This week, we have been celebrating the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week! Books play such an important part in children’s lives! I still remember when the internet was being established (yes showing my age!) many IT experts predicted the end of books and libraries as everything would be accessed online. Ironically, the opposite has become the case! There are now more books sold than ever throughout the world, and we are upgrading our library here at Burnie Primary School to accommodate the fabulous new children’s literature that we have purchased for students! Reading is one of the most important things students will learn, and you as parents and carers form an important part of this learning. A tip from Jackie French, Australian Children's Laureate for 2014-2015, for parents and carers is;

“Read to your kids!
This should start when they're a few days old. I'm serious...while you're cuddling them and feeding them, tuck yourself into a comfy chair with a good book, and read bits out to them. No, of course, they won't understand it ... but they'll love the sound of your voice.

Read them a bedtime story every night too-and if you go out get the baby sitter to do it for you! Both of these steps mean that kids associate reading with being loved and cuddled...and also gets them hooked on the fun of books.

KEEP reading to your kids!
Read stories to little kids several times a day. Even when they learn to read well, KEEP reading to them. Kids love the drama and closeness of being read to!

Make the books available! Kids can't read books that aren't there.
It's so easy for kids to turn on the TV, but books have to be hunted out...and just like our ancestors had to learn how to hunt a sabre tooth tiger, it takes time to learn book hunting, how to find the books that THEY like in shops and libraries, just by skimming the back cover and first page and a bit of the middle.

Read to your kids, take them to the library, show them how to sort through books to find the ones they like . . . then take a deep breath, because the chances are that you'll have an enthusiastic reader demanding more books NOW . . . and WHY aren't you supplying them!”

Transition is a focus for us this term. We know that this helps start learning on a positive pathway. Our pre-kinder sessions start this Friday and provide parents and children starting kinder next year, with a taste of what to expect in their kindergarten year. This builds on the quality Launching into Learning early learning sessions we provided throughout parts of the year. Our Grade 6 students start their transition to Burnie High School throughout November in the lead up to their Orientation Day in December. We are planning for transitioning students here as well into next year. To help us with this planning process, one consideration we make when we undertake this complex process of constructing classes is parent requests. If you have any information that may help us in this process, please put it down in writing or email burnie.primary@education.tas.gov.au, addressed to the Principal, by Friday 31 October, so that we can consider your requests when constructing 2021 classes. Teaching staff will not be finalised until later in the year so information about preferred teachers cannot be accepted, however, we are aware that due to the learning needs of some students, consistency is important and we will take measures to ensure these needs are met. 

A reminder that next Friday 30^th October is a Student Free/Professional Learning Day and students are not required to attend school. Teachers will be undertaking Professional Learning, moderating student work samples and data in preparation for the end of year reports. We will also be reviewing our year to date and start planning for 2021. Monday, 2 November is also a Public Holiday.

Andrew Starick
Principal