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Welcome back to Term 3. I hope everyone enjoyed the break despite the wet, cold and windy weather. On a positive note, I did hear lots of fun snow stories on students’ return to school.
Values
This term our focus value is To Believe – accepting challenges and embracing opportunities. During class time and in the playground we will be discussing what this means and reinforcing students who are enacting the value. In our assembly on the 2 September, two students from each class who have demonstrated this value will be acknowledged with a merit certificate.
In classrooms you may hear teachers using the term growth mindset as a way to promote this value. This term describes how we face challenges and setbacks. Students with a growth mindset believe their abilities can improve over time with effort and having a go. By contrast, students with a fixed mindset think their abilities are set and they can’t change, no matter how hard they try.
Some examples how we can encourage students to have a growth mindset:
- Emphasising that everyone can improve at anything with hard work, persistence and lots and lots of practice.
- Acknowledging students when they demonstrate a growth mindset.
- Giving feedback (praise) on the process rather than the product. For example, “I’m impressed at how hard you worked to complete that story. I know you had trouble getting started, but you did the right thing to ask for help with ideas and then you persisted to get it finished”. Rather than saying “that is a great story”.
- Viewing mistakes as opportunities to learn as we often learn the most from them. By letting students know that mistakes are a big part of the learning process they are more inclined to have a go and try.
School Beanies
Last term three of our innovative Grade 4 students approached the SRC about the possibility of having school beanies to wear before and after school and during break times. The SRC thought this was a great idea and decided to do a beanie drive. The beanies arrived in the first week back of term and we worked quickly to name them and get them out to students ready for the fresh mornings and cold days.
A big thank you to Jorja, Kaileah and Molly for the idea and Mr Jones and the SRC for making it happen. We have had lots of positive feedback and hope we can offer another opportunity for people who missed out to order.
On Tuesday the 30 July Somerset Primary School hosted the final round of the North West Tasmanian Chess competition. It was a fantastic day with over 130 children from both primary and high schools competing across three divisions. Our Somerset Primary Chess Club has grown from 5 students in 2018 to 28 students in 2019. This year we were again lucky to host the event which allowed all the children who attend Chess Club to be entered into the tournament. We entered teams in both primary school divisions.
All the students really loved the opportunity to battle it out against their peers from other schools. Whilst we are especially proud of all the students who competed in the tournament, there were a number of exceptional results for Somerset Primary School.
In the Primary B division three of our students went undefeated throughout the tournament and contributed to Somerset Primary winning the Primary B division by scoring 27 out of a possible 28 points. Well done to Thomas (7 wins), Mason (7 wins), Liam (7 wins) and Campbell (6 wins) who led the team to victory.
The Primary A division was hotly contested throughout the day. In the end Somerset Primary tied with Ulverstone Primary on the same amount of points. Therefore the judges looked at a competitive scale that ranks matches. We were still tied. Therefore it went to a percentage rank. The end result Somerset Primary was awarded second place by a margin of 0.02. You can’t get much closer than that. Congratulations to Bradley (6 wins), Rhylie (5.5 wins), George (5 wins) and Yada (4.5 wins) for leading the team. This result is fantastic because it now qualifies Somerset Primary to compete in the Tasmanian School Chess finals in October.
Chess Club is run at school every Tuesday at lunch time. All students are invited to attend.
It is nearly time for our Book Fair!
This year we will hold our bi-annual Scholastic Book Fair. The book fair is a lovely opportunity to purchase some new books whilst raising funds for our school library. There is no imperative to purchase and there will be no other Book Club catalogue this term.
The book fair will be held in the library from Monday the 12August until Thursday the 15 August. Students will visit the fair to browse during scheduled library times but purchasing will only be available in the following times:
Monday 3-3:30
Tuesday 8:45-9:10 and 3-3:30
Wednesday 8:45-9:10 and 3-3:30
Thursday 8:45-9:10
Please contact Mrs Type-Farrell with any queries.
Cash or EFTPOS facilities will be available, there are options to purchase online.
During Book Week we will have our wonderful dress up parade. Students are invited to dress up as a character from their favourite book if they choose. We will have a whole school parade at 9:30 to celebrate our love of books. There is no need for elaborate or expensive costumes, something crafty or from the scrap box is great!
Hansel & Gretel, presented by Burnie High School
All Somerset Primary Students will be attending Burnie High School’s performance of Hansel and Gretel at Burnie Arts and Function Centre
Thursday September 19 at 10.30am classes attending this day:
KA, PA, P/1, 1A, 1B, 3/4B, 3/4C, 6A
Friday September 20 at 10.30am classes attending this day:
KB, 2A, 2B, 2/3, 3/4A, 5A, 5B, 6B
Our schools chooks, Natalie, Martie and Emily are lucky enough to be fed and cared for by our grade 6 classes with some younger helpers. However, the girls are very mucky and messy. We are seeking donations of gumboots and raincoats to ensure these students stay clean and hygienic while taking care of our chooks.
Please leave donations at the office or contact Mrs Type-Farrell for more information.
Grade 3\4A have written some similes in our literacy tasks.
He swam like a fish.
She flapped like a duckling.
He disguised like a chameleon.
She was beautiful like a toucan.
She is cheeky like a meerkat.
Storming like an elephant.
Slow like turtles.
The pug scrunched his face like an angry old man.
Waddled like a penguin.
Sparkle like a star.
Fought like a barbarian.
Swims like a dolphin.
Stamp like angry elephants.
Small like a mouse.
Eats like a pig.
Smells like a rose.
Cried like a baby.
Runs like a cheetah.
Hide at the back like a scaredy cat.
Aug |
|
12 |
Book Week begins |
13-15 |
Book Fair |
14 |
Book Week dress up day |
19-30 |
Primary Swimming Grades 2/3 - 6 |
TBC |
Devon v Darwin (rep chn) |
Sept |
|
2 |
Assembly - Believe |
10-13 |
Grade 6 camp |
18 |
Cross Country |
25 |
Cross Country back up day |
27 |
End Term 3 |