IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

McCann Crescent, Lenah Valley Phone 6228 3335 email: ihms@catholic.tas.edu.au

web: www.ihms.tas.edu.au

PO Box 429 Lenah Valley 7008

No 12 – 9th August 2018

“Let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 7:11)

Dear Community members, The next few weeks are quite busy with some very ‘rich’ educational learning experiences. Some of these are: Science Excursions, Drama Performances, Extension Program, Mathematics support groups Grade 3 Camp, Assemblies, Prayer Liturgies and several Masses. I believe these activities help in the educational gains we keep seeing within the classroom.

Science Week: Next week it is officially National Science Week. Over the next couple of weeks various students will be participating in Science activities to celebrate. Some of the activities are/were:

• This week Grade 5 and 6 visited Elizabeth College where the students participated in several science activities organised by their students.

• Next Friday Grade 5/6 will be attending the Festival of Bright Ideas in the city.

• Grade 4/5/6 were visited by a Young Scientist from the University of Tasmania yesterday. I would like to thank Dr Adam James (Izzy James’ dad from Kinder) for forwarding the information to us about this program.

• In the next couple of weeks the Grade 6s will be organising their own Science Fair to teach the students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 some different Science concepts.

Letter from a Resident: Below is a letter that I received from one of our neighbours at school. Occasionally I receive letters from neighbours and I thought that it would be beneficial if I shared one with the community:

Dear Nick,

I find it necessary to draw your attention to some issues which give me concern regarding the school and surrounds.

Vehicular access to the school Whilst there has been some improvement in the parking and driving behaviour of parents around the school at pick up and drop off it nevertheless continues to be a problem. We are in the process of installing automatic gates on our driveways to facilitate off-street parking for our benefit. However, we continue to struggle with entering and leaving our property because some cars continue to park very close to the entries and directly opposite the driveway not leaving much room to manoeuvre. To be honest I feel like I have nothing to complain about as when I leave the immediate vicinity of the school via McCann Crescent I realise that they have it much worse than those of us in Edge Avenue. How there are not accidents occurring on a regular basis as residents and parents attempt to negotiate the parking nightmare surrounding the school is beyond me. Has the school thought of possible solutions to this? Perhaps a drop off/pick up drive through zone which has a dedicated teacher/parent to manage each morning and afternoon. This would be a good start.

Noise The noise pollution emanating from the school during school hours is problematic. Some teachers yelling at the students are as loud as the students themselves. This is not new. Thankfully I am not at home during school hours on

most days. However, my wife is, and she assures me that the noise levels have not abated over the years and in fact have increased over the 10 years we have been resident in Edge Avenue. I am not sure how this noise level can be reduced but perhaps asking the teachers to not yell might be a good starting point.

My weekends should be a rest from my very stressful work week. However, my weekends are spent listening to the bouncing of basketballs on the school basketball court. This sound is often accompanied by yelling and the loud playing of portable stereos. If we are really lucky there is also an occasional profanity or two thrown in. Good times! On a number of occasions I have asked the trespassers to quiet it down and usually they acquiesce (for a time at least). On one occasion I asked a group of ten or so teenagers to stop playing basketball about 10.30 at night after they had woken my daughter. A couple of them hassled me about my request. I told them if they didn’t leave then I would be calling the police. You see, Nick, the problem is that it’s pretty obvious where I have come from when I approach these trespassers and this causes me great concern that they might do myself, my family or my property some harm if I confront them. This behaviour is occurring in Winter so as you can imagine we are really looking forward to the warmer months ahead.

The school has made mention previously of locking the gates to the school and particularly the basketball court during school holidays to prevent trespassers. This has not occurred on a regular basis for a significant period of time. The school has also made mention previously of removing basketball hoops during holidays. This also has not occurred on a regular basis and in the most recent school holidays was not the case.

On a final note with regards to noise pollution you should probably be aware that a number of months ago I had to go up to the flat beneath the school’s chapel and ask the residents there to turn down the VERY loud music that was playing VERY late at night.

Edge Avenue Park It has recently come to my attention that there appears to be a licence agreement between the school and the Hobart City Council with regards to the use of Edge Avenue Park. When the idea of this was floated in 2015 I was informed by the HCC that if a licence agreement was made with the school that signs would be placed on site to notify residents. I have not seen any signs. I have not received any notification in writing or otherwise of any such licence agreement. Can you confirm that you have an agreement with the HCC?

Myself and other residents have been perturbed by the damage to the park from recent construction works within the school. I would like to express my strongest objection to this damage to the park surface and would request a commitment from the school that this will not happen again. In this regard I would also request that the school make it clear to parents that the park is not a carpark and that it should not be used as such.

Sundry Issues Rubbish blowing down from the school continues to be a problem. Overgrowth of vegetation around the school is problematic from time to time. Leaf litter from the school trees overhanging my property continues to be a problem. Rodents the size of small dogs jumping over the fence from the school into our backyard has been a feature of recent local wildlife sightings on a number of occasions.

I would be most appreciative if you could give me some feedback on these issues.

I have emailed this resident back to ask him to organise a meeting with me, he is yet to do so. Edge Avenue Park Tonight I will be attending a Parks and Recreation Meeting at the Hobart City Council to discuss the school’s use of the Edge Avenue Park. After the construction of the stairs from the park to our school, several residents continue to complain about us using the park. I assure the community that the students are always supervised when using the park and the behaviour of the children continues to be impeccable. It is the same couple of neighbours that complain that we are here! The stairs were placed for safety reasons as, over the years, many students and parents have slipped using the driveway. The stairs were placed in to slow the students down when going down the hill, so as to prevent injuries. Later in the year we will be re-surfacing the entire driveway and this will only be access for service vehicles, disabled or parents with pushers and prams. I will update you on how the meeting went at a later date.

Dance Festival This year we are participating in the Primary Dance Festival which will be the Week of 16th September. All students from Prep to Grade 6 have been learning several dances to get themselves ready for this Festival. All classes will need to remember six dances and we are learning and practising every week. More information will be distributed when dates have been finalised. I am thoroughly enjoying teaching the students these dances. Night of the Notables Next Thursday 16th August from 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the Hall, 19 students from Grades 3 to 6 will be presenting a notable person from history. This is an extension program that we have been offering at Immaculate Heart for the past four years. I invite community members to this worthwhile experience. Nurturing Hearts Birth to 4 Program (New Program) Every Monday in the Kindergarten Room from 9am - 11am (no cost).

Term 3 Activities During Term 3 we have couple of great events that will help raise money for the new playground equipment planned by the community. Several parents have volunteered to help for these events and the co-ordinator will be in contact in the near future. The events are: Disco (Term 3 - Week 5 - Friday 24th August) Co-ordinator: Mrs Shannon Thomas Father’s Day Stall (Term 3 - Week 6 - Wednesday 29th August) Co-ordinator: Mrs Susan McLeod Open Air Cinema Evening (Term 3 - Week 9 – Friday 21st September – 6.00pm) Co-ordinator: Mrs Lucy Henderson Please promote and support these great events. All money raised goes straight back to the community!

Have a great couple of weeks!

Take care and God bless Mr Nick McGann Principal

Cant get to the Uniform Shop? Order your items on the QKR App!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Friday 10th August G5 & G6 Football/Netball

Saturday 11th August Auslan for Families Session in the School Hall – 2pm Monday 13th August Nurturing Hearts (Birth – 4 Program) 9am – 11am

Wednesday 15th August G2 Liturgy – 12.40pm Wednesday 15th August Assembly – G1 Prayer, Prep, G2, G4 & G6 to share – 1.50pm Wednesday 15th August Canteen orders due by 3pm (for lunch tomorrow) Thursday 16th August Canteen Thursday 16th August Night of the Notables 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Friday 17th August G5 & G6 Festival of Ideas Excursion – 9am Friday 17th August G5 & G6 Football/Netball

Monday 20th August Nurturing Hearts (Birth – 4 Program) 9am – 11am Tuesday 21st August Book Week Parade – 9am

Wednesday 22nd August G5 Taster Day at SHC 9am – 12noon Wednesday 22nd August Subway orders due by 11am (for lunch tomorrow) Thursday 23rd August Subway Lunch Day

Friday 24th August G5 & G6 Football/Netball Friday 24th August School Disco 5.30pm – 7pm

Saturday 25th August Auslan for Communities Session in School Hall – 2pm Monday 27th August Nurturing Hearts (Birth – 4 Program) 9am – 11am Tuesday 28th August Kinder Excursion to Dogs Home

Wednesday 29th August Father’s Day Stall Wednesday 29th August G4 Liturgy – 12.40pm Wednesday 29th August Canteen orders due by 3pm (for lunch tomorrow) Thursday 30th August Kinder Father’s Day Breakfast – 9am Thursday 30th August Canteen

Friday 31st August G5 & G6 Football/Netball

StVirgil’sCollege-Principal’sTourFriday31stAugust9am–10am

Pleasenotethat2020Grade7enrolmentscloseSeptember14th2018RSVPtoMonicaNugent,CollegeRegistrar–62496519or

mnugent@stvirgils.tas.edu.auEnrolmentinformationavailableatwww.stvirgils.tas.edu.au

Sacred Heart College

Open Day

Thursday 6 September 3:15pm – 5:15 pm

We welcome you to take a closer look at

our College, to take a tour, meet students

and staff, visit classrooms and see all that

Sacred Heart College has to offer.

Enrolments for students wishing to commence Year 7 in 2020 are due by Friday, 14 September 2018.

Find us at: 2 Cross St, New Town www.shc.tas.edu.au or on Facebook

To contact the College: Call (03) 6279 4090 Email admin@shc.tas.edu.au