This week is National Science Week across Australia. An annual celebration of science and technology that has been running since 1997. It is estimated that over one million people participate in the science events Nationwide in schools, universities, libraries and museums. Classes at Glen Huon will have their own special activities to enjoy. Destination Moon: more missions, more science is the school theme for National Science Week in 2019.

The 76 page 2019 Resource Book of Ideas (24 MB, PDF) offers teachers, parents and students the opportunity to investigate the people, space agencies, universities, and science organisations that are all delivering solutions in space science. There is also an Australian Space Science Timeline (6 MB, PDF) and a Student Journal (8 MB, PDF) available. A high resolution Destination Moon poster (5.5 MB, PDF) is attached with a pop-art colouring version (3.1 MB, PDF) of the poster for older children to try.

Yesterday we had some special visitors to our school, six girls and one boy from Tokyo, Osaka, Okayama and Hyogo. The exchange students loved joining the 5/6 class to play Japanese Bingo. They especially enjoyed the bush playground and were pleased to learn what a ‘cubby’ is. Thank you to all our students for your beautiful warm welcome. The students are keen to keep in contact, so please let me know if you would like their email address.

Grades 4, 5 & 6 have started the first ‘Multiplicative Thinking’ sessions this week. We will focus on the ‘Big Ideas in Mathematics’, supporting students to reflect on their learning and make specific gains. Student grouping is dynamic.

’Multiplicative Thinking’ is not just ‘times tables’, it’s about working flexibly with a range of numbers and concepts, using efficient strategies, recognising problems that we can solve using multiplication and division and communicating this effectively. Trial you own approach on the Maths challenge for this week.

You may have heard your child talking about the ‘Zones of Regulation’. All classes have now participated in an Introductory session and will continue to develop tools throughout the year.

By grouping our states of alertness and feelings into four coloured zones we can begin to provide students with strategies and tools to become aware of their emotions along with independent strategies to control their impulses, sensory needs and overall ability to problem solve.

A critical first step is the need to identify and interpret our emotions. We have included more details in the article inside. Please take a moment to share the student resources displayed when you next visit the Office foyer.

This Thursday, Huonville Primary is visiting Glen Huon for an Inter School Sport event. Students from Grades 5 and 6 will be competing in Football and Volleyball. Go Glen Huon!!

Reminder for Book Week Parade at 9:15 on the 20^th August. One more week to think creatively about those costumes. Parents/carers are also encouraged to dress up for the parade.

Stephanie van der Schans

Acting Principal

Japanese Exchange Students

There will be a School Association Meeting held on Wednesday (tomorrow) at 6pm in the staffroom.

All welcome

There will be no canteen on Thursday, but we are having a Sausage Sizzle.

Sausages will be $2 each. Please check your child/children's bag for an order form.

Available at the school office for viewing are photos of the Drama students and SRC members. If you would like to place an order please come to the office.

If you have any queries with your photos please ring Leading Image on 62289966.

One for your own Multiplicative Skills.

Unfortunately, the context for this problem it very real, and we have no reliable data just how bad the situation is, only that it is clear it is having a huge impact on our native wildlife.

“35 feral cats were found in a 146 hectare nature reserve. 27 feral cats were found in a 103 hectare reserve. Which reserve has the biggest feral cat problem?”

This week in Smarties we are thinking about friendship, and what it means to be a good friend.

On Wednesday we'll be making bracelets to give away and biscuits to share with our friends.

On Thursday we'll think about how we can help care for our friends when we play, and also how to care for our friends the animals who live in the bush!

On Friday we'll be playing with the parachute and making a turn-taking game to play with our friends.

Jess Black and Annette Carson

In two weeks time - on Tuesday 3rd September from 4:30pm - 5:30pm we will be running a session in the Kinder room for all families and carers of next year's kinder class.

At this session we will talk about what to expect from Kinder and how to help your child prepare for their first year of school. You'll be able to chat with our early childhood staff and we'll happily answer any questions you might have.

Tea, coffee, Milo and nibbles will be provided, and there will be Smarties activities set up for any children who may be with you.

We'd love to see you all there!

Jess Black, Ro Jungmann and Annette Carson

Grades 2/3 and 1/2 and the marvellously magnificent Marine Discovery Centre excursion!!!

On 2^nd August our classes went to the Marine Discovery centre in Woodbridge.

We had a great time looking at the displays and information around the centre.

The live pool of fish was awesome and we even got to feed the sharks. One of the sharks was pregnant and we were allowed to feel under her tummy which, lucky for us, she did not mind.

Do you know how not to pat a shark? If not, I suggest you find out QUICKLY!

We did some science experiments using cold and hot, salty and fresh water and dye.

After we left the centre we walked up to the park to play and run about. It was such a beautiful day with a cool breeze and warm sunshine and was the perfect ending to a great excursion.

Well, it was a long trip home but it made it all worth it. We recommend taking a trip to Woodbridge and learning about marine life and how to protect our planet so we can protect our oceans and all the creatures that rely on it. That includes us too.