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December News
Hello and welcome to our final TASSO News for 2019. We haven't been running for long this year but we're starting to find our feet and our growth will only continue in the year 2020.

We aim to bring you not simply the pure schooling content I originally imagined we would publish when I was asked to join the TASSO team, but issues facing all of us in the wider community. This year we have done just that by covering and promoting events like the School Strike for Climate Rally which was represented well by TASSO and participating students. 

We also designed and distributed our own mobile phone survey, and with thanks to all of our readers and their families, we got so many responses we were able to extract a lot of useful data which we hope will help guide schools through that particular minefield.

Some of the more behind the scenes work has been with our advertisers, a list of which is steadily growing. These aren't the kind of ads peddling fast food on the TV but those with a bit more substance. Those benefiting schools, school communities, students or the state. Our biggest for this year, one which we were very proud to promote were the educational readers, Suzie the Scientist and Millie the Mathematician.

This is the kind of news and information we want to share with readers in the new year along with

- surveys
- school and teacher profiles
- community engagement 
- coverage on events that TASSO has represented for you, the readers
- advice and tips for school associations, and
- information about just what aids are out there for parents

If you would like to contribute to TASSO News in any way, please feel free to contact us at info@tasso.org.au

I'd like to thank you for joining us this year and look forward to continuing on in the year to come.

Cheers,

Tom Preston
TASSO Communications
Avoca Primary School Closes It's Doors
 
On Saturday afternoon, on the 30th of November, Avoca Primary rang their school bell for the last time. It was an absolutely beautiful send-off with 100’s of photos spanning the generations of students that have attended this wonderful school pinned to the walls. The “Last Bell Committee “ led by Leeann Phillips did a fantastic job. Over 200 principals, teachers, students and community members past and present attended the afternoon. This also included our Education Minister Jeremy Rockcliffe,  politician John Tucker, and local Mayor Mary Knowles.

The school association, chaired by Dearne Cameron, have done a wonderful job for the students this year, with the transition to Campbell Town District School being an ongoing process from the beginning of the school year. Although it was necessary, it is sad to see the school finally closed. It has been such an important part of the close-knit community of Avoca, and also an important part of my life. I wish everyone the best with the changes that have happened and those that are still to come.
 
Story kindly provided by TASSO Acting President and former Chairperson for the Avoca School Association,
Lyn Spaulding
Message from Tim Bullard, Secretary of the Department of Education


As we approach the end of the year, what a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on all that our students have achieved. It has been an important year of learning for all our students, and there is a lot to celebrate.
A huge factor in the success of our students is the support and encouragement they get from home – from parents, guardians and carers. Families are the first and most influential educators of our young people, and research shows that parent and family involvement in education has positive and lasting effects on a child’s learning and educational outcomes.

I strongly believe that parents and carers and the Department of Education are partners in the education of our Tasmanian young people. It is by working together that we will achieve the best outcomes for our young people.
Education does not just happen in a classroom – there are many “teachable” moments in all parts of a child’s life. Young people have an innate desire to explore and learn. I’m sure many of you are familiar with this as you navigate the persistent “but why?” questions from the young people in your lives!
There are many ways to be involved in your child’s education, whether it be through formal representation, such as being a member of your School Association or a member of the Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations Inc. (TASSO), or informal ways such as parent help, or simply by encouraging learning or helping with homework at home.
One of the simplest ways you can support your child’s learning is by encouraging your child’s natural curiosity. Fortunately, you don’t need to know all the answers. The point is encouraging the questions and the curiosity. In the words of Albert Einstein, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

If you are interested in ways to be more involved in your child’s learning, you can access more information at the Department of Education’s website at https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/programs-and-initiatives/
TASSO plays a vital role in hearing the collective voices of families in Tasmania, and has been key in influencing several key pieces of work this year at the Department of Education. I’d like to thank TASSO for your continued support of public education in Tasmania, and for representing and sharing the voices of families.
In closing, I wish all students and families a successful conclusion to the year, and may 2020 bring even more questions and curiosity.
Kind regards
Tim                     
Features for those assisting young people
 
The myfuture careers information service has several features dedicated to those assisting young people, such as specialist careers teachers, generalist teachers, career practitioners and parents. For example:
Assist others: Useful resources for generalist or specialist careers teachers, to help them encourage students to build career development awareness by exploring options and planning career pathways. There are activity sheets to help students navigate their way around the myfuture site, and resources for generalist teachers aligned with the Australian Curriculum. The popular Career bullseye posters are available in PDF format, enabling teachers to print them out for selected learning areas at their convenience.
Assist your child: The earliest – and often most powerful – learning about careers is shaped by the adults in a child’s life. The Assist your child feature page contains articles that can assist parents and carers to begin the conversation with their child about the world of work.











 
Links to help parents:



STAS - Student Assistance Scheme (School Fee Assistance)
https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/fees-levies/
(Fact Sheet)

Conveyancing Allowance - Rural Travel Assistance
Application Form
 

 


 

TASSO is a not-for-profit community based organisation, providing guidance and support to parents/carers of students in State Schools and Colleges, assistance and resources to School Associations and school communities.

TASSO does not directly endorse any events, workshops or products advertised on our newsletter unless clearly specified.