March 2nd

COVID Updates

A huge thank you to our school community for your ongoing responsible approach to monitoring, and when necessary informing us in relation to COVID cases and/or close contacts. Although, as you are aware via our ongoing communication that we have had cases, the percentage is not as high as I would have expected.   

All communication in regards to COVID is emailed to familiies using the email you have provided to us. At present we are having a few emails 'bouncing' back to us as invalid email addresses. It is crucial that we have correct emails for contact for every family of our school community. 

You can update your details by contacting the school office via phone, email, a note sent with your child or in person. Our term 1 Primary Progress Report will also be sent via email.  

New changes to hay fever advice

Public Health has reviewed their advice about hay fever in the current COVID-19 environment.

Hay fever symptoms are similar to COVID-19 symptoms, so it’s important families know what they need to do if their child experiences hay fever symptoms.

If your child has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your child tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test. 

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this is sufficient evidence for your child to return to school if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

Please know that Public Health advice can change at short notice, and we appreciate your patience as we respond to these changes as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office. For more information, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

Athletic Carnival

Our Athletic Carnival will go ahead as previously planned for Friday 11th March. We had hoped to postpone this for a few weeks hoping that there may be a change in the restrictions for spectators, however, at this stage LSSSA will be going ahead on the orginal date so we need to have this done to attain the student results for LSSSA.

Therefore, unfortunately no spectators will be able to attend on Friday 11th March.  Thank you in advance for your understanding. 

Please see below for further details relating to this event. 

School Damage

Very sadly, we have been dealing with some ongoing damage and deliberate 'trashing' of our school site. Since late last year this has included some areas being set on fire. Each time it has been just luck that someone has been about and seen the smoke in time to call the Fire Station before these got out of control. There have also been many reports of groups of people running around on the roof. 

I am sure that you understand that this is of great concern to us as the possiblity for severe harm to be done is highly likely. If anyone witnesses unsafe and /or distructive behaviour within our school site please call the Police.

Police are currently investigating the fires. 

Kind regards, Karen

Date: Friday, 11^th March

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

Venue: St Leonards Athletic Centre

The Primary Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 11^th March at the St Leonards Athletic Centre. This is our first sporting carnival of the year and the first opportunity to display house spirit and determination. Students have been preparing well in PE lessons for this carnival.

To ensure a smooth start to the day, students will need to present at school by 8:55am, to allow prompt departure of buses. We are aiming to start the carnival by 9:30am. All students need to ensure they are wearing their sports uniform, hats, bring a large drink bottle and sunscreen. Students are also encouraged to support their house by wearing ribbons, tops, zinc cream etc. of their house colours.

Wattle: Blue              Waratah: Red               Banksia: Green

Students with asthma are reminded to bring their puffers for the day.

Students will be permitted to make lunch orders from the canteen on this day, as we expect to have returned to school by the start of lunch. The canteen at St Leonards Athletics Centre will not be open.

All students are expected to attend and participate in multiple events. This year, following COVID restrictions, there will be no novelty events such as the sack race, egg and spoon race and tug o war.

Due to current COVID guidelines and restrictions a decision has been made to not permit any spectators to this year’s carnival. Photos and videos will be posted to the Norwood Facebook page for your viewing after the carnival.

Students who are away for any reason may still be selected to represent NPS in the LSSSA Athletics Carnival, based on times/distances recorded at school. This will be held on Wednesday 23^rd March at the St Leonards Athletic Centre. It is important that students who are unwell stay home. 

Ben Humphrey

School Photo Day is Thursday 24th March.

As was the case last year, ordering will be online only, which eliminates the need for sending cash to school with your children. If your child is unwell do not bring them to school, we may offer a catch up session later in the term. 

To avoid mixing groups of students this year we will not be offering family photos.

All students will have an individual photo taken on Photo Day regardless if they are ordering or not. Individual student ordering will stay open after Photo Day.

Orders placed after printing the bulk of orders will be sent directly to parents and will incur a postage charge per order.

 If you have any questions please contact Leading Image or the school office.

Norwood Primary School has been a long-time advocate of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) in our everyday interactions within our school. During 2020 we began some work with staff to align the Department of Education values of Aspiration, Growth, Courage and Respect with our PBS structures. These Values represent what is at the heart of our Department and school. They reflect what we stand for, guide our decision making and underpin all aspects of ours and our students work. Aligned to these Values, in 2021 we collectively created our ‘Expected Student Behaviour’ document through many hours of work.

Through this collaboration we have provided a framework to support student wellbeing and behaviour, enabling all learners to succeed. These Expected Student Behaviours frame up our students “way of working”. These documents were collaboratively designed and carefully considered, giving a voice to stakeholder groups, including students. Classes throughout our school have been focussing on unpacking the Expected Behaviour with our students. Have a conversation with your child around our Expected Behaviour or Values, you may be surprised with what they can tell you.

Please return Validation forms, Major Excursion forms and ICT Agreements to your class teacher asap. 

If you have a change of address we require evidence of the new address through one of the following documents:

• Bank/Financial statement
• Utility bill (phone, electricity, gas) unable to accept rates notices
• Lease/Rent Agreement
• Australian Tax Office Assessment form from the current or last financial year
• Certificate of Title

If you have a change on your child's immunisation record please provide evidence in the form of one of the following:

• Updated Child Health blue book
• Medicare print out
• Letter from Doctor

Please Note: Validation forms must be returned before students participate at the Grade 3-6 Athletics Carnival. The permission for minor excursions need to be completed. Thank you! 

Thank you!

Tip of the Week

To all our LiL families, due to COVID restrictions all sessions including Pre-Kinder have been postponed by the Education Department until week 5 of this term.

Weekly updates and activities will be posted on our Launching Into Learning Face Book page so please tune in or join the group to stay connected.

Stay safe and fingers crossed sessions can resume soon!

Tania Fankhauser

A big welcome to Keith our new canteen operator, Keith is offering a new, exciting AND healthy menu!  As requested by families through our canteen survey last year the canteen is now open four days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Orders can be made via the Qkr app or over the counter from 8:30 am.  For updates and specials please Like and Follow his Facebook page - Norwood Primary School Canteen

Keith would love some volunteers to come and help out, if you are available please pop in and see Keith in the canteen or message him via his Facebook page.  All volunteers must hold a current WWVP card and be fully vaccinated.  

Successful nominations will be announced at the School Association AGM to be held Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00 pm at the school.