Dear Parents and Carers, 

Our school was in a state of excitement as our Athletics team returned to school after participating in the LSSSA Athletics Carnival yesterday.  We won Division B which was the first time we have had a win in athletics since 1997.  A huge congratulations to our students and a big thank you to Mrs Dean and Mrs Airey who supported the team on the day.  Our school spirit was fantastic with students cheering and encouraging each other. A fantastic effort to win against many other schools much greater in size than our own!

100 nights of reading

As mentioned in a letter home to parents we have developed a new system of encouraging and celebrating small milestones along the way to reading for 100 nights. Yesterday we celebrated our 25 nights of reading.  Those students who had reached the milestone of 25 nights were rewarded with a Giant Freddo Frog. A big congratulations to Ms Faulkner’s class who had the most students represented for achieving their 25 nights of reading.  If your child wasn’t acknowledged yesterday and are still working towards this milestone there are plenty more Freddo’s to be given out. Well done to everyone involved.

Parent /Teacher meetings

Thank you to everyone who has made an appointment to meet with our teachers next week, this is a big week for all our teachers who have prepared discussion points relevant to the students in their class.  Teachers will be sticking to time limits and meetings are scheduled for a 15-minute slot.  It is important that meetings do not run over time as this affects other teachers and parents.  A bell will sound when the next meeting needs to begin.  Thank you for your support with this.

NAPLAN TESTING

Parent of children in Grades 3 and 5 will once again participate in the online NAPLAN testing from from the 11^th to 21^st May, along with all other Australian school children.  All children in Grades 3 and 5 will complete a test in the areas of Numeracy, Language Conventions, Writing and Reading.  NAPLAN is a standardised test, it offers a snap shot in time and provides teachers with information about how students are performing.  Teachers will be spending time preparing children for the test format and process of the test to provide them with confidence to complete the testing to the best of their ability. If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please talk to your child’s teacher.

FIRE DRILL and LOCK DOWN PRACTISES

Throughout the year our school must practise both a fire drill and a lock down procedure each term.  The reason for this is to make sure staff and students are well versed in the correct procedures in case of an emergency.  Teachers will go through the process with their classes before we undertake any alarms and at the completion of the drill all children will be informed that this was a practise. 

Anzac Day and School Photos

Next term we will be involved in the Anzac Day parade on Sunday, 25^th April. At this stage, we are still unsure as to what this will look like for our school as we are awaiting further information from the Premier in regard to the event. We will let families know the extent of our involvement when this information comes to hand.

School photos will be held on Thursday, 29^th April, forms will be sent home to do the online ordering.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

This is our last newsletter before Easter and the end of term. Students will finish Term 1 on Wednesday, 31^st March.Teachers will participate in a Moderation day with other schools on Thursday, 1^st April (which is a Student Free Day) and then take a holiday break from Good Friday and return on Wednesday, 21^st April.

Liz O'Donahue - Principal

Next Thursday, 25th March, students in Kinder to Grade 4 will attend the Ditto's Keep Safe Adventure Show hosted by Bravehearts.

Parents are invited to attend a Parent Information Session at 8:45am in our MP Hall.  More information can be found at https://bravehearts.org.au/keepsafe

Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show stars Bravehearts’ lovable lion cub Ditto, alongside a specially trained presenter. This fun, interactive live show teaches children essential personal safety skills and knowledge using age-appropriate language, song, and dance.

Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show is aimed at children aged 3 to 8 and is delivered in early learning centres and lower primary schools to children of all abilities. This fun and interactive personal safety program has reached hundreds of thousands of Australian children since its inception in 2006.

Delivered by experienced facilitators, the show duration is 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the age group (shorter show for younger children). Independent evaluation of the Ditto Show suggests the principles of personal safety embedded in the program can help to increase resilience, and reduce the risk of child sexual assault, as well as other forms of abuse including family violence and bullying.

What will children learn? 

Following is an overview of the Ditto show content. (Please note that some of the content described below is omitted from the Early Years (i.e. childcare) version of the show to ensure age-appropriateness and brevity for a young audience.) Both the Early Years and lower primary school versions of the Ditto show are underpinned by the following six principles of personal safety:

• Differentiating ‘yes’ and ‘no’ feelings
• Recognising the bodies ‘warning signs’
• Body ownership
• 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

They aim to teach children these essential principals through songs such as ‘Run and Tell (someone you can trust)’ and ‘Private Parts (they belong to me)’.

Children also learn ‘Ditto’s 3 Rules’, which are:

• We all have the right to feel safe with people.
• It’s ok to say NO if you feel unsafe or unsure.
• 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 (primary school program only). We encourage parents and/or teachers to look at the booklet with the children, using the activities to help cement the personal safety messages from the show.

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

Lemonade Icy Poles    $1.00

Peters Frosty Fruits     $1.20

Subway Lunch Days

Our next Subway lunch day is Thursday, 25th March.

Uniform Sales

If you wish to purchase any uniform items for your child, to limit the number of adults we have on site and congestion in the main corridor, we would greatly appreciate orders and payment via telephone.  Clothing purchased and a copy of receipt will be sent home with your child.  Office staff are happy to assist your child try on clothing if you are uncertain as to what size is required.

The lost property baskets are located near the main office and outside 5-6 Frerk/Marshall.

It would be greatly appreciated if all parents could please ensure their child’s clothing is clearly named. 

Thank you

Our annual School Photo Day will be held on Thursday, 29th April.  Information and Shoot keys will be sent home in the coming weeks.

This week, we held our annual Brixhibition Kids Competition in the Boardroom. We had 60 entrants and the creativity and design across all categories was impressive. A huge thank you to all students who entered, and the parents, carers and family members who helped transport and carry the models in!  Voting took place on Wednesday – Friday this week and classes enjoyed viewing and voting for their favourites.  Votes are still being tallied with the winners being announced next week.  Prizes will be handed out in primary and ECE assemblies before the end of term.  This year winning entries will be submitted to be showcased at the main Brixhibition event in the All-Schools competition.  Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions, the competition will be displayed virtually/online for the Tasmanian Brick Enthusiasts Inc. judging panel. See www.brixhibition.com for details.

Are you ready to get out and about to enjoy the best things in life? Buy an Entertainment Membership to support our fundraising and your next adventure could be around the corner. Find out more: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/2406h04

All students arriving late to school to enter through Pencil doorway entrance, sanitise their hands and sign in.

If you child needs to attend an appointment and needs to be collected early, please contact the school office prior to collection time and we will endeavour to have your child waiting at the office for you collect them.

• Mobile Phones are to be handed into the office at the beginning of each school day.

• Please remember to bring your water bottle to school each day.                                        
• If your residential address has changed or have a new telephone number, please contact the office to request a change of details form.

• Students are required to wear their school hat during Term 1 and Term 4.  Children who forget to bring their hat, will have to sit on the deck area in the shade. Unfortunately, sharing or borrowing of hats is not permitted.  New hats are available to be purchased from the school office.  
  

The Department of Education (DoE) has released updated government primary and combined (district) school intake areas, to apply from Term 1, 2021. These updated intake areas will only apply to families who enrol a child in a government primary or combined (district) school for the first time from Term1, 2021.

This means that for parents with children already enrolled in our school, the updated intake areas do not apply to your family. If your child has a brother or sister who hasn’t started school yet, they can still enrol at our school.

Our school’s updated intake area map can be found here https://publicdocumentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/Punchbowl-Primary-School-Intake-Area-from-2021.pdf.  This map is the same as the Proposed Map released by DoE last year in stage two of the Intake Area Review consultation process.

Why do we have intake areas?

Intake areas ensure that every Tasmanian child can enrol at a high quality government school close to where they live. Attending a school close to home helps children feel part of their local community. Intake areas also help ensure schools have the facilities and staff to best support their students’ learning.

Where to get more information?

If you would like more information about our school’s intake area, or help finding out whether a particular address is within our intake area boundary, please contact us directly.

Alternatively you can contact Learning Services Northern Region: phone 6777 2440 or email Learning.Services.NR@education.tas.gov.au) 

The Department of Education hasexpanded the Student Assistance Scheme for 2021.

A set of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed to assist with any questions you may have. 

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
• Service Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.

Please note that if you received student assistance in 2020 you do not need to complete a form.

For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing applications for new applicants.

The online form can be completed here:  https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/ 

The form will be available for public use from 10th November.

Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will confirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy form please contact your school or stas@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 827 055.

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 greatly appreciated.

The Association meets in the school staffroom approximately once a term in the evening and everyone is invited to attend. Please see proposed dates below:

5th May - AGM and General Meeting

28th July

27th October

1st December

Special Hot Food Days Terms 2 & 3

We are wishing to re-introduce Hot Food Days on a regular basis in Terms 2 & 3.  If you can assist with being either a co-ordinator or helper, please either return the below form or contact the office with your details by Monday, 22nd March.

Thank you

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

If you currently hold Volunteer Working with Vulnerable People Registration,  please bring your card to the school office so we can record your registration.  Teachers will also ask to see your registration prior to initially doing Parent Help, as it is a requirement to carry your card 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. Please update your registration status via the below link to update and advise all organisations in which you volunteer.

If you wish to register, please complete the online application via the below link:

http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children/application

Students participating in the Esk Band Program will need to have paid their full registration & instrument hire by Friday, 26th March. 

The Australian Government will start its program in Tasmania to vaccinate residential aged care and disability care staff and residents at the same time as the Tasmania Government’s roll-out program commences.

I recognise that you may have questions about the vaccination program. I encourage you to visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccine for the latest information on the vaccination roll-out. Additionally, you can visit the Australian Government Health website for further information at www.health.gov.au.

Keeping yourself and others safe

We must all continue to play our part in being COVID safe. While the vaccine is an important measure in our response to COVID-19, it is part of a suite of things we need to do – including maintaining our COVID-safe behaviours:

• Stay at least 1.5 metres away from others;
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water;
• Stay at home if you are unwell;
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms; and
• Be aware of, and follow, current gathering, business and travel restrictions.

For the latest updates on the COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania and across Australia, visit  http://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.