Term 3 - Issue 3 2025
Principals Report
Well, that is another term down for 2025. We have been very busy once again this term and all somehow survived the sick season, bring on the warmer weather. With all the sickness, believe it or not there has been a lot of learning going on. I am so proud of the progress we continue to make across all areas of our school.
Fluency has been a big priority this year in all our classes, and this is evident each time you hear our students read in comparison to where they were at in term 1. Our fluency instruction is a set 20 minutes of dedicated learning all classes do each morning where students receive explicit instruction in fluency specifically the speed, accuracy and expression a student uses when reading. Following on from our fluency lessons our students then continue work in our dedicated 110-minute literacy block, which occurs each morning school wide with a focus on phonics, spelling, reading comprehension and writing.
Our staff have had a massive focus on teacher to student feedback this term, specifically direct feedback in the moment from teachers to students. This sounds easy but really is one of the trickiest things to get right, and when it is done correctly it makes a substantial difference to learning. We are seeing our students starting to really take on that feedback from teachers and apply this to their learning. A big part of this is for our kids to understand that it is ok to make mistakes and that we can always improve if we listen to advice.
In terms of other highlights this term you can’t go past our Winter Festival and Father’s Day BBQ. At both events I was blown away by the turn out from our community and the amazing sense of togetherness that was felt on the night by everyone in attendance.
Finally, I want to say a big thank you to all the staff this term. Term 3 is always our trickiest one due to all the sickness across our school. All of our staff have taken on additional duties and provided extra support to make sure that our kids have not missed out. They definitely need the 2-week break!
Class Structures 2026
Currently we are sitting at 181 enrolments for 2026, this from what I know is the biggest the school has ever been in terms of student numbers.
If you know of any other people moving into the area, please encourage them to call the school as soon as possible and let us know.
The current plan for 2026 class structure is the following:
- Kinder – Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Prep and Year 1 combined – Prep/1 A
- Prep and Year 1 combined – Prep/1 B
- Year 2 and Year 3 combined – 2/3
- Year 3 and Year 4 combined – 3/4
- Year 5 and Year 6 combined – 5/6 A
- Year 5 and Year 6 combined – 5/6 B
More information will be coming in early November about our staffing make up in 2026, and as well as in previous years we will be letting families know about class placements in mid to late November. This is a lot earlier than other schools and is something we do to allow plenty of time for transition and supports to be ready to go for day 1 of the new school year.
Class Placements and Friendships 2026
A reminder for families to email the school at Bagdad.Primary@decyp.tas.gov.au if you have any information that you think we need from you regarding class placements, this can include friendships.
Our teachers will be asking students in class this week and again early in term 4 for the names of two friends they would like in their class with them in 2026.
As always, we are a small school and there aren't many options for combinations of students as you can see from above.
Hats in Term 4
A reminder that all hats are to be back on heads on day 1 of term 4. There is no “grace period” as everyone has had plenty of notice to find their hats or buy a new one.
Any hat will do if it has a brim around the whole hat, short of it no caps are allowed. Also, these do not need to be official school hats, any brand will do!
School Uniform
A reminder that school uniform is required to be worn each day unless indicated for a special reason (comfy clothes day, colour run etc.). The last month or so a lot of hoodies have started appearing and other variations. As the holidays are coming up it is the perfect time to make sure you have school uniform ready to go. We are expecting uniform to be worn each day.
If you are having any issues purchasing uniform, please come and speak with us and we can assist.
Bullying Definition
We are very lucky at our school as we have a great bunch of kids who look out for each other. One thing that we need to clear up is what bullying is and what it isn’t. This term gets thrown around a lot in schools and in the media.
Kids are funny creatures; they say things and do things they shouldn’t. This is normal and it is our job as a whole school community to make sure we teach them what is appropriate behaviour, how to respond and speak to others and most importantly give them the tools to be good people.
The definition of bullying is when people repeatedly and intentionally use words or actions against someone or a group of people to cause distress and risk to their wellbeing. The big word to focus on in this definition is the word repeatedly.
We have very clear processes in place to address student behaviour, especially bullying and any forms of verbal and physical abuse towards others.
In terms of online bullying the school cannot control what happens online at all, this is firmly in the hands of parents. Parents control what devices and apps students have access to such as gaming, content they watch and accessing social media platforms. At school we can provide education relating to online safety to our kids, but it is not the school's role to sort out fights that are occurring online after hours.
At our school we do a considerable amount of work around resilience, respect and wellbeing with all our students and staff. The Resilience Project is another resource we use to teach out kids about empathy and the impact of actions towards others. Please keep an eye out for our “resilience tips” that get posted regularly.
Parents if you have any concerns or questions please come in and speak with your child’s teacher as the first point of call, then please feel free to speak with myself, Mr Lewinski or Miss Creese.
Halloween Dress Up and Free Dress - Friday October 31st
As in previous years we are having a Halloween dress up day on Friday 31st October. This is optional for those students who wish to dress up. Those students who don't want to dress up can wear free dress instead.
This is a just for fun day, so no donation and no parade. Just turn up to school and enjoy the day.
Ms Matthews will advise the kinder classes the plan for their Halloween dress up and free dress day as Wednesday that week we have our Colour Run even on.
Coming up in Term 4
Term 4 is our busiest term of the year; we have a lot on in terms of events and end of year celebrations. Below are the dates for the main events and activities coming up:
- School Association - Colour Run – 29th October
- Halloween Dress up and Free Dress - 31st October
- Salvation Army Christmas Present Collection – 5th December
- Celebration Assembly – 9th December
- End of Year Ratings and Evidence of Learning sent home – 10th December
- End of Year Carols – 12th December
- Year 6 Big Day Out – 15th December
- Children’s University Graduation Ceremony – 16th December
- Year 6 Leavers Dinner – 17th December
- Final Day Oatlands Pool and BBQ Lunch – 18th December
Please keep an eye on Seesaw, Newsletters and Facebook for reminders and more information.
Kind Regards,
Phil Novak
Principal
Literacy Update from Miss Creese
DECYP Key literacy messages for parents/carers and families
We are committed to helping every student become a confident, capable reader. That’s why we use a structured and evidence-based approach to teaching literacy, built around what’s known as the Big Six. The Big Six are the essential foundations of literacy. They work together to support students as they move from learning to read, to reading to learn—and beyond.
These six areas are taught explicitly and in a clear, sequenced way to ensure all students, no matter their starting point, can grow and succeed.
What are the Big Six?
- Oral Language – The ability to speak, listen, and understand the sounds we use when we talk.
- Phonological Awareness – Recognising the sounds in our speech.
- Phonics – Understanding how letters and sounds work together.
- Vocabulary – Knowing and using a wide range of words.
- Fluency – understanding the meaning of words and sentences as they are being read.
- Comprehension – using the other five skills to understand what is being read.
The Big Six are not just skills for early readers or young students. They continue to be important throughout your child’s education.
How can families support literacy at home?
You play an important role in your child’s literacy development. Talking with your child, reading together, playing word games, and asking questions about stories are all powerful ways to support what your child is learning at school.
If you’d like to know more about how the Big Six are taught in our classrooms or how to support your child’s literacy at home, please contact to your child’s teacher.
Together, we can help every student thrive as a reader, writer, and thinker.
Prep with Miss Shephard
What a term!
We've enjoyed a whole lot of learning, playing, reading, and swimming in prep. The knowledge, kindness, and resilience our Preps demonstrate each day is fantastic. Well done, Preps!
1/2 with Mr Balzer
We have had a fun and busy term 3 in 1/2 Joeys. We visited Molesworth and participated in team building activities. We read lots of books for the premiers reading challenge and dressed up for book week. We have been learning about the solar system, money and doing winter art. Finally, we have been doing water orientation.
It’s been a great term and are looking forward to term 4.
3/4 with Miss Williams
We had a fantastic day of learning and fun at the Marine Discovery Centre. We learnt about sea creatures, the water cycle using virtual reality goggles, got to hold crabs, sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea urchins, sea anemones and pat a shark and skate!
My New Gallery
4/5 with Mr Wood
This term in 4/5 Wood and Creese we have had a big focus on reading fluency. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we do whole class fluency where students read the same passage together. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday we do repeated reading. Every student gets an opportunity to read a passage with a partner. We have seen a lot of growth in students reading fluency through our fluency lessons, which is fantastic to see!
Art with Mrs Arthur
13 students from across Prep - Year 6 had artwork chosen for the Young Archies Awards. The Young Archie competition is an art event that showcases the talent of young artists and where students have the opportunity to create a portrait encouraging personal expression and creativity.
Congratulations to the following students were selected to have their artwork exhibited in the competition; Evie, Mackenzie, Holly, Xavier C, Marley C, Phoebe, Jonty, Lahkiya, Hazel, Poppy & Azaelia.
See if you can guess which student is who…
PE with Mrs Arthur
This term selected students from Year 5/6 participated at the SPSSA Winter Carnival. Students participated in trials for their chosen sport and then were picked to play games on the Winter Carnival day.
Well done to the following students who made it past trials and were invited to play;
Toby, Charlie & Oscar - Football
Eden & Amelia - AFLW
Maddie, Mollie, Mila, Sophie & Ava - Netball
Aussie of the Month
Our Aussie of the Month for September is Ruby.
Ruby is a kind and involved member of the school. She has a go with a smile on her face, helping her friends along the way.
Well done Ruby!
https://bushfire.tas.gov.au/bushfire-challenge/bushfire-ready-challenge
Please use the following link to register for trials https://netballtrials.com/trials
For more information on the Jets Netball Club, please follow this link. https://www.facebook.com/theeasternshorejets