2 June 2023

Welcome to this month’s Newsletter – 31st May 2023

Principal’s Briefing

Dear School Community,

Oh my goodness, it is a tad chilly! Already it is halfway through Term 2 and we have passed the first day of winter!

Reporting

Our new Department for Education, Children and Young People’s (DECYP) Reporting and Sharing Evidence of Learning requirements will occur in two steps. On the 23 June you will receive a transcript of your child’s mid-year assessment ratings, this is the first step.

The second and most important step is the Evidence of Learning Conversation with your child’s teacher, at this meeting your child’s learning progress will be explained in detail. Please ensure you book in your Evidence of Learning Conversation timeslot with your child’s teacher to secure a timeslot that will work well for your family. Link will be shared through Seesaw.

Staffing

There is a significant shortage of teachers across Tasmania. At Margate Primary we are in the enviable position of having all of our teaching positions filled. As we transition into the winter months securing relief teachers is going to be increasingly more difficult, we ask for everyone’s support and understanding in navigating this challenge. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our five UTAS Teaching Prac students who will be with us for a four-week period.

First Nation Australians Education

Last Friday the theme for our Whole School Assembly was “Sorry Day”, Margate Primary School is celebrated for our comprehensive First Nations Education program guided by our Aboriginal Education Worker Hayley and SETAC. The newest version of the Australian Curriculum stipulates our shared responsibility of “deepening students’ understanding of First Nations Australian histories and cultures, the impact on – and the perspective of – First Nations Australians”. We are looking forward to celebrating “For our Elders” during NAIDOC Week (2-9 July).

What are you grateful for?

You may have noticed across the school the shared Social and Emotional Learning focus of “Gratitude”. The ability of thinking “gratefully” is proven to be a significant protective factor for social and emotional wellbeing.

What are you grateful for? I am grateful every day for the adults who volunteer at our school. Whether it is in the garden, hosting Coding Club, listening to budding readers, knitting with our Grade 2’s, being a DJ, making yummy dumplings or running our School Uniform Shop you are making a difference and enriching the lives of the children at Margate Primary School!

Pieta Langham
Principal

School Photos coming soon!

Tuesday 27^th & Thursday 29^th June

Mid-Year Report Information

News from Music

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MARGATE MUSIC NEWS

On Wednesday 17th May, Margate Primary was excited to have a visit from a fantastic music man and inventor – Jon Madin.   Mr Madin who is from Victoria; travels around Australia taking a tiny trailer full of crazy and invented, whacky instruments (as well as marimbas!) from school to school. He helps students become experts at these strange and wonderful instruments in about five minutes, before teaching them a piece or two. Those pieces are then shared in a concert at the end of the day.

It was an action-packed day, and a joyful concert shared with the whole school. It featured many students from Grades 3 to 6, on instruments such as ‘echo cellos,’ ‘ding boxes,’ ‘rubber glove foot pump bassoons’, marimbas, and tiny drum kits made with discarded industrial bits and pieces. Mrs Finlayson, Mr Heier and Mr Friend demonstrated their fabulous dancing skills, and skills on the ‘aggy pipe shaker rings’ to loud enjoyment by all! There were brave students who danced and sang in front of the school (having only rehearsed for five minutes during the day!) and seemed to be totally in their element!

Thank you to the students, families, and staff members who stayed behind to help pack up the many instruments at the end. Without help, it usually takes Jon two hours to take it all to his car!

In other news, our choir is really taking off. We always have an enthusiastic bunch turn up straight after recess on a Monday in the PAC. New members are always welcome. We can’t wait to perform all we are rehearsing soon! Watch this space for where and when that will be happening! Our dedicated Grade 6 Marimba group has just got their hands on the pieces we will be playing in Marimba Mania later in the year, and we are very excited. We have been learning to read a little bit of music and perfecting our marimba rolls. This group is also very much looking forward to performing soon!

Grade 3 students will now be starting to learn recorder in Term Three. These can either be borrowed from school semi-permanently or purchased from the office any time from now at a cost of $13 per instrument. The utmost attention will be paid to hygiene and Covid safety on both purchased and borrowed instruments.

Any questions, please email me – andrea.van.emmerik@decyp.tas.gov.au

Bee Tickets

Congratulations to the following students, who got to choose something from the bee-hive:

Friday 12^th May

State Athletics 5th May

On Friday on the 5^th of May 11 students from grade 3 to 6 from Margate primary school went to Launceston to represent Huon and channel at the state athletics carnival.

The weather was on and off raining the whole day and high jump even got cancelled but, some people got an opportunity to fill in for the people that didn’t attend, or unable participate in that event. Isabella B had to fill in for the grade 6 girls relay, and they ended up placing 3^rd!  and the boy’s grade 6 relay team came 1^st!

Highlights of the day of the day were when Shani B came 1^st in the 800m and 1500m, Kate L came 3^rd in 400m 6^th in 800m. Tyler D came 2^nd in the 200m, and long jump and he was also part of the boys’ relays team and 4^th in the 100m. 

Overall Huon and Channel placed 2^nd out of the schools. What an amazing effort.

We would like to thank all the parents who drove their children, and all the teachers for coming along. And a big congratulations to all participants.

Deb Lie
Support Teacher/ AST

Gumnuts Early Learning

Baby Bags

Finally, a reminder that we like to welcome new babies into our Margate Community. Please send an email to Claire.grave@decyp.tas.gov.au so this can be arranged and delivered.

Garden Café News

A reminder that ordering closes at 9am on Monday, 2 days prior to a meal being served. Please be sure to select any special dietary requirements before finalising the order to avoid missing out.

Chananya Parkprom
Garden Cafe Coordinator

News from 1/2Munro (Currawongs)

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

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Not only have we welcomed the Grade 6’s back to the kitchen garden program for term 2 but we have also welcomed Chris Atkinson as our Garden Specialist.

It’s been a busy 4 weeks weeding and tidying the garden. The last of the tomatoes and chilli have been harvested after the weather turned frosty! The students have also been paving the area around the bottom garden beds so that this can be more all weather friendly.

In the kitchen, students have spent time getting reacquainted with the kitchen and our safety. We have chopped, sliced, grated, kneaded, rolled a variety of foods such as spring rolls, savoury tart, vegetable masala, raitia, roti, pasta, mini bread rolls and lots of salad. Students have also made use of our crop of quinces by preparing and making quince jelly.

Are you looking for an easy afternoon treat on Fridays? Our grade 6 students will soon be commencing their pop-up fundraising stall. We will have a variety of baked goods, fresh garden produce, and of course things like quince jelly that students have prepared. Funds raised this term will help make some improvements in the kitchen.

We welcome all volunteers in the kitchen garden program. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or someone in the community who loves to help out – we’d love to have you work with us. Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Chris & Jackie
Kitchen Garden Team

Jackie de la Motte
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Specialist
Margate Primary School
Thu-Fri

P and F News

Safety of Van Morey Road

Van Morey Road is very busy around school times with buses and cars going everywhere. This is why we had a school crossing installed.  For the safety of yourself and your children please only use the school crossing to cross Van Morey Road.

Booking of Gym

Just a friendly reminder if you wish to use the gym after hours for training, please make sure you ring and speak to the office first to check that there are no other bookings.

Collecting your child from school within the school day

If you are collecting your child from school within the school day for an appointment or other early departure reason, please come by the office first. The office will then assist in calling your child up to the office and you can sign your child out.

Facebook

Please follow us on our School Facebook page for information about upcoming school events and celebrations.  

Lost Property

Our lost property is overflowing. Please help us by coming along and looking through the lost property items. Names of lost items will be returned to the student (where possible) and all un-named items will be passed on to the uniform shop at the end of term. 

Attendance Notifications

Please contact the Office with attendance notifications no later than 9.30am to avoid receiving a phone call from our office staff.

If you are social distancing, please email  margate.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au

Margate Primary School has a mobile phone to receive SMS attendance notifications. If you wish to send a text notifying us of your child/ren’s absence you can do so on 0437 294 856.

Please do not call this number, it is for attendance text messages only. You can still contact us on 6267 2238 or email margate.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au

Levies for 2023

A general school levy covers stationery, textbooks, equipment, and excursion/performances.  Unfortunately, due to increasing costs, we have had to increase the levies for 2023. This is the first time they have increased the levies in 4 years.

Kindergarten: $230  
Prep-Grade 2: $365 Includes Water Orientation Program
Grade 3-5: $340 Includes Swimming and Water Program & SAKGF
Grade 6: $310 Includes SAKGF *Camp, Gr 6 Leavers Top and End of Year activities are separate fees.

Invoices will come out in early February 2023. If you want to have the school fees split between two parents and have separate invoices sent, please advise the school before the 31^st January, 2023. 

Financial assistance is available to families who have difficulty meeting educational costs through the Student Assistance Scheme, STAS.  STAS Application forms are available on the Education Department website for all grades Kinder to 6. If you are already in the scheme letters will be sent from the Department in Nov-Dec to confirm if you are still eligible for the scheme for the following year.  If you have any queries please call the office to ask for assistance or visit the link below.

Full payment of levies is due by the end of Term 1 unless arrangements are made with the School Business Manager. Installment options are by written agreement; please note that we are able to offer flexible and negotiated installment options to assist parents to budget for this cost if the above payment schedule does not suit your circumstances.  Families wishing to discuss a payment plan are asked to contact the office. The school accepts payment via BPay, cash, EFTPOS, Qkr or cheque. Please check the invoice for details.

2022/2023 Term Dates

Community Notices

The Channel Museum is looking for volunteers. If you can spare 5 to 10 hours per fortnight, we have a number of volunteer roles available including:

Visitor Reception

Tour Guides

Assisting with displays and collection management

Administration

Please leave your details at the museum or email us at secretary@channelmuseum.org.au to arrange an orientation.