This is my final Principal Report as Acting Principal.

Everyone would be aware of the challenge of being next in line after Tim Nicholas… they are big shoes to fill. But I have loved every minute (well, almost). It is a role of great privilege and of service.  I want to thank everyone for their support, their words of encouragement and their gestures of kindness. When we work together, as a school community, we can achieve great things.

Next term, we welcome Suzanne Oates to the role of Acting Principal. Suzanne is coming to us from South Hobart Primary School, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. I know you will all be keen to meet her and find out more about her new vision for Austins Ferry Primary.

Some other staff changes – we farewell Pip Bailey on Maternity Leave and send Kerrie Riewoldt off to enjoy her retirement. We welcome back Eleanore Taylor and we acknowledge the work of Erin Rogers, finishing in the LOTE role.

We celebrate school successes – most recently with Keegan Bailey and the Interschool Athletics Team coming Second in the SPSSA Carnival; Amelia Clifford winning the 2023 Marj Colville Primary Science Teacher Award for her year long inquiry into Bandicoots; and several grants – that will provide our school with the opportunity to enjoy new materials and resources.

As we head into the Easter Break and the Holidays, I wish everyone good health, safety and happiness. We look forward to seeing you all back here, ready to learn, in Term 2 – the day after ANZAC day.

Warm Regards,

Nikki Mann

Term 1 Progress Reports have been sent home with students today. If your child was absent from school, this report can be collected from the School Office this afternoon, between 2:50-3:30pm. The report contains your child's progress throughout Term 1, staff changes and communication about reporting for 2023. 

The Easter Raffle was drawn last Monday 3 April 2023. The winners have been contacted via phone and can collect their prize from the school office before the end of term. 

1st        Akacia H

2nd       Lily-Anne D

3^rd        Finley M

P/1 Duncan recently enjoyed a Teddy Bears’ Picnic with fellow students from Nupitja pod. We spent the morning at The Esplanade, New Norfolk reading books and playing together. Books can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime, with the children proving this as they enjoyed their special books from home with their friends and favourite teddies.

In 1/2 Howell, we have been engaging in an inquiry on Australian animals. Our questioning has led us to many different findings. We have been researching about platypuses and their features, with a particular focus on the ‘Hobart Rivulet Platypus’ with 3/4 Clifford. We have also engaged with texts and artworks by Pete Cromer, a contemporary Melbourne artist who also has several books about different types of animals.

Our questioning led us to discussing the impact pollution and littering have on our environment/habitats and we documented our rubbish usage over the course of a week. Then we discussed the actions we can take to become more environmentally considerate.

We have demonstrated lots of critical thinking, collaboration and have communicated our thinking in different ways. Feel free to pop into 1/2 Howell to have a look at our thinking.

Term 1 has been busy from the start, with students settling into routines very quickly! Grade 6 Camp was an awesome success with great behaviour, resilience and helpfulness from our class members.

During literacy activities, we are learning how to write a persuasive text. Currently, we are writing a class one titled, “Should every family own a pet?”. Students will then pick their own topic. 

Numeracy activities have students working on place value, decimals, factors, multiples and rounding. Inquiry lessons are science based this term. Our topic has been “Sudden and extreme changes to Earth’s surfaces”. In this topic, we are looking at earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.

We have also been doing an all about me “shoe art” design (pictured above). 

APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT MAC!

Moonah Arts Centre 23-27 Albert Road, Moonah

Keep young minds and hands busy during the school holidays at MAC and nurture your child’s creativity and love for performance and visual arts. Our school holiday program is full of fun activities and workshops for kids of all ages and will run from 12-21 April.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

There are a range of creative workshops available to choose from these school holidays, including acting, drawing, dying fabrics, LGBTQIA+ empowerment and more. Each workshop is run by a specialist tutor.

View the full schedule and book at: https://www.moonahartscentre.org.au/kids/

FREE FAMILY FUN OPEN DAY

10am to 1pm Wednesday 19 April

Glenorchy City Council Front Lawns

374 Main Road, Glenorchy

Find us on Glenorchy City Council Front Lawns for a day of free family fun this April School Holidays! A range of activities will be available between 10am and 1pm, so come along and have a go at everything. Create your own masterpiece, learn circus skills, have a go on the crazy bikes and much more.

Come for an hour or stay for the day!

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please visit https://www.moonahartscentre.org.au/kids/ to book workshops and see the full list of events and details.