It is an exciting time at AFPS, teachers are finalising end of year reports and students are preparing for end of year celebrations to acknowledge the outstanding work in 2020. It has been a year like no other and our staff and community have taken it in their stride even turning challenges into positives that will improve our school well into the future!

Bike track opening

We are excited to share that our new bike track is up and running, providing students with endless fun and challenges. Students have demonstrated resilience and courage since tackling the bike track and are already setting goals for the future to improve their skills. The track has been open to Year 6 students during lunch breaks and other students have tested their skills during P.E. classes with Mr Bailey. Some teachers have even shown courage and ridden on the track, which students have loved!

Values Vouchers

Students have been hard at work living our school values across all aspects of their learning and next Monday and Tuesday will see our values voucher shop open for the final time in 2020. Students will have the opportunity to spend their vouchers and purchase various toys, experiences and sports equipment.

Awards Assemblies

Please remember that we will hold our Prep - 2/3 Awards Assembly next Tuesday 8 December and Year 3/4 - 6 Awards Assembly on Wednesday 9 December. Both events will commence at 9:10am. Due to COVID-19 restrictions we have only been able to invite parents of students who will receive awards during the assemblies. If your child is receiving an award you would have been notified by the school office. We will also hold a Kinder celebration at 1:45pm on Tuesday 8 December, with 2 family members permitted to attend for each child.

2021 Term 1 school holidays

Please be advised that there have been some changes to the Term 1 school holiday dates.

The end date for Term 1, 2021, has been brought forward to allow the school holiday period to commence immediately following Easter Tuesday. This means that students will not have to return to school for three days between Easter break and Term 1 school holidays, which was previously the case. The overarching reason behind this decision is to allow for greater learning continuity for students.

The new arrangements are as follows:

With the school holidays falling directly after Easter, it will be an ideal time for your family to take advantage of the extended holiday period! All Term dates for 2021 can be found on the Department of Education website at: www.education.tas.gov.au/about-us/term-dates/term-dates-2021/

Kind Regards

Tim Nicholas

Principal

We have had a super busy Term 4 in 3-4N. We've been learning about closing the loop in recycling. That means remembering to buy recycled items so that they actually get reused!

We have looked at persuasve writing, division and money too. 

It hasn't all been hard work though. On November 11 we made poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day. We held a spaghetti tower building competition, and the winner was over one metre tall. We also really enjoyed our 2 weeks of Learn to swim. Some of us made some fantastic progress too.

We have been working on our poetry unit for this term. Although we have looked at lots of different types of poetry we have been focussing on poetic devices, including similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia and using our senses. This has led to the creation of some very interesting and thoughtful poems. The students have particularly enjoyed reading poetry from other authors and making connections and comparisons between them. In particular they have enjoyed reading poetry by authors including Roald Dahl right through to Lewis Carrol.

Over the year, 3-4 Ley has been working in teams – as either a whole class, or small groups. We have learnt a lot from one another by working together and hearing each other’s ideas.  We are also learning how to resolve problems by listening to one another. Some examples of the way we have worked in teams are when creating 3D models, making our ‘TEAM’ artwork and by solving group challenges.

These photos show our TEAM poster that is made with all of our colouring put together like a puzzle, and when we worked in small teams to solve a detective challenge this week.

HOME READING CLUB

2021 Uniform Collection & Sales

The school office will be open for uniform collection, payment and sales on:

• Thursday 28 January 2021 9:00am to 2:00pm & 4:00pm to 6:00pm
• Friday 29 January 2021 00am to 2.00pm

2021 School Levy Information

After consultation with the School Association the following levies have been set for 2021:

Kindergarten               $160.00

Prep – Year 6             $220.00 

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

Levy invoices will be mailed to parents/carers in early February 2021.  There is an expectation that levy payments will be finalised by the end of Term 1 – Wednesday 31 March 2021.

Payment of levies and charges must be made by:

• Cash or credit card at the school office during office opening hours
• Bpay, Bpoint
• Service Tasmania.
• 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 a time to speak with the School Business Manager, Rhonda Turner.   A levy instalment plan including Centrepay will be made 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.  Please see the School Business Manager, Rhonda Turner, for assistance with this process.

STAS – Student Assistance Scheme

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

For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing applications for new applicants and can be completed here:  https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au/

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families - hard copy paper forms are available from the school office.

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

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

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser - NEW COLLECTION DATE - Friday 4 December

Unfortunately our donuts have missed the flight from Melbourne and will not be available for pick up until Friday 4 December from 2:30pm.

Collection of orders from the school will be from the gym. 

We apologise for any inconvenience.

2020 Christmas Raffle - PLEASE RETURN RAFFLE BOOKS NO LATER THAN TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER

The School Association are currently fundraising to support student learning programs including upgrading equipment in the Early Learning Centre and the purchase of Literacy and Numeracy resources for all students across our school.

The School Association thank the many families that have returned raffle books and to those that have sold multiple books for the 2020 Christmas Raffle. 

Please see updated prize list below.

Please return the books, either sold or unsold, to the school office no later than Tuesday 8 December 2020. 

The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 9 December at the Years 3-6 Awards Assembly.

A huge thank you to all the generous donors and sponsors! 

Christmas Gift Stall

The School Association Christmas Gift Stall will be held on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December.  Gifts will range in price from 50 cents to $6.00.  Students will visit the stall in class groups.  

Please send your child's money in a sealed and named envelope or snap lock bag.                                 

KISS & DROP

A friendly reminder that the school 'Kiss & Drop' zone is not for car parking - please do not leave your vehicle unattended in this zone.

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.

CANTEEN & QKR!

Please remember to place your canteen lunch orders through Qkr! prior to the 8:45am deadline.

Story Dogs Needed!

Our school would love to have this unique reading support program helping our students to become life-long readers.

The teachers love this program, the students can’t wait to read and the program works!

• Do you have a dog that is well behaved, gentle and is happy around children?
• Can you spare a couple of hours a week?

Call or email Story Dogs so you can start helping children to become better readers.

info@storydogs.org.au  Web site:  www.storydogs.org.au Phone: 0400 845589

Yumi Sensei from the Japan Foundation visited Austins Ferry today to help the students learn about Japanese writing.  Students in Prep/1 are making Kanji posters.