Term 1 2025 - Week 19 February 2025

Perth Primary School Calendar

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! We are thrilled to see our students’ smiling faces and to welcome new families joining our school community. This year is filled with exciting opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Our dedicated teachers have been busy preparing engaging lessons that spark curiosity and foster a love of learning. From developing strong reading and numeracy skills to exploring creativity and problem-solving, every child will be supported to reach their full potential. We look forward to working together with families to make this year a rewarding and memorable one. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead! 

A huge thank you to our incredible staff for their hard work in preparing for the new school year! We especially want to acknowledge Kim, Kathy, and Gary for their dedication in ensuring our classrooms and school grounds were ready for students to return. Their efforts behind the scenes make a world of difference in creating a welcoming and organised learning environment. We also extend our gratitude to the teachers who came in during the holidays to set up their classrooms, plan engaging lessons, and make sure everything was ready for a smooth start. Your commitment and care do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate all that you do for our students and school community! 

Welcome to Our New and Returning Staff! 
We are delighted to welcome new teachers to our school community this year! Mrs Lynda Colgrave (Grade 5–6 and Mrs Melissa Cooper Grade 2–3) have joined us from Youngtown and have already settled in wonderfully, alongside this we welcome Mrs Kristy Waters as a permanent staff member (Gr 1-2). We are excited for the expertise and enthusiasm they bring to their classrooms. Additionally, we warmly welcome back Mrs Amelia Woods, who has returned from maternity leave and Miss Karen Lovell who has rejoined our team. We also welcome Mr Darren Bye, Mrs Donna Campbell and Mrs Sharlissa Dudman as members of our Teacher Assistant team.  We know our students will benefit greatly from their dedication and passion for teaching and we look forward to a fantastic year ahead with them on our team! 

Our Team 

Leadership 

Office and Ancillary 

Teaching Team 

Teacher Assistant Team 

Student Support Team  

A Strong Start in Literacy 
At our school, we are committed to providing high-quality literacy instruction that aligns with DECYP’s statewide approach. This year, our Early Childhood Education (ECE) students will engage in daily phonics instruction using the UFLI program, ensuring they build strong foundational reading skills. In our primary classrooms, students will dive deeper into language by exploring the morphology (meaning) and etymology (history) of words through a structured scope and sequence called Word Origins. Not only will this approach enhance student learning in meaningful and engaging ways, but our teachers are also upskilling alongside their students, strengthening their expertise to deliver the most effective literacy instruction. We’re excited for a fantastic year of language discovery! 

Important Reminders – Student Forms and ICT Agreements 
Last week, our student validation forms were sent home and we kindly remind all families, if they haven't done already, to complete and return them as soon as possible. It is essential that these forms are filled out accurately, as they ensure we have up-to-date emergency contact details. Please note that students will not be able to leave the school site for excursions or other off-campus activities until these forms have been submitted. Additionally, all Grade 3–6 students must complete an ICT agreement before they can access their student devices. Families may also notice a slight increase in the levy cost for Grade 3 and Grade 5 students this year—this is to cover the purchase of individual headphones for use in the classroom. Thank you for your support in helping us keep our records current and ensuring a smooth start to the year! 

Welcome BBQ and Open Classrooms 
It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying our open classrooms and welcome BBQ last week! This event provided a fantastic opportunity for families to connect with teachers in an informal and relaxed setting at the beginning of the year. A big thank you to our School Association for organising the BBQ—it was a great way to bring our school community together. Looking ahead, there will be an opportunity for formal parent-teacher conversations in Term 2. However, if you have any worries or concerns in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange a convenient time to talk. Open communication is key to a successful school year! 

Every School Day Matters

Attendance plays a crucial role in student success, and we are aiming to improve our school-wide attendance rate in 2025! Last year, our overall attendance was 89.7%, and we’d love to push this over 90% this year. In 2024, twelve students averaged 1–2 days off per week, while another 27 missed 1–2 days per fortnight. Regular attendance is essential—not just for learning but also for building friendships and social connections. Students should only be absent if they are too unwell to attend. If you are finding it challenging to get your child to school, please reach out to their teacher or a member of the leadership team—we are here to help and can offer support in many ways. Also, don’t forget to notify the school of any absences via Schoolzine or phone, so we can keep accurate records. Let’s work together to make every school day count! 

Fire Safety – Week 4 

In Week 4, our prep- Grade 6 classes will be involved in a Home Fire Safety Program run by the Tasmanian Fire Service.  

The age appropriate program is designed to raise fire awareness in children and includes fun in class activities, videos, activity books, website www.tfseducation.com.au and giveaways.  

Parents and other family members are also encouraged to participate by reading the information and assisting your child with the after school activities. 

The TFS aims to deliver appropriate fire safety education to every primary school child in Tasmania and is  part of the TFS’s ongoing commitment to create a fire safe Tasmania. 

Key Fire Safety Messages include,  
Wake up - Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom 
Plan and practice a home fire escape plan with the whole family 
In a fire crawl low and go, go, go to the nearest exit 
In an emergency call triple zero   
Keep flammable material at least two metres from the heater 
If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, rock and roll 
Keep matches and lighters away from children 
Cooking - Turn it off before you turn away  
Cool a burn under cool water for at least 20 minutes 
Most house fires can be avoided. Make your home fire safe

More information www.tfseducation.com.au  

School Information

School levies
School levies are due in full by the end of March 2025. If parents require further assistance, please contact our SBM Taleah either in person at the office or email taleah.hill@decyp.tas.gov.au to discuss this. 

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) 2025
Families who have not applied for or received STAS previously are encouraged to apply online at https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au. Online applications can be submitted on any electronic device including mobile phones.

If you have any STAS queries, please contact Financial Assistance on 1800 827 055 or via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.

School Association 2024 Christmas Raffle
Winner of the Christmas raffle held at the end of 2024 (winners have already been notified and prizes were collected in December 2024.

1.  Joanna Joyce
2.  Gaylene Allen
3.  Karen Jenkins
4.  Lynette Cherry
5.  Chris Collins
6.  Max Styles
7.  Olivia Wright
8.  Mark Van Den Bosch
9.  Tara Henderson
10. Rebecca Chandler
11. Adam Watson (late donation from Freycinet Air $100)

Value Certificates

2025 Value Certificates

Term 1 - 18 February

Launching into Learning

Term Dates 2025

Term 1 Thursday 6 February 2025 to Friday 11 April 2025
Term 2 Monday 28 April 2025 to Friday 4 July 2025
Term 3 Monday 21 July 2025 to Friday 26 September 2025
Term 4 Monday 13 October 2025 to Thursday 18 December 2025

Canteen

Happy Birthday

Coopar C, Madelyn D, Charlie N, Cooper N, Lucy S, Libby C, Charlie P, Sonny D, Kobe B, Aimee L, Willow S, Darcy C, Mia D, Evie M, Mason W, Ollie F, Dex W, Archie D, Brae-Lee T, Maeve B, Zac B, Taylah C, Logan D, Jaxson B, Ryan C, Charlotte W, Amelia B, Maggie S, Oscar G, Rubi A, Azhara V, Matilda K, Archie R, Zachary H, Jack W, Armani D, Theo R, Phoebe B, Lachlan H, Marlee E, Zeke N, Lola W, Logan H, Reuben D, Evie R, Angus F, Aria P, Beau S, Eva D, Brayden F, Indi L, Fraser C, Sophie P, Roman D, Harrison B, Wilson C, Elsie M, Martha B, Dustin M, Jack N, Atarangi J, Isaiah N, Jasper N, Oxley G, Mabel H, Will B, Theo D, Theo W, Miss Hill, Mrs Dean, Miss Shepherd, Mrs Baty, Mrs Wyatte, Mrs Poke, Mrs Whyman, Mrs Demeijer, Miss Zolyniak and Miss Lockhart.

Community News

Perth Primary School Support Staff