Upcoming Events

Term Dates

Professional Learning Days & Public Holidays

Term 4 continues to be busy with only 5 weeks to go until the end of the year. Last week we had a visit from Bravehearts and Ditto with some simple keep safe messages for our K – 3 students. Personal safety is an important skill for all our students and I hope that they left the sessions with understanding that, in particular knowing that:

• We all have a right to feel safe with people.
• Its OK to say No if you feel unsafe and unsure, and
• Nothing is so yucky you can’t tell someone about it.

As well as Ditto we had the pleasure of having around 20 students at our school graduate from Children’s University this year. Congratulations to these students on their achievement.

We have also seen some of our classes being able to participate in excursions. Travelling out into the community is an important experience for students that supports the learning that takes place at school. It is wonderful for our students to be able to participate in these types of opportunities again after a break caused by Covid 19.

Just a reminder that it is important that members of our school community regularly check the school calendar on either the newsletter or Facebook to keep abreast of what’s happening. Term 4 is a busy term, especially as it moves quickly towards its end. Some key dates to put in your diaries include:

• Tabloid Sports Day Thursday November 26
• Grade 6 transition day Tuesday December 1st
• End of year whole school picnic celebration at SPLASH, Friday December 4
• The Big Day Out - Year 6 End of Year Acknowledgement Excursion to Launceston Friday December 11
• Reports go home Friday Dec 11th
• Year 6 Graduation & End of Year Assembly on Wednesday December 16, from 11:30am. 
• Term 4 is also the last opportunity we will have to enjoy our current year 6 students. During the course of their time at EDPS, these students have made significant contributions to school life in many different ways. We hope the remainder of this term also provides even more lasting memories of life at primary school for these students as they get ready to move onto high school.

Planning for 2021

Planning for the 2021 school year has begun as we organise our curriculum directions, staffing, specialists and support programs.

To plan effectively, it is important that we know the number of students who will be attending next year. Please inform Mrs Youd or the school office as soon as possible if you know your child will not be attending our school in 2021, and /or you have a child you are yet to enrol in Kinder for next year.

Bravehearts

Last week students in Grades Kinder to Grade 3 will have the opportunity to experience Bravehearts’ personal safety education program called Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show.

Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure show has been educating Australian children since 2006, providing them with personal safety tools and strategies while supporting positive self-esteem and resilience- building.

The Ditto show was a live, interactive 40 minute performance starring Bravehearts’ mascot ‘Ditto’. It included songs, dance, and easy-to-remember messages about personal safety for all our younger students. These songs and messages were written by Bravehearts’ professional educators and child psychologists to ensure they were developmentally appropriate for your child’s age group. The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by all our students and many of them were excited to see Ditto again.

2021 Reece High School Enrolments

RHS has requested that any students who are intending to enrol at RHS for 2021, to return the completed enrolment forms as soon as possible. Our Grade 6 students were issued with the enrolment forms last term. If you have missed receiving one, please contact either our school office or the RHS Office to obtain another one. Once completed, please return the form to our school office for forwarding to RHS.

School Bus safety

Recently we have had members of the EDPS community inform us that students have been seen leaving the bus and then crossing the road in an unsafe manner. The NSW education department has published advice for parents of primary school students children who travel on a school bus to and from school. Each Bus family has received a copy of that advice. I have included below a summary of that advice.

Getting to and from the bus stop

• Families are responsible for getting their child to and from the bus stop safely.
• Always supervise your child until they are at least 10 and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange and when crossing the road.
• When waiting for the bus, hold hands and wait as far back from the passing traffic as possible.When travelling by bus, your child is most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus.If you cannot meet your child, organise for a trusted adult to take your place.Crossing the road Together, choose the safest place to cross the road and talk about: 
• Click here to view the Bus safety for school students Informationhttps://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/bus-safety-school-students.pdf
• STOP! one step back from the kerb
  LOOK! continuously both ways
  LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching traffic
  THINK! whether it is safe to cross
  Keep checking as you cross the road
• Always wait until the bus has gone, then use a safe place to cross.
• Meet your child AT the bus stop or interchange after school. NEVER wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across.
• Getting off the bus

Talk and Play Survey

The Department of Education is working on a new campaign about the important role families play in teaching their children communications, talking and listening skills.

So if you have kids between the ages of 0 to 18, they want to hear from you!

Can you spare them 10 minutes of your time to fill in a survey and share what happens in your house?

http://bit.ly/talkandplay-survey

The Department of Education recently annoucned that we would be expanding the Student Assistance Scheme for 2021. 

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Services Australia - Centrelink Health Care Card
• Services Australia - Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia - Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs - Pensioner Concession Card.

Please note if you are already receiving student assistance you do not need to complete a form. 

For 2021 a new online form has been dveloped to assist with processing applications for new applications.

The online form can be completed here: https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/

Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will cofirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy form pelase contact your school or the Financial Assistance Unit on stas@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 827 077.

We would like to remind parents/carers of children turning 5 in 2021 that we hold our school pre-kinder sessions every Tuesday afternoons from 1.15- 2.45 with Kinder teacher Mrs Chris Killick and Teacher Assistant, Sharon Van de Elzen.  You are all welcome!  During these sessions this term, parents have been enjoying weekly guest speakers addressing questions we all wonder about when we have children starting their school journey for the first time. So far we have had the school nurse, our speech therapist, and our school literacy coach. This Tuesday we have our school psychologist Mrs Dana Sallese and school social worker, Ms Rachel Veal speaking to the parents about the importance of having school routines and ensuring your child gets enough sleep. In the coming weeks, we have our school librarian Wendy Steven, and Sue Horton from the CFC providing sessions.

Tuesday 14 December we are holding our Kinder Orientation afternoon. This will be held from 1.15-2.45 but will be held in the kindergarten room. In this session, parents will receive their Welcome to East Devonport Primary School bags and also will meet with the School Principal, the School Business Manager and the 2021 Kindergarten teacher. We urge all prospective parents to attend this session.

If you require further information about our Pre-Kinder afternoons or Kinder Orientation Day please contact Karen Whish-Wilson.

Book Week 2020

Once again Book Week at East Devonport Primary was celebrated with great gusto. Our mystery readers for each class were outstanding and thoroughly enjoyed by our students. A big thank you to the “mystery readers” for giving up their time. We won’t name them so we can keep them a mystery for next year!  Our book parade was amazing.  Our SRC Executive ran the parade in the outside courtyard. The weather was beautiful and the costumes were amazing. Each class was able to complete a lap of the courtyard and a random book prize was awarded to a student in each class. As the book week theme was curious creatures and wild minds, staff paraded to the song “Wild thing,” with the whole school singing the chorus.  Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Thank you to our amazing parents for  the costumes. Well done also to the winners of the Design your own Curious Creature Competition. Lastly thank you to our amazing librarian Mrs Steven for her enthusiasm and expertise in organising Book Week activities.

SRC

The SRC has been very busy so far this term. On Thursday 29 October, the SRC held a Day for Daniel. Students were encouraged to come to school wearing red and give a small donation. Each class was given a red balloon and red balloons were also placed around the school. In assembly, that day, we learned more about what Day for Daniel is and about the foundation. The SRC are proud to announce the school raised just over $130 which is fabulous. Thank you to our school community for their generous support.

On the Thursday 5 November, the SRC gave out Random Acts of Kindness to two students in each of their classes who were displaying our school value of being safe and caring. Well done to those students who were acknowledged by receiving one.

On Wednesday 11 November, the SRC Executive held a Remembrance Day Ceremony over the school PA. As part of this we had Mitchell from Miss Simmonds class play the Last Post. He did a great job and it was very touching. 

Early Learning East Devonport

Every day at 9.30am there is a session being run by our combined CFC and East Devonport Primary LIL team in the CFC building. Baby groups are on Mondays, Cooks and Books Tuesdays, Messy play Wednesdays, Playgroups Thursday and Fridays. All are welcome. Groups will be running until the week ending Friday 11 December.  On December 17 December a combined Early Learning East Devonport and CFC Christmas Breakup will be held at the Don Railway. More information to come.

Children's University

On Thursday November 12 a graduation was held for nineteen East Devonport Primary School students from the Children’s University. This year, due to COVID restrictions, the graduation ceremony was conducted during our assembly. Mr Jesse Brennan from Children’s University officiated at the ceremony and handed out the children’s certificates. They also listened to a special message from the Chancellor of the University. He remarked that our school had one of the biggest number of students graduating this year in comparison to other school along the northwest coast which is a credit to these students and their families. Well done to: Millie, Shelby, Taryn, Aleira, Jonah, Gideon, Billy, Azavier, Holly, Brearna, Bella, Noah, Dakota, Indy, Isabel, Elijah, Jack, Shani and Narya. Narya has accumulated a whooping 230 hours over the last three years, receiving a National Bronze Diploma. To all of our graduating students, we thank you for your commitment to being a dedicated and life long learner. We are very proud of you all.

The last chance to claim tokens for 2020 will be Thursday 26 November. 

Our last student banking for 2020 will be on Tuesday 8 December.

Physical Education

Fun in the Gym with Miss Sharman

Playdough gardens

We went on a nature hunt to find some leaves, sticks and other nature objects to make a playdough garden

The Class Pet

Prep-1 M have been busy looking after a special Classroom Pet.

This week the students decided he was starting to look a little dirty. We talked about how we can look after pets and then we decided he needs a bath. So yes, we bathed the Class Pet. We all took turns in a circle giving the pet a scrub with our hands and Bronte rinsed the pet off with the measuring jug. There was lots of excitement and now the Class Pet is clean.

The students have been learning about being responsible, looking after the pet and some lucky students have taken it home for a visit. Students have recorded their pet visit in the Class Pet’s travel journal and this also supports the classroom oral language program for sharing in class.

The Class Pet has had so many exciting adventures this year. Below are some photos of the Class Pet and students.

Prep-1 Portlock had a lovely visit to Hagley farm. The children enjoyed a tractor ride over to feed the chooks and collecting their eggs. They also enjoyed feeding the pigs, ducks and all the other animals on the farm

In week 2 of this term, 2-3H went on an adventure to Hagley Farm. We started off the day by heading to an old cottage. On the way there we had to walk over a cattle grid and one of the students got her foot stuck in between them! Miss Howard had to fish out her gumboot. When we got to the cottage we participated in a range of activities such as butter, bread and candle making, and we got to discover how wool is spun. The students were so excited about churning their own butter, but not many of them liked eating it! After we had something to eat for lunch, we then went to the old school. We got to experience what is was like when children went to school in the olden days. We had to sit in a classroom and follow the old school rules, we even got to write with ink! Overall we had a very fun day and most of the students cannot wait to do it again!

Our Trip to Guide Falls Farm

On Wednesday we went to Guide Falls Farm and fed animals. We saw a pig called Lilo, it is 2 weeks old. After that we held bunnies and one jumped out of the basket. We quickly grabbed the bunny so it didn’t escape. Then we had a scavenger hunt. We found clues then we had lunch then free play. We had so much fun at Guide Falls Farm.

Oliver

On Wednesday we went to Guide Falls Farm, The first thing we did was a tour with Monique. We fed the animals. Andy the horse put my whole hand in his mouth. When we played pass the parcel with the rabbits we needed to make a fence with our hands so the rabbits didn’t get out. After this we planted seeds. I planted a sunflower. Next we did a scavenger hunt and looked for clues. Shelby and I worked out the word. For the scavenger hunt we had to take a photo of someone kissing the sheep. The sheep nearly kissed me! It was like the sheep really wanted to kiss me because it put its head out of the fence.

Hayley

We went to Guide Falls Farm. The first animals we saw were a piglet and rabbits. I patted the piglet, Lilo. He was cute. He was black and white. After that we got a cup of wheat and went on a tour with the class and Monique. First we went to the pigs and fed them. Next we went to the sheep and fed them. After that we went to the goats and alpaca. The goats tried to eat my clothes Then we went to a horse called Andy and he ate my hand.

Laylah

After recess we did a scavenger hunt. We needed to find fourteen clues to solve a puzzle. The first thing we had to do was to take a photo of us doing fish lips. Hayley had to kiss a sheep! We had to find five feathers and a piece of twine. The puzzle answer was ‘haystack’.

Shelby

On Wednesday 11^th of November our class wet to Guide Falls Farm, First we had a tour with Monique, then we got a cup of wheat to feed the animals. We fed a baby pig called Lilo, three rabbits called Boots, Harry and Garry. Their fur was soft. We fed chickens, dogs and an alpaca that nipped my hand – that kind of hurt! The goat’s horns felt like wood. The emu and the calves kept running away. The dogs and the bull looked cool. We saw pigs, sheep, turkeys and peacocks. There was a dam and there was geese in it. A rooster kept on making a loud noise. The dove was cute.

Edward

Yesterday I went to Guide Falls Fam. We saw a pig and baby rabbits. We saw a horse and chickens and at the end of it we got to hold baby rabbits and feed them.

Lachlan

On Wednesday we went to Guide Falls Farm, First we took a tour with Monique. Then we fed the baby pig, Lilo, with a bottle. He was two weeks old. We had a scavenger hunt and we had to find different clues and we took funny photos. We had to pretend to kiss a sheep and I saw a fat pig, its name was Peanut.

Jonah

Students in 3-4 Simmonds spending time parctising their Math skills on the ipad. 

In 4-5T and 5-6W we had the opportunity to create a Christmas Tree Panel, which will be placed in the mall. Our talented designers were Imogen and Israel.

What do you think? Doesn't it look amazing!

Some of our indigenous students ready for our flag raising ceremony.

Our school garden is starting to take shape. The children have been preparing the garden beds for planting by pulling weeds and topping up the beds with some extra compost. They have been planting seeds and now they are seeing all our seedlings popping through the soil and starting to grow. They have been watering their plants and maintaining the beds by keeping it weed free. They have been very excited creating the school garden and watching the process of their hard work produce plants. They love to share and talk about their own gardening experience at home with their parents of at their grandparent’s places.

2-3 Piper create a city

5-6 Dolbey constructing a bridge out of straws and tape to hold a book

The City of Devonport Brass Band will be having a Community Concert on 22nd November at the Baptist Church, William Street Devonport. The concert will commence at 2pm, and entry is by donation. There will also be raffle ticket sales. The first prize is 2 nights for 2 at Falls River Eco Accommodation (to be drawn 22nd December).

We would love to see you all there!

Help us make this concert a success and let your friends/family/customers know.