We have had a great fortnight of learning. I am always so proud of how enthusiastic our students are when they talk with me about what they are learning in their classes and I love listening to them about how much they are improving in their learning. So far this week I have heard one student tell me how much they have loved their class book and she told me, ‘If you read it really slowly you can pick out the really interesting parts’. I had another student tell me they had learnt how to figure out what they were working on in Maths. Another let me know that the grass they were growing (science experiment) was amazing because the grass that had grown the longest had ‘no air’.  I think listening to our students and watching them grow in their learning is such a wonderful part of being at WUPS.

Our students who participated in the North West Primary Schools Cross Country Carnival had a wonderful time running for our school. All students demonstrated our school values really well and all reports were that although it was a cold day, it was also a great experience.

Staff have been very busy preparing your child’s report and getting ready to meet you for our parent engagement meetings. As mentioned in our last newsletter, our reports are different this year as there will be no written comments. The parent engagement meetings are your opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher to get feedback about how they are going with their learning and what their next steps are to progress their learning forward. You can now book a time with your teacher.

I have received news this week that I have been the successful applicant for the permanent principal of West Ulverstone Primary School. This means that after an appeal process has passed I will be principal for the coming years. I am very excited to accept this offer and look forward to partnering with you and your child’s educational journey.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our next assembly.

Please do not hesitate to contact if you have any questions or want to talk about your child.

Yours in partnership,

Sarah

Wilmot Farm School Experience 

In K/P/1, our Prep and Grade One students have been investigating the different ways things move. Last week we had a go at making some ramps to make a car roll as far as possible without being pushed. Many of our Kinder students wanted to join in on the fun too and did an excellent job! It was great to see lots of very inventive creations and great thinking happening in the room.

We have also been getting creative lately while getting a bit messy. We had a go at some fantastic finger paintings last week which was also a big hit with students.

Have you noticed how beautiful the trees look during autumn? In grade 3/4 we have been using our observation skills to explore the changes that occur in our playground during autumn. We walked, talked and recorded our thinking in our writer’s notebook. We then created beautiful poems that we published on watercolour paintings of leaves.

For choral reading we read an information text, where we learnt about the different parts of a leaf. Did you know that the centre part of a leaf is called the ‘midrib’? This was new learning for us, and we used this information to explore the symmetry of leaves for maths. We had to use a magnifying glass so that we could see all the intricate veins. We also used the vocabulary from our information text to create a scientific labelled diagram of a leaf.

We are very proud of our learning and can’t believe that there were so many learning opportunities to be found in the humble autumn leaf!

So far this year students have explored a range of art materials, and processes including printmaking, collage and cardboard sculpture. The main focus has been on drawing technique and water colour painting, with the first theme Australian animals, birds and sea creatures producing some fantastic results. A key aim has been to develop students’ skills and confidence in their drawing ability.

As an additional activity, mindfulness colouring sheets are available each week, to promote student wellbeing and calm, improve focus and attention and develop fine motor skills.

Students have designed artworks celebrating Harmony Day and The Royal Coronation and will continue to create art responding to school and community events, such as NAIDOC Week and Footy Colours Day which are coming up in July.

Ms Phillips

Art

During the first two terms of this year, students have enjoyed a variety of engaging learning experiences in Music lessons.  We have been focussing on beat and rhythm, using body percussion, untuned percussion instruments, other sound sources, songs and games.  Students have enjoyed singing and playing individually and in groups, developing listening skills and have worked at becoming more competent at reading and writing notation.

Our Learning Goals have centred around students being able to demonstrate an understanding of beat and rhythm, including rhythm notation.  Our Success Criteria have included being able to sing and move in time to the beat, imitate and recognise rhythm patterns, play instruments in time to the beat, and read and write basic rhythm notation.  Older students have also been working on maintaining rhythms in ensemble with others and creating their own rhythm pieces, as shown in the photos below.

Pete - Prep - 1- 2 

For Writing a fantastic sentence.

Spectators are welcome at the pool this year. Photos and videos cannot be taken of students at the pool and spectators are not allowed in the changerooms whilst students are getting changed. We thank you for your understanding with this.

Do you need some help to navigate the medical system, or a referral for your child/ren? – Nurse Millie is available to help. Please contact the office or your child/ren’s teacher, for a consent form to see me.

Reference: https://outpatients.tas.gov.au/clinics/audiology/hearing_tests

Children’s Vision: Nurse Millie

Reference:   https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/vision.html

How much sleep does a child need?

Good Sleep Habits

Regular sleep pattern -keep regular times for going to bed /even on weekends, helps the body clock control sleepiness n wakefulness. Star Charts are useful for bed battlers

Consistent bedtime Routine-helps a child to prepare for sleep-brushing teeth/quiet activities /drawings/bedtime stories/music/warm bath/warm milk drink.

Avoid -caffeine drinks-Coke / stimulating activities-Any sugary foods/drinks ~1 hour before bedtime -as these prevent sleep -They are stimulants.

Ensure sleep environment is quite and comfortable-Boring bedroom space with no distractions or temptations. Not a playroom or study area.

Amber light- in the bedroom promotes an increase in the sleep hormone (melatonin)

Daytime Exercise /natural light. Helps to promote sleep

Screen times/TV/Laptops/Tablets/Mobile phones-no more than 2 hours per day-avoid using these 60 minutes before bedtime-as they emit a blue light that stimulates the brain

When should I take my child to the doctor?

If your child has difficulty falling asleep or wakes frequently at night. Sleep apnoea /enlarged tonsils- adenoid causing sleep problems.

Your child has symptoms of inadequate sleep which may include poor school performance, difficulty with attention and concentration, behavioural problems, hyperactive or restless behaviour, or unusual daytime tiredness including regular daytime naps after five years of age.

Your child snores loudly, pauses while breathing or has difficulty with breathing during sleep.

Reference:   https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/fact-sheet-healthy-sleep-children/

New online information hub for families

Some exciting news! The Department for Education, Children and Young People has recently launched a new online information hub for families with school-aged children in Tasmania. Our new website has information to help you navigate your child's education, from birth all the way up to 18 years of age.

Visit our new webpage at Welcome to your child's Tasmanian education - The Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania (decyp.tas.gov.au) (https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/information-for-families-and-students)

Some of the things you’ll find include

• tips on how to support your child’s learning at home
• information to help you keep your child safe and well
• a guide to explore courses for the career they want
• school holiday and term dates.

We hope this website will be a valuable tool for you as you help your child navigate their education journey. We would love to know what you think of our new information hub for families. You can tell us by completing a quick survey on the webpage.