11 September 2024

From the Principal

What a fun disco we had! A huge well done to our awesome SRC for organising and spending a week of craft club getting some amazing decorations up! They led and helped students to create the decorations in their lunch breaks – and what a job they did, the MPR looked amazing! The disco was a lot of fun for all of our sessions and the theme was a real hit with some super creative dressing up. Who knew a jellyfish outfit could look so great? There were some fantastic costumes.

External School Review

At school, we are currently finishing up our External School Review. Every Tasmanian Government School has this process run every 4 years. It takes a lot of energy on behalf of the crew at school to pull it off. There is a lot of embodied ADAPTING being displayed by staff and students across the school! The formal report and recommendations will take some time to reach us but the draft recommendations will be shared with the staff tomorrow and from there we will be able to share them with you all as well. The process is always growth-focused. This means that there are always recommendations for further growth and we welcome a group of 3 experienced past and present principals making recommendations for us. Additionally, they take the time to point out what is working well. They have stressed that a lot is working very well at our school. They have been impressed with what they have seen. Those comments are real commendations to the hard working staff we have and the high expectations our families and students have for their learning at our school. We should all be proud, I certainly am!

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, some student groups and our staff to compile a list of features and benefits of our school to start to get some information on what matters to them. Last week we shared the information we have so far and asked for feedback.

To date, although it is important to note that we are not finished, it’s clear that where we are (the bush, the trees, the creek and Eagles) is coming out to the front of what people value in our school’s sense of place. Also, warmth, connection and young people are core ideas for our identity. BUT we are not finished with collecting our data. For this newsletter, our question to you is:

If our school was a person, how might you describe it? What personality might our school have in your eyes?

So far, we have:

Just like last week, 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.

We have also a proposed colour palette for any work. We are using the EAGLES colour palette as we had tested and worked that through already. This does not mean that we are changing any school colours or the like, we may just end up using an accent colour or something else in our communications. Feel free to send us your feedback on the colour palette below as well.

From here, we will take your feedback and collate it with our broader student and staff feedback processes. We will also work with the School Association to progress their thoughts. We have started to share some initial alternative concepts with our students (just a few right now) and will continue to do this over the next two weeks. In the next Newsletter, we will work to have a few ideas and concepts to share with you, based on heavy consultation with our students and School Association. 

EAGLES – Our Cambridge Capabilities

Our second competition round for the last 10 Icons has been run. We are now tallying up the votes and will have them by next Newsletter.

We have worked with staff to develop some new and updated resources around the school. If you’d like, attached is a graphic organiser to remember what capability is under what domain. We will have all of the definitions and exemplars to you around the end of the year and more resources coming out at the start of next year.

We will provide a printed version of this organiser for you in the end of year info packet we send out. Below is a link to an electronic copy if you’d like it.

If you would like a printed version in A4 or A3, we will also have copies at the office for you to collect, please feel free to come in and grab one.

Redevelopment Update

The new building is seeing the brickwork continue up and the roof go on! The windows for the lower level are nearly all on and downstairs is near lock up. This building is expected to be with us sometime in December, after all the rain and wind. VOS are working hard to get the building back to us sooner. We will keep you informed.

As of next week, the “road” through the school in the Kinder construction site will be extended to the canteen. There will be a gate installed so that people can flow easily between the Kindergarten Block and the rest of the school. The gate will be temporarily closed when heavy machinery or items need to be moved through. This access will enable outdoor work on the canteen and main building to commence. There is some more specific information below. Thank you all in advance for your patience. We are about halfway through our build process, not long to go now before a renewed and refreshed school all around us.

Staffing - Relief

I just want to take a moment to outline the difficulties in staffing at present. There has been much media reporting, and will continue to be for some time, about the severe teacher staffing crisis at present across the country. We are not immune. I can safely say that Joe, Merrin, Ali and Jodi spend a lot more of their time finding relief staff than we ever did or think we would need to. We make every effort to fully staff the school every day… and yet sometimes we just can’t find staff. This may get worse before it gets better. As a nation we are thousands of teachers short.

What this will mean, is that over the next 8 weeks while we know that we have planned staff leave, it might get harder to find replacement staff. Please always share your concerns with us about any staffing changes and issues, and please know that our ability to respond may be limited.

We work hard to strategically over staff our school so when times get hard, we can draw from within. And over the next few months, we won’t have that internal cover while a number of people are on leave for a variety reasons. We appreciate your patience over this time.

See you soon – Courtney.

Redevelopment News

From Monday 16 September, the walkway behind the main building, heading towards the canteen, will be fenced off by VOS Construction to begin works to the canteen and classrooms. The grassed area will remain open for students to use at recess and lunch.

The footpath to the Kindergarten and 3/4B will be open as normal. However, occasionally it will need to be closed off for vehicles to access the construction site. VOS will provide monitoring of the gate to ensure student safety at all times.

Canteen will be served from the window inside the MPR.
Please see the office if you require any further information.

School Association News

The next School Association general meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 September from 5.30pm – 7.00pm.

Reading Assessment

This year we have made a big change to our reading assessment practices, in line with DECYP recommendations for all Tasmanian government schools. We are now screening all students from Prep to Grade 6 with a series of short assessments, collectively called DIBELS. DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills. Depending on the student’s grade they will have a sequence of timed assessments with their regular classroom teacher, which will uncover information about the core skills required of a skilled, proficient reader. We are screening to see if students are on the expected pathway, with their phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Information from this screening then informs our teaching teams and their planning for reading instruction. This week we have begun our last round of screening for this year, and this will continue gradually over the next couple of weeks.

It might be a great time to check in with your classroom teacher if you would like to know more about which skills are a specific focus for your child at school.

Narelle Stevens, Quality Teaching Coach

2024 Gr3-6 Cambridge Swimming Carnival

The School Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 19 September at the Hobart Aquatic Centre from 10am – 2pm.  All able students in Grades 3-6 are expected to participate, where possible, and should come to school with bathers on under clothes to save time. 

Students will be leaving school at 9.30am and returning after 2pm in time for the buses.

Parents and friends are welcome to come along and support our students. We ask you please sit away from the school groups and find an appropriate place to watch.

Parents are welcome to volunteer as an official to help at the carnival. These jobs will include judging, time keeping, marshalling, general or students support. Please leave your name at the office (6248 5168). Your support is greatly appreciated.

Students must bring lunch as they will not be allowed to use the canteen.

It will be great to see our students put their aquatic skills to the test a fun competitive environment. A school team will be selected for the SPSSA Division B Carnival on Tuesday 5 November.

Below is a link to the program.

Ryan Thomas, HPE Teacher

Families Satisfaction Survey 2024 - Reminder

The 2024 School Satisfaction Survey is still open!

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. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school improvement planning and decision-making.

If you have not had the opportunity to complete the survey about Cambridge Primary School yet, it is open until Friday 20 September 2024 and should take about 5 minutes of your time.

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 received 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.

Consultation on Feeder School Arrangements Postponed to 2025

Consultation for the review of feeder school arrangements has been postponed until 2025. This timing will allow feeder school arrangements to be considered together with next scheduled review of intake areas in 2025. If you have any feedback you would like to provide on feeder school arrangements ahead of formal consultation in 2025, you can do so by email: intake.areas@decyp.tas.gov.au. All feedback will be recorded for consideration in 2025.

More information:

For information on feeder school arrangements in Tasmanian government schools, please visit the Department’s Find Your Local High School webpage

Contact:

Rebecca Dennis – rebecca.dennis@decyp.tas.gov.au

SunSmart Program - Reminder

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 or on the Qkr App for $10.

Fathers’ Day Stall

A huge thanks for a fantastic Fathers’ Day fundraising success!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from our recent Fathers’ Day fundraising stall! Thanks to your incredible support and generosity, we raised a whopping $1503!

What a day it was! The stall was buzzing with activity and excitement as our students eagerly selected gifts. With an array of chocolates and fun socks, it was heartwarming to see each child pick out something special for the important men in their lives.

So, where will all this wonderful money go? We’re excited to tell you that every dollar raised will support some fantastic school programs and activities that make our school life richer and more vibrant:

Camp Adventures: Helping our students explore new horizons and enjoy thrilling outdoor experiences in both Grade 4 and Grade 5

Bush School Fun: Providing hands-on learning and play in the great outdoors.

Surf Life Saving: Keeping our students safe while they learn essential skills at the beach.

Band Activities: Enhancing our music program and allowing our young musicians to shine.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed—whether by purchasing gifts, donating items, volunteering or supporting the event in any way. A special shout-out to our amazing volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen!

Let’s keep this community spirit going strong as we continue to support these valuable programs and make our school a fantastic place for everyone. Here’s to more fun, more fundraising, and more fantastic events ahead!

With gratitude, the Fundraising Team.

Silent Disco

Thank you to all the families who supported the sea themed Silent Disco on August 30 and a huge thank you to the Student Representative Council (SRC) who organised craft sessions to make decorations for the MPR and who organised the collection of donations. $586.90 was raised for The Great Barrier Reef Foundation. A great effort and a fun day for all.

Australian Antarctic Festival

Thank you to the Gr 6 students who painted cardboard penguins which were on display at Mac 02 from 22-25 August at the Australian Antarctic Festival. The festival had over 20,000 visitors and the penguins were an iconic feature.

Mrs Sari, Art/Music Teacher

Footy Colours Day – Friday 27 September

Friday 27 September (the last day of term) will be Footy Colours Day! Come to school wearing your best team attire. No donation required.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Grace L in Gr6 who was selected as a reserve team player in the Southern Kangaroos U14's basketball team. The team will travel and compete at the national championship in Victoria in September. She has also made the U16 State Development Squad for basketball and also selected as one of just twelve athletes in the U16 Girls Swisherr Academy. Well done, Grace!

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)

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