4 December 2019

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

We are now in the final stages of staffing and class organisation for 2020. The placing of students into class groupings is a process which involves a lot of discussion, planning and thought. We aim to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in anyway and that their learning style, social and emotional needs are considered.

Although most staffing is finalised, there are still a few placements that need to be confirmed. We will communicate our teachers assigned to classes as soon as we are able to. Students will bring home their allocated class with their end of year school report on Tuesday 17 December.

Our Class structure for 2020

As we head into the last few weeks of the school year there are a lot of events and excursions which students will participate in. Please keep an eye on the school calendar and ensure that all permission forms are complete and brought back to classroom teachers. At this time of the year the office is not in a position to make phone calls home to seek permission or verification.

Dates to Remember

Assembly Awards

Growth Mindset Award

Recipients: Ellie-May and Heath

Class Awards

We congratulate the following students:

Arts

Esk Band Extravaganza

On Friday 22 November 2019, members of the Esk Band performed at Albert Hall in front of family, friends and the general public. The students participated in a rehearsal throughout the day combining with a number of local Launceston schools and Launceston College representatives. Students opt into learning an instrument throughout the year and receive tuition from specialist teachers who run the program across local primary schools. The members from Exeter and Beaconsfield Primary come together once a week to learn to play their chosen instrument. The results have been outstanding this year with a number of first year players entering the school band and quality performances provided by our continuing players. It was certainly an extravaganza to see all the members perform after working so hard throughout the year.

Dance Fever 2020

Sport

T20

Country Gold Cricket Challenge

The Country Gold Cricket Challenge took place on November 25 and 26 at Churchill Park. Playing against 4 other Northern Regional Associations, each match was modified to 20 overs a side with modified T20 rules with 10 players a team with 9 batting and fielding.

The Tamar team won 2 games and lost 2 finishing in 3rd place. Northern Midlands West went through undefeated on the strength of some powerful hitters.

Exeter had 5 representatives with Claire, Cameron, Jack, Abe and Charlie. All Exeter players contributed well throughout the carnival with bat and ball. The team improved in all facets over the 3 games.

Results:

Peter Habel

Schools Triathlon Challenge

Congratulations to the Exeter students who competed last Thursday in the Primary Schools Triathlon Challenge at the Devonport Bluff. Exeter had 24 students representing the school with 9 entering individual events and 7 teams. With over 1500 students participating on the day, the focus was on participation and enjoyment to promote a healthy lifestyle. It was good to have a high tide for the team events to ensure swimming was required. All Exeter students braved the chaos to complete their courses with a smile and sense of achievement. As always the support for one another was a pleasure to see.

A special thankyou to Sheryl Turner for support and organisation for the day and to all the parents who assisted and supported the team.

Representatives:

Dean, Tyler, Thomas, Lewis, Noah, Jack, Trystan
Zoe, Isabella, Nico, Faith, Grace, Jacob, Solomon, Jazzarah, Rylee, Eleanor, Jack, Abe, Ryder, Shannon, PJ, Damon, Atlan

Peter Habel

Outdoor Classroom

Garden

This term I have had the pleasure of the Kinder and Prep children assisting in the school garden. They have been very busy each week, from potting seeds of tomatoes, zucchini, corn, broad beans and sunflowers to planting strawberry plants and raspberry canes along with potatoes.

They transplanted the seedlings into the garden beds, which each week they can see growing! They have assisted with weeding and picking of produce ready for cooking chocolate zucchini muffins. The children have been busy decorating sunflower cookies; garden rocks and we even did a visit to the Exeter High School farm where we gathered the eggs and planted out seeds in the garden beds.

Liz Jordan

Parents

K-2 End of Year Celebration & Presentation Assembly

Dear Parents and Carers,

You are invited to attend the Kinder-2, End of Year Final Celebration & Presentation Assembly. Each class from K-2 will share a special item and final awards will be announced.

Thursday, 12 December, 9:30am-11:00am, Performing Arts Centre.

We hope you can join us for this wonderful celebration of learning throughout the year.

Regards

K-2 Staff

3-6 End of Year Celebration & Presentation Assembly

Dear Parents and Carers,

You are invited to attend our Grade 3-6, End of Year Final Celebration & Presentation Assembly.

Tuesday, 17 December, 11:00am- 1.00pm, Performing Arts Centre.

We hope you can join us for this wonderful celebration of learning throughout the year.

Regards

3-6 Staff

Parent Kindergarten Information Session

A reminder of our Parent Kindergarten Information Session for families who have children commencing Kindergarten in 2020.

When: Thursday, 5 December 2019
Time: 5.30pm until 6.30pm
Where: Kinder Freeman classroom

The purpose of the meeting is to share important information about commencing Kindergarten, answer any questions you may have, order uniforms and a chance to connect with other Kindergarten families.

Childcare will be available during this session, please contact our school office on 63944700 to register your child/children.

Students Assistance Scheme (STAS)

STAS 2020 application forms are now available from the school office or you can download from the link below. Families that were approved for STAS 2019 will be contacted directly by the Department in writing advising them of their approval status for 2020. If you think you may be eligible for STAS in 2020 please call into the school office to collect a form. As the assistance if based on an income test, please refer to the table below to establish eligibility.

Healthy Habits with Nurse Bec

As we approach a busy season and the end of another school year is a great time to think about some of those important but non urgent matters regarding our health and well-being. It can often be a challenge to attend to all the ‘extras’ throughout the year because as parents and carers we have many pressures and responsibilities. So here are some reminders that may be helpful to some of you.

• Be extra kind to yourself. Prioritise and practice self-care for your own health and well-being. You matter immensely to your child/ren.
• Book that dental appointment you have been meaning to book. All dental visits are free through Oral Health Services for children under the age of 16 in Tasmania. Phone 1300135513
• If you have concerns with your child’s vision… book a basic vision assessment at your local optometrist over summer. These assessments are also free for children, every 2 years.
• Schedule a time with your GP to update your child’s immunisation’s. Especially prior to starting their kindergarten year.
• Check your child’s mental health. Ask open ended questions regularly… “what is something you are enjoying/not enjoying about school, home and friends at the moment?” You may like to set aside 30 minutes of uninterrupted quality time outdoors with your child to do this. Nature, good communication and exercise can all encourage positive mental health.
• Count the amount of hours of sleep your child is regularly having per night. Primary aged children should be having 10-12 hours. Encouraging no screens for the hour before bedtime is vital in ensuring they can fall asleep easier.
• Stock up on the sunscreen. Is your child ready with a wide brimmed hat and sun protective swim wear for the summer?
• Add some extra fruit or raw vegetables to the lunchboxes… we all know this busy time of year makes preparing healthy meals of an evening more challenging. Adding extra fresh food to the lunchboxes is an easy way to make sure they don’t miss out on the goodness.
• Check children’s hair for Headlice. (see below)
• Look out for symptoms of Threadworm. (pin worm or ‘worms’) can also commonly affect school aged children (see below).
• Encourage children to practice good hand hygiene to prevent any nasty bugs or sickness over the holiday season.

Further Info on Head lice (‘nits’)

Head lice are small insects that live, breed and feed on the human scalp. Head lice eggs are oval, and only the size of a pinhead. They are firmly attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp and cannot be brushed off. People catch head lice from direct head-to-head contact with another person who has head lice. This can happen when people play, cuddle or work closely together. To check for head lice, closely inspect the scalp and hair strands for eggs or lice. Treat affected person with approved head lice treatment from a pharmacy and follow the instructions carefully. Wash the affected person’s pillow case and bedding in hot water and follow instructions for retreatment of the scalp diligently. Here are some tips to help prevent you child from catching head lice:

• Brush hair morning and night, this damages lice and they cannot breed.
• Long hair should be tied back well.
• Brushes, combs and hats should not be shared. If shared should be washed in hot soapy water.
• Adults should check children for head lice once a week.
• Head lice and eggs are commonly found in the fringe, behind the ears and in hair at the nape of the neck.

For more information please visit the link below.

Further information on thread worm (pin worm/ ‘worms’)

Threadworm is a type of roundworm that is commonly found in preschool and school-aged children. Threadworms live in the intestines and cause a very itchy bottom, which is usually worse at night as the worms travel outside of the bottom to lay their eggs around the anus. Threadworm is spread when children scratch their bottom, causing the eggs to collect under the fingernails. The child then carries the worm eggs back to their mouth with their hands. The eggs can also be spread indirectly, in food, dust, or other items as the eggs can survive up to two weeks outside of the body. Unfortunately, repeat threadworm infection is very common. It is not usually serious and can be treated easily with medication. To help reduce reinfection and to prevent the threadworms from spreading to others, you can take the following precautions:

• Keep your child’s fingernails clean and trimmed. Try to stop your child from biting their nails or sucking their thumb.
• Have your child wash their hands and under their nails thoroughly after going to the toilet.
• Wash your child’s bedding, towels and toys in hot water.
• Vacuum your floor often to remove any eggs.
• Clean surfaces in your house that your children may touch, in particular door handles.
• Discourage your child from eating food that has fallen on the floor

Talk to a pharmacist about over-the-counter treatment options if you suspect your child has worms. Be mindful to treat all family members at the same time, even if they are not showing any symptoms. Adults can also get threadworm. If possible, your child should have a shower on the night they have the medicine, and again the next morning to remove the eggs laid during the night. If you have tried a threadworm treatment for your child and their symptoms have not improved, take them to your GP. The doctor will examine your child and may want to do blood or faeces (poo) tests.

For more information please visit the link below.

School Association

Uniform Shop

If you are interested in getting organised for the 2020 school year and would like to place your uniform order before the end of this year, just fill out a Uniform Order Form (available on the Schoolzine eNewsletter under Forms & Documents or from the office) and drop it into the office or to us at the shop. We can have the items bagged and ready to go when you come in for Book Sales in January.

Our last trading day will be Tuesday 17 December and then we will be closed for stocktake. We re-open on Book Sales Days, 29 and 30 January 2020.

If you have any questions regarding school uniform options, sizing, etc., please do not hesitate to call or come in and see us; Tuesdays 8.30-10am & Thursday 2.30-3.30pm.

Grocery Hamper Raffle

Thank you all for your tremendous contributions to our hampers!

Raffle books will be sent home with all students this week- $1.00 per ticket. Five tickets per book.

Every Grade has their own chance to win a Food Hamper.

There will be a major prize:

-large food hamper

This is drawn from all tickets that have been purchased.

All raffle books are to be returned to school by Friday 13 December.

The raffle will be drawn on Monday 16 December. Winners will be notified.

Fundraiser

Easy to buy, easy to use and packed with 12-months’ worth of savings, the new range of Entertainment Memberships are set to be a popular addition under the Christmas tree for friends, family and colleagues.

Please go to our Online Order page at the link below:

Community News

West Tamar Council Family Fun & Movie Under the Stars- POSTPONED

Unfortunately, due to forecasted weather, this weekend’s event Family Fun and Movie under the Stars will be postponed until next year, we will provide a new date when available.