Illawarra Primary School eNewsletter

Principal Report

Dear Families,

Last week all Year 3-6 students participated in a Think U Know session with Constable Anthony from Tasmania Police. The Think U Know program aims to build positive engagement between children, young people and police, while equipping students with the knowledge and skills to be able to maintain their online safety at all times. Students are encouraged to think critically, to identify safe or unsafe situations and know when and how to seek help to prevent harm. Ask your child or children if they can remember any key messages or tips from the session.

How much screen time, when to allow screen time and what type of activities students engage in during screen time is a contentious issue. Not only do parents and students need to be aware of those who would seek to manipulate others and be deceptive online, parents also need to be aware of how too much screen time when a child is too young to understand and process what they are seeing and being exposed to, can be harmful.

Jonathan Haidt, author of the book ‘The Anxious Generation’ (2024), talks about a common feeling among parents of being trapped or powerless to resist the engulfing tide of screen time, gaming and social media overtaking their child’s experience of childhood. He says “Most parents don’t want their children to have a phone-based childhood but somehow the world has reconfigured itself so that any parent who resists is condemning their children to social isolation” (pg 23). He goes on to say that individuals acting alone face high costs but if parents collectively act together they can more easily choose actions that are better for all in the long run. If one parent holds firm in setting boundaries around screen time it supports other parents to follow suit.

Real life experiences, lots of play, social connections in the real world and only basic phones with no internet connection until later in high school (thereby delaying social media use) are some of his suggestions to enable children to experience a less anxious childhood.

Please refer to the Raising Children Network resources on screen time if you would like further information on how to set boundaries at home School-age screen time: tips for balance | Raising Children Network

Kind regards,

Cathryn

Calendar of Events

Monday 17 June	Prep to Grade 2 Assembly (2:00PM Start) Parents Welcome
Tuesday 18 June	All Schools Cross Country Launceston (selected students)
Wednesday 19 June—Friday 28 June	Parent Teacher Conversations
Thursday 20 June	Grade 2 Excursion—Huonville Primary TSO
Wednesday 26 June	IPSA Meeting 7:00PM Start
Thursday 27 June	Camp Quality visiting School
Monday 1 July	Grade 3—6 Assembly (2:00pm start)
Thursday 4 July	Chess Tournament (Huonville Primary) selected students
Friday 5 July	Last Day of Term 2
Monday 22 July	First Day of Term 3

Grade 6 Families - Save The Date

Wednesday 18 December - Grade 6 Leavers Dinner - Venue TBC

Thursday 19 December - Grade 6 Leavers Assembly - Kingston High School (Mid Morning)

Value Awards

Congratulations to all our Value Award winners for this week. These awards will be handed out at our next Prep to Grade 2 Assembly on Monday 17 June 2:00pm start. Parents are welcome to attend.

Felicity S - For showing the value of Courage for her willingness to challenge herself in all learning areas. Felicity has a fantastic attitude and I appreciate how she works hard with a smile on her face. Thank you, Felicity!

Mabel W - For showing the value of Responsibility for the effort she puts into all learning areas. Mabel thinks outside the box and is happy to shar her understandings with the class. Thank you for your enthusiasm and curiosity, Mabel!

Alfie A - For showing the value of Growth for using feedback to improve his work. Well done on having a great attitude towards your learning, especially with your recent efforts with your science work. Thank you, Alfie!

Madi C - Value of Growth - Madi is doing an excellent job learning her letter sounds and words. Keep shining Madi as you explore the magical world of language!

Charlotte P - Value of Responsibility - Charlotte is always willing to lend a hand. Your actions reflect your caring nature, kindness and reliability. Congratulations!

Connor H - Value of Growth - For demonstrating more composure and accountability when handling challenges. Congratulations Connor!

Julian T - Value of Courage - Julian has shown good progress in working independently, taking ownership of tasks with increased confidence. Well done Julian on showing more courage!

Xavier M - For showing the value of Growth. Xavier demonstrates a happy and enthusiastic attitude to all aspects of his work, always aspiring to do his best!

Annika S - For showing the value of Courage. Annika has shown a wonderful commitment to her learning, she enjoys the challenge of trying something new and has the determination to see it through.

Josephine N - For showing the value of Courage by having a go and trying new things in class. Well done Josephine for making the most of your learning opportunities.

Frank Q - For showing the value of Responsibility by always stepping up to be involved in helping to set up, pack up and organise learning equipment and learning spaces. Well done Frank for helping to make our classroom a great place to be.

Leo P - For showing the value of Respect by always speaking and listening to others in a kind, friendly and respectful way. Well done Leo for making excellent choices that show you care about other people and our learning environment.

Lara K - For showing Growth by trying hard to improve in all areas by being an active listener and joining in during classroom discussions.

Zara M - For showing the value of Courage and Growth to try new things and improve her reading and writing skills.

Amelie B - For showing the values of Growth and Courage by being an active listener at all times, sharing her ideas in classroom discussions, and challenging herself to extend her writing skills.

Florence C - For showing the values of Responsibility and Connection. Flo is always willing to do what is asked of her and happily helped other students with their cutting and pasting during a recent Science lesson. Thank you Flo for being such a helpful and friendly member of our class.

Jess C - For showing the value of Respect both inside and outside the classroom. Jess is kind and polite to everyone, and her icy-pole stick collection to make plant labels for the pop-up shop is a fabulous initiative which reflects her commitment to caring for the environment. Well done Jess.

Leo R - For showing the value of Respect by caring for our classroom environment. Leo is a willing helper when it comes to packing up each day and always takes care of our classroom resources. Thank you Leo.

Canteen Update

Fuel for School is going well, with well over the required 50 orders per week. Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic uptake of this new service.

Counter sales have understandably dropped off given that we now have Fuel for School. We do need counter sales to be financially viable, to cover the cost of one employee to run the counter sales, but also to be there to receive and distribute the Fuel for School order and other tasks associated with having Fuel for School.

At the counter, students can buy (with $0.50 to $2.50):

Freshly made popcorn
Garlic bread warm from the oven
Muesli bars
Icy poles
Flavoured milk and juice

Particularly for the younger grades, buying something at counter sales is an opportunity to use actual money and make choices on their own. We’d love your ongoing support for counter sales, so that we can keep both services running.

Grade 1R

In Grade 1R we have been learning to retell the sequence of events in a narrative piece of writing. First, we read “Amy & Louis” by Libby Gleeson (author) and Freya Blackwood (illustrator). Then we used drawings and writing to retell the beginning, the middle and the end of the story. Finally, we looked for the clues that tell us Amy and Louis are good friends, and thought about a time when we might have felt the same as Louis does in the story.

Grade 1 WH

In Grade 1 W we have integrated some play based learning to complement our spelling and maths lessons. We have also been learning about the seasons and made some lovely artwork.

Science in 2H

Art News from Mrs P

Premiers Reading Challenge 2024

Book Week

Book Club - Issue 4

Another exciting Scholastic Catalogue has arrived for all of our eager readers to search through to find the perfect book to add to their bookshelves!

Every order through the LOOP online ordering (over $15) from this catalogue will earn a promotional credit of $5 that can be spent on the next catalogue (#5).

Scholastic orders are due by Monday 17th June, and can be placed via Scholastic LOOP online, or by returning your paper order with cash to the Illawarra School Office.