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Focus Value
Our focus value this term is To Dream, a culture of high expectations and high achievement. Throughout the term, classroom teachers will be acknowledging some students enacting this value with merit certificates each fortnight. This value is about giving your best effort, not about being the best. We appreciate that all students are different and progress at different rates, however, everyone can have a go and try their hardest. Our current work on conferencing and bump up walls provides feedback on how students are going and what they need to do next to improve.
Attendance
The cooler weather in Terms 2 and 3 is also associated with an increase in colds and illness and a drop in attendance. A small number of absences is fine if your child has cold like symptoms or is too sick to come to school. However, in all other circumstances it is important to maintain regular attendance every day. If you are experiencing difficulty getting your child to school, please chat with your child’s teacher or members of our Leadership Team as we can offer support.
Did you know, if your child is absent for a day of school each week during Primary School (Prep – Year 6), they will have missed nearly a year and a half of schooling by the end of their primary school years.
You can help your child get the most from their education by:
- making medical and other appointments outside school hours
- arranging family holidays in scheduled school holiday breaks
- knowing what’s happening at school to support your child’s interest and confidence.
If your child is absent from school, it is important to tell us and provide the reason for the absence. This can be done by using the SZapp app, phoning the school office, sending a note with a sibling, or visiting the school.
Parent Group - Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall at the Polling Station
Our first fundraiser this year by the Parent Group will be a sausage sizzle and cake stall at the polling station set up at SPS this coming Saturday. If you can please support the stall by encouraging family and friends to pack a few extra dollars to purchase a sausage or a cake.
It was fantastic to see the large group of parents attend the Parent Group meeting last Friday, the most people I have seen during my time at SPS. During the meeting future fundraisers were discussed for 2022: Term 2 a pie drive; Term 3 Fathers Day Stall; and Term 4 Colour Run. Further information about these initiatives will be released once we know more.
This term, there will be some changes in how COVID-19 cases are managed in schools.
Our school will continue to work closely with Public Health to safely manage any COVID-19 cases, with a focus on testing students and staff who have symptoms.
The number of students and staff with COVID-19 will be closely monitored, and we will work with Public Health to respond as needed. If there’s an increase in cases, Public Health will tell us what we need to do and what actions families will need to take.
Parents and carers will no longer receive a message every time there is an individual case in a class or grade – unless students or staff are medically vulnerable.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school office.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.
If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
Samantha Burr
Mrs Burr is teaching grade 1 this year.
What you love about working at SPS?
There are lots of reasons why I love working at SPS. One reason is that our school classrooms and playground are very modern and new. There are always exciting projects added to improve student engagement. I also love being able to teach and build relationships with students and families in our fantastic school community. I also think our staff are always supportive and we work well together. I feel very proud to teach at SPS.
A fun fact
I have a Golden Retriever named Teddy. He loves cuddles and going for walks.
Tracey Ross
Ms Ross is the Literacy Coach for the whole school and Literacy Support Teacher in grade 2.
What you love about working at SPS?
I love being able to work across all the grades in the school but I really enjoy my time investigating how words work with grade 2. They are such curious word detectives.
A fun fact
Autumn is my favourites season, when the air is still warm and the autumn leaves colour the ground.
Erin McGaffin
Mrs McGaffin is the Pod 1 leader (grades 1-2) and AST.
What do you love about working at SPS?
Our school has a wonderful feel and I genuinely love coming to work every day. I like that I get to work with lots of students during our literacy learning time; reading, writing and even a bit of singing!
A fun fact
I love the beach and the snow. Each Summer I go camping at the beach with my family and in the winter, we visit Cradle Mountain.
Maddison Burgess
Miss Burgess is teaching in grade 2.
What do you love about working at SPS?
I love that the school community is so welcoming and helpful. SPS is just awesome. What is there not to love?!
Outside of school I…
I love relaxing at the shack while drinking tea and reading a good book.
Alana Alderson
Alana is a Teacher Assistant at SPS and works in Grade 2.
What do you love about working at SPS?
I love working at SPS! I love the people I work with and how welcoming everyone is!
Fun fact
I love to laugh! And people can hear my laugh for miles! I love to go camping with my family and friends.
Laura Richardson
Miss Richardson is teaching in grade 2.
What do you love about working at SPS?
I love working at Somerset Primary School because I love our school community. We’re all kind to each other, support each other and help each other! I also love watching our students develop their knowledge and skills throughout their primary school years and I love seeing them achieve what they set their minds to. I feel so lucky and grateful to be a part of the SPS team!
Fun fact
I was a dancer for 22 years and I taught dancing for 10 of those years! I’ve learnt nine different styles of dance and I’ve taught jazz, tap, disco, funk and Movement to Music. I can still do the splits!
Michelle Cooke
Miss Cooke is teaching in grade 1.
What do you love about working at SPS?
The fabulous community feel of our school and the fact that I have taught many of the students or their siblings.
Fun fact
I am a twin, and one of 9 children.
Penny Carroll
Penny works at a Teacher’s Assistant in Pod 1.
Cass Schwebel
Cass works in grade 1 on Thursdays and Fridays as a Teacher’s Assistant.
Lecia Cooper
Lecia works in grade 1 as a Teacher’s Assistant.
What do you love about working at SPS?
I love working at Somerset Primary because working with children is the best job in the world.
Fun fact
When i am at home i love to play and look after my grandchildren and my animals. I AM SUPER EXCITED TO GET A NEW PUPPY!!!!
Mandy McNamara
Mandy is working in grade 1 as a Teacher’s Assistant.
5A have started an inquiry based around the concept of INNOVATION. Initially the students paired up and brainstormed what they thought was an innovation which had been made, invented or upgraded and improved that they are aware of. Here are some initial responses. Learning assets of self- mangers, collaborators and thinkers were the focus. Our learning journey begins.
We have also had the opportunity to show our creativity with drawing some magnificently coloured maple leaves and using wax crayon and dye to complete our images. The artwork is certainly a blaze of beautiful autumn colours, warm and welcoming as you enter our classroom. Well done all of you!
5B have commenced term 2 investigating what ‘innovation’ means. Working collaboratively they have brainstormed everyday innovations that effect our lives. Did you know that the following are Australian innovations; Wifi, Google Maps, black box flight recorded, spray on skin, and the cochlear ear plant to name only a few, which are all pretty cool! Three 5B students have been very innovative and have organised a ‘Drama Club’ for students from grade prep to grade 4 during lunch times. It has been a huge success with students so excited that they can’t stop talking about it. They play games and act out stories. Congratulations to Seiarah, Tikana and Lexi for being responsible, organised and engaging students to make this happen. Their efforts have inspired Ever and Ella who both love basketball to run skill sessions at lunch as too. Innovation in action, well done girls. Watch this space as who knows what other innovations grade 5’s will come up with during our inquiry?
We hope you also enjoy our autumn art. We used water colour pencils to sketch a variety of beautiful autumn leaves, using blending to match the warm colours of autumn.
This year is the 23rd Anniversary of ‘Walk Safely to School day’.
To increase our participation in Walk Safely to School Day with the theme of ‘Active Kids are Smarter Kids’, adults from our school community will be supervising groups of students to walk to school on Friday, 20th May.
Hotondo Homes (old City Mission sight) Bass Highway leaving at 8.20am with Cindy, Mrs Fisher and Mrs Gale
Lyons Street (top of Zig Zag Track) leaving at 8:30am with Mrs Barker and Mrs Jaffray
Somerset Basketball Centre leaving at 8:35 with Mrs Pearce
Oak Avenue/McKenzie Drive leaving at 8:35 with Mrs Lloyd
TERM 2 – 2 May – Fri 8 July |
|
11 - 20 May |
NAPLAN |
20 May |
Walk to School Day |
25 May |
School Photos |
8 June |
Display Seed |
8 June |
NW Cross Country |
20-23 June |
Parent/Teacher meetings and reports given out |
4-8 July |
NAIDOC Week |