Term 1 Week 2 - 13 February 2019

Newsletter Articles

Calendar of Key Events

Welcome……..

From the Principal

Welcome to the 2019 school year. It’s a pleasure to welcome back our students, families and staff for another exciting year of learning and fun at Perth Primary School. As I have visited classrooms during the first few days I have been struck by focused and engaged students attending to their learning. Co-operation, turn-taking, and fun have been key features of children’s time in the playground. Modelling and leadership from our Playground Leaders have been of great assistance as younger students have settled back to school.

New facilities

During the holiday period several new projects have been finished and are now ready to make a difference for students’ comfort, enjoyment and learning. The awnings on Prep/1 C-W and on the Kinder block were added, as well as the rubber covering on the deck outside the kindergarten classrooms. New rubber will be completed outside C block in a few weeks.

Student Leadership positions

Student leadership is an important aspect of our school culture and helps our students to develop responsibility, initiative and leadership. This week elections for House Captains, Student Cabinet and Student Parliament will be held. We look forward to the contributions of our new leaders and congratulate all students who put themselves forward for nomination.

Professional Learning Day

The first day of the term is gazetted as a professional learning day for staff. We worked together with all members of our staff team to look at the impact on an orderly learning environment. We learned about the pre-conditions for learning and talked about the importance of classroom and school culture for student learning and success. We know this impacts in major ways on student learning outcomes and the research evidence supports this.

Welcome to new staff

During the first few days we’ve been introducing some new faces to students at our lunchtime assemblies so that everyone knows our new staff members. We want our new team members to feel welcome and like part of our PPS team very quickly. They are:

Kylie Wrankmore – Grade 1–2 teacher

I have been a teacher for nine years and have been working overseas for the majority of my teaching career. I have recently returned to Tasmania late last year to be closer to my friends and family. I have also taught in some local Launceston schools, as well as in an Aboriginal Community School in Western Australia.

I have lived and worked in London, Bangkok and Brasilia and therefore have a huge passion for travelling and learning about different cultures. During the summer holidays I travelled to Ghana, Africa, to volunteer in a children’s home and local school to help implement some new teaching and learning strategies.

When I am not travelling the world, I enjoy being active in nature, participating in Crossfit and eating good food with my friends in local cafes and restaurants. I am looking forward to my new role getting to know the children and families of Perth Primary.

Emily Butler – Music teacher

Hello, my name is Emily Butler, I am so excited to be teaching music at Perth Primary on Monday and Tuesday’s this year. I have been teaching music for 8 years at Port Dalrymple School as well as Riverside High School. I love teaching ukulele, guitar, bucket drumming and choir! I believe every student can be successful in music and it is my aim to ensure every student is given the chance to shine. I believe the confidence from being successful in music lessons can filter on into other subject areas and bring joy and a positive outlook to a student’s schooling years. I look forward to getting to know everyone as the year progresses. Thank you for your kind welcome.

Mel Fleming – PE teacher

After spending 10 years teaching at Exeter High school, I made the change to primary school three years ago, and have taught at Youngtown Primary since. In my spare time I own and operate Footsteps Dancentre where I teach tap dancing to all ages. I have two children aged 8 and 5 and have been married 10 years this year. I am really excited to be working at Perth this year.

Bec Beeston – School Nurse

Welcome to a new school year! My name is Bec and I am your Primary School Health Nurse. The role of the School Nurse is to provide health education and health promotion to the whole school community. I will be promoting and engaging the students in some interactive health activities this year and also working with teachers in each grade to provide lessons on different health related topics. This might include things like nutrition, oral health, sun safety, hygiene, growth and development and mindfulness to name just a few.

I will also be conducting Kindergarten health screening in Term 2. This will include hearing and vision screening for kinder students. Additional vision and hearing screens for all other grades are also available on request. Consent forms must be signed by a parent/guardian prior to all screening and can be collected from the school office or may be sent home with your child.

I will be working at Perth Primary School every Monday this year and would love to chat if you have any concerns or questions regarding your child’s health or the role of the School Nurse. You may like to email me at your convenience to make an appointment or ask a question bec.beeston@education.tas.gov.au

I hope that your child/ren have had a positive start to the year and I look forward to working with you and the teachers to ensure a positively healthy school community.

Leonie Katsabiris – Teacher Assistant

I will be working as a Teacher Assistant this year in Kinder A with Kate Adams. I’m very much looking forward to working with children as they enter their first year of school and to help make it a happy and fun place to be.

Mel Petterwood – Social Worker

I’m really excited to be working with students, staff and families at Perth Primary School. I’m passionate about helping students work through hard things so that they can be the learner and the person they want to be. I love working in creative ways, using art and music.

Hollie Flaherty – Speech and Language Pathologist

I am a Speech and Language Pathologist. I have been working in the discipline for 6 years. I work with students across all levels and service a range of delays/disorders. My job is to support student needs through the assessment of students, implementation of individual and group intervention and contributions to the classroom environment/curriculum.

Chris Brooks – Chaplain

Oh no.... our new school chaplain rides a Harley to school. But have no fear, I don’t appear like a biker and the bike club I have belonged to for 25 years is the international God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club. My week finds me as the chaplain at Ravenswood Heights Primary School, as a teacher of automotive studies on Wednesdays and now the chaplain at your excellent school. Chaplains in schools spend their time in various ways. Most Chaplains work to their individual strengths. I will be spending a lot of time in classrooms with students who may need support and may need to be working outside of the main class environment for a while. I am available to assist with personal support for students, staff and families if you feel a listening ear or a helping hand might help make your life a little easier. Please understand that whilst I take faith seriously I can appreciate the need to be light hearted about the whole deal sometimes.

VSVJ Project

Just as work is taking shape on the highway bypass, our partnership project with VSVJ is also a work in progress. Several projects are currently under discussion. We will bring you further details once some legal hurdles have been cleared.

Welcome BBQ

The School Association is planning to host the annual Welcome BBQ on Thursday 21st February. This free event is available for all school families to meet, mingle and welcome in the new school year in a casual setting. The BBQ provides the opportunity to talk with teachers and other staff in a friendly and relaxed manner. (The proposed AEU work-to-rule campaign may interrupt these plans)

Lee Craw
Principal

Happy Birthday

Celebrating birthdays this newsletter are:

Maddyson, Trisha, Lucy, Ignatia, Bodhi, Jamie, Amali, Emma, Koby, Laila, Dex, Casey, Zac, Taylah, Jett, Jaxan, Victor, Valentino, Rubi, Madison, Azhara, Chaise, Ryan, Lincoln, Jack, Dylan, Armani, Ava, Theo, Zatoria, Sophie, Liam, Georgie, Gemma-Lee, McKenzie, Payton, Caitlin, Seth, Spencer, Bree, Armi, Christian, Mrs Arrieta-Shadbolt, Ms Hernandez, Miss Thomas, Miss Delphine, Mrs Wyatte, Miss Durkin, Miss Bolch and Mrs Whyman.

Duty of Care Reminder To Parents

Community News……

2019 PPS Support Staff

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