23 October 2019

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 4, the last term for the school year 2019! It is particularly a special term for our Grade 6 students who for some of them end an eight year association with Exeter Primary School. For many families this also may be their final formal connection with the school after a longer association through past family members.

Term 4 is one that appears to go more quickly than the other three terms, warm weather is upon us and the days are longer due to Day Light Savings. It is a great time of year to engage in those extra activities both at school and home. This term will see students engage in some of the following activities:

• LIL – Teddy Bears Picnic
• 3/4 Tasdance Workshops
• Grade 6 High School Transition Events
• Halloween Social
• Swimming Carnival
• Primary School Triathlon
• Launceston College Dancefever

Please ensure these events are on your calendars, as they will come upon us very quickly.

School Communication

School values open and respectful communication between parent/carers and the school. We do our best to address queries and resolve issues.

If you have any issues regarding your child then the classroom teacher is the first point of contact.

We suggest you make an appointment to ensure sufficient time can be allocated to satisfactorily discuss your issues.

If your issue is unable to be dealt with by the teacher, or you feel it has not been addressed satisfactorily, please make an appointment to talk to a Senior Staff member or the Principal.

Every effort is made to resolve all issues as quickly as possible so your child can fully engage in school life.

Parents

Hats for Term 4

Term 4 will see Exeter Primary students and staff wearing hats and being Sunsafe for all outside activities. If a student does not have a hat, a new one can be purchased from the Uniform Shop which is open on Tuesdays from 8-30 am until 10.00 am or Thursdays from 2-30 pm until 3-30 pm. Hats cost $9-00.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are into the process of upgrading our Home Readers and need assistance with covering these new books. If you can spare an afternoon or day please contact the school office on 63944700 or send us an email on exeter.primary@education.tas.gov.au. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Optional Swimming 2019

Prep - 2 classes will all be participating in our Optional Swimming program from Monday, 11 November to Friday, 6 December.

The program runs for two weeks (10 days) per class, with students swimming daily for a 40 minute lesson with our trained swimming teacher, Mrs Margaret Armour.

The program costs $40-00 and invoices have been sent home. This is an optional program. Please contact our school office to arrange payment.

We also require helpers to assist each class to be organised for their lesson and changing afterwards. If you would like to volunteer you will require a Working with Vulnerable People Card, which is available from Service Tasmania:

This is free to any parent or carer with a child in K-2. Please follow the link to register for your card today. When you go to pay for your card please say, “I am a LIFT parent from Exeter Primary School”, and you should not be charged for this service. We encourage you to apply for your card now as it can take 2-3 weeks to be processed. Thanks for your support.

Student Wellbeing

As part of our commitment to our students’ emotional wellbeing at school, we are introducing essential oil diffusers to some classrooms. Diffusing is a method of dispersing essential oils with water, as a fine vapour throughout the air, so they can be absorbed gently into the body through the respiratory system. The aroma causes the nervous system to transmit signals to the limbic system in the brain – the same part of the brain that houses emotion and memory. Essential oils have been reported to positively affect mood and memory, and we are introducing some calming blends to help children settle, focus and be better able to learn. The oils are certified pure tested grade (CPTG) from a company called doTERRA. They are guaranteed to be pure plant oils, free from pesticides, synthetic additives, or filler ingredients. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of essential oils in your child’s classroom, please contact Helen Peart at helen.peart@education.tas.gov.au. We are looking forward to seeing how these oils will complement the existing emotional regulation strategies already in place at Exeter Primary.

Halloween Social

Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS)

Arts

Arts Afternoon 2019

The annual Afternoon of Arts at Exeter Primary is celebrated every year in Term 3. This year we showcased the wonderful range of Art programs that we offer at Exeter Primary School. The community event was held on 25 September, at 1:45pm in the Performing Arts Centre. We enjoyed performances from Dance Fever, Esk Band, 3-6 Choir, instrument groups, ReMADE Fashion and much more. Following the performance the 2019 Art Gallery was opened and families enjoyed strolling through our Arts Trail into the Gallery. Families of all students performing and displaying artwork were invited to share in their child’s success and achievements in the Arts. We were thrilled to see so many families sharing in their children’s success and invite community members to visit our gallery and Arts Trail to see the incredible work completed by children from Kindergarten to Year 6. Congratulations everyone on a fabulous afternoon celebrating the Arts.

Singfest 2019

The 3-6 EPS Choir attended Singfest at Albert Hall on Thursday 26 September to sing with a combined schools choir of around 300 students. The event was an outstanding success with our choir representing our school with pride and dedication. We sang a number of songs with the joint choir, including our favourite ‘You’re the Voice’ by John Farnham. Our individual song, ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten, was a huge success with our students gaining praise from teachers and audience members from other schools after the show. The students sang with heart and soul, with an outstanding solo performed by Olivia. A magical night was had by all who attended and showed such pride in the work our students do here at Exeter Primary.

Class in Focus

3/4 Duncan

On Friday 30 August all the Grade 3/4 students visited the Launceston College as part of our STEAM interdisciplinary learning. Students participated in the Launceston College STEAM Day activities at the college, and also visited the Museum to participate in activities related to Science Week. Students were invited to participate in a competition which the college was holding and to display their entries on the day. The task was to create a spacecraft / moon craft in which people could travel safely to the moon / or travel on the moon when they got there. Here are some students from 3/4 Duncan with their creations.

1/2 Doyle Purtell

Growth and Development with Nurse Bec

Growth and Development lessons for Grade’s 1- 4 are commencing this term. Bec Beeston, our health nurse will be visiting each class to deliver these lessons with the assistance of each class teacher. The Growth and Development unit is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education. All of the lessons contain age appropriate information, language and activities.

Students will be covering the following topics:

Grade 1/2’s

• General developmental milestones and changes to the body from birth, through childhood
• Correct naming of private body parts
• Protective behaviours and personal body safety awareness

Grade 3/4's

• Basic body changes during puberty/what to expect. This includes menstruation for girls.
• Development of a baby in the womb
• Protective behaviours and personal body safety awareness

A brief parent information session will be held as an opportunity for those who would like to know more or ask questions in regards to these lessons:

It is encouraged to have regular open communication at home with your child surrounding the topic of growth and development. If you would like some tips about talking to your children about relationships and sexuality “Talk Soon, Talk Often” is a fantastic Tasmanian resource which can be found online at:

If you do not wish your child to participate in these sessions, please contact your child’s teacher.

Sport

2019 Exeter Swimming Carnival Friday 8/11

Rain Day 11/11

Student/Staff/Parent Relay(if teams):

Up to 3 Parent Teams – Make own teams-Let me know if you have a team or just turn up.

Points Allocation:

Strokes:

Tamar Carnival 13/11, Rain Day 14/11

Country Gold Cricket

Congratulations to these students for being selected in the Country Cricket Challenge to be held in November:

Cameron, Claire, Abe, Jack and Charlie

The event is a 2 day carnival played against 5 other northern regional associations with a modified T20 format.

Peter Habel

Scholastic Bookclub

Issue 7 of Book club has been sent home. All orders will need to be into the School office by Wednesday, 30 October in an envelope with your child’s name and class on the front. Spare copies are available at the office.

If you wish to have a “Secret December” order please put your name and phone number on the order form with the class – Staff.

School Association

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser

The Fundraising Committee have organised a Krispy Kreme Fundraiser for the beginning of this term. Order forms will be sent home this week, and will need to be returned with payment by 5 November with delivery being on Thursday 21 November.

If you do not receive an order form and would like to support this fundraiser, order forms will be available from the school office.

Thank you for supporting our School Association.

Meeting Reminder

The next School Association Meeting will be on Thursday 14 November at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Community News