8 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

How to set PUSH notifications on SZApp

Make sure you check that Notifications are turned on under the Manage tab

From the Principal

Our Motto: Friendly Respectful Courageous Learning

Our Commitment: With courage we learn, connecting to people and place. Striving for excellence by being curious, creative and resilient.

I sincerely hope everyone had quality family time together during the school holidays. It was wonderful to see our students coming back to school with smiles on their faces and ready for learning!

This week we welcomed two new enrolments to our school: Sam de Candia (Grade 6) and Bree de Candia (Grade 3). They are two delightful students who have met new friends and are settling in quickly to our school. In the playground today it was wonderful to see our students playing with Bree and Sam. We also welcome their parents Matthew and Georgia to our school community!

Next week on Tuesday we commence NAPLAN assessments with all the Grade 5 and most of the Grade 3 students. Students will sit the writing assessment first on Tuesday 14 May and sit the other assessments one a day except for Fridays through to 24 May. During this time it will be important to be quiet around the assessment venue in the Grade 5/6 classroom in respect of all students sitting the assessments. It is crucial that we all reinforce the importance of students being courageous and doing their best and also how these assessments assist teachers to focus explicit teaching in learning gap areas.

Our first Wilds’cool meeting with Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife is scheduled for Wednesday 22nd May. This will involve working in with TPW staff, parents, student leaders and EON/POKEON volunteers. If any parents are keen to be involved please contact either Kate Stevens, Sandra Silberberg or myself. This meeting will scope the partnership and focus of collaboration between Freycinet National Park and projects we can take on around the Bicheno Coastal Reserve.

We are about to launch into redesigning our school logo students, parents and staff so please don’t be shy in ‘having a go’ at a design that reflects our motto, commitment statements and our school values. More information will be forwarded soon and we will have an adult working with students in classes to take them through the process and design framework. The School Association, student leaders and staff representatives will select a shortlist of exciting options from which one will be decided on. Once we have a final logo design we will forward this to a designer for refinement and then to our uniform supplier, and also update stationary and signage around our school.

Unfortunately, I have developed a back issue and have had to take some leave to recover. I would like to thank all staff for your support and covering some of my responsibilities during this time. I am going to be in Launceston this week for a more detailed assessment and in advance thank our school community for your understanding while I develop a recovery plan.

Finally, I would like to thank students, parents, staff and the broader community for a very successful start to the second term! Stay warm while the first cooler days start to roll in.

Best regards
Rob Presswell

What’s happening in our classrooms?

Prep/One

Reading: We are learning to recognise and say the letters ‘b, j, z, w, y, x’ and the sounds they make.
Writing: We are learning to use our magic 100 words in our writing and use letter sounds to write words.
Social/Emotional: We are learning to take responsibility for our spaces.
Numeracy: We are learning to add small groups of numbers.
Science: We are learning to understand how the weather affects everyday life.
HASS: We are learning about who the people in our family are.

Grade 3/4

Before Easter, Grade 3-4 worked with Mrs Sliskovic to write persuasive texts.

First, we read about the bilby, which is an endangered Australian animal.

Then we wrote about whether rabbits or bilbies should be our Australian symbol of Easter.

Grade 5/6

In English we are learning

• about subject and verbal phrases, independent and subordinate clauses and simple and complex sentences
• the structural and grammatical features of a narrative
• to develop a setting for our stories by using our senses that “shows” rather than “tells” the reader where and when the story is set.

In Maths

• Fractions; identifying what the numerator and denominator represent, types of fractions and finding equivalent fractions

In HASS

• Australia’s system of Government

In Art

• it’s a secret!!

Indonesian

In kinder we will be beginning the ELLA App 2 which introduces warna warna (colours).

In P-2 classes we are recognising that the Indonesian alphabet is written using the same alphabet as English but that some sounds are different.

In classes 3-6 we are focusing on angkutan (transport). We are looking at different modes of transport in Indonesian and understanding that sometimes there is not an easy translation for some cultural specific types of transport.

Lego Champion

Congratulations to Lachie Coehlo who came third in the Launceston Brixhibition competition with his amazing Indonesian volcano creation. Well done Lachie!

School Banking

School Photo Envelopes

Family Portrait envelopes are available at the School Office.

Music Performance

Last Friday we had Jon Madin visit our school as part of his tour of Tasmania. Jon is known worldwide for his marimbas and wacky instruments. Jon brought wacky instruments including Ding Boxes, Oom pahs, echo cellos and musical bikes. Each class had a session with Jon and performed what was learnt in the afternoon. Thank you to all attended our performance. Look out, Jon will he back in 2020 with more wacky and wonderful instruments.

School Association Update

Easter Raffle

Thank you to everyone to who donated Easter Eggs for the Easter raffle. The BPSA were proud to match your donation and through the raffle we have raised $559. This money will be used to support the students who are selected for future Country Gold ENE sports carnivals.

Shade Sail

Our BPSA funded shade sail is now complete and looking fabulous. This project was the focus of our 2018 major fundraiser and will provide valuable shade for our students during the warmer months.

Mother’s Day Cake Stall

All students will have received a plate and plastic bag at the end of last week. We appreciate any home-made cakes, biscuits or other sweet goodies you can make for our Mother’s Day cake stall. The cake stall is Thursday 9th May at 2.45pm at the school.

Election Day BBQ

The BPSA will be running the BBA at the upcoming election on Saturday 18th May and we are calling for volunteers. If you can give a couple of hours to help us out please let Carrie or any of the BPSA members know.

KEON rubbish pick-up

KEON members and members of the school community are invited to join the latest clean-up day. Meet at the recreation area opposite the United Service Station this Saturday 11th May at 11am. All students must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Bring your own gloves, thermos or drink bottle. Hope to see you there!

Dates for your diary:

Committee meeting: August 1st, 5pm @ school

ENE Combined Athletics

We wish all the Bicheno members good luck and good racing when they compete in the State Primary Schools Athletics Carnival this Friday.

Good luck to:

Yoga for kids

Tupperware – help our canteen

Anne-Marie Pollack and Tamieka White are organising some Tupperware containers and bowls for the School Canteen. Make an order to help our school.  See Anne-Marie or Tamieka for more information or to place an order.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

29 April 2019 – 5 July 2019

Reading logs have now been given to students from Prep-Grade 6. We encourage all students to read 10 books in 10 weeks.

2 of our enthusiastic readers will be given Free Family Pass to a Hawks Launceston game. So let’s get reading!!

Reading with your child

NAPLAN testing

NAPLAN testing for all grade 3 and 5 students will begin on May 14. This is the first year that NAPLAN tests will primarily be ONLINE. NAPLAN is an important test for these students, but it can come with the stress and pressure to perform. The following information may assist parents who have children participating in the tests. If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN, please come and see your child’s teacher.

Footy Tipping Margin Tickets

Round 4 winner was Sharon Gray
Round 5 winner was Sallie Brockman
Round 6 winner was Bruce ONeill.
Round 7 winner was David McCall

Important dates

Information for parents

A friendly reminder that the school has a duty of care for student from 8:15am, extending to 3:15pm. Students on the school grounds outside of these operating hours must be under parental supervision. The school toilets and classrooms are closed at 2:45pm. There are public toilets located next to Little Penguins Child Centre.

Rob Presswell

School Information

Phone: 63751222
Email: bicheno.primary@education.tas.gov.au
Principal: Robert Presswell
School Business Manager: Sandra Silberberg

Teachers

Kinder and LiL: Eliza Spykers
Prep/One: Bronti Cooke and Bron Pierce
Grade 1/2: Bruce Campbell and Jen Sliskovic
Grade 3/4: Sam Kelly
Grade 5/6: Jill Bosua
Support Teacher: Bron Pierce

School Calendar