Sheffield School eNewsletter

Welcome to the new school year; a special welcome to those students and families who are new to Sheffield School, and to our Kindergarten students commencing their formal schooling in 2023. The students have settled into their learning really well in what is a shorter than usual term (9 weeks), concluding for students on 5 April.

Staffing

As well as welcoming new students and families to our school this year we also welcome a number of new staff: Miss Georgie Duggan (1/2B), Mrs Melissa Berwick (5/6A), Mrs Lyndall Georgiades (K/P Railton Campus), Mr Richard Heathcote (7-10 English/Humanities and Social Sciences [HASS]), Miss Olivia Stolp (7-10 English/HASS), Mrs Amelia Lutwyche (K-6 Advanced Skills Teacher Sheffield Campus), Mr Toby Lutwyche (Assistant Principal), Mr Steve Hooper (Teacher Assistant), Mrs Anita Greene (Library Technician), Mrs Denise Daly (Teacher Assistant /Library Railton Campus) and Mrs Colleen Dewar (Teacher Assistant). We look forward to the contributions each of these new staff will make to the Sheffield School over the coming year.

Meet the Teacher Afternoon

Next Wednesday afternoon classrooms will be open, and teachers available from the end of the school day until 3.45pm (Railton Campus), 4.00pm (Sheffield Campus) for our “Meet the Teacher” afternoon. We hope many of you will take advantage of this opportunity to meet and informally touch base with your child/ren’s teachers early in the year.

Swimming Carnival

Following the cancellation of the 2022 Swimming Carnival due to Covid-19, yesterday we held our annual Swimming Carnival in pleasant conditions at the Devonport Aquatic Centre. The format for this day has been changed this year to reflect the participation trends by secondary students over the past 5 years, with the day primarily focused on Year 3-6 students. Secondary students were invited to participate in a range of events, as well as provide support to our younger students, with 21 students taking up the opportunity. The day was very successful with the new format and alterations to the program well received by all participants. The students, as with previous years, participated with the purpose of gaining points for their house, Don, Roland or Kentish. The results will be announced at our first assembly for the year to be held later in the term. Thank you to all staff and parents who supported the day. I would particularly like to thank our Health and Physicla Education staff for their organisation of the carnival and to the following secondary students who were outstanding in their support of the day’s activities: Abigail, Ruby, Sophie, Laura, Bridie, Maddison, Jack, Hudson, Isabella, Sharla, Hollie, Caitlin, Amanda, Decoda, Hunntah, Talasha, Charlton, Connor, Tom, Kai and Toby.

School Crossing

With the commencement of the school year, there is a significant increase in pedestrian traffic, and students on bikes and scooters around the school at the start and end of the school day. Over the first few weeks I have had members of our community contact me concerned that students are not using the crossing on Main Street, but instead crossing at other points along the Main Street or on the intersection of Main Street and Henry Street itself. Students crossing Henry Street, opposite the school main entrance without due care has also been observed.

The area adjacent to the student front entrance along Henry Street can be quite busy of a morning with students walking, being dropped off by parents, and arriving by bus. Parents, please reinforce with students the care that is required when crossing roads, whether accessing a pedestrian crossing or when crossing Henry Street following being dropped off. Also, important to reinforce with students prior to entering the crossing on Main Street to ensure traffic has stopped in both directions.

Our duty staff have also observed many students riding bikes and scooters to and home from school without a helmet, again in the interest of student safety please encourage the wearing of a helmet.

Thank you for your co-operation with this matter in ensuring the safety of students.

Before School Supervision of Students

A reminder to parents that staff do not commence before school duty until 8.25am (Railton Campus) and 8.30am (Sheffield Campus), therefore there is no direct supervision of students arriving early. Students arriving prior to this time are able to wait sensibly in the student entrance courtyard (Yrs 3-12), on the seats outside classrooms (Yrs K-2), and on undercover walkway (Railton Campus). Where possible we would encourage students not to arrive before the supervised times.

Everyday Counts

I would just like to draw your attention to the current department ‘every school day counts campaign’, it highlights the importance of regular school attendance and encourages parents and carers that school is the best place for their children to be, as it will lead to bright futures.

https://youtu.be/2hSg5_ys-2w

Past Sheffield Students Excel at Don College

Recently, Don College acknowledged students who excelled in their 2022 year of study, with a number of past Sheffield students again featuring in the awards. Congratulations to Zoe, Makybie, Jessica, Emily, Charlee, Lillian and Olivia who all won subject/VET awards. Emily and Lillian were also recognized within the major awards, with Emily receiving the UTAS Excellence Award, and Lillian a Year 12 Academic Merit Award for achieving 4 exceptional achievements/high distinctions in Pre-tertiary/UTAS subjects across year 12, also gaining a 95+ ATAR. These young people set an excellent example for our students, and the message for all students is to aim high with your learning goals!

Student Leaders

Finally, I would like to congratulate the following students for their willingness to work through an application and interview process, and more importantly for their desire to lead within our school and have a positive impact.

I would like to introduce you to our 2023 Student Representative Council:
Charlton, Connor, Ava, Jayme-Lea, Hunntah, Talasha, Kai, Montanna, Will, Tom, and Lincoln.

In the coming weeks we will also be inviting each class in Years 3-8 to elect 2 members to support the work of this group and provide greater student voice to the decision making process within our school.

Ron Daly
Principal

FOOD & FIBRE

Like everyone, our school chickens are happy to be back at school. They are happily free-ranging in the garden area each day.

Every class from Kindergarten through to Year 6 are recycling their food waste. Each day this goes to our chickens and our worm farms.

This was started last year and has grown to include the Railton campus this year.

Many thanks to fellow staff members: Heather, Mark and Mandy who continue to support our space as it develops. We appreciate our team!

In specialist Food and Fibre classes students have started the year with how things grow.

CUTTINGS / DONATIONS

The food and fibre team always welcome cuttings: please drop any cuttings at the school office for us to get started in our garden.

WOOLWORTHS BRICK FARM

The Food and Fibre Team are collecting the Woolworths Brick Farm lego sets for our younger students to enjoy.

If you are not collecting for yourself, we would appreciate them!

Please leave at the main office or see Miss Crowden or Miss Bell.

Thank you

MEET THE TEACHER AFTERNOON

LAUNCHING INTO LEARNING

MUSIC

In Music news, students from Years 5 to 8 are beginning to learn to play concert band instruments in their music classes in 2023. So far, we have learnt to assemble our instruments, make our first sounds, clean them and pack them away safely. The flute players are getting dizzy from bulk air blowing, the brass players are getting tingly lips from so much ‘buzzing,’ (the technique used to make a sound on a brass instrument), and the saxophones and clarinet players are honking louder than the ducks and geese!

Students who learn these instruments are waaaay out of their comfort zone, and some will find it overwhelming and scary, others will find it super exciting and ‘THE BEST THING EVER!’ Whilst playing an instrument isn’t something everyone loves, having the opportunity to TRY a concert band instrument for a year or so is a rarity in schools in the North West these days. All students have been enthusiastic and respectful, and we are looking forward to seeing and hearing the awesome progress in the coming months. Great job team!

Ms Elliott and Miss Lee

SWIMMING CARNIVAL - 22 February 2023

FOOD STUDIES

Food Studies students have begun exploring food styling ideas for their Berry Bliss creations

Year 9-10 Pancake stack challenge
Year 7-8 French Toast
Year 9-10 Fake-Away Unit

ANGLICAN COMMUNITY CHURCH - Railton

The Railton Anglican Community Church recognises that the cost of living has gone up, to assist the Church has FREE food every Thursday (10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Railton Community Church Hall for all Railton residents.

Any enquiries, please phone Kellie: 0476 510 111