Welcome to term two.

We have launched straight into our learning programs and are already making great strides in exploring new learning areas.

Our classes from Grade 2-3 Brunning up to 5-6 Alexander have been travelling each day to Oceana to participate in the Swimminig and Water Safety Program. They have LOVED the program which finishes today.  Our students have shown commendable improvements in their skill level. As we live on an island with LOTS of water, learning to be safe in the water is such an important  (and enjoyable!) skill to have, I thank Miss Abel, Mrs Miles and Mr Pennicott for ensuring that this program has gone so well.

We are approaching our major mid-year reporting cycle and staff are busy consolidating learning and assessing our students. We will be sharing your child's reports and classroom information with parents at our Parent/Teacher evening coming up next month. We look forward to this opportunity to connect with families, especially those of our older students!  Bookings will be open soon but please remember, if you cannot attend on either evening, chat to our lovely office staff or your child’s teacher to make an alternative meeting time.

Being a parent is wonderful. It also has its challenges as children get older.  Social media, computer games, vaping, relationships, boundaries and puberty are all issues we need to think about. On Tuesday 28 May Mr Hunter and I will be hosting an afternoon tea (and chat) for parents of students in years 5 and 6.  This will be an opportunity to talk about high school and how we support your children to move to the next phase of their learning.  We will also have a chance to talk about some of the challenges (and delights) of being parents to (nearly) teenagers.  We hope that you may be able to come along. We will let you know the details a little closer to the date.

Kind regards

To improve pedestrian safety to Glenorchy Primary School, the Glenorchy City Council has received Black Spot funding to raise the existing school crossing in Kensington Street.

The raised crossing willl slow vehicle speeds and better delineate the crossing for both drivers and pedestrians. The Council believes the raised crossing may also discourage drivers from using Kensington Street as a short cut to avoid the traffic lights.

The raised crossing will be in the same location as the existing crossing but will mean that vehicles will be physically unable to to park where pedestrians cross the road. The raised crossing will improve the safety of pedestrians and hopefully encourage more students to walk, cycle or scooter to school.

If you have any questions about the raised crossing, the Glenorchy City Council can be contacted on 6261 6800 or email gccmail@gcc.tas.gov.au

The last two weeks have been a busy time for those classes participating in our Swimming and Water Safety program. Students have travelled each day to Oceana to develop their water skills and practise survival swimming techniques. Miss Abel and Mr Pennicott were very impressed with the level of enthusiasm and participation our students showed - as well as remembering to bring their bathers and towel each day!

In 5/6 Griffith we have been learning about Cinco de Mayo, which means the 5^th of May in Spanish.  Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory against France in the Battle of Puebla.  To celebrate the end of our unit we had some cooking lessons and made salsa, guacamole, tacos, chicken tortilla soup and tres leches cake for dessert.

Autumn is a great time to use the natural world as inspiration to delve into our creative side. The colours of the leaves are spectacular at the moment. We used what we could see to create beautiful Autumn tree collages. Make sure you take notice before they all fall. 

We also did some gorgeous mosaic rainbows to brighten our days.  These are some samples from the grade 2-6 classes. 

Thank you Mackenzie, Amber and their families who attended the ANZAC Day Memorial Service in the school holidays to lay a wreath on behalf of our school community.

Do you have a little one that will be joining us in Kinder in 2025? Our Pre Kinder session have started this term - 9:30-11 every Thursday in our Kinder Blue room. These sessions are facilitated by one of our Kinder teachers, Mrs Robins, and is a great opportunity to begin the transition to school.

Oral Health Services Tasmania (OHST) will be visiting Glenorchy Primary School for the Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish Program (FSFVP) 20 June - 27 June. This is a preventative program that seals the grooves in young teeth and strengthens enamel to help fight against decay

Permission letters have been sent home with students in Kinder, Prep and Grades 1, 2 and 6. The ages of these grade levels are the optimum time for dental intervention.

Please return the signed permission form to the office as soon as possible if you would like your student to be included in this free program.

You will have recieved your invoice for our levies for 2024.

Thank you to parents who have already paid and to those who are making regular payments.

Our levies continue to be unchanged since 2014. $150 for Kindergarten, $200 for Prep-Grade 4 and $220 for Grade 5-6.

Levies are used within the school to cover essential items (stationery, reading and text books, art and music materials, cooking ingredients etc.), for the core curriculum areas. They also cover expenses for excursions and activities.

Payment can be made at the school office or at Service Tas with cash or credit card, or by BPay.

Families with a Health Care Card can apply for STAS. Please call into the school office or go to https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/ if this applies to you.

If there are issues for your family, call into the school office to discuss this as payment plans can be arranged or you may be entitled to benefit from the Student Assistance Scheme.

Our friendly office staff are here to help.