It is hard to believe we're at the end of Week 4 already.  I'd like to welcome 5 new students and their families to Swansea Primary. Welcome to Emily (4) and Elora (1) and Willow (K) and Amelia (2) and Eliana (1).  All girls have settled in beautifully and are enjoying making new friendships.    

Recently, I attended the Tasmanian Principal's Conference - Leading in Complex Times, where I took a deep dive into 'Developing a Dream Team' a conceptual framework developed by Aaron Tait and Dave Faulkner on how to incorporate innovative education at Swansea Primary. Katie Iles gave an outstanding and inspiring keynote on understanding the demographic and Michael McQueen opened my eyes to innovation and a whole new world - literally (The Metaverse).  Adam Voigt validated my empathetic approach and the real importance of creating a culture of ‘kind’ learners for their future: jobs, resilience, and life. IT is a vastly expanding and everchanging phenomenon and I'm excited about what the future may hold for SPS. Emotional Intelligence (EI) and the "Grow Your Mind" project have also been a part of my professional development recently and I am excited about how this resource can supplement mental health education in our school.  To find out more - click the link Grow Your Mind.

Enrolments are now open for Kinder 2023 and whilst thinking about the addition of new Kinder children, we too are seeking information regarding any students who will not be joining us in 2023. Accurate class projections are crucial for 2023 staffing.  Please email me kristy.hay@education.tas.gov.au if you know of any new or ceasing enrolments.

Last but not least, I am excited to say that tickets to our upcoming production of Disney's Moana Jr. go ON SALE TODAY AT 3pm to secure your seats please visit -  https://www.trybooking.com/CBWMX 

Kristy Hay

Principal

The values represent the heart of the Department of Education and Swansea Primary School's culture.  They reflect what we stand for and it is everyone's responsibility to live our values and bring them to life through our everyday behaviour and decision making at Swansea Primary School.

GROWTH 

We are now accepting Kinder enrolments for 2023.

If your child is turning 5 in 2023, we'd love to hear from you.  Please contact the school office for more information about getting them enrolled.

This week Launching Into Learning was all about colours. We enjoyed the story Pete the Cat I Love my White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean, so much we read it twice! We played with the parachute and had fun making lots of colourful playdough creations to take home.

Grade 1-2-3 students have been learning how to draw self-portraits of our faces and our bodies. First we practiced on our whiteboards, then we entered some of our portraits in the Young Archies competition for students in Department of Education Tasmanian schools in the Kinder-Grade 2 & Grade 3-4 sections.

Riley Cross, grade 3

Title: Me

I really like my earrings in my art work. I have ones like these I wear.

I used water colour paints and Sharpie texta.

Ella Watts, grade 2

Title: Self-portrait of me

I am imagining I’m at SeaWorld. I’m about to see all the animals. My background is watery. I like the way I drew my nose and eyebrows.

Emmett Palmer, grade 1

Title: Me

This is me. I’m wearing a singlet top with flowers and stars. It is a hot day. I’m wearing shorts. I used water colour paints and Sharpie texta.

Aleighna Coles, grade 2

Title: Me outside

I am wearing clothes from my imagination. I like to pick flowers to give to my Mum when I’m outside. I am winking.

Shakshi Sapkota, grade 2

Title: Me

I am wearing a top with hearts, flowers and stars. I used water colour paints and Sharpie texta.

Fred Wood, grade 3

Title: The boy who likes to code

I drew a Minecraft t-shirt because I like playing it.

Occy Jacobson, grade 3

Title: Playing in the rain

I like getting my hair wet because it goes a lot spiky in the rain. I like the lightning bolts on my top.

Melody Barker, grade 2

Title: This is me

I like to swim at the pool. I like to wear piggy tails because they are cute. I would like to have a jumper like this because I like the red colour and the little heart.

Lachlan Jones, grade 3

Title: This is me

This is me enjoying

Antarctica Research

After considering what was already known about Antarctica, the Upper Primary Class begun an inquiry process to find answers to queries and questions about the big frozen continent.  Students found out that one question often leads to another as our understanding and curiosity deepens.

Here are some samples of findings so far;

Add this wonderful event to your calendar and start thinking of your creative costumes!

On Monday the 15th of August, SPS received a visit from 3 members of the Australian Antarctic Division in their exciting information bus.  Dave, Mark and Chelsea presented a very information session about many Antarctic related topics, from ice drilling and warm clothing to the Aurora Australis and magnetic poles.  Our students were then able to use some equipment like thermometers and jackets.   A snow blizzard hit Swansea, but we were prepared!  It was a great delight to host their visit, which some described as the best activity ever!

Many hands make light work, the buzz was back ready for another Friday Lunch Program.  123 students started the harvest of the potatoes from the garden and started washing all the soil away ready for the kitchen to use.

The restaurant was named ready for another week:

Creme De La Creme

BEST OF THE BEST

The front of house students set about organising the menu, setting up the restaurant ready to open for the students to have lunch.  

The kitchen started getting their stations sorted and looking at the recipe ready to cook.  This weeks special Chicken Pesto with a side of mashed potatoes followed by apple crumble and ice-cream.

Week 2 seen us with another potato peeler helper Gary Cotton, Gary not only could peel potatoes fast he was a whiz at washing up!

The kitchen crew busily creating the special had a slight time delay with the kitchen getting a tad steamy from all the cooking, which created a very imprompt fire drill.

Even with a slight delay waiting for our trusty Tas Fire Crew to arrive the group was back in the kitchen with time to spare ready to open the kitchen for lunch!

Works are busily happening organising our chicken coop, stage one of the fencing has been completed and we are busily sorting the chicken yard to have the next stage completed to be able to have our chickens housed securely at school.

Whilst this works take place the chickens are on a mini vacation staying at the Quinn's, they have settled into their accomodation well and are enjoying their vacation.

Look how they have grown!

They are very busy eating most of the time, the Quinn's chooks are enjoying having visitors.

Swansea Primary School was very lucky to be the receiver of a Frank Knight Sporting Grant.  The grant has enabled Swansea Primary School to purchase wonderful new sporting equipment.

Thank you Frank Knight!

The items funded are as below:

Netball Kit

AFL kit

Basketball kit 

Touch football kit 

x4 Launch Boards 

Spike Ball 

x2 totem tennis poles 

Cornhole 

 x2 King ball

x1 Tennis balls 

Mega Phone 

SRC Egg & Bacon Day

All proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald Foundation 

Supporting Tasmanian Families 

Thank you for supporting this worthy cause and our fundraiser for 2022.

Total funds raised $132.00

Swansea Primary School SRC Father's Day Re Gifting Stall.

Time to clean out your cupboards for any unwanted gifts.

Please drop in all new unwanted items into the school office by Monday the 29th of August 2022.

SRC will be holding the Father's Day Re Gifting Stall on Friday the 2nd of September 2022.

There will be 50c,$1.00,$2.00 and $5.00 tables for the students to go shopping!

Moana Production Crew 

The tarp is down and the paint is rolling, set design is in full swing along with costumes busily being designed and created!

Preserving Food in Our New Kitchen

We are LOVING our new kitchen. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible. Last week a group of students has a great time learning about the different ways to preserve food. Our favourite part of this was preserving fruit by making Jam and for some of us our least favourite part was tasting pickled onions. It will be great to preserve the fresh produce we grow at school so we can enjoy it year-round. We also planted some more citrus trees in the Kitchen Garden.  Wayne taught students from the Middle and Upper Primary classes how to use a grafting tool. We grafted different branches onto our apple, plumb, pear and cherry trees and are looking forward to seeing how they go.

Student Feedback About the new Kitchen

Josh “It’s very big which means there is more space to cook in. I think it’s good we have this kitchen because we eat together on Friday and learn how to cook”.

Evie” It’s a great to have a kitchen because some of the students might want to be a chef when they grow up”.

Emily “It’s great for children to try lots of different foods and can help if anyone forgets their lunch. Everyone is going to need to cook when they grow up so it’s really good to start learning the skills now.”

Thankyou to our School Association helpers, our Winter Warmer Soup Tuesdays are going great.  Reminder if you would like to order soup please have your order to the school office on a Friday ready to have soup on a Tuesday.

There has been a case of hand, foot and mouth disease within Swansea Primary School.

What is hand, foot and mouth disease?

This is a disease caused by a group of viruses which usually affects young children. It causes blisters on hands and feet,

and mouth ulcers inside the cheeks and on the tongue. They may also have a sore throat and high temperature. These

symptoms last for 7–10 days.

Is it dangerous?

No. All make a full recovery.

Is it the same as foot and mouth disease in cows?

No. A completely different virus causes foot and mouth disease in cows.

How is it spread?

The virus is spread by coughs and sneezes, and is also found in the faeces of infected children. Some children infected

with the virus do not have symptoms but can still pass it to others.

Is there any treatment?

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease – it is usually a mild and self-limiting illness. If a child feels

unwell paracetamol may help. Antibiotics and creams or ointments for the blisters are not effective. Children recover just

as quickly without them.

What is the incubation period?

Symptoms start 3-5 days after exposure to the virus.

How long are children infectious?

Children who are ill are infectious. Also they may carry the virus in their faeces for many weeks after they have recovered

and so can continue to pass on infection.

How long should children stay away from school?

Children should be excluded from school until all blisters have healed.

Children who are unwell should be kept off school until they are feeling better.

Keeping children off school for longer than this is unlikely to stop the virus spreading. There may be other children in the

school who appear well but are spreading the virus.

How can spread be prevented?

Since the virus is found in faeces, scrupulous attention must always be paid to hand washing after using the toilet.

Can you catch it more than once?

Yes, but children who are ill during an outbreak at school or nursery are unlikely to get it again during the same outbreak.

Thank you for giving this your attention. Your GP or Public Health will be able to answer any further questions that you might have about

hand, foot and mouth disease.

This local business will soon be partnering with Claire Symons, Tassie So Brave Ambassador 2022.

Regards 

Ellie,Meg,Evie,Bella & Georgia