It has been a privilege to be part of our Burnie Primary School community! Over the past two weeks I have witnessed the high level of parent and community involvement that sends a collective message to all students that we all really care about them and we want to see them learn and achieve at their true potential in a collaborative, creative and innovative learning community.

At Burnie Primary we are constantly seeking ways to improve our communication with you in regards to your child’s learning outcomes at school.  To support this improvement, we are altering our reporting format this year to support the Department of Education’s new ‘Communicating learning progress with families’ policy. We will be providing more opportunities for communication with your child’s teacher through a variety of different means, (including discussions face to face, on the phone and virtual), the use of the Seesaw app, and the twice a year report that will provide ratings on a 9 – point scale indicating how your child is achieving against the expected standard for their year level. This will replace the A – E rating scale used previously. The invitations for this Terms Parent / Teacher discussions have been sent and are the start of this conversation about student learning that will continue throughout the year. For a quick snapshot of the changes in reporting to parents check out the short video at :  Changes to reporting in 2022 - YouTube

We value parent input into our school community here at Burnie Primary School. The School Association and Parents and Friends groups provide one way of being involved in the running of the school. On Tuesday night we conducted our first School Association meeting for the year including our AGM. Office bearers elected were Chair : Dr Claire Jensen,  Treasurer : Dylan Halfacre, Secretary : Dr Amina Keygan. Our Staff representatives Kendall Sandman, Georgette Moore and I make up this years School Association. Some items discussed included the strategic planning documents that are driving the school improvement agenda here at Burnie Primary School, the proposed relocation of the court to the old University of Tasmania site, and our joint opposition to this decision in partnership with Hellyer College (and this discussion must have made some impact considering the subsequent decision the next day ?), our school involvement with the ‘Working it out’ service and ‘Valuing Diversity Framework’, and our investigation into how we might provide an opportunity for the ‘Breakfast Club’ experience this year. The P&F meeting that followed.  Discussed various fundraising options and what we would be funding with the profits, as well as our support for the ‘Fathering Project’ that will continue this year, and the ways that we can have parents and carers engage and be part of their child’s learning. Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to get involved, even if it's just taking orders for family, friends and work colleagues for the gourmet hot cross buns that the P&F are offering.   

This week sees the start of another important aspect of your child’s learning with the Swimming and Water Safety program. Although compulsory for all Grade 3&4 and some Grade 5 students, Burnie Primary School provides the opportunity to learn to swim and be safe in the water for all students Kinder – Grade 6 and is one of only a few schools statewide who offer such a comprehensive whole school approach to swimming and water safety. The life benefits of being able to enjoy and recreate in and around the vast fresh and saltwater environments here in Tasmania are great and the learning could one day potentially save lives.

Unfortunately due to the current restrictions the Department of Education has placed on schools, especially around the restriction of student movements, the NWPSSA Athletics Carnival in Penguin has been postponed until Term 4 this year. We look forward to being involved then.

Thanks to all our school community for your genuine understanding and kindness during these challenging times for schools.