December 17th
Well, here we are at the end of the 2020 school year, and what a year it has been!
I'm sure that it is certainly one that won't be forgotten easily. However, I would like to once again take this opportunity to thank the school community for your support, patience and understanding as we worked our way through the changes, and the learning required to implement these.
I continue to be amazed by children's ability to get on with the everyday things and find the positives. Each and everyone of our students can be proud of the achievements they have made this year.
Today we said farewell to our grade 6 students as they move on to the next stage of their formal education, and also to the following students who are moving on from Norwood.
Tristan Hawley, Mia Ross, Arman Ashrafi, Amir Ashrafi, Zahra Ashrafi, Oliver Butler, Alexander Butler, Emily Carr, Josephine King, Avery Vos and Alice Kernan.
Thank you for your contributions to Norwood Primary and best wishes to each and everyone of you!
Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year break. We look forward to seeing returning students in February.
Karen
2021 Staffing Update
Mr Gary Jones will be taking Long Service Leave for all of Term 1. We welcome Mr Luke Padgett to take on Gary's AP position for Term 1. Luke has been in an acting Assistant Principal role at Port Dalrymple.
We also welcome Mrs Virginia Tempest who has been appointed by the Department in a new Prep support position. Virginia has completed a diploma of Education Support and we look forward to her joining our team.
Congratulations to Mrs Grace Evorall who is the successful applicant for the substantive AST position (previously held by Mrs Linda Guy).
School Uniform
Please be aware that with the current import delays that Midford are experiencing some longer wait times with stock. If you are requiring new uniform pieces, it may be wise to place an order with Midford prior to the beginning of the year earlier rather than later. Staff will be able to discuss uniform options with you. Our updated uniform policy is attached for your convienience. Please note that shorts and trousers are to be navy blue and shorts need to be an approriate length .... approximately mid-thigh. Leggings and short sports tights should only be worn beneath the school dress if desired, and should be navy blue.
Banksia
Boys |
Girls |
Malachi E (Capt) |
Isabelle S (Capt) |
Nate H (VC) |
Amy B (VC) |
Waratah
Boys |
Girls |
Archie P (Capt) |
Ruby S (Capt) |
Ashton B (VC) |
Mattea W (VC) |
Wattle
Boys |
Girls |
Ace S (Capt) |
Zoe R (Capt) |
Archie M (VC) |
Lotty T (VC) |
Senior Student Leaders
Connor H |
Giaan P |
Malakai D (Vice) |
Delilah B (Vice) |
Levy Payment and Book Pack Collection Day is Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January, 9:00am - 3:00pm.
Class |
Respectful Student |
Growth & Learning |
Academic Effort |
Prep G/G |
Ivy Sheppard |
Cooper Bracken |
Hunter Apted |
Prep T |
Otto Moore |
Jake Kerrison |
Eden Brewer |
Prep-1 P |
Harrison Williams |
Leira Rankin |
Lenny Bent |
1 A |
Violet Morrison |
Skyla Hingston |
Malia Keeling |
1 B/H-D |
Ruby Leedham |
Toby Williams |
Ava Ralston |
1-2 W |
Evelyn Fitzpatrick |
Maisy Swift |
Timothy Lin |
2 M |
Amelia Plaisted |
Avery Vos |
Zach Stevenson |
2-3 Y |
Ruby Lockhart |
Cibella Wright |
Austen Coombe |
3 G |
Jackson McQueen |
Casper Larsen |
Matilda Stevenson |
3-4 B |
Hayden Button |
Ella Fitzgerald |
Matilda Morrison |
3-4 H |
William Etchells |
Gracie Burrage |
Luca Swift |
4 H |
Charlotte Farrow |
Mahli Scholes |
Tyler Leedham |
4-5 F |
Halle Ralston |
Vienna Bosch |
Sarah Nicolson |
5 F |
Archie Payne |
Lotty Taylor |
Zoe Ricketts |
5-6 M |
Thomas Harrington |
Mattea Wilson |
Isabella Antypas |
5-6 P/W |
Nate Hart |
Rohan Crawford |
Connor Holloway |
Music | PE |
Grade 2: Olivia Simmons |
Grade 3: Gabi Ling |
Grade 2: Seb Poke |
Grade 3: Griffin Wyllie |
Grade 3: Edward Saunders |
Grade 4: Ella Brown |
Grade 3: Macy Brown |
Grade 4: Sam Garwood |
Grade 4: Oscar Dell |
Grade 5: Ruby Steel |
Grade 4: Will Stevenson |
Grade 5: Malakai Diallo |
Grade 5: Giaan Plummer |
|
Grade 5: Layla Izzard |
Staffing Profile – completing our short series of long term employees with Department of Education
Mrs Ros Faulkner – grade 5 teacher and next year transferring to Punchbowl PS
Where was your first teaching appointment? A grade 3 at Ravenswood Primary School
If you have worked at Norwood for 21 years, what other schools have you worked in? Not many schools but I have taught lots of interesting subjects and lovely children.
At Ravenswood I taught grades 3 & 4. I also taught Visual Art, full time, for two years working with all the grades from kinder to 6.
At West Launceston I taught grade 2 and I also taught children who were hearing impaired.
At St Michael’s Special School my first class was a family group of children aged 8 to 15. I also taught children who had specific language disabilities so they all needed individual programs for language and maths. Later while I was still there, I taught high school students life skill programs such as Maths for Living , Community Access, Sex Education, Drug Education, Personal Hygiene, Cooking and Social Skills.
Who has been a Principal you have admired? Kelly Heathcote. I really admired the way she used her broad scope of knowledge to make effective decisions in her leadership role while keeping the children, parents and staff’s needs in mind. She could make tough decisions when she needed to but she was also empathetic and very supportive of her staff.
James your son, and a very successful cricketer, went to Norwood, how was he as a student with his mum in the same school? James’ younger sisters were delighted that their mum was coming to teach at Norwood Primary School. However, I think James was less enthusiastic as I think he worried that I might say or do something embarrassing. That could be because when I did do something weird my children would often say, “ You’re so embarrassing mum”. My response would always be, ”It’s a mother’s job to be embarrassing as it builds character in their children.” After James’ initial concerns, he quickly got over it and would just laugh. I absolutely loved the fact that I was here to see my children’s assemblies, sporting events and also get to know their school friends. It’s been great.
Kate Andrew – Grade 1 teacher
What school other than Norwood do you have a great fondness for? Trevallyn.
What year did you begin working at Norwood and who was a great support for you in your first year? 2020, each and every member of the school community.
Describe Norwood and its children in 3 words! Friendly, realistic and supportive.
What has been a significant change for you during your teaching career?Increased access to and use of technology.
What are you looking forward to in your upcoming holidays? Relaxing and becoming a grandparent.
Piano Lessons
We are pleased to advise that piano tuition with Mrs Michela Pinner will be available next year at NPS. Michela (“MISH-eh-la”) is an experienced and qualified teacher, and will hold one-to-one piano lessons on the school premises during school hours.
For more information, please visit www.michelapinner.com.au or contact Michela on 0400 573 821 or michelapinner@gmail.com
A message from our Chairperson
Our small yet wonderful association has kicked many important goals this year and has so much to be proud of. We successfully held our fair albeit within days of all major events in Tasmania being cancelled and were able to raise $14,000 much needed dollars. We passed a motion to finally change the school uniform and in doing so have given our students a warm, relaxed, unisex, all purpose, modern uniform that has been so well received by the greater school community, and can I say I personally think it’s cool too! Funny but true story, rummaging around through old school minutes from thirty years ago committee members found minutes where the changing of the uniform had been discussed and turned down, yes 30 years ago! I know change is hard and we hold dear to traditions, but we must also look forward, so congratulations to the parents and school leadership team that saw this change through.
To our wonderful parents and friends that have sat in on our meetings and volunteered at our fundraisers, thank you for your dedication and especially your patience this year as we grappled with not being able to do as much fundraising as we would normally do in trying conditions. It has been frustrating, but I think we can all agree that our efforts as a community have paid dividends and we have so much to be proud of, this year’s fair fundraising which will be spent on upgrades to our library which will enrichen our school for years to come. So even though we faced a tough year we have also made a real difference as well.
We have already started planning all our fundraisers for next year, with all the favourites coming back. Mothers and Fathers days stalls, Discos, entertainment books lots of raffles, Winter Fest and our end of year picnic will hopefully be back too. There’s so much to look forward to, so no wanting to wish our lives away but come on 2021!
From the Norwood Primary School Association, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2021.
Kind Regards
Ben Cunningham - Chairperson
The Norwood Primary School Association Committee and Executive would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2021!