Filter Content
Welcome to Term 3
Somerset Primary is in full swing already with our teaching and learning programs. We welcome some new staff (or staffing changes):
Mrs Nicki Clifford on Prep B with Mrs Jodi Williams. Mrs Clifford will be teaching Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mrs Williams will be teaching Mondays and Fridays. We wish Miss Katie Miller all the best with her new baby, Isla.
Mrs Deb Kennelly and Miss Di Edmistone are teaching on 5A. Mrs Kennelly is teaching Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Miss Edmistone is teaching Thursdays and Fridays.
We welcome Miss Deanna McMullen to the team. Miss McMullen will be working each Friday across Prep A, Prep B, 1B, 3/4A and 3/4B.
Our focus school value for Term 3 is: TO BELIEVE.
This is a value we would like all Somerset Primary students to really work on. Throughout our lives we are constantly challenged with difficult situations and often challenging circumstances. While we would like for our children to never face difficulties, often through these times we do our best growing as an individual. Embracing these challenges often opens new opportunities for us to develop and become even better.
As parents and carers allowing your children to face challenges and navigate through them with your support is hard but rewarding as you watch your child develop resilience and responsibility.
Student Free Day – Professional Learning Day for staff
Monday 19th July saw our teaching staff and teaching assistants participate in a full day of Professional Learning.
We began the day bright and early working together on Systematic Curriculum Delivery. This is part of our School Improvement Plan as well as a Departmental initiative. We focussed on ensuring the Systematic Curriculum Delivery melds with our Classroom Inquiries and worked towards an agreed list of significant, worthwhile and relevant concepts we would like all children by the end of Grade 6 to leave Somerset Primary School with.
Throughout the middle session of the day, our teaching staff continued working on Concepts and Systematic Curriculum Delivery. Our teaching assistants focussed on supporting students with Working Memory issues.
The afternoon saw Pod Teaching teams working together analysing all student data and ensuring planning is in place to support student’s growth and development. Our teaching assistants worked on their professional development plans incorporating particular areas when supporting student learning.
We valued our day and crammed a lot into our ‘adult’ learning to ensure all children have access to a great teaching and learning environment at Somerset Primary School.
Anything Can Happen Campaign
Getting kids to school isn’t always easy. And COVID-19 certainly hasn’t made it any easier. If students are unwell, they need to stay home. That’s the reality we all understand.
But if your children are healthy, it’s vital that they attend school every day, from Monday to Friday. Data proves that regular school attendance is one of the best things a child can do to make sure they have a bright future. But if they don’t attend, things get harder for them. If your child misses even just one day a fortnight, that adds up to 20 days of the school year—the same as missing four whole weeks of school. If they miss one day a week, that doubles to eight weeks of school they’ll never get back. Over the course of their childhood, that equals two and a half years of vital education they’ll never receive.
When they say that every day counts, that’s what they mean.
The data also tells us something else: the better a child’s attendance rate, the better off they’ll be. Not only will they achieve higher marks—their future will be filled with more opportunities. And good attendance habits in primary school lead to good attendance habits in high school, which will help them expand their options even further as they grow older.
If you are struggling to get your kids to school, help is available. Please reach out to us here at your school to discuss your situation. We will support you, in whatever way we can.
COVID-19 Check-in App
Following on from a direction from the Tasmanian Government, we now have some changed arrangements in place for parents and carers when visiting schools.
You will now need to check in using the Check-in TAS app when entering school buildings; this includes classrooms, the office or the canteen.
Students are also NOT required to check-in, these arrangements only apply to adults.
We have posters displayed in and around the school site with the QR code to use for checking in.
For those who do not have a smart phone and need to manually check-in, please come to the school office for assistance.
We appreciate your support in ensuring we are doing the right thing.
For more information, visit www.checkin.tas.gov.au
Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey
Attention: Parents and Carers of students in Grades 4, 5 & 6
Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey
The wellbeing of our students is important to us.
To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students in Years 4, 5 & 6 at Somerset Primary School will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.
The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.
The details for the survey are:
When: between the dates Monday 23rd August and Friday 3rd September 2021
Who: Grades 4, 5 and 6.
What do I need to do: You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.
A letter with more information has been sent home with all Years 4, 5 & 6 students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.
If you would like further information, please contact Amanda Lloyd, Assistant Principal.
Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so they can engage in learning.
Winter weather and our playground
In this wintery weather our playground becomes quite wet and boggy. Please ensure your child has a change of clothes INCLUDING SOCKS every day. This saves you from having to bring spare clothes to school when children accidentally get wet or muddy.
Also, we would be grateful for donations of any socks in good condition that your children have outgrown and you’d be happy to pass on.
The Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) is available for families who hold a Centrelink Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans Affairs Pension Card to assist with school levies.
Applications close on September 7th for 2021. If you would like to apply, follow the link below or call into the office to collect a form.
Can you believe we are halfway through the year? Pod one learners have set goals to reach by the end of the year. To do this we need to know ourselves as learners and respond to the feedback our teachers provide. We know that it takes courage to accept challenges and embrace opportunities. You could ask your child what they hope to improve on by the end of 2021. Here are some of our goals.
We have had a busy start to term 3 in the grade 6 classes. We have been focussing on our writing, inquiry learning and leadership roles. With our school focus on inquiry we have been trialling this with aspects of Maths and HASS. The grade 6 students have been working on a range of Mathematical investigations. These are designed to expand their breadth of knowledge and engage the students by using an inquiry approach to maths. We have researched famous mathematicians and next we will explore different occupations and the maths required for their jobs. In 6A we participated in a steam lesson where students were asked to design and make a parachute in groups of 2. The parachute needed to be able to carry 2 Unifix blocks without falling out and have the slowest descent from the top of the spider web frame. Due to the weather, we are yet to test our parachutes. In writing both classes have been working on developing their use of interesting vocabulary and improving their editing skills, including self-editing, peer editing and providing feedback to others.
Students in 6A demonstrating their ability to be Collaborators and Communicators while building parachutes as part of a STEAM lesson.
Students in 6B demonstrating their ability to be Collaborators, Communicators and Researchers while completing writing about their holidays and maths investigations.
4 of our Pod 2 students who received our Values Certificates this fortnight. These students have accepted challenges and used opportunities to improve their learning and time at school.
Get your Ticket to Play and join a club today!
Ticket to Play provides two vouchers up to $100 each towards club
membership for children aged 5-18 years and listed on a Centrelink Health
Care or Pensioner Concession Card or in Out of Home Care.
What can I use the vouchers for?
Vouchers can be used towards the cost of sporting club membership, as well
as for Scouts, Guides and Cadets.
Vouchers can be used at two different activity providers or both can be used
at one activity provider. Why not use one voucher for a summer sport and the
other for a winter sport? Or why not use one voucher for your favourite sport
and the other to try a new sport?
Important dates
Ticket to Play voucher applications are open until 31 May 2022. Vouchers
must be given to an Approved Activity Provider by 6 June 2022.
Click here to learn more and apply. www.communities.tas.gov.au/ticket-to-play
Contact
Contact Ticket to Play at tickettoplay@communities.tas.gov.au or on 1800 252 476.