Dear parents, families and community members,

Every school day counts

Welcome back to Term 4 - we hope you had a great break! 

This term we have lots of exciting plans, including: 

• SPSSA Division F Swimming Carnival
• Clarence High School Band performing at our school
• East Coast Cluster Athletics at Triabunna
• Year 6 Celebration Dinner
• Beach morning for our last day of term
• Whole school Celebration Assembly
• Alice in Wonderland excursion to the Botanical Gardens

School is the best place for our kids, it is a chance to be around friends, learn new things, grow and have fun. 

Sometimes the final stretch of the year can be challenging for regular school attendance. Here are some tips to make every day count: 

• Create a routine.
• Allow enough time in the morning. 
• Be on time, every day. 
• Plan appointments and trips outside school hours. 
• Get a good night's sleep. 
• Set some technology boundaries. 

For more information, visit the Anything can happen website.

Last week, for our Show Day public holiday, school staff participated in professional learning about supporting student attendance and wellbeing. We have lots of every day activities to support our students, including Breaky and a Book twice a week. Below are some photos of some of our staff and students participating in Breaky and a Book earlier this week, including some of our older students working with our younger students. This is a wonderful time to promote literacy enjoyment while making sure that all students have breakfast ready to start the day. 

If you’re having trouble getting your child to school, please talk to us. We’re here to help.

Kind Regards,

Ms Anna Knowles

Acting Principal

MANAGING SAFEGUARDING RISKS

IN OUR SCHOOL

At Swansea Primary we use resources developed by The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) to help us continuously identify, prevent and reduce risks to students of child abuse and harm. We work to make our school a safe environment where every child and young person can thrive and grow.

During this term we will be reviewing our Safeguarding Risk Management plan for our school.   The plan sets out the risks that we can identify, and most importantly, how we can reduce them.

As parents and carers, you play an important role helping us to identify safeguarding risks in our school, and I’m sure you may also have ideas on how we can reduce these risks to keep students safe.  

Please complete this two minute anonymous survey to contribute to the conversations and feedback that shape our risk management plans. You will not be identifiable unless you choose to leave your name. Click on the link below.

https://forms.office.com/r/gw1TJHaLBg

If you or your child/children have any questions, concerns or wish to report any incidents relating to child abuse or harm, I encourage you to reach out to me or a trusted staff member. We welcome your views and any feedback.

The Tell Someone website is also another useful source of information if you are worried that a child may be at risk of harm or is being sexually abused or groomed. 

If you have any concerns, the website gives clear information about what to look for, how to make a report and who to speak to.

For further information on the work being done on safeguarding in our school, please visit DECYP's website.

Sophie Wilson, Safeguarding Lead  

We have had a great start to the term in Kinder/Prep/One. One of the highlights has been the way our little learners are becoming curious inquirers.  While we have been busily engaged in this Science learning, we are also working on our 'Learner Assets' of being a communicator and a collaborator. Check us out learning in our inquiry learning groups!

Rightio - brace yourself... here comes the most epic photo gallery ever!

We've had an absolute blast over the last 3 weeks as our lovely new group settles.  It's been wonderful to see the grade 2's integrate into the middle primary learning space so well.  Our grade 3's and 4's have been doing an amazing job with their buddies, showing them the ropes and making sure they're ok.  Together, we've had such an incredible lot of learning experiences through class work, hands-on learning, excursions, incursions, class pets, etc, that I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking. Enjoy!

Warm wishes, 

Mrs Sparshott

What's happening in 5/6 this term besides having the best time together?

HASS - Important events from history that shaped Tasmania and Australia.

Maths - Decimals - making connections with fraction tenths, hundredths and thousandths.

English - Spelling, critical literacy and research reading skills.

Science - Energy! Electricity and Hydro Power.

Class Activities

Richmond and Embrace Kids at Bounce

Trevellyn Power Station, QVMAG, Park Fun

As many of you will know, a Blue Tree has been constructed in Swansea. The Blue Tree aims to promote discussion about rural mental health. Our middle and upper primary students have recently been discussing the Blue Tree and what it represents. They then created art work of the Blue Tree, here are some of our 5/6 class’ paintings.

Swansea Primary School is always happy to take pre loved school uniform that your child has out grown.  The uniform is then gifted to another family that may be needing other sizes.  Along with being on clothes racks at the start of the year for families.

Please drop off any clean pre loved uniform to the school office.

Please note all uniform will need to be paid for on collection.

Save the date for 2025 Book Sales and Uniform Collection 

29th of January  2025 9.30 - 3.30

30th of January 2025 9.30-3.30 

Grandparents, Special Friends and Volunteers Invitation.

Buy One Get One Free Book Fair 18th Nov - 22nd Nov in the library

Outside work requires at times helpers, Rydae is very busy helping Andrew spread our delivery of softfall out and around the swings.

Celebration Assembly Monday 16th December.

Thank you to the Swansea Courthouse Arts Group for visiting our school to share the lanterns that they made for their Shearwater Lantern Parade. Many of our students participated in the program over the holidays and walked in the lantern parade. Students were very interested in learning about the Short-Tailed Shearwater and we found out that they migrate all the way from Alaska! We are lucky enough to be able to put some of the lanterns on display throughout the school. 

NDIS Survey Form

Audience: NDIS Participants, Families of NDIS Participants, Friends of NDIS Participants

This survey aims to provide support and guidance to individuals with disabilities, as well as their family members, community including children.

Our goal is to assist with funding applications, ensure adequate support, and offer education on available options. We are committed to providing support and assistance to meet your needs.

Survey Form (office.com)

Earlier this year, the Department for Education, Children and Young People rolled out Safeguarding Training for staff, volunteers, and service providers.

This training was compulsory for everyone as part of our ongoing commitment to safeguard Tasmanian children and young people and prevent them from harm.

The department has recently released additional advanced Safeguarding training modules.
These are optional and are aimed at anyone who volunteers at a DECYP site, external providers, and anyone in the community who wants to learn more about how to keep children and young people safe.

If you’d like to build your knowledge in this space, the modules are available on the department’s Safeguarding page.

Note: If you require additional assistance to access the modules, please take a look at the FAQs about technical support and additional assistance, which are also on the department’s Safeguarding page.

All public transport fares have been halved.

This fare reduction applies to adult, concession, urban, non-urban, and child / student fares on public buses, school buses and the Derwent River Ferry.

For students travelling on public buses, fare-paying school buses and ferries, the fare has been reduced from $2 to $1.

All services will run as per their usual schedules.

The Department of State Growth will be coordinating with transport providers to ensure services run smoothly for the duration of the fare reduction, which will last until 30th June 2025.

A4_Flyer_Half_Price_Fares_2024_25.pdf

COVID-safe schools plan 2024 (education.tas.gov.au)

Please remember to  continue to test for covid if your child is unwell.

COVID-safe behaviours

Hygiene

• Do not come to school if unwell – this applies to staff, students and visitors.
• Staff, students and visitors are asked to practise all COVID-safe behaviours, particularly as they apply to their personal circumstances.
• Keep your hands clean by using soap and water or hand sanitiser.