11 May 2023

Principals Report

Dear Families,

It continues to be a busy time for students and staff at Illawarra. This week the interschool debating roster began, with Illawarra entering two teams and hosting debating for the other competing schools. Research, reasoning, and speaking confidently in public are just a few of the many skills that students learn when debating. From planning their argument – even if it’s one they disagree with – to choosing their words with care, debating prepares students to be stronger communicators and thinkers which can be applied to anything they choose to do.

The topic for the first debate was ‘That a stadium should be built at Macquarie Point’. As you can imagine there were some strong points presented for both the affirmative and negative teams. I congratulate Fenella, Baz, Deva, Sophie K, Cariad and Tilly on their preparation, commitment, enthusiasm and the presentation of their arguments on the day. I also thank Symi, Imogen and Finn for being Chairpersons, Thion and Sara for being timers and Maddie for representing Illawarra beautifully by greeting and showing visiting students, staff and parents to classrooms where debates were being held. The next debate is in Week 6 at Austins Ferry Primary.

Last Tuesday the weather was kind to us as Year 3-6 students participated in the Cross Country at Sherburd Oval with Bombora House triumphant on the day. Thank you to Mr Illes for his seamless organisation, to the very capable Kingston High students for their support on the day and to all the students who really did give it their best as they huffed and puffed around the course and enjoyed the atmosphere and exercise.

Next Week the Year 3-6 Swimming and Water Safety program begins for the fortnight at Collegiate Pool. Please ensure students have bathers, towels, plastic bags and extra food. This is always a fun time for students and teaches them vital skills in water safety, basic life saving skills as well as improving fitness and swimming strokes.

The Sandpit is nearly completed with new garden areas fenced off to enable plants to grow and establish. It is proving very popular during break times!

With winter approaching a reminder that we have plenty of RATS if you need any – please ask at the office.

All students will bring home Evidence of Learning work samples next week for families to be look at before mid –year reports are sent home at the end of this Term.

Lastly, to all our Illawarra Mums we wish you a relaxing Mothers Day this Sunday and hope you feel appreciated and loved. We also remember the mothers who are no longer with us. 

Cathryn

Calendar Of Events

Canteen Week 4

Art Room News

The YR 3-6 IPS artists have been super engaged in our back to foundation – drawing basics and elements of art activities. Term 1 was full of a range of exercises to build confidence in the observation, imagination and drawing areas. Exercises linking to ideas from “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards, imagination compositions with a starting point like “Mr (Mrs P version) Squiggle and a task linking all the Elements of Art into a Hand composition. It has been so rewarding to see the students be open to new ideas, participate and take risks, be patient, become confident in the drawing space and be super proud of their accomplishments. Many students have come in during their breaks to visit and to continue working on these activities, the art room abuzz with creativity and positive energy. Please ask your students to show you their “Elements of Art” action routine.

Cheers Mrs P

Terri-Ann Petersen (Art Teacher)

IPSA Art Competition

Illawarra Cross Country

Last Tuesday we held our school Cross Country at Sherburd Oval.  We were greeted with perfect conditions for running as our students did their best over the 2 & 3 km course.  A big thanks to the Kingston High helpers who came along to help marshal the event and the school staff who supervised our runners on the course and on the oval.  Well done to all those students who participated.  Our place getters are listed below

GRADE 3

BOYS                                                                     GIRLS

1^ST           Liam  E                                               1^ST         Tess

2^ND          Gus O                                                  2^ND        Neve S

3^RD          Henry K                                              3^RD        Isabelle C

GRADE 4

BOYS                                                                     GIRLS

1^ST          Flynn A                                             1^ST         Leuca W

2^ND        Cooper W                                          2^ND         Kiana B

3^RD         Archer J                                            3^RD       Kenzie B

GRADE 5

BOYS                                                                     GIRLS

1^ST           Jacob S                                               EQUAL  1^ST  Shanti K            Frankie S

2^ND          Ben M                                                EQUAL  2^ND  Natalie P          Heidi W       

3^RD          Koa Do                                                                       

GRADE 6

BOYS                                                                     GIRLS

1^ST           Thomas D                                           1^ST   Symi D

2^ND          Tom P                                                  2^ND  Meg S

3^RD          Ellis B                                                    3^RD  Emily G

Well done to these students.  Those who finished in the first 6 places have received a letter inviting them to the Huon Channel Cross Country in Huonville on May 24  These permission forms should be returned to the office by this week.

Final house scores were:

Wattle 1128, Waratah 989 & Bombora 924

Congratulations to Wattle 

Mr Iles

State Athletics

On Friday 8 of our students represented Huon & Channel at the State Primary Schools Athletics Carnival in Launceston.  Congratulations to Tess B, Ruby D, Leuca W, Matthew A, Ben M, Emily G, Isla A & Sam B who all did an amazing job competing at a high level.  We had some great results all around particularly Tess who manages 1^st place in the 200 metres and 2^nd in the 100 meters and Sam who was part of the Grade 6 Boys winning relay team as well as ribbons for Emily, Leuca & Kenzie.  It was a big commitment from these students to travel up and participate and thanks to those parents who drove up to support the team on a pretty wet day!!

Mr Iles

2023 Tasmania Wide Japanese Poster Competition

Steve Sensei and the Japanese Teachers Network of Tasmania congratulates the following students for the wonderful posters they entered in the 2023 Tasmania wide Japanese Poster Competition celebrating the year of the Rabbit.  Judges were particularly impressed by the creative use of colour, Japanese kanji and hiragana, and including phrases such as ‘Happy New Year’ in Japanese.

Well done to: Maddie S, Symi D, Matthew C, Molly S, Audrey M, Leuca W, Evelyn F, Priya W, Marcel B, Jordy V, Grace B, Grace G, Eliza W, Jade L, Imogen F, Beau G, Georgia J, Emilio M, Imogen M, Willow C, Niamh M, and Leandra F.

Special congratulations to Daniel C for winning First Prize in the 3-4 division of the state wide competition.

We invite family and friends to view all entries currently on display in the foyer area of the front office or you can click on the link provided.

JATNET - Poster Competition (google.com) 

Swimming and Water Safety Program

Dear Parents/Guardians

Our annual Swimming and Water Safety Program will be held from Monday 15 May – Friday 26 May at the Collegiate Pool in Hobart. Students from Grades 3-5 are required to participate, and a small group of at-risk Grade 6 students also attend.  Grade 6 students who are attending will be provided with a separate letter to bring home.

The program develops essential life skills that will support children to safely enjoy water-based activities, such as fishing, boating, water play, swimming and surfing.  

Careful planning has been done to accommodate all learners and to ensure every child feels safe and relaxed throughout the duration of the program. On the first day, students will be organised into ability groupings so that the most effective teaching and learning can occur.  All students will travel on the bus to and from the pool, and Mr Warren Iles will be the Teacher in Charge. The times of each session are:

9:45am   – 10:45am      5 Cooke & 5 Pullen + Grade 6 at risk

10:45am – 11:45am      Grade 3/4 Oettle & Grade 3/4 Bilson

11:45am – 12:45pm      Grade 3/4 Genford and Grade 3/4 Shaw

12:45pm – 1:45 pm       Grade 4/5 Whenman

The Swimming and Water Safety Program runs every day over the two weeks. This will mean that your son/daughter will need to bring along the following items everyday throughout the program:

• Swimming gear – including bathers AND swimming cap (can bring own or one provided).
• Towel and plastic bag to put wet clothes in.
• Any medication (e.g. asthma medication) that may be needed at the poolside.

Goggles: Students must be aware that specific parts of this program involve students not wearing goggles.  For example potential life preserving and rescue scenarios where students would not have been prepared and would need to navigate in the water without goggles.  For stroke development and some other situations goggles can be utilised

Change Rooms: Students are encouraged to be independent dressers.

Swimming Caps: For health and safety reasons, it is compulsory to wear a swim cap at the Collegiate Pool.  Students will be supplied with a swimming cap free of charge on Day 1 of the program. It is the responsibility of each student not to lose this swimming cap as we have minimal spares.

Major Excursion Consent and Medical Information Forms and the Consent form for Aquatic (water-based) Activities: These were completed at the beginning of the year, if you would like to update these forms with any new information, please send a note/email with relevant information to the school office. If your child cannot participate due to illness/injury, a letter from home needs to be provided. If your child will be away (e.g. family holiday), please inform the office and class teacher in writing.

We are looking forward to all the children progressing in their swimming and water safety skills this year.  If you have any questions regarding the program, please feel free to contact me via the school office.

Yours sincerely                                     Warren Iles                  PE Teacher

Donations Wanted

Kinder Possums & Kinder Wombats are asking for donations of kinder sized (4-6) waterproof trousers/overalls for their water play area. If you have any laying around and they are no longer needed the Kinders would be very apprecitive. 

Uniform - Discontinued Items

Discontinued Stock - Double Knee and Cargo Pants $5.00 Per Pair 

Assorted sizes available. 

Available from the office during uniform shop opening hours Monday & Wednesday 8:30am to 9:30am 

Limited Stock 

Woollen Rugby Jumpers

Launching into Learning

Jumping Jacks Fundraiser Movie Night

Parent Information - Kingston High School

Chess Program

YEP!

The Commissioner for Children and Young People is excited to announce that our YEP! program is officially launching on 9 May 2023. Your Engagement Place (YEP!) is a place where children and young people under the age of 18 can find ways to engage with CCYP and other organisations around Tasmania to have a voice on things that matter to them. Any child and young person aged under 18 who registers before 9 June enters the membership draw for a chance to win an iPad. Children and young people can register here.

You can check out our YEP! hub now by visiting our new CCYP website. If you are an adult and would like to keep up to date with current engagement opportunities available to children and young people in Tasmania, fill out our adult subscription form.

Should you have any questions at all about the new program or wish to promote an ethical engagement opportunity open to young Tasmanians, please do not hesitate to email us at childcomm@childcomm.tas.gov.au or call us on (03) 6166 1366