19 August 2021

Principal's Report

Thankfully the term has continued unabated, and we remain very fortunate in Tasmania that our school year has not been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The significance of our situation compared to the challenges other state education systems have had to endure cannot be underestimated, and I congratulate all students and staff for making the most of all educational opportunities provided this term.  The last fortnight being no exception, with students across the school continuing to demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic approach to their learning. 

Regarding the ongoing need to be prepared for a possible COVID-19 outbreak, I thank everyone for their continued vigilance and consideration, and compliance with Public Health direction and guidelines. Especially all parents being prepared to work in partnership with the school if their child/ren are unwell and need to be sent home.  We appreciate how difficult it can be to rearrange work commitments to collect children during the middle of the day, but the quick response to these requests has been crucial in ensuring all students and staff have the best chance of remaining healthy.

Further reinforcing the benefits of a normal school year, the past fortnight has included several additional activities for students to participate in.  In particular, the Grades 5 and 6 Band students have attended respective training days at the C3 Convention Centre, the Jumping Jacks have had after school training sessions, the school has hosted some young scientists who worked with the Grade 3 -5 students, Mr Hayen conducted the Australian Mathematics Competition, and Mr Nathan Duhig, the school’s Numeracy Lead Coach, has continued his support of the grade 3/4 students’ learning in numeracy.  In the upcoming fortnight, the school will be holding a Book Swap to recognise this year’s Book Week themed, Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. A number of Grade 5 and 6 students will be members of teams at next week’s Primary School Winter Sport Carnival, and a group of students will also be representing Illawarra in this year’s Maths Relay at Rosny College on Sunday 29^th August.  Best of luck to Finlay W, Elsa P, Maddox D, Blake P and Ruby F, the teams reserve member.

ECE Assembly

Last week’s Early Childhood Assembly was a great celebration of classroom learning and student achievement.  The assembly was very well led by Liam L, Isla T, Milla P and Orlando P.  Some particular highlights were the musical item provided by Grade 1/2 A singing about a wombat on a surfboard, Mrs Coombes’ Grade 1/2 classes demonstrations of counting using movement to emphasise the patterns, and Mrs Graney’s Grade 1/2 reciting the poem, Jack Frost.       A poem that she also recited when in primary school.  (Apparently that was some time ago!)  Congratulations to all students who received ONYAs. Thank you to the parents who attended. Your presence makes these assemblies extra special for all students.

Kindergarten National Quality Standards (NQS) Audit

Earlier this week Kinder teachers, Mrs Georgie McRae and Mrs Kellie Pickett hosted a NQS review officer who was visiting the school to assess how the Kindergarten at Illawarra Primary School meets the seven ACEECQA National Quality Standards, the national benchmark for early childhood education.  Mrs Shana Williams will go through the same process on Friday.  Although the preparation and involvement in the audit process has been quite arduous, it provides a wonderful opportunity for the staff to showcase the Kinder program and promote the high quality of their teaching practice. 

Have a great fortnight everyone.

Nick Donnelly

Principal

Calendar of Events

News from Grade 1/2

1/2 Anderson

1/ 2 A have been reading Esio Trot by Roald Dahl. While we are listening to the story, some children choose to illustrate the section of the story they hear. We have used the De Bono Thinking Hats to write our opinions about the book.

1/2 Coombes

How to Be A Good Friend

Grade 1/2 Eagles have been thinking about how to be a good friend. We have read stories, shared our ideas, and talked to our Book Buddies in 5/6 Catterall to find out the best ways to make and be a good friend.

We made a friendship chain and shared our ideas in front of the whole school at Whole School Meeting on Monday.

Our Families enjoyed our Rumba song on Seesaw!

1/2 Graney/Glover

Grade 1/2 Graney/Glover are currently looking at dinosaurs and discussing what period they belonged to such as Triassic, Jurassic and Cretacious. The students have all chosen a dinosaur to study and they have found lots of facts for each dinosaur. They have also been making dinosaurs with play dough, drawing dinosaurs, and lastly they will be making dioramas for their dinosaurs.  We’ve also been making dinosaurs from lego.

The children wrote some stories. Here is the start of Eliza’s:

A long time ago in the sky and in the Jurassic time, Pteradactyl flew down from the sky to the forest and flew to a  big pond…

Book Week Celebrations

Book Week is nearly upon us! Students are welcome to dress up on Wednesday the 25th of August for the Book Swap event, however, there will not be a Parade this year as the focus is our Book Swap.

Book Week Buddies!

As part of book week celebrations, 4/5 CH shared their favourite bedtime stories with their buddies in Kinder Wombats.

Student Wellbeing and Engaement Survey

The wellbeing of our students is important to us.

To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students in Years 4-6 at Illawarra Primary School will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.

The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.

The details for the survey are:

When:                                          Thursday 2^nd September

Who:                                            Year 4-6 students

What do I need to do:         You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.

A letter with more information has been sent home with all Year 4-6 students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.   

If you would like further information, please contact Cathryn Kelly-Bounds or Chris Waugh.

Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so they can engage in learning.

Kids Matter Day Donation - wool and knitting needles

We are  having a  fun Kids Matter afternoon at school, where students will be able to choose an activity to participate in.

This is happening in Week 8 on a Friday, and I am planning to host a Knitting class with “The Knitting Nanna’s”

For the afternoon we need knitting needles and wool.  Any donations of these items would be greatly received!

Thank you, from Mrs Coombes 

Jump Rope for Heart - Jumping Jacks

Thank you for raising money for the Heart Foundation. We have received $400 dollars so far. We have reached 15 minutes extra play. Well done!

The Jumping Jacks have made a few changes to the thermometer. Instead of Mrs Nanna and Ms Genford having their hair sprayed, now if we raise $500 the class that raises the most money will win a surprise.

If we raise $1250 the Jumping Jacks will take part in the ice bucket challenge with three extra students. Their names will be drawn out of a hat and if they want to take part they have the choice to participate in the ice bucket challenge.

Our school’s Jump Rope for Heart demonstration team, The Illawarra Jumping Jacks, will hold fun skipping sessions at lunch times on Monday and Wednesday. They will also host a whole school afternoon of skipping on Friday the 27th, where students can skip, skip, and skip to raise funds to top-up our “Incentive Thermometer’.

We hope to raise $1300 to donate to the Heart Foundation and will have our “Incentive Thermometer” displayed at school to help motivate us to reach our target and earn all the rewards. Money can be brought to school anytime so the thermometer can be updated and we can see how much money we have raised.

Canteen Menu - Week 6

Netball Spring Roster

The Spring Netball roster begins on September 13^th and we would love to have Illawarra teams involved again in this roster.  Last roster we had a Grade 3/4 and a Grade 5/6 team.  The 3/4 team was quite large and we would love to get enough players to field two teams in this division for this roster.  This would mean we would also need to find another coach/umpire for the second team. 

If your son/daughter would like to play could you please confirm by emailing Mr Iles at school (warren.iles@education.tas.gov.au) and we can get numbers, teams and coaches sorted out so that everyone gets plenty of playing time.  Also if you would like to coach/manage or umpire please indicate this as well.

If you have any questions please contact me at school

Mr Iles

Pop Up Shop

The school’s Pop-up Shop will be open for business this Friday after school. We will be selling our famous homemade cupcakes and popcorn, as well as organic produce from the school garden: lemons, coriander and silverbeet.

The team will also be selling fun fluffy play dough and some fabulous knitwear: baby hats and booties, scarves and beanies, which would make a great gift during the unpredictability of spring. These were very generously donated to the school from Margate Stitch & Share.

Thank you for supporting this fabulous program. 

Launch into Learning (Pademelons) - Term 3

Kindergarten 2022

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