28 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Athletics Carnivals

Thank you everyone who came along and supported our students during their Athletics Carnivals last week. As always, both the early childhood and primary carnivals were a great success. I was most impressed with high the level of participation of our students and their willingness to have a go and support their respective ‘houses’. Thanks go to Mr Peter Habel for his excellent organisation and ability to run a carnival that maximises participation and enjoyment for all. We are always appreciative of the parents who volunteer their time to help out on the day and those who make the effort to come along and support their children. It was also great to see so many grandparents attend the carnivals. Those students selected to represent our school in the TPSSA carnival will travel to the Rocherlea football grounds this Friday March 31 to compete. We wish them all the best!

Student Leadership

Finally our 2017 Student Leadership Team has been selected. This has been a very thorough process which began with our Grade 6 students attending the Grip Leadership Conference. Students where then asked to make a written application outlining why they wanted to be a student leader, how they had demonstrated leadership previously and how they wished to grow as a leader. These applications were used to short list students for interview. Mrs Irene Smith, a school volunteer with extensive experience in business and recruitment, chaired the interview panel, which included Mrs Wivell and Grade 5 student leaders. All applicants did a fabulous job and demonstrated high levels of competency. Whilst, not every applicant can be successful I was most impressed by the willingness of students to put themselves forward and take a risk, knowing that they might not be successful. Congratulations to all our applicants, I am very proud of you. The 2017 Student Leaders are:

Peer Leaders

Natasha Barnes, Aimee Ringk, Reece Blackberry, Holly Carr, Maddison Dunn, Ella Jayde Clark, Vawn Smith, Jacob Cartlidge and Amy Bosworth

Sport Leaders:

Alexandra Dickenson, Sam Beams, Eve Herne, Harry Templar, Mason Black, Linkon Black. Will Radford, Jesse Kerkham, Daniel Jordan

SLT Grade 3-5

Emma Bracken, Claire Beams, Rick Church, Milly Cheetham
Levi Gelston, Shania Templar, Lachlan Berwick, Zayne Cornish

Primary Progress Report

The Primary Progress Report, our first written report for the year, will be sent home on Friday April 7. This report provides information on how your child has settled into the school year and highlights any areas for consideration or future attention. On receiving your child’s report take the time to discuss the progress they have made throughout the term, celebrate the positives and identify any areas where improvements can be made. Learning is not just something that happens at school and it is important that parents and teachers work together to provide children with the best possible opportunities for success. Reporting time provides a good opportunity for parents to reflect on the start to the school year and raise any questions or concerns you may have about how their child is progressing. Whilst the first report gives general information about your child’s start to the year it can also be the starting point for a meaningful conversation with your child’s teacher. Formal parent teacher conversations take place at the end of Term 2, however teachers are available for appointments any time of the year. If you wish to organise a time to talk with your child’s teacher please contact the school office to arrange an appointment.

Goodbye Henry Jacobs

At last week’s assembly we farewelled one of our long serving bus drivers. Henry Jacobs has been doing the Exeter School bus run for 24 years – a fantastic effort! Our students and families have become very fond of Henry and hold him in the highest regard. Personally I have appreciated his high level of care for the children who travelled on his bus and the positive and encouraging way in which he interacted with every child. We wish Henry all the very best in his retirement and will certainly miss his friendly face on the daily bus run.

Playground Use After School

It is lovely to see our playground in use after school, particularly giving parents the opportunity to catch up and children to burn up some extra energy. After school time is also a very important time for teachers and many of them are working in their classrooms to prepare for the next day. If you are staying in the playground with your children after school please be mindful of teachers working in classrooms and remind children to stay with you in the playground and keep them from running back in to the classrooms. This has been a particular issue around the Kinder classrooms and I thank you for your assistance with this. A reminder also that children playing in the playground after school must be under the direct supervision of an adult.

Kind regards

Lift

Steve Biddulph supporting our families

We are pleased to advise we now have copies of Steve Biddulph’s books for sale through our school office. The books we have for sale are Raising Girls, Raising Boys and Steve’s latest book 10 Things Girls Need Most. Copies are $20-00 each. Steve’s final visit to Exeter Primary will be held in June and he will speak on The Secret of Happy Children.

Bed Time Stories

Following our very successful Dad and kid’s reading night last year, we are advising the date of this year’s event early. Please mark the date in your calendar!

Growing Maths at Home

Growing Maths at Home is an Exeter Primary School initiative. The Maths at Home bags include a quality picture book and related ideas, games or suggestions to assist families to reinforce early mathematical concepts with their children. The Maths at Home bags will be coming home with Prep and Grade 1 students over the next week. Our Grade 2 Maths at Home bags are nearly completed and will be sent home soon.

Respectful School

Our Zones Tracks have been completed in the early childhood and primary playgrounds. These tracks are another strategy that can be added to students’ toolboxes to assist them to self-regulate and return to the Green Zone.

Our students have been having fun practicing using the Zones Tracks.

The Z O N ES of Regulation Glossary:

Toolbox: A collection of calming and alerting strategies a student can pull from depending on the present need.

Tools or strategies: Used interchangeably to refer to a calming or alerting technique that aids the student to self-regulate.

Trigger: An irritant that causes a student to become less regulated and increases the likelihood of going into the Yellow or Red Zone.

Canteen

Easter Special for Wednesday 12th April

Fish ‘n’ Wedges all oven fried with a bottle of water and sauce $5.00

Pre order is essential. Please write your child’s name and class on an envelope together with $5 to the office or the canteen. By Tuesday April 11.

Launching into Learning

Fun in the Pool

Our Launching into Learning families are currently making the most of our school pool and enjoying some fun, useful, and achievable water activities that can be practised at bath time at home. Margaret Armour, our facilitator is a qualified AUSTSWIM instructor and has worked in our school for a number of years. The Water Fun sessions started at the beginning of March and already we are seeing a growth in confidence in the children and families that have participated. Attending the Water Fun sessions has ensured many children look and feel more confident in the water. The last Water Fun session will finish on Wednesday 29th March.

Our Learning Community Physical Education

Daily PE

This year Exeter Primary has implemented a whole school approach to Daily PE which provides consistency and routine to teachers and students. Starting the day with activities to build physical fitness and develop basic movement, skill and coordination is a great way to begin the day setting students up for their instructional time. It has been fantastic to see teachers and students committing to and enjoying being out on mass making good use of the weather at this time of the year.

Peter Habel

Technology

Just a reminder the winner of our school competition will be announced at school on Friday March 31 2017. The School’s Lego Challenge winner is then invited to display their winning Lego creation at Brixhibiton Launceston on Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 232017 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. The parents of the winning entry will be contacted to ensure they are able to do so.

Exeter’s Got Talent

Community News

WEST TAMAR COUNCIL TERM 1 SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

West Tamar Council has just released its school holiday program for the upcoming term 1 holidays. Activities available this holiday period include: Village Cinemas (Lego Batman Movie), Launceston Lanes Ten Pin Bowling, Zone 3 Laser, and Tassie Tiger Mini Golf. All activities are subsidised by Council, with free transport available for West Tamar residents. To book please visit the link below and download a booking form or email: stewart.bell@wtc.tas.gov.au

Beaconsfield Mini League

Boys and girls aged between 5yrs and 8yrs for Auskick and 8yr to 12yrs for mini league . Thursday training is 3.30pm to 5 pm. Saturday morning's game day is on a roster system. Are you looking to play and live around the Beaconsfield area ?

Girl's are also welcome. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me on 0408831292. Cristy Pike President of Beaconsfield Mini League.