Dear Families,

As we near the halfway point of the term, we are excited to share some important updates with our school community.

CFLC Outreach Service: A New Opportunity

We are thrilled to announce that Herdsmans Cove Primary has been successful in securing a pilot Community Family Learning Centre (CFLC) outreach service. This program will be operating out of our Launching into Learning (LiL) room, bringing two dedicated family support workers onsite to assist families with children in the birth to 4 years age group.

The first 1,000 days of a child's life are a critical period that shapes their development and overall wellbeing. Children thrive when they are in supportive environments during these early years, and we are excited about the positive impact this new service will have on our community. We see Herdsmans Cove Primary as playing a key role within our community and bringing the CFLC onsite will allow us to ensure that all children are known, safe, well and learning. 

Our pre kinder sessions are now up and running and enrolments for 2025 are open. If you know of anyone in the area with a child who was born in 2020, please encourage them to come along.  We are always happy to help out where we can if there are barriers to attending.

Staffing Updates

Our Assistant Principal, Emily Roberts, will be taking a well-deserved long service leave next week till the end of term 3. We wish her a relaxing holiday with her family and look forward to her return. During her absence, we are pleased to welcome Nick de Tarczynski, who will be stepping into the Assistant Principal role.

Additionally, we are delighted to welcome Anne-Marie Reschke to our leadership team. Anne-Marie will be working as an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) and is contracted with us until the end of 2024. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to the contributions she will make to our school.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to the opportunities ahead as we work together to provide the best for our students.

Warm regards,

Tobin McColl, Principal

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of students not wearing our school uniform.

Adhering to the Herdsmans Cove school uniform policy is important as it fosters a sense of belonging and unity among students, reinforcing that we are a team.

The trend of students wearing hoodies and covering their faces has also increased, posing a challenge in the playground recognising individuals and raising safety concerns.

Your support in encouraging your child to wear their school uniform with pride is greatly appreciated.

On Friday 2 August, students in Prep celebrated 100 days at school.  Thank you to our Prep parents for embracing the day and sending their children in "old people's" clothes and costumes - it was very difficult to recognise everyone.

On Friday last week 5/6L and 1/2H got together and held their very own Potato Olympics.  Each student decorated their own potato and created an athlete profile.  Events included hockey, basketball, diving, running, shotput, hurdles, skateboarding and gymastics to name a few.

The idea was for each potato athlete to take part in each event and record their result, by measuring and recording their results.  A great time was had by all, which finished with a medal presentation.

Congratulations to the following students for winning Principal's Awards at last week's Assembly:

Prep:  Kiara

1/2H:  Angela

1/2N:  Maycee

3/4:    Alexis

3/4/5:  Chaise

5/6L:    Jack

5/6M:   Amelia

Gold Value Shield Winners:

Flynn, Abigail, Talisha, Kai, Xavier, Jasper, Dorian, Alex, Stella, Ruby, Mary-Anne and Raven.

Our next assembly will be held on Wednesday 28 August with 3/4/5 hosting and 3/4 sharing.  Parents from Prep to Grade 6 are warmly invited to attend.

At Herdsmans Cove Primary School we have started a new program called the Herdy Way Values Raffle for all P-6 classes. This program provides students the opportunity to enter a raffle each week, where they can win the opportunity to attend a fun activity afternoon. Students earn Herdy Way Values Raffle tickets if they demonstrate the school’s values. Examples of behaviours that demonstrate the school’s value of respect include using manners, speaking kindly to others and looking after school property. Respect is this term's focus value for the Herdy Way Values Raffle.

Each class has been provided with a raffle box where all Herdy Way Values Raffle tickets earnt by that class will be stored. Each Friday afternoon two tickets will be drawn from each of these raffle boxes. The winners of that week’s Herdy Way Values Raffle then get to attend an activity afternoon full of fun activities such as table tennis, games and craft activities. This activity afternoon will occur each Monday. There is no limit to how many raffle tickets a student can earn. This program focuses on celebrating and promoting the school’s values and a positive culture at Herdsmans Cove Primary School.

Students attending Herdy Way Values Raffle activity afternoon.

Just a gentle reminder that if your child arrives after the 8:50 am bell they will need to sign in at the front office.  Once signed in your child will be supported and warmly welcomed.  We know how tricky some mornings can be, we just want to make sure we know who is here from a safety and well-being perspective.

Please be aware that supervision does not start until 8:30 a.m. We encourage all students to arrive at school after this time and to walk to their classroom door rather than through the main office. 

Also if for some reason you need to collect your child early, please contact the office to arrange for early collection and to sign out your child.

Thank you for your continued support.

Next Tuesday a number of students from Herdsmans Cove will be representing our school in the winter sports carnivals for netball and soccer.

Congratulations to Summer, Zilah and Stella for being chosen in the Yellow Warblers netball team. Thank you to the team manager, Ms Burn for supporting the team on the day.

Best of luck to our selected Derwent soccer players who will be playing at Wentworth Park, Howrah supported by their parents on the day.

Just a reminder to families that our Book Fair is open for sales this week and next week from 8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. in the morning and 2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. every afternoon.

Our Book Parade is being held on Wednesday 21 August at 9:00 a.m. We look forward to seeing students and staff dressed as their favourite characters from their beloved books. Please ensure your child brings along the book that features their character on the day.

Below is a table of activities planned for the week.

Our school ran a drawing competition during the Olympic Games.  Our students did an amazing job of their portraits.  Well done to everyone that entered.

Our school nurse Georgina MacDonald has been running dental hygiene sessions in classes recently.  Students are learning how important it is to clean their teeth and look after their gums properly.

Support your child’s online learning at home   

Digital skills are critical to every child’s success, but supporting online learning can be overwhelming.

The Digital skills for families team are delivering a program to help Tasmanian families support online learning at home. Spending time online at home gives children an opportunity to practice what they are learning at school. Positive home environments help children develop the skills and independence they need to succeed in a digital future.  

Learn about communicating online with schools, digital education at school and how to support online learning at home.

Digital skills for families is offering free:

• information sessions
• workshops
• one-to-one help

In libraries, schools and community locations statewide.

Email the team at digitalskillsforfamilies@libraries.tas.gov.au to find out more and book a free session.