This week our Primary Chess Team participated in the Interschool Chess Tournament at Riverside Primary. Our Lilydale team was very successful and came second in the tournament overall. Many of our players were high point scorers and earned medals with Wesley coming second in the competition for individual student result. Most impressive was the resilience, compassion and support the students provided to each other and towards the other players. A great result for our team's first competition.

On Thursday morning last week the Kindergarten, Prep and 1-2 classes watched Teddies & Bin, Rhyme & Sing.

The audience sang, danced and laughed their way through a wonderful show that had so many excellent messages about being a good friend and being brave. It had puppetry, animatronics and great acting with so much fun audience involvement. The students were wonderful audience members and the teachers were all very proud.

Kelly Howell - Drama Teacher

As we move towards the end of the school year, we understandably have some students who are wanting to know answers to questions that we don’t always have. “Who will my teacher be next year? ”What classroom will I be in?” “Will I have a friend in my class?”

The answer to the last question is Yes. We have worked very hard to ensure that your child has at least one of their nominated friends in their 2024 class or we have already rung and had a conversation with your family. Please know that we understand the importance of this to children and continue to monitor dynamics and relationships throughout the year. As soon as we know the answers to other questions we will share that information with families and our wider community.

As with each year ending we have staffing changes that will occur. Leisa Hilkman, our School Business Manager, finished on Monday and is relocating to the mainland with her family. We thank Leisa for her work at Lilydale and wish her all the best with her move.

Lorna Clifford is replacing Leisa and will start on Monday, 11 December. Lorna brings experience in the SBM role and we welcome her to Lilydale. We are hopeful that her transition into Lilydale at this end of the year is useful for her to gain context at our site and the range of responsibilities Birth to Year 12.

A public thank you to those parents who have shared information and alerted us to issues and behaviours in the community and the school that they have felt aren’t safe or respectful. These messages, delivered in a timely manner, allow us to follow up and manage situations in a supportive way. Also a public recognition for our students who coped in a timely and mature manner during our fire evacuation last week. Our previous practice and calm adult leadership enabled students to demonstrate what they can achieve with quality instruction, practice and opportunity.

We have a number of events and activities that our students have been active in recently, as well as learning-based excursions. Yesterday we had our active children Launching into Learning incursion on the school oval. This community based event was again well supported and proved to be a great opportunity for families to expand their networks.

Our Year 3-4 students and our senior drama students went out to see the performance of “The “Golden Ticket” and last Thursday our Kinder – Year 2 students were entertained at the “Teddies and Bin, Rhyme and Sing” performance. All were great audience members. Some of our Year 9-10 students are participating in a First Aid course Tuesday and Wednesday this week and there is also a Christmas Craft morning in K-2 classrooms from 9-10 Wednesday. It will be great to again have families in our school sharing learning experiences.

Given the busy nature of the end of year please check your calendars for event dates and timing as some of our activities have changed since 2022.

Colin Pearson
Principal

On Friday, 1 December, The Pre-Kinder children and their families enjoyed our traditional end of year Christmas party, which included a special visit from Santa.

This Friday,8 December will be our final event for Launching into Learning, which will be our annual excursion to the Hillwood Strawberry Farm and George Town Playground.

The Launching into Learning Team would like to wish all our families in the community a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing everyone again for more fun in February 2024.

LiL/LIFT ACTIVE CHILDREN EVENT

On Monday, 4 December we had Troy from Active Children Tasmania come out to Lilydale to set up some activities on the oval for children and families to participate in. Children were engaged in activities to develop and practise their gross motor skills, such as throwing beanbags and balls through hoops, jumping over hurdles, crawling through tunnels, and negotiating an obstacle course.

REMADE 23

Images from Remade 23 Sustainable Wearable Art at Inveresk. The Lilydale Student participation was amazing.  Huge thanks to all involved to make it such a success.

Faces of Lilydale Competition

Students are currently creating works for the Faces of Lilydale Competition.  Community members are encouraged to participate too. Entries Close 23 February, 2024.

All children in Tasmania have a right to be known, safe, well and learning. We are highly committed to the safety of all students at our school.

Earlier this month, DECYP launched the Tell Someone initiative, to raise awareness in the community about child sexual abuse and grooming.

The Tell Someone website gives children and young people clear advice on what to do in situations where they feel worried, unsafe or unsure. It also gives adults advice and support on how to respond if they suspect or know a child is being groomed or sexually abused or is at risk of harm.

Please visit the website, read the information, and try to find a suitable time to talk with your children about this issue and the resources available.  It’s important that you both understand the possible signs of sexual abuse or grooming behaviour, and how to stay safe online and offline.

If reading this information has caused you distress, please visit DECYP’s website for a list of support services.

Please contact the school if you have any questions about this information.

Kinder Enrolments are now open.  If you have a child turning 4 years old this year, they are old enough to start Kinder in 2024. 

Kindergarten enrolment forms are available now from the school office.  Please complete your enrolment as soon as possible and return to the school office.

Kindergarten information sessions will continue during Term 4.

Please contact Janina Gilmartin or Bec McHenry on 6395 0100 if you have any questions.

LDHS Head Lice Facts and Advice

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Head Lice?

Even though they're tiny, you can see head lice. Here's what to look for:

• Lice eggs (nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look a bit like dandruff, but aren't removed by brushing or shaking them off.
  
  Unless a child has many head lice, it's more common to see nits in the hair than live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch 1–2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and stays attached to the hair shaft. This is when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving away from the scalp.

• Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). Adult lice are no bigger than a sesame seed and are grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1–2 weeks after they hatch. This life cycle repeats itself about every 3 weeks. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, and they can survive up to 2 days off the scalp.
• Scratching. With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is due to a reaction to the saliva (spit) of lice. But the itching doesn't always start right away. It depends on how sensitive a child's skin is to the lice. It might take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things tickling or moving around on their heads.
• Small red bumps or sores from scratching. Some kids have mild irritation from scratching, while others may get a bothersome rash. Scratching a lot can lead to a bacterial infection. Watch for swollen lymph nodes (glands) on the back or front of the neck, and red, tender skin that might have crusting and oozing. Doctors can treat a skin infection with an antibiotic.

How Can I Check My Child for Head Lice?

Look for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck. It's rare for lice to be in eyelashes or eyebrows.

It can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse. Usually, there aren't many of them and they move fast. Look for nits attached to the hair near the scalp. They can look like dandruff or dirt. To tell them apart, pull on the little speck with your fingers — dandruff and dirt can be removed, but nits stay stuck. A magnifying glass and a bright light can help with your inspection.

The best way to check is by using a fine-tooth comb on wet hair. After applying lots of conditioner, comb the hair out in very small sections, and look for lice or nits on the comb. You can wipe the comb onto a tissue or paper towel where it will be easier to see them. 

If your child is itchy and scratching their head but you're not sure if it's lice, ask your child's doctor to check.

How Are Head Lice Treated?

The two main ways to treat lice are: medical treatments and manual removal.

Medicine: Medicated shampoos, cream rinses, and lotions are available that kill lice. These may be over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicines. If you buy OTC, be sure it's safe for your child's age. While some over-the-counter shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, others are safe only for kids 2 years and older.

Sometimes lice can be resistant to some medicines, which means the treatment won't work. If you think a treatment isn’t working, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist.

Whether the medicine is OTC or prescription, always follow the directions closely. Applying too much can be harmful. Applying too little won't work.

Removing by hand: Removing lice and nits by hand can finish the job if the medicine did not completely rid your child of lice (no medicine is 100% effective). It is also an option for anyone who doesn't want to use an insecticide. And it is the only option for children 2 months old or younger, who should not use medicated lice treatment.

To do this, run a fine-tooth comb through your child’s wet hair one section at a time (wetting the hair temporarily stops the lice from moving). You can put lots of conditioner in the wet hair before combing to make the hair more slippery and easier to comb through. After each comb-through, wipe the comb on a wet paper towel to inspect for lice or nits. Do this every 2–3 days for 2–3 weeks after the last live louse was seen.

There's no need to buy electronic combs that claim to kill lice or make nits easier to remove. No studies have been done to back up these claims. You also don't need to buy special vinegar solutions to apply to the scalp before picking nits. Water and conditioner works fine.

A few important things to NOT do: Don't use a hairdryer after applying scalp treatments. Some treatments for lice use flammable ingredients and can catch on fire. Don't use pesticide sprays or hire a pest control company to try to get rid of the lice; these can be harmful. Don't use essential oils (such as ylang ylang oil or tea tree oil) to treat lice on the scalp. They can cause allergic skin reactions and aren't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Don't ever use highly flammable chemicals such as gasoline or kerosene on anyone.

Can We Prevent Head Lice?

To get rid of head lice and their eggs, and to help prevent them from coming back:

• Wash all bed linens, stuffed animals, and clothing used during the 2 days before treatment (any lice that fell off before that will not be alive). Wash in very hot water (130°F [54.4°C]), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
• Dry clean items that can't be washed. Or put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car), and throw away the vacuum cleaner bag.
• Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in hot water or throw them away. Tell kids not to share these items.
• Because lice easily pass from person to person in the same house, check all family members. Treat everyone who has lice so they won't pass it back and forth.
• Tell kids to try to avoid head-to-head contact at school (in gym, on the playground, or during sports) and while playing at home with other children.
• Every 3 or 4 days, check kids who had close contact with a person who has lice. Then, treat any who have lice or nits close to the scalp.

Will They Ever Be Gone?

As many parents know, fighting head lice can be an ongoing battle. There's no doubt that they can be hard bugs to get rid of.

If you've tried everything and your child still has lice, it could be because:

• some nits were left behind (if you see nits far from the scalp — more than ½ inch (1 cm) — and no live lice, these are probably dead and treatment likely isn't needed)
• your child is still around someone who has lice
• the treatment you're using isn't effective

If your child has lice 2 weeks after you started treatment or if your child's scalp looks infected, call your doctor.

Parents/guardians who are applying for STAS for the first time need to apply online at: www.onlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au

Alternatively applicants can search STAS in Google and be taken directly to the online application site. Applications can be completed on any electronic device including mobile phones. Parents/guardians must hold a current Centrelink concession card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs concession card to be eligible.

STAS 2024 assessment letters have been posted to all families. 

If a parent/guardian wishes to add a newly enrolling or additional student to their existing STAS file they need to email their full name, the student’s full name, date of birth and school attending in 2024 to: stas@decyp.tas.gov.au and the file will be updated. Financial Assistance Services will also accept details of newly enrolled children of families who are approved for STAS directly from schools via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.
For queries, please contact stas@decyp.tas.gov.au

The Student Accommodation Allowance (SAA) provides financial assistance for students in years 11 and 12. It allows students to live away from their usual parental/guardian’s home to study subjects that are not available at their local school. Students who are required to travel more that 40 kilometres between their usual home in Tasmania and the closest school offering their chosen course of study are eligible for the allowance. SAA is not income tested and a new application is required each year.

SAA application forms are available on the DECYP internet ‘Financial assistance for school costs’ page for applicants to access, alternatively they can simply search SAA on the DECYP internet site to be taken to the relevant page. The SAA form is also available on the intranet on the Student Financial Assistance page at Student Financial Assistance (sharepoint.com).

For queries, please contact stas@decyp.tas.gov.au

The full student fare will increase by 10 cents on 1 January 2024. If you use cash for a single trip ticket, the new fare will be $2.00. If you use a smartcard or purchase a 10-trip ticket, the new fare will be $1.60.

Smartcards like Greencard and Transportme can be topped up online. You can buy a 10-trip ticket for $16.00 from the bus driver. It costs the same on every trip – it doesn’t matter how far, where, or when you go. Bus routes that travel only in a rural area, to the local school, don’t charge a fare.

Some students can travel or transfer between buses for free. You may be eligible for a Student Bus Pass for Free Travel if you are:

• listed on a Health Care or Pensioner Card
• travel wholly within the rural area where there is only a fare charging service
• must use more than one bus between home and school and/or school and home
• are under a Care and Protection Order.

The student fare last increased in 2022. This fare increase is set by government policy. For more information talk to your bus driver, visit www.transport.tas.gov.au/student or call 6166 3343 (9am to 5pm weekdays)

To commemorate being a Year 10 student in 2024, students have the option of buying a personalised jumper. The cost of the jumper is $110 and needs to be ordered and paid for online by February 27, 2024. Details on how to do this are included below. Students are also able to put their name or nickname on the back. If they leave this area blank, no name will be added. Payment plans can be arranged next year if required.

The Year 10 jumper is an optional uniform addition, if students choose not to buy it, they are required to wear the jumpers and jackets indicated on the school uniform policy.

Letters containing the same information have been send home with our current Year 9 students last week.

Our School Association usually meets on the second Monday of each month in the Kinder space. Our next meeting will be on Monday, 11 December at 7:00pm. We would love to see more people at the meetings and invite you to attend.

If you need to get in contact with members of the School Association, please contact the school office on 6395 0100. Thank you.

We have a number of RAT tests available for our families to use at home. If you do require some to be sent home, please let us know and we will arrange for your child to bring home a supply.

You can either email the office at: lilydale.district.school@decyp.tas.gov.au or phone us on 6395 0100. You can also call into the office after 3pm and collect a supply, or send a note with your child to the class teacher and they will let us know.

Thanks so much.