing house volleyball, helping with timekeeping and recording duties or leading cheering and Nutbush dance offs between the different house teams.

Congratulations to Sienna (Grade 8) for her amazing achievements in setting four new records.  And, of course to our champions and runner-up champions for 2025.

A big thanks to all the parents who came to support and also help out with the carnival this year, much appreciated. And, to our wonderful team of secondary staff who support these events every year, thank you!

We are now looking forward to the Inter-High Swimming carnival in Launceston on Thursday 3 April and wish our swimmers all the very best. 

 Laura Swanson 

Over the coming week or two, many parents/carers will be receiving updated learning plans for their child/children with goals to guide their learning through the remainder of this Term, and into Term 2.

Learning Plan documents are an important part of supporting students with disability, providing students/parents and an opportunity to provide teachers with key information about themselves.

From Education Department Student with Disability Services:

"Learning Plans are a requirement when educational adjustments are made to the teaching and learning program to aid access and participation in education on the same basis as their same age peers and when these adjustments are more than Quality Differentiated Teaching Practice (QDTP)” 

In addition, there are a range of other reasons students may have a Learning Plan, for example due to background, current care arrangements or the level of tailored learning provisions required to support their learning.  

If you would like any more information about Learning Plans and how they can support your child, please contact the school office and either your child’s teacher or a support teacher will respond.

Kinder have been engaging in an inquiry into birds. Before starting this inquiry we discussed with the children what they already knew and what they want to learn. We have been learning about why and how they fly, different species, what they eat, where they live and how to look after them in their natural environment. We have made bird feeders and houses for the birds visiting our natural environment.

During our weekly farm visits we have spent time feeding the cows, sheep and chooks, collecting the eggs, investigating eggs and what happens when you crack one and planting strawberry plants.

We have started to plant vegetables in our raised garden beds most recently planting carrots. We have been excitedly watching them grow and were very excited last week when they started to shoot through.

During our literacy times we have been learning about concepts of print, syllables and exploring nursery rhymes and making up our own.

During numeracy we have been exploring number 1 – 5 and patterning, looking at patterns within our familiar environments and creating our own.

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 5-6 Learn to Swim  - Friday 4 April2025