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Welcome back to Term 4. As you all know this term is a busy one so please keep informed on what is happening by checking the calendar in the Schoolzine newsletter and app as well as reminders on Facebook.
Students Having a Voice to Protect Our Environment
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing students highly engaged in authentic learning. Last term I was visited by students from the middle pod who after doing some work on sustainability wrote letters suggesting ways we could reduce waste and clean up our environment. It is fantastic to see the students so committed and transferring what they have learned into the real world.
At Somerset Primary we are exploring more ways to offer authentic learning experiences that give students the opportunity to transfer their learning and problem solve. These type of experiences allow students to develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and citizenship which are essential for future life and work in our ever changing world.
Please see the information further down about reduce waste day on the 6th November.
Class Placements
In the coming weeks our teachers will be meeting to organise class groupings for 2020. Our goal is to create the most equitable classes possible by balancing gender, learning ability, social connections etc. Whilst parents have one child to consider (in a given class), we have approximately 400 children to consider, so decisions need to be suitable for the majority. We have dedicated, hardworking teachers who are collectively responsible for all our children. No matter what grade or class, each child in this school will be taught by quality teachers in a school culture of high expectations.
Please understand, your child’s current class teacher is in the best position to formulate classes and they will make the best decision for all children in the school. This includes making decisions based on the educational and social/emotional well-being of the majority of children. Due to this we are unable to accommodate personal requests because accommodating everyone’s personal wishes will not support what is best for all children. Students will have the opportunity to write down friends that they would like to be placed with for 2020 and we will ensure that all students have at least one friend in their class.
If there is any special information that you feel is important for us to take into account before we start creating classes, can you please talk to a member of the Leadership Team by the end of Friday 15th November. Also, please let us know if your circumstances have changed and your children will not be at SPS in 2020. Thank you for your support with this.
Student Achievement
Congratulations to Rohan for receiving a Growth Award in a special ceremony held on Monday at Burnie High School. The Growth Award was awarded to learners who have demonstrated significant academic growth. Well done on this great achievement.
We have been in contact with the Department of Health. Please note, if your child has been swabbed it is recommended they stay home until their results are known or they have completed 5 days of antibiotics.
This may be contrary to what your Doctor is saying but as a public venue we are governed by the Department of Health to prevent spread of communicable infections.
We would appreciate your support in this matter in the interest of everyone’s health.
We are excited to welcome staff from the Hobart Hurricanes who have offered to help out in breaky club on November the 18th. This is a thank you to the staff and volunteers who deliver our wonderful breaky club each week. I heard a whisper that Captain Hurricane may be able to pop in to share some toast and a special hurricane smoothie with our students. On this day Cricket Tasmania will also conduct our daily PE session to get us super energised for learning.
As you will have read in Mrs Pearce’s write up the middle pod have been working on actions to create positive change in our local community. As part of this learning they have suggested a whole school picnic aimed at reducing single use plastic waste. On the 6th November students will hear a short presentation with some suggestions for reducing plastic waste and our whole school will come together to share lunch on the astro turf. Children are encouraged to choose lunch foods which can be stored in reusable packaging and to recycle any unavoidable waste.
In 5A, we have researched and presented individual science inquiries about space. We enjoyed creating our finished projects and we hope you like reading them!
Attached to this newsletter is an order form for uniforms which will be available for collection on book sales days in 2020. As we have limited storage space, we encourage you to order your uniform requirements particularly vests, school bags, library bags and art smocks. We will no longer be keeping stock of these items throughout the year. We will continue to stock polo shirts, jackets, dresses and hats for purchase throughout the year as required. Orders and deposits must be in by Friday 8th November to allow time for delivery in January.
Somerset Primary School Maths Relays
On Tuesday the 29th of October we will be holding our annual school maths relays. This is a great opportunity for students to work together to attempt to solve mathematical problems in a relay style format. Students are grouped into teams of 4 and then negotiate their way through as many challenging maths problems as they can in the allotted time of 50 minutes. Throughout the day we run three maths relays, with classes grouped accordingly:
Time |
Grades |
9.30am -10.45am |
Grade 5 & 6 Students |
11.30am to 12.45pm |
Grade 1 & 2 Students |
1.40am to 2.55pm |
Grade 3 & 4 Students |
We are always in need of markers and judges for our maths relays. Therefore any parents or carers (with current RWVP cards) who would like to volunteer their time to come in and be a marker for one of, or all of the relays, please return your signed maths relay volunteer slip sent home earlier in the week or contact the school office.
Ben Jones
AST
Somerset Primary School
Swimming & Water Awareness Program - Prep to 2
Just a friendly reminder to return your childs swimming and water awareness consent forms for children in Grades Prep to Two.
Our next Parent Group meeting will be on Wednesday 30th October at 2:00pm. The discussion will mainly be around the organisation of the Christmas Roast. Please feel welcome to come along.
Reminder - School Association meeting is at 6pm on Tuesday 29th October.
Oct |
|
25 |
Grade 3/4 Sports Expo |
28 |
Pizza Day Grades KA, Prep to Grade 4 |
28 |
Grade 5 & 6 T20 Cricket School Cup |
29 |
Whole school Maths Relay |
29 |
Pizza Day Grades KB, Grades 5 & 6 |
Nov |
|
1 |
Professional Learning Day |
4 |
Recreation Day (Public holiday) |
8 |
Grades 1A & 1B – Guide Falls Farm Excursion |
11-15 |
ECE Swimming |
19 |
Assembly – Grow & Art Expo |
28 |
Triathlon |
Dec |
|
10-11 |
Christmas Roast |
|
Reports go home |
16 |
Gr 6 Celebration Assembly – starting at 1pm |
16 |
Gr 6 Celebration Dinner |
18 |
K – 6 Performance Assembly |
18 |
Thank you morning tea |
19 |
Big Day In |
19 |
Students last day |
20 |
Professional Learning Day |