COMMUNITY NEWS – click to open Community News
PRINCIPAL NEWS
Dear Families,
This is the final newsletter for 2020 to complete a year like no other, and I would like to begin my ‘Principal News’ section by acknowledging our passionate, dedicated and highly skilled staff.
This year, our team has navigated unchartered territory, and their resilience, flexibility and strength has been amazing. Whether delivering the Learning at Home or the Learning at School programs, our teaching teams have remained focused on wellbeing. They have ensured our children felt safe, connected and supported throughout extremely challenging and stressful times, where many of our normal activities were taken away or paused for extended periods.
Our Support Staff, including Office Administration, Teacher Assistants, Library Staff and Education Facility Attendants, have also had an enormous role to play, across all areas of the school. They have assisted us to implement new safety procedures and processes as a result of Covid-19 and to clearly communicate changes to families in a variety of ways.
I am truly grateful for their efforts and thank each and every team member for their support and commitment to our children, families and each other during 2020.
This year, our school has embraced many exciting learning opportunities for both students and teachers, not letting the global pandemic hold us back for too long! Our weekly Nature Play Program has gone from strength to strength. With the addition of Nicole Smith, Aboriginal Education Worker, we have been able to begin school-based Reconciliation Action Planning and respond to our children’s request to connect more with their local environment and past histories.
Student voice and agency across the school has continued to grow during 2020, with students completing a number of online surveys to provide input into school improvement planning processes, including feedback on the Learning at Home Program which led to our ‘test and try’ re-structure of the school day over the past two terms. Our TPS Student Parliament has also continued to develop, with fortnightly sittings throughout Terms 3 and 4. Elections for 2021 have recently been completed, to assist with an immediate start to Parliament in the new school year. The TPSA has committed to seeking student funding submissions in 2021 to support school improvements, an exciting initiative to enable the student parliament to engage in planning discussions with the leadership team and school community. Exciting times!
Although our ability to have visitors and volunteers onsite was restricted for a significant proportion of this year, we were extremely fortunate to have parents and community members come in and help out with classroom activities, excursions and school programs such as Lexia and Story Dogs. It was wonderful to recognise their efforts at the Volunteers Thank you Afternoon Tea on the 4th December and acknowledge their contributions to our students and their learning.
The Taroona Primary School Association plays a significant role in supporting the school, and my leadership. I would like to formally thank Simona Timmins (School Association Chair) and the TPSA Committee: Hugh Kerr (Deputy Chair), Narelle Pullinger (Secretary), Mel Lees (Treasurer until August), Tracey Turner (Treasurer), Demelza Rafferty & Nicholas Dunn (Committee), Ang Oldfield and Hilary Purdie (Staff) for their ongoing commitment and support in a year where we have been focused on building our numbers and planning for 2021. There is still one vacancy for anyone who is interested!
I must also acknowledge the outstanding success of all of our students, in a year where they have had to adjust to new ways. The children have once again demonstrated our school values in their academic, social and emotional growth throughout the highs and lows of 2020. It was an absolute pleasure to read each child’s report last week and to celebrate their individual successes.
Taroona Primary School is a centre of educational excellence and I feel privileged to be your Principal. I am already looking forward to 2021, where we will focus more deeply as a school community on understanding and celebrating diversity and delivering programs that continue to align with our school vision of developing creative thinkers, connected learners and inspired leaders.
2021 Staffing Update
I am pleased to advise that our new Music Teacher for 2021 will be Ms Nicole Taylor. Nicole has been teaching Music at Triabunna District School this year and will work here with our children on Mondays and Fridays. Nicole will meet with Janelle Stowe to complete a handover before the end of term, and I look forward to welcoming her to our school community.
January Building Works
A number of exciting projects will occur during the holidays including a re-surfacing of the netball court behind the GP Room (confirmed) and pathway redevelopment around Middle Block (timeframe to be confirmed). For safety reasons, I ask that families do not come into the school grounds wherever possible during the holiday break, especially on week days between 7am – 6pm. Please note that Lady Gowrie will run vacation care from the GP room as normal, however there will be changes to entering the space throughout this period. Please follow all safety instructions and signage when dropping off and picking up.
My very best wishes to you all for a safe, fun and relaxing holiday break.
Danielle Bresnehan
Principal
TPSA NEWS
2020 has been an unusual year. Despite the challenges and a break due to COVID-19, the Taroona Primary School Association (TPSA) has continued to meet regularly to discuss ways to support our childrens’ learning, environment and experiences at Taroona Primary School. This year, the TPSA has contributed to the following items and activities, some of which are taking place as we write!
- Construction of a new Kindergarten Sandpit
- Grade 6 Leavers Cruise
- Grade 6 Leadership Event at the Kingborough Sports Centre
- End-of-year fun activity for all students involving a jumping castle and 60m obstacle course for the older children.
Thank you to parents whose roles with the TPSA finished-up this year. Thank you also to those who dived in the deep end and volunteered to join the TPSA in 2020. Your efforts and creative proposals going forward are much appreciated. An exciting new idea which will be implemented in 2021 is a process for students to make submissions for funding from the TPSA for student-driven initiatives. These submissions can be made through the Student Parliament; more information will follow in Term 1 next year.
The TPSA has developed a broad range of criteria which it aims to apply to any request for funding from the School Community – parents/carers, staff or students of the School. We welcome all ideas and encourage parents/carers to reach out to other members, or to come along to a meeting either in person or virtually. Meetings are held from 7 – 9 pm the first Tuesday of every month, with the exception our first meeting for 2021 is 9 February.
The TPSA is currently in a very strong financial position because of the volunteering efforts of many parents, carers and community members, particularly with the 2019 Seaside Festival. In addition, the School is able to offer services such as the uniform shop and Sushi Fridays because of volunteers. In particular, the TPSA would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by the following parents, who will soon no longer be (formally) involved with the School as their children are moving onto High School:
- Alex and David Terhell
- Carolyn McKinley
- Jacqui Rogers
- Leah Magliano
- Martine Siltman
- Nicky Adams
- Shelagh Curtain
Lastly, the TPSA is conscious it cannot spend money without making money. There are many exciting fundraising ideas in the pipeline for 2021. We will be reaching out for volunteer assistance next year, and (fingers crossed) will kick off 2021 with the annual Welcome Back BBQ.
Stay tuned!
Simona Timmins, Chairperson TPSA
December 2020
TPSAenquiry@gmail.com
Please find below links to documents from the most recent TPSA Meetings
Principal Report TPSA Meeting 3 November 2020
Please send all enquiries / correspondence to TPSAenquiry@gmail.com
Medical Information for 2021
With the end of the school year upon us, it is crucial that your child’s medical details are kept accurate and up to date. A health plan for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, epilepsy and anaphylaxis should be completed annually in consultation with your GP or specialist, together with authorisation forms to enable us to administer both non prescribed and prescribed medication.
Medication must be supplied to us in its original packaging, in date, and in its correct dose to be administered by our first aid staff at school.
Blank medical forms can be accessed from the school office or sent via email.
Student Bus Travel in 2021
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR FREE TRAVEL?
Eligible students can receive free travel to and from school with Tasmanian bus services. To see if you are eligible, apply for a student bus pass for free travel, or renew your expired free travel entitlement, visit www.transport.tas.gov.au/buspass/apply
Apply before 8 January 2021 and, if approved, you will receive your student bus pass for free travel before the start of Term 1.
If you already have a student bus pass for free travel and you’re still eligible for free travel in 2021, you will be able to access your free travel entitlement with your existing card.
TELL ME MORE!
For more information on student fares and free travel, visit www.transport.tas.gov.au/student
UNIFORM SHOP NEWS
Call for Volunteers – Back-To-School Sales Days
The TPS Uniform Shop is a volunteer-run service that provides TPS families the convenience of purchasing uniforms from the school campus during school / school office hours.
To run this service, we ask parents and carers to please offer assistance, where possible, during the Back to School sales days which will be held in late January / early February 2021.
Please contact Uniform Shop coordinator, Katie Ferguson, if you can provide between 2 and 4 hours of help on the dates listed below. Early advice is greatly appreciated. Katie’s contact details are: katieferguson@netspace.net.au or 0407 000 785.
Volunteers Needed
|
Date |
Volunteers Needed |
Location |
|
Friday 22nd January |
10:00am – 12 Noon |
Music Room |
|
Wednesday 27th January |
2:00pm – 5:30pm |
Music Room |
|
Thursday 28th January |
8:00am – 12:00pm 12:00 Noon – 3:30pm |
Music Room |
|
Tuesday 2nd February |
12:00 Noon – 3:30pm |
Uniform Shop |
|
Thursday 4th February |
2:15pm – 3:30pm |
Uniform Shop |
School Uniform Sales Days – Back to School 2021
The Uniform Shop will be open to families to purchase uniforms in the lead up to the first day of School. Below are the dates and location of sales.
Important: Pre-purchase of uniforms are available via the QKR app and can be collected from Wednesday 27 January from the Uniform Shop or the School Office.
|
Date (2021) |
Shop Hours |
Location |
|
Wednesday 27th January |
2:30pm – 5:30pm |
Music Room |
|
Thursday 28th January |
8:00am – 11:30am |
Music Room |
|
Tuesday 2nd February |
8:00am – 11:30am |
Uniform Shop |
|
Thursday 4th February |
2:45pm – 3:15pm |
Uniform Shop |
Price lists and order form
Click here for the range of uniform items.
Changes to STAS Eligibility
A set of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed to assist with any questions you may have.
Further questions about STAS or Levies and Charges in general can be sent to the Department of Education’s Financial Services Unit at stas@education.tas.gov.au or by calling 1800 827 055
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Student Absences
A reminder to parents/carers to advise the school office if their child is unable to attend school due to illness or any other reason.
- By phone (6227 8325)
- Email taroona.primary@education.tas.gov.au
A medical certificate is required if a child is absent due to illness for 5 days or more.
Holidays/Family Events
If your family is going away on holiday, please email taroona.primary@education.tas.gov.au with the details of your child/rens absence dates.
Signing Students in/out
To ensure we have an accurate record of student attendance, we ask that any student arriving at school later than 9:00am, or leaving for any reason during the school day, be signed in or out at the school office.
Messages to Students
If you need to get a message to your child, please contact the school before 2:15pm to ensure enough time for us to pass the message on.
Duty of Care
Please note that students are not to arrive before 8:30am. This is for the students’ protection and safety as there are no teachers on duty prior to 8:30am and classrooms remain locked until this time. Supervision is provided before and after school:
- Playground (EXCLUDING PLAY WEST & OVAL) 8:30 to 8:55am
- Car park & bus area 2:50 to 3:05pm
LADY GOWRIE
Lady Gowrie Taroona Before and After School Care operates from the hall each school day from 7:00-8:30 am (Before School Care) and 3:00-6:00 pm (After School Care), catering for children aged 4-12 years. We offer a safe and stimulating environment based on the children’s interests incorporating both indoor and outdoor play. We employ trained Educators and provide a nutritious breakfast and afternoon tea each day. Please contact the Lady Gowrie Outside School Hours Care Office on 6230 6806 or email us at oshc@gowrie-tas.com.au for more information.
To ensure the safety of our school property, please ring Crime Stoppers if you see anyone acting suspiciously in our school grounds