The Launceston Preparatory School - Newsletter 15th August 2024

Book Week -Christmas for authors and all book lovers!

It only comes around once a year. Kids from around the country are mighty excited, and anticipation fills the weeks leading up to it. Now, don’t mistake this time for that of a visit from jolly old Saint Nick and his reindeer.

Parents race around, making the final touches to what is to be the “best year yet"—last-minute visits to the store, final stitching, and tying of bows. Please take note, we’re playing for sheep stations here. It lasts for a whole week: parades, sharing enriching gifts, and even special visits that entrance us in wonder. No, it’s not our festive season in December; it’s something much more. iPads, Nintendo, and phones take a back seat, even if it’s just for a while, for there’s nothing quite like that tactile experience. Its rigid spine and glossy face—it headlines in all its glory! A book, of course. Bravo, for Book Week has arrived!

Perhaps, though, the most excited of all the children during this time are the ones who bring those smiles most readily—the authors and illustrators themselves!

Book Week, Christmas for all those folks with their names on the covers of our beloved paperbacks. It is quite the experience, seeing eyes glistening with ambition, without one set of googlies glued to a screen. To stand and present is a gift in itself, but to present a book is something very, very special. Something I can say I am lucky enough to have done. To stand before our inspired future and verbalise the bold world I used to live in when books were a gateway into one’s imagination and television was for adults and the boredom dwellers is something quite surreal. Even more eerie is the sea of eyes that watch in complete disbelief.

“You mean your imagination was your entertainment?” a question is posed. “Why yes…” I reply despondently, though empathetically.

See, I was once the “techno” generation, where we needed to get outside and play more, or sink our minds into the covers of a book in order to develop some idea of what really goes on beyond the front fence.

There’s nothing quite as astonishing or important during one of those story-sharing moments as the magic that takes place without the presence of digital technology: conversation. Kids laugh at our quirky spin on being a kid, and their hearts sink with sympathetic glee as they discover each other’s times of hardship and triumph. The air is suddenly filled with something reminiscent of home, a safe place where people smile and share in great company. It’s empowerment, it’s inspiration. It’s a bond that goes beyond just “you give, I take.” It’s friendship. We have this through every doorway we enter at The LPS. I'm sure we've all heard about one of our famous, 'Barbara, Margaret and Anne' stories or the quirky 'McNairisms', nicknames from a faraway expanse beyond the eyes of Miss England or the intriguing wonderment in Ms Howard's daily news from the words of 'Babe'.

It is rather hard to explain until you see it, but the experience of sharing a book or story with one, two, or two hundred kids is much more than simply speaking and listening. And this is why books are so important. They really are spellbinding. The ownership of interpretation you have can only be sold to others through conversing. How powerful is that? Some say, “Knowledge is power.” I feel it should be, “Reading is power.” And “Sharing is all-conquering.” The experience of reading and sharing a book may last only minutes, but the impact may last a lifetime.

We have so much fun to share next week, so be sure to share it all with your children.

2:30 - 3:00 in the MPH a special presentation will be held. All welcome!

Thursday is our dress up day

Multiple activities and fun across each day at The LPS!

At The Launceston Preparatory School, we urge everyone to create their own magic, and what better way to start than by reading a book? What better time to start than in Book Week, happening across Australia next week.

Mr Timothy Bristow

End of Winter Fest!

We are super-excited to announce The Launceston Preparatory School 'The End of Winter Fest' event. This fun family evening will be held on Friday 30th August 2024. Save this date! 5-7pm at our beautiful school. 

PAYMENT: $10 will be added to your monthly account once you have had your family ticked off on entry. Returning families or friends can donate their $10 at the gate.

Dinner: BBQ sausages and hamburgers will be provided, as well as vegan option.

Entertainment: 'Billy Tea Bush Band', a Victorian-based duo will be rocking it with the students, teaching songs and dances throughout the day, before bringing it together on the Croquet Lawn at the event. There are special parent dances too, so bring your dancing shoes.

Cody Gunton, a local and soon to be Aussie legend in the music world, will entertain us from the Chess Board stage for one set prior to Billy Tea Bush Band. Not sure who he is? Let's just say he is a VOICE to be reckoned with!

Cultural Connections: Aunty Lola and Uncle Rex will be joining us on the evening to celebration our aboriginal culture and share with our community the work they have been doing with our students in 2024, as well as demonstrating their gifts to the world, live from the magnolia tree-house area! 

Between sparklers, toasted marshmallows and all of the above, this is sure to be a wonderful get-together for all. We cannot wait for End of Winter Fest, 2024!

Meet the Staff - Mrs Lisa Eastman

Meet our incredible Teacher's Assistant, Lisa Eastman. After several years on our team, she is truly a connected wonder in our community. Originally from Sweden, Lisa seeks only the small things in life to fill her cup, but those little things she offers us all at The LPS fill our hearts every day. 

Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, we are ‘growing’ a friendship tree. We have added lots of love to make our tree grow. As a team, we are learning how to care for one another through our actions and words as we enjoy stories, games and songs along the way. We are discovering that friendships are part of feeling connected and loved here at school and beyond. 

Ms Rebecca Howard

Prep/1's - 'We Are The World'

The Prep/One budding artists have been working on a piece of work called “We Are the World.” We have used wax and dye for the background, watercolor for the world, and have drawn and cut out all the people to go around the outside. This has been a bigger project than I first thought, mainly due to the incredible detail that the students have put into the design of their people. I am very proud of all the students' dedication and the skills demonstrated. Well done!

Miss Nicole England

The Messenger - Episode 3

Philosophy - Groups 2/3

In Paper Planes, Dylan is heading off to the state championships and has told his father they need to leave by 7.30am to get there. However, when his father sleeps in and cannot be roused the next day, Dylan takes money from his father’s wallet for the bus fare. This led to a wonderful Socratic Seminar on the ethics around stealing. We discussed students’ opinions of Dylan’s actions, what factors motivate people to take things that do not belong to them, what a conscience is and whether everyone has one, and lastly, what we should do if our conscience tells us we have done the wrong thing.

 Mrs Leonie McNair

Philosophy - Groups 4-6

Izram is a Pakistani character in NIPS XI, our shared novel, who has given up sport because he feels self-conscious about his body. This led to an important discussion in Philosophy this week about what factors form our body image, how body image can be both a negative and a positive thing, whether there is too much importance placed upon body image in our society, and how we can change that. This is an important issue in our society and one with which we support our students through Health sessions, Resilience sessions and pastoral care as well as Philosophy.

Mrs Leonie McNair

Parents Welcome to Socratic Seminars!

While Week 5 (August 19 -23) seems a mile away, giving you all plenty of notice is key to making this special opportunity accessible to all parents. We have many intricacies that will enable us to say, "we know your child," and that understanding speaks most prominently through our commitment to the Paideia Philosophy.

Our very own Socratic Seminar extraordinaire, Leonie McNair, will open the forum up in Week 5 for all parents to visit and observe just how these seminars play out in real-time.

You are invited!

Would you like to see our Philosophy sessions in action? Parents and guardians are invited to sit in on our Philosophy sessions to see for themselves what we do, how we do it, and the wonderful ideas that our students formulate in response to the key questions. Dates and times are shown below. Please let the school office know in advance if you are going to attend so we can ensure there is room for everybody. All sessions will be held in the LOTE room of Tyson House (space-permitting) but please sign in at the school office first.

Monday, 19th August

1.30pm – 2.15pm                    Mrs Thyne’s home group

2.15pm – 3.00pm                    Mrs Freeland’s home group

Tuesday, 20th August

2.15pm – 3.00pm                    Senior group Z

Wednesday, 21st August

2.15pm – 3.00pm                    Senior group X

Thursday, 22nd August

2.15pm – 3.00pm                    Senior group Y

Mrs Leonie McNair

Digital Tech - Lenny's Wheels

Recently, the school was approached by the Carlson family with an unusual request. Delphine’s auntie in Queensland has a 2-year-old pug, Lenny, who has had to undergo a number of leg surgeries and struggles with mobility. His vet in Queensland suggested a custom-designed wheelchair that could help support Lenny and improve his mobility. The design needed to be 3D printed, and that’s where the school was able to help. The components were emailed through, and the 3D printer has been busy putting together the 20 or so parts required for construction. The school has had the 3D printer for about seven years and uses it as part of the Senior Digital Technologies program, with students drawing designs in TinkerCAD and then making them. The wheelchair is now complete and ready for trials. No doubt there will be some trial and error with both the design and Lenny’s ability and willingness to try out his new wheels. We are told Lenny loves his tucker, and this should be a motivating force to get him moving once he is strapped in. We look forward to hearing how the wheelchair works out and will keep you posted on his progress.

Mr Eddie Barnes

Bass Fundraiser - MND

Total was $439.90

Book Week

We are all super excited to announce that Book Week is only 1 week away!

The CBCA Book Week theme for 2024 is ‘Reading is Magic,’ and we have a wonderful sprinkle of magic in store for you at The LPS.

While an array of fun activities is set for the week, our official dress-up celebration is on Thursday, 22nd August. We trust the enriching reading experiences we offer across the school have given everyone a bucket load of inspiration for costumes. At The LPS, we love books, reading, and all things magical. So, be thoughtful about your choice of costume this year. Get behind the spirit of books and choose your favourite character, rather than using this as an opportunity for free-dress or wearing your footy team colours.

We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations and magical concoctions soon.

Sneak peek into our week:

Monday - presentation in MPH (all parents welcome)

Throughout week - competitions and reading fun

Thursday - Dress up fun!