Filter Content
- From the Principal
- School Association
- LiL (Launching into Learning)
- Lunch Ordering and Wednesday Recess Canteen
- School Banking
- Reading Club
- Open Classrooms and Community BBQ
- Schoolzine App
- Yoga (for adults only) - GP Room
- Stars of the Newsletter
- Coming Events Calendar
- Term Dates
- Community Notices
- Leadership and Support Staff
Welcome back!
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
Welcome to 2020 and what a fabulous start we have had!
It has been wonderful to see students return to school eager to learn and committed to giving their best effort. I commend our students on their exemplary manners and the respectful way in which they greet each other and the adults within our School. It has been a pleasure to watch the students in their classrooms engage in a variety of challenging and motivating learning tasks.
Students have been arriving at school on time and wearing their uniform proudly. Thank you to all families for encouraging these positive habits.
I warmly welcome all new students and their families to Longford Primary School: Alice, Jessica, Liam, Xavier, Grace, William, Gavin, Lailah, Eleasah, Tyran, Natahli, Kiara, Joshua, Charlotte, Madison, Emily, Kiara, Neo, Mia and Melina.
2020 Priorities
We are really excited to announce our learning priorities for 2020. This year you will see ‘The Hub’ (formally the Green Room) open full time. Mr Nathan Guy will run many programs from this space. Mr Guy will manage our Support Programs, Alternative Learning Programs and Extension Programs from the Hub each day.
We have a focus on high expectations for learners and learning!
Writing and Numeracy will also be learning focus areas for staff during 2020 Professional Learning.
Mrs Melissa Biffin is also guiding our Wellbeing Team in 2020, and currently leading our Behaviour and Restorative work as well as supporting staff with Zones of Regulation training.
Miss Jacinta Doran will lead our Primary Teaching Team and is currently busily arranging GRIP leadership training for students and camp for our year 6s. Mrs Jen Copeland will lead our Early Years (LiL-Year 2) Teaching Team in 2020. Please take some time to look at the fantastic variety of programs on offer in Launching into Learning this year https://www.facebook.com/LPSLiL/
We have some minor works planned for our quadrangle and early childhood playground spaces late Term 1, early Term 2.
Some painting of our indoor and outdoor spaces over the break has made our school look fresh and clean. All of our classrooms were fitted with new TV screens over the break.
Thank you to the tremendous volunteers who ensured the school garden continued to thrive over the hot summer break. We sincerely thank every volunteer who gave up time throughout the holidays to water and care for our garden.
New Staff
We warmly welcome Mrs Jennifer Copeland to the Longford Primary School Leadership Team, as our Early Years AST.
We officially welcome Miss Ellie Kearns to her new role as Prep/1 Teacher and Mrs Jodi Claxton who joins our Launching into Learning teaching team.
Mobile Phone Policy
In line with Education Department of Tasmania’s mobile phone policy students MUST hand in mobile phones and other technology (Ipads, tablets etc) to the school office at the beginning of the school day. We thank you for your support in this matter.
Communication with Teachers
At Longford Primary School we strive to provide every opportunity for open communication with parents in order to create a safe, respectful and happy place to learn. If your child is having any problems or you would like clarification about events happening please contact your child’s teacher or team leader (Early Years – Mrs Jen Copeland, Primary – Miss Jacinta Doran) at your earliest convenience. I am also always available for meetings or calls to help or clarify concerns or questions that may arise.
Non-Negotiables and Behaviour Letters
Our RRR (Behaviour Support Processes) have been reviewed and we now have a very clear process in place to communicate with families if a behavioural incident has occurred at school. All staff and students have been briefed on the expectations for behaviour at our school. We expect all members of our school community to be Kind, Respectful and Safe.
Our Non-Negotiables are:
- No swearing
- No hurting others with our bodies
- No hurting others with our words or gestures
- Being respectful (of ourselves, our teachers, our peers, our environment and our uniform)
If a student breeches one of our non-negotiable rules they will have a period of time out of the classroom completing a restorative session/s with Senior Staff (RRR). If your child receives a RRR consequence, families will be notified by letter home. All letters must be signed and returned to school to acknowledge they have been received. If a child continues to breech the non-negotiables, families will be asked to attend a meeting to complete an ‘Individual Behaviour Plan’ with your child, child's teacher and Senior Staff.
This is a more formal process than we have had in the past. We want communication with families to be open and transparent. We appreciate your support in this matter.
LiFT (Learning in Families Together)
Teachers will have made contact by letter over the holiday break to introduce themselves to you and your family. Over this week, teachers will also contact all families to have a chat to discuss your child’s strengths, learning goals and values. Toward the end of Term 1, all families will receive a postcard from teachers in the mail with some positive learning messages from Term 1. All of these initiatives support our focus of creating meaningful connections with families to support our students to reach their learning goals.
Allergy Aware
We are an Allergy Aware School. Please note that we have students in our School Community with severe allergies to nuts. We ask that families be as vigilant as possible in regard to packed lunches – avoiding nut products such as peanut butter, mixed nuts and nutella.
Working with Vulnerable People
Please be aware that all helpers in our school require a valid ‘Working with Vulnerable People’ card. If you hope to support with parent help, excursions or attend events with your child’s class, you will be required to show your card at the office prior to attending the event.
Assemblies
We will have two assemblies in Term 1. Our first assembly will be held on the 3rd of March at 2:00pm. 5/6 Nobes will be our presenters, with 2 Morrison/Doran and 4/5 Farran/Biffin classes sharing. Leadership badges, Aussie of the Month and Principal Awards will be given out at this assembly.
Our ANZAC assembly will be held on the 7th of April at 2:00pm.
For this term, Merit certificates will be given out by Team Leaders fortnightly in team briefings.
Validation Forms
Most families will now have received Validation Forms. We ask that all families check and update all contact details, emergency contacts and any medical details and permission boxes. Please return these forms to Class Teachers as soon as possible.
Lego/Toy Cars
Mrs Brady 1/2 class are looking for donations of Lego and little cars (eg matchbox cars). If you can help the 1/2s out please leave the items at the office or with Mrs Brady.
Reminders
Hats on please! Hats must be worn during break times for first and fourth term.
Uniforms: We ask that all students wear our School Uniform, remembering that socks should be plain white or grey (no writing or logos). If you require support in regard to uniforms, please see the School Office.
A uniform order form will be sent home this week for ordering of polar fleece jackets, microfibre jackets, rugby jumpers and girls winter tunic.
School opening and finishing times: Our school learning day starts at 9:00am, and concludes at 2:50pm (2:45pm for Kinder). Supervision is available from 8:30am.
Safety First: Scooters and Bikes are not to be ridden on school grounds for safety reasons and must be walked in and out from school entries and exits. Students riding to and from school are expected to wear a helmet. We have been informed that many students travelling by bike are often not being safe or ‘road aware’ when travelling to and from school – please have a chat with your child if they are a bike rider as we would hate to see someone hurt. We also remind students to use the crossings when needed.
Collapsed Classes: This year we may need to collapse classes if staff are absent and relief cannot be accessed. All staff have a clear plan for how this process will be managed. If you have a particularly anxious child who may find it unmanageable to go into another classroom on a day of their teachers absence, please speak to your child’s teacher around a plan for these occurrences.
Carolyn Sutton
Principal
Change in Meeting Date
Please note that the first School Association meeting for 2020 will now be held on Tuesday the 25th of February at 9:15am in the Staff Room. We apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause.
AGM
Shortly we will be calling for nominations for vacant Parent positions on our School Association Committee. Please consider nominating yourself or a peer who may be interested in joining. A strong School Association is vitally important to support our school.
The AGM will be held on Tuesday the 31st of MARCH at 9:15am in the Staff Room.
Lunch Ordering and Wednesday Recess Canteen
Lunch Ordering
Lunch ordering is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Order forms (attached to paper bag) and tubs are in the classrooms. Orders are to be completed on the form provided with money (preferably the correct amount if possible) placed in the bag and the top of the bag folded over. Please leave the order in the tub. Orders need to be completed by 9:00am.
Wednesday Recess Canteen
Our Recess Canteen is open on Wednesdays at recess. Volunteers are needed - if you are able to spare half an hour a couple of times per term, please leave your name at the school office.
WEDNESDAY RECESS CANTEEN PRICES | ||
Zooper Dooper Icy Poles | Cola, lime, orange, fairy floss, blackcurrant, raspberry, bubblegum, pineapple | 50c |
Paddle Pop | Icy twist, chocolate, rainbow, choc mint, banana | $1.50 |
We wish to support our students again this year by having Reading Club on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30-9:00am. Reading Club requires adults to volunteer to listen to children read books in the Literacy Room. Please see Mel Biffin if you can join us one or all of the mornings.
Open Classrooms and Community BBQ
We invite all families to attend our Welcome BBQ on Tuesday the 25th of February. Teachers will have their classrooms open from 4:00-4.30pm for you to visit and collect some information relevant to your child’s learning week. The BBQ will run behind the school canteen and is free for all families from 4:30-5:30pm. See you there!
How to install Schoolzine
Apple devices:
- On your apple device, open the App store
- Search the App Store for the SZapp
- Download and install SZapp
Android devices:
- On your Android device, open the Play Store
- Search the Play Store for SZapp
- Download and install SZapp
How do I add a school?
- Select your region
- Type the school’s name into the search field
- Tap the school you want to add
- Select any groups that you wish to receive notifications from and then tap next.
Yoga (for adults only) - GP Room
Grow Yoga Tasmania will be running YOGA sessions for the Longford Community (adults only) each Wednesday from the Longford Primary School GP room. The session will start on the 19th of February and run each Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-4:30, excluding holidays. $15 a session, bring along a yoga mat (if you have one). All welcome.
February | 12 | Breakfast Club - 8:20am (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays) |
14 | Prep-Grade 6 Student School Banking commences | |
19 | Yoga for adults only - GP Room 3:30-4:30pm (Wednesdays) | |
25 | School Association Meeting - Staff Room 9:15am | |
25 | Welcome BBQ - Open classrooms 4:00-4:30pm, BBQ 4:30-5:30pm | |
26 | Launceston Cup Day Public Holiday | |
28 | Grade 3-6 Athletic Field Events (AM) | |
March | 3 | Prep-6 Assembly - GP Room 2:00pm |
6 | Grade 3-6 Athletic Carnival | |
9 | Public Holiday | |
11 | School Photos | |
13 | Ride2School Day | |
19 | Kinder-Grade 2 Athletic Carnival | |
20 | Northern Midlands Athletic Carnival | |
23 | Fire Safety Program this week | |
23 | Grade 6 Camp Day 1 | |
24 | Grade 6 Camp Day 2 | |
31 | School Association AGM - Staff Room 9:15am | |
April | 7 | Prep-6 ANZAC Assembly - GP Room 2:00pm |
8 | Last day of Term for students | |
9 | Term 1 concludes - Staff Moderation Day/Student Free Day |
2020
Term 1 |
Tuesday 4th February Professional Learning/Student Free Day Wednesday 5th February to Thursday 9th April Thursday 9th April Moderation Day/Student Free Day Easter: Friday 10th April to Monday 13th April |
Term 2 |
Monday 27th April to Friday 3rd July |
Term 3 |
Monday 20th July to Friday 25th September Monday 20th July Professional Learning/Student Free Day |
Term 4 |
Monday 12th October to Thursday 17th December Friday 30th October Professional Learning/Student Free Day |
Leadership Staff
Principal | Mrs Carolyn Sutton |
AST | Miss Jacinta Doran |
AST | Mrs Jen Copeland |
AST | Mrs Mel Biffin |
Support Staff
Chaplain | Mrs Bec Cameron | Tuesday, Friday |
Psychologist | Mrs Allison Maloney | Tuesday |
School Nurse | Miss Chanelle McCormack | Alternate Wednesday/Friday |
Social Worker | Mrs Shelley Lawes | Thursday |
Speech Pathologist | Miss Carla Dinale | Monday, Tuesday |
Speech Pathologist | Mrs Kate Barnett | Tuesday |