Filter Content
- Assistant Principal's Report
- From the Administration Team
- POD 1 Feature
- What's happening in 6A
- What's happening in 6B
- Grade 6 Leadership
- Athletic Carnival 26th February
- Sleep Series: Why is sleep so important?
- The Smith Family Learning Club
- Somerset Primary School Association AGM
- Community Events/Information
- Somerset Primary School Calendar Term 1
Another fortnight has already come around and our students and staff have settled well into the year. We place a high emphasis on our school values of:
I’m sure you’d agree that these Values are life-long values wherever you go and what ever you do. We encourage you as parents and community members to talk through these with your children too. Our STAR rules compliment the values as well:
- Safe learning and playing
- Talk to solve problems
- Always do your best
- Respect one another and the environment
Welcome Breakfast
We held a community breakfast on Wednesday to welcome and connect with all our SPS families. It was lovely to see students proudly showing their special people around our school and in their classrooms. I know staff really appreciated the chance to meet and have casual conversations with parents and guardians. We value connecting with families and we embrace the opportunities when we can, to get to know the people in our students’ lives.
Relaxation and break times
This year we will continue with our school priorities and part of this is a focus on wellbeing. Last year we implemented Relaxation Time straight after our lunch play and the impact of this on our students and staff was positively noticeable.
Validation Forms
Thank you to all of our families that have returned their childs validation form thus far. This is an important form for us as this is where we obtain all current medical, contact and student permission information from. It would be greatly appreciated if you could return your form as soon as possible if you haven't already done so.
Levies 2021
Levies invoices have been issued and families should begin to receive these in the mail soon. Families that have been approved for STAS will not receive an invoice. Occasionally there is a cross over where the STAS approval has come through just after the invoice was issued, if you have been approved for STAS and do receive an invoice, please disregard as a credit will be issued. If you think you may be entitled to Student Assistance, please see below to apply.
Levies can be paid in person, at Service Tas, BPay or via our new QKR App. Payment Plans are available if you are unable to pay the levies in full. Centrepay is also available for families who receive a payment from Centrelink (ie Parenting Payment). Your nominated amount is then taken out of your payment prior to you receiving it and paid directly to the school.
To discuss any of these options, please contact the office.
Student Assistance Scheme 2021
Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:
- Service Australia – Centrelink Health care Card
- Service Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
- Service Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
- Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card
- Please note that if you are already receiving student assistance you do not need to complete a form.
For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing application for new applicants.
The online form can be completed here: https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/
Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will confirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.
We understand the online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy form please contact your school or the Financial Assistance Unit on stas@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 827 077.
Medical Action Plans - Reminder
Just a reminder to parents/carers of students who require a Medical Action Plan (anaphylaxis and asthma for example) to ensure we have an updated copy at school. We require these to be updated each year. Please ask for one at your child’s next medical appointment and send a copy to school.
Uniforms
We have uniforms in stock for purchase throughout the year. Unfortunately due to a high number of late purchases, we are out of a couple of sizes of polo shirts. These will be arriving at the end of February hopefully. You can now order and pay for uniform items through our QKR App. Please see instructions below.
QKR – Online Payment System
We now have QKR available for online payments. Levies (whole or part payment) can be paid via the QKR app. You can also order and pay for uniform items. Please see below instructions to download the app. No fees apply.
Contacting the School
Our office is open from 8am until 3.50pm each day. You can contact us via the following methods:
Phone: 6435 1114
Mobile: 0419 583 998
Via the Schoolzine App – see below for how to download
Pod 1 students have made a wonderful start to 2021. They are working hard getting to know each other, build relationships and understand routines. Flying Start has begun and every student works in a small group for targeted literacy teaching for four days. It has been incredible to hear so many students improve their reading every day. Our teachers have been so excited to get to know their new students and are busy planning a very interesting inquiry for Science. One of our fascinating questions is “Are all living things important?”. Here are just a few snapshots of happy, hardworking Pod 1 students and their learning from week 1 and 2.
In class we worked together to follow an art tutorial. The piece of art focused on a perspective landscape and allowed us to create a picture showing depth and detail. Students were able to practice their ability to follow instructions in a step by step manner. We were all left feeling like artistic superstars!
6B has made a wonderful start to 2021. We have been busy setting STAR rule goals to works towards, started our SRC posters, completed team building challenges, Maths and English jobs. We are reading the wonderful novel Wonder and talking about kindness and what it means to be extraordinary! The class had fun being introduced to our new member, Jack the goldfish. We wondered what Jack was thinking on the round whiteboard table which is some of the new classroom furniture in our room. We look forward to building on our leadership skills and zones of regulation this year.
6B Student Recap
Last year was really challenging with Covid-19 and lockdown and we hope that this year will be better. I am really looking forward to the athletics carnival.
Liam
This year in grade 6B I have been progressing in my Science and my Math. My highlight that I have had at the start of this year is, I made it in my class with my friends and I got really good teachers. I hope this year is the best last year.
Kaileah
An important part of Grade 6 is the introduction of leadership roles around the school. Teachers are working to culminate a list of beneficial roles to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to lead. In class, students have been given the opportunity to upskill themselves in developing their ability to take on such a role. We have covered topics such as what it means to be a good leader, worked towards building confidence to take on a new role, looked at problem solving skills, encouraged the building of resilience when things don't go to plan and practiced the skill of working within a small group to get a task done. We look forward to watching our Grade 6 team shine as these roles begin to roll out over the first term.
Athletic Carnival 26th February
The athletic carnival will take place weather permitting on Friday 26th February. Children will need to have appropriate clothing for hot and cold weather, hat, sunscreen and plenty to drink. Parents and friends are welcome to come and join us and help cheer on our three house teams in some friendly competition, starting at 9.30 am on the school grounds. Parents and friends are requested to set up to watch the events from the southern boundary of the oval. This will allow teachers ease of supervision of children and make movement with class groups to different locations within the oval to flow. Parent’s are also requested to maintain social distancing and to scan the Check In TAS QR Code or provide name and mobile number prior to heading out to the oval. In the event of poor weather, the carnival will be postponed until Monday 1st March. Children will be sitting with their own team, Murchison (purple), Bass (white) or Cam (orange). If children could wear a top or coloured ribbon of their house colour, this would really help with marshalling, other children identifying their team members and making the recording of results much easier.
Lorraine Evans
Physical Education Teacher
Sleep Series: Why is sleep so important?
Greetings from the School Health Nurse team! Over the next few weeks, we are going to be running a series of articles about sleep and the important role it plays in the lives of our students and their families. We hope you find some useful information here, and if you have further questions then we would love to hear from you.
Evidence shows that children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have more trouble learning than those who do get enough sleep.
If children do not get enough sleep:
- They become less attentive and motivated
- They have poor problem solving, more confusion and increased irritability
- Reduced memory
- Poorer judgement
- Diminished reaction times
- Can lead to behaviour and mood issues impacting negatively upon relationships, empathy and leading to mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression.
How much sleep should your child have?
Newborn (0-3 months): 14-17 hours
Infant (4-11 months): 12-15 hours
Toddler (1-2 years): 11-14 hours
Pre-schooler (3-5 years): 10-13 hours
School-age child (6-13 years): 9-11 hours
Teen (14-17 years): 8-10 hours
Adults (18 years +): 7-9 hours
If you would like more information on sleep please go to www.sleepfoundation.org.au
The Smith Family Learning Club
The Smith Family will be holding a Learning Club on Tuesday afternoons in the gym from 3pm until 4pm. Please see attached flyer for more information. Students must be registered to be able to attend by contacting Damian at the Smith Family on 0421 897 014 or registration forms are available fromt the school office.
Somerset Primary School Association AGM
The Annual General Meeting for the Somerset Primary School Association will be held on Tuesday 9th March at 6.00pm in the staffroom. Nominations are being called for to replace 2 x parent and 1 x staff committee members. Membership terms are for 2 years. Nominations must be in by 4.00pm on Wednesday 3rd March to the Returning Officer, Cindy Tatlow. Nominations must be supported by a current committee member. Please contact the school for more information regarding this if required. If an election is required, this will take place on Friday 5th March. A nomination form and information sheet are attached.
Somerset Primary School Calendar Term 1
26 February |
Athletic Carnival |
1 March |
Back up Athletic Carnival |
5 March |
Clean Up Australia Day |
10 March |
NW Athletic Carnival – Grades 3 & 4 |
11 March |
NW Athletic Carnival – Grades 5 & 6 |
17 March |
Bullying No Way & Harmony Day |
17 & 18 March |
Back up NW Athletic Carnival |
18 March |
Primary Progress Report go home |
31 March |
Term 1 Assembly |
31 March |
End Term 1 for students |
1 April |
Moderation Day (student free day) |