Term 3

Welcome to Term 3. We are so pleased to have students back after a successful Term 2. The opportunity to meet with many of our families during the parent teacher process and sharing of portfolios of work was beneficial for all. These conversations and shared responsibilities to supporting our young people will ensure every child’s learning needs and experiences are celebrated, allowing them to have success at school. We have communicated with families about ongoing staffing changes, the structures and systems we have put in place to ensure minimal impact to the teaching and learning and to maximise students feeling safe and connected to their peers and the school community. These changes are due to state-wide teacher shortages. We will also be supporting in the coming weeks Ms Walters, Mr Bennett and Ms Griffieon to complete their UTAS practicum as a lifelong learning community.

Our partnership with parents is pivotal in developing students understanding of responsibility for their learning and for creating a positive school community. Together we need to be consistent with our messages, supports and help students develop problem solving skills that will benefit them in the future. In assemblies, restorative circles, and class we have discussed the opportunities being at Port Dalrymple School brings though extensive learning provisions. The discussion has been focused on respecting all members of the school community, especially when attending specialty lessons and options. These transitions and different teachers at times create concerns for students and staff. Students indicated that they value these classes and wish them to remain an important part of their learning. These classes allow students to develop strengths, friendships, creativity and thinking skills different to those on their core classroom. As a school community we are very fortunate that students across our school have access to practical, hands-on facilities that allow them to thrive and flourish.

On the student free day staff continued to build their knowledge that supports every child to be known, safe, well and learning. All staff, including our administration staff and teacher aides joined a session that supports us in strengthening us as being a Trauma Sensitive School, ensuring consistent approaches and responses when working with all students. We must celebrate the care, compassion and knowledge all staff bring and value every adults role within the school community. They are greatly appreciated.

Attendance 

We continue to focus on attendance and the importance of our students being at school. It has been overwhelmingly positive the conversations with parents/carers and external support agencies as to how we can build students connections to school. Our overall school goal is to have an attendance rate of 80% or greater. In the coming weeks parents of students with strong attendance, effort in their leaning and academic outcomes will be invited to our Excellence Assembly in week 4.

TPSSA & NHSSA

It has been exciting to attend both the TPSSA and NHSSA rosters to see the benefit our young people get from participating in team sports. The benefits to physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the confidence, teamwork and resilience skills that are developed are part of the learning focus. Our Port Sport Leaders continue to develop their leadership skills, umpiring and coaching knowledge supporting Hockey, Football, Netball and Soccer. For some of our senior students who can not participate in sport for various reasons they have had the opportunity to team manage and volunteer with various roles.

Term 3 brings an opportunity for exciting and innovative change to Port Dalrymple School. Within the Years 7-10, numerous changes will occur to enhance the learning opportunities and experiences for all students.  We will be strengthening our already existing flexible ways of working with some staffing changes that focuses on consistent routines, relationships and personalised learning approaches. This will be supported with increased provisions and interventions and team-teaching approaches.

Both Term 1 and 2 learning programs were supported with relief teachers utilising an existing framework for classes. With the ongoing state-wide teacher shortage, we believe that providing access to more contemporary approaches to learning will be beneficial for all.

In the Year 7 and 8 we are looking to ensure each class has a core teacher that facilitates a number of their classes, building on relationships and support with additional literacy support and intervention. We have a strong commitment to building a positive school culture focusing on respect, inclusion and equity.

From Term 3 we are operating with three 9/10 classes: Year 9, Year 10 and a combined Year 9/10 class. Students have been made aware of this improvement and all have settled into their new learning environments.

The change will allow students to access online learning via CANVAS and Stile, incorporate team teaching approaches, and provide opportunities to work flexibly in newly renovated learning environments.

Students short course electives will be the same if they are involved in Wednesday afternoon sport. If not involved in sport, they have been enrolled into one of their preferred electives. Year long electives remain unchanged.

We are excited about embracing the positive change and enhancing the learning opportunities for all students. If you have any queries regarding the updated timetable, please make contact via the school office.

Our staff have been committed to exploring new ways of working and putting the needs of our students at the centre. I wish to acknowledge their efforts and support of all our young people.

We have had a wonderful start to Term 3, and students are settling back into their classroom routines nicely after the break. 

In Prep/1, students have been learning about narratives and have been exploring the story of Snow White and the different character traits.  In 1/2 , students have been learning about our community in HASS and in 3/4, students have been learning how to write information reports and researching fun facts: Did you know that there are 126.71 million people in Mexico! Or that the most popular foods in Russia are potatoes and kholodets?

At the end of Term 2, we started a class buddy reading program, which has seen a massive success in students from Kinder all the way through to Year 10 engaging in stories with each other.  We hope to continue this throughout the year and continue to build on cross-school relationships.

Our first Primary Assembly for Term 3 is on this Thursday August 10^th . Year 5/6 Evans will be sharing.  We would like to remind you that families can now attend Primary Assemblies.

Early Years

Pre-Kinder: This term in Pre-Kinder, we are going to be setting up learning experiences for children to engage in that will support them with the Kindergarten Development Check in 2024.  In our first week back, some of our Pre-Kinder children made self-portraits of themselves and included various facial features. 

If you have or know someone who has a child born in 2019, please pass your details onto the school office or to Halana Knowles on 0499 937 683.

Launching into Learning: Join Miss Knowles and June at the Child and Family Learning Centre for Playgroup from 9:30am and again for Read & Play in the Kinder building from 1:45pm. 

The art room has transformed into a magical laboratory where imagination knows no bounds. Our aspiring artists have rolled up their sleeves and dived into the process of creating clay pinch pot monsters. This hands-on project has allowed them to explore the versatility of clay and channel their inner creativity into crafting unique and quirky creatures.

For those unfamiliar with pinch pots, it's a traditional pottery technique where clay is pinched, shaped, and molded by hand to create vessels or, in our case, whimsical monsters. This method not only helps students grasp the fundamentals of working with clay but also offers an opportunity to express their artistic flair freely.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is witnessing the diverse range of creatures that have sprung to life. Each student has ventured into their imagination, giving rise to an extraordinary array of pinch pot monsters. From adorable mini-dragons with scales carefully etched into their forms to multi-eyed aliens with out-of-this-world features, our artists have embraced their individuality and let their imagination soar.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a love for the arts within our school community. Stay tuned for more updates on our art program and future projects that will undoubtedly inspire and captivate us all. 

Warmest regards,

Laura Osten

Visual Arts Teacher, Port Dalrymple School

Country Gold Trials were held at South George Town Primary on Thursday 3^rd August. Students from Year 5/6 were selected for these trials based around their trainings with the teachers and Port Sport Leaders and their games. Congratulations to the students who attended these trials and represented the school displaying good sportsmanship, respect and resilience. 

The following students were selected in the Country Gold teams to represent Tamar in the Country Gold Carnival to be held at various venues on Thursday September 28^th.