December 2024

Welcome to our Newsletter

Principal's Report

Dear Families,

The last day of the 2024 school year has arrived. It is hard to believe that 2024 is almost over. I am always amazed at how quickly the year goes by - especially as I get older, it seems to get faster!

I would like to thank and congratulate staff. 

The dedication and professionalism of all of our teachers to ensure they are providing the best learning for all students has been outstanding.

The Teacher Assistants are often the forgotten heroes in schools. They work closely with teachers to support our students with the highest needs to ensure that they are accessing appropriate learning and achieving their best. Our Teacher Assistants are simply amazing and, often use their initiative to undertake other tasks needed as required.

Our office staff:  Amanda and Caroline, and our SBM Donna, continue to be the frontline when people come into the school. Even under pressure this team always greets visitors with a welcoming smile and provides caring support for students (and families).

Our school is a big school which means a big role for our Education Facility Attendants: Robyn, Deb, Betty, Michael and Liza and Muhammad (relief) and Martin our grounds person. They work tirelessly day in and day out to keep our school looking fabulous ensuring that our school has a welcoming appearance and is kept safe.

I could not be prouder of how the staff have continued to work together with the focus remaining on providing a safe environment with high-quality learning programs for all students. Each staff member at our school plays a big part in the social, emotional, and academic development of students and certainly help make my job in the school an enjoyable one. Beside me is another great team who provide me with outstanding support and often do most of the hard “grunt work” – Liz, Nathan, Kate, Janelle and Deb.

Like every year in a school, we farewell staff for a number of reasons, such as promotion, transferring schools, maternity leave or retirement. This year we say goodbye and thank the following staff members for their time at our wonderful school:

Georgia Brough: Thank you for your wonderful work this year in one of our year 3 classes. It is such a great achievement to see so many students so happy and engaged while they are at school. We wish you all the very best with the new addition to your family and look forward to your return after maternity leave.

Tom Friend: We wish Tom well in 2025 as he leaves us to take time with his daughter and wife.  All the best for next year, art will take on a different look for Tom. Thank you, Tom for your work this year in building creativity in our students.

Deb Lie: As an integral part of our Support and Wellbeing team, Deb has worked tirelessly in the area and will be missed by students and families. I know that Deb will make a strong and positive impact in her new role at Hutchins.

Deb Scott: will be retiring after 17 years with us. She has been an absolute gem in our school, always helping out when needed. Thank you for all your hard work. Enjoy your retirement.

Adam Bowden: Thank you for your continued dedication with the students, your work certainly helps students think and question more deeply as they learn. We wish you all the best at Springfield Gardens in your new role as Instructional Specialist.

Anna Steinhauser: Will be transferring to Huonville Primary on Kinder which is exciting for Anna. I know that Anna will bring creativity and passion to the role.

Zerlinda Crawford: Will also be transferring to Huonville Primary School. I wish Zerlinda all the best and again, know that the enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to the students will be valued immensely at Huonville.

Jess Greener: Thank you, Jess for all your work in our Kitchen / Garden space and with our wonderful students. Your positivity and dedication will be missed. I know you will be amazing in building your business and we wish you all the very best.

Hayley McClure: The knowledge and skills that Hayley has shared with us has been amazing. We appreciate the work that you have done with us in building our knowledge. All the best for your future endeavours

Jenna Mason, Denise Hennessy, and Hana Kramer: Thank you all for your wonderful work at our school. I know that the students have been at the centre of all that you do. You stepped in at short notice and we all admire how much you gave of yourselves to our students. All the best in your next steps.

And finally, we have a key bank of regular relief teachers - I would like this opportunity to thank them for the part they have played in the student learning at MPS. It has been fantastic having such a dedicated and professional group of relief teachers willing to undertake the teaching roles at the school and continue to provide meaningful learning for our students. I wish you all a lovely break and hopefully see you back at MPS in 2025.

At this stage Pieta Langham remains on extended leave. In the interim, I will be continuing in the role. I am excited by the trust put in me to continue to lead the school on its teaching and learning journey, working with all the wonderful students and helping them to develop and grow both academically and within themselves. I am always reminded about the value of a strong partnership between school and home and am confident that this partnership continues into 2025. The team is stronger when we all work together.

For 2025, we will be welcoming a few new faces to our teaching team: Jessica Britten will be teaching in one of our year 1-2 classes. Welcome to Margate Primary Jess. We also welcome back Aaron after a year of overseas travel.

Teaching Staff 2025

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our School Association Committee, led by Tristan Bell, Treasurer Kate Lucas, P&F Chair Katie Ruscoe, Alice Parker and all the Parents and Friends members.  I would like to thank everyone involved in the association for the time they dedicate to activities aimed at providing fundraising or enriching activities for the families in our school community. The Fair was a huge success and this is because of the planning, commitment and dedication of the team. With funds raised they have supported us with the purchase Decodable Readers for 2025 that will support our Reading Priority. Planning is underway for 2025 events. Watch this space! I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful school community and staff who have worked hard together to support the learning of our students. It is always a joy to chat with families about their aspirations for their children and how we can support that journey with them.

I say a last goodbye to our Year 6 students and leaving families. Remember, Margate Primary School is always your school. Enjoy the next part of your journey as you head into high school next year.

I wish all staff, students and their families a restful and safe holiday period. We look forward to seeing our returning students on Thursday, 6th February 2025 for the start of a new school year.

Suzanne Oates
Principal

Golden Tickets

Congratulations to the following students who won the golden ticket draw on Monday. These students and many others have earned golden tickets by displaying our values of Connection, Courage, Growth, Responsibilty and Respect.

Japanese Cultural Excursion

On Tuesday 22nd October myself, TA Jess Greener, and a select bunch of year 3-6 students went on a Japanese Cultural excursion to Bushinden Tasmania Budo Dojo. The Dojo has many traditional artefacts on display such as samurai armour, martial arts weapons, katana swords, calligraphy, kimonos, taiko drums, and more, that quickly caught the eyes of the students attending. To enter the Dojo the students were taught to show respect by bowing and taking their shoes off. They were shown the correct way of sitting in seiza (on their knees) position. They all did their best to last as long as they could, many getting pins and needles as they stood up.

Duncan Sensei showed the different artefacts and explained the difference between ninja and samurai. The students were eager to ask many questions and get involved in the different demonstrations. We then split into groups where one group experienced the elegant and traditional Tea Ceremony, and the remainder learnt different ninja techniques. We even got to witness TA Jess Greener show off her Martial Arts skills. After rotating through the groups three students were dressed in the summer yukata kimono. I was so impressed with their enthusiasm and respectful behaviour. Duncan Sensei mentioned to me on many occasions how much he enjoyed the groups and how well they participated.

We spent the remainder of the time at St Davids Park eating sushi and playing Frisbee, soccer and relaxing in the park for lunch, before finally making our way back to school.

It was a fun day for all.

“My Favourite thing was the Tea Ceremony because I got to have the green tea” - Pheonix, Year 3B

“I enjoyed the tea ceremony and the egg and chopsticks race. The Tea Ceremony was cool because how green the tea is and the chopsticks race because I know how to use them” - Harry, Year 3

My Favourite part of the excursion was the Tea Ceremony. I had seen Japanese tea made but was cooler to see it in person. I also like when we got to explore the place” – Connie, Year 3

Japanese Speech award ceremony

On Friday November 22nd, I, Simone, Year 6 Ari student and Year 4 student Neve were invited to the Governor’s house to receive the Japanese Speech competition certificates. Earlier in the year both Neve and Ari, among many others from years 3-6, competed in a Nation-wide Japanese Speech competition where they were judged on pronunciation, memorisation, correct grammar and cultural aspects such as bowing, etc. Over 50 schools participated, and 201 applicants were submitted for judging, not to mention the many students who applied, however only two students from each grade could be submitted. Neve in year 4 came second place and Ari in year 6 came first place.

It was a very formal occasion and both students were in awe of the Governor’s house and excited to be awarded their certificate by the Governor herself. After the award ceremony, the students, along with their teacher, took photos with the Governor and had the opportunity to talk with her. Ari mentioned it was his fourth time meeting her and she was very impressed with his dedication to his schooling.

We then moved into a side room for refreshments and socialising. It was such a lovely evening, and I continue to be in awe of the enthusiasm, respectfulness and talent that is shown by the Margate Primary School students. I look forward to seeing what happens next year!

Words Make Me Fly

Student thinking and learning from the Words Make Me Fly extension creative writing program was celebrated this week. The group from Year 5 worked very hard over half of the year to improve their writing skills while being inspired by Central Australian landscapes. Their work was showcased in a portfolio and presented in front of families. They should all be very proud of their achievements.

Student quotes:

‘It improved the quality of my writing’

‘Learning with other students helped me to get good feedback’

‘It showed me the fun of writing’.

Karen Harrland
Storytelling Teacher

The big travel around the world (at least I think so.)

It was cold, dark and lonely, I was scared and shivering, my hands had gone blue to purple, I feel like a seal who had just gone underwater in Antarctica!  I had to go somewhere, at least somewhere I wouldn’t freeze.

My mother died when I was very little, and my father works full time, we used to live in Tasmania, but now I don’t know where I am, can you please help me? I’m in a freezing cold place, I have ice as a blanket, and it is night… well, I think it is night… I don’t really know because it is always light!

Last night I couldn’t sleep because all I saw was the blasting light shining in my eyes… BANG!!!

The fourth planet crashed into earth causing earth to explode. 6 billion people died, and 1,000 of animals including the dinosaurs. Wow am I dreaming? I wondered out loud as I felt my body lift like 1 million flies were lifting me up and up and up and UH OH, I’m in space, wait what but how? How can I breathe? How can I talk? Before I can figure this all out, I heard a strangely familiar voice rumbling from behind me.

Isla E

Alice in Wonderland

On Tuesday 10^th December we went to the Botanical Gardens to watch the tale of Alice in Wonderland performed by Big Monkey Productions. We caught the bus in the morning then we went to watch the play. Alice got lost in Wonderland; she saw a rabbit, the Mad Hatter, bubble blowing caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, the Knave of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat.

After the play we got back on the bus and went to Mount Nelson playground and oval for a play and lunch. Some people played soccer, some people played kick-abouts and some played on the playground. It was very cold and windy, but we survived!

• Erik liked going on the bus and playing eye spy with Harry.
• Macsen liked playing soccer on the oval at Mount Nelson.
• Dion liked going on the ginormous flying fox at the playground.
• Alice thought the play was good and I liked the music.
• Matilda liked the part when Alice ate the tarts and got into Wonderland.
• Logan enjoyed trying to find mushrooms at the park.
• Austin like the climbing frame at the park.
• Lucas liked playing frisbee with his friends at the park.
• Hazel enjoyed the singing in the play.
• Hamish liked teatime and playing tag.
• Indy had fun making cubbies.
• Mae loved the flying fox!
• Matilda liked that the story was Alice having a dream.
• Lucy enjoyed the acting.
• Isaac had fun playing soccer.
• Matilda liked the rocking things in the playground.

Colour Run Fundraiser Friday 15th November

What a great and fun day organised by our Grade 6 Leadership team

Gumnuts Early Learning

Parents and Friend's News

The School Association and Parents & Friends would like to thank the families of Margate Primary School for allowing us to fundraise and make a difference to our school. 

We ran and coordinated successful events in 2024 including the Meet the Teacher night, Meet the P&F, Election BBQ, Easter Raffle, Bunnings BBQ, mega second-hand uniform sales, School disco, Lisa Ford sessions, Christmas Singalong and various community pizza nights. 

If you wish to join the School Association Committee in 2025, have event ideas or general suggestions or questions, please email mpspfsecretary@gmail.com

We appreciate your support in 2024 and wish all families, staff and community a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks for everything this year. 

Uniform Opening Hours 

Saturday 01/02/25 - 10am - 4pm

Monday 03/02/25 - 10am - 12pm

Thursday 06/02/25 - 8.15am - 9.15am

Piano Awards

Two Margate Primary students recently had their AMEB (Australian Music Examination Board) piano exams, after a full year of preparation and practise. Bonnie received a B for her exam.  Harry, who blew us all away at Margate's Got Talent, received an A+. We are so proud of them both for all their hard work!

Netball

The students pictured below competed in the Spring Netball Season

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.

Facebook

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

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) 2025

Letters confirming STAS 2025 eligibility are now being delivered by post.

Parents/guardians with an existing STAS record do not need to re-apply for STAS online. 

Families who have not applied for or not received STAS previously are encouraged to apply online at Student Assistance Scheme (STAS)

Families who are advised by letter that they are approved for STAS 2025 and who need to add another student can email their full name and the name, date of birth and grade of the student in 2025 to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au and the newly enrolling student will be added to their file.

Applicants who have been assessed as not eligible and wish to have the assessment reviewed can call Financial Assistance on 1800 827 055 or email their query to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.

Community Notices