We have had a settled start to Term 2 with students engaged in learning and teachers extending programs to support all learners. We will continue to work with our community around the COVID situation and provide ongoing support for our students. A big thank you from our school to parents and carers who continue to follow DoE guidelines and limit the spread of COVID.

COVID-19 Update

Our school will continue to work closely with Public Health to safely manage any COVID-19 cases, with a focus on testing students and staff who have symptoms.

The number of students and staff with COVID-19 will be closely monitored, and we will work with Public Health to respond as needed. If there is an increase in cases, Public Health will tell us what we need to do and what actions families will need to take.

Parents and carers will no longer receive a message every time there is an individual case in a class or grade – unless students or staff are medically vulnerable.

Public Health has recently changed the rules for close contacts of COVID-19 cases so that they no longer need to isolate. This means that if your child is a close contact – and importantly, symptom-free – they can attend school, please see previous correspondence, or contact the office for more information

Reporting

During Term 2 we will conduct Parent/Teacher interviews in week 10. Students will also receive a report outlining achievement on a 9-point sliding scale. This initiative is new for 2022 and will replace the traditional A-E ratings. We will send further correspondence home to families in coming weeks to explain the changes.

NAPLAN Testing

Our Year 3 and 5 students began NAPLAN testing this week.  All tests have moved online in 2022 with only the Year 3 writing test still being completed on paper. Please support your children during this period be ensuring they have regular sleep routines, healthy eating and answering any questions or concerns they may have. Staff are also available to support any students or families who have increased anxiety around the testing period. 

AFPS Carparks

Could I please remind our community to abide by the 10kmh speed limit within school grounds.  We continue to have many vehicles driving too fast through school grounds which puts students, staff and families at risk.

School Lunch Program

At the conclusion of 2021, our school was selected to participate in the School Lunch Program beginning 2022. Our funding has allowed us to work with 1 class as a trial and they will receive a hot lunch each Monday. This program will be monitored by the Menzies institute and research will be taken to inform future planning and growth across Tasmanian schools. 3 Clifford will begin the program in week 5 of this Term and relevant information has been sent home to parents/carers this week.

Being at school is the best place for our kids. It’s where they learn and grow alongside their friends, and where they benefit the most.

The Department of Education’s new communication resources on school attendance highlight the importance of regular school attendance – watch the television commercial here.

Going to school not only promotes academic success, but also helps build important social skills, relationships and confidence. Every COVID-safe measure is being taken, so that every student can learn in class safely.

What we do know is that every school day counts. Bright futures begin at school, so if your child is well enough to attend school, being in the physical school environment is the best place for them.

For more information, please visit the Department of Education website.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Late last term Kinder Clifton undertook an excursion to the Botanical Gardens with our friends from Kinder Johnston and Kinder Duncan.  A lovely day was had by all strengthening relationships and exploring nature and the changing seasons.  Some of the highlights included playing in the autumn leaves, visiting the duck pond and rollie polies down the hill.  The bus was very exciting, as it was the first ever bus trip for some of us!

3 Clifford have enjoyed the author study of Philip Bunting over the last term. His work and illustrations are entertaining and very Australian. The book ‘Wombat’ linked with our weekly spelling investigations and students were motivated to write a persuasive letter to him to encourage him to publish a book about animals of their choice – such as Tasmanian Devils! The text ‘Mopoke’ was recreated with a videoed puppet show in small groups and shared via DoJo. Students have made connections between his books, such as similar illustrations/images and ideas, and enjoyed his lifecycles that related to our Science Unit. Other activities have included comparing the illustrations, to the style of text and creating categories. Great reading 3 Clifford!

In 5/6 Jackson we have been exploring different types of persuasive mediums. Students have investigated persuasive advertisements and how they are used best to convince the audience to buy products. Students then produced their own advertisements, creating a logo, slogan and inventing a product. 

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is being held throughout Term 2 and AFPS is encouraging all students to participate. The Challenge is not a competition but a way to support students to develop a love of reading for life. Students are invited to read 10 books in 10 weeks. There will be opportunities for students to read at school through the classroom reading program, but students are also encouraged to do extra reading at home. There will be a Reading Log provided for students to record the books they have read, which will need to be signed by an adult once the reading has been completed.

Please talk to your child’s teacher or find out more by visiting the following website:

www.premiersreadingchallenge.tas.gov.au

Reading to your child can be a lot of fun.

Reading to your child everyday supports early literacy learning.

Check out this video for great tips to help your child read in the early years - Great Start - Learning in Families Together

Public Health has recently changed the rules for close contacts of COVID-19 cases so that they no longer need to isolate.

This means that if your child is a close contact – and importantly, symptom-free – they can attend school (except for support schools).

They would however need to pass a daily rapid antigen test before leaving home each day, for a seven-day period. Advice for close contacts is available on the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website.

You will only need to let us know if your child is a close contact if they’re not attending school.

Close contacts should practise COVID-safe behaviours including good hand hygiene, physically distancing from others when they can and staying away from school if they have any symptoms.

While primary aged close contacts are not obliged to wear a mask in school, they can still choose to if it is practicable for them and they are happy to do so.

If your child is medically vulnerable and you have concerns with the changes to close contacts, then you may wish to work with your child’s medical practitioner to identify further options to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to them. If you have any concerns, please talk to us about alternative learning options.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school office.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

This term, there will be some changes in how COVID-19 cases are managed in schools.

Our school will continue to work closely with Public Health to safely manage any COVID-19 cases, with a focus on testing students and staff who have symptoms.

The number of students and staff with COVID-19 will be closely monitored, and we will work with Public Health to respond as needed. If there’s an increase in cases, Public Health will tell us what we need to do and what actions families will need to take.

Parents and carers will no longer receive a message every time there is an individual case in a class or grade – unless students or staff are medically vulnerable.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school office.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.