Primary School

Assembly - Monday 2 March
Our next Primary School Assembly will take place on Monday 2 March in The Farrall Centre and will commence at 2.15pm. We welcome members of our community to attend. Please remember that due to privacy concerns and to respect the photo permission choices of other families we ask you to refrain from taking photos and videos during assemblies.
Years 4 & 6 Swimming & Water Safety Program - Monday 2 - Friday 6 March
The Years 4 and 6 Learn to Swim program will be held next week at Friends Health & Fitness pool from Monday 2 - Friday 6 March. Any enquiries please contact Lisa Di Venuto ldivenuto@friends.tas.edu.au.
Year 5 - Resilience and Collaboration Days - Bell Street - Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March
In line with our unit of inquiry around resilience, the Year 5 cohort will do their learning at the Bell Street Grounds on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March. We will begin the days by walking down to Bell Street and we will return to school on foot at the end of each day. Students will participate in activities which challenge their resilience. They will be working collaboratively to achieve these tasks and will be asked to use both team and individual strategies learned in prior weeks that involve gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and growth-mindset. They will be asked to check in with their emotions throughout the process and identify areas for personal growth. The activities will also provide an opportunity to reflect on, and express, how their emotions changed throughout the tasks.
Students will be walking to and from school, departing at 9.00am and returning to school by 3.10pm. They should bring a packed lunch, morning and afternoon tea, a drink bottle and hat. No canteen orders on these days. Sunscreen will be provided throughout the day and students are invited to wear their P.E. uniform including appropriate walking shoes.
Year 2 Outdoor Education Excursion - kunanyi/Mt Wellington to Margate - Friday 6 March
On Friday 6 March, Year 2 classes will be going on an Outdoor Education excursion to follow the journey of a raindrop. Students will follow the North West Bay River from its source on kunanyi/Mt Wellington all the way to its mouth in Margate. Parts of the journey will be on foot, other parts will be on a bus. Year 2 class teachers will accompany their classes with the assistance of Outdoor Education Teacher, Emily Ardas. We will depart school at 9.20am and return to school by approximately 3.00pm. Students will need to wear appropriate, sturdy shoes and warm layers under their uniforms. Children should bring their hat and and a warm jumper (wool, polar fleece or puffer jacket), warm pants (track pants or fleece pants), beanie, gloves and a waterproof raincoat. As we will be away from school for most of the day, students will need to bring a large packed lunch (no lunch orders), snacks and a water bottle from home, and any required medications for the day. Please update student Paperly profiles if necessary.
NAPLAN - Years 3 and 5 students
For those families with students in Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN assessments will be held in March between Wednesday 11 March and Tuesday 17 March. The NAPLAN assessments will be conducted online (with the exception of Year 3 Writing, which remains paper-based). Information for parents regarding Naplan Online can be found here. Please contact Wendy Crow wcrow@friends.tas.edu.au if you have any queries.
Prep Excursion - Linear Park, Lenah Valley – Wednesday 11 March
On Wednesday 11 March, Prep classes will visit the Labyrinth at Linear Park for a transdisciplinary learning experience, centred around Earthcare and Mathematics. We will be looking for provocations in the environment and engaging in open-ended mathematical activities - ‘Muddy Maths’! We will leave school by bus at 11.50am and return to school by 2.00pm. Children will be required to wear appropriate and sturdy shoes/gumboots. Due to the nature of the activities we would suggest children wear warm layers under their uniforms. They will need to bring a change of clothes, as well as a warm coat/rain jacket. We will be eating afternoon tea at the site, so no second break lunch orders on this day please, as we will be unable to collect them before we go. Please ensure that students have ample water to drink too. Note that we do not require parent help for this excursion.
Year 6 Coastal Outdoor Education Day – Friday 13 March
On Friday 13 March, as part of our Year 6 Outdoor Education program, students will participate in a Coastal Outdoor Education Day at Taroona Beach. This day is designed to build students’ confidence, teamwork and understanding of Tasmania’s unique marine environments. We will be leaving school at 9.00am and returning by 3.15pm.
Throughout the day, students will rotate through a series of engaging, hands-on activities including an introduction to water safety, rock pool discovery and coastal ecology, beach games and team challenges, and a coastal preparedness workshop focusing on how to dress and prepare for aquatic activities.
This experience supports students by developing essential skills such as risk awareness, environmental responsibility, and teamwork in outdoor settings. It also deepens their appreciation for the natural coastal ecosystems of southern Tasmania, encouraging respect and care for the environment. All activities will take place under the guidance of qualified Outdoor Education staff and class teachers, with a strong focus on safety, respect, and positive participation.
What to Bring
Please ensure your child comes prepared for a full day outdoors by bringing:
- A day pack or school bag containing:
- Packed lunch, snacks, and at least one full water bottle
- Hat and sunscreen (already applied before departure)
- Light rain jacket or windproof jacket
- Towel and spare change of clothes
- Swimwear or old clothes suitable for water-based activities
- Enclosed footwear that can get wet (e.g. reef shoes, old sneakers — no thongs)
- Warm layer for after water activities
- Plastic bag for wet or sandy items
- Personal medication required during the day (e.g. EpiPen, asthma puffer)
All items should be clearly labelled. Please ensure your child is dressed for active participation, variable weather and coastal conditions.
Years 5 and 6 - Relay for Life - Saturday 28 March
We are delighted to invite our Years 5 and 6 students to join our school team Friendlies in this year’s Relay for Life on Saturday 28 March. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to come together in support of an important cause, while enjoying a fun and community-focused afternoon.
The event will be held at the Domain Athletics Centre, and our Years 5 and 6 students are invited to attend from 2.00pm – 3.30pm or 2.00pm – 5.00pm.
This is the Cancer Council’s main fundraising event of the year. The entry fee is $30, which contributes toward the standard $300 fundraising goal set by the event. Please note that primary students are not expected to undertake additional fundraising, although they are very welcome to do so if they wish.
If your child would like to take part, please register as soon as possible, and by Monday 23 March at the latest:
- Go to the Relay for Life site at https://www.relayforlife.org.au/fundraisers/Friendlies, and click “Join team"
- Once registered, please advise Sharon Ryan (sryan@friends.tas.edu.au). Parent permission is required through Paperly and your email will let her know to add your child to the participant list.
Absentees
If your child will be absent from school for the day please advise the Primary School Office (phone: 6210 2228, or email: primaryschooloffice@friends.tas.edu.au) and the classroom teacher before 8.45am. We appreciate your support in this process.
Important Dates
Term 1 Monday 2 February to Friday 17 April
Monday 9 March – Eight Hour Day holiday
Friday 3 - Tuesday 7 April - Easter holiday
Co-curricular Opportunities
Discover our Co-curricular Online Handbook—your essential guide to enrichment, clubs, sports, music, service, policies, and key dates across all year levels. Visit the handbook to explore opportunities, plan ahead, and get involved in our vibrant co-curricular life.
