Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you so much for your help in creating such a positive start to the year.  It has been fantastic to see students arriving at school happy, settled and ready to learn.  This week, I presented our Grade 6 Leaders with their Leadership Badges at assembly.  I am confident that each of these leaders will try their hardest throughout the year to help and support the younger children in our school.  All Grade 6 students attended a leadership day at the Punchbowl Reserve.  During the day, students participated in challenges that required them to work as a team, overcome obstacles and communicate effectively with each other. We are exceptionally fortunate to have a very cohesive group of Grade 6 students that are striving to improve their leadership skills.

On Monday, 17^th  February our Student Leadership Board attended the GRIP Leadership Conference with Mrs Frerk.  These students came back from the conference with lots of ideas to improve their leadership and ideas to support new fundraising initiatives.

Kick Start

Kickstart is our Launching into Learning programme and will begin on Wednesday, 4^th March in Miss Walkinshaw's room.  The sessions are each Wednesday from 9:00am until 10:30am and are tailored for children in the area from birth to 4 years of age. Miss Walkinshaw is keen to welcome new and existing families.  We will be advertising this on our school Facebook page, please share to any families who you think may be interested.

Launching into Learning is a programme where you and your child can form relationships with the Punchbowl School community.  We know supporting children’s learning experiences before they go to school will give them a greater chance of success.

Come and join in the fun!

Esk Band Demonstration - Grades 3-6

On Tuesday, 25^th February, we will have Luke Beasley, the Esk Band co-ordinator, visiting our school to demonstrate some of the instruments on offer to learn in 2020.  At this presentation, students interested in taking part in the Esk Band will be able to take a form home to get permission to be involved in the band.  There are costs associated with the programme but these are very reasonable in comparison to out of school instrumental tutoring. It is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in.

P-6 Athletics Carnival

Our P-6 Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday, 19^th March, enclosed in this newsletter is the proposed times of events so that parents can keep dates free.

Cup Day Public Holiday

Just a reminder to everyone that next Wednesday, 26^th of February is the Launceston Cup and is a public holiday for all students.  Staff are required to work until 11.00am and will be participating in a professional learning session in conjunction with the Queechy Alliance schools.

School Association

Just a reminder that we will be holding our first School Association meeting for the year on Wednesday, March 4^th, in the school staffroom.  These meetings begin at 7.00pm and usually finish around 8.30pm.  Everyone is welcome to come along.  This is a great way to get involved in fundraising, give input into decisions made within the school and support school initiatives.

Student Wellbeing Survey

Attention: Parents and Carers of students in Years 4-6

The wellbeing of our students is important to us. To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students in Years 4-6 at Punchbowl Primary School will be taking part in a wellbeing survey. The Student Wellbeing Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.

The details for the survey are:

When: Between the 16^th – 20^th March

Who: Grade 4-6

What do I need to do: You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.

A letter with more information has been sent home with all Years 4-6 students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.   

If you would like further information, please contact Elizabeth O’Donahue or Abbi Dean.

Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so they can engage in learning.

Liz O'Donahue - Principal

Students are allocated to either Tamar or Esk as their House for our school sporting carnivals.  Students are invited to wear sun safe sport clothing in their allocated house colour at these carnivals,  however, it is not necessary parents purchase clothing in these colours should they wish not to do so. Teachers will advise students of which house they have been allocated to prior to our first carnival.

TAMAR – GREEN

ESK – YELLOW

This week our grade 6 Student Leadership Board attended the annual GRIP leadership conference at the Tailrace Riverside.  Our students worked with other Grade 6 students from the North of the state in developing their leadership skills.  The conference was an interactive and practical day that concentrated specifically on training our students on how to become great leaders within our school.

Icy Pole sales for Grades Prep-6 will be every Thursday during this term.

Lemonade Icy Poles    $1.00

Peters Frosty Fruits     $1.20

On Thursday, 5th March the Student Leadership Board will be holding an Easter Raffle this term and will have a free dress day to raise money towards school improvement.  Students wearing free dress are encouraged to donate an Easter themed item instead of a gold coin donation.

A very strong School Association supports our school. In addition, a fundraising committee operates under the umbrella of the Association and works extremely hard to raise money for equipment. Many parents give much time to support school activities which is great appreciated. The Association meets in the school staff room approximately twice a term in the evening and everyone is invited to attend. 

Proposed School Association Meeting dates for 2020 are listed below.  Please note that  these will be confirmed at the first meeting.

• 4th March
• 6th May AGM followed by General Meeting
• 22nd July
• 9th September
• 28th October
• 2nd December

Annual General Meeting

Nomination forms have been sent home with the eldest child in your family.  

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 6th May, 2020 and at this meeting all seats will be vacated and the new committee will be elected to take up positions such as Treasurer, Chairperson, Secretary and Committee Members.

All Members of our school are welcome to attend any of our open meetings, however, Committee Members are the only people who are permitted vote when required at meetings.

It would be greatly appreciated if nominations could be received by the 6th of March.

LOST PROPERTY

The lost property basket is located near the main office. Please ensure your child’s clothing is clearly named.

BOOK CLUB

We subscribe to Scholastic Book Club and there are about 8 issues per year.  Each child is given a book club leaflet and they select books and enclose order and money in an envelope which is handed to the class teacher and then handed to the office.  Alternatively, orders can be paid for and placed online through the Scholastic website. Dates for handing money will be stated in the newsletter.  

Entertainment Book 2020 Early Bird Launch

The Entertainment Book Early Bird offer is launching on Saturday 8th February 2020 and ends on Saturday 29th February 2020. 

Click here to order your book online

Lucy Meech, former director of Life Centre Music, has vancancies for private keyboard/piano lessons for students in 2020.  Lucy has had years of experience working with young children, both in the area of piano and beginning violin, and is eager to share her skills with private students. 

For further information and questions please contact Lucy on 0408 443 436.

From the commencement of Term 2, 2020 all Tasmanian Government Schools from Kindergarten to Year 12 will need to implement restrictions on the use of mobile phones by students at school. The Minister for Education and Training announced this policy in November, 2019.

Kindergarten to Year 12 – “Off and away all day”

The decision to restrict the use of mobile phones by students during the school day will support schools to minimise distraction from learning and encourage healthy and positive personal interactions.

The policy has been developed in consultation with schools, School Associations and students.

From the start of the school day to the end of the school day, students must have their mobile phones switched off and handed to the school office to be safely stored. All communication with students during the school day must go through the school office.

This policy applies to all students, unless they meet the requirements of an approved exemption.

Exemptions may be considered where students require the use of their mobile phone for educational adjustments, monitoring health conditions or other extenuating circumstances. There may also be instances where teachers permit students to use their mobile phones for educational purposes.

If you would like to discuss an exemption for your child or have any questions about the policy please contact Elizabeth O'Donahue. 

Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure show has been educating Australian children since 2006, providing them with personal safety tools and strategies while supporting positive self-esteem and resilience-building. 

Parents & Guardians are welcome, please come along and watch the show on the day and see for yourself what a fantastic and worthwhile program it is.  The time and date of the show are:

DATE: Thursday 12th March 2020

SESSION TIME/S: First Session @ 1.30pm & Second Session @ 2.15pm

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION: 12.45pm

The program is highly effective and great fun too - kids love Ditto!

Independent evaluation of Braveheart's Ditto Show suggests the principles of personal safety embedded in the program can reduce the incidence of child sexual assault as well as other forms of abuse, including family violence and bullying. 

The Ditto show is a live, interactive 40 minute performance starring Bravehearts' mascot 'Ditto'.  It includes song, dance, and easy-to-remember messages about personal safety.  These songs and messages were written by Bravehearts' professional  educators and child psychologists and are developmentally appropriate for your chil's age group. 

What will your child learn

The show is underpinned by the following six principles of personal safety:

• Differentiating 'yes' and 'no' feelings
• Recognising the bodies 'warning signs'
• Identifying 'private parts' and 'privacy'
• Helping children identify language and feelings associated with secrets
• Reinforcing  that there is no secret that children cannot tell someone
• What to do if you feel unsafe or unsure

Your child will learn these essential principles through songs such as 'Run and Tell (someone you can trust)' and 'Private Parts (they belong to me)'.  They will also learn 'Ditto's 3 Rules', which are:

1. We all have the right to feel safe with people
2. It's ok to say NO if you feel unsafe or unsure
3. Nothing is so yucky that you can't tell someone about it

As part of the program, children are each given a Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure Activity Booklet to take home.  We encourage you to look at he booklet with your child, using the activities to help cement the personal safety messages from the show. 

PLEASE NOTE: Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure show and accompanying resources are NOT SEX EDUCATION.  'Private parts' are explained as being "our mouth" (as in kissing), "our chest", "between the legs" and "our bottom".

How you can learn more

If you would like to learn more about how to talk to your child about personal safety, download Bravehearts' FREE PERSONAL SAFETY PARENTS AND CARERS GUIDE from the Bravehearts website.

Just go to: bravehearts.org.au/personalsafety

WORKING WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Other - Working with Vulnerable Peoples Registration

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A PERSON TO WORK OR VOLUNTEER AT PUNCHBOWL UNLESS REGISTERED!

If you currently have a Volunteer Working with Vulnerable People Registration, could you please bring your card to the school office so that the school can record your registration if you haven’t already done this.  Teachers will also ask to see your registration prior to initially doing Parent Help, so this is a requirement to carry it with you at all times. 

If you nominated another organisation in which you volunteer when you registered, unfortunately at present we are unable to check you are registered.  Could you please update your registration status via the below link to update and advise all organisations in which you volunteer.

Complete the online application http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children/application

See the COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD situated in the walkway outside P-1B Millen classroom for all upcoming community events

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