7 February 2024

From the Principal

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back families who already have an association with our school, as well as extend a very warm welcome to families who are new to our school. To celebrate the beginning of the school year we are inviting all families and members of the extended LNPS community to a welcome picnic. This will be an opportunity to say hello and have an informal chat with staff in our beautiful school playground.  Please see more information in this newsletter about this and upcoming events.

At this time of the year we would like to introduce some new staff members who are working with and contributing to the work that we do here at LNPS. They include the following people:

Teaching staff: Angela Casey, Debbie Smith, Sabine Westbrook, James Cummins and Mick Rennie

Teacher Assistants: Ammba Clements, Amy McCarter, Catalina Castaneda, Charlie Cranfield, Chelsea Thorp and Nyah Jones

Specialists:  Allison Mok - Speech Pathologist, Danielle Triffett - School Nurse and Zoe Merrington - Social Worker

Education Facility Attendant: Chris Nelson

I know that you will make these people feel welcome as you interact with them over the course of the term and the year. Each and every one of our new staff members bring something unique to our context and along with our existing staff, we acknowledge the incredible work they do here at LNPS.

Finally, we look forward to an exciting year ahead and thank you in advance, for your support as we continue to strive to work in partnership with you as parents and carers.

Make every school day count

Welcome back! Let’s make every day count.
Here we go, another exciting school year ahead! We hope you enjoyed your holidays.
By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.
Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick. But creating a solid routine, from the start of Term 1, can set your child up for success for the year ahead.

If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.
Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.
Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick. But creating a solid routine, from the start of Term 1, can set your child up for success for the year ahead.

Check out these tips for starting the year off right.

⭐ Make every school day count

⭐ Get your child excited for school

⭐ Talk to your child about school

⭐ Celebrate the milestones

⭐ Talk to your child’s teacher or principal

⭐ Know when to seek help.

#BrightLivesPositiveFutures #EverySchoolDayMatters

Term Dates 2024

Easter Holidays are Friday 29 March - Tuesday 2 April 

Public Holidays during school terms are Monday 12 February, Monday 11 March, Monday 10 June and Thursday 24 October 

Student Free Days are Friday 7 June and Friday 25 October

Upcoming Events in Feb and March: Welcome back to school picnic, Year 6 Camp, Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival, school photos, NAPLAN, PAT early years testing, Harmony Day, National Ride2School Day, Clean Up Australia Day, assemblies.

Save the Date!

We are having a "welcome" picnic at LNPS in the playground from 4:30pm onwards on Tuesday 27 February.  More information to come. 

Year 6 Camp Update

Our Year 6 two night camp will be held from Wednesday 21 February to Friday 23 February at Blue Lagoon, Dodges Ferry.  More information will be forwarded to parents of those students in the coming days.

School Hours

Levy Payments

Levies for 2024 will be as follows:

Levies can be paid in person at the office by cash or EFTPOS.  The invoices will be sent out by post in the coming weeks, which will detail the various payment options.

If you still have outstanding payments from previous years, could you please organise payment as soon as possible.

Student Assistance (STAS) 2024

The scheme provides assistance for low-income families towards the cost of levies for students enrolled from Kindergarten through to senior secondary level. 

The scheme provides assistance to:

• Full-time students from Kindergarten to senior secondary level in Government and registered non-Government schools whose parents/guardians meet the income test and have care of the student for a minimum of 50% of the time (as assessed by Centrelink).
• Students who are in "Out of Home Care" through the Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Section.
• Grandparents raising grandchildren.

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

Note: Parents/guardians must have a concession card.  STAS does not apply to a student’s concession card.

If you are unable to apply online, a copy of the form can be obtained from the school office.

If you need assistance or have any questions please call 1800 827 055 or refer to the DECYP website information.

Brenda McLarin
School Business Manager

Canteen

At the time of publishing, our canteen provider, Fuel for School Tasmania, have not indicated a start date for 2024. We will provide you an update of canteen days and publish the 2024 menu once advised. 

Parents will need to update their child's profile with their 2024 year group and class on the QKR! app prior to putting through the first order.

Launching into Learning

Launching into Learning (LiL) is back in 2024 and we are super excited!
LiL will start in week 4, commencing Monday 26 February and will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
We are excited to offer the following sessions.

Pre-Kindergarten for children born in 2020 will commence on Fridays in Term 2.

We look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces in 2024. 

Learning In Families Together (LIFT) at LNPS

At LNPS, we value the importance of working collaboratively with families and fostering strong home/school relationships to ensure positive educational outcomes for everyone.

In Term 1 we have 4 whole school LIFT events which we are excited to announce. More information about each of these events will be sent home soon. Until then, please note these weeks!

Whole School LIFT Events in Term 1:

Student Validation and Permission Forms

There are a number of important forms coming home tomorrow with students in a large white envelope.  Please complete and return these either to the office or your child's classroom teacher by Friday 16 February 2024.

Student Information Validation forms: Check the forms carefully to ensure information is accurate, make any amendments, complete the permissions and the enrolling parent needs to sign and date the form.  It is vital that medical information is up to date as well as emergency contacts.  Both parent/guardians' contact information will be pre populated on the form, but any additional emergency contatcts will need to be added each year.

Special Data Collection form: Please make any necessary alterations with the enrolling parent to sign.

ICT Computer Use Agreements:  please read through this form with your child.  Both the student and parent to sign.  We understand that students in our early years will need parental assistance, but we ask that you sign both sections acknowleding that they understand the agreement.

Minor Excursions form: in previous years we have sent out a single page at the start of the year covering your permissions for all excursions.  This year, it is included in the permissions section of the student validation form.  We will still inform you prior to excursions of the itinerary details, but you will not have to complete a separate permission slip each time.

Major Excursion & Aquatic forms: please read, complete, sign and return.  Again we will inform you prior to each event, the itinerary details.

Seesaw permission forms: all students in all classes will be using Seesaw this year for sharing of information.  Please sign and return, so that a QR code can be provided.

2024 Classes

Our class teachers for 2024 are listed below.  

Useful Apps for Parents

We highly recommend that parents and carers download the following apps.

Schoolzine: allows you to report an absence, view the school calendar for upcoming events, link to forms and documents, read the newsletter, contact us.

Qkr!: canteen ordering/payments, limited uniform sales (hats, library bags,  beanies and smocks)

Seesaw: allows you to view your child's learning; communication tool between parent and teacher.

Volunteering at LNPS

If you volunteer at this school, you are required to register for “Registration to Work with Vulnerable People”. To apply complete the online application form at https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/licensing-and-registration/registrations/work-with-vulnerable-people    If you already have a RWVP card, please make sure you have updated your registration to include all organisations, including Lindisfarne North Primary.  Your card will be checked when you sign in via the Kiosk at the office.

Assembly Timetable

Student Absences, Late Arrivals and Early Departures

Please use the Schoolzine app or phone the school office prior to 9:15am daily to report student absences (illness, appointments, holidays etc).  Please also contact us to inform us if the student is going to be arriving late or needing to leave early for an appointment.  When students leave early or arrive late, they must sign in via the kiosk at the office.

Click here for further information about attendance from the DECYP website. 

Updated COVID Information

Year 3/4 Classroom News

Auslan Class: Australian (Signing) Language

Students in 3/4 classes will be learning Auslan. It is a very logical sign language.  I have studied Auslan Courses with Expression Australia, and am delighted that all Year 3/4 classes will have a timetabled 15 minute lesson each week to work with me and develop their signing skills.

Learning Auslan is very good for developing hand-eye coordination, memorising physical patterns and sequencing movements (just like dance, gymnastics and sport). It develops concentration, eye contact, appropriate facial expressions and communication skills.

Learning Auslan also supports the HASS curriculum as students are engaging with the wider community and learning about other cultures. Studying Auslan helps students recognise the challenges hard-of-hearing or deaf people face in our community. It develops a positive perspective towards a minority group and supports inclusivity. Learning Auslan also gives students opportunities to feel confident with their learning as each class will be a self-contained lesson with near instant learning.

The lessons will be taught communicatively and the students will be very active. Each class will build on previous learning then cover a new topic such as greetings, talking about how you’re feeling, sports, animals, foods and cultural/social events. Any comments or questions should be directed to me. I'm looking forward to 2024 and working with your children.

Thanks.

(Ms) Debbie Smith
3/4 SW

Community News