Welcome to the 2024 school year, and a special welcome to students, families and staff members that are new to Sheffield School.  It has been a positive start to first term with students settling into classroom routines well and are focussed on their learning.  It has been great to see students arriving in school uniform.  As we continue to encourage connection to school and community, school uniform is an important way for students to demonstrate they are connected to their school.

During the summer holidays a number of improvements and upgrades to our facilities have taken place to ensure our learners are provided with a welcoming environment that accommodates their needs and promotes learning.  The new outdoor play area at our Sheffield Early Childhood Campus is a welcome edition for our younger students.  This newly landscaped space provides additional outdoor seating, balancing logs, stepping stones and pathways to encourage further development of gross motor skills through play.

Our Department for Education Children and Young People (DECYP) have a new Strategic Plan 2024-2030 that comes in to effect this year.

‘Bright lives, Positive futures, sets our direction and outlines our how, belief and values as a system.

We want to ensure that every child and young person is:

• Known, heard and included
• Safe in all environments
• Well and thriving
• Learning more every day

Our belief is: The rights of children and young people are upheld in all that we do, particularly the right to an education, to influence decisions that affect them, and to be safe from harm.

Our updated DECYP values guide all that we do

• Connection
• Courage
• Growth
• Respect
• and Responsibility

At a school level, our Improvement Plan identifies key priorities and targets that are tailored for Sheffield School, and this plan provides us with a clear direction to achieve improved outcomes for our students.  DECYP have directed schools to include three system wide priorities that all schools must include this year.  These are:

• Attendance
• Safeguarding
• and Reading.

We know that every day counts and we must focus on ways to increase our schools 2023 attendance rate which was 83%.  This means that on average our students missed approximately 5 weeks of learning last year.  Even though this was on par with like schools in our state, we have to do better to increase the educational opportunities for our learners. 

Wellbeing is a critical precondition for learning and creating a safe and supportive environment for our students is a key part of our work as educators.  Safeguarding has become a key focus for our system and our school has plan with measures in place to support students to feel safe from abuse and provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all.

The third DECYP priority is centred on the explicit teaching of Reading.  I am proud to say that at Sheffield school we are ahead of the game in regard to this Reading priority.  As reported earlier in the year, our NAPALN results prove we are on the right track.  Our internal testing also provides good news, and this identifies some areas where we know we can do better.  Parents, have confidence, because your school and your child’s teachers are providing a very good education.

I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight one of the new DECYP values, 'Connection.'  I believe we create a wonderful sense of community at Sheffield School, and this is evident in many ways.  It is important that we recognise the contribution we ALL make, parents, teachers, support staff, administration, facility attendants, volunteers and community members that support the young people in our school to learn, develop and thrive.

Thank you to families who were able to attend our 'Open Classrooms' this week and connect with teachers.  I encourage you to maintain these connections throughout your child's schooling.  Those who were unable to attend this week, please feel to reach out to your child's teacher at any stage during the year to connect with them and hear about how your child is progressing at school.

Jamie Skirving
Acting Principal

Congratulations to Quinn who represented Tasmania playing pivot and flank in the five-a-side Futsal competition in Penrith from 13-16 January.  Quinn scored two goals, with the team missing the finals by just one point in the seven game tournament.

Quinn has been named in the national team and will travel to Malaysia in November to compete in an international tour for Australia.

Quinn also plays striker for the Devonport Soccer Club and will travel to Alstonville, NSW in October to represent the Devonport Junior Soccer Association at the Oceania Cup.

Fabulous achievements, and we wish her all the best.

School Association Inc Election 2024

Elections for the School Association will be held on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

Nominations are being called for two (2) community and three (3) parent vacancies.

Nomination forms are available from the school office and must be submitted to the
Returning Officer, Nikki Jackson by close of business Friday 15 March 2024.

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the school on Tuesday 26 March 2024.

For enquiries phone 6491 8222.

Nomination form link: Nomination Form - Sheffield School Association 2024

Launching into Learning (LiL)

Naplan

Naplan Information Brochure

Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish Program

The program is for children in years: Kinder, Prep, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

It commences next week at Railton campus and will then come to Sheffield.

Click the link below for more information on the program.

Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish Program Brochure

Immunisations

Monday 18 March is immunisation day for Year 7 students (Gardasil).

If you have not returned a permission form and would like your child to have the immunisation, forms are availble at the Sheffield campus school office. 

Completed forms can be returned to the school or to Kentish Council office.

School Photos

School photos will take place on Thursday 4 April, with catch up photos on Friday 5 April for people who are not here on the Thursday.  

Glover Exhibition Excursion (Evandale)

Students from Years 7 - 12 who are doing Visual Arts will have the opportunity to visit the Glover Exhibition (Tasmanian Landscape Art Competition) on 15 March 2024 at Evandale.

Sheffield Steam and Heritage Centre

Year 1s and 2s are visiting the Sheffield Steam and Heritage Centre on Monday 4 March. Their trip will include a 30 minute steam train ride - this is part of their History Unit that is centred around exploring local histroy and events.

Inter Primary Athletics

On Wednesday 6 March and Thursday 7 March, Sheffield and Railton students from Years 3 - 6 will compete at the Penguin athletics track.

Some of these events will include sprints, long distance, shot put and long jump.

Students will need to arrive to school early, ready to leave by 8:30 am.

Sheffield School Soccer

Primary School Basketball

Winter roster for Years 1 – 6

Primary Basketball - Winter 

Swimming Carnival

The Sheffield School Water Safety and activities day will be held on Wednesday 28 February at the Devonport Splash Aquatic Centre.  The carnival will involve students from Years 3 – 6 participating in aquatic activities and students from Years 7 to 10 practising in readiness for the Inter-High Swimming Carnival. 

Parents and families are more than welcome to attend and spectate, admission to the centre is free.  Below is a program of the day’s events with approximate commencement times.

2024 Secondary / Primary Table of Events

Music News

Hello Everyone and Welcome back to School!

Just a few notes about what’s happening in our Music Program, rehearsal times and other information to get us started for the year.

Concert Band will rehearse on Tuesday afternoons 2.50 pm - 4.00 pm.

Taiko+ Drumming (Railton Campus) will rehearse during lunch on Fridays.

**New**

Beginner Band will rehearse afterschool on a Wednesday 2.50 pm – 4.00 pm.

Practice for both bands starts next week (Tuesday 27 February and Wednesday 28 February). 

Looking forward to a great year!     

Canteen

Canteen Menu Term 1

QKR

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

Safeguarding Training 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.

Uniform Sale

Events

Information

Ticket to Play:  https://www.tickettoplay.tas.gov.au/

Health

Sport / Activities