Filter Content
- From the Principal
- Awards
- School Association News
- SRC News
- LiFT News
- Second Hand Uniform Store
- Garden News
- Book Week
- Dad's Night - Pre-Kinder to Grade 6
- School Banking
- Book Review by Staff
- MND Ice Bucket Challenge
- Parent Home Reading Workshop
- Stars of the Newsletter
- Coming Events Calender
- Term Dates
- Community Notices
- Leadership and Support Staff
Dear Families
Staffing Updates
A very big thank you and farewell to Mrs Jill Budgeon who will be finishing up with us on Friday. Jill has been in the acting SBM position for 15 months and we sincerely thank her for her dedication and service to our school during this time. We wish Jill all the very best on her return to her substantive position at Ashley School from next week. In wishing Jill all the best, we also welcome a new SBM to our Longford Learning Community, Mr John Collighan, who will be starting with us from Wednesday the 21st of August.
School Satisfaction Surveys
Annual School Satisfaction Surveys for parents and staff are being conducted during August 2019 across Tasmanian government schools. The survey provides an opportunity for parents and staff to give important feedback on what our school does well and areas in which we can improve. Questions cover a range of topics about our school.
- All responses are secure and anonymous.
- Parents and Staff are invited to participate.
Similar to last year, paper based surveys will be sent out to all families. The eldest child in each family will bring home a survey letter in coming days. The survey provides great opportunity for growth, celebration and reflection for our Learning Community. As a new Principal to Longford, I welcome all feedback and encourage your participation. Surveys can be returned to the office and dropped in the survey return box when completed. Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries, questions or concerns.
Student Wellbeing Survey
Evidence shows that students who have greater health and wellbeing are more likely to have better educational outcomes and positive wellbeing throughout their lives. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 will be taking part in a wellbeing survey, along with all other similarly aged children in Tasmanian government schools from the 26th-30th of August. The survey will be completed in class time and doesn’t require any preparation. A letter with more information has been sent home with all participating students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to school if you do not want your child to participate. If you would like further information, please contact Jacinta Doran.
Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all of our learners are safe, supported and able to flourish.
Enrolling for Kindergarten – 2020
If your child is turning 5 in 2020 or you know of someone who is, they are eligible to start Kindergarten in 2020. Shortly, we will be organising our Term 4 Pre-Kindergarten sessions for children who have completed an enrolment form. If you haven’t yet completed an enrolment form, please see us at the school office, or visit Katherine in one of our LiL sessions. The Department of Education also require us to be provided with original or certified copies of evidence of the following as soon as possible ready for 2020:
1. The students identity – Birth Certificate or Passport
2. The identity of the enrolling parent / guardian – Driver’s License
3. The students residential address – Lease agreement, telephone, utility account
4. Immunization records.
The organisational structure and Kindergarten days for 2020 are not yet known, as this is dependent on student numbers. If you haven’t enrolled, or you know someone that may not have enrolled, please encourage them to do so as a matter of importance.
Playground
We have a team of staff that are dedicated to ensuring students have every opportunity to have fun, enjoyable and safe recess and lunch breaks. As part of this work, the team - lead by Mrs Roberts and supported by Mr Roberts, have started creating some great play spaces in our Early Years playground. Have you spotted our new playground additions yet?
Science Talent Search Results
Prep Viney recently entered the Science Talent Search ‘Destination Moon – more missions, more science, more opportunities’. The talent search generated almost 700 entries from Tasmania. Mrs Viney’s class entered the Prep poster section and the Prep creative writing section of the Talent Search.
Congratulations to: Charlotte and Maya who were awarded equal first and Indiana who was awarded third in the poster section. Chloe was awarded a merit certificate and Lincoln an encouragement award. Lincoln received second in the creative writing section, Jaide third in the creative writing challenge and a merit award to Lilly in the creative writing section.
Students who received an award from first place to merit in their division will be invited to the end of year presentation ceremony at the Launceston Campus of the University of Tasmania on Sunday the 24th of November. Invitations will be sent out in late October.
Congratulations Prep Viney – what an outstanding effort!
Congratulations
William McKinnon was recently published in the Junior National Geographic Explorers Club magazine! William submitted a story about his ‘Antarctic Adventure.’ William wrote a great snapshot article about his adventure to Antarctica in 2018. He used some fantastic descriptors to tell his story; sharing information on the flight, his visit to the cockpit and the amazing landscape he got to see. Congratulations on being a published author William!
Aspiration
In Term 3, we have and will continue to work on our school value of ‘Aspiration.’ All students have been hearing messages of high expectations and high achievement. We were very excited to hear from a special guest speaker at this week’s assembly – Makala Bingley. Makala is a past student of Longford, and now in Grade 10 at Kings Meadows High School. Makala has recently been selected to play for the Tornadoes and she was able to share some fantastic messages with all students about dreaming big, aiming high and working hard to achieve our goals. We sincerely thank Makala for taking the time to share her inspiring story with us and for challenging us to reach for the stars.
Carolyn Sutton
Principal
Congratulations to the following students for being presented with an award at our assembly yesterday.
Principal Awards |
|
Prep Viney | Lilly |
Prep/1 Whiteley/Dennis | Alexis |
1 Roberts | Macie |
1/2 Salter | Ruby-Rose |
2/3 Guy/Spangaro | Nina |
3/4 Spangaro | Jhett |
4 Owen | Jordan |
5/6A Nobes | Imogen |
5/6B Biffin/Tantari | Charlotte |
The School Association are in the process of updating some key policies. Please note that an amendment to our Uniform Policy is currently being drafted in regard to jewellery. The updated policy will discourage facial piercings and nose rings to align with our feeder High Schools who have a zero tolerance policy for nose rings.
If students already have a nose piercing they must be aware that these need to be removed or securely covered for 5/6 Sport. Students will also be asked to discreetly cover or remove piercings if they are representing the school at a sporting or academic event. Students will be strongly discouraged from wearing these piercings to Presentation and Award Ceremonies.
Also in looking at our uniform policy, the School Association remind families that students are encouraged to wear full school uniform at all times (including correct socks and hair coloured ribbons).
In addition, the School Association looked at the DoE policy on dogs on school grounds. The School Association asks that anyone who brings a dog onto the school site should be mindful that some children are frightened or allergic. In discussion, the School Association recommends that families bringing a dog on site remain clear of all walkway areas. The Association will review this formally if required in the future.
If you have any questions on the updates from the School Association please chat with a member of the Association or Carolyn / Jacinta at any time.
Further to the policy updates, the School Association have very generously decided to help fund some swings for our playground. We look forward to sharing some more information in regard to this soon.
The School Association would also like to extend an invitation to all families and friends of our school to attend an upcoming workshop on Trauma and Brain Development, presented by Grant Maynard. The Presentation will be held at Longford Primary School on Wednesday the 11th of September from 11.30am. The School Association have seen a snapshot of this presentation and highly recommend it to ALL families. More information will be available in our next newsletter.
Jeans for Genes and Crazy Hair Day
Thank you everyone for your support with Crazy Hair and Jeans for Genes Day. We raised a total $282. What a fantastic effort!
There are now three people helping with the second hand uniform store - Christine Shields, Leith McEldowney and Catherine Claxton.
New opening time are Monday mornings from 8:40-9:00am
and Tuesday afternoons 2:30-2:50pm.
If you would to have a look in the store and these times are not convenient we may be able to help you outside these hours. Please feel free to ask any of us or organise with the school office.
Christine, Leith and Catherine
Have you heard of a food forest? Can you picture walking through one? Reaching up for an apple and bending for a sprig of mint? Well, the students who work in the school garden have been planting fruit trees right along the edge of the oval to start a food forest right here in our school. There are currant bushes, cherry, apple, pear, peach and nectarine trees beginning to bud and sprout. Oh, and we planted raspberry canes in the raised beds too!
The gardeners have been heaving heavy buckets of soil into our newest garden bed, the silver corrugated iron one. Look carefully when you go past because a team of girls planted seeds in here last Friday! There might be something sweet to smell in a few weeks time.
A hedge of natives has sprung up along the western end of the oval, just north of the tennis court, thanks to the work of the students and volunteers. The hedge will offer flowers to attract the birds and indigenous foods to discover.
Book Week Parade - Wednesday 21st August
Next week we will be celebrating Book Week with our annual parade. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character. During Library and class lessons children will read and discuss books which have been shortlisted by the Children's Book Council. On Wednesday students will begin assembling in the GP room at 9:15am for our parade. Families are welcome to come along.
Could parents please ensure that the children have their school clothes to change into after the parade. This is normally done at or by recess time.
Visiting Author Sally Sutton
Author Sally Sutton is visiting our school on Friday 23rd August as part of Book Week. Sally will be having two one hour sessions with our students. Prep - Grade 2 will attend a session with a focus on picture books and the Grade 3-6 sessions will be about Stages of Writing a Picture Book.
Dad's Night - Pre-Kinder to Grade 6
Thursday 29th August 6:00-7:30pm
Pre-Kinder 5:30-6:00pm
Our annual and highly successful Dad’s Night is coming up in a fortnight’s time. All classrooms (Kinder to Grade 6) will be open from 6:00-7:30pm (Pre-Kinder 5:30-6:00pm). The evening is a fantastic opportunity for dads, grandads, mums who work and do not get the opportunity to visit and family members to come along and participate in activities with their children/grandchildren and to see what happens in the classroom on a daily basis.
A free family sausage sizzle is being coordinated by our School Association Fundraising Committee. Collect your voucher from the school office on the night for your FREE SAUSAGE and then take your voucher to the canteen.
Available from the Canteen | |
Sausages | Free with a voucher |
Saveloys | $3-00 |
Hamburgers | $3-00 |
Cold drinks | $1-00 |
The School Association Fundraising Committee are also having a raffle on the night for 20¢ a ticket. There are five prizes – a netball, football, basketball, soccer ball and rugby ball.
We look forward to seeing you!
If you would like your child to become a part of our School Banking all you will need to do is open a Youthsaver account with the Commonwealth Bank. Your child will receive a Dollarmites deposit wallet to use for the school banking deposits.
This year, the Dollarmites (Pru, Addy, Spen, Lucas and Pat) are rugged up and ready to take kids on a Polar Savers adventure to the Ice Cave of Savings that’s full of exciting rewards to keep children motivated and demonstrate the value of regular saving. How it works:
- Bring your deposit to school in your Dollarmites deposit wallet on ‘School Banking Day’ (Thursdays) to collect a silver Dollarmites token
- Once you collect 10 tokens (maximum one token per week) you can choose a Polar Savers reward.
If you would like more information please ask at the school office or our Banking Co-ordinator, Leith McEldowney.
Every newsletter a staff member will be chosen to review and share their favourite children’s book. Our first staff member is Mrs Sutton and she was interviewed by Reading Ambassador, Katie.
Title: Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas
Author: Aaron Blabey
Can you tell us a little bit about the book? A group of piranhas are trying to make their piranha friends eat fruit instead of body parts.
Why is it your favourite? It’s really funny and the illustrations tell the story on their own.
Who would you recommend this book to? 6-8 year olds
Sounds like a great book, if you haven’t read it we have a copy in our school library!
When: Thursday 5th September
Where: Green Room LPS
What: come along for a coffee and a chat about helping your child with home reading
More details in next fortnights newsletter.
Rhiannon Morrison
Literacy Coach
1 Roberts
1 Roberts have been working on ASPIRE. They have talked about their goals and what they want to do when they are a grown up.
August | 21 | Book Week Parade - GP Room 9:15am |
26 | Prep-Grade 6 Performance by Terrapin Theatre 'Egg' | |
27 | Sharing Assembly (Prep-Grade 6) - GP Room 2:05pm | |
29 | Dad's Night (Pre-Kinder - Grade 6) - 6:00-7:30pm | |
September | 5 | Parent Home Reading Workshop |
10 | School Association Meeting - Parent Room 9:15am | |
10 | Sharing Assembly (Prep-Grade 6) - GP Room 2:05pm | |
11 | Trauma & Brain Development Workshop - 11:30am | |
19 | Country Gold Carnival Day 1 | |
20 | Country Gold Carnival Day 2 | |
24 | Sharing Assembly (Prep-Grade 6) - GP Room 2:05pm | |
27 | Term 3 concludes |
2019
Term 1 |
Tuesday 5th February Professional Learning/Student Free Day Wednesday 6th February to Friday 12th April Friday 12th April Moderation Day/Student Free Day Easter: Friday 19th April to Tuesday 23rd April |
Term 2 |
Monday 29th April to Friday 5th July |
Term 3 |
Monday 22nd July to Friday 27th September Monday 22nd July Professional Learning/Student Free Day |
Term 4 |
Monday 14th October to Thursday 19th December Friday 1st November Professional Learning/Student Free Day |
Leadership Staff
Principal | Mrs Carolyn Sutton |
AST | Miss Jacinta Doran |
AST | Mrs Rhiannon Morrison |
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 | Miss Gabby Volmer | Friday |
Speech Pathologist | Miss Carla Dinale | Monday and alternate Wednesday |