28 August 2024

From the Principal

Achievement Success

It is exciting and great to know that after some analysis of the recent NAPLAN data, and looking at many of our other data sets, our school has some real successes and positive trends. We will share more specifics and explanations later this term but for now:

• Our Kindergarten students achieve more markers for development compared to state averages and similar schools
• We have about 10% more students maintaining or improving their English ratings compared to similar schools, and 5% more in Mathematics, and 11% more in Science
• We have about 5% more students developing or above in NAPLAN Reading and Writing compared to similar schools nation-wide
• We have about 8% more students developing or above in NAPLAN Numeracy compared to similar schools nation-wide
• In terms of medium or high growth, between testing intervals, compared to similar schools nation-wide we have:
  • 15% more for Reading (this is huge!)
  • 11% for Spelling
  • 8% for Numeracy
• We consistently, over many years, have fewer students at risk in Reading each year in our end of year Reading data.

While we don’t ever measure our success on one standardised test, triangulating our data between different sources over time paints a good picture for us. We also do have areas of growth and will always look to them and work on them.

However, it is really pleasing to see and note the good data story that we can tell you all. A huge well done to our hard-working students and to our dedicated staff.

School Visual Communication

Building on from last week, we are continuing to refine an exploration of what is important to our school and how we want to communicate that to the people around us. We have worked with the School Association, our Student Representative Council and our staff to compile a list of features and benefits of our school. This list is both current (what we provide and do) and aspirational, where we wish to go. These statements and lists are not exhaustive. They are exemplars so that the consultants that we are working with and the designers that may provide any works, can get a good feel of our school. Today, we are sharing the below iterations of our exploring so far:

We are keen to get your feedback: Do you have something that you wish to add that you feel is missing? Or do you strongly disagree with something? If you do, please let us know and the weight and volume of feedback we get will help shape our process. We will need to make changes, and yet we are confident, having gone through three processes so far that we are mostly on track. We’ll keep it easy, please just click on this email address: cambridge.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au  and make your subject line FEEDBACK. (Yes, there are a few typos in the text above, rest assured that’s not our collation and it will be fixed up). We would really like your input – if you like it, you can let us know that too.

From here, we will take your feedback and ask another question next Newsletter, before linking to proposed work to the School Association and students

EAGLES – Our Cambridge Capabilities

We have started the second round of the Icon Competition here at school. Starting this week, students will view and vote on their preferred Icon for the last 10 Cambridge Capabilities. If you’re about school, come and check them out in the hallway just past the ramp on the way to the 4-5 Room. Our students have put a lot of work in and it’s quite amazing!

From next week, we will start to have renewed posters and some wall friezes being printed for all classrooms. After this, we will work with our designers to get some resources for homes to be made up. With the view to have them ready either late this year, or for the start of next year.

Redevelopment Update

We are moved into the Kindergarten space! Mrs Clare and her Kindergarten class have moved back into the middle room and 3-4B have moved into the new room temporarily. Please see the below photos. The space has been a busy hive of activity for our students (and many families) wanting to have a look. If you’d like to have a sneak peek – please feel free to head down and have a look. This space will not be occupied by a Kindergarten class until next year when all of the build is finally completed. The external play spaces will not be accessible for some time, as the plants and setting is finished off and settled in.

The new build is progressing and is now due for completion in late November. You can see the roof is nearly on and the brickwork on the second storey is now underway. The internal fit-out for the bottom level is progressing.

As 3-4B is out of Room 9, VOS have begun exploratory works in this room, ready for the Term 4 redevelopment of the main school building.

External School Review

Later this term, we will be holding our regular External School Review. Over a four-year cycle, every government school has a review. All reviews are growth-focused; they seek to find and note the strengths and then make recommendations for future learning and work. For us, for example, our school-wide development of our EAGLES framework for our Cambridge Capabilities was born from the last review. We are attempting to develop a whole school approach to academic self-regulation and metacognition – we are trying to develop better learners, based on evidence.

Our review is confirmed for our school in week 8 of this term from Monday to Thursday. We will have three reviewers (all either current or past school principals) on site and they will talk to students, staff and parents about our school. They will also walk through classrooms and be in teacher meetings. We are looking forward to the process and will communicate through the Newsletter the future recommendations from the process.

See you soon – Courtney.

Staffing – Ali Cato leave

This week is my last week before I take some long service leave. I will return in Term 4 week 8. In my absence Jodi Freeman will pick up the 5/6 support load and will take on the Wellbeing Lead and the Safeguarding Lead roles.

Courtney Howard will pick up the 4/5 support load.
Please make contact with Jodi or Courtney as needed.
Alison Cato, Assistant Principal, Wellbeing & Support Lead, Safeguarding Lead

Reading Information Session for Parents

On Thursday evening, families of children in Kindergarten, Prep and Grade 1 were invited to come along to school to discuss what beginning reading development might look like, and how to support our youngest readers at home. A huge thank you to all who attended! It was fantastic to meet some new parents and hear about reading from your point of view. We will certainly look forward to planning more sessions in the future. Working together to support a love of reading is incredibly important to us.

Narelle Stevens, Quality Teaching Coach

Book Week – Reading is Magic!

Last week we celebrated our love of books and shared reading throughout Book Week. There was great excitement in Prep as they arrived dressed in pyjamas with their favourite books from home on Thursday. 2/3B collaborated with their buddies to create chalk murals based on the picture book, ‘The Concrete Garden’, By Bob Graham. The 1/2 classes enjoyed a variety of very special guest readers in person and through Seesaw. They also connected with three special books through art and focussed on the role of the illustrator. 2/3A reconstructed their favourite book scenes as dioramas to recognise the magical images that reading creates in the mind. The Kindergarten teaching team looked super groovy with Pete the Cat as their outfit inspiration!

Narelle Stevens, Quality Teaching Coach

The 2024 School Satisfaction Surveys are Coming!

Every year the Department for Education, Children and Young People conducts a School Satisfaction Survey to find out what your child(ren)'s school does well and where it may improve.

We would be grateful if you completed our online survey about Cambridge Primary School. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school-planning and decision-making.

The survey is open from Monday 26 August 2024 until Friday 20 September 2024 and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Each family should nominate one person to fill in this survey for their child(ren).

Take the online survey by clicking this Link, or pasting it in your browser: https://nam.dcv.ms/fqFgcMKfc4 The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

All families in this school will use the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A summary of the survey results will be provided to schools.  Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department for Education, Children and Young People staff.

Please contact your school if you require any assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.

Silent Disco – Friday 30 August

The Canteen will be selling Jellies for $1 each at the Disco.

Cambridge Swimming Carnival

Hello Cambridge Community members.  The next big school carnival is coming soon.  The grade 3-6 Cambridge Swimming Carnival is happening on Thursday 19 September.  It’s a MASSIVE day for the 3-6 students and to make it another successful day for them we need to have parent help.  We need parents who are happy to volunteer as recorders, time-keepers and judges.  Please let the school office know if you are available to help out on the day.  Your help really is greatly appreciated and essential to the success of the carnival.

Thanks in advance! Mr Thomas, HPE Teacher

2024 Young Archies Exhibition

Japanese Calligraphy Competition

The Annual Japanese Teachers Network  (JATNET) Calligraphy Competition has been held for 2024. The chosen hiragana characters were たつ (tatsu) dragon.

Each class held its own calligraphy competition with the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place recipients being displayed near the office.

Congratulations to Stephanie P, James K-S and Isla C whose artwork was chosen to represent Cambridge Primary School in the State-wide Competition.

Special congratulations to James K-S who won 1st prize in the State-wide Pen Division.

Anita Wedd, LOTE Japanese Teacher

Lost Property

There is a lot of Lost Property at the moment. Please encourage your children to check through for lost clothes, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc.

Support your Child’s Online Learning at Home

Digital skills are critical to every child’s success, but supporting online learning can be overwhelming.

The Digital Skills for Families team are delivering a program to help Tasmanian families support online learning at home. Spending time online at home gives children an opportunity to practise what they are learning at school. Positive home environments help children develop the skills and independence they need to succeed in a digital future. 

Learn about communicating online with schools, digital education at school and how to support online learning at home.

Digital Skills for Families is offering free:

• information sessions
• workshops
• one-to-one help

In libraries, schools and community locations statewide.

Email the team at digitalskillsforfamilies@libraries.tas.gov.au to find out more and book a free session.

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government has invested $8.8 million to provide up to 30,000 eligible families with no internet at home a free National Broadband Network (NBN) service until 31 December 2025. To check your eligibility, follow these simple steps.

• Contact the National Referral Centre, operated by Anglicare Victoria, on 1800 954 610 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEDT), www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.
• The National Referral Centre team will help assess your eligibility for the SSBI, by checking several things including your residential address and current financial situation.
• If eligible, you will be issued a voucher which can be redeemed at any of the participating SSBI retail service providers. The National Referral Centre will also be available to assist with contacting your SSBI retail service provider of choice and providing follow-up support.

What is the eligibility criteria for the initiative?

To be eligible, a family must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school.
• Have no active broadband service over the NBN network.
• Live in a premise where they can access a standard NBN service.
• Not have had an active NBN service during the previous 14 days.

Families can directly contact the National Referral Centre to have their eligibility assessed or be referred by a participating nominating organisation. 

This is the website: 

Rose Bay High School Open Night

SPSSA Winter Sports Carnival

Congratulations to all the Gr5 and Gr6 students who participated in the Southern Primary Schools Sports Association Winter Carnival at different venues around Hobart on August 20. Here are a couple of photos of some of our participants.

Let’s Celebrate!

Assemblies in Term 3

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

Friday 13 September

2024 Term dates

Term 1:  Thursday 8 February to Friday 12 April (Easter Break Fri 29 March -Tue 2 April)
Term 2:  Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July (Student Free Day Friday 7 June)
Term 3:  Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Term 4:  Monday 14 October to Thursday 19 December (Student Free Day Friday 25 October)

Remaining Student Free Days 2024

Friday 25 October 2024, Term 4 week 2. (Thursday 24 October – Hobart Show Day Public Holiday)

Community Notice Board