As we approach the mid-point of term three, we have several nation-wide events that we will be taking part in. This week we tune into science with a focus on National science week. On Monday, our LIFT team hosted our second open classroom event. I hope you were able to attend and participate in the learning with your child/ren. On Tuesday, we hosted our science expo in the JMC. We were honoured to have  guests from Milpara and Umina park join us for the special event.  

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence - Bullying! No Way! 

18 August is the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. This year’s theme is ‘Growing Connections’ and promotes the strong links and social connection in our school communities as effective ways to address and combat bullying. 

I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together as a school community to make everyone feel included and safe On Monday morning our school came together to learn more about the National Day of Action. Our student leaders starting the conversation and this has continued in each of our classes. Bullying and violence has a big impact across the community, and we all have a right to feel and be safe.

Tomorrow, we encourage our students to wear orange to represent a bright and positive future, free from bullying. The theme this year is growing connections and working together to prevent and address bullying.  

Today, may be a good day for you to have a conversation with your children about bullying and violence at school and ask them if they feel safe and supported or have experienced or observed bullying in anyway.  

As a school, we will continue to address themes of bullying and violence and teaching students how to recognise risk to their own or someone else’s safety.  

This is more than a school issue.  It is an issue for our entire community, and we all have an important role to play. We are stronger when we work together. 

To find out more about National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, visit the Bullying No Way website.  I have also attached a fact sheet with some helpful information.  Factsheet here https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/resource/fact-sheets/studentstips/bnw-factsheet-what-to-do-if-you-are-being-bullied.pdf 

If this letter had raised any concerns for you or your child, I encourage you to seek advice and support from one of the following organisations: 

• Beyond Blue – call 1300 224 636 or visit the Beyond Blue website. 
• 1800 Respect – call 1800 737 732 or visit the 1800 Respect website. 
• Lifeline – call 13 11 14 or visit the Lifeline website. 
• Kids Helpline – call 1800 551 800 or visit the Kids Helpline website. 
• Headspace – call (03) 6231 2927 or visit the headspace website. 

I am always available to talk and if you would like to speak to me about this on an individual basis, please get in touch. 

Next week we celebrate Children’s Book Week. The CBCA brings children and books together across Australia through this event. Classroom teachers will be sharing shortlisted books throughout the week, and we will hold our annual parade in the JMC on Tuesday 22nd of August, beginning at 9am. 

Below are a couple of links for easy to create book character ideas.

https://www.findingmyselfyoung.com/2022/07/easy-book-week-costume-ideas.html?fbclid=IwAR2mD_nJQYNbF5VUyzp3KsojxeuO-DWabXVhcJhL7PhYEEJhWsDw0eGgARg&m=1

https://childrensbooksdaily.com/book-week-costumes-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR2rwiTo1NYcNMJYz-nMIC8VhbZpmdXg3qELa73qiVm-mlnOZV5tGspsIIk

https://www.bountyparents.com.au/expert-advice/easy-book-week-costumes/?fbclid=IwAR3rm8ynr5VqsqkbHYMLEM49UwWCjrZYyrYdt8ZcZPFhKGtNMPuWyRqW6TU

Lock Down – Proactive Safety Practices in Schools  
This term, we have commenced updating many school policies and procedures, you will notice our Lock Down posters in all classrooms. These simple visual reminders will ensure we all respond consistently if ever required to Lock Down our school site. 

Listen to the music 
Out of sight in buildings 
Close blinds, lock doors and window  
Keep quiet and listen to the adults 
DOWN 

It is a requirement for all school sites to practice clear procedures when the school may require extra safety measures for response to such things as a severe storm / dangerous animal / angry visitors / a dangerous situation or similar emergencies where students are required to remain indoors or return to classrooms. 

This term, staff will be teaching students about the importance of these procedures prior to us having some practises. We appropriately teach all levels of safety at school, and this is another important one for us to learn about; it is by no means meant to alarm anyone. 

Our signal to commence a Lock Down is an announcement over our PA system. This term, our introductory practices will be announced to the school prior to commencing. We are not aiming to alarm the children and this is important for staff to use these early practices as new learning opportunities. 

It’s particularly positive to report to families that in my four years as Principal, I have never needed this type of response; however, we still must ensure that we are all confident of what is expected if we were ever required to put the school into a Lock Down/Lock In situation. 

I know our students were exceptional at our ‘Fire Alarm drill’ and I’m sure they will be just as successful with a ‘Lock Down’ safety drill as well. 

Breakfast Club is up and running. 

A big thank you to our P&F for supporting us. 

To keep our Breakfast Club running we are seeking donations of milo, margarine, vegemite, and jam (strawberry and raspberry) that go towards operating this valuable service. 

We are looking forward to seeing your child again soon. 

Celebrating Student Success  

Congratulations to Hudson who was selected in the U14 NW Tasmania Devils Basketball team who will be competing in the Australian U14 Club Championships in Casey, Victoria in September.

Congratulations to Penny for being selected in the under 12's hockey team for the School Sports Australia hockey nationals. 

Staffing update 
This term we welcome Bridgett Waghorn to the BPS. Bridget will be working with Anita in our administration area on Thursday. Make sure to pop in and say Hi.

Celebrating Teacher Success  
How lucky are we at Burnie Primary School to have staff who are dedicated to learning and always wanting to grow and improve on their skills. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the fantastic work that Tameika is doing with UTAS. Tameika is certainly living our school value of ‘Aspiration’ teaching at UTAS in the afternoon and working full time.  

Tameika Munday is an experienced educator working as the Curriculum Lead for Primary for the Department for Education, Children and Young People. Tameika has 19 years of experience working in primary settings in a variety of leadership positions. She demonstrates leadership in science education having won the Tasmanian STEM Teacher of the Year in 2018 and receiving a Highly Commended Certificate in Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence is Science Teaching! Tameika has a passion for science education, in particular science inquiry and enjoys seeing students engage in and develop scientific skills and knowledge of the world around them. 

Are you making every school day count? 
There are so many reasons to go to school. Make every school day count this term! 

Remember: You can talk to us at school if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help. 

A Big Thank You To Our Parents & Friends

Thank you to our school community for the ongoing fundraising efforts! Earlier this year the Parents and Friends Association decided to allocate each class $200 for a special purchase. We are grateful to our wonderful teachers who engaged the students in the purchasing decisions, and then sent us these pictures to enjoy. 

Planning for 2024 
Already we are underway with some basic planning for next year.  Please contact the office if the enrolment status of your child will change for next year.  We are keen to hear from all new families in our school zone, as well as children who are turning four years old this year.  Please encourage friends, neighbours and family members to contact our helpful admin team if further information is needed. 

Susan Barnard
Acting Principal

Grade 1 students have created dioramas to explore different habitats. Student then explained their habitat with a piece of writing.

HARTLEY, SONIC, ELIJAH
Our habitat is a rainforest. There is lots of rain in the rainforest. There are a lot of trees in the rainforest. The rainforest is full of animals. Bugs also live in the rainforest. Birds can live in the rainforest because they have sharp claws to land on branches.  

DOMINIC, LATAYAH, DAWSON
Our habitat is the ocean. We made a shark, a clown fish, a crab and a squid. We put seaweed in our habitat. We put coral and rocks in the habitat too. We made the sunlight zone. The jellyfish has to live in the ocean because they don’t have lungs. We made a turtle. The turtle can live in the ocean because they can swim. They have flippers to help them swim. They have a shell to hide and protect themselves. We gave the habitat a blue and yellow background.

ADDISYN, OLIVIA, EVAN
We made a rainforest habitat. There are lots of trees in the rainforest and bushes. There are lots of vines in the rainforest. It rains a lot there. Sloths can live in the rainforest because they can swing from branch to branch.

IVANNA, ADAM, HARRISON
In the North Pole there are lots of polar bears. Arctic foxes and hares also live in the North Pole. There is a lot of snow. Polar bears keep warm because they have two layers of thick fur. Artic foxes have white fur to blend in so they stay safe from predators. Arctic hares have brown fur in summertime, and it changes to white in winter.

ZOEY, MORGAN, CHACE
We made a bush habitat. In it there is a wombat, platypus, and owl. We added trees, we painted the background green. An owl is nocturnal and hunt at night. This makes them safer from predators. Wombats have special pouches that face backwards so that dirt does not get in their pouch.

NOAH B, AVALILY, SIYUN
We made a desert habitat. In a desert habitat there are snakes and spiders. In the desert birds can live in trees. In the desert there are lizards who can eat small ads. Camels have hard feet to help them walk on the soft sand. spiders have fangs to put poison into other animals and eat them.

MAE, LUCY, JORDYN
We made an ocean habitat. Our habitat is in the sunlight zone. Animals that live in this ocean habitat are sharks, jellyfish, fish, dolphins, crabs and lots of other animals, Lots of animals that live in the ocean can breathe underwater but dolphins have to go to the surface to take a big breath of air before they go down underwater again. Some jellyfish can move themselves in the water, but some just float along. Crabs can pinch predators that try to catch them.

ALICE, SUFYAN, ATLAS
We made an ocean habitat. Jellyfish live in the ocean. They do not have a brain. Sharks live in the ocean and are called the kings of the sea because they eat other fish. Fish have scales on their body and gills to help them breathe under the water.

LENNY, AYRA, OWAISE
In the ocean there are starfish. Coral reefs are found in the sunlight zone. A shark is swimming near the coral reef. There are rocks and seaweed in the ocean. There is sand on the bottom of the sunlight zone. Coral covers the sand and is a good hiding spot for fish.

OSCAR, KENEISHA, KENZIE
We have made a rainforest habitat. Birds can live in the rainforest because their prey lives there. Birds can catch their prey in the air. Snakes don’t have to go down to the ground to get food in the rainforest.

ALISHA, LUKA, OLIVER
We made the North Pole there is lots of snow. There are snowballs falling. Animals that live he have thick fur to keep them warm. Some animals have a layer of blubber under their skin to help people. Some of the animals have white fur to camouflage them in the snow and cake keep them safe from predators also let them be a predator.

Next Wednesday, our Grade 5/6 students will be having a visit from the Young Tassie Scientist from the University of Tasmania. The students will have the opportunity to meet a Marine Scientist, Chemist and Geneticist. Each scientist will be giving a short presentation with the students having the opportunity to ask questions.

Last Wednesday Grade 5/6 students participated in the annual NWPSSA sports day. It was a day all about participating or even trying a different/new sport which is possibly where the current Boomers, Diamonds, Matilda’s and AFL stars started their journey, fun with mates. Students played netball, soccer, AFL, netball, basketball, tennis or King of the Court (volleyball). All grade 5/6 students are to be congratulated on their participation and sportsmanship throughout the day. Some highlights included Kash’s first goal in AFL and Penny’s numerous blocks at basketball.

Dear Parents and Friends,

The term is ticking along nicely, and our parents and friend’s volunteers have been busy offering their time in many ways.

We celebrated National Watermelon Day on the 3^rd August, where watermelon was cut and served from the JMC prior to school starting. Students were very happy to receive a slice of melon to eat before school started. This would not have been possible if not for the support from Young’s Vegie Shed, Coles Burnie and Woolworths Wynyard who all donated watermelon for us to serve, thank you!

This week students will receive a pizza lunch order form. I encourage all forms to be returned with payment to the office before or on the due date, as we don’t want students to be disappointed in missing out on the day.

Our focus for our future fund raising efforts will now turn to providing a new basketball netball combination hoop tower, which will replace one of the existing netball hoops. We are interested in supporting a local business who could build or already sells this item. If this sounds like you, please message us via our Facebook page.

We are always looking for volunteers for events and fundraising efforts and if you feel that you could offer your time, please don’t hesitate in reaching out by contacting us via our Facebook page, the QR code is below.

Your P&F.