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Welcome back to Term 4. We have once again had a very positive start to the term and students have settled quickly into our orderly learning environments and routines. We have started the term off with our Grade 1 to 6 students being involved in PAT reading and maths. Some of the early reading data I have seen has shown fantastic student growth. This is very rewarding as it confirms that the reading inquiry our teachers engaged in between 2018-2019 is having an impact on student learning. Huge growth has also been noticed in our Prep classes in regards to phonological awareness with most students making well over a year’s growth after the ten week explicit unit.
On Wednesday night, teachers came together to share some of the great inquiry initiatives happening in their classrooms. A whole school approach to inquiry is one of our priorities for 2020 and moving into 2021. From our engagement survey that we did with all students, we discovered that students feel more engaged in learning tasks when they have the opportunity to: collaborate, investigate, explore, problem solve and be involved in relevant, real world and hands on experience. It is wonderful to see some of the great work that is going on in this space.
UPDATES
With the borders easing on October 26th it is very important that we continue to be vigilant in regards to hygiene and physical distancing. We are still working to Public Health requirements and due to this we have had to make some alterations or cancel some of the usual Term 4 gatherings.
- Our assemblies will continue to be in house, unfortunately without parents on carers present. As with last term we will endeavour to keep you involved via pictures and or videos on our Facebook or School Newsletter pages.
- Unfortunately, we will not be hosting our Art Expo or Volunteers Thank You Morning Tea. Instead each class will compile a piece of artwork from each student on a powerpoint presentation. These will then be shared on Facebook during the week commencing the 17th November
- As stated in the Newsletter last term, we are still hoping to provide the Xmas Lunch on the 8th and 9th December
- The Grade 6 Leavers’ Assembly will go ahead on the 14th December but unfortunately it will only be viewed by our Grade 3-6 students to increase our venue density which will allow two guests for each Grade 6 student.
- The Grade 6 Leavers’ Dinner will also go ahead but will take place at school on the 16th December
- We will not be able to host our whole school performance assembly as we do not have the capacity to accommodate social distancing requirements for all parents K-6. Due to this, pairs of classes will film their usual performance and we will share these on Facebook and in our Newsletter. Please make sure your child’s permissions are up to date if you would like them to be visible on screen when we film these.
BIRTHDAY CAKES
As advised in last term’s newsletters, we are not allowed to share birthday cakes from home. We are now waiting on clarification from DoE if individually wrapped treats or purchased cakes can be brought in. We will keep you posted.
REVIEW INTO REPORTING – FAMILY SURVEY
The DoE is aiming to make school reporting more meaningful for families. In order to do this, the Department is asking families for their thoughts on how reporting on student learning and wellbeing might be refined.
If you would like to have your voice heard in regards to reporting, please follow the survey link.
The survey will be open between 12th of October and 13th November.
In Term 3, both 4/5 and 5A worked collectively in Science investigating the solar system. Students created a mnemonic so they could remember the order of the planets in our solar system. They each chose a planet that they were interested in researching further. Following this, students focused their learning around the Earth, Moon and the Sun. This allowed them to build a deeper understanding of their roles and how they are interconnected in space.
Working in groups, students collected data on the 8 planets and organised it into a table. They were required to identify patterns by comparing and analysing the information collected. They focused their attention on the length of each planets’ orbit around the sun.
Students worked with a partner to create a model of the solar system in a shoebox. They needed to draw on the data they collected earlier to carefully plan out their model design, paying close attention to the order, size and distance of the planets from the sun.
Along with this information, students were provided with a formula that helped them to scale down the solar system to ensure that it would fit onto the school oval. They followed the formula and collected their mathematical data and converted the information into centimetres and metres. Students then created scaled down cardboard models of the sun and each planet. They worked in groups to measure the scaled down distances of the planets from the sun, using trundle wheels. Each planet was marked out using pickets.
On Wednesday we held our annual Book Week Parade. It was wonderful to see and hear why children chose to dress up as their book character. Thank you for your work and creativity with costumes, the students really enjoy this day.
The weather is starting to heat up so just a reminder that the ultraviolet (UV) radiation will be at its highest over the next few months. Don’t forget to bring your hat for term 4.
UV radiation comes down directly from the sun and can pass through clouds. UV radiation can also be reflected from buildings, concrete, sand, snow and water.
When UV is 3+ don’t forget to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide
SLIP on sun protective clothing
SLOP on SPF 30+ sunscreen (or greater)
SLAP on a hat
SEEK shade
SLIDE on sunglasses
Download the free SunSmart app to find the protection times for your location.
Sunsmart.com.au/app
On Friday the 25th September we went to Launceston conference centre for CCYP (Commissioner for children and young people Tasmania). CCYP is about young people making a difference to our community for our future.
First, we met up and had juice until we were called to the main auditorium. We talked about climate change and how protests should be long term things. Example: BLM (Black lives matter). It was all over social media and then there’s barely any talk about it anymore.
Then we had a debate on if Pineapple belongs on pizza, if pets should be able to go to cafés and if the age limit for going to jail should be raised. Then we had to write ideas for encouraging people to come in the future.
We loved talking to different people and hearing all their different opinions.
It was an amazing experience for us all and we would definitely recommend going if you ever get the chance!
- Alex, Bailey, Chloe and Myra.