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End of Year Reports and 2024 Class Information
On Friday 15 December, every student from Prep to grade 6 will be given an envelope to take home containing their 2023 End of Year Report. We ask that all students ensure these envelopes go home unopened. Importantly, these contain this year’s Summary Statement End of Year Report, 2024 Class Placement information and a new ‘2024 School Terms and Holiday's Dates’ fridge magnet.
A letter is included with each each report envelope to further explain the summary report format and any additional folder contents. If for any reason your child is absent on Friday, then our school practice is to issue this information from their next day at school; or parents/carers are welcome to pick these up at the end of the school day on Friday 15 December.
Our Kindergarten students will receive their special ‘Celebration of Learning’ Report on Thursday 14 December along with their 2024 class information. They will have a chance to meet their teacher and briefly visit their 2024 classroom during their last week of school.
2024 Class, teacher and levy information is also included in the reporting envelope. Significant additional hours of work have gone into ensuring we have a ‘balance’ of friendships, learning needs and strengths in all classes, particularly when arranging same grade groupings. The support of parents greatly assists us in this class placement process, and I further encourage parents to be really positive with their child/ren as they find out their new class groups for 2024. For many valid reasons, children need the opportunity to broaden their current friendships and further develop their independence and social skills. Please be positive with your child to support our educational decisions.
On Friday 15 December, we have planned for students from grades Prep to 5 to briefly visit their new classrooms and meet their 2024 teacher/s. A member of our Leadership Team will meet with class groups if the teacher is not available on the day.
Summer Snake Safety in the Bush with Kids
We are so fortunate that our school is located on such a large block close to nature; however, with a beautiful back bush boundary area and a nearby river, we do have wildlife just nearby to our school grounds. Learning about being safe in the bush can be covered at school but is also a shared responsibility with our families to teach at home.
As identified by many local members of the public using the walking tracks behind our school, some snakes have been seen out early in the summer season. Because of this information, we have restricted our furthest play boundary to be much closer to the school and well away from the bush and back playground equipment. In Term 4 (and for next year’s Term 1), we have implemented this key safety strategy to minimise any playground risk for children.
Further information for families about Summer Snake Safety in the Bush for holiday times from the ECO EXPLORERS includes : https://www.ecoexplorers.com.au/snake-safety-in-bush-with-kids/“Snakes are simply a part of the Australian bush and there seems to be more and more sightings of snakes near creeks and on bike paths where families tread regularly. But as much as we might fear them, snakes aren’t out there waiting to attack us. They are generally doing their own thing (basking in the sun!) and will only strike if they feel threatened. By respecting and understanding snakes a bit better, we can keep our families safe when out in the bush.
As a parent, it’s hard not to freak out when you see a snake so it’s important to be prepared and to also teach your kids some basic safety rules to follow. These are the rules and procedures we follow at bush playgroup to keep snake safe.
We have been fortunate to see these beautiful creatures at our bush playgroups and the kids have practised their snake safety rules really well. We talk a lot about snakes, and we remind them at the beginning of each session our rules. It’s important as a parent that you reinforce that as well.
BUSHWALKING RULES
- Always be ALERT when in the bush. Look ahead and where you are stepping.
2. Stick to wide paths and tracks only.
3. Do NOT walk through long grass or let your child run ahead.
4. Check behind logs. Do NOT step over logs; instead, step on them in case there is a snake on the other side.
5. Snakes can hear vibrations, not sounds so make sure you practice STOMPING, really hard! Make a game of it with the kids.
6. Wear boots that cover your ankles and long pants.
7. Be careful of what you pick up or turn over. Snakes can be under rocks and under logs. Turn it outwards, away from you, instead in inwards.
If you do happen to come across a snake on your walk, follow these 3 simple steps.
- Yell out SNAKE!
- FREEZE
- Back away quietly.
- ALERT others.
Remember that snakes are a protected species, and it is illegal to capture or kill them. Always have a first aid kit with you at all times and make sure you are up to date with your first aid and snake bite treatment.”
School Levies Information for 2024
Levies are one of the many ways that families contribute to our school community. Levies support student learning by contributing towards the cost of essential items and services. The total levy amount for the year level groups below have remained the same from 2023 to 2024.
When setting school levies and charges the school:
- considers inclusive education, community expectations and family financial constraints
- sets levies at the lowest amount possible
- consults with the School Association of the school
Levies are paid in Term One each year or can be paid in instalments using a payment plan. Payment plans are available for all families and may continue through to the end of the school year.
Families who are supported through the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) do not need to pay levies. Parents holding a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, or Pensioner Concession Card are eligible for STAS for their children.
LEVIES FOR 2024
Year level
|
What is included?
|
Total levy |
Kinder |
Stationery |
$120 |
Excursion / Visiting Performances |
||
Learning materials |
||
Prep – Year 2 |
Stationery |
$160 |
Excursion / Visiting Performances |
||
Visiting performances |
||
Year 3 – Year 6 |
Stationery |
$200 |
Excursions / Visiting Performances |
||
Learning materials |
||
Swimming and Water Safety Program ($40) |
At the start of the year, all Families have the option to give a $10 donation to the School Association’s Fundraising Committee. These funds are used to directly support student resources and programs identified by the school.
Items not included in the levy for Parents to provide include school uniform, library bag, school bag and lunch box, drink bottle.
Staffing Information from 2023 to 2024
Significant for us at the end of the term this year will be:
THANK YOU & FAREWELLS TO STAFF – this year again we have a few staff who will finish working with us and be leaving our school:
- Through an eligible transfer process this includes:
- Ms Jane Nott is transferring to Burnie Primary School. Jane is an exemplary educator, teaching a range of grades and programs over for a significant 21 years at our school. Her commitment to the wellbeing and learning needs of every child is to be commended. We wish her every success at her new school.
- Mrs Shelley Carpenter is transferring to Somerset Primary School. Shelley has worked for 15 years at our school and in that time has certainly made immeasurable positive impacts on the lives of so many children and families. We wish her every success at her new school.
- Confirmed transfer in (so far) is Mrs Jennifer Golledge from Yolla District School. We look forward to a brief visit before the end of the year and welcoming Jennifer to our school community for 2024.
- Staff completion of Fixed-Term Teacher Contracts include Mrs ‘Tor Cochrane and Mrs Jan Radford. I believe, at this point last year, I was also saying goodbye to both teachers; however, they were able to continue with us for 2023 in part-time teacher roles. A huge thank you to both… and we hope they continue to be a part of our school community through 2024 relief opportunities.
- NB: We also have a number of non-teaching staff (teacher assistant and admin) fixed term contracts ending and I not yet able to confirm farewells or new/ongoing appointments for 2024. I am hoping to be able to share further information in our last newsletter for Term 4.
As a staff group, we say each ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ on the last Friday, but also traditionally, I like to inform our school community so that families have an opportunity to say a personal goodbye before the end of the term. Also, our Celebration Concert events, on Wednesdays 13 & 20 December, will provide an opportunity for the students to give a small posy or gift as a thank you to departing staff.
Finally today, reminders of some upcoming key school activities and events…
- Growing Up Program for Grs 3 & 4 from Monday 11 Dec to Wed 13
- Celebration Concerts – Wed 13 Dec (performing classes are K-6 ‘A’ & ‘C’ groups) & Wed 20 (performing classes are K-6 ‘B’ & ‘D’)
- School Association Christmas Raffle – 8 great prizes will be drawn on Wed 20 Dec. Please return all sold (&unsold) tickets and money to the school office by Monday 18 December. (NB Tickets will also be on sale at our two celebration concerts… so bring your spare $2 gold coins!)
- Gr 6 Presentation Assembly - Monday 18 December, 11:30am
- Gr 6 Dinner and Disco - Monday 18 December, 5:45pm for 6:00pm - 8:30pm