10 April 2024

Principals Report

Interschool Athletics Carnival-

Last week 54 students from years 3-6 attended the Interschool Athletics and represented our school with pride. We came home with the third-place flag. Well done to all and congratulations to those who will be representing us in the Champions Athletics on the 1^st May next term.

Gifted Online Learning

Last year we put forward 36 students for a variety of online extension programs and we have 29 that were accepted. The courses students will be involved in are:

Mega Maths - teaching a range of problem-solving techniques, opportunities for explaining their thinking and justifying answers. For students in Y2 & 3,

AdAstra – a cross-curricular program that integrates higher order thinking into various tasks, for students from years 3-6,

Smart Bots – gives students practice in coding and problem solving - students from Y4-6

Action Packed – students explore environmental and social issues through online discussions. For a group of Y6 students.

These courses are co-ordinated by staff at school and run by the Online teachers in the gifted online program run by the Department for Education, Children and Young People.

5/6 Camp

Before Easter most of the Year 5/6 students attended a three-day camp at Blue Lagoon. Upon return I was informed it was ‘cool’, ‘great fun’, ‘delicious food and lots of it’, ‘awesome’, ‘brilliant activities’, ‘it was fun shooting the teachers with arrows’ and ‘great things to do’ but ‘we didn’t get lots of sleep’. Student Voice about camp is later in this newsletter.

I’d like to thank Steve Jeffrey for the hours of work that he put into this event that ensures it is a safe and enjoyable experience, Annette Reggett for all the other admin and the staff who attended – Janette Smithurst, Jess Dilger, Toby Fishwick and Steve Jeffrey.

Lian Tanner Book Launch

Last year Lian Tanner, a Tasmanian children’s author, invited some interested students from our school to perform a short play at her book launch for Spellhound. This year Lian Tanner has another book she is launching, Fledgewitch, and we again have students performing a short play. The book launch is at the State Library on Saturday 13^th April at 10am. It would be great if we could see some ASPS families there supporting our students and an excellent local author.

Phonics Learning

As part of our focus on reading, our students from Prep to some Y3 students are engaged in a focussed, explicit teaching of phonics specific to their current need, three times a week at the same time in the morning. Using data from our assessments we have placed students into groups where their will be learning the next steps in their phonetical knowledge. These groups will be monitored, and students can change groups according to their progress. Students are also improving their reading at other times in the day with lessons teaching comprehension, group reading where students focus on punctuation, self-correcting, book knowledge, fluency and how to crack the code of reading. Writing and spelling are also intertwined with reading and students are learning about sentences, word choice, how words work and so much more.

Farewell Ms Wang

A couple of weeks ago we farewelled Ms Xinman Wang, who resigned her role because of a serious health issue. Xinman has a lovely manner with her students and has worked hard to set up her class this year. We hope all goes well with her health and wish her all the best in her future teaching.

Mrs Miri McShane is now taking Xinman’s class fulltime. Miri was working in the class two days a week. Ms Sharni Adderton is now sharing the other P/1 class with Caroline Corrigan

Growing Up Program

This very important health and social relationship program is presented to our students from Kinder through to Year 6. Our younger students have 30-minute sessions talking about the correct names for body parts, defining what our private parts are and the importance of saying ‘no’ and letting a trusted person know if you do not feel safe. Our older students lean more about the biology of their bodies and the changes they are or will be going through and also reinforce the concepts of consent, safety and respectful relationships. The concepts and information students receive during the Growing Up Program, will be reinforced with lessons on respectful relationships that will be run by our wonderful school nurse, George MacDonald.

Questacon

Last Friday we had presenters from Questacon visit the school and share scientific concepts and experiments with the students. They explained that science boils down to three things – asking a question (what do you want to know about), making a guess (hypothesising on what you think might happen) then testing (creating an experiment to test your thoughts). It is wonderful that Questacon tours Australia sharing their knowledge and inspiring students for free.

Parent Tip – Often children get upset or do not want to try something if they cannot do it right the first time. We learn by trying and improving with practice and encouraging a growth mindset can support our children to give things a go and accept the power of ‘Yet’ – I can’t do it yet, but I will get there.

Wishing everyone a happy Eid for this week.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday and we will see you back at school on Monday 29^th April.

Jo Waldon
Principal

School Association

On Easter Sunday the School Association hosted a community picnic. They had applied for and been given a grant to support the coming together of communities. A small but enthusiastic group joined to have some food and play some games. It looks like the fairy bread was popular. 😊Thank you to Sophia Staite for organising this event. Also, thank you Sophia for your time as the School Association chair.

Student Voice

Kinder Pears

Rubbish Busting on our excursion to Marieville Esplanade, Wednesday 3^rd April 2024

On Wednesday 3^rd April the Kinder Apples and Kinder Pears went on our first excursion of the year to Marieville Esplanade.  We have been learning about the effect of rubbish that finds its way into our bush and oceans and so we took the opportunity to collect rubbish and litter that had been left on the foreshore.  It was a great opportunity to leave our beautiful foreshore in a much better state than we arrived and look at all the things we found!  We talked about where the rubbish might have come from and how it found it’s way there.  After the looking after our environment and native animals we had a play at the playground.

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Grade 1/2P

1/2 Koalas

During the second half of this term we have been working on writing narratives for a class short stories book. We have looked at the structure of narratives where the characters and setting are introduced at the beginning, there is a problem in the middle and the problem is resolved at the end. We have also been working on using the ideas, word choice and sentence fluency traits for writing. We hope you enjoy our stories. We loved being authors and illustrators.

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Grade 5/6DJ

5/6DJ have had a busy Term filled with learning along with various community-based activities.

In HASS we have been focusing on Australia’s interconnections with Asia. Students have created Alpha Ladders about Asia which show a variety of countries, natural features as well as illustrations. Students have also looked closely at the different landforms found throughout Asia. They created a jigsaw poster about these including facts, location, co-ordinates, and illustrations.

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We celebrated Harmony Day with a shared breakfast and made a collaborative artwork which displayed facts about everyone in our class.

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Blue Lagoon Camp 2024

Grades 5-6 Travelled to Blue Lagoon in Dodges Ferry for a fun 3-Day camp consisting of many exciting activities.

A few weeks ago, Grade 5s and 6s travelled to Blue Lagoon Camp for three days participating in various activities including abseiling, indoor rock climbing, archery tag and learning valuable skills in various team building activities.

We started off at school and boarded the bus at around 9:30. We then proceeded on a long bus ride, with half of us on a ‘party bus (a bus which had leather reclining seats, cupholders, neon lighting and curtains, which was a thrill for all who were on it)’ while the other half were on a normal bus, which was allegedly filled with the singing from the people in the back row.

We took a break at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which we explored for a while. We then got on the bus for our walk across the Tasman Bridge. The wind blew us to the wall as we trudged across the walkway. Water bottles rattled as they threatened to fall off. We were led by Mr. Jeffrey and eventually, after an eventful walk, made it across and boarded our buses. It felt like such a wonderful achievement and an incredibly memorable experience that we will remember forever.

After around another half hour of driving, we arrived at camp. We were first given an overview of the camp and shown around: cabins, 25m slides, a gym, trampolines, and a notable item was the Gaga ball pit. To play Gaga ball, the players must stand on the outside of the pit, with one hand on the wall. The game commences when the ball is dropped and bounces three times, then the players can hit it with their hands, and if you are hit knees below, you’re out. The last person left is the winner.

The 5/6s were split into three groups: Group 1 went abseiling, Group 2 did indoor climbing, and Group 3 did the Teacher activity (Free Time in the Games Room and the Playground).

In abseiling, we strapped on harnesses and helmets. We were led to a high wooden tower and were told the basics of abseiling. Then we were given the choice of rappelling from a 6m tower or a 9m tower.

We had afternoon tea and soon after we went to Red Ochre Beach for a play and walk. We had a fun time there, running around and building sandcastles.

We headed back to camp and had a delicious dinner of pasta bake, cordial and chocolate mousse. After dinner we played a game of dodgeball and it just so happened to be a full moon so we went outside to see if we could spot it.  Before long it was bedtime, so we went back to our cabins, eventually going to sleep at 9:00 PM.

The next day was even more eventful. We had breakfast and then went into our groups to participate in various activities. One of these activities was Archery Tag, where you shot at each other with a bow using foam arrows in a dodgeball arena with walls.

 After lunch we went to Blue Lagoon Beach. We walked to the beach and stayed there for 2 hours before walking to a playground for a quick run around.

After dinner was a quiz night, we gathered in the main hall for an hour of fun and games.

We all had a wonderful time at Blue Lagoon, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the teachers: Mrs. Dilger, Mr. Jeffrey, Mrs Smithurst and Toby. Thank you for a great 5/6 Camp 2024!

The Media Team – Santi, Shrish and Walker.

Canteen

Friday 12th Last day of term 1

Recess:  Sweet Special: Fruit Jelly and Custard

(Please note this is a homemade jelly not a package mix and will be less sweet, cloudier, and firmer than what most children are expecting.)

                  Savoury Special: Pizza on English muffin base
                  Fruit Muffin: Strawberry

Lunch:     Meat Ravioli with a light tomato sauce.

(A vegetarian option is available by texting me by Thursday afternoon)

Friday 3rd May   First canteen of term 2

Recess:   Sweet Special: Apple Crumble with custard
                Savoury Special: Cheese Muffin
                Fruit Muffin: Raspberry

Lunch:  Pasta with a meat sauce.

Volunteers

12^th April: If anyone is free to help this Friday it would be most appreciated.
3^rd May: Need one more helper for this week.

The rest of term 2: I am plenty of gaps in the volunteer list for term 2, so if you are able to help please contact me on 0417 559 920 or the office.

Caron Summers    
Canteen Manager

Canteen Helper

Please remember to choose the correct order date on the Qkr! App.

Nut Allergy – Reminder

We have a number of students in our school who are allergic to nuts and nut products. Exposure to nuts can trigger an allergic reaction and be life-threatening for these students, so please avoid sending nuts or nut based products to school. We aim to keep our school as nut-free as possible to keep our students safe.

Launching into Learning 2024

Uniform Times

This year as we are setting times available for the purchase of uniforms.

Tuesdays:  2.30pm to 3.00pm
Thursdays: 8.30 am to 9.15am

Orders can be made and paid for over the phone and be ready to pick up at an arranged time if the above times do not suit you.

LEVIES REMINDER

Thank you to parents who have paid levies and to those who are making regular payments. Levies are now overdue, if you are experiencing difficulties with making payments, please contact Annette and discuss a payment plan.  Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Payment Options

• BPay, Service Tasmania, Eftpos
• Credit Card over the phone (6223 2268)
• Cheque payable to Albuera Street Primary School
• Levy Instalment Plan (Please contact reggett@education.tas.gov.au or 6223 2268)

Student Medications

It is a Department of Education requirement that all medications to be taken by students during the school day are to be passed into the office or teacher in charge of an excursion or camp. The medications require a signed doctor/pharmacist as well as parent permission form (these forms are available in the Forms and Documents panel in the newsletter or at the office). The medication is also to be in the original packaging so that staff know what they are administering. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Medical Action Plans

Every child at Albuera Street Primary with a medical condition needs to supply an updated medical plan to the school each year, especially those with Anaphylaxis and Asthma. Staff from Albuera have been trained in Anaphylaxis using EpiPens and also in Ventolin administration for Asthma. If you are new to the school and your child has a medical condition please come into the office and collect an appropriate action plan form, or if you just have questions please don’t hesitate to phone the school.

WWVP Card & Mandatory Reporting

The Department requirement is that you must present your RWVP card EVERY time you sign in.

Information for those who need to apply for WWVP card

To volunteer at this school, you will be required to hold a “Registration to Work with Vulnerable People”. It is extremely important that parent helpers and volunteers are registered and Albuera Street Primary School is recorded in your application.

How to apply for a WWVP Card

Complete the online application form.  This is available from the website at 

Chose Department of Education from the organisation drop-down box and also select Albuera Street Primary School from the location drop-down box. Please remember each time to volunteer at the school you need to bring your card each time.

Mandatory Reporting

Our Department now requires all volunteers to do a short online course (short 13 min video) about Mandatory reporting. This is one of the ways we are working to keep all our students safe. Please use the link below or see the flyer.

Sickness

Parents/carers are reminded to advise the school office if their child is unable to attend school due to illness or any other reason.

• By phone (62232268) leave a message anytime on the answering machine.
• Email street.primary@education.tas.gov.au
• Schoolzine – click on the absentee tab

A medical certificate is required if a child is absent due to illness for 5 days or more

After School Care & Before School Care

ASC & BSC is provided on site by Lady Gowrie Child Care Services (Ph: 6230 6806).
BSC is available from 7 am to 8.30 am.
ASC is available from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm each school day and 1.00pm – 3.00pm Wednesday for Kinder.

Assembly Dates for Term 1

Fri 12^th April - presenting – 5/6S,3/4W and 1/2P

Sandy Bay Auskick

Term Dates for 2024

Community Notices

School Calendar