What’s Been Happening!

The first six weeks of Term One have been bustling with activity at our school. I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone who attended our first Open Classroom of 2025 during Week Four. We've been emphasising the value of ‘connection,’ and this event provided a wonderful opportunity for our school community to connect with parents, carers, and the wider Sheffield community. Families had the chance to chat with staff, explore their child’s classroom, and discuss the learning that has been taking place. Everyone also enjoyed a sausage or two. A big thank you to the staff for their preparation, ensuring the afternoon was well-organised.

During Week Four, we also had our External School Review. This four-day process involved three panel members speaking with numerous staff, families, and students, as well as visiting classrooms and afterschool meetings. The purpose of school reviews is to support schools in raising student achievement and sustaining high performance. At the end of the review, the panel provided us with independent feedback to verify our current school improvement plan and offered recommendations to ensure we continue to improve.

The panel gave several commendations, including:

• A high level of staff morale and wellbeing, founded on a strong collegial school culture based on personal and professional trust, where staff have a voice and are supported.
• A calm and orderly school-wide learning environment with high expectations for behaviour, providing a foundation for positive student learning.
• A comprehensive focus on curriculum development, ensuring staff know what to teach, aligned with the Australian Curriculum and DECYP priorities in Literacy.
• Mutually beneficial partnerships with parents and the broader school community to support learning and create clear parallel pathways for students.
• An attractive and well-maintained physical learning environment that provides a welcoming space for all members of the Sheffield School community.
• Families, students, and community members speak highly of the school, highlighting the caring staff and the range of opportunities provided. They describe a strong sense of belonging and pride in the school, which fosters a sense of community.

Our two recommendations for the next four years are:

1. Co-construct a vision of high expectations for all students' deep learning and clearly communicate these across the school.
2. Broaden the professional learning culture by establishing explicit feedback processes, with clear governance structures, to support a positive feedback culture that promotes intellectual rigor and ongoing growth and capability building.

Thank you to the families and community members who took the time to speak with the panel members. We feel very positive after the review and look forward to continuing our improvement journey.

Last week, we had our first staff vs. student match, playing bench ball. This game was new to me, and I found it challenging to play against so many taller (and younger) students. All participants had an enjoyable time, with the students winning the first of these competitions. I was amazed at the talent of the junior SRC, who displayed excellent coordination skills! Next up is basketball! I can honestly say it’s not a sport I excel at, but I will give it my best shot.

This week saw the start of NAPLAN testing. Most students involved in the testing have been giving their best effort, which is all we ask for. The testing runs over two weeks, including catch-up days for students who may have missed testing due to absence.

Just a friendly reminder: if your child is away, we would really appreciate a text or phone call to our office so that our attendance can be correctly marked. We use this data and would like it to be as accurate as possible. Attendance is importance to us. Did you know that if your child misses just one day a fortnight that equals twenty days per year, which is four weeks per year? This equates to a lot of learning time lost. If you need some support with getting your child to school, please contact us so we may offer you some support.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold our swimming carnival this year due to unforeseen maintenance issues with the pool at Splash. At this time, we will not be holding the carnival.

Next Wednesday night, we will be holding our annual School Association AGM, where we will be voting in the positions. Please feel free to come along to the meeting, which will be held at 6 pm at the school in the meeting room.

A lot of work has been done by Mrs. Katharine Bransden and her team in preparing for the mainland trip. Thank you, Mrs. Bransden, for the many hours and phone calls made to ensure the students have a wonderful itinerary and learning experience. I wish I could attend with the group, but I have two weeks of long service leave at the end of the term, which I had organised before starting my appointment at Sheffield School. During my absence, Catrina Davies will be filling in for me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the term. Remember to be kind to others and my door is always open.

Wendy Leonard
Acting Principal

3-6 North West Inter-Primary Athletics Carnival
Last week, our Year 3-6 team showcased their talent and determination at the Penguin Athletics track during the North-West Inter-Primary Carnival. From the very start of the term, our students have been training hard in PE, and their efforts truly paid off.

Despite the challenging heat over both days, our athletes gave their best in every event, competing in the 75m, 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m races, as well as long jump and shot put. Many of our students finished in the top three and advanced to the semi finals—a fantastic achievement!

A huge congratulations to Ollie, Lauren, and Michael, who have now qualified for the Twilight Carnival finals this Thursday. We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication!

Special recognition goes to Lauren, who not only advanced to the finals but also secured an impressive third place in long jump. Well done!

We wish our finalists the best of luck for Thursday—go team!

Primary Golden Ticket recipients 

Our primary and secondary SRC’s have officially met for the first time and spent some time getting to know each another. We’re looking forward to enhancing the connection between our two cohorts as the year goes on!

Launch into learning
Almost 40 little people and their families join us for Launching into Learning with Miss Day and Mrs Ritter.

Class Buddy Program
Connection is a very important value at Sheffield School. We have kick started our Class Buddy program to ensure our students and staff are getting to know each other across year levels. Miss Hampton’s year 3/4 students had a wonderful time reading to and playing with Kinder Sullivan.

Open Class Rooms
Our first Open Classroom of 2025 was a great success! Many of our families came along and enjoyed a sausage, a chat with teachers and a look at the fantastic learning spaces we have here at Sheffield School. Students proudly showed how they had been working hard in class. Congratulations to Lucky Door Prize winners, Octavia and Cobi.

NAPLAN
Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy) from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March. Students in these years will sit four assessments, including Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language, and Numeracy. 

NAPLAN Information Brochure

AFL Tasmania 
This week, we were excited to welcome Beth and Declan from AFL Tasmania to our Sheffield and Railton campuses. Throughout each session, our K-6 students had the opportunity to develop their handballing, kicking, and teamwork skills while having plenty of fun!

These sessions not only highlighted the importance of team sports but also provided students with valuable information about local AFL opportunities in our community.

Flyers have now been sent home with students, so if you're interested in learning more about the upcoming sessions at the Sheffield Recreation Ground, be sure to check them out!

Come and try Superkick

Teachers vs Students
A fun lunchtime with our first staff vs student game for the year. Bench Ball was the game of the week and the win was taken by the students! Watch this space for the results of next week's game.

Breakfast Club
Breakfast club is up and running on Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays for Early Childhood students, Wednesday for Primary students and Friday for Secondary students.  Thankyou to all those who donate breakfast supplies and volunteer to help make breakfast for all our students.

Canteen
Railton's canteen ordering day is Wednesday.

Please make sure your orders are in by 10am.  You can either order on the QKR app  or at the main office.

Please note:
When ordering between 10am - 12pm choices are very limited. 
Items cannont be returned to the canteen for health reasons.

Term 1 Canteen Menu

QKR
Order (and pay) for school lunches for up to two weeks in advance from your Smart device.      QKR Set Up Instructions

When logging on to QKR for the 1st time each year you will be asked to enter your child's year level and home group.  It is important that you add both of these details and not just home group.

Attendance information
If your child is absent from school for regular periods, their learning time is reduced considerably.

2025 School Levies

2025 Student Assistance Scheme
STAS application forms for 2025 have not changed from the 2024 form. The STAS form is also available on the Intranet for printing here, alternatively contact Financial Assistance via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au who will post a supply of forms to your school if needed.  

Families who have not applied for or received STAS previously are encouraged to apply online at https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au (or Google STAS to be taken directly to the link). Online applications can be submitted on any electronic device including mobile phones.

If you have any STAS queries, please contact Financial Assistance on 1800 827 055 or via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.

Safeguarding Traning in our schools
All volunteers (parent helpers, coaches, breakfast club helpers) are required to complete Safeguarding Training prior to working with children in our school.

Please ensure you present your certificate of completion at the office for our record.

You can access the training by clicking on the link below or using the QR code on the poster.

To complete the training, simply visit https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/.../safeguarding-training/

Please contact Mrs Davies if you would like support to complete the training.

School Photos
School Photos are taking place on Friday 11 April 2025 for Kinder Sheffield.  Railton Campus photos will also be taken on Friday 11 April 2025.

Photographers will travel to Railton Campus for individual and class group photos.

Please ensure all students are dressed in full school uniform on this day.

The DAISY Awards

Recognition for our school health nurses

School health nurses play an important role in our school community, delivering health education and promotion, and supporting student wellbeing.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) has recently introduced the internationally recognised DAISY Award program in schools through the School Health Nurse program.

Those with a health background may already be familiar with this program. Run by the DAISY Foundation, it is a way to acknowledge and celebrate the care and compassion that nurses deliver to the people they care for each and every day.

The program is run in 38 countries, but this is the first time anywhere in the world it will be delivered in a school setting.

Nominations are now open for the DECYP DAISY Award.  If you or a family member have had a positive experience with a school health nurse and would like to see their work recognised, why not consider nominating them! 

You can nominate them using this form, by sending an email to daisy@decyp.tas.gov.au, or getting in touch with school staff for help or more information.

Whether you’re a student, parent or carer, or a DECYP staff member, anyone can nominate a school health nurse you think is worthy of recognition.

Nominations will close on 13 June, with winners announced at an awards ceremony on 4 July. For more information, you can also visit DECYP’s website.

Vaping Facts
Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, often called ‘vapes’, are electronic devices designed to deliver vapourised liquids into the lungs. There are many different styles of vapes and types of e-liquids, or e-juices, available. Vapes come in many shapes and sizes and can be made to look like everyday items including highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks. 

Click HERE for more Vaping News

From the kitchen in Term One……………..
We’ve had a productive start to the term and students are demonstrating lots of great skills in the kitchen. The Year 7/8 Cooking classes are working on a Cook Safe, Cook Smart unit and are enjoying the variety of recipes.  Students are making good progress with kitchen procedures.
Mrs Maddick's Food Technology class have been working on a design brief challenge to value add to Plump Berries delicious berry produce. I have been impressed with how the students have approached this task, tweaking and improving their recipes each week. Judging is next Friday so it will be interesting to see who produces and presents the best dish and completed folio.
We are getting a good collection of photos on the display board outside the kitchen and it’s wonderful to see the effort many students make with presenting their dishes.

Mrs Maddick
Teacher

2025 Devon Netball Netta Roster

2025 Devon Netball Primary Roster

2025 Devon Netball Senior Roster

Kentish House