Principal's Report 2/03/2021
Parking Congestion
We are very aware that our poor little carpark is frequently full to the brim. We are all very mindful of this and many staff who arrive early in the morning have started parking up the hill in order to free up spaces. The beginning of the year is often particularly problematic as our younger students are still needing adult support with dropped off and picked up, however we would like to encourage as many families as possible to access the bus services as this will ease the pressure on the carpark congestion. There are of course also benefits from an environmental perspective, as well as supporting students to become increasingly independent.
If you would like any information about buses please contact the school office and we can provide you the details for the relevant bus company.
Please also be aware that there are only 3 parallel parking spaces as you come into the carpark. Occasionally we have a 4th car parked at the entry to the carpark making it very challenging for the buses to be able to turn in.
Finally, if you are dropping off children outside the bus shelter, please ensure that this is done quickly so that the bus is able to stop there when it arrives.
Thank you for your support in these matters.
BTN Star
Many of you would be familiar with the ABC children’s news show, Behind the News (or BTN for short).
One of our fathers briefly features in an episode aired on the 9th February. The segment on an unusual Tasmanian Devil rescue appears about 4 minutes and 45 seconds into the episode.
https://www.abc.net.au/btn/newsbreak/btn-newsbreak-20210209/13137108
Coughs, Colds and COVID-19
As we head into Autumn and the cooler months we have already had a number of students and staff away sick with colds. The message from the Department of Education continues to be that anyone who is unwell and showing cold or flu symptoms to please not come onto the school site until the symptoms have stopped. People with cold or flu symptoms are also continuing to be encouraged to book in for a COVID-19 test.
It is very important for everyone’s ongoing health and wellbeing, that we all do our best in adhering to this advice and we thank you for supporting us with this.
Grade 5/6 Camp
Our Grade 5/6 students had an absolutely wonderful time on camp last week. Day 1 was spent travelling down to Port Arthur with stops at the Tessellated Pavement and Devil’s Kitchen at Eaglehawk Neck. We then walked from the caravan park to Port Arthur where we participated in a tour that told us all about various convict escape attempts and the strange and creative ways people tried to escape. One story which was particularly captivating was of a convict who made it as far as the dog line at Eaglehawk Neck and then tried to disguise himself as a Kangaroo by covering himself in a Kangaroo fur. Unfortunately the soldiers on guard thought this ‘kangaroo’ would make a tasty dinner and so the convict quickly had to uncover himself before the soldiers tried to turn him into dinner.
Day 2 was spent exploring Port Arthur Historic Site further and undertaking some workshops, and Day 3 we packed up and headed homewards with a picnic lunch stop at the Botanical Gardens.
A HUGE thank you to Mrs Tucker for organising the camp. Thank you also to Mrs Carr, Mr Dransfield, Mr Gardner and Mrs Cook for accompanying us on the camp.
Swimming Carnival
Our Swimming Carnival for Prep-Grade 6 students is coming up this Thursday 4th March.
Information about this (including the program) has already been sent home, but just a reminder that events will begin at 10:00am.
Prep-Grade 2 students will be returning to school at 12:00pm.
Any Parents & Friends BBQ orders for Prep-2 students will be given to them when they return to school.
We still have a small number of students who have not returned their Major Excursion Consent Form and Annual Consent Form for Water Based Activities. A reminder was sent to these families last Friday. Please note that if these forms are not returned by Thursday, we will NOT be able to take these students to the carnival.
Public Holiday Monday 8th
A reminder that this coming Monday 8th March is a public holiday. Fingers crossed the weather will be kind and we can make the most of this extra day off.
2 Girls with BIG ideas
A few weeks ago there was a knock at my office door and two very excited girls came in with their plans for ways to encourage animal and bird life into our bush playground. They had come up with a design for a water catcher which they then built at home. Today at assembly the girls shared their design with the rest of the school, their ideas and reasoning behind setting this up in our bush playground. They are asking everyone to please look but not touch so that it doesn’t get damaged. They also have a bird feeder that they are keen to set up and suggested that other people may also have bird houses or catchers at home which they are no longer using and which people may wish to donate. Congratulations to the great innovation and ideas girls!
