Tamworth West Public School

Principal's Report

As we reach the end of another great year at Tamworth West Public School, I want to thank each and every member of our school community for your valued contribution to make Tamworth West the BEST! I wish our Year 6 students’ success and happiness in high school, and we know we will hear wonderful stories about your achievements during your secondary education. 

I hope you all have a safe and relaxing holiday, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2025. 

Students return to school on Thursday February 6.

Merry Christmas 

Sara Spinks

Relieving Principal

To all our families, thank you for a wonderful year. Your ongoing support is always appreciated. Have a lovely Christmas and happy, safe holidays.

Working on our emotional literacy gives us opportunities to develop our ability to understand and express different emotions. When we improve our emotional literacy, we can work towards recognising our own feelings and our ability to manage them. This allows us to cope with different life situations, such as managing conflict, making friends, coping in difficult situations, and being resilient when dealing with change.

Whole Family Activities

Feelings Charades

• Gather together as a family, this might be around the dinner table, lounge room, or around the fire outside.

• Take turns to act out a feeling or emotion. Use your face and body language to act this out, For example: Make an angry face and stamp your feet or

• Other family members need to guess the feeling/emotion.

• After someone has guessed the feeling/emotion, have family members discuss a time they have felt this way before and why. If it was a negative emotion, how did they overcome it?

Feelings Charades

Around the dinner table, ask everyone to share a feeling they felt during that day. Discuss how they dealt with that feeling and then discuss and share strategies you could use when faced with particular feelings.

On behalf of our P&C I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in anyway during 2024. I would also like to wish all of our families and staff a wonderful Christmas and a safe holidays.

-Renae Mumford

Canteen Menu - SUMMER 2024/25 [Download]

Yaama Maliyaa

What a year it has been! So, let’s recap 2024…

Language Lessons

Weekly Gamilaraay Language lessons have continued for all students across our school. It is wonderful to see our students showing, understanding and responding to language not only in the classroom but also in the playground.

NAIDOC Week, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week

Along with NAIDOC Week we also observed Sorry Day and celebrated Reconciliation week. Our NAIDOC week events were a great success with students involved in lots of cultural activities throughout the week. Our assembly saw a great number of our students participate in cultural dances and having their efforts recognised with many of our community members joining us for this celebration. Our whole school and community were invited to participate in Cultural excursions to Trelawney Station. All that attended were involved in Aboriginal art, Indigenous games, Traditional dance and tasting of foods made with First Nations ingredients.

National Tree Day

For National Tree Day, with the assistance of Tamworth City Toyota and special guest country musician, Ashleigh Dallas, staff and students made some new additions to our Yarning Circle. Mrs Spinks was definitely the most excited participant!

Murals

Our school has become a bit brighter with murals from local First Nations artist Jodie Herden being installed around the school. You may have noticed that some of the murals have already been installed into their final location with the last of the murals to be installed before the end of the year. 

Classroom Supplies

Many wonderful supplies and resources have been ordered for each classroom to utilise each and every day. These supplies and resources will start to help our staff and students from 2025 on.

Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (JAECG)

2025 will see Tamworth West Public School having its own Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (JAECG). Students were given the opportunity to nominate to become an executive member of the committee with fellow students from years 2 – 5 voting on who they wish to lead and guide the committee. The committee has a 4-member executive with each executive member playing an integral part in the smooth running of the JAECG. The students who were successful in becoming executive members were Scott Hawkins, Layla Hatch, Brooklyn-Grace Furney, and Harrison Unger. A big thank you to Tamworth High’s AEO, Dheran, for being an independent person to oversee the voting process. Further information will be coming out early next year as to the JAECG AGM and the election of the executive positions these students will hold in 2025. 

Our wonderful staff have continued their learning around Culture, participating in workshops and training provided by Tamworth West staff and the Tamworth Education office. 

Presentation Day

This year’s Presentation Day saw one of our biggest First Nations dance groups ever perform alongside the year 6 Didge group to commence the formalities. This year we had over forty students ranging from Kindergarten to Year 6. 

Farewell

It is with mixed emotions that we inform you that Mr Taylor and Mr E will not be returning to Tamworth West in 2025. We would like to thank them for the work that they have done in the school for our First Nations students. I know that they will both be missed especially by the boys with their Didgeridoo lessons.

Thank you for an amazing year. Have a happy and safe holiday and we look forward to sharing many more great experiences with you in 2025.

Tamworth West Public School is a Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) school. PBL is a whole school program that encourages positive behaviour and allows students to become responsible for their own actions. Students and teachers work together to create a positive learning environment within our school using consistent procedures, language and expectations.

We have three expectations that underpin teaching and learning at Tamworth West Public School.

These are:

RESPECT

RESILIENCE

RESPONSIBILITY

We encourage students to uphold these expectations to a high standard. Our PBL motto is:

EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, EVERY TIME

Positive Rewards

We have a school wide behaviour system that recognises and encourages positive behaviour. Students receive raffle tickets for displaying the correct behaviour. 

Weekly Lessons

Students participate in weekly school wide lessons that focus on a specific behaviour which is determined by data. There is a fortnightly focus area taught after each PBL assembly, for example, sportsmanship in games.

RESPECT

• We keep our areas tidy

• We use our manners

• We speak nicely to others

• We keep our hands and feet to ourselves

RESILIENCE

• We accept our consequences

• We use also inclusive

• We seek help when needed

• We solve problems peacefully

RESPONSIBILITY

• We look after our things

• We wear our school uniform

• We are honest

• We stay in the right areas

Dear Kindergarten Families,

As we reach the end of an amazing year, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks for allowing us to share in your child’s first year of school. It has truly been a privilege for us to watch each child grow and develop into caring, respectful learners.

At Tamworth West, we are proud to create a safe and supportive environment where students feel valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. This year, we have seen so much growth, not just academically, but in their kindness, respect for others, and passion for learning.

We will miss our students dearly and the special moments we’ve shared throughout the year. We look forward to continuing to watch our wonderful students grow and thrive on their educational journey in the years to come.

Thank you once again for your support, and we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

End of Year Information

As we approach the end of the school year, we kindly ask that you send your child to school with a bag large enough to carry their school belongings, books, and any other items that need to be taken home. This will help ensure that everything can be packed up and brought home safely. Last day of school is Wednesday 18 December.

Thank you for your support in helping us wrap up the year smoothly!

We still have next week full of fun and festive activities ahead as we approach the end of the year! There will be plenty of Christmas activities and celebrations for the students to enjoy before we say goodbye for the holiday break.

Please remember, the last day of school is Wednesday, 18th December, so we have one more week of exciting learning and holiday cheer to look forward to!

-Ms Deaves, Miss Rivenell, Mrs Clout

It is difficult to believe that we have come to the end of another school year. Classes have been busy completing the assessments required as they prepare for the school holidays. Students have grown so much physically and emotionally. 

They have completed writing samples for their teachers next year. All classes have finished online mathematics assessments through the Essential Assessment platform, which TWPS, will again subscribe to in 2025. Phonics and reading have been evaluated and results used to complete reports. The DET diagnostic spelling tests have also been used to ensure students are being challenged or lessons are being designed to target areas of need. 

Swimming Program

Year 2 has almost come to the end of the swimming program. We were fortunate to have the swimming program be subsidised this year, by the School Sporting Unit. Students enjoyed the weekly lessons and TWPS will continue swimming in 2025 using a similar format, one lesson per week over Term 3. 

Special thanks to Mrs Ward, Mrs Lyon, Mr Thompson, Mr Driscoll and Mrs Spicer who accompanied the students each week to the pool. Staff noted the progress among swimmers and enhanced confidence. 360Gym will continue swimming programs throughout the school holidays, please see their website if you wish to enroll your child.

Gymnastics

Stage 1 students enjoyed their time with the staff from McGinity’s Gymnastics. It has been excellent to see students leap, jump, tumble, balance and roll! Those not involved in gymnastics lessons participated in weekly obstacle course skills. Similar skills of rolling, running and leaping were on the agenda.

Finally thank you to the families that supported their child throughout the year. They have been delightful to work with. Being a part of a child’s learning journey is such a privilege. 

-Kirrily Milton, Sam Deaves, Kathleen Harris, Erin Hickey

Stage 1 Teachers

End of Year

WOW! Can you believe that we are in December with one day to go until the end of the school year? The year has gone so quickly, and this is the last newsletter for the year.

Events

Students last day at school – Wednesday 18th December

As always, thanks to our families for the fabulous support they have given our staff this year. Mrs Lyon, Mrs Wilson and Mr Willis and I are so proud to have taught such a great group of students, and we wish our students the best next year!

Thank you also to our fabulous team of teachers Mrs Lyon, Mrs Wilson and Mr Willis and SLSO’s who have made a difference in the education and lives of our students.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday break.

-Felicity Bagshaw, Jonathan Willis, Melinda Wilson, Courtney Lyon

Stage 2 Teachers

And just like that, we have 1 day to go until the end of another incredible year! Year 5 are well on their way to becoming the leaders of the school, while Year 6 are saying their final goodbyes and soaking up the last few days of their primary school experience.  

In the Classroom 

Everyone has been working hard to wrap up their learning and consolidate their knowledge through post-assessments. Well done to all students for continuing to produce their personal best throughout such a busy term and making the most of their class time.  

Presentation Day  

Congratulations to ALL our students for their performances and behaviour last Wednesday at Presentation Day. It was a fantastic event, and it was amazing to see so many families cheering our Westies on.  

Class Year 6 Graduation and Formal

Year 6 Graduation and Formal  

Well done to your Year 6 students at their graduation ceremony on Thursday. It was great to see you all dressed up in your best glitz and glamour attire on Thursday night, dancing the night away!  

Year 6, we are very proud of your accomplishments this year and hope that you continue to strive and follow your passions throughout your next chapter. You all will be very missed, and we wish you all the best in high school.  

As always, thank you to our families for the incredible support giving given our staff this year. Miss Burns, Miss Roworth, Mr E, and I are so proud to have taught such a great group of students, and we wish all our students the best next year! 

 Thank you also to our fabulous team of teachers Miss Burns, Miss Roworth, Mr E, and SLSOs who have made a difference in the education and lives of our students. A special thank you to Mr E for all his efforts over the past two years at Tamworth West and we wish him all the best on his next adventure.  

The Stage 3 team wishes you a safe and happy holiday break. 

-Kahla May, Cody Edstein-Boyes, Emily Roworth, Dee Burns

Stage 3 Teachers

This term has been incredibly busy for both our students and teachers, filled with a variety of engaging school activities.

Our 6 students have participated in several high school transition days, which will greatly assist them in their upcoming move to high school. In addition, we have facilitated discussions and activities in the classroom to address any concerns and foster excitement about the positive aspects of this transition. As the school year draws to a close, we eagerly anticipate the Year 6 Formal. This is a joyful occasion for our Year 6 students, but it also brings a touch of sadness as we bid farewell and wish them well on their future educational journeys in high school.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our families for their unwavering support of our staff throughout the year. We take immense pride in their achievements and wish them all the best for the coming year!

A special thank you to our dedicated staff - Mr. Lyon, Ms. Roworth, Mr. Clare, Mr. Ward, and Ms. Foran, who have worked tirelessly to support and educate our students.

-Ms Neilson

Assistant Principal, Special Education

North West Cricket

Congratulations to Hamish Blackman who was again successful in being selected into the North West Primary Boys Cricket team when he trialled on the 28th of November. Hamish had the honour of playing at the PSSA State Carnival this year as a Year 5 student. He will again have that privilege as a Year 6 student in February 2025. Hamish will travel to Maitland next year to represent the North West against the other regions. Well done Hamish!

The school holidays will be here before we know it and we have you covered! 

Our little people have worked extremely hard during 2024. We congratulate each and every one of our students for their growth, both academic and personal. Take the time over the holidays to enjoy each other’s company.  You will find attached a ‘School Holiday Bingo’ grid full of different ideas to keep your children occupied and learning without knowing it!

For those students who have been using Decodable Readers Australia during the year, you have access to this platform until mid-January. It is filled with a number of fantastic resources and the students love engaging with them. 

The University of Cambridge has developed a website, Nrich. They believe that successful mathematicians understand curriculum concepts and are fluent in mathematical skills and procedures, and can also solve problems, explain and justify their thinking, and have a positive attitude towards mathematics and to themselves as learners of mathematics. With this in mind, they offer rich mathematical activities which aim to nurture curious, resourceful and confident learners of mathematics. 

Using the link below, you will be able to access a range of mathematical tasks, from maths at home to real life mathematical problems to work on together.

https://nrich.maths.org/parents/primary

Have a fabulous break and we look forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready for a fantastic 2025.