Filter Content
- Welcome back to school for 2025
- News from Kindergarten
- News from Prep/1
- Sailing on the Winds of Joy
- Validation and ICT Forms
- Safeguarding Training in our Schools
- Working with Vulnerable People Card (WWVP)
- Launching into Learning News
- NAPLAN 2025
- Positive Detective
- School Hats
- From the Office
- Dates to Remember
- Term Dates for 2025
- Move Well Eat Well
- 24 Carrot Garden Program
- Rabbit Infestation on School Grounds
- Community News
I am so pleased that we have had a super start to the year. All children have settled in well and are currently revisiting our school expectations, rules and routines. We were so pleased to see all students wearing their school uniforms with pride and we thank our families for preparing your children for the beginning of the school year.
Our school has been buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement in these first few weeks, with students reconnecting with their friends and staff.
Before our children commenced on the 6th of February. Staff spent three days, planning, preparing and undertaking training. An important training that I wanted to share with you is around Safeguarding our children. All Department of Education, children and young people (DECYP) staff, contractors and volunteers are required to be completing mandatory training each year around our responsibilities toward keeping all children safe within our school environments. Along with school volunteers required to have working with vulnerable people cards, it is also a requirement to complete the training before volunteering within our school.
During the first three days we also worked together as a staff to become more familiar with some changes to the way we teach reading. All students in our Prep to 3 classes will be engaged in a phonics lesson each morning to ensure they are learning the basics of letters and sounds to give them the best start to becoming great readers. There will be more information for families about this in our LiFT sessions throughout the term.
We are very excited to be commencing our School Lunch program next Monday and Thursday. It is vital that the consent forms are sent back to school so your child can participate in the program.
Communication
We are always looking for opportunities to be connecting with families to ensure that we work together to support our learners. Things always work well when children know that families, teachers and the school are working together to support them. We attempt to provide a number of avenues for this to occur;
Firstly, all classes have a SeeSaw account. This is an App based communication platform that allows teachers to share class and individual learning with families. Teacher can also utilise this to send messages to families such as reminders about excursions etc. This is also a space for messaging on this page, however be mindful that teachers only check these during the day and if there are urgent messages or questions please call the school office.
Our newsletter is sent our once a fortnight, which also shares and celebrates student learning and achievement and whole school information.
We have a Facebook page, which also celebrates learning, whole school events, community connections and can quickly share important whole school information. If you have not yet ‘liked’ our page, please do – we also have a new Launching into Learning Page.
Celebration Assemblies – these usually occur once every three weeks on a Thursday and are an opportunity for children to share their classroom learning and achievements to a wider audience and celebrate with our school community.
We also have the old fashioned way, which is making phone calls or dropping into see your child’s classroom teacher. What ever way is best for you and your family. We want you to know that we value communicating and working with you to support your children in their learning.
Kind Regards,
Jaime Allen
Principal
Welcome to Prep/1
The school year is off to a flying start in Prep/1. The students are quickly settling into their new routines, and it’s amazing to see the new friendships and connections blossoming in class and on the playground.
A focus for Prep/1 these past few weeks has been learning a bit more about each other and also finding excuse to brighten up our classroom with a pop or two of colour!
We even found time for an impromptu bubble party!
We are all looking forward to all the incredible learning and experiences to come in 2025
Goodwood Primary students were very lucky to be invited on board the yacht 'Winds of Joy' which has participated in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The Making Waves Foundation now use the yacht to take groups of students sailing on the Derwent River. We met at the Sandy Bay Marina and boarded the yacht.
All students who wanted a turn of steering the boat were given a go at being the Captain. We steered, pulled ropes, winched, hoisted the sails, tied and untied the bollards, tacked and did doughnuts in the Derwent which kept us very busy.
During our sail we watched a sea-plane land beside us, sailed behind a big cruise ship and saw a seal. We all had a fantastic time and did things we had never done before. There were a few nerves prior to boarding but students showed a lot of courage and resilience and overcame any issues.
You will have now received your Validation and ICT permission forms at the beginning of the term. The Validation Form contains the information we have on file for your child/ren.
It is vital for the school office to have updated details for all students. In the event of a medical issue or emergency event this information is crucial in the care and response that we provide for your child/ren. Please ensure to update information with the office staff as required: emergency contact details, phone numbers, address details and any changes to your child's medical needs eg. asthma, or anaphylaxis. If your child does suffer from conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, anaphylaxis etc please also provide up-to-date Medical Action Plans as provided by your medical practitioner.
If you require any help to complete the forms, please do not hesitate to come into the office.
To all our volunteers – have you completed your safeguarding training yet?
You will need to finish it before working with any children or young people this year.
If you are a parent and are thinking about volunteering for us, you can also do the training. You will need this to work with children and young people. Make sure you save the certificate to show you have completed it.
The training is compulsory under new laws designed to better safeguard children and young people in Tasmania. It will help you understand what to do if you believe a child or young person is or may be being harmed, and to make sure you are doing all you can to prevent this from happening. The training will also tell you what you must report under the new laws.
To complete your training, visit Safeguarding Training. Or ask at the school front office
Thank you for leading the way in caring for our children and young people safe so that they can focus on living bright lives with positive futures.
Safeguarding Lead/AST
Hugo Luttmer
Jamie Allen
Principal
Volunteers and visitors are welcomed into the school environment as valued school members and role models.
This includes parents and carers, and friends of the school.
- All Department for Education, Children and Young People employees, volunteers (including the School Association Committee), contractors and external providers are required to maintain a current Tasmanian RWVP.
- You will need proof of a current Tasmanian RWVP to be a volunteer at your child’s school or school activities.
- If you are simply visiting your child’s school (i.e. are invited to attend particular school events or activities at your child’s school) you will not require a RWVP.
- You do NOT require a RWVP to:
- Drop off or collect your child, including a short period of settling your child in class where the teacher is present.
- Attend school events such as assemblies, school sports carnivals, plays and concerts, whole-school events (where you are not a direct participant and/or do not assist in the organisation or operation of the event).
- Attend school activities for parents or public events such as a parent information evening, parent/teacher meetings, school fairs, opening of new school facilities or programs, or to hear a guest speaker (where you do not assist in the organisation or operation of the activity).
Why come to Launch into Learning?
- Play and learn alongside your child
- Meet other families
- Get to know the school staff
- Get ready for school
Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025.
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.
NAPLAN has been held in March since 2023, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year. These results 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. This means that students receive 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
Your questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child:
NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers
The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website.
Please contact the school if you have any further queries.
At our Meet and Greet Assemblies we celebrate the students who have been caught following our Goodwood Primary School Values. If an adult or student observes someone doing something that is Safe, Caring or shows that they are Learning they fill out a Positive Detective slip. The student is shown the slip as immediate feedback and positive reinforcement. The slip is then placed into a big bucket and we draw names out of the bucket like a raffle and then whoever gets drawn out wins a small prize.
Some of our recent Positive Detective Winners!
- Liv - for displaying the value of We Care by putting the chairs down without the need to be told.
- Aubree B - for displaying the value of We Learn for doing amazing writing.
- Mason W 2/3 - for displaying the value of We Care for helping a student when they fell over in soccer.
- Addison B 2/3 - for displaying the value of We Learn and We Care for striving to do his absolute best in class.
- Liam - for displaying the value of We Care for being a great leader in PE.
Please remember that school hats are required to be worn now and in Term 4.
Hats can be purchased from the school office for $9.00.
(Don't forget to put your child's name on it)
Students moving to another school in 2025
Please contact the school office if your child will not be returning to Goodwood Primary at any time in 2025. It is now the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school in writing when their child is leaving to attend another school. This is a Department of Education requirement and verbal confirmation is not enough. Once the school has received this notification in writing the enrolment can be closed so the student can then be enrolled at the new school.
Levies 2025
There will be no increase in Levies for 2025:-
| Kinder | $150.00 |
| Prep - Grade 6 | $180.00 |
Payment of levies can be made in full in Term 1 2025 or by instalments using a payment plan. Payment plans are flexible and can continue throughout the school year.
Families can request a payment option. Please contact Ros Ackerley (School Business Manager) if you require a payment plan.
Levies can be paid using the following options:
- At the school (by EFTPOS, cash or cheque)
- At Service Tasmania (by EFTPOS, cash or cheque)
- Through BPAY (using the Biller Code and Reference on your invoice)
- By mail, forward your cheque, money order or credit card details to the school, with the payment slip from your invoice attached (payable to the Department for Education, Children & Young People).
- Using Centrepay, a service provided by Centrelink.
Families who are supported through the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) do not need to pay levies. Applications for the Student Assistance Scheme may be made online, or paper forms can be provided at the school office.
School and office hours
A reminder that our gates open at 8:30 am. Students are not to be left unaccompanied by a parent/guardian until 8:30 am when staff are on duty. The office also opens at 8:30 am. Students are to be collected promptly at 2:50 pm. If you will be late collecting your child at the end of the day you will need to nofify the office on 6792 9100.
Student long absences in 2025
If your child is going to be absent from school for longer than a few days a Student Absence Approval Form must be completed by the parent/carer and approved by the Principal. The form is available from the school office.
Late arrivals
If your child arrives at school after 8:50am unaccompanied by a parent/guardian, the office will be marking attendance as unexplained other. The procedure for late arrivals will be as is for unexplained absences in that office staff will be calling the parent/guardian to clarify the reason the student was late arriving to school.
Student Absences
A reminder that if your child is absent from school for any reason that you notify the school office by 9:30 am of that day. You can either contact the school office on 6272 9100 or email goodwood.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au
Did you know if your child has 10 days off school per year, that by Grade 4 they are 1 year behind?
The best thing for your child's future is to come to school every day.
Student Medication
Please advise office staff and your child’s class teacher if your child needs to take medication during school hours so arrangements can be made for the medication to be administered.
It is a Department of Education requirement that the following forms must be completed and signed before the commencement of dispensing medication to students: ‘Administration of Routine Medication Authorisation Form for Parent/ Guardian’; and ‘Administration of Prescribed Medication Authorisation Form for Doctors’. The administration of medication to students is undertaken by Admin staff who will ensure it is taken correctly, details (e.g. date, time, dose etc) entered on the student’s personal medication sheet, and signed by a staff member and witness.
Medication is kept locked in the school safe or safe room. Students should not have any types of medication in their school bags.
|
Date |
Event |
|
Wednesday 19 February |
Book Club orders due |
|
Tuesday 4 March |
GPS Athletics Carnival |
|
Monday 10 March |
Eight Hours Day Public Holiday |
|
Wed 12 - Mon 24 March |
NAPLAN |
|
Monday 17 March |
Bravehearts "Ditto" Keep Safe Adventure Prep-3 |
|
Tuesday 25 March |
Division G Interschool Athletics |
|
Friday 11 April |
End of Term 1 |
| Term 1 | Thursday 6 February - Friday 11 April |
| Term 2 | Monday 28 April - Friday 4 July |
| Term 3 | Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 13 October - Thursday 18 December |
Make Water the Main Drink!
Our bodies are made up of about 70% water - it's what makes up the majority of our blood, digestive juices and sweat, and it's found in our organs and muscle cells.
The amount of water a child needs is influenced by the amount of activity they do, the weather temperature, and their diet and health. It's always important to remind children to drink, but as a general guide, children up to 8 years of age should have a minimum of 4-5 cups of water a day. Children above 8 years old require at least 6-8 cups of water a day.
If you would like to follow our progress in the garden, please scan the QR code below to check out our photos on Goodwood Primary Kitchen Garden Instagram page.
We wish to inform our school and broader community that we are having quite significant damage caused by the rabbit's infestation throughout our school grounds.
Can all visitors to our school site to be advised to watch for uneven surfaces and holes.
We are working with DECYP Facilities for advice to find a solution.
