Our staff have been working hard over the past few weeks thinking about student class placements for 2020. To guide our decision making, we consider class placement criteria such as grade groupings, gender balance, social and emotional wellbeing, peer groups and academic ability. On the final day of school all students will have a 30 minute session in their 2020 classrooms with their new teacher. Reports will be sent home on Monday 16 December and welcome letters from 2020 class teachers on Wednesday 18 December.

On the Student Free Day after Show Day holiday, our staff came together for a professional learning session. Our focus was adult wellbeing and how our own emotions impact thinking, action and the tone and culture at Austins Ferry Primary School. We also spent a considerable amount of time on planning key Term 4 events, Awards Assemblies, our Christmas Carols evening and Year 6 Leavers Assembly. Keep an eye out for more detailed information about these events.

Earlier this term students from Years 4 – 6 completed the Student Wellbeing Survey. The questions focussed on culture and identity, participation, learning, being healthy, having material basics and being loved and safe. Wellbeing is one of the goals of the Department of Education and the survey contains useful information to guide our school planning for student wellbeing. We will share more of our school results over the coming months.

We are excited to offer a free “Helping your child cope with Anxiety” information session for parents and carers next week. We know that there are many students who experience anxiety at home or school and this session will provide parents and carers with strategies to support in a variety of situations. The session will be run by Anja from Calm Kids and will be held on Thursday 14 November from 5:00pm – 7:00 pm in the Early Years Learning Centre. Please register your name at the school office if you would like to attend, the session is also free.

A big thank you to Mr Cook who is coordinating the Grade 6 transitions ‘Head Start to High School’ program. We want to make sure that our students move into their new setting seamlessly and confidently.  We are working closely with our partner school Montrose Bay High School, and other non-partner High Schools to make sure the transition experience is well planned, coordinated and supporting students excitement, engagement and connectedness to their Year 7 destination. Please mark in your diaries that most government High Schools will participate in the Year 6 Orientation Day on Wednesday 4 December.

After consultation with the School Association the following levies have been set for 2020:

Kindergarten      $160.00

Prep - Year 6      $220.00

This levy contributes to the cost of your child's education program and includes stationery, learning materials, performances and excursions.

Extras not included are school photos, Year 6 camp, leavers activities and leavers clothing.

Levy invoices will be mailed to parents/carers early in 2020.  There is an expectation that levy payments will be finalised by the end of Term 1 - Friday 10 April 2020.

The school office will be open for levy payments and uniform sales on:

Wednesday 29 January 2020 - 9:00am to 2:30pm

Thursday 30 January 2020 - 9:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Payment of levies and charges can be made by cash or credit card at the school office, Bpay, Bpoint, Service Tasmania and Qkr!.

Parents/carers are encouraged to discuss payment of levies and charges as early as possible if there is difficulty in affording any element of the levy or charge.  Please make time to speak with the School Business Manager, Rhonda Turner.  A levy instalment plan including Centrepay is available to parents/carers who are unable to make a full payment at the beginning of the new school year. Instalment plans offer flexible, sensitively negotiated payment options to assist parents/carers to budget for this cost.  Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly, monthly or at other agreed times after payment of an affordable deposit.

The Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) is available for parents/carers who meet the criteria of an income test.  Families approved for STAS are not required to pay levies but may be required to pay other charges eg. Year 6 camp, leavers activities and clothing.  If you feel that you may be eligible or if your personal circumstances have changed please see the shool office for an application form or download at:  https://www.educaton.tas.gov.au/Documents/Student-Assistance-Scheme-Application-Form.pdf

Families who were approved for and received STAS in 2019 have been sent correspondence regarding STAS 2020 directly from the Department of Education.  

The gross, taxable income test (STAS) for the purpose of assessing a family's eligibility for STAS in 2020 is as follows:

Taxable Income Table 2018 - 2019

The School Association are desperately seeking donations for the Christmas Raffle which will be drawn on Thursday 12 December 2019 at the Christmas Carol Event.  If you are able to help, please drop donations in to the school office or contact Rachel on 0498 625 452.

Funds raised will support the construction of the hot house for the school garden.

All donations will receive a FREE ticket in the raffle!

A reminder to please return books either sold or unsold to the school office no later than Monday 9 December 2019.  If you are able to sell more than 1 book please contact the school office 6275 7222.

A big thank you to all families that have sold and returned books and money.

UPDATING STUDENT DETAILS

It is vital for the school office to have updated details for all students.  In the event of a medical issue or emergency event this information is crucial in the care and response that we provide for your child/children.  Please ensure to update information with the office staff as required: emergency contact details, phone numbers, address details and any changes to your childs' medical needs eg. asthma, anaphylaxis.

ABSENCES / ATTENDANCE

If your child is absent please notify the school office before 9:30am:

• Leave a message on the answering machine 6275 7272
• Speak to the office staff face to face
• Call the office staff 6275 7222
• Email:  austins.ferry.primary@education.tas.gov.au
• Via the web form:  www.austins.ferry.primary@education.tas.gov.au
• Submit details through the Schoolzine SZapp

We care about your child's safety and will text you if your child is absent unexplained.

CAR PARK SPEED LIMITS

Speed limits throughout the school are restricted to 10km.  Please note that regardless of what time of day, if the gates are open there is someone here! Everyone's safety is important. 

END OF DAY MESSAGES

Please notify the school office as early as possible and prior to 2:25pm if you need to get a message to your child/ren for the end of the day. Class notice bags are collected at 2:30pm and passing on messages after 2:30pm becomes quite difficult.  We cannot guarantee messages will be received effectively after this time.

Parents/Carers,

When leaving a message for your child/ren for the end of the day, please ensure you call the office before 2:25pm as the class notice bags are collected at 2:30pm. Passing on messages after 2:30pm becomes quite difficult and we cannot guarantee messages will be received effectively after this time.

Also, a reminder that in Term 4, our Hat Policy will be in full swing. If your child/ren are not wearing a hat when outside, they will be asked to play in the shade area. Slouch and Bucket hats are available for purchase at the school office or through Qkr! for $12 each.

Thank you.