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Dear Franklin Families,
This term there have been many wonderful highlights and a number of valuable learning experiences for all students. However, the holidays will be a perfect opportunity for both staff and students to reset, rest and enjoy family time.
How screen time effects rest.
We have noticed that many children come to school experiencing poor quality sleep patterns which impact on their ability to concentrate and focus during the day. Without enough sleep they can feel moody or tired and find it hard to pay attention or follow directions. Learning that is normally easy may feel impossible.
With more children using technology at younger and younger ages, specialists are seeing a clear link between too much screen time (the use of TV, computers and mobile devices ) and poor quality of rest. Research has shown that using screens in the hour before bed can affect how well children sleep.
When children sleep well, they are more settled, happy and ready for school the next day. Good quality sleep helps children concentrate, remember things and regulate emotions. At 5-11years, it is recommended that children have between 9-11 hours of sleep although for some, 8 hours is enough. Good quality sleep is one of the most important things children need for their health and wellbeing.
Pre-Kinder program
Families have already received information on our pre-kinder program which will begin in week two of Term 4. The program will run for 4 weeks, 1.40pm to 3.00pm on a Monday afternoon. Our Pre-Kinder group is for parents and Pre-Kinder children to spend time together participating in the Kinder experience and making friends and contacts for the year ahead. Our current Kinder group will also have opportunities to transition to Prep. Information sessions for both Kinder and Prep parents will be held later in Term 4.
Staffing changes Term 4
Emily Leaman will take an AST position at Campbell Street Primary School in Term 4. Emily has been a highly valued member of our team, leading quality teaching and learning programs across the school. Her passion and commitment to improving learning for all students has been outstanding. We wish her all the best in her new role and continued success in all future endeavours. In her absence, Brooke Schiebel will take on the senior role for Term 4.
Rebecca Witts will take over the Year 5/6 teaching role on a Wednesday and will continue her other roles as Year 1 and Support Teacher.
We will be welcoming Emma McAfee to our Prep class. Emma will be teaching on a Monday and Tuesday while Brooke is in the senior position.
Staff would like to wish the school community a safe and restful holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone in Term 4.
Linda Heerey
As usual we have been busy at LiL. The children have been enjoying box work, the marble run, the sensory tub with birdseed and much more. At group time it is a joy to see the children really engaging with the familiar song and dancing we have been doing. Have a great break see you in term 4.
Bryn
What another wonderful term with these fabulous little people. The end of third term brings to a close our cooking programme. I have been so proud of the way the children have conducted themselves, not only in the kitchen preparing the lunches, but whilst at the table too. They gave the meals a try, even when they thought they wouldn’t like them, and some children even discovered some new favourite foods!
By creating meals and sharing them together, I feel that it has brought us closer as a group. The children feel connected to the process and take ownership of it. From preparation, to the eating and doing their own washing up, the experience belongs to them. We chat and laugh together as we sit in the Kinder Restaurant. And hopefully, somewhere along the way, a love of eating good food has grown.
In Prep we have become quite interested in movement. After all the rain earlier this week, we were able to get outside and we could hear the little creek rushing loudly. We observed and I asked “Why is our creek moving so fast today?”
Maybe its heavy – Razel
There’s too much water. Maybe its heavy and there’s too much pressure – Evie
Maybe the water’s moving fast because the rain moves fast- Isabella
Probably because there’s so much water it pushes hard – Jesse
Maybe the wind was moving it – Evie
I think there’s too much water and the wind is pushing it too fast – Holly
Because its going down a hill – Archie
The wind is pushing the other water – Elvis
But the wind isn’t strong enough to blow the water – Marlee
Its been raining a lot and the rain makes it a little bit faster – Holly
Maybe there’s a lot of water and its pushing on the bottom and sliding across it – Ursula
Maybe there’s too much pressure in the water so its moving fast – Isabella
The creek is really big so it slides really fast – Rubi
The wind around it pushes the water down - Razel
Last week, our class had two days learning off campus. On Tuesday 14th September, we had fun and practised our tennis skills at the Red Ball Tennis Event at Cygnet Primary School with some other schools. Well done everyone, especially Cherry, who was acknowledged for her team spirit.
What an amazing day on Friday 17th September for our excursion to complement our Inquiry about the importance of water...not just the beautiful weather but also the walk in the bush to Silver Falls via the Pipeline Track in the foothills of kunyanyi. Thank you to Ange and the parents that came to help and contribute to our new learning. Before we left on this excursion, we spent some time looking at a map of Tasmania, looking for Fern Tree and Franklin as well as seeing how long the actual Pipeline Track is and that we were only walking a small section of this track. We went to see just one of the intakes of Hobart's drinking water supply from Silver Falls (at the top of Brown's River that eventually flows into the sea at Kingston Beach) and from there the water is channelled to the Fern Bower where the water is piped all the way down to the Waterworks Reservoirs. Some of the students’ wonderings were heard and noted down for future research into next term:
Eliza- “What is the water valve for?”
Siena- “What altitude are the Silver Falls at?”
Miah- “Why does the water still rush down the hill but it’s not raining?”
Hunter – “I wonder how old the pipe is that we are walking over”.
Susannah – “I wonder why the waterfall is called Silver Falls”.
Have a safe and happy two weeks holiday, everyone, and see you next term.
This term 2/3Y have continued to inquire around “How are we connected to space?”. This has proven to be a large vehicle to explore lots of curriculum areas. Our focus this term has been on our connection to space by way of technology. We have explored how satellites and other space-based technologies assist us with internet access, weather reports, photographic data, mapping, GPS, exploration and much, much, more!
We have discovered the different ways humans have connected to celestial beings over time, and how it has been used to make sense of the world or tell a story. Indigenous people use the patterns in the skies as a map, and to keep track of different times to hunt and gather. Today, people believe in the power of astrology and look to the stars for advice. We created our own constellations, named them and wrote short stories about them.
The moon was an important celestial being we hadn’t looked into yet, so we discussed the moon, it’s place in space, and wondered how it shines when it is dust and rock? And why is the moon so large sometimes? Why is it out during the day even? Some of us knew the answers and had to design a model to prove it. Others of us collaborated our wonderings and came up with an understanding that the moon only appears to shine because its surface reflects the sun’s light. It only reflects a small amount of the sunlight that hits it.
Our maths inquiry saw us make the connection that angles can be seen in constellations. We explored angles, classified and sorted them. We can now identify right angles, obtuse angles and acute angles. We even had a go at measuring the angles we could find in our names.
Through looking at a map of Australia, we had wonderings about the lines that were across it. What were they for? And why are they measured in degrees? In came our exploration of angles again. Lines of longitude and latitude help us to locate places across the world. GPS uses it to locate places, which again, connects us to space.
There have been so many connections to space that we have decided to continue looking at them next term. We have been able to secure a visit from the Astronomy Society of Tasmania which is really exciting.
As an end of term treat, Anthoney, Charlie and Emma spent the term creating and preparing for “Anthoney and Charlie’s Pizzeria” pop up restaurant. They worked very hard creating a menu, trialling the dishes, gathering data, working out portions and ratios, and of course cooking! We had a fantastic lunch and they got rave reviews! Thankyou Emma, Ant and Charlie for all your hard work, we appreciated it.
The year 4/5 class has been reflecting and acting on their inquiry learning so far. The students have been working together to compile welcome packs to welcome new arrival refugee children to Australia. The students planned and hosted a fundraiser to raise enough money to cover the costs of the welcome packs. The packs will be filled with things our students believe new arrival children will need to feel welcome and safe. They did a fantastic job and raised $217, congratulations to everyone involved!
Our Grade 5 students had a brilliant time at camp this week. We made sand sculptures, conquered the flying fox, practised our teamwork skills, built catapults, practised archery, had a huge bon fire and even put on a talent show. Mrs Heerey had the pleasure of teaching our Grade 4 students and they even got to go on a mini golf excursion.
Have a happy and safe holiday everyone.
FRANKLIN PRIMARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
The School Association as had a busy and active Term 3. Term 4 is looking busy already with the following things already in the calendar- Halloween BBQ and a Disco!!!!
As always, if you have any ideas, concerns, or feedback, please feel free to contact me at jess_watson82@yahoo.com.au and I would be happy to discuss.
HALLOWEEN BBQ:
As many of you know Franklin host the biggest Halloween event in southern Tasmania! And this year is set to be bigger and better! The School Association has been asked by the Halloween Committee to host a BBQ at the event being held on Sunday 31st October 2021 and in order to do so we need volunteers. This is a great fundraiser for the school. Please contact me or another committee member if you can help out on the evening.
DISCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Save the date:
FRIDAY 5TH November 2021 Franklin Primary School Students K-6 will be dusting off their dancing shoes and grooving to the music. More information will be going home about this at the beginning of Term 4 and as usual volunteers are required so please get in contact. Without volunteers the event will not be made possible.
RAFFLE:
As you would have seen, the Association has put together a major raffle to be drawn on Friday 24th September 2021 at the Quiz Night.
A special thankyou to the people and places that have donated goods and services. Winners will be notified.
Next Meeting:
The next meeting is being held on Monday 18th October 2021 at 3:15pm. Like always feel free to come along or contact a committee member if you have anything you would like to raise.
Donations:
The Association has made a successful start on seeking donations for the quiz night and the Christmas Raffle and has already received some amazing and generous donations.
However, I know there are a lot of talented and creative people within our school community, and I am reaching out to ask if you would be willing to donate something towards the major fundraiser of 2021?
Any contribution would be gratefully accepted and in return we will promote your donation on the Facebook Page, newsletter, and raffle.
Please contact me either on the “school families and friends- Franklin” Facebook page or via email at jess_watson82@yahoo.com.au to arrange collection of your donation.
Jessica Watson
President of the FPSA
Monday 11 October | Start of Term 4 |
Thursday 21 October | Hobart Show Day Public Holiday |
Friday 22 October | Professional Learning Day for Teachers, Student Free Day |
Monday 18 October | Start of Pre Kinder |
Tuesday 26 October | Franklin Primary Athletics Carnival |
Tuesday 2 November | Backup Day for Athletics Carnival |
Wednesday 10 November | Huon & Channel Athletics Carnival |
Thursday 18 November | Botanical Gardens Whole School Excursion |
Thursday 2 December | End of Year Assembly |
Monday 13 December | Year 6 Leaver's Dinner |
Thursday 16 December | Colour Fun Run - Last Day of Term 4 |