Dear Parents and Carers,

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of a very different, somewhat difficult, and busy year full of highlights and new learning. We are at the time of the year when staffing changes are confirmed by Learning Services.  As mentioned in a previous newsletter, Miss Sara Lockwood was granted a transfer to Exeter Primary School to be closer to her home.  This week we were made aware that Mr Ryan McCarragher will be transferring to East Tamar Primary School.  This is an exciting new chapter for Mr McCarragher and Miss Lockwood.  Both teachers have worked at Punchbowl Primary for a number of years and will be sadly missed.

We will be welcoming Sarah Bovill to our school in 2021.  She has been teaching at St Marys District High School this year and will be replacing Miss Lockwood.

I would also like to welcome and congratulate Mrs Jane Jones who successfully won the leadership (AST)postion at our school.  Mrs Jones has previously worked at Riverside Primary School and was an AST at Lilyale Distrcit High School this year. This permanet AST selection will mean that we will say goodbye to Miss Sarah Jupp who will return to West Launceston Primary School for 2021, we wish her all the best and thank her for her hard work and support this year. 

As previously mentioned we will also welcome Roslyn Faulkner to our school in 2021.

         

Miss Bovill   Mrs Jones   Ms Faulkner

Basketball Championships

Next weekend the State Primary Schools Basketball Championships will be held at Elphin Sports Centre.  This event is a play off for all teams that came first, second and third in division 1.  Congratulations to 3-4 Dean (boys) who qualified, however due to limited numbers will not be competing.  5-6 Lyndon (boys) were also successful and will be playing in the championships this weekend. We would like to wish them every success on the weekend.  Keep an eye on the Facebook page to find out game times, I’m sure they would appreciate all the support they can get.

End of year picnic

Most of our classes will be enjoying end of year picnics in the last weeks of school.  Students in grades 3-6 will be attending a picnic at the Riverside Pool.  Please remember that students attending this picnic need to wear a rash vest to be able to swim on the day.

Grade 6 Celebration Evening

On Tuesday 8^th  December, we will be holding our annual celebration evening.  This year only grade 6 students and their three invited guests will be able to attend.  This change is due to the current COVID guidelines and restrictions.  Parents of grade 6 students need to RSVP online to be able to enter the Newstead College Hall.  I would like to thank Newstead College for allowing us to use their space, without this we would have been limited to one parent attending per child. If you are struggling to RSVP online, please contact the office and we will assist you.

Discos – Free Dress                            

On Thursday 3^rd December, we will be holding a school disco with an ECE session followed by a primary session. These will be held during school time and our very own DJ Miss Wells is in charge of the music.   Children can wear free dress on Thursday, but please remember strappy dresses and singlet tops are not appropriate for outside play due to our sun safe policy. 

Kind Regards

Liz O'Donahue - Principal

A huge well done to our Grade 5-6 LSSSA Swimming team, who did an amazing job to win the Division B carnival today. The whole team contributed to the win, in the pool and also by supporting their team mates. We couldn’t be prouder of our amazing swimmers!!

The team consisted of;

Grade 6- Mirabella, Eloise, Caitlin, Poppi, Barney, Noah, Euan, Jack and Alastair

Grade 5 – Ruby M, Molly, Aya, Erin, Lincon, Lucas, Jai, Oscar and Ronan

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. 

The final School Association meeting will be held on the 2nd of December. 

CHRISTMAS STALL

We are excited to be planning a Christmas Stall at the school on Monday, 7th December for students in grades Prep to 6.  Kindergarten students will have the opportunity to purchase gifts the following day.

Students will be able to buy small gifts for family and friends priced between $1.00 and $3.00.

The money raised will be used by the School Association to purchase equipment and resources to be enjoyed by current and future students.

We are seeking volunteers from the school community to craft and create some gifts to sell at the stall. Items could include potted seedlings, handmade ornaments, gingerbread, lolly jars, candles, scrunchies, bath bombs etc.

Costs for materials can be reimbursed or made as a donation towards the fundraising effort.

Please contact Frith at frithmabin@gmail.com if you would like to help out, many hands make light work!

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 and 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.

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.

Are you ready to get out and about to enjoy the best things in life? Buy an Entertainment Membership to support our fundraising and your next adventure could be around the corner. Find out more: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/2406h04

• 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.

• Esk Band rehearsals are every Wednesday.

• Icypole sales every Thursday at lunch time: $1 Lemonade Icypoles & $1.20 Frosty Fruits                                                     

• 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.

• Just a reminder that during Terms 1 and 4, students are required to wear their school hat.  Children who forget to bring their hat, will have to sit on the deck area in the shade. Unfortunately, sharing or borrowing of hats is not permitted.  New hats can be purchased from the school office.  

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) 

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

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

A set of Frequently Asked Questions has been developed to assist with any questions you may have. 

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/ 

The form will be available for public use from 10th November.

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 contact your school or stas@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 827 055.