Term 1 - Week 2 - 13th February, 2025

IMPORTANT DATES

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome Back to 2025
It has been a settled start to the year with almost all students being respectful and putting in their best efforts with both their learning and behaviour. It was great to see all students in school uniform.

We have had some changes. Judy Roberts and Helen Pilon are both on extended Long Service Leave. Leah Arrell has moved to Kindergarten and will also take Launching into Learning. Nikayla Wicks is currently teaching on a Prep/1 class. Brielle Cock has changed roles and is now a Teacher in Training on 3-4 Klineberg. Karen Allen has taken on the Wellbeing and Digital Technology role. That means that Ryan Butler is now on a Grade 5-6 class.
Welcome to all our returning staff including our Teacher Assistants, Educational Facility Attendants, Teachers, and our Administration staff who all put in a lot of work before school returned to ensure we had a successful start to the year. 
We also have some new students including all our new Kinders. Welcome to families that are new to Spreyton Primary. We are glad to have you as part of our Spreyton Primary School Community. Our Prep students have demonstrated our value of Courage by moving into a much larger school environment. They have settled into Prep well, although they did look a bit tired after the first day.
Instructions on how to download the Schoolzine App are below. This is our main form of communication.

Maintenance
Quite a bit was achieved over the holidays that was coordinated by the Administration Team and assisted by our Educational Facility Attendants.
New carpet and wet areas in the Digital Technology Room, Drama Room, and Prep/1 Warwick. The new floor coverings have created a more inviting learning environment. 
We were also able to complete the external painting of the Prep/1 classes and 1/2 Charleston. These blocks now tie in with the rest of the school and are a great improvement.

Maintenance Around the School

School Association AGM. Thursday, March 27 at 6:00pm
Please consider nominating for our School Association as a Parent Member or Community Member. A nomination form is included in this newsletter.

SPREYTON PRIMARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Notice of AGM

The AGM of the Spreyton Primary School Association will be held on Thursday the 27th of March 2025 at 6 pm in the staffroom. Results of the Association Election, if known, will be announced at the AGM.
The AGM will be followed by a general meeting at 7.00pm.

Committee Member Nomination Form

Parents, staff and community members are encouraged to nominate for a Committee Member position. All positions are for a term of two years. 
Nomination forms must be received by the Principal via the School Office by 3pm Wednesday 5th of March.  
If nominations received exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot form will be sent home on Friday 7th of March to be returned to the school office by 3pm Wednesday 12th of March. Members of the Committee must be elected by a ballot if required. 
One of the committee’s first items of business will be to elect its office bearers – Chairperson, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Officer. 
Karen Wicks (SBM) is the Returning Officer. Prospective members should familiarise themselves with the roles and responsibilities of School Associations via the Department of Education website. 

NAPLAN 2025
Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2024.
The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.
This is the second year NAPLAN has been held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year. These can then be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online
NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.
One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. The questions a student receives depends on their answers to previous questions. This means that students answer questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.
Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.
Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging. Please note that students in Year 3 complete the Writing Test on paper.

Parent information brochures and other resources
A parent information brochure and questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child can be found at: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers.
The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website and covers a variety of topics, such as the timing of the tests and how results from the assessments should be understood.
It also allows access to a Public Demonstration Site, which shows the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests.
Please contact the school if you have any further queries.

John Hudson
PRINCIPAL

WE'RE BACK

The display board in the foyer is full of fantastic faces from Prep to 6 (Kinder to follow soon). The smiles of nearly 300 students beam from the display. The variety of styles reflects how we are all individuals who have our own specific skills and needs. During the year, classes will display work from their class. So keep an eye on this space.
Barrie McClymont
AST/IS 

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LAUNCHING INTO LEARNING (LIL)

"Mini Movers: Bilbies" is Starting Soon!

 Day: Thursday 20^th of February 

 Time: 9:00am - 10:00am

 Location: Kinder Area, then move to the school gym

What to Bring: A water bottle 

Mini Movers is a specially designed program to help young children 0-4 years of age learn and develop their physical skills. It is fun and interactive and a great way to learn how you can support your child at home and learn new skills.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Miss Leah Arrell and Mr Derek Henry

2025 SAFEGUARDING TRAINING FOR PARENTS/CARERS/VOLUNTEERS

In 2025, it is again a Department for Education, Children and Young People requirement for any parent/carer/family member that is planning to volunteer in our school (parent help, attending excursions, coaching sporting teams, etc.) has a current Working with Vulnerable People registration and has completed the Safeguarding Training before you undertake any of these activities.  If you undertook this training last year, you will be covered until the expiration date of your 2024 certificate.  For example, if you completed the training on 16 April 2024, you must complete it before 16 April 2025 to ensure it remains current.
To complete the training, please click the link below, then follow the Volunteers and External Providers tab.

Once completed, please download a copy of your certificate (at the end of training) and send it with a copy of your current Working with Vulnerable People card to the office or alternatively email it to spreyton.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au.

If you need to apply for a Working with Vulnerable People Registration, you can do this via the link below

PLEASE BE AWARE If you are visiting your child’s class teacher, dropping or collecting your child from the office or attending assemblies then you are not required to have completed the training.
If you have any questions in regard to this please contact the office on 6421 2222.

Karen Wicks
SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGER

BREAKFAST CLUB

Exciting News for SPS!

Breakfast Club has commenced again for 2025!

For the next two years, SPS is sooo lucky because we have received funding from the Tasmanian Community Fund to contribute towards funding a breakfast program five days a week! This is massive news for our community is only possible due to the TCF and the community partnerships we have formed with Spreyton businesses – Squibb’s Orchard Shop, Ayers Orchards, J.G.Broun Pty Ltd, Spreyton Bakery, Fonterra and RACT Spreyton. I would also like to thank our Student Council and School Association for also supporting this exciting wellbeing initiative – it is a real community effort!

What does this mean for families?

• ALL students are welcome at Breakfast Club. If you are worried about using our food resources, please don’t. Instead, send your child (ren) along with a loaf of bread or some vegemite/jams. We really want our program to be all-inclusive and a comfortable space for everyone. A drop-off donations box (bread, butter, spreads) is at the front office.
• Fresh seasonal fruit (including delicious Spreyton apples) will start filtering through the classrooms and Breakfast Club in the next few weeks. How lucky are we!
• If you are able to help, please ring the office and put your name down for an 8:30 am - 9:00 am shift. Many hands make light work, and we so appreciate all the help we can get

If you would like some more information on the exciting work the Tasmanian Community Fund does, please see the Tasmanian Community Fund.

Hope to see you at our SPS Breakfast Club!

Heidi Broun Donohue
(on behalf of the Brekky Club team)

BOOKCLUB - Issue 1 Orders

Bookclub Issue 1 orders and money are due by Monday, 24th February.

Deb Hamblin
LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

STUDENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME (STAS)

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to eligible families by waiving levies for students. It applies to students enrolled in a school from kindergarten through to year 12. STAS is not a direct payment, but means you won’t have to pay the levy charge.
Are you eligible for STAS?
If you have a current concession card as listed below, you can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:
Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
Services Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card
Please Note: Parents/guardians must have a concession card. STAS does not apply to a student’s concession card.
You can apply online via the link below or enquire at the school office for a paper copy. 

If you are currently registered for STAS and have a child starting Kindergarten this year, you will need to contact STAS to add them to your profile.
Should you have any questions regarding this, please phone STAS on 1800 827 055.

TRAVELLING ON A BUS IN 2025

Information for Parents/Carers of students travelling on the school bus services.
For many students and families across the state, bus travel is an important part of getting to and from school. 
All students have the right to feel safe while waiting for, travelling on, boarding and disembarking from buses. 
That's why the Department of State Growth has teamed up with the Tasmanian Bus Association, Catholic Education Tasmania and contracted school bus operators to bring together a code of conduct for passengers. The code aims to keep all those using bus services to and from school safe.
We encourage parents and carers to read the code and chat with their families about what behaviour is and isn't appropriate for the school bus. You can read the code at the below link:

MEERCROFT CAFE SCHOOL LUNCHES UPDATE

Great news! Meercroft Cafe has added an extra day for school lunches this year. Orders can now be placed for Mondays and Wednesdays. This change has already commenced, and you can place orders for Monday and Wednesday next week. Ordering is done through the Spriggy Schools app.•. If you ordered last year, please ensure you update your child/ren’s class for 2025.• If you are new to ordering, download the Spriggy Schools app, set up your profile, and add your child/ren. Enjoy the convenience of fresh, delicious school lunches twice a week! 

WINTER PRIMARY SCHOOL BASKETBALL 2025

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Devonport Gymnastics Club

Devonport Auskick

Devonport Superkick

Devonport Tennis Club

City of Devonport Brass Band

Questacon

Cyber Safety Presentation

Latrobe Youth Lawn Bowls

Psychologycaffe

Crescendo Music Hub