Firstly, a big thank you to families who were contacted by our External School Review team. Your open and honest feedback was extremely valuable and much appreciated. The review is centred around improvement that is directly related to supporting the best outcomes for our students, and assisting us to 'hone' in on some essential areas to work on over the next 3-4 years. All information is presented to the school in a way that does not identify any particular feedback from an individual but rather an overall summary of all the information collected.   

This certainly highlighted that we have much to be proud of, which was echoed from students, staff and families to the review panel. Some commendations and affirmations that came from this are....

Commendations (some things that were highlighted as doing well) 

• Interactions between staff, students and families are caring, respectful and polite. Staff articulate a knowledge that building relationships with students is the first step for learning. All stakeholders (staff, students, families) have an articulated sense of pride and belonging in the school. “Love this school”
• Classrooms are calm and orderly with students attending the learning. The school has created an attractive and stimulating learning environment that supports and encourages learning. 
• Professional, dedicated and committed staff - support and care of colleagues in the school. Investing time, energy and skill into great teaching for Norwood PS students. “This is a great school!”
• A variety of learning options (interventions and extensions) for the full range of students’ abilities and interests. Desire to support every child to succeed.
• Student leadership development – Student Parliament, Student Senior Leaders, Sports Leaders, cultivating leadership skills and dispositions.

Affirmations (things that we have started and should continue)

• Inquiry as a pedagogy to engage and take student learning deeper – elements of excellent practice ready to be expanded across the school. Student voice is beginning to guide inquiry learning sequences.
• Learning spaces that spark curiosity and interest -some with visual documentation of student learning journeys.
• Use of student data to identify intervention and extension 
• There is an articulated goodwill, generosity and readiness to work and plan together

It is clear from the recommendations for future work that our focus on developing Inquiry-based learning for students is an important factor for student engagement and participation in their learning. There is still much to be done to continue to build our skills and understandings in this area, however, we continue to be committed to an approach that is proven both by research, and by our students' feedback that sparks curiosity in learning, and therefore improved outcomes for our students. 

NAPLAN

We are well underway with NAPLAN which will continue this week and next week.  Our goal is always to 'normalise' the school day as much as possible during this process. We are careful not to over emphasise this in a way that causes stress and anxiety in children. We make adjustments for students in line with NAPLAN protocols where necessary.  

It is extremely important to understand that whilst NAPLAN is important information at a National, State and School level to determine areas of growth and also those requiring development, it does not determine the overall rating of student achievement. We use a wide range of data on an ongoing basis to inform reporting ratings and comments, and most importantly to inform the next steps for learning for our students.  

A few tips for grades 3 & 5 children over the testing period...

Our words are very powerful so expressing a calm approach to this is essential....discuss that 'having a go and giving their best effort' is the most important thing, and also how proud you are of them for trying their best.

Use phrases like 'give it a go' 'try your best' 'just do what you can' etc..

Ensure, as always, that children are well rested, have breakfast and nutritious food and water for morning tea and lunch. 

Don't make this the first thing you ask at the end of the day or the last thing before you drop them at school. Just stick to your normal morning and afternoon conversation.

Most importantly, keep perspective; this is just a test in time; one form of assessment, and keep in mind that success is not determined by a test! 

Kind regards,

Karen

On Thursday 20th May, we are holding our Cross Country Carnival for all grades. Kinder to Grade 2 students will run in the morning block, 3/4 students between recess and lunch and 5/6s will run in the afternoon. All students will need to bring a large drink bottle, spare shoes and socks and wear their sports uniform. House colours in the 3-6 Carnival are encouraged. Banksia: green, Wattle: blue, Waratah: red.

All students will run a school-based track. If the Cross Country is postponed, we will post on our Facebook page and send a text to parents.

Approximate times for Carnivals:

Grade 1/2: 9:15am - 9:55am

Kinder L & Kinder W and Prep: 10:15am - 10:55am

Grade 3/4: 11:45am - 12:45pm

Grade 5/6: 1:55pm - 2:55pm

We are pleased to say that spectators are able to attend the event, however you must adhere to the following DoE and Public Health COVID Safe Procedures.

• Maximum TWO spectators per family 
• ENTRY MUST BE via NORWOOD AVENUE BETWEEN LADY GOWRIE AND KINDERGARTEN
• Staff will be manning the entry point and all spectators must sign in on arrival using the Check in Tas app - this is a mandatory Public Health directive
• Spectators must stay in the designated spectator area and must physical distance 1.5 metres at all times from other families
• Spectators must only stay for their child's race leaving promptly at the end exiting via the bottom oval through the gate into the Lady Gowie car park
• If you wish to attend and support your children who are in more than one carnival over the day, (unless they immediately follow) you will need to leave the school grounds and then return for other carnival 
• If you are unwell or have symptoms of a cold, cough or fever you must not attend the event.

Students will be training for the carnival during PE lessons. With some dew and rain around at this time of year, it might be a good idea for students to pack a spare pair of shoes and socks on PE days.

The link to the Check in Tas app is below:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.tas.checkin&hl=en_AU&gl=US - android

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/check-in-tas/id1540569133 - apple iPhone or iPad

Ben Humphrey

Ben Humphrey

Prep Taylor are learning Auslan. Some reading groups are learning to read their books using sign language. This video shows Eli and Connor teaching Ethan and Minnie the Auslan signs for their book.

https://youtu.be/WvxDA0-BqbQ

Playing our part to build a national picture of child health

In June 2021, our school, along with thousands of others across the country will begin preparations for the fifth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC gives us a national picture of the development, health and wellbeing of children in their first year of full-time school. Since 2009, the census results have helped communities, schools and governments plan services and develop better policies to target support for children and families.

Children don’t miss any class time, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information for the census. The AEDC gives us data at a school and community level - it isn’t an assessment of individual children.

Some teachers have also noticed that completing the assessments made them more aware of the needs of individual children and the class as a whole and that the census results are useful in planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing class programs.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.

To find out more about the census and how communities are using the data to help children and families visit the AEDC website: www.aedc.gov.au.

If you have any questions, you can contact Lynn Wyllie Watson.

Kids2Farm Excursion

Hagley Farm School - Leaving school at 9:15am and returning by 3:00pm.

Please note: no lunch or recess orders for 3 Glen, 4-5 Faulkner and 3-4 Maconachie on their excursion day.

3 R Certificates

The following students received certificates in our recent Early Childhood and Primary Assemblies for following the 3 Rs.

If your child is born in 2017 and you live in our Norwood Primary School area, we would love to hear from you.

If you know of any families living in the Norwood area and would be attending our kindergarten in 2022 but who have not made contact with us, please ask them to give our office a call.

Lynn Wyllie-Watson

REMINDER - The winter option for our uniform is navy track pants, leggings are not to be worn unless they are under the winter skirt or dress. Beanies are permitted however they must be plain navy.  

Canteen Volunteers Needed

Our school canteen would be unable to operate without the wonderful volunteers who help out on a Thursday and Friday.

Thank you to all those who have volunteered, we now have enough volunteers on a Friday but still need additional volunteers on a Thursday. If you are available please contact the office.

Levies are one of the many ways that families contribute to our school community. Levies support student learning by contributing towards the cost of essential items and services.

When setting school levies and charges the school:

• Considers inclusive education, community expectations and family financial constraints
• Sets levies at the lowest amount possible
• Consults with the School Association of the school

Payment for school levies are due, families who have not yet paid their levies will be contacted to make a arrangments to pay.  If you are unable to pay in full we are happy to take instalments, please contact Nicole on 6344 2533 to arrange.  Payments can be made at the school using cash or card or online via BPay. Families with a Centerlink Health Care Card are eligible for financial assistance click here to apply online Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) (education.tas.gov.au)  

A firefighter from the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) is visiting our school from the 24th May to present a Home Fire Safety Program to our Prep to Grade 6 students.

Kindergarten students, whilst not receiving a structured lesson, can expect a visit from the firefighter who will leave some free fun activites for the students to complete.

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 cold water for at least 20 minutes

Most house fires can be avoided. Make your home fire safe

More information www.tfseducation.com.au

EARLY CHILDHOOD

TFS receives regular requests from preschools and child care centres asking for firefighters to visit and teach children about home fire safety.

TFS does not deliver structured fire safety programs to children below primary school age. This decision was made based on research carried out by the Mental Health Services of the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Melbourne. This research indicated that:

• Children under the age of five had low retention of the information they had learned; and
• In some children, the information had actually stimulated their curiosity about fire and they had begun to play with fire.

TFS believes that parents and caregivers are the best people to make sure that very young children are safe from fire. To help with this, TFS has a fire safety website for parents, carers, teachers and students.

TFS has also developed resources for young children that introduce them to the friendly firefighter characters that they will meet when they receive the School Fire Education Program including a colouring book, a money box shaped like a fire truck, and stickers with home fire safety messages for the whole family.

Free giveaways for your preschool or child care centre are available here.

Tip of the week:

Building your child’s vocabulary assists with their reading.

Vocab plays an important part in learning to read and is the key to reading comprehension.  Readers cannot understand what they are reading without knowing what most of the words mean.

If you are reading a book and get to a word your child may not know stop and say “Do you know what that word means?”  If they do not know what it means have a chat about it and use it in several different contexts.

Here are some other effective ways to build your child’s vocabularly.

Congratulations Ava, Archie and Rohan who have represented Norwood Primary School in the Newstead Athletics Cross Country School Series.

Home - Newstead Athletics

Next School Association meeting:

When:           Tuesday 8th June

Time:             7:00pm

Where:          School Library

Agenda:

• Winter Festival

Please send all additional agenda items to norwoodpsa@gmail.com

Everyone is welcome to attend!

If you can’t make it, don’t worry you can still be involved. We can send you a copy of the meeting minutes, just contact us at the above email address.

MOTHERS DAY STALL 2021