A Message from the Principal

Welcome Back

Welcome back to term 2! I hope you all had a restful break and enjoyed some family time. It has been lovely to come back to school with sunny days, although the mornings sure have been crisp! As the weather is cooling off, hats do not need to be worn this term, or next term. For additional warmth, school jumpers, jackets and beanies are available for purchase at the office. Please ensure students wear school uniform. Unless I have given permission, hoodies are not part of our school uniform and are not to be worn during the school day.

Staff Update

I would like to welcome back Mr Prebble who has been on leave last term. It is great to have Mr Prebble back with us. He will be undertaking a variety of roles around the school as Mr Metske will continue on the grade 5/6 class.

Dance Lessons

This term, each Thursday, our students have the opportunity to participate in dance sessions provided by Footsteps. All the Principals across the Devonport area decided that this would be great fun, activity and learning for our students. All reports from our first session this week were positive with lots of smiles and funky dancing happening around the school well after the session finishes. I understand that for some this may push the comfort zone, however I encourage everyone to give it a go! Parents/carers – ask your child to show you their dance moves!

School Hours

A reminder that although staff are on site, the school does not open to students or parents until 8:40am. Doors are locked until this time to allow teachers to be out of their classrooms if needed gathering resources and preparing for the day ahead. Whilst all staff welcome the opportunity to chat to parents/carers, please ensure all interactions are respectful, and that an appointment is made for lengthy conversations if required. Of course, general ‘hellos’ and short – ‘just wanted to let you know’ conversations are always welcome and totally fine!

Anzac Day Ceremony

Thank you to our SRC members Emily and April who represented our school at the ANZAC Day ceremony this year in the school holidays. Emily and April placed a wreath at the cenotaph as a gesture of respect for those who served in the armed forces for our country. Thank you also to Mrs Parker who attended the ceremony to support our students.

Nichole Todd
Principal

2024 Upcoming Events

Sunday 12 May	Mother's Day
Wednesday 22 May	National Simultaneous Storytime Day
Friday 07 June	Professional Learning Day for Staff Student Free Day
Monday 10 June	Public Holiday - Kings Birthday
Monday 24 June - Friday 5 July	Years 3-6 Swimming Program
Friday 05 July	Last Day of Term 2

2024 Professional Learning & Public Holidays

Friday 07 June	Professional Learning Day - No Students
Monday 10 June	Kings Birthday - Public Holiday
Friday 01 November	Professional Learning Day - No Students
Monday 04 November	Recreation Day Public Holiday
Friday 29 November	Devonport Show Day

2024 Term Dates

Term 2	Monday 29 April - Friday 05 July
Term 3	Monday 22 July - Friday 27 September
Term 4	Monday 14 October - Thursday 19 December

By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.

We have lots of things to look forward to this Term:

Bright Sparks Program - Years Kinder-6 - Week 8

Years 3-6 - Swimming and Water Safety - Week 9-10

Footsteps Dance - each Thursday

Share your thoughts on school attendance, including:

• any barriers that may be in the way

• what supports are needed to help with getting to school

We want to hear from students, their families, our staff and anyone in the community.

This is independent consultation being run by 3P Advisory – your answers are confidential.

Take part in an online survey, share or vote for suggestions, or join an online drop-in session: www.engagetas.com.au/school-attendance-consultation

If you meet the requirements below, you are eligible to apply for Student Assistance (STAS). This will allow you to have your Levy Invoice cancelled. Please read below and consider your options.

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to low income families towards the cost of levies for students enrolled in a school from Kindergarten through to Year 12.

STAS is provided through school and college resourcing rather than payment direct to families.

Eligibility

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under STAS:

Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
Services Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.

STAS APPLICATION

Payment of 2024 Levies

If you are not eligible for STAS and would like to discuss options for levy payment, please ring the school office and ask for School Business Manager, Annalea Clark. There are many options available for payment.

School holidays are Monday 15 April - Friday 26 April, school resumes for Term 2 on Monday 29 April 2024.

Thank you to Student Council representatives Emily & April who laid a wreath on behalf of our school community at the Devonport ANZAC day service yesterday.
Thank you also to Mrs Parker for attending this service.

Have you heard of National Simultaneous Storytime?
It's a fantastic annual event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy. Last year, over 2 million kids across Australia were involved.

This year at 12pm, 22 May, the Bowerbird Blues by Aura Park will be read simultaneously in schools, libraries, pre-schools, Child and Family Learning Centres, homes and many other spaces.

Our SRC committee are holding a Pie drive to raise funds for our school.

Students received an order form in the last week of Term 1.

We encourage our families to share this wonderful fundraiser with their family and friends.

The delicious selection of family pies, sausage rolls and lamingtons will be supplied from Bossimo's Bakehouse & Cafe located in Sheffield.

Orders will close on Friday 24 May (no late orders will be accepted) and orders must be collected on Thursday 06 June after school at the school canteen before the long weekend.

Money must be returned when placing the order, NO EFTPOS facilities, CASH only.

Should you require another order form these can be collected from the school office.

Have you heard of Childhood Apraxia of Speech?

May is Apraxia Awareness Month. May 14th is the internationally recognised, Apraxia Awareness Day.

Several children on the NW Coast are living with Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a lifelong motor speech disorder that affects 1-2 in 1000 children. Children with apraxia know what they want to say, but when they go to speak, they have difficulty moving their tongue, lips and jaw as well as turning their voice on and off to speak. This makes them hard to understand and is frustrating. Children with apraxia need to attend speech therapy up to 4 times a week.

This year, for the first time in Tasmania, there are several landmarks that will light up BLUE on May 14th which you can visit:

Paranaple Centre, Devonport

Waratah-Wynyard council offices, Wynyard

Burnie council offices, Burnie

Leven Bridge, Ulverstone

Town Hall, Launceston

Tasman Bridge, Hobart

To learn more about apraxia you can head to @keystocommunicatesp on Instagram and Youtube,
Keys to Communicate Speech Pathology or Facebook, or Keys to Communicate Speech Pathology