Thank you for all your patience with the COVID procedures that have been in place such as different pick-up points, signing in and wearing your masks when on school grounds. We have been incredibly fortunate at this stage to only experience minimal disruptions with COVID positive cases.

Please remember if you or your child/children feel unwell with any cold or flu like symptoms or just feel unwell, tired, or have even mild headaches they should be kept home and complete a Rapid Antigen Test before returning to school.  We have more RAT supplies at school, and they can be requested by parents from the office whenever you have used your allocated amount.  It is always good to keep two RATs on hand.  Please remember to let the school know if your child or a family member has had a positive result or are isolating due to being a close contact so that we can support learning from home via the Departments Virtual Leaning Centre.

We still have some restrictions placed on school from the Health Department.  One of these is the need to continue to wear face masks. Another is to limit the number of adults on the school grounds and cross class mixing where possible.  We have been informed that we can hold our athletics carnival before the LSSSA carnival.  However, sadly we are not permitted to have parents on site for the carnival. We are also to limit the number of cross year group mixing at the carnival and for this reason we have decided to hold a Grade 3-6 carnival only and will postpone the Kinder-Gr 2 Carnival to a later date. The Grade 3-6 carnival will be held on Thursday, 10^th March. 

Grade 6 Leaders

Last week I was able to recognise our Grade 6 Leaders and the leadership roles they will be undertaking for the year.  Sadly, due to COVID procedures we were not able to do this in front of our entire student population or their parents.  We were able to take a photo of each student with their certificates and badge as we as celebrate their achievement with students from Grades 3-6. Congratulations to our leaders for 2022.  A photo collage is enclosed with this newsletter.

Esk Band

Last week students from Grades 3-6 listened to an instrument demonstration from the Esk Band teachers.  Students were then given a letter to take home advising of the Esk band opportunity and costs associated.  The Esk band is a ‘fee for service’ program with small group tutoring offered during school time.  We have been fortunate enough to been involved with Esk band for the last three years and have seen an incredible growth in our student’s skills ultimately leading to students competently playing in a combined school band. If you child is interested, please return the enrolment forms by Wednesday, 2^nd March.

School Photos – Thursday 31^st March

This year we have been able to secure an earlier time slot for school photos.  These will be held on Thursday 31^st March.  We ask that students wear full sports uniform on the day.  Forms will go home next week.

Kitchen - Garden Program

Car Parking and U turns

It is really important to remember there is limited parking outside of the school grounds.  At the front of the school, it is a pickup and drop off zone only, parents are not allowed to leave their car to go in and collect children. Police regularly patrol school zones and have fined parents for illegal parking.  The other concern is parents who are doing U turns across the white line near the crossing guard.  It is incredibly dangerous for our students and the crossing guard when this occurs.  The cross guard is able to record number plates for Police action.  We have let the Police know our concerns and have asked for patrols. We thank you for your support with the safety of our students at these busy times.

School Association

It is our first School Association meeting next week on Wednesday, 2^nd March at 7pm.  We will be holding this in 5/6 Frerk/Marshall.  Any families are welcome to attend this meeting.  At these meetings we discuss matters concerning the school and communicate information to members about the school improvement planning. Please make sure you wear your face mask to the meeting.

Before school and after school care

After a lot of parental requests, we have been able to secure onsite before and after school care.  This is run by Lady Gowrie and is operating out of the multi-purpose room.  The hours of operation are:

Before school – 7am – 8.30am.

After school – 3pm - 6.30pm.

If you would like to use this facility, please contact Lady Gowrie on oshcnorthmanager@gowrie-tas.com.au or phone 6331 5106.