02 August 2023

From the Principal

Welcome to our first fortnightly newsletter for Term 3.

Cambridge Capabilities - #14 Recovering

Currently, our students are exploring questioning for this their second week.

Next week, we will be exploring Recovering as our 8^th Cambridge Capability of 2023 and our 14^th overall.

Recovering is bouncing back after frustration or failure.

Recovering is tightly linked to resilience. Recovering is an incredibly important capability that enables all of us to regain our poise and focus after experiencing challenge. By developing the capability to bounce back we will be better able and more prepared to take on the challenges which are an essential part of learning.  

Please tell us what you think about Recovering as a Cambridge Capability below:

What Your School Association Raised Money Goes Towards

The School Association raises money through the Fundraising Group for the benefit of school and school programs. Historically, the School Association spends their money on 2 overall things:

1. One-off items from time to time – large playground pieces, setting up Bush School, school sports tops
2. Supporting additional, well valued programs annually, each with $2000 to help with the sustainability of the programs:
   • Band Program for 5-6s
   • Surfing for 5-6s
   • Grade 4 camp
   • Grade 5 camp
   • Bush School (for Kinder to Grade 2)

The money that the School Association raises each year first helps the school continue the above programs to the tune of $10 000 each year. Additionally, the School Association then looks to save up and purchase significant items when approached by the school. For example, we will look to contribute to a playground item with the redevelopment, to extend the landscaping budget and to gain more benefit from the workforce already on site. More on this soon.

But right now, please know that your contributions to the school association and school fundraising events are very appreciated!

Redevelopment Update – Imagery/Update

Here is an image of part of the redevelopment, recently created by the architects. It shows the building from eye height across the street and updated ideas of brick patterning are shown. In the distance you can see the Kinder.

Independence Month - August

Below is the piece about Independence Month that appeared in our Welcome to Term 3 last week.

Since COVID times, we have held an annual “Independence Month” at school. In consultation with the School Association, we are naming up August as this month.

We found that during COVID restrictions, our students flourished with the increase in personal responsibility that came from not having adults around as often to do routine things for them (for example parents walking them on site every morning). This finding was common across most schools. We kept (and will continue to keep) a supportive and nurturing environment, to ensure that failures are good learnings for resilience and to build the capacity of students to take the steps they need.

We thoroughly enjoy having regular parent contact at school. And for August, we ask that our families limit their time on school grounds for the betterment of all our children. Drop off at the gate, put your children on a bus, or have them walk or ride to school or home. For Kinder families, it might be about having your children walk the last bit of the path or from the gate. If you’re feeling unsure, chat with your classroom teacher.

See you all soon – Courtney

School Information - A Few Points to Remember

We are a Nut and Egg Aware School

A reminder to families that we are a ‘nut and egg aware school’. There are several students within our school community that are highly allergic to nuts as well as students highly allergic to eggs.

Please do not send nuts, or foods containing nuts in your child’s lunch box.

Please do not send egg sandwiches, or hard boiled eggs in your child’s lunch box.

SunSmart Program

Children are required to wear hats when outside at all times from September to April.  Digger, Legionnaire or “Bucket” hats are the only hats to be worn at school and children without a SunSmart hat will be required to remain under the shaded area.  Sunscreen will also be available to students and this will be located in classroom areas and at the office.  Application of school sunscreen is your child’s responsibility so please ensure they can confidently apply this to themselves.  Please also feel free to apply sunscreen at home in the morning prior to the school day. This is in line with the SunSmart Program sponsored by the Cancer Council.  Hats are available for purchase from the School office for $10.

Levies

Invoices were posted by the Department in February.  Contact the office if you wish to discuss payment options.

Contact Details

Has your phone number, email or address changed? Please inform the office of any changes as they occur.

Lost Property

Lost property is located at the MPR end of the main corridor. Please clearly name items of clothing, drink bottles and lunch boxes. If students are recycling second-hand clothes, please delete the old name. Any un-named items that are left at the end of each term will be disposed of.

Disabled Car Park

We have two disabled carparks near the school gate. We also have several families who either have disabled children or carers. These families need the car parks. We understand that the carpark can get full at times, but please, do not park in the signed spots unless you have a valid disabled parking sign.  

Car Park Safety

Please drive slowly and with care in the carpark. Do not park in the bays allocated to buses, even for a short time.

School Gates

As we all know, manners are very important, but we ask that when opening the school gates, please only let out the child that is in your care.

Office Hours

8.10am – 3.30pm

Uniform Shop

Opening hours 8.10am – 3.30pm. Alternatively, uniform can be paid for via Qkr. Items can be collected from the office or handed to students. See side panel of newsletter for Qkr instructions. 

School Opening Hours

8.10am – 3.10pm

Class Times

School commences 8.40am
School concludes 2.40pm

Student Absences

Please notify the school office by 8.40am each day your child is absent from school. There is a link to an absentee form on the sidebar of the Schoolzine newsletter.

Or call, or leave a message, on 6248 5168.

Student Late Arrival or Early Departure

Students must be signed in/out by a parent/carer using the Kiosk electronic sign in/out at the office, if they arrive late or are leaving school early.

Qkr App

The Qkr phone app gives parents the opportunity to pay for uniform, canteen orders and the Cooked Lunch Programs on smart phones and other devices. Instructions are on the side panel of the newsletter.

Student Free Days this Year

Thursday 6 April 2023
Monday 24 July 2023
Friday 27 October 2023

Cooked Lunch Program

In March 2023 Cambridge Primary School was awarded GOLD accreditation for our Cooked Lunch and Canteen programs. This accreditation demonstrates our strong commitment to our students’ health and wellbeing by providing a tasty, nutritious, and popular lunch program three days per week.

The healthy and exciting variety provided to students for recess and lunch not only saves families time and money, but keeps kids excited about fresh and wholesome food. Our program encourages students to try new foods, fuelling their body throughout the day for optimum learning inside the classroom and physical exercise at break times. Students with specific dietary requirements are catered for and our team is more than happy to discuss options with families.

At recess students can choose from a variety of options such as savoury biscuits with spreads, popcorn, fruit, vegetable sticks, cheese, dip, crumpets and raisin bread. A freshly baked sweet treat such as a fruit muffin, healthy slice or bliss ball is provided for each student.

Lunch consists of a variety of salads and students are encouraged to choose three of these items to accompany their main dish. Fresh and seasonal salad produce is our preference and options such as tomatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli, coleslaw and avocado also make periodic appearances. Main lunch dishes are tailored to the season and availability and are in rotation to appear at least twice per term. This ensures that there is a constant element of excitement to what’s on offer each day. Each classroom has a bread maker so there is fresh, multigrain bread to enjoy with lunch.

Here are some examples of Cooked Lunch options.

Recess platters

Lunch time salad platter

Tacos, corn on the cob and fresh bread

Baked potatoes with bacon and onion (vegatarian option avalible) served with cheese and lite sour cream plus salad

This lunch box example (below) costs $10 and would take 20 minutes on average to prepare, without including the time at the supermarket on the way home because there is nothing for school lunches tomorrow.

Our prices are: Kinder $3.20 per day, Prep - Grade 3 $4.20 per day, Grade 4 - 6 $5.20 per day.

It’s not too late to opt into our Cooked Lunch for Term 3 so please send an email to cambridge.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au or give the office a call to join the program.

Have Your Say on Current Feeder School Arrangements

The Department for Education Children and Young People is seeking feedback from families on current feeder school arrangements. These arrangements have been in place for many years and are currently under review. The current feeder school arrangements have been published and can be found on the Department’s Find Your Local High School webpage.  Feedback on these current arrangements can be provided via on online survey at the link below. Your feedback will be a valuable input into the review process.

2023 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge

The 2023 Tasmanian School Triathlon Challenge for students in Grades 3-6 will be held on Friday 1 December at Bellerive Beach. Entry forms will be available from the Office. Completed forms should be returned to the Office with payment before the end of this term.  Cash payments only. Please do not return forms without payment. Parents/carers are responsible for transporting students to and from the event.

Entertainment Book - August Promotions

Assemblies in Term 3

Assemblies are held in the MPR and start at 1.40pm. All are welcome to attend. This term’s Assemblies will be on:

Friday 4 August
Friday 18 August
Friday 1 September
Friday 15 September 

Spare Socks

If you have spare socks, we could do with some for the spare clothes collection. We have plenty of everything else but no socks.

Let’s Celebrate!

Community Notice Board