A big thank you to those families who were able to join us for our Big Breakfast. We certainly enjoyed finishing a busy week of learning with a serving of pancakes! Thank you to Miss Jessica Fidler and her team of helpers (Holly, Mel, Crystal) for the extra and additional effort that went into ensuring that this whole school event was successful.  

ESafety
This fortnight I want to use my newsletter space to speak to parents and carers about the impact of some students’ technology choices. Recently, teachers have noticed that a significant number of students have had their learning interrupted because of their social media choices outside of school hours. Many students have been coming to school anxious, angry, embarrassed or entwined in an argument with other students because of something that has happened on Snapchat, TikTok or Instagram the previous night. This is unfair on both students and teachers. The Australian Government’s eSafety Commissioner identifies the minimum user age of Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram as 13 years of age. If, as a parent you are enabling your child to use Social Media, this is certainly your choice and I respect that choice. However, please closely monitor their usage both for their safety and for the flow on impact it can have to their positive relationships and learning at school. This year our school participated in the 'Think U Know' program delivered by Tas Police to raise our awareness of online safety.  Below you can find Safety Tips for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers that you may find helpful. Parental controls in social media, games, and apps.pdf (esafety.gov.au) For more information visit Parent resources | eSafety Commissioner 

2024 Planning has commenced 
This afternoon our teachers met to discuss class groupings for 2024.  We are commencing some of our planning processes earlier to improve transition planning for all students from 2023 to 2024.  

An essential piece of information that directly affects our construction of 2024 classes is having the most accurate information about our total student numbers.  This is essential to decide our actual class groupings and number of classes for 2024. If you believe that next year your child will be enrolled in another school please advise the office now as we urgently require this information. 

Our goal is to create the most equitable classes possible by balancing gender, learning ability, social connections etc.  Whilst parents have one child to consider (in a given class), we have approximately 350 children to consider.  We have dedicated, hardworking teachers who are collectively responsible for all of our children.  No matter what grade or class, each child in this school will be taught by quality teachers in a school culture of high expectations. 

We understand and appreciate that some parents/carers may have particular educational information they would like considered as part of this process.  If there is any special information that you feel is important for us to take into account, there is an opportunity to speak (in person or by phone) to myself or Mr Andrew Woodard by the end of this term. We are asking for important information that relates specifically to your child’s needs (including relevant educational/family/social/historical information) that will assist us in making the best class placement for your child/ren.   

Kinder Enrolments for 2024 
Kinder enrolments for 2024 are being accepted – please pick up an enrolment form from our school office and you and your child are invited to attend our free and essential ‘Pre-Kinder Sessions’ commencing in term 4 on Mondays from 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm. We want to start a strong partnership with all of our families by focusing on the priority of being ‘ready for school’.

Time to locate your School Hat – back on again from Term 4 
According to the SunSmart Policy, and in line with Health Guidelines, students are required to wear their sunsafe hats from mid-September to mid-April.  There’s time now to ensure hats are washed and returned to student class tubs/bag holes ready for the summer months and the start of Term 4.   

Hats can purchases through Todd Rogers Signs at 17A Scarfe St Camdale at a cost of $18.00.

Satisfaction survey  
Every year the Department of Education conducts a School Satisfaction Survey to find out what your child(ren)'s school does well and where it may improve. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school improvement planning and decision-making.

If you have not had the opportunity to complete the survey about Burnie Primary School yet, it is open until Friday 22 September 2023 and should take about 5 minutes of your time.

Each family should nominate one person to fill in this survey for their child(ren).

Take the online survey by clicking this Link. or pasting it in your browser: https://ncv.microsoft.com/qCYraHEebw

The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

All families in this school received the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A summary of the survey results will be provided to schools. Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department of Education staff.

Please contact us if you require any assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.

Are you making every school day count? 

Staffing Update
Welcome to Heather Jones who will be joining us till the end of term 3 whilst Cheryl King is taking well deserved long service leave.

Welcomes and Farewells 
Recently we farewelled Latayah who returned to Launceston. We wish her success and happiness in her new school. 

Welcome this week to Ellia who joined Prep S.

Breakfast Club Help needed  
Now that we have settled into a routine, Breakfast Club is in full swing! Thank you so much to our current Breakfast Club volunteers. We are always on the look out for new to enable our program to run. If you think you can spare half an hour on Mondays (8.30 - 9.00) to help us prepare and serve toast, fruit, milo etc, please let us know.  

Celebrating the Value of ‘Aspiration’ 
This term, Burnie Primary has placed a heightened emphasis on nurturing and harnessing the power of aspiration within our classrooms and throughout our school community. We’ve encouraged students to dream big, set meaningful goals, and develop an understanding that it takes resilience to overcome challenges along the way. We’ve been fortunate enough to have Ms. Tameika Munday read her book Future Me to all of our students during the values assemblies. Please take the time to have a read. 

Congratulations to the students who received an Aspiration token in this week's values assemblies.

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey 
Recently, we have had a working group of students from Grade 4-6 who met to unpack last year's data. Our first session saw students working together in small groups to compare BPS data to that of Tasmania’s. They then drilled down on BPS data to identify areas for improvement.  
 
Students met again to look at ways to improve the identified areas from the first session. They came up with small and big ideas to implement change within the school. Some of these ideas were to make changes to our playground including buddy benches, a bigger range of sports and game opportunities, and a break room for students that is calm and quiet for those who feel anxious. Keep an eye out in our playground for some new editions.  
 
Students in Grades 4-6 are currently undertaking this year’s survey. We will be continuing this work to unpack our schools' data when we receive this year's result later in Term 4.  

A big thank you to our parents and 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.

Upcoming Assembly and Stay and Chat 
We warmly invite you to our final assembly for Term 3 on Monday, 18th Septmeber at 1:30pm.  

Susan Barnard 
Acting Principal

Friday the 8th of September, some of our Grade 6 students participated in the BIG Science Fair at the University of Tasmania Cradle Coast Campus. Students talked to judges about their science inquiry using their oral communication skills. Our students did an amazing job representing Burnie Primary with judges commenting on how well our students understood their inquiry.

The Year 4 students have been participating in a buddy program with Umina Park residents. Last week, over two afternoons, 24 students walked to Umina Park to participate in some activities with the residents. Students started with a Venn Diagram to find what they had in common with their buddy. Once this was finished, some of our students amazed their buddies with some card tricks. We then finished the program with some card games. Students thoroughly enjoyed this experience, as did the residents. Next week the remaining 12 students will visit.

Dear Parents and Friends,

The end of Term Three is just around the corner, and to celebrate, the P&F will be holding a BBQ lunch fundraiser in conjunction with Sport Colours Day. Soon students will receive an order form to bring home so that orders can be placed before the due date. We kindly ask that when returning orders, you return them in a paper bag or envelope as we would like to reduce the amount of single use plastic bags we receive. Your help with this is appreciated.

Thank you to the parents that have reached out in response to our call for volunteers, your help with the upcoming BBQ lunch will be greatly appreciated. We are always in need of new volunteers, so please don’t hesitate in contacting us via our Facebook page.

It has been encouraging to see some ideas put forward on our P&F noticeboard and these will be taken to our next meeting for consideration in the future.

The next scheduled P&F meeting will be held Tuesday 24^th October at 6.00pm at the school, we welcome and encourage new members.

• 
  A firefighter from the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) is visiting our school this week to present a Home Fire Safety Program to our Prep to Grade 6 students.
• Kindergarten students, whilst not receiving a structured lesson, can expect a visit from the firefighter who will leave some free fun activities for the students to complete.
• The age appropriate program is designed to raise fire awareness in children and includes fun in class activities, videos, activity books, giveaways and a new kids website tfskids.com.au.
• Parents and other family members are also encouraged to participate by reading the information and assisting your child with the after school activities.
• The TFS aims to deliver appropriate fire safety education to every primary school child in Tasmania and is part of the TFS’s ongoing commitment to create a fire safe Tasmania.
• Key Fire Safety Messages include,
• Wake up - Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom
• Plan and practice a home fire escape plan with the whole family
• In a fire crawl low and go, go, go to the nearest exit
• In an emergency call triple zero
• Keep flammable material at least two metres from the heater
• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, rock and roll
• Keep matches and lighters away from children
• Cooking - Turn it off before you turn away
• Cool a burn under cold water for at least 20 minutes
• Most house fires can be avoided. Make your home fire safe
• More information for parents, carers and teachers tfseducation.com.au
• Exciting new website just for kids tfskids.com.au
• SUBSCRIBE to our free bi-monthly newsletter

EARLY CHILDHOOD

TFS receives regular requests from preschools and child care centres asking for firefighters to visit and teach children about home fire safety.

TFS does not deliver structured fire safety programs to children below primary school age. This decision was made based on research carried out by the Mental Health Services of the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Melbourne. This research indicated that:

• Children under the age of five had low retention of the information they had learned; and
• In some children, the information had actually stimulated their curiosity about fire and they had begun to play with fire.

TFS believes that parents and caregivers are the best people to make sure that very young children are safe from fire. To help with this, TFS has a fire safety website for parents, carers and teachers.

TFS has also developed free giveaways for young children that introduce them to the friendly firefighter characters that they will meet when they receive the School Fire Education Program including a colouring book, a money box shaped like a fire truck, and stickers with home fire safety messages for the whole family. Click here for free giveaways for your preschool or child care centre.