Primary School
Assembly
Monday 28 April
Our first assembly for Term 2 will take place on the first day of term, Monday 28 April in The Farrall Centre commencing at 2.15pm. We welcome families 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.
Kindergarten Earthcare Excursion Days
Term 2 - Lenah Valley
The Kindergarten children will be visiting a site near the Lenah Valley Linear Park for their Earthcare Days in Term 2. We will be going out each week, on Thursdays, from Week 2-9. We will travel to and from the site by bus. We will leave at 11.50am and will return by 2.45pm. Collection time for all children will be at 3.00pm from the Kindergarten area, at the end of the Kindergarten day as per usual.
These excursions are an important aspect of our Sharing the planet unit of inquiry. Through these weekly trips we are aiming to develop independence, responsibility, curiosity, resilience and earthcare in a nature play environment. Please ensure that your child has a rubbish free packed lunch at Kindergarten, especially on Thursdays. This will help develop the children’s understanding about the concept and practices of earthcare and raise both the children’s and the community’s awareness about the impacts of soft plastic on our natural environment.
On our Earthcare days, the children need to wear their sports uniform, to ensure they are ready for active, hands-on, nature play learning. Your child will need warm clothing, appropriate for the forecasted weather, and spare clothing packed for the excursions, as we will be playing outdoors, even if it is raining.
The school has special wet weather jackets and overpants that the children will wear, as necessary, depending on the forecasted weather. We have also asked all families to bring a pair of gumboots to school for puddle play at school, and on our excursions. These will also double as a spare pair of shoes if needed.
To help prepare the children, we ask that you support your child by encouraging them to carry their own bags to and from school - they will be doing this independently on our Earthcare Days too. We are looking forward to seeing how their natural curiosity and wonder is expressed while we are there and what we can learn about the land we live on, as we come to know a place slowly across these weekly visits. Please contact the Kindergarten team if you have any questions.
Year 3 Outdoor Education Excursion to Mount Field
Wednesday 30 April
On Wednesday 30 April as part of our Outdoor Education program, all Year 3 students will be visiting Mt Field National Park. The bus will depart at 9.00am and return at 3.00pm. The bus will drop us off at the visitor centre and we will walk through the forest exploring the vegetation and waterfalls. Students will be required to wear their PE uniform with comfortable shoes for walking and carry in their backpacks an additional warm jumper, waterproof raincoat, hat, beanie, drink bottle, lunch and snacks. Please make sure students come with sufficient warm clothing and food and water for the day. There should be no lunch orders. Emily Ardas, our Outdoor Education Teacher, will be accompanying us.
As this excursion will be outside the greater Hobart area, the School requires the permission of families for students to attend. To enable your child to attend, could you kindly complete the permission request on Operoo. Could you also please ensure all of your child’s Operoo details are up to date.
Year 1 Outdoor Education Excursion at Knocklofty Reserve
Friday 2 May
On Friday 2 May, Year 1 will be embarking on a bush day to Knocklofty Reserve. Class teachers, learning assistants and Emily Ardas, our Outdoor Education teacher, will accompany the students on the excursion. We will be departing school at 9.00am and returning at 11.00am. The aim of the day is to explore the local bushlands while developing relationships with peers. Students are required to wear their PE uniform and sturdy shoes to walk in. They are also to bring a backpack with morning tea, a rain jacket, water bottle, a warm jumper, beanie, sun hat and any required personal medication.
Year 3 Excursion - John Elliott Classics Museum
Wednesday 7 May
On Wednesday 7 May, Year 3 will visit the John Elliott Classics Museum at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) as part of their inquiry into Where we are in place and time. Students will visit the museum to gain an understanding of the daily lives, technologies, and cultures of ancient societies. We will engage in hands-on learning, cultural appreciation and historical inquiries with a University lecturer guiding us through small group activities with support from classroom teachers and parents.
We will be departing school by bus in class groups. Year 3B will depart at 9.00am and return before 12.00pm and Year 3M will depart at 12.00pm and return to school by 3.00pm. Students will need to be in uniform for this excursion.
Parents are welcome to express their interest in joining us by email, and meet us at the Museum at UTAS underneath the Stanley Burbury Theatre which can be accessed via the car park opposite the Hill Street Grocer. You will also need to complete a Volunteer Registration Form.
Year 6 Canberra Trip
Monday 5 - Friday 9 May
Our Year 6 students will visit Canberra from Monday 5 May to Friday 9 May for an educational tour of the national capital. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $300 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Please do not hesitate to speak to your class teacher or call the Primary School Office if you have any queries at all about arrangements for the Canberra trip.
Safe on Socials Parent Presentation
Kirra Pendergast is an expert in online safety education, and the Middle School were fortunate to welcome her via Zoom to a parent information session recently. Kirra’s frank and honest demeanour certainly made this presentation engaging, eye-opening and highly informative. Her key focus on keeping young people safe online and how to set the necessary boundaries around social media use and online gaming, both at school and at home, commenced a meaningful conversation for our Middle School community. For Primary School parents who are interested in watching Kirra’s presentation, the recording can be accessed here.
We will continue to engage our students in this discussion next Term and support them in building healthy habits regarding their access and engagement with social media and online communication.
Save the Date - Matilda the Musical JR.
Join us for a magical time as our talented Years 5-8 students bring Matilda the Musical JR. to life on stage! Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, this inspiring story follows the extraordinary Matilda as she discovers her inner strength, courage and determination.
- Dates: Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 June 2025
- Location: The Farrall Centre, Argyle Street Campus
Performance times will be released shortly.
Tickets coming soon.
Follow our Facebook Event to keep updated.
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 9.00am. We appreciate your support in this process.
Important Dates
Term 1 Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April
Term 2 Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July
Monday 5 - Friday 9 May - Year 6 Canberra Trip
Wednesday 21 May - Year 3/4 Cross Country Carnival
Thursday 22 May - Year 5/6 Cross Country Carnival
Friday 6 June - Moderation Day - student free day
Monday 9 June - King’s Birthday public holiday
Thursday 19 - Saturday 21 June - Year 5-8 Musical