Holidays are almost here. Easter was a small taste of how amazing our family time can be when we are not all rushing around needing to do many things at once.  Holidays may also be a time for students to spend more time on their devices. It is is increasingly difficult as parents to be aware of what our children are doing whilst online. Many play games with friends and with other people who are online that they may not have met in person. It is critical that as parents we are aware of what sites our children are accessing and who they may be interacting with. As parents you know your child the best and are in the best position to teach children to support the safety of your child when online. 

To support I have attached a link that provides information that may be helpful. https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-09/English%20-%20Parents%20guide.pdf

This document shares some advice on how much time should be online with tips on how to help your child achieve a healthy balance in their online and offline activities.   It reminds us that the right amount of screen time can depend on a range of factors including your child’s age, the kind of content they are accessing, their learning needs and your family routine.

Introducing

We were very excited to welcome our new school counsellor Mr Ian Falk. Ian comes to us from working at St Jospeh’s Catholic school in Katherine, NT.  Ian has many years of working with children and we are looking forward to him working as part of our team.  If you or your child would like to see the school counsellor please contact your child’s teacher, the office or Mrs McLeod for the permission forms to be completed as this is required before any work with students can occur. Welcome Mr Ian!

Working Bee

Thanks to the Mansson, Williams, Becker, Gray, Gaspersic, Petroff families as well as David and Cheryl Young, Craig McLeod, Mr Jones, Ms Wilson and Mrs Reynolds who came to help in our working bee.

We were able to achieve: 

• empty, move, refill garden beds
• putting up shade cloths in top playground
• building a new shed 
• moving shed for storage in bottom playground
• removing the chicken shed
• removing shelter in adventure playground
• replacing desk tops
• removal of the hot house

We appreciate your time and commitment to ensure that we can provide options and playspaces for the students in our school.

Tasmanian Catholic School Parents Council School Uniform Survey

The Tasmanian Catholic School Parents Council recognises the financial costs to Catholic School families when purchasing uniform items for their children each year. We are also aware of the different policies in regards to Uniform in Schools and Colleges across Tasmania. There is also a practicality aspect to uniforms that students are required to wear.  We invite Parents and Carers to complete a survey on the uniform requirements at your school. Feedback will be collated and shared with Catholic Education Tasmania, and then with the wider Catholic School community, including parents.

The Survey will remain open until 4 May 2024.

Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents Council – Uniform Survey

The Survey is supported by Catholic Education Tasmania, and the Executive Director, Dr Gerard Gaskin, has added the following supporting words:

Dear friends in Catholic education, I recently met with the President of the Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents Council (TCSPC), Charlotte Geeves, and the Executive Officer Don Ryan, where we discussed the Uniform Survey which parents and carers have been invited to complete. I wholeheartedly support this initiative by the TCSPC and look forward to reviewing the results and comments at its completion.

Each of our Archdiocesan schools is quite unique, according to its own circumstances and setting.  Accordingly, I am sure that, in time, the survey results will bring up a number if possible, actions and outcomes that can be explored in consultation with each school.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day falls in our school holidays this year.  We would encourage and welcome any students who are available to join in the Anzac Day March on Thursday 25th April.  We will meet at the RSL carpark at 10.45am.  Students should be in full winter uniform (either, formal or sports, including black shoes)

Uniform

As we head into Winter uniform for Term 2 and 3, a reminder about the expectations.  Students are permitted to choose to wear the sports uniform or the traditional winter uniform.  Both of these options rely on the students wearing black shoes (sneakers or leather).  If students choose to wear the  winter uniform they are not required to wear a tie.

The school uniform shop provides a service for parents by stocking all items of the approved school uniform, except for shoes and sports shoes, at minimum possible prices. The shop also maintains a pool of good second-hand uniform clothing.

• Girls dress length should be knee length or within five centimetres of the knee.
• All members of the school staff are conscious of their role in implementing this policy by setting an example in their own neatness and appropriateness of dress and by ensuring that children are neatly attired when participating in any school activity.

Have a restful, refreshing holiday time filled with family time.

With Kindness

Teresa

Term 1: 7th February - 11th April

Term 2: 29th April - 5th July

Term 3: 23rd July - 27th September

Term 4: 15th October - 18th December

It has been a busy term in Kinder Blue Gum. 

Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the season Autumn. The children have been engaging in several activities around Autumn. They traced their hands and upper wrist to make a tree stump. They then used their fingertips to create leaves falling from the tree with paint. The children also coloured around a leaf with Mrs Thompson during Art. 

We have also had the chance to explore the Church for the first time. This was such an exciting experience. The children loved learning about the Church, we thank Miss Holmes for leading us through the experience. 

We are looking forward to all the fun to come in Term Two. 

Today, Sassafras went on an excursion to explore different places in Queenstown. We were lucky enough to have Mrs Clarke, Mrs Stubbs, Miss Crack and Iden join us. Our excursion started with a walk down Orr Street to the Queenstown Park where we had a play. We then visited Railway IGA Supermarket where Brett and Mahalia showed us around and we got to see all the different places where they keep the food.  Our next stop was at the Queenstown Fire Station where we met some firefighters - Andrew, James and Nathan - who showed us around the Fire Station and let us have a look at the Fire Trucks and we even got to use the fire hose! We had lots of fun.

A huge thank you to Evans IGA for donating bread for our breakfast club this Term.