Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope everyone had a refreshing and happy holiday, we had some beautiful days in the first week making it feel like we were still in summer, however the cold snap that we have started Term 2 with has really bought us back to reality.  Last term we held our parent teacher meetings.  I would like to thank our teachers for the preparation done for the meetings and our parent community for taking the time to come to these meeting. Your partnership is always greatly appreciated!

Liz O'Donahue - Principal

Coming into the cold and flu season, it’s important that we all continue to keep healthy and safe. To ensure we can keep on top of COVID and also cold and flu, make sure you:

• Be alert to any symptoms of cold or flu that you or your child may exhibit
• Get tested for COVID if you or your child have symptoms
• Practise good hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes and washing hands
• If you or your child do get sick, stay at home until symptoms has passed, even if a COVID test is negative

Remember, symptoms include fever, tiredness, cough, headache, sore throat, sniffling and sneezing.

To keep our school safe, we are still:

• continuing with increased cleaning
• making sure there is plenty of soap, sanitiser and tissues available
• applying restrictions to large gatherings of adults and encouraging physical distancing
• requiring visitors to check-in on our sites

Mothers in Mind is a mother and child group designed specifically to meet the parenting needs of mothers who have lived a hurtful experience such as family violence, childhood abuse or neglect, and have a child or children under 4 years old.  This program is designed for Mums who might be feeling overwhelmed as a Mum due to past experiences.

The group has routine and structure, we have no more than 8 Mums with 3 facilitators so if the Mum’s become overwhelmed there is a break out room and a facilitator can go with them for support.  The Mums only share what they feel comfortable sharing.

Mothers in Mind runs for 10 weeks for 1.5 hours and the structure of each session is:

• First hour is play so everyone sits in a circle with kids and toys in the middle of the circle.  We support the Mum’s to play with their child(ren), we sing songs and we read a book at each group.
• When Mum’s attend each group – they get a free copy of the book for that week.  The book reflects the weekly topic such as ‘taking care of yourself’.
• While the kids have a snack, the facilitators broach the topic of the day and a discussion ensues. 

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

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.

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

Out annual School Photo Day will be held on Thursday, 29th April.  

We are currently taking Kindergarten enrolments for 2022. If you have a child, (or indeed know of a child who lives in our local area), who turns 4 before 1st January 2018 (born in 2017), please contact our school office to collect an enrolment form.  Proof of your child's birth, immunisation records, proof of residential address and parent identification will also be required. 

Later in the year we also offer three Introductory Sessions for children who have enrolled in Kindergarten next year. These sessions will be held on a Wednesday morning. Parents will be advised of these sessions closer to the date.

We look forward to commencing our partnership with you and your child.

SCHOOL INTAKE AREAS

New updated school intake areas will only apply to families who enrol a child in a government primary or combined (district) school for the first time from the beginning of 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) 

The Department of Education hasexpanded 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 received student assistance in 2020 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.

Congratulations to the below winners of our Easter Raffle from each class.

Kinder A Walkinshaw - Ed R

Kinder B Campbell - Hayley B

Prep A Baker/Marshall - Jess R

Prep B Bovill - Piper A

1A Millen - Elijah V

1B Dunn - Kira A

2A Cameron - Lockleigh D

2-3A Stagoll - Lorraine

2-3B Peachey - Jamie M

3-4A Dykman/Skinner - Emily P

3-4B Faulkner - Jemima S

4A Bodell - Terry C

5-6A Airey - Alfie C

5-6B Shephard/Sutton - Sheridan

5-6C Frerk/Marshall - Leah C

The Australian Government will start its program in Tasmania to vaccinate residential aged care and disability care staff and residents at the same time as the Tasmania Government’s roll-out program commences.

I recognise that you may have questions about the vaccination program. I encourage you to visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccine for the latest information on the vaccination roll-out. Additionally, you can visit the Australian Government Health website for further information at www.health.gov.au.

Keeping yourself and others safe

We must all continue to play our part in being COVID safe. While the vaccine is an important measure in our response to COVID-19, it is part of a suite of things we need to do – including maintaining our COVID-safe behaviours:

• Stay at least 1.5 metres away from others;
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water;
• Stay at home if you are unwell;
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms; and
• Be aware of, and follow, current gathering, business and travel restrictions.

For the latest updates on the COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania and across Australia, visit  http://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.

A very strong School Association supports our school. In addition, a fundraising committee operates under the umbrella of the Association and works extremely hard to raise money for equipment. Many parents give much time to support school activities which is greatly appreciated.

The Association meets in the school staffroom approximately once a term in the evening and everyone is invited to attend. Please see proposed dates below:

5th May - AGM and General Meeting

28th July

27th October

1st December

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A PERSON TO WORK OR VOLUNTEER AT PUNCHBOWL UNLESS REGISTERED!

If you currently hold Volunteer Working with Vulnerable People Registration,  please bring your card to the school office so we can record your registration.  Teachers will also ask to see your registration prior to initially doing Parent Help, as it is a requirement to carry your card with you at all times. 

If you nominated another organisation in which you volunteer when you registered, unfortunately at present we are unable to check you are registered. Please update your registration status via the below link to update and advise all organisations in which you volunteer.

If you wish to register, please complete the online application via the below link:

http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children/application

Grades 2 Cameron, 2-3 Stagoll & 2-3 Peachey had a great day exploring the natural environment at Punchbowl Reserve on Friday, March 26th.  We were lucky to have Bonnie come along and share her knowledge of bush tucker with the class and talk about how river stones were used to grind ochre for ceremonies.  The children learnt about how timbers form local trees were used to make hunting tools and clap sticks. The plant that the students ate was Lomandria, which is a native sag. There is also a picture of a bush with green berries on them - these berries turn red when you are allowed to eat them.  A great day was had by all. Below are some photos that were taken.

This year, Brixhibition was bigger and better than ever!  A huge thank you to all of our participants who submitted interesting, colourful and creative models.  The votes were all counted – and some last minute votes added on Monday morning, and we can now announce the winners of the Punchbowl Primary Brixhibition Competition for 2021.

Prep – Grade 2: Mehtab S and his model of the Battle of Pearl Harbour

This year, Brixhibition was bigger and better than ever!  A huge thank you to all of our participants who submitted interesting, colourful and creative models.  The votes were all counted – and some last minute votes added on Monday morning, and we can now announce the winners of the Punchbowl Primary Brixhibition Competition for 2021.

Prep – Grade 2: Mehtab S and his model of the Battle of Pearl Harbour

Grade 3 – Grade 4: Emily P and her model of the Elf Reserve

Grade 5 – Grade 6: Lucas W and his Wall-E inspired model

People’s Choice Award: Lucas W

All participants will receive a certificate, and winners will be awarded a Lego medallion.  A photograph of each winning model will now be submitted to the All-Schools competition and displayed virtually.  Entries will be viewed and judged by the Tasmanian Brick Enthusiasts Inc judging panel.  Competition entries can be viewed at www.brixhibition.com and winners will be announced via the Brixhibition website on Saturday 25 April, 2021.