1 September 2023

Welcome to our Newsletter

Principal's Report

Dear Families

Goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring, we warmly welcome any sunny days coming our way!

We have been busy this term.  In addition to all of the learning we have been doing in the classroom we have had fun with extra activities such as Book Week (and the many events that go along with this), coding club, chess club, knitting club, whittling club and all of the practice for the upcoming Margate's Got Talent!  Please see below for updates on a few key things happening in the school.

DECYP Values

The Department of Education of Children and Young People (DECYP) Culture and Growth Leaders ran a session with Margate Primary School staff to introduce the new DECYP Values and workshop how to embed them in the school community. We were very fortunate to have this session provided so early in the development, being one of the first schools to participate in this professional learning. We look forward to seeing how we can embed the new DECYP values with what we value at Margate Primary School.

Staffing

Ms Langham is continuing to rest and recover after ankle surgery earlier this term. We wish her all the best and I will continue in the role of Acting Principal for the rest of term.

We welcome Emma Anderson who will be teaching 4/5 Royal Penguins for the remainder of the Term.  Emma is an experienced teacher that has recently moved to Tasmania. Emma is a great addition to our team, and we warmly welcome her. We would also like to thank Ms Bridge for her wonderful efforts with the class. Ms Bridge will be remaining at Margate Primary in a different role.

Sharing Evidence of Learning

We thank you all for your patience and grit in figuring out the new way we are reporting on how your child is progressing at school. We are moving away from the end of semester report comments to regularly sharing how your child is progressing with examples of their work. With these examples, we are sharing the matching rubrics (a communication tool to let you know how your child is going compared to the Australia Curriculum Standards). The language in the rubrics has been modified by taking out the 'teacher talk' so students can understand where they are with their learning and how they can progress. This information is then shared with our families as we know that family engagement is a high impact stategy to help students with their learning. I found out the word 'rubric'  is a  'teacher word' after making up a mock rubric and sharing with non-teacher friends. They wanted to know why I would pick the 'E' column over and 'A' column.  I then explained that each criteria was marked moving along horizontally, so some criteria maybe an A whilst others a D.  A rubric takes the guessing out of the learning for students and makes it clear what is expected with each learning area achieved. This type of feeback encourages continous growth in learning.

Rubric Example - this is not based on any evidence apart from my opinion and it's purpose to demostrate how to use a rubric.

My Perfect Sunday Morning

My Sunday morning wake up was above average. My future thoughts for the day and breakfast on Sunday morning were at standard.

Maybe you can use this to "assess" your Sunday morning and ask your family to help improve it!

Leah Waugh 

Acting Principal

Class Placements 2024

Decision making regarding class placements is a complex and lenghty process in which teachers, support staff and our leadership team work extensively to balance the needs of each individual student.  Decisions are guided by the following priorities:

• The educational needs of the child
• The social and emotial needs of the child
• The balance of gender in the class
• The number in each class

Student input: This term children in Prep to Grade 4 will be asked by their teacher to nominate two children they would like for classmates in 2024, children are asked to consider students who have positive impact on their learning.  We encourage families to talk to their children about who they nominate.

In preparation for High School, Grade 5 students are not asked to nominate preferred classmates in Grade 6. In Term 4 children will participate in a "Preparation for Grade 6 Workshop" which explores leadership, friendship and "positive strategies for coping with change".

Family/carer Input: We appreciate that there are times when there are extenuating circumstances which need to be considered.  If you wish to flag information to be considered when finalising your child's placement, please complete our 2024 Class Placement Request online form. To be considered this information needs to be received by the end of Term 3 2023.

Access the form via QR code or hyperlink: 2024 Class Placement Parent/Carer Requests  

If you are unable to access the online form, please contact the office.

Extenuating circumstances may include:

1. Concern due to issues that have been raised with the school or teacher/s previously that would significantly impact their child's learning, behaviour or wellbeing.
2. The request is necessary due to an issue of concern that the child has and is significant and would be supported by school support staff, doctor or psychologist or other professional involved with the family.

Class for 2024 will be shared in the second last week of 2023.  Children will participate in a transition half day with their new teacher (if possible) and importantly with their new class in preparation for 2024.

Please note if requests made by children or families/carers are not feasible you will be contacted prior to 2024 classes being announced.  Any concerns regarding 2024 class placements communicated at the end of the school year will be noted and reviewed Week 5, Term 1.

We thank you for your trust and flexibility in determining the best placement for your child/ren.

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey

Attention: Parents and Carers of students in [Year 4-6]

The wellbeing of our students is important to us - we want to hear how students feel, and think, about different things going on in their lives.

Those in Year/s 4-6 at Margate Primary School will be taking part in the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. The results from this survey will help us get a picture of the current wellbeing of our students, and what we can do to improve future wellbeing for learning. The more students who take part, the clearer our picture will be. 

The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey is part of the Department’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy 

The details for the survey are:

When:   Week 8, 11-15^th September

Who:     Grades 4-6 students

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 Year 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 Deb Lie via the front office.

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.

Bee Tickets

Friday 25 October 

Margate Primary School - Book Week 2023

What an amazing week Margate Primary have had celebrating Book Week!

Day 1: Write a Book in a Day Competition 

This year, some of our wonderful Year 6 students (supported by Mrs Harrland) joined thousands of writers around Australia taking on the challenge to write and illustrate a book in just one day! The challenge not only helps develop collaboration, creativity, and time management skills, but also provides the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of kids with cancer. Our Year 6 Team have already raised over $300 on the day and will be holding a Mini–Book Fair to further add to their fundraising total.  Fantastic work! 

Day 2: Kinder Bilbies’ Book Week Parade & Book Club

On Tuesday morning, Kinder Bilbies kicked of our Book Week Parade celebrations with some beautiful, courageous and scary book characters. 

At lunchtime, Mrs Austwick and Mrs Stafford had the pleasure of participating in our MPS Book Club with some curious Year 3-6 readers. The rain may have stopped them heading down to Banjos, so instead, Banjos came to them.  Thanks Margate Banjos!

Day 3: BOOK WEEK COMMUNITY WALK & PARADE

Wednesday saw our Community Walk and Parade reach new heights with so many creative, detailed, imaginative and thoughtful book characters represented by students. 

Students were cheered on by spectators on the streets along with families who came along to the gym to watch the parade.  The atmosphere inside was electric and great to see the support from students to their fellow classes and cohorts.  

We would like to thank Louise from Elder's Real Estate for generously purchasing and donating Book Week prizes for each year group as well as Richard Jupe for his outstanding photography and our amazing P&F for the delicious popcorn!

WOOF For Story Dogs

MPS are so lucky to have Mrs Jarvis and Rosie as a part of the Story Dogs Program. On Friday staff and students wore orange and donated a gold coin to the ‘WOOF for Story Dogs’ Fundraiser to help support the amazing Story Dogs program across Australia.   We raised a grand total of $256!

Thank you to all of our students and families for making Book Week such a fabulous celebration!

Check out the below link to find out the CBCA Book Week winners:

https://cbca.org.au/winners-2023

Thank you P&F!

Decodable texts are specifically written for readers as they are developing their blending and segmenting skills and their knowledge of the alphabetic code. Decodable texts support students as they practise by using a continuous meaningful text.

We are so incredibly thankful to our amazing Parent & Friends (P&F) and all of the support from our school community for generously donating money to help our school purchase these valuable readers.

Our teachers have been participating in Professional Learning and we now have enough sets to use for our Guided Reading sessions in our Prep to Year 3 classes. We were also able to purchase decodable texts for our older readers.

Words cannot express how grateful we are to our incredible P&F and everyone in our school community. Here is just one small example of how the funds raised by our hardworking P&F benefit our school and students.  

Tree Planting Day

Thankyou for all the incredible efforts on our Tree Planting Day at our Eucalypt Walk, which was kindly sponsored by the Jane Goodall Foundation.

Over 400 students from Prep to Year 6 planted native trees, shrubs and grasses, made bush mandalas, explored books about trees, practiced botanical drawings and plant ID and had a nature based scavenger hunt.

We were lucky to have the expertise of BJ from the Kingborough Council. Students also saw science in action through special guest Evie Lazarus, Tree Ecologist from the Derwent Catchment Project.

They also ‘grew’ their enthusiasm for trees and soil via the efforts of our garden teacher Chris. A special mention to the family volunteers especially Lisa who worked tirelessly all day.

Also an enormous thanks to 4/5HH Thylacines who showed courage, grit and kindness while leading all classes on the day, including reporting on the event.

Why do we plant trees?

“They really look interesting and give me a new view on life.”

“I like their softness and like seeing them grow.”

“They give you fresh air.”

“The after result is amazing.”

“I love nature, it makes me relaxed.”

“Yes do, yes try, I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees.”

Kinder 2024

Gumnuts Early Learning

News from Gumnuts

Garden Cafe News

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

This term we have welcomed 4/5 Quolls and 4/5 Penguins back in the garden and kitchen. The garden sessions have been focussed on keeping the garden looking tidy from the never ending weeding, as well as preparing the ground and garden beds for the upcoming Spring planting. We also incorporated our teamwork into our whole school tree planting efforts.

The kitchen has been a hive of activity as the students have been julienning, slicing, kneading, stir frying, grating many different vegetables to make Lentil Soup, bread rolls, Veggie Burgers, salads, gyoza and veggie stir fry. It’s been great to see the excellent teamwork among the students to get our recipes made and the clean up done smoothly. I wonder how many students have showed off their kitchen skills and cooked at home for their families?

A big thank you to all the amazing volunteers who take time out to help us out!

Jackie & Chris

Kitchen Garden Team

Parents and Friends News

It’s becoming a tradition – our second ever Margate After Dark is just around the corner and it’s shaping up to be every bit as exciting as last year.

• TAIKO DRUMMERS
• Build your own mini-fig and Lego competition
• Glow stall
• Sensory zone
• Raffle
• Food
• AND a mysterious Grade 6 event!

Stay tuned for more info and opportunities to be part of the After Dark team!

NEXT MEETING – SEPTEMBER 6^TH – 6:30 PM – MARGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL STAFFROOM.

WOOF Day

Thank you so much to everyone who wore orange and donated to the recent StoryDogs fundraiser, WOOF Day - Wear Orange On Friday. Rosie had a busy time collecting from every class! You raised an amazing $256! 

If by any chance you missed donating and would still like to, there is a Donate Now option on the StoryDogs website.

Donated money will help to support more dogs in more schools - to engage reluctant or anxious readers by reading in a fun and relaxed manner to a non-judgemental dog. Monies help to purchase dog vests, reading mats, books, insurance and more.

StoryDogs is always on the lookout for more dog teams...if you have, or know anyone, with a calm dog which might be suitable, have a look on the website to see what is involved, have a chat if you see us out and about, or drop me an email sarahpjarvis6t@gmail.com

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 the 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.  Thank you.

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 infomation 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. Named 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 

Community Notices