What an amazing time students had at the University of Tasmania Science Investigation Awards recently, hosted at the UTas Cradle Coast Campus. The Uni Campus was full of high quality learning projects, and the students were able to explain their understanding to a team of 50 independent judges from all facets of professional and businesses life! I would also like to acknowledge all of the Grade 3 to 6 students that participated in their own investigations, many of whom didn’t formally enter the awards, but demonstrated significant understanding in their research. This understanding is also a reflection of the work done previously with teachers in the early years, guiding their inquiry through intentional play based learning, and to the quality teachers we have here at Burnie Primary School who foster creative, inquiring minds through the quality learning they help facilitate with your children.

Another example of Burnie Primary School moving further towards our vision of a collaborative, creative and innovative learning community, is the investment we have made in the Coding, Animation and Robotics (CAR) program. This program has been planned throughout the year to incorporate a whole school approach to coding on a number of different platforms that are compatible and we are able to share via our See-Saw app. We have purchased a dedicated set of 26 iPads, along with Beebot programmable robots, WeDo Robots and Lego Mindstorm EV3 robots. These along with the ‘Scratch’ and ‘Swift playground’ coding platforms will see students creating codes that lead to app development and innovation in digital technology. This strong investment in digital technologies sees Burnie Primary School at the cutting edge and the collaboration between students with a mentoring approach, will certainly support our vision of a collaborative, creative and innovative learning community, with a strong futures focus!  Burnie Primary School’s efforts in this STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) space has been recognised and rewarded recently. We have been invited to showcase our STEAM programs at the Primary level by hosting a state-wide Department of Education STEAM Symposium this Wednesday 18^thSept . The Symposium will be streamed simultaneously from Rosny College, and the ‘Big Picture’ High School in Launceston to showcase Prep to Year 12 STEAM for educators throughout the State.

Burnie Primary School was also recognised as national leaders in this space with the National Curriculum developers ACARA producing 6 short films as ‘Illustrations of leading practice’ for educators across Australia. I encourage you to have a look on the following link:

https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/resources/general-capabilities-and-career-education/illustrations-of-practice/career-education-steam-learning-and-creative-problem-solving/

We are a great supporter of the Arts here at Burnie Primary School, and in particular the Performing Arts. Grades 3, 5 & 6 were fortunate last Friday to be entertained by the Burnie High School production of ‘Hansel and Gretel’ that featured a huge number of ex Burnie Primary School students. Grade 4s recently attended the Shake and Stir production of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts, providing students with high quality learning experiences in all aspects of the curriculum. 

A short documentary produced by ABC Northern Tasmania journalist Rick Eaves, about the experience our Grade 4 students had learning from the ‘oldest classroom in the world’ on their recent excursion has now been recognised by ABC National and has been shown Australia wide through Facebook and ABC news channels! Check it out on:

https://www.facebook.com/abc/videos/455253798535200/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDUwMTk1NjQxMzozMDA5MTg4NDkyNDQxMTg2/?notif_id=1568513898000390&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic_tagged

Andrew Starick

It was fantastic to see the quality of learning the students have been undergoing through their Science inquiries.  Coupled with the learning the students gained from their specific investigations they have been developing important skills including; Posing questions, clarifying ideas and information, seeking solutions, reflecting, evaluating, communicating, collaborating and making decisions.

Below is a list of students and their investigations who entered into the UTAS Science and Engineering Investigation Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received awards

Honourable Mentions

• Lewis Rattray and Max Hay
• Ellie Sushames and Lottee Rolls

Gr 6 3^rd place Health and Wellbeing Imogen Lloyd and Melaiyne Harding

Gr 5 2^nd place Agricultural Science – Mia Styles and Rhiannon Miles

Gr 5 Health and Wellbeing Award – Ava Denny and Ava Ferguson

Gr 5 Agricultural Science Award – Ava Ferguson and Bridie Smith

Gr 6 Physical Science Award – Briana Ross and Ella Hales

The SRC were very happy with the huge pile of donations delivered to the school from Terry White Pharmacy in response to the request for hygene products.

The sample sizes donated were ideal for the care-packs the SRC were putting togther.

Homeless Fundraiser Day

I was left feeling amazed and overwhelmed at the generosity shown by our Burnie Primary School Community with the amount of donations that were given to us on Friday the 6^th of September.

These generous donations enabled the SRC to create 174 hygiene packs, cleverly divided up into male, female, family and children packs.

We also have made over 110 containers of soup and donated a tray of vegies to Milpara who make soup for St Vincent De Paul on a Monday afternoon. We still had a significant amount of vegetables remaining which we donated also  to St Vincent De Paul who will ensure they are passed on to those in need.

A special thank you to Amanda Hawley from Terry White Chemist who made a very significant donation (see picture).

The donations were gratefully collected by Shane from St Vincent De Paul in the soup van which drove away bursting at the seams on Friday afternoon

On behalf of St Vincent De Paul, Nadene Smith, Holly Cock and the BPS SRC we again thank our BPS community for their generosity and kindness in supporting this cause. It will certainly make a huge difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.

SRC – Savannah Dynan, Taya Munday, Lewis Rattray, Imogen Lloyd, James Hyland, Edgar Varney, Mackenzie Muir, Georgie McGregor, Ellie Sushames, Lottee Rolls, Cailin King and Indi-Mae Armstrong

The North West Primary School Sports Association recently conducted the Darwin (West of Penguin Schools) v Devon (East of Penguin Schools) sports day for nominated and then selected grade 5/6 students.

It was amazing to see how well represented Burnie Primary School was on this day. 

Congratulations to all these students selectedin the  NWPSSA Darwin Teams and Launceston Exchange

Netball: Ellie Sushames, Taya Munday, Georgie McGregor, Lottee Rolls, Mackenzie Muir, 

Hockey: Kale Jordan

Football: Jaylan Bryan, Max Hay, Lewis Rattray

Soccer: Edgar Varney, Lachlan Butcher and Ella Scolyer

From the performances on this day students are selected to represent the North West against the North. This event was held in Launceston on the 12^th of September.

U/14 State Basketball Championships

The Tasmanian State U/14 Basketball Championships were held last weekend (7^th and 8^th of September) in Launceston and the Burnie U/14s played some fantastic basketball and are now the State Champions!! This is a fantastic effort.

The Burnie U/14 team certainly has a very strong Burnie Primary School connection. Three of the players are Burnie Primary students Max Hay, Jonty Hayes and Lewis Rattray. Also playing for the team are three ex BPS students (who are now attending Burnie High School) Samuel Plapp, Emig French and Donavan Taylor. The Coach Stuart Rattray also having strong BPS connection as a parent of two students and is our School Association Chairman.

The team was in a pool with two other teams Launceston Red and Clarence. By defeating both of these teams in their pool (Launceston Red 75 to 36 and Clarence 74 to 44)  the team to moved through to the Semi-Final stage.

The Semi –Final was against the Southern Wolves who Burnie defeated 66 to 53 to advance into the Grand Final against Launceston White. The Grand Final saw the Burnie team continue to play terrific basketball and eventually going on to win 77 to 54 

The highlights from our boys were; Max – hitting a great step back three, Jonty – a terrific drive to the basket which finished in a lay-up and Lewis – making some fantastic passes raking up some assists

Congratulations this is an outstanding effort from all involved.