A whirlwind of opportunities have been shared over the past fortnight. Swimming and Water Safety got the green light with Miss Walch completing the certification and our wonderful doctors providing us with the opportunity to use their family home and pool for a term change, due to the busyness Term 4 is renowned for. SRC have represented the school at two events, an Ash Wednesday Service and the Mayshaw Beach Wheelchair open day. We celebrated the start of 2023 with a Welcome Back BBQ and open classroom evening and over 90% of families in attendance. We christened the new barbeque area. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.

Uniform is looking fabulous and I would like to thank all of those students and families for wearing the SPS uniform proudly.  We need your help!  There has been some discussion from staff around shoes and wearing suitable footwear to school where teachers have noticed and are concerned students are unable to sustain and participate in usual physical activity that school presents to students each day safely. The School Student Dress Code and Uniform Policy promotes a shared sense of school identity and works to ensure all students are dressed safely and appropriately for school activities.  With the support of the School Association, we would like to hear from you.  Please complete the following survey – it will take less than one minute – so we can hear your opinion regarding footwear at school.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/88RGSF6

There has been a change of date for Swan vs Oyster (SvO) this year due to the implemetation of a new 3-6 House Swimming Carnival to be held at Oatlands Pool inconjunction with Deep Water Testing.  Please note, selection for Year 3 to 6 SPSSA Athletics Carnival will be conducted during HPE lessons. 

3-6 House Swimming Carnival and Deep Water Testing - Monday 20th March 

Swan VS Oyster and SPS's 102nd Birthday - Friday 31st March

We would love for parents to attend the Swimming Carnival and SvO - carnival event times will be announced soon.

Kristy Hay

Principal

Grow your mind

Grow your mind is our new social and emotional wellbeing program for students in Kinder to Grade 6. This program provides students with a toolbox of strategies so they can thrive in life and have the skills to cope with daily stressors. We aim to create a common language that can be used at school and home so that families can support the key messages delivered.

This is what students have been focusing on so far:

Character strengths: For the next two weeks our whole school is focusing on the character strength of respect. Students have been learning about what respect is, how we can grow respect and how we can show respect in different environments.

Conversation starters for your family on respect:

1.What is respect?

2. How does your family show respect at home?
3. Share a time when you have demonstrated respect yourself.
4. Share a time when your child has demonstrated respect.

Students have also been creating wellbeing check ins:

Students have continued to learn about the animals.

Wise owl – pre frontal cortex – helps you to make good decisions and problem solve.

The guard dog- the amygdala- if it sense danger it keeps you safe.

Sifting sooty- RAS- Helps you to block out distractions and concentrate.

Elephant – the hippocampus – It helps you to store memories and remember.

Sensitive Octopus- the Insular Cortex- Demonstrates how to be a good friend and show empathy.

Everything is going smoothly when the animals are talking to each other we can focus, make wise decisions, remember things and feel safe. Sometime the guard dog makes every day stressors and set back such as mistakes or an argument with a friend as a serious threat. The guard dog can get really big and bossy and make it hard for the other animals to do their jobs.

Through this program students learn how to recognise when the guard dog is getting really big and can be taught ways to keep it calm.

The character strength focus for the next two weeks will be kindness!

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most. 

It highlights the importance of regular school attendance and encourages parents and carers that school is the best place for their children to be, as it will lead to bright futures.

When children go to school every day, it opens their options and builds their social skills, relationships and confidence.

The campaign will appear on free-to-air television, digital and social advertisements, radio, billboards and buses over coming weeks across the state.

There are lots of things you can do to set your child up for success. Check out our top tips.

Going to school isn’t always easy. But when you go, you massively increase your options. It’s your first step towards an exciting future. Plus, you’ll be looked after by people who have your back and want to help you succeed.

And it’s not all about sitting in a classroom. There are heaps of ways you can finish school, which will put you on the right path for the future you’re looking for. In Tasmania, everyone needs to finish Year 12 (or meet a leaving requirement). There are lots of ways you can do it.

Improving student welfare and learning was a mission for Judy who had a selfless commitment to public education, knowing education can transform lives.

At the age of 29, Judy was one of Tasmania’s youngest and first female principals. By 39, she was a district superintendent.

Judy’s 48-year career encompassed teaching, principalship, policy development, statewide leader of extended learning opportunities and online learning and many other roles!

Her contribution to learning for both students and for staff, was significant, and is still felt today. She was…

• inaugural coordinator for the Hardie Fellowship for education staff to visit American universities.
• recipient of travelling scholarships including Churchill, Hardie and Gandel fellowships, which she used to initiate middle schooling educational partnerships; build challenging environments to engage gifted and talented students; promote re-engagement of students in learning; and instigate curriculum revision to explore tolerance and prejudice through the teaching of the Holocaust.
• inaugural coordinator / chairperson of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize for grade nine students.
• State Manager of the ‘What Matters?’ writing competition for students
• A supporter of the primary schools’ band program involving 1,500 singers and players
• An initiator of the Young Archie portraiture competition for artists from kindergarten to grade 12.

Deputy Secretary for Children and Young People, Trudy Pearce shared her thoughts on Judy’s contribution to education in Tasmania:

Judy’s contribution to educational provision stands alone with her commitment to community, across a variety of other roles, also noteworthy. Judy’s CV is incredible – recognising that in every role Judy assumed she always gave it her absolute best, and empowered others. Really importantly, the impact of her contributions and leadership was significant, with the legacy of Judy’s thinking and innovation still felt by learners and staff today – as it will be into the future.

We congratulate Judy for this deserved recognition, and thank her for all she has done in the service of education in Tasmania.

Find out more about all the Award recipients for Tasmania and Australia broadly on the Governor-General’s official Honours List website.  

Thanks to the Women in Tasmania website for additional information.

In Prep, we have started learning Phonics! We have a special visitor - Frankie the Frog – and he LOVES phonics. On Mondays and Tuesdays, Frankie tells our new letter sound, then we say it, learn how to write it in the air and we learn an action and a rhyme that helps us remember it and how we can use it.

Before we write it on a whiteboard or on paper, we make sure we are holding the pen or pencil using our crocodile snap fingers – and there is a song that helps us remember how to do that aswell.

After all that, we play a phonics game. One of our favourites is called ‘Silly Soup’ – but only the soup is silly – not the Preps. Lately we have played a version of the game where the items are hidden in a bag – then each child takes a turn to take one out, says what it is and what the first letter sound is – and chooses which plate to put it on.

Today we read some real words with the letters we have learned so far: sit and sat

Check out the photos of us having fun with phonics!

On Tuesday afternoons, the 1-2 class joins the Prep class in The Cottage. This is a great opportunity to do some collaborative learning – sharing our ideas and working with our friends from another class.

Andrew – our new Education Facility Attendant - found a bird’s nest made of mud which made an inspiring provocation for our learning in week 3. We watched a video clip of a little bird making a nest out of blobs of mud which it carried in its beak. The video was taken on day 8 – so it must take a very long time to build a nest. The bird took great care to choose where to put the new blob and then to stick it on.

We wondered what kind of bird made the nest we had found. Someone thought it might be an eagle, but someone else thought an eagle would need a much bigger nest.

When the nests have dried out, we might put some soft things inside and put them outside for the birds to use next year!

The Kinders watched a different video clip of a blue tit making a nest in a box. Someone had put a camera inside so we could see. Kinders made cosy nests out of cardboard boxes lined with dried grass and feathers – just like the blue tit. We put them in the trees so the birds can come and use them if they want to.

https://youtu.be/D2hiQv4Bh-A

This week in grade 3/4, students have been working very hard to improve their writing skills through narratives.  We have focused on the 4 main parts of a narrative:

Title - Gives the reader an idea what the story will be about.

Orientation - Sets the scene through the timeframe and setting, as well as introducing the characters and sharing a little bit about them.

Body - introduces and then develops a problem that builds to a climax through a series of events.

Conclusion - solves the problem and leaves the reader satisfied with the ending.

Through our narratives, we identify our strengths and what we still need to work on. Students have conferenced with Mrs Sparshott and identified individual writing goals that will improve writing outcomes.  Our current tasks have been to plan and write our narrative, re-read our work to ensure it makes sense and then edit using a variety of checklists to ensure that the task has been completed to the best of our ability. We are currently in the editing and presentation phase, where we consider Mrs Sparshott's input and then use our devices to type our work.

Managing screen time and setting age appropriate boundaries.

Thanks to Knight Frank East Coast  for sponsoring a wonderful program.  Swansea Primary have 11 Aussie of the Month Receipents throughout the year.  This award is handed out school assemblies.

This year at Swansea Primary School we will be having a Staff Spotlight each week.  This is a great way for new staff to learn about other staff and also students to learn about staff.  Mrs Sparshott's class will be taking the quiz next Monday to see how many things they can remember about Melissa :)

We are pleased to offer Tennis as our first after school sport for 2023. The after school sessions will be available to students in Grade 3-6. These sessions as free and will be facilitated by myself every Wednesday afternoon until the end of Term 1. All tennis equipment will be supplied for this program.

The sessions will run on the following dates:

• Wednesday the 8^th of March
• Wednesday the 15^th of March
• Wednesday the 22^nd of March
• Wednesday the 29^th of March

The sessions will be split into three sessions.

        3/4 – 3:00pm- 3:30pm

• 5/6 – 3:30pm- 4:00pm

Stuents will be required to bring:

• Drink bottle
• Hat
• Appropriate footwear

 Please complete the attached permission form if your child would like to participate. Please return the form to the school office by Wednesday the 1^st of March.  

 Kind regards,

 Sophie Walch

 HPE     

Thursday the 9th of March no Swimming & Water Safety Program as advertised originally.

Wednesday the 8th of March Swimming & Water Safety Program for Grade 3 & 4 only.

This weeks cooking with Jo all hands on deck creating a wonderful lunch for all students to enjoy.

Chicken with Stir Fry Vegetables and Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce 

Thankyou to our community bank Bendigo Bank for sponsoring our Sustainable Learning Lunch Program 

This week we started with a warm pool of 26 degree's and the sun shinning outside.

Mrs Wells spoke to Arlo and Olivia on what pool toys sink and float with great findings in a bucket of water :)

Arlo and Olivia had a wonderful time blowing bubbles, paddling and kicking.  

Arlo's favourite activity was participating in Jack in the Box with the balls being released and having to swim to collect them along with being very brave and having lots of fun.

Olivia's favourite activity was participating in Humpty Dumpty Sat On The Wall, jumping in to her mum and being very brave blowing lots of bubbles and having lots of fun.

Everyone is welcome to participate in a relaxed fun enviroment to start the chapter of a very valuable life skill learning to swim.

Dear Families,

2023 Water Swimming Orientation for Kindergarten to Year 2 will look slightly different this year.  The program will be offered in Term 1 starting next week after school.  This program will run outside of school time.

With Austswim Instructor Melissa Quinn at the Groves Pool in Swansea.  All sessions will be free for all students.

Please see dates below for when the program runs along with what your child will need to bring to be part of the program, bathers, towels, plastic bag, and a swimming cap.

Families will need to transport their child to these sessions.  The sessions aren’t for siblings to swim also whilst lessons are in progress.

These sessions will be free however commitment to the program is needed.

The Grove Family are very kind to allow the use of their private swimming pool all families need to remain in the pool area only.  Parking is in the top carpark – this can get full at times so overflow parking is at the bottom with and walking up the driveway.  No parking along the driveway or in the Groves yard.

The program will start Tuesday the 28^th of February 2023 (sessions will be cancelled if inclement weather)

Tuesday 28^th February 2023 times and sessions may change due to numbers

Year 1 & Year 2 Students (groups will be notified to families)

3.15-3.45 session 1

3.45-4.15 session 2

Prep Students

4.15-5.00 dependant on numbers if one or two sessions

Kinder Students

5.00-6.00 dependant on numbers if one or two sessions

Times for all sessions are above.

Tuesday 28^th of February Kinder to Grade 2

Tuesday 7th of March Kinder to Grade 2 

Wednesday 8^th of March Kinder to Grade 2

Friday 10^th of March No Kinder swimming Prep to Grade 2

Friday 17^th of March No Kinder swimming Prep to Grade 2

Tuesday 21^st of March Kinder to Grade 2

Wednesday 22^nd of March Kinder to Grade 2

Friday 24^th of March No Kinder Swimming Prep to Grade 2

Tuesday 28^th of March Kinder to Grade 2

Wednesday 29^th of March Kinder to Grade 2

Tuesday 4^th of April Kinder to Grade 2

Wednesday 5^th of April Kinder to Grade 2

Water play splash & learn launching into learning swimming program

Dear Families,

2023 Water Play Splash & Learn Program for Launching into Learning Families birth to 4 years, will look slightly different this year.  The program will be offered in Term 1 starting next week on a Wednesday Morning from 9.30-10.15am.

With Austswim Instructor Melissa Quinn at the Groves Pool in Swansea.  All sessions will be free for all children.

Please see dates below for when the program runs along with what your child will need to bring to be part of the program, bathers, towels, plastic bag, swimming nappies are essential if your child isn’t toilet trained.

Families will need to transport their child to these sessions. 

The Grove Family are very kind to allow the use of their private swimming pool all families need to remain in the pool area only.  Parking is in the top carpark – this can get full at times so overflow parking is at the bottom with and walking up the driveway.  No parking along the driveway or in the Groves yard.

The program will start Wednesday 1^st of March  (sessions will be cancelled if inclement weather)

Times for all sessions are above.

Wednesday 8^th of March

Wednesday 22^nd of March

Wednesday 29^th of March

Wednesday 5^th of April

For all enquires please contact Melissa Quinn on 62578126 or 0478228383

 Stroke Correction & Squad Training Selected Students from Year 3 to Year 6 – students must be able to swim one whole lap of the pool.

 Friday 10^th of March 5.00-6.00pm 

Friday 17^th of March 5.00-6.00pm

Friday 24^th of March 5.00-6.00pm 

As part of the School Lunch Project, children are receiving free cooked lunches on some days each week. To help better understand the benefits and challenges of providing cooked school lunches, researchers from the University of Tasmania are interested in hearing feedback from parents. You are invited to complete a short survey. Every parent who completes a survey will go in the draw to win a $20 Visa/Mastercard voucher. If more than 20% of eligible parents complete the survey, your school will receive a $500 voucher that can go towards improving school food facilities. If you would like to participate, please follow this link:

https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=7KTYJLDXDRW3R3P4

We thank you in advance for your participation!

Australian Red Cross  are looking for a Recovery and Resilience Project Officer based on the East Coast to assist me with the Glamorgan Spring Bay Community Disaster Resilience Project until 30 September 2023. A local East Coast person is highly desirable – a Bicheno or Swansea based person would be ideal. Link to job advert here: Career opportunities | Australian Red Cross