1 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

Meet the Teacher

Last week we had Meet the Teacher sessions where parents and carers had the opportunity to hear from their child’s teacher about the expectations and routines of the classrooms. It was wonderful that many parents and carers took up this opportunity to join us. This has been the first time we have been able to run a session like this since covid.

Parent/Carer Phone calls are happening this week to discuss with you how your child is settling into their new grade and class and to ask you information about your child which will support their learning and engagement at school. It is important that we all work together to ensure the best learning outcomes for our students.

If your child has a Learning Plan, you will not have a phone call during this week. Your child’s teacher will organise a meeting after we have updated the Learning Plans. This will be later in the term or early term 2.

Lots of collaborating, thinking, planning and exploring that leads to learning is happening. Take a look:

Houses Captains

The Years 3-6 classes all had the opportunity to listen to aspiring House Leaders give their pitch for the roles of House Captain and Vice-Captain, after which they filled in a ballot using preferential voting. Congratulations to these fine young people who are now the leaders of their school houses – Albuera and Byron.

Athletics

On Monday, the students from Years 3-6 participated in our Athletics Carnival at the Domain. The participation rate was excellent and the support students showed their team members was wonderful to see.

A big thank you to the parent volunteers who helped with timing and scoring. Once again, our PE teacher, Ms Renee Britton has organised an excellent carnival and our other staff stepped up to the supporting roles.

Well done to all.

Congratulations to Byron!    Albuera 475 Byron 534

Safeguarding Lead in Primary Schools

The Department is committed to safeguarding the rights of children and young people to have an education, to be heard, and to be kept safe from harm. They are also working to ensure all children and young people in Tasmania are known, safe, well and learning.

This year each school has been provided with funding to appoint a Safeguarding Lead and we are pleased to announce that Mark Hayes will take on this role for Albuera Street Primary School. As Safeguarding Lead, Mark will help plan and implement strategies to support the wellbeing of all students and foster a culture where it is understood that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Please visit Safeguarding Children and Young People - The Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania for more information on this new role in our school.

Early Years classes have new names.

Taking a leaf from the Kinder Pears, other classes have decided to give their classes a name. The teachers chose the theme of Tasmanian animals and with a school focus on Student Agency and Voice, the students themselves got to offer suggestions for the names then vote. We now have Prep/1 Wombats with Mr Jenkin, Prep/1 Tassie Devils with Ms Corrigan and Mrs Foster, 1/2 Puggles with Ms Parker and Gr 2 Bilbies with Ms Baird and Ms Adderton. How wonderful to be able to connect to their classes in such a way by having a say.

Behaviour Policy

Last year all Tasmanian state schools adopted the updated Student Behaviour Management Policy and Procedure. Most of it is very similar to what we have been following since 2016. One of the updates is the definition of Bullying and defining ways to prevent and how to respond. Below is the definition our Department for Education, Children and Young People uses.

‘Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.

Bullying can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.’

5/6 Camp

Next week our Years 5 & 6 students will be heading off to Hagley School Farm for 3 days of rural and historical activities as well as learning how to get along with each other and without their families. This is a time filled with fun, activity, some nerves, a long bus ride and probably less sleep than normal all the while building relationships with each other and their teachers and creating very special memories. I’d like to thank Mr Steve Jeffrey for his planning and organisation (this takes lots of time outside of school) the staff attending – Ms Janette Smithurst, Mrs Jess Dilger, Mrs Peta Burnett and Mr Toby Fishwick as well as the office staff who also do heaps to make this camp happen.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is now this term from Wednesday 15th March until the 24th. All Year 3 and 5 students around Australia will be participating at this time.

Information was sent home to families last week.

Numeracy

A focus on Mathematics is still a priority to our school. Helping students to understand that maths is something that everyone can do and is important in everyday life, is one of our goals. We hope this poster inspires some conversations in your home.

From Alexandra’s Big Life Journal

Jo Waldon
Principal

Important dates coming up:

Harmony Day – Thursday 23rd March

Launching into Learning

LiL will be on Thursday afternoon this year at 1.45 pm to 2.45.

School Calendar

COVID-safe behaviours reminder

COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses (like the flu) are still circulating in Tasmania. The official COVID-19 risk level has been raised to ‘Moderate’.

Together, we need to keep practising our COVID-safe behaviours to manage the risk.

Simple things we can do:

• do not come to school if unwell – stay home and test
• stay at home while you have symptoms, regardless of the result of a rapid antigen test (RAT)
• cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands with soap and water, or alcohol-based sanitiser
• try to stay a reasonable distance away from others when you can
• consider wearing a face mask if you wish to – they are readily available for use at the school.

All students should ensure they have access to a quantity of RATs. If you need RATs, please ask for them at the school office so they are in your home ready for use if symptoms develop.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

For any COVID-19 enquiries, please 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.

Canteen 2023

Canteen Specials 3 March and 10 March 2023

3 March 2023

10 March 2023

Volunteers

The canteen cannot nor will not operate without the help of parent/carer volunteers. The canteen will not start operation until there are sufficient volunteers. Kids love it when the important adults in their lives help. This can be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or family friends. Please note a working with vulnerable people card is required. Usually volunteers are required from 9 to 2ish. However, shorter time periods can be negotiated to fit in with busy schedules. If you can help, please contact me on 0417 559 920 or fill out form below.

Canteen Helper

Please remember to choose the correct order date on the Qkr! App.

Caron Summers
Canteen Manager

School Photo Day Wednesday 22 March

Parents who want to order Family Photos can the use same Access Key NQ2T7X97.

Family Photo orders must be done by 4:30pm the night before Photo Day so we can organise a list of Family Photos that need to be taken. Any Family Photos that have not been ordered before the cut-off will not be taken. Unfortunately, we cannot make any exceptions on the day.

All students will have an individual photo taken on Photo Day regardless if they are ordering or not. Individual student ordering will stay open after Photo Day.

Orders placed after we have printed the bulk of orders will be sent directly to parents and will incur a postage charge per order.

Information to order in link below.

GETI – Temporary Residents Info

Is your child a Temporary visa holder enrolled with an Authority to Enrol letter from GETI?

Remember to let GETI know if any of your child’s details change, including:

• contact details (address, phone, email);
• a new visa is granted by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA);
• change of school or intention to move away from Tasmania.

GETI often send email newsletters or important reminders – remember to check your email junk folders if you haven’t seen anything from them in a while.

Email: trp@geti.tas.gov.au

Soccer Information 2023

It’s time to kick off the soccer season for 2023. Taroona Football Club (TFC) is excited to be partnering with your school to include all teams from U5 to U12.

TFC is a community based club located at Kelvedon Park in Taroona. We are well known as a welcoming, approachable, and family-oriented club that is focused on participation for fun, fitness, friendship and football development. The club is run almost entirely by volunteers, please consider whether there is anything you can do to contribute to a successful season for your child and community.

We are now requesting potential player details for the 2023 season.

Step 1: Complete the Player Information Form must be completed by Monday the 13th of March 2023.

Step 2: Register on Play Football must be completed by the Monday the 20th of March 2023. Volunteers must also register.

Step 3: Download Team App and join the club page ready for season and team communications (more details to follow on finding your team once they are worked out).

There are a couple of information sheets attached that contain a lot of important information about the season and playing for the club that parents/carers should read. Please have a look at these. There is also information on the Taroona FC website Junior Teams | Taroona FC . If you have any questions or concerns please send an email to Miriam O’Neill who is the Junior Coordinator at Taroona FC at juniorcoordinator@taroonafc.org with your question and a phone number you can be contacted on. We would like to make the transition to club football as smooth as possible,

We are looking forward to another fun season of soccer in 2023.

Masks update

Public Health has advised that from Monday 27 June 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory in schools and Child and Family Learning Centres. This is because of reduced COVID-19 cases in our community.

It’s important to continue to:

• stay at home if unwell, and get tested
• practise COVID-safe behaviours such as frequent handwashing and sanitising
• be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.

Students, staff and visitors are supported to continue to wear face masks if they choose to. Face masks are still available at our school if you need them.

When face masks are required

If you’re a close contact , you are still required to wear a face mask indoors as per current Public Health advice.

From time-to-time our school might identify activities or situations where masks are required to be worn. We ask for your support when this happens and know that it is in the best interests of our students, staff and our school.

Our staff will continue to wear masks when working closely with students who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly to discuss.

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.

Uniform Times

This year as we are setting times available for the purchase of uniforms.

Tuesdays: 2.30pm to 3.00pm
Thursdays: 8.30 am to 9.15am

Orders can be made and paid for over the phone and be ready to pick up at an arranged time if the above times do not suit you.

LEVIES REMINDER

Thank you to parents who have paid levies and to those who are making regular payments. Levies are now overdue, if you are experiencing difficulties with making payments, please contact Annette and discuss a payment plan. Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Payment Options

• BPay, Service Tasmania, Eftpos
• Credit Card over the phone (6223 2268)
• Cheque payable to Albuera Street Primary School
• Levy Instalment Plan (Please contact Annette.reggett@education.tas.gov.au or 6223 2268)

Student Voice

Grade 1/2P

Things I love about school.

Kinder Pears

The Kinder Pears have done a wonderful job settling into school life. When you read this we will have had the equivalent of less than two weeks of school together, but we have done so much and learnt so much already! The Pears have been learning all the routines of Kindergarten, getting to know each other and making friends, as well as making connections with many of the adults who are part of the broader Kinder team – Miss Mansfield, Mrs Davy, Mrs Jones, Mrs Waldon, Miss Britton, Mrs Brunton, Mr Eddleston and Mrs Pan.

In Term 1 we focus on building our sense of identity as Pears and as Kinders; we start to learn basic numeracy and literacy skills and we also have lots of fun learning about the ‘Sand and the Sea’. We have been thinking about how to be safe, fair and respectful learners, as well as learning about our strength of kindness, which is one of our three key character strengths in Kinder (the others being bravery and teamwork). Lots of time outdoors suits active Kinders, so we’ve enjoyed lots of outdoor play and learning. Below you’ll see photos that include us making and eating Pear pancakes, painting pears we moulded from salt dough, as well as learning through play and time together.

The Kinder team is delighted with how 2023 has started for our youngest students; we look forward to a wonderful year of learning together.

Grade 3/4B

All about Me

In grade 3/4B we have spent the first few weeks of Term 1 getting to know each other and learning about our favourite hobbies, places to visit and activities we like to do. We learnt how many people are in each family and how many pets everyone has. This was our first writing task for 2023.

T- shirt

We designed a T-shirt with our favourite subject, food, drink, colour, book, animal, games we like to play, age and our name. We used pictures, numbers, and words to create a visual representation of ourselves.

Student Voice

Each student shared their student voice of how they felt starting the new school year, in a different class and finding new friends.

Beginning the school year in 3/4B

Student Medications

It is a Department of Education requirement that all medications to be taken by students during the school day are to be passed into the office or teacher in charge of an excursion or camp. The medications require a signed doctor/pharmacist as well as parent permission form (these forms are available in the Forms and Documents panel in the newsletter or at the office). The medication is also to be in the original packaging so that staff know what they are administering. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Medical Action Plans

Every child at Albuera Street Primary with a medical condition needs to supply an updated medical plan to the school each year, especially those with Anaphylaxis and Asthma. Staff from Albuera have been trained in Anaphylaxis using EpiPens and also in Ventolin administration for Asthma. If you are new to the school and your child has a medical condition please come into the office and collect an appropriate action plan form, or if you just have questions please don’t hesitate to phone the school.

Working with Vulnerable People Card Reminder

Sign In Requirements and Checks

New requirements for record keeping have been in effect from August 2018 which specifies that all sites are required to keep visitor sign in registers. All volunteers, external providers, contractors and visitors (where appropriate) must sign in using the visitor register.

A DoE site must request the RWVP card and perform a status check via the DoJ website each time someone presents at or attends a site in their respective capacity. The status check will return current information and indicate any conditions applying to a registration.

If a search fails to return information, this indicates a change in registration has occurred. DoE staff at the worksite must sign off on the visitor register to confirm that RWVP verification has occurred.

The Department requirement is that you must present your RWVP card EVERY time you sign in.

Information for those who need to apply for WWVP card

To volunteer at this school, you will be required to hold a “Registration to Work with Vulnerable People”. It is extremely important that parent helpers and volunteers are registered and Albuera Street Primary School is recorded in your application.

How to apply for a WWVP Card

Complete the online application form. This is available from the website at

Chose Department of Education from the organisation drop-down box and also select Albuera Street Primary School from the location drop-down box. Please remember each time to volunteer at the school you need to bring your card each time.

Sickness

Parents/carers are reminded to advise the school office if their child is unable to attend school due to illness or any other reason.

• By phone (62232268) leave a message anytime on the answering machine.
• Email albuera.street.primary@education.tas.gov.au
• Schoolzine – click on the absentee tab

A medical certificate is required if a child is absent due to illness for 5 days or more

Nut Allergy – Reminder

We have a number of students in our school who are allergic to nuts and nut products. Exposure to nuts can trigger an allergic reaction and be life-threatening for these students, so please avoid sending nuts or nut based products to school. We aim to keep our school as nut-free as possible to keep our students safe.

After School Care

ASC is provided on site by Lady Gowrie Child Care Services (Ph: 6230 6806).

ASC is available from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm each school day and 1.00pm – 3.00pm Thursday for Kinder.

Book Chat

Library News

Tasmania Reads

Libraries Tasmania and our school library, are joining with the Tasmania Reads campaign between 5-11 March 2023 coinciding with the Nation-wide Australian Reading Hour on 9 March. We are hoping everyone will take part and read during this week. See Be happy – read more books, more often | Australia Reads for more details or check out the Libraries Tasmania website Tasmania Reads - Libraries Tasmania

Need help choosing books for your children:

The Smith Family Saver Plus program

Term Dates for 2023

Community Notices