NWPSSA Inter-school Athletics

Our athletic team represented the school this week in Penguin.  Our 3/4 students competed on Wednesday and our 5/6 students competed on Thursday.  School staff reported back that our students were excellently behaved, despite quite hot conditions, and everyone tried their very best.  We had a number of students reach the next stage of competition and will run again at the twilight carnival as they came first or second in their semi-final.  Congratulations to Molly, George, Kiera and Jessica who made it to the twilight carnival and to all our runners who competed at the carnival.

School Association

Our School Association Annual General Meeting will be held 31st of March at 4:15pm in the staffroom.  All are welcome to attend.  I will share a short report on school facts for the 2024 school year as well as other relevant reports.

Communicating with parents (reporting)

A short, tick-a -box report will be sent home next week to provide parents with an indication of how students have settled into school for the 2025 school year.  If there are any concerns or points parents/carers would like to discuss with staff, please feel free to contact the office or teaching staff to organise a time to meet.

Woolworths Cricket Blast

Woolworths Cricket Blast started yesterday on our school oval.  This is a 4 week program run by Cricket Australia.  If you would like to participate you are welcome to go online, register and pay, please see the flyer below.  This event is not supervised by school staff.

Sun Safety

The weather has been very hot over the past two weeks and students have been excellent at wearing their hats to keep themselves safe in the sun.  Thank you to our parents and carers for supporting our sun safe message and encouraging our young people to look after their skin.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing for our year 3 and 5 students will commence in week 7.  I encourage all students to have a go, try their best and not rush through the tests.  NAPLAN is conducted right across Australia and is a snapshot in time of students’ skills and understanding on that day.  Please do not add any pressure on students at all, with positive encouragement and support from home and school, students will give their best effort. Good luck everyone!

Carpark Reminder

Again, I ask parents not to park in the staff carpark.  Moving cars in the carpark puts students at unnecessary risk.  The end of the day is particularly busy with students leaving the grounds all at once.  I understand that it is most convenient to park close to the school building, but this is unsafe.

Ms Nichole Todd
PRINCIPAL

2025 Term 1 Upcoming Events

Monday 10 March	PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Tuesday 11 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Todays session will be at the Bluff Playground
Friday 14 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Held in our Kindrgarten room Theme: Beach crafts and rainbow fun
Friday 14 March	Assembly 1:50pm Hosting Class: 5-6C (Perry) Sharing Classes: P-1A (Maxfield), 1-2A (Marshall) & 3-4B (Cullis)
Monday 17 March	ECE Water Orientation Program Monday 17 - Friday 21 March Classes: P-1A (Maxfield) P-1B (Clinton & Ackerley) 1-2A (Marshall) 2-3A Neubacher) 2-3B (Cameron)
Tuesday 18 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Todays session will be held in the Kindergarten room Theme: Rainbow Toast and Rainbow crafts
Friday 21 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Held in our Kindrgarten room Theme: Harmony Day - celebrating our cultures and families
Tuesday 25 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Todays session will be held in the Kindergarten room Theme: Pink and Purple  - come dressed in these colours for some colour fun
Friday 28 March	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Held in our Kindrgarten room Theme: Pink and Purple  - come dressed in these colours for some colour fun
Tuesday 01 April	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Todays session will be held in the Kindergarten room Theme: Easter fun and crafts
Friday 04 April	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Held in our Kindrgarten room Theme: Easter Fun and crafts
Friday 04 April	Assembly 1:50pm Hosting Class: 3-4A (Lamont) Sharing Classes: P-1B (Clinton/Ackerley) 2-3A (Neubacher) & 5-6C (Perry)
Tuesday 08 April	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Todays session will be held in the Kindergarten room Theme: More Easter fun and crafts
Friday 11 April	Launching into Learning Sesssion Birth - 4 year old program 9:00am - 10:30am  Held in our Kindrgarten room Excursion TBC

2025 Professional Learning & Public Holidays

2025 Term Dates

Devon Netball

Can all 3/4 and 5/6 netball girls please now register via the link below, if you haven't already done so.  This will ensure you are placed in a team and we can notify you of your team name next week.  Games start Saturday 15 March.

 https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/005032

Devonport Junior Soccer

Parent information letters have gone home today to those students who expressed an interest in playing soccer this Autumn/Winter roster.  The letter is set out below and hard copies are at the office for parent/guardian's to complete and sign if your child is interested in playing.

DBC Winter Basketball

More information regarding Teams and tops will be provided early next week.

Our school has appointed Ms Danee Gannon as our Safeguarding Lead. Safeguarding Leads are appointed in every DECYP school and CFLC in Tasmania to help ensure children and young people are known, safe, well and learning.

As Safeguarding Lead, Ms Gannon will enhance our efforts in promoting and nurturing a culture of safeguarding at our school. This will enable us to better support the wellbeing of all our students and reinforce the understanding that keeping children and young people safe is everyone's responsibility. By improving our safeguarding culture, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all.

Please support Ms Gannon in their new role! For further information on Safeguarding in Schools and CFLCs, please click here.

Administration of Student Medication Procedure states that:

Parents/guardians/carers must supply the school with the relevant completed Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication Form for the medication in question. If this does not occur, the school must not administer student medication. Both Authorisation for Student Medication forms are available on DECYP’s website or from the school office.

- Form A authorises administration of non-prescribed medication and must be completed by a parent/guardian/carer.
- Form B authorises administration of prescribed medication and must be completed by a doctor, pharmacist, or practice nurse, and signed by a parent/guardian/carer

• Staff must ensure all medication is administered under the authority of the Principal.

• Schools must ensure that medication accepted for administration is:
- in date
- in the case of non-prescribed medication, provided in the original over the counter packaging
- in the case of prescribed medication, provided in the labelled container dispensed by the pharmacy or in a Webster-pak prepared by the pharmacist
- is administered to the student from its original packaging.

• Schools must not accept medication if the above conditions are not met. Schools are to request that the parent/guardian/carer provide them with medication that meets the above criteria as a priority.

Our school water orientation program for Prep to Year 2 students will start on Monday 17 March to Friday 21 March 2025 at the Ulverstone Educational Indoor Pool.  This pool is a specifically built pool for teaching students to swim.  The program involves all students in Prep to Year 2 participating in 5 sessions.  It is conducted by Mr Forward and trained swimming instructors.  This program is an important part of the Physical Education program and focuses on skill development and confidence in a water environment.  A timetable of classes and their swimming times is listed below: 

All students will NEED to bring bathers, towel, swimming cap, comb, and a warm jumper in a plastic bag.  Please clearly label all clothing worn or brought to the pool.  It is important that students are dressed warmly for travelling to and from swimming.  Where possible female students should avoid wearing stocking or tights on swimming days as these can be very difficult and time consuming to put on.

Swimming caps are compulsory for both boys and girls due to loose hair being caught in the pool filtration system. Swimming caps can be bought from the school office for $2.  These must be paid for before the start of the program.
if parents have any questions, please contact the front office or your child’s classroom teacher.

Please see below the Term 1 Timetable for Specialty classes these will change each Term.

We ask that students have their running shoes on PE days and their Library books on Library days.

School health nurses play an important role in our school community, delivering health education and promotion, and supporting student wellbeing.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) has recently introduced the internationally recognised DAISY Award program in schools through the School Health Nurse program.

Those with a health background may already be familiar with this program. Run by the DAISY Foundation, it is a way to acknowledge and celebrate the care and compassion that nurses deliver to the people they care for each and every day.

The program is run in 38 countries, but this is the first time anywhere in the world it will be delivered in a school setting.

Nominations are now open for the DECYP DAISY Award.  If you or a family member have had a positive experience with a school health nurse and would like to see their work recognised, why not consider nominating them! 

You can nominate them using this form, by sending an email to daisy@decyp.tas.gov.au, or getting in touch with school staff for help or more information.

Whether you’re a student, parent or carer, or a DECYP staff member, anyone can nominate a school health nurse you think is worthy of recognition.

Nominations will close on 13 June, with winners announced at an awards ceremony on 4 July. For more information, you can also visit DECYP’s website.