End of Year Assemblies
The End of Year Assembly is always a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the school year, reflect on different events and recognise achievements from across the school.  Due to COVID-19 and the impact that has on social distancing and venue density requirements, our End of Year Assemblies will look different in 2020.  To allow every child to have the opportunity to have someone in the crowd to support them and to achieve the appropriate requirements, we will be holding separate assemblies for Kinder-Prep, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4 and for Grades 5-6.  Each student will be able to have either one parent, family member or friend attend their assembly. 

Our Kinder-Prep assembly will be held at 11:15am on Tuesday 15^th December, and our Grade 1-2 assembly will be held on the same day at 1:30pm.  Each assembly will run for about an hour.  Our Grade 3-4 assembly will be held on the evening of Friday 11^th December at 5:00pm.  The Grade 5-6 assembly will be held on the same night, starting at 6:45pm.  It is expected that the Grade 5-6 assembly will run a little longer than the other assemblies, providing an opportunity for our Grade 6 students to celebrate their primary school years.  Students in Grade 3, 4, 5 and 6 who are members of the school band and senior choir are invited to attend both assemblies.  The parents of these children will only be able to attend the actual assembly of their child, but are welcome to stay at the school in Minimbah where they can have a coffee to wait for their child to sing or perform.

There will be a BBQ provided between the 3-4 and 5-6 assemblies.  Grade 5-6 students and the adult accompanying them are welcome to arrive at 6:00pm for the BBQ and be joined by Grade 3-4 students and the audience when they finish their assembly.  Grade 5-6 students will then be able to be organised and ready for the beginning of their assembly.

Parking for these events will be available on the school playground near the Rage Cage, with access via laneway off Dobson's Lane, just before the Fire Station.

Swimming
Swimming for our Grade 1 to 5 students finished last Friday.  After two weeks in the pool it was impressive to see the improvement made by student during this time.  Our Kinder and Prep students are now accessing the school pool, and while the weather has not been particularly kind to them, this certainly has not dampened their enthusiasm. Providing an opportunity for students to build their awareness and safety around water is critical for them to lead safe lives around different environments, now and into the future. 

Certificates
It was fantastic to see students from Grades 3 - 6 receive recognition for achieving our school and Department values in our morning meeting in the past two weeks.  Having students recognised for being respectful, aspirational, and for demonstrating growth and courage highlights wonderful things happening across our school.  Congratulations to all certificate recipients, and keep up the fantastic work!

Peter Brown

Science in Prep MC & WK

This term we have been developing our understanding of ‘How Things Move’. We have recently been exploring the forces of push and pull, gravity and friction, and discussing how to conduct a ‘fair’ test.

Through hands-on activities and experiments we have made predictions and observations, posed questions, and recorded our findings. We have had fun pushing ping-pong balls along the floor using straws and varying our breath, rolling and sliding different shaped objects down ramps, and exploring friction through changing surfaces.

Check out how much fun the children are having at the House Points Blitz Day.

The final Launching into Learning programs for 2020 will be held next Monday, 7th December between 9.00am - 11.00am, with Kinder Orientation in the Kinder building, and the Little Learners session in the hall.

This will be an opportunity for Pre-Kinder children to enjoy some activities with adult supervision while parents attend an information session and have their questions answered.  Our School Association Uniform Co-ordinators will also be on hand to help you with your uniform needs for 2021.

It is very important for our planning that we know numbers for next year, and your help in returning Kinder enrolment forms for 2021 as soon as possible would be appreciated.

Gingerbread House Evening BBQ

The School Fundraising group are having a BBQ at the Gingerbread House Decorating Evening tomorrrow night:
         
Friday, 4^th December 2020 at 6:30pm

Sausages in bread, burgers and cold drinks will be available for purchase from 6:30pm.

Please note: Parking will be available for this event in the playground near the Rage Cage - entry via laneway off Dobson's Lane just before the Fire Station.

Congratulations to Sophie for coming 3rd in the 400m finals on Thursday, 24th November in Penguin. This is a very impressive result, well done to Sophie!

Dylan and Leilani both competed in their respective 1500m races. Participating at this level is an impressive achievement and we are proud of the way you all represented our school and did your best, well done.

The Department of Education recently announced that we would be expanding the Student Assistance Scheme for 2021.

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
• Service Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.

Please note that if you are already receiving student assistance you do not need to complete a form.

For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing applications for new applicants.

The online form can be completed here: 

https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/ 

Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will confirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy form please collect one from the school office.  Alternatively, contact the Department of Education, Finance and Budget Services on 1800 827 055 or email stas@education.tas.gov.au 

Please find below answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Week 9 

Christmas Theme

Sushi Wednesday
    Chicken, Tuna or Vegetarian $3.50

Thursday
   Beef Burger  - cheese only  $3.50
                          - with salad    $3.80   
   Trifle   $1.50

Wednesday - Friday
  Rocky Road Cake  $1.00
  Truffle Slice $1.00
  Raspberry Muffin  $1.00

Last day of canteen for 2020 will be Friday 11th December

Parents/carers please ensure that you are sending your child to school with a nice big drink bottle full of water each morning.

Our Uniform Co-ordinator will be ordering additional stock as needed ready for Term 1, 2021.  There may be some slight price increases in the new year.  Parents wishing to pre-order now are most welcome to place their orders through the Qkr! app or on the uniform order form, available from the school office, at current prices.  This form can also be accessed through Forms and Documents in the newsletter or on SZapp.

Orders placed before the end of the 2020 school year will be available to pick up on Book Collection days in late January (more information and dates in the next newsletter), or if paid for now, may be collected from the school office by the end of this term.

There are a number of outstanding accounts for K-2 Water Skills and Awareness program, canteen (for lunches provided when children had no lunch) and overdue/lost library books. Please contact the School Business Manager if you have any queries about these accounts or wish to discuss payment options.

Administration of Student Medication

There have been some changes to the DoE’s administration of student medication procedures and forms.

Should your child have a medical condition that requires prescription medication to be administered at school, it is a requirement that the prescribing doctor, pharmacist or practice nurse complete Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication Form B, and that it is also signed by parent/guardian.

Should your child require non-prescription medication to be administered at school, parents must complete the Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication Form A.

Both forms are available on the DoE website, from the school office, and on Schoolzine.

Parents/guardians must supply the school with medication that is in date, in the original packaging, and, in the case of prescribed medication, in the labelled container dispensed by the pharmacy, along with the relevant completed Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication form for the medication supplied.  The school is not permitted to administer medication if these conditions are not met. 

If your child requires an asthma puffer, which is either kept at the office or carried with him/her, a completed Authorisation for Administration of Student Medication Form B must be completed and returned to the school, along with a copy of a current medical action plan.  This may be either an Asthma Care Plan as approved by Asthma Australia, or Asthma Action Plan generated by your child’s doctor.  Please contact the office to check that your child’s plan and medication authorisation form is still current.

Boat Harbour Primary School is collecting plastic bread tags to help make our community and the world a greener place.

A collection point is set up at the front office.  Alternatively, your children can drop bread tags off at Breakfast Club.