Term 2 - Week 10 - 3rd July, 2025

IMPORTANT DATES

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

School Association Teaser
Further into this newsletter there will be exciting news from the School Association. It involves school families and a free movie screening at Reading Cinemas Devonport. Interested? Read the School Association update in this newsletter.

Burnie Eisteddfod
Thanks to our music staff and students for the practice and dedication it takes to compete in these events. Just under 80 students from Spreyton Primary School participated in the Choir section of the event. This was a great opportunity for our students to shine in front of a bigger audience. Well done to all involved.

Lego Comp
I had the pleasure of visiting all classes as I delivered the fruit platters. I was impressed by the imagination and ingenuity on show in the Lego creations. I was also able to discuss their creations with many students. It was evident that a lot of thought and planning had gone into these creations. For those interested Brixhibition 2025 will be held at the Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th July.

Breakfast Club
Currently we have over-extended our butter budget. We have made some tweaks to get things back on track. If anyone can donate a small tub of butter it would be much appreciated.

Family/Teacher Meetings
It was great to see so many families take advantage of this opportunity to meet with teachers and partner together to improve student learning. I was able to sit in on several meetings, and all ended with plans for student learning in Term 3. There will be another opportunity for families and teachers to meet late in Term 3.

End of Term
It is hard to believe that Term 2 is coming to a close. I hope all students have a restful break ready for the learning opportunities in Term 3.

John Hudson
PRINCIPAL

SPREYTON PRIMARY SCHOOL VALUES AWARD RECIPIENTS - 27th June, 2025

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING - Prep/1 Young

What an amazing Term 2 we have had! We farewelled Miss Wicks, and have warmly welcomed Ms Young as our new classroom teacher. We have all shown an incredible amount of resilience during this transition, and Ms Young is so proud of us!

The excitement didn’t’ t end there, with so many exciting and fun learning opportunities.

We enjoyed learning about electrical safety with the Bright Sparks incursion!

We loved meeting Bella, our class friend who is lucky enough to go home with one student each week for 7 days! We have loved hearing about her time with the students so far and seeing how they have recorded this in pictures and writing.

We presented our Family Trees at assembly, explaining how families can be different yet the same!

We built Lego creations at home and showcased these to the class and then to the school! Congratulations to Alexis and Koa who were a tie in the class vote! Congratulations to Koa who won the Kinder/Prep category!

Ms Young enjoyed catching up with families at parent teacher interviews, sharing evidence of learning with families to display the student’s growth throughout the term.

We wish you all a very safe, warm and happy holiday!

Felicity Young
PREP/1 YOUNG

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BURNIE EISTEDDFOD

Last Wednesday, 75 students from the Grade 2/3 to Grade 5/6 Choir proudly represented our school at the Burnie Eisteddfod. The choir performed two songs “Lanterns” and “Viva La Vida” and received a Highly Commended award for their outstanding performance.

The adjudicator praised the choir for their strong, unified sound and their excellent musical phrasing, noting how well they started and finished each phrase together.

After the performance, the students enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Burnie Park, followed by free time playing on the equipment. Their behaviour throughout the day was exemplary, and they were fantastic ambassadors for our school both at the Eisteddfod and in the community.

Thank you to:
The parents who came along to support the event,
Our dedicated office staff for organising the excursion paperwork and buses,
And the teaching staff who have supported the choir both in rehearsals and on the day.

Your contributions helped make this a memorable and successful experience for our students.

Peter Georgiades
Music Teacher

ALL SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY - Symmons Plains

On Tuesday 17^th June 22 brave souls ventured to a cold and wet Symmons Plains. This event is a statewide event, open to any primary aged student. Each race has over 200 competitors, and many of these runners have a running coach. Our students took on the challenge and displayed great resilience in the difficult conditions. Below is a table with positions and times for all the runners. A very big thank you to Mr Taylor for coming along and helping to supervise on the bus and at the event. We were also lucky enough to have the assistance of several parents, which was very helpful at the start of the day pinning on race numbers in the drizzle! Thank you goes to Mrs Taylor, Ms Grey, Mrs Smith and Mrs Roughley.

Derek Henry
PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER

Symmons Plains Competitors

READING FLUENCY AT SPREYTON

A fluent reader is more likely to have a better comprehension of the text being read than a reader who is not fluent. By being fluent more brain energy can be spent on the meaning of the text. If a reader is not fluent more energy will be spent on reading each word and the meaning of the text may be lost. Teachers at Spreyton are including fluency activities during English lessons and in other teaching areas when appropriate. These activities include:

Echo Reading is where short texts are read to the students who then echo it back. This helps develop a better understanding of the importance of punctuation and phrasing to improve expression.

Choral Reading is where a text is read by both teacher and students at the same time. The text may read to the students before it is read together. This activity focuses on accuracy and reading rate. It can also be used to introduce a new topic and vocab.

Cloze Reading is like choral reading but as the teacher reads the text they select words to omit, students must predict and read the word. This activity is used for improving reading rate and comprehension.

Many classes are using Partner Repeated Reading to improve fluency. Student partners read the same text for a minute, 3 or 4 times to each other. Their partner notes any errors and time taken each time which is recorded. This activity is used to improve accuracy and rate.

Being able to read fluently is an important prerequisite to reading comprehension. Families can continue to support their child in this skill be modelling reading through reading to them, getting them to read aloud, taking an interest in what they are reading, and by promoting the importance of reading in life.

Barrie McClymont
AST/IS

SHAPING MINDS

This year the Prep, One and Two classes are trialling a Mathematics program called Shaping Minds. Teachers have participated in an initial professional learning session about why the Shaping Minds program is designed as it is, and recently had Amy from Shaping Minds, model the program with two classes.

Shaping Minds is an on-line program that allows teachers to create developmentally sequenced lessons. These lessons make use of interactive power points, focused worksheets, and hands on materials. The program mirrors our current Big Ideas in Number structure, which still underlines our school curriculum, but has the advantage of providing activities teachers can use to support specific teaching needs. If you have any questions regarding the program don’t hesitate to contact the school.

Barrie McClymont
AST / IS

SPREYTON'S LEGO COMPETITION

Congratulations to, Koa, the K/P category winner, Brady, the 3/4 category winner, Zelda, the 5/6 category winner and Grace, the 1/2 category winner and over all winner. Well done to all other students who participated in the competition. There was a variety of models created – beautiful flower gardens, robots, adventure stories incredible buildings and lots of mini figures doing cray things. Students expressed their final opinion by a majority voting for Grace’s tree house to represent Spreyton Primary at the Brixhibition in July.

The exhibition will be held at the Ulverstone Sport and Leisure Centre in Flora Street on Saturday the 12^th and Sunday the 13^th of July (during the school holidays).  Grand Prize winners will be announced at 3:20pm on Sunday the 13^th of July at the venue.

Barrie McClymont
AST 

INTERSCHOOL CHESS TOURNAMENT

On Tuesday eight students from Spreyton Primary participated in the Interschool Chess Tournament organised by Black Square Chess. Representing our school were, Austin, Nash, Sienna, Nate, Fyn, Mason, Oliver and Bentley. They played seven rounds of chess over the day at the Devonport Christian School.  This is the first time our school and any of the students had participated in such an event. There were about 90 primary and secondary students participating.

Our students represented themselves admirably not only during the chess games but in how they conducted themselves between games. We came third over all with four players receiving a medal for their final rankings in the championship – Nash, Austin, Fyn and Mason. Well done to all members of the team. Next term we will be continuing our Wednesday lunch time chess and games sessions in Mr O’Toole’s room.

Barrie McClymont
AST/IS

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JUNIOR LANDCARE

After spending several weeks weeding and cultivating the garden beds we have almost completed planting our winter crops. We have planted peas, beetroot, radish, and white onion seeds as well as spinach, silver beet and cauliflower seedlings. We are keeping a couple of beds free for spring planting of potatoes and tomatoes.

Groups B and C went on a marsupial hide and hunt in the outdoor classroom as a prelude to creating posters about driving thoughtfully when these animals are about in the evening and early morning. Did you know that the number of native animals killed on our roads each year is equivalent to our Tasmanian human population.

Junior Landcare Team

NAIDOC WEEK

NAIDOC week offically begins on the the 6^th of July. Classes have been discussing different apects of First Nation culture. The theme this year is Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy. What does this mean to you and your family’s story? Where have you come from? Who’s given your family  strength? What is your vision for the future?

Poster title - Ancestral Lines

Artist - Jeremy Morgan Worrall

Ancestral Lines is a visual representation of the lines and ties that follow a generation and the songs that come with it. 

When I think of the next generation I think towards my Ancestor Lucy Wright, Enoch Wright, Nonie Wright, all the way from my Nanna Audrie to my Mother Vanessa. 

When I look back at my mob it helps me see towards the future, it gives me hope and strength knowing what my mob have survived through and accomplished amid adversity. 

Each person in the painting depicts a series of lines akin to songlines, that represent what they know, who they were and what they have passed on, the first being that of lore (interpretive), hunting, protecting, and tracking, the second of care, weaving, fishing, and love. 

The third is when we see the two combine into one, and the last two take unfinished elements of them all, to show the passing down of knowledge and care. 

Above them is the essence of the land they live and protect/care for. It is a depiction of my home the cold skies of Tenterfield with the swirling clouds and giant moon, a place around the fire is where the next Generation find their strength, vision and legacy.

For more information about Naidoc week please click on the link below.

STORYBOX LIBRARY

Free Access to StoryBox Library for Tasmanian Families!

Tasmanian primary school students now have free access to StoryBox Library - a fun and educational digital library you can enjoy at home!

StoryBox Library is a subscription-based website and app featuring Australian storytellers reading hundreds of much-loved children’s books. It’s a fantastic way to nurture your child’s love of reading and support their literacy development.

With features like Read-Along, Closed Captions, Auslan stories, and engaging audio-visual content, StoryBox Library is designed to be inclusive and accessible for all children.

How to Access:

1. Visit www.storyboxhub.com or search “Story Box Library” on your device’s app store.
2. Click LOG IN at the top right of the homepage.
3. Enter the school username and password (provided below)
4. Start exploring hundreds of stories - Anytime, anywhere!

SAVE THE DATE - SEEN

Spreyton Primary School Association are excited to announce they are hosting a screening of ‘Seen’ on August 19^th at 7pm at Reading Cinemas.  Seen is a parenting documentary centred around creating a deeper connection with our children through addressing past traumas and intergenerational parenting styles.  There are parts of this film that can resonate with everyone.

The documentary features parenting guru Maggie Dent and many other experts in their field, plus lived experiences from real life parents who have made positive changes to their family life. 

The screening will be offered to the Spreyton Primary School community for free before being made available to the wider community for a $10 fee.   We urge everyone who cares for children including parents, carers, teachers and grandparents to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to improve the lives of our children.  Let’s fill the cinema, connect with each other, and take home some insight and positivity to our family life. 

Further announcements will be made after the holidays or watch the trailer and get your free tickets now by clicking this link.

Kelly Grey
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

COMPETITIONS

North West Resource Recovery & Recycling are running 2 competitions.  A colouring competition (see the link for the page) for the kids and a composting one for the adults.  Entries can be emailed to ccws@dulverton.com.au or you can post them to us at: NWRRR Colouring Competition, PO Box 46, DEVONPORT TAS 7310. 

Entries close 31/08/2025.

LOST RINGS

We have been advised by a parent that their child brought some very precious rings (photos below) to school and misplaced them.  Could you please check your child's bag/special place in case they may have found them and brought them home.  Please contact the Office on 6421 2222 if you do locate them so we can return them to their very grateful owner.

PRE KINDER - FIRST SESSION - July 25th

TWILIGHT FESTIVAL 2026

Would you like to be a part of the 2026 Spreyton Primary School Twilight Festival? The Twilight Festival Committee are seeking volunteers to help with a range of tasks in the lead up to and on the day of our 2026 event. The first planning meeting will take place on Thursday, 24^th July at 6 pm. If you are unable to come to our meeting but would like to help our little team out, please email kellyawilson888@gmail.com

Kelly Wilson
TWILIGHT FESTIVAL COORDINATOR

SCHOOL BEANIES

With the weather becoming colder again, we have a supply of school beanies available for purchase from the School Office.  $20.00 each (CASH ONLY)

SCHOOL ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Devonport Strikers Holiday Program

Devonport Hockey Club

Brixhibition

Slipstream Holiday Program

Winter Holidays @ Hive

Game On! Parent Pathways Expo and Gaming Event

Game On! Crash Team Racing Tasmanian Championship

Wings Wildlife Kids Fun Day

Chocolate Winterfest Latrobe 2025

The Light Night Glow Run Schools Challenge