From the Principal
Dear Families
End of Term
As I reflect back on Term 2, I hope you are as proud as I am, of the way our students at Longford Primary have embraced new challenges and learning opportunities. Students have participated in a range of activities including, our Reading Challenge, Illuminate, Cross Country, PCYC, Garden Program, Readers’ Cup and excursions. We have had school visits from Hydro Tas and Ditto (Bravehearts). We have welcomed our newest Longford residents with Baby Book Drops and have begun the transition process for our Grade 6s to high school, with visits to both Cressy District and Kings Meadows High schools.
We have also enjoyed welcoming families into the school through events such as Mother’s Day ‘Muffin with Mum’ and Learning Conversations. We continue to thank our families for their ongoing support and engagement at Longford PS.
I would like to publicly acknowledge the work of all our staff - the teachers, teacher assistants, education facility attendants, office staff and support staff. I thank you for continuing to have our students at the centre of all that you do. Over my years in the public education system, it has been rare to feel such a collective responsibility for the achievement and wellbeing of students.
Coming up
On Thursday our Student Leaders will deliver the good quality jackets that have been donated by our community, to the Longford Rotary shop. We thank you for your generosity and applaud our student leaders for their community spirit and kindness.
On Friday 4th, we have a Comfy Clothes Free Dress Day. Students are free to wear comfy clothes to school and to bring along a gold coin donation. The funds raised will be put towards celebrating our Grade 6 leavers at the end of the year.
Country Gold trials for AFL, Soccer, Netball and Hockey will be held on the last day of term. We wish these selected Grade 5 and 6 students all the best as they try out for the Northern Midlands’ teams. Last week we had 5 of our AFLW girls successfully make that team – well done. We will celebrate all the successful athletes in our first newsletter next term.
NAIDOC Week
This year NAIDOC week is held during the holidays from 6th-13th July. As part of our school NAIDOC program students have been engaging in learning around culture and traditions. This learning will continue into early next term. If you would like more information about the week, you could access the following link.
Reading Focus
We are now half-way through the year and have made some excellent progress in our Reading Priority. Staff have been undergoing professional learning on the teaching of reading and we have increased support for students in this area. We encourage all our students to keep reading with their families over the holidays.
Every School Day Matters
We continue to promote the importance of students attending school every day. Our School Improvement target is for our school attendance to sit above 86% by the end of the year. We are currently on track with this, however with the colder months often comes illness, so we need every student, at school every day that they are well enough to do so. Remember that 1 missed day a fortnight equals 5 days a term, which equals 20 days a year and that is 4 weeks of missed learning opportunities.
Watch this video that was created by Linc in Grade 6 (with the help of Mr Talbot) to see why being at school every day matters to these students.
Through next term we will continue to highlight what it is about being at school that matters to more of our students.
Happy Holidays
We wish Mr Talbot and Mrs Tarnawsky well on their Long Service Leave next term, and I hope you and your family enjoy the term break. We look forward to welcoming our students, and Mrs Burnett, back on the 21st of July for Term 3.
Jen Copeland
Acting Principal