Well, what a start to Term 4 it has been! I certainly did not expect to be writing this newsletter from behind a facemask.

COVID Update

As per the Premier’s announcement on Monday 18^th October, the lockdown has now been lifted and we are ‘snapping back’ to where we were, with the exception of facemasks being mandatory for anybody aged 12+ and some continued restrictions in hospitals and aged care facilities until 6pm on Friday night. The Premier will make further announcements on Friday. It is important to note that students in primary school are NOT required to wear a mask at school, however children who have already turned 12 will need to wear a mask when out in public.

Thank you and well done to everyone for pulling together during the COVID-19 lockdown. Hopefully we will not have to do this again, however if we do, and in the event that a lockdown would be announced for a longer period of time, the school has been discussing options for how best to support learning from home.

We have looked at several options and platforms and it has been decided that SeeSaw provides a very easy platform for teachers, parents and students to use as a way of communicating and sharing learning. Some classes in our school are already using SeeSaw. For those classes not already using it, we will be sending home information to families on how to get set up in the near future.

We have all been reminded to continue the following hygiene, distancing, and safety requirements:

• Continue to practice good hygiene by washing your hands regularly and coughing into your elbow. 
• Maintain physical distancing of 1.5m where possible.
• Stay at home if you have any cold and flu symptoms and arrange a COVID test.  
• Ensure you are wearing a facemask if you leave the house. 
• If you enter a school site make sure you check in using the Check In TAS App as well as signing into the visitor logbook at the office.

Public Holiday (Show Day) this Thursday 21^st October

Student Free Day Friday 22nd October

A reminder that this Friday 22^nd October is a Department of Education mandated Student Free Day. Staff will be coming together to review our school plan for this year and undertake planning for 2022. This is a very important and valuable day and we thank you for supporting us.

Athletics Carnival

We were able to go ahead with the running events in the Athletics carnival program for our Grade 3-6 students last Thursday and we even managed to squeeze in a few novelty events before we headed back to school and the rain set in.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped out on the day, particularly to Mr West for his organisation and to Mr Daryl Watson for helping with the setting up and packing away.

As we have the Colour Fun Run coming up on Thursday December 9^th we have decided that this will give us the perfect opportunity to incorporate some of the Early Childhood running and novelty events as part of this day.

Details on the Huon-Channel Athletics carnival which is coming up on Wednesday 10^th November will be provided to students who have qualified soon.

Please contact the school office for an application form if you think you may be eligible for Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) 2022. 

STAS application forms are to be issued to families who have not applied for, or been in receipt of, STAS in 2021 which includes families who are new enrolments and who believe they meet the eligibility criteria or families whose circumstances have changed and they believe they may now be eligible.The eligibility criteria means that if a parent holds a current Centrelink Health Care Card, Pension Concession Card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Concession Card they are eligible to apply for STAS.

Families can also apply online on the Department's web page at www.education.tas.gov.au.
Please note; parents/guardians cannot apply again online if they have received STAS in 2021. If a parent/guardian wishes to add a newly enrolling student to their STAS file (i.e., a kinder student) they simply need to email their name and the student's full name, date of birth, grade and school they'll be attending in 2022 to stas@education.tas.gov.au .

Completed hard copy application forms can be returned to the Department by post, fax (6173 03 15) or scanned and emailed to stas@education.tas.gov.au. Please ensure that forms are signed and dated before submitting.

Families who were approved and received STAS 2021 do not have to apply again for 2022.

Menu for Term 3

October 21 - closed

October 28th - Stir fry

November 4th- Pies

November 11th - Sushi

November 18th - Lasagne

November 25th - Pizza

December 2nd - Mexican

December 9th - Sausage sizzle

Please be aware there will be no Breakfast Club tomorrow, (Wednesday).

Breakfast Club will resume on Monday.

Time is running out! It’s your last chance to raise funds for our great school. 

Win an Apple Prize Pack! Every $15 you raise gives you an entry into the draw to win an Apple Prize Pack. Containing a brand new iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV, you’ll be the coolest kid in town!

Help us raise money and support our precious plants and animals. Donate today!

THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE Parents & Friends FUNDRAISING.

Visit plantadifference.com.au to create your profile page and share with family and friends to spread the word!

There are prizes in store for the highest fundraiser in each class and also for the students that raise money there will be a slime party!!