Dear Parents and Carers

Wow! What a year 2020 has been already.  Not only have we dealt with a new way of working and living with the Coronavirus, becoming online  learners and teachers, and now for the first time in 50 years we were shovelling snow off the paths so parents and children could enter the school grounds safely. We were lucky enough to be able open the school; however, we had some damage to the staffroom, storerooms and the multi-purpose room.  The students and staff had the best time playing in the snow for the first 30 minutes of the day. It was lovely to read some of the positive posts from parents commenting on the school congratulating us on “letting the kids be kids”.

As the absence of COVID-19 in the Tasmanian community continues it is important that we maintain the good work we have be doing particularly in relation to

• Hygiene practises and extra cleaning 
• Social distancing
• Ensuring that no students are coming to school with cold and or flu like symptoms

All schools have been required to submit a COVID Safety Plan.  This plan addresses all of the above.  Social distancing applies to all adults, which includes staff, parents and visitors on site. All adults must maintain a safe distance (1.5 metres) both on the school grounds and near the school entry points.

All schools must also reinforce and remind students to wash and sanitize hands at regular points throughout the day.  This is done at the beginning of day, before recess, before lunch and when returning to the classroom after Daily P.E and specialist lessons. I am sure these efforts are helping to keep our staff and students well.

If your child is showing any signs of a cold or flu, please keep them home, organise a COVID-19 test immediately and make sure they are well before returning to school. Parents will be contacted to collect their child if they are showing these symptoms.

We thank you for your ongoing support with keeping our community safe.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Swimming and Water Safety Program Years 3-5

The Swimming and Water Safety Program begins on 31st August, running for two weeks and concluding on 11^th September. This most important and valuable program is offered again this year for all of our students in Grades 3-5 and also includes some of our students from Grade 6. Mrs Bent and the AusSwim instructors work hard at the pool to ensure that all the students involved achieve their water safety and swimming goals.  Swimming is a necessary skill in our beautiful island state and children feeling comfortable and able to save themselves in cases of emergency is paramount.   We hope that these lessons support your child to be safe in and around the water. 

The two weeks of swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the school curriculum for all Gr 3 - 5 students in Tasmania. There are some changes in place to the organisation and running of the Swimming and Water Safety Program and these are directly related to the Launceston Aquatic Centre’s COVID safety planning.  

These include

• No spectators
• No showers are to be used under any circumstances
• Students are to get changed into bathers prior to leaving school
• Change rooms are to have no more than nine students in them at the end of the lessons
• Any student with cold or flu like symptoms will not be permitted to attend school or the swimming lesson
• Any student not attending swimming due to medical reason other than cold and flu symptoms must remain at school
• Students are unable to be picked up or dropped off at the pool by parents, they must instead travel to and from swimming on the school provided bus

Student Medication   

School is able to give out some forms of medication; however, there are many strict controls around this. Medication can only be administered by the school if: 

• The medication is in date. In the case of non-prescribed medication, parents must provide the original over the counter packaging outlining the quantity to be taken.
• In the case of prescribed medication, parents must provide the medication in the labelled container dispensed by the pharmacy or in a Webster-pack prepared by the pharmacist.
• Schools MUST NOT accept medication if the above conditions are not met.
• Self-administration may be authorised by a parent and/or doctor, pharmacist or practise nurse, but this medication must be stored where it cannot be accessed by other students, except in cases where the student may require immediate access, such as for asthma relief, anaphylaxis, or diabetes management.

Transport, disposal and destruction of medication

• Medication MUST NOT be given to students to transport home. A parent or guardian must collect the medication from the office.

Parents must

• Inform the school of any known medical and health needs of the student at enrolment, and as medical/health conditions develop or change.
• Liaise with the student’s medical practitioner(s) regarding implications of any health or medical condition on their child’s education, and communicate this advice and information to the educational setting.
• Ensure that relevant documentation is up to date, including Medical Management Plans, Medical Action Plans, and Administration of Medication authorisation forms.
• Provide medication for administration by school in a timely way to the office.

Lastly, please remember that students are not to bring any medication, including Panadol in their bags to self-administer when they feel they need it. All medication MUST come through the office in the manner listed above.

Assemblies

Our next Assembly is on Tuesday, 18^th August at 2pm and will be for Prep through to Grade 2-3 Wells/Skinner. The presenting classes will be P-1L, 2C and 2-3WS. Parents of classes presenting are welcome to attend.  In order for parents to attend assembly, the school must follow strict COVID safety plans which include, parents sanitising hands, completing a health screen before entering the hall and sitting in the socially distance spaced chairs. Parents are required to leave the school grounds at the completion of the assembly.  Please remember to socially distance (1.5 metres) both outside the main gates and when entering the school grounds. Our Student Leaders will greet parents at the crossing gate in order to complete the COVID screening forms before entry. We request that parents come a little before the 2pm start time to allow time to complete the paperwork. We thank you for your support with this.

Congratulations 

Art-Start 2020
Mrs Airey's 5-6 Art option group entered the 2020 Art Start exhibition in Term 2. The virtual exhibition explores thoughts and feelings about the Corona Virus and how life has changed.

Four of our students were successful in having their work exhibited in the virtual gallery, congratulations to Sophie M, Acadia, Ariella & Makinley. We have shared the virtual gallery on our school Facebook page.

Some items for your Calendars

• Student Wellbeing Survey – 24/8/20 – 28/8/20

Punchbowl Primary School will again be undertaking the Gr 4-6 Student Well-being Survey for the second time this year.  Our students will complete the survey during the week commencing 24^th August. The survey will provide valuable data on the wellbeing of student’s post-COVID and identify key issues that may need addressing (e.g. worries; connectedness to school). We appreciate your support with this.

• National Science Week begins on the 15^th August

Class teachers and our science teacher will be preparing some exciting science activities for students to delve into during this week. The theme this year is Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans. Miss Johnstone, our science teacher has organised some exciting activities and guest speakers.

• School Photos will be conducted on 27^th August. Photo forms and information have already been sent home. It is vital that our Grade 6 students attend on this day as their graduation photos are taken at this time. 

Thank you

Kind Regards

Liz O'Donahue - Principal

Last term, due to COVID-19 many students were unable to return library books to school. Unfortunately, as a result many students have been not permitted to borrow any library books until their overdue books have been returned. 

It would be greatley appreciated if you could please search your home for any library books or home readers which may belong to the school and return them as soon as possible. Thank you!

Kings Meadows High School

If you are a Grade 6 student and plan to attend Kings Meadows High School in 2021 could you please complete the Intention to Enrol link below. 

https://bit.ly/IntentionToEnrolGrade72021

Queechy High School

On Tuesday, 11^th August your child will be involved in a transition experience to Queechy High School.  This will involve the group leaving school on a bus at 10:45am for an 11am arrival and activity start time.

• Mobile Phones are to be handed into the office at the beginning of each school day.

• Please remember to bring your water bottle to school each day, as the water fountains are still out of action.

• Esk Band is now held each Wednesday.

• Icypole sales are Thursdays at lunch time                                                          $1 for a Lemonade Icypole                                                                        $1.20 for a Frosty Fruit

• If you have not already received your 2020 School Levy Refund, please forward an email to stas@education.tas.gov.au which includes parent's name, student's name and grade, school and description of your query.  The Student Assistance division will make contact with you to provide a resolution.

• If your residential address has changed or you have a new telephone number, please contact the office to request a change of details form.

Share your story

The Department of Education would like to capture stories and experiences through this very unique time,  and would greatly appreciate parents and carers participate in a survey about how Punchbowl Primary School managed during the COVID-19 crisis. We want to capture these stories to ensure that we are able to learn, celebrate and grow from this experience.  Please take the time to click the link and share your experience.

Please share your story by visiting: www.education.tas.gov.au/our-learnings

As LiL sessions are a very beneficial to childrens development and COVID-19 restrictions are gradually beginning to ease, our Kickstart (Launching into Learning) sessions have recommenced on Wednesday mornings between 9:00am and 10:30am. 

At this point in time, there still will be number limitations in place which mean not both parents and children can attend at the one time. Adherence and the practising of hygiene measures and social distancing of adults will be in place. 

Kickstart_Term_3_2020.pdf

LIL_letter_for_term_3_with_logo_2_002_.pdf

To limit the number of adults on site our school gates will be locked at 9am and reopened at 2.50pm, all students arriving late to school to enter through Pencil doorway entrance, sanitise their hands and sign in.

If you child needs to attend an appointment is needs to be collected early, please contact the school office prior to collection time and we will endeavour to have your child waiting at the office for you collect them.

Our School Photo Day will be held on Thursday, 27th August, 2020. 

If you have mispaced your individual shootkey or require a family shootkey, please contact the school office. 

We are having a few more Subway Lunch days. This is a fundraiser to go towards the end of year Grade 6 Leavers Dinner.  Please remember to complete your order online by 11am the day before.

Thursday, 13th August

Thursday, 27th August

Thursday, 24th September

The lost property baskets are located near the main office and outside 5/6 Frerk/Sutton.

Currently we have a lot of clothing that is not named in these baskets, so it would be greatly appreciated if all parents could please ensure their child’s clothing is clearly named. 

We also have a bracelet and a watch at the office.  If either of these items are yours could you please come and describe them to us so they can be returned.

The Department of Education (DoE) has released updated government primary and combined (district) school intake areas, to apply from Term 1, 2021. These updated intake areas will only apply to families who enrol a child in a government primary or combined (district) school for the first time from Term1, 2021.

This means that for parents with children already enrolled in our school, the updated intake areas do not apply to your family. If your child has a brother or sister who hasn’t started school yet, they can still enrol at our school.

Our school’s updated intake area map can be found here https://publicdocumentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Documents/Punchbowl-Primary-School-Intake-Area-from-2021.pdf.  This map is the same as the Proposed Map released by DoE last year in stage two of the Intake Area Review consultation process.

Why do we have intake areas?

Intake areas ensure that every Tasmanian child can enrol at a high quality government school close to where they live. Attending a school close to home helps children feel part of their local community. Intake areas also help ensure schools have the facilities and staff to best support their students’ learning.

Where to get more information?

If you would like more information about our school’s intake area, or help finding out whether a particular address is within our intake area boundary, please contact us directly.

Alternatively you can contact Learning Services Northern Region: phone 6777 2440 or email Learning.Services.NR@education.tas.gov.au) 

School Association Meeting dates for the remainder of the year are listed below.  

• 9th September
• 28th October
• 2nd December

Uniform Sales

If you wish to purchase any uniform items for your child, to limit the number of adults we have on site and congestion in the main corridor, we would greatly appreciate orders and payment via telephone.  Clothing purchased and a copy of receipt will be sent home with your child.  Office staff are happy to assist your child try on clothing if you are uncertain as to what size is required.

At the beginning of the year all parents/carers had the opportunity to give permission for their child to participate in minor excursions without the requirement to sign a permission form for every excursion. Minor excursions include visits on foot or by vehicular transport to places of educational value within the local community that last for less than one day. A similar consent process was used for aquatic activities. With the changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic we are providing the opportunity for parents and carers to change their preference that was provided at the start of the year for both minor excursions and aquatic activities. The school will ensure that relevant safety and health precautions will be implemented, including COVID-19 requirement, during the course of the excursion and aquatic activities. All other excursions including those with inherent risk will require you to sign a separate consent form prior to the excursion, as is currently the case.

If you wish to change your child’s current permissions or would like further information please contact the school by phone or email. If we do not hear from you then the current permission arrangements will remain in place.

Public Health advice is clear – it is safe for schools to be open. This is because we have a low rate of Coronavirus (COVID-19) community spread in Tasmania and there has been increased and expanded testing. To reduce the risk even further, schools have hygiene and physical distancing measures in place.

While it is safe to send your child/ren to school, we still need adults to maintain a distance from other adults, whilst on site.

To help us with adult physical distancing, we are asking all parents/carers to:

• Stop, Drop/Collect and Go’ for all drop offs and pickups. This means please remain in your car and we will direct your child/ren to your car.
• If you need to talk to your child’s teacher, please call the school office on (03) 6344 1382 or email your child's teacher

We want to make school as safe as possible for everyone. Feel free to ask questions if you require any further information. These things won’t be forever, but we all have a shared responsibility to act in a way that supports everyone being safe.

More information is available on the Department of Education website: www.education.tas.gov.au

See the COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD situated in the walkway outside P-1B Millen classroom for all upcoming community events

Wash and sanitise hands

Wash and sanitise hands 191.74 KB

Corona Virus

Corona Virus 181.23 KB

Baptcare_Flyer.pdf

Baptcare_Flyer _pdf 258.06 KB

NCN_After_School_Care_Flyer.pdf

NCN_After_School_Care_Flyer _pdf 1.26 MB

Hope_Discovery_After_School_Care_Flyer.pdf

Hope_Discovery_After_School_Care_Flyer _pdf 535.15 KB

Launceston_Youth_Theatre_Ensemble.pdf

Launceston_Youth_Theatre_Ensemble _pdf 3.96 MB