Welcome to Term 3.

 In 2024 our Department for Education Children and Young People have introduced a new set of values to guide our work, one of these 5 values is 'Connection'

CONNECTION - BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING

Building positive relationships with their peers and the adults at school is vital to feeling a sense of belonging.  Connection has been a focus for our school this year, influencing our planning, decision making and our actions.  Our 2023 student wellbeing survey indicated school climate and school belonging as areas for improvement, therefore it has been our intention to promote a stronger sense of connection within our school community.  Each of our students are unique and have individual interests, needs and ambitions.  There isn't a single program, or one particular strategy that we can apply to our school to accomplish our aim to improve school climate and peer belonging.  Therefore, we approach this by focusing on creating opportunities to build and strengthen positive relationships and we endeavour to provide a wide range of opportunities for our students to connect with each other through diverse learning and extra-curricular opportunities.  Some of these are sports days, art club, cattle handling, music and band, lunchtime games room, SRC initiated activities, and whole school events just to name a few.

Our School Association have supported us to identify further opportunities to engage and connect with the wider community through events such as Mural Fest, Steam Fest, Sport and Mount Roland Landcare.

We are building our community connections through collaboration with Tandara Community Care Facility to create the GIGLS program (Guided Inter-Generational Learning Support).  A small group of our students have connected with residents at our local Tandara community and will spend an hour each week for six weeks to undertake some reading, board games and other activities.  We hope this program builds self confidence in both the students and residents as well as giving them a chance to share their strengths with their new friend.  Thank you to our students, Mrs Sullivan, Nurse Kiri, and our volunteer Ruby for coordinating this initiative. 

 As our learners move from primary into secondary school we know how relationships, self-esteem and peer belonging become increasingly important to our adolescent students.  This term we will reinstate our year 7-8 Camp to Camp Clayton.  This 3 day camp is  centred on wellbeing; particularly, peer connection and belonging.  This experience will provide students with an opportunity to acquire and enhance skills which enable them to build positive relationships with others in a learning environment that is enjoyable, challenging, and reinforces knowledge, skills and values gained at school.  This school camp would not be possible without the incredible support of our community who will assist with funding to support our students to take part in this camp.  Thank you to the HUB for their substantial donation that will go a long way to ensure all students have the opportunity to attend this camp. 

STAFFING UPDATE

We would like to welcome Jason Dohse and Sharyn Clarke who have joined our secondary teaching team and will be working as part of our year 7-10 English, and History team.  Leanne Weeks has been appointed as our Library Technician 0.6 and is quickly becoming a familiar face to our students visiting our Library.  

HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED AND LEAD TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Congratulations to Mrs Karyn Kleinman who has been recognised for her exceptional teaching practices and leadership skills.  Karyn is one of only 5 Tasmanian teachers to be recognised with this certification.  Thank you for your commitment to learners and your profession, Karyn!

EXTERNAL SCHOOL REVIEW

Every 4 years DECYP schools undergo and review.  An external school review is part of the DECYP commitment to improve the quality of our schools and the learning of our students.  It involves a panel of principals and an expert reviewer visiting a school for several days.  During this time, they interview individual staff, groups of staff, students and parents and visit as many classrooms as possible.  Sheffield School will undergo a review in September this year. 

NAPLAN

In March of this year, students in years 3, 5 , 7 and 9 sat NAPLAN (National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy).  

The initial data we have received compares our school results to similar schools – that is schools with similar enrolments and needs indexes.    Pleasingly, our students have continued to outperform students at other similar schools, where Sheffield students have achieved higher results across 17/20 areas.  Students in years 3, 7 and 9 are performing more strongly in Reading, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation, Writing and Numeracy and our year 5 cohort performed more strongly in Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation. Please see a snapshot below – where Sheffield School mean scaled score is indicated by the darker blue column and similar schools’ indicated by the lighter blue.

The numbers in the boxes below the column graph indicate the scaled score difference between our mean scores and those of other schools.  The deeper the colour… the further above (purple) or further below (orange) our scores were from the mean score of comparison schools.

This week, teachers across the school have examined these data sets. Teacher teams have identified year level strengths and areas for growth, and have also examined the gains data available to us at the individual student level.

Individual student reports will be posted to families of participating students this week.  Please see the information above for interpreting the results and the proficiency scales.  Please let us know if you do not receive these,  or contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding your child’s results.

Jamie Skirving

ACTING PRINCIPAL

NETBALL

This season we had three teams enter the Devon Netball Winter roster.

Our Netta team (Yrs 2-4) played hard each week developing their skills. The purpose of the Netta roster is to introduce/develop netball skills and experience each of the playing position. Thank you, Mrs Morley for all your help this season!

Our Yr 5/6 team played a tough season but improved each week. The team fought hard each game and found themselves in the grand final. Our team came up against Nixon Street Primary who had previously beaten our team by over 20 points. The team trained hard in the weeks leading up and only went by a few goals in the end. A huge thank you to Mrs Eastley for leading our team to a successful season. The HPE would like to thank her for her passion and dedication to the game.

Our Yr 7/8’s also made it to the grand final and knew they would have to work hard to take the top spot over Reece. It is very clear that this group of girls love playing as a team and are always leaving the court with a smile on their face. The team trained hard each week and fought for their spot in the grand final. Unfortunately, the girls couldn’t quite take out the top spot but a fabulous effort to all. A special mention to Ruby for taking out the MVP for the game. A huge thank you to Mr Morley for his dedication and commitment to the team. The team wouldn’t be where they are without his help.

We now turn our attention to the Spring roster which will begin Wednesday 4 September. If you wish to play, please see the HPE office.

Our Coach getting into the team spirit!     

FOOD and FIBRE PRODUCTION

At both the farm and in the school garden, students have had a successful harvest of Broccoli and Cauliflower which they planted back in Term 1.

Calving has started at the school farm and students from Years 3-6 will be visiting the farm to meet the latest arrivals over the coming weeks.

The Merino Wether at the school farm are becoming well handled in preparation for the upcoming Tasmanian Schools Merino Wether Challenge.

DON COLLEGE PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

Don College will be holding parent information sessions on Wednesday 7 August.

There are 4 x 30 minute sessions, beginning at 4:30 pm with the final session finishing at 7:00 pm.

Please call the college on 6424 0200 to book your session.

Visit https://subjects.doncollegeapp.com to download their app and see the many subjects being offered in 2025.

You can also visit https://www.doncollege.education.tas.edu.au for further enrolment and subject information.

THE AMAZING RACE   

The AMAZING RACE family challenge is coming soon! This is a scavenger hunt type activity to do with your family around your closest town (Sheffield or Railton). All participants go into the draw to win some vouchers to spend at your local shops.

Email liftsheffield@gmail.com or see Mrs Sullivan for further details.

WORK STUDIES

Throughout Term 2 Year 10 students engaged in many work exposure experiences as part of Work Studies. Students were highly engaged with Andrew Davies’ from Taz Drones presentation and enjoyed listening to the incredible projects he is working on. A number of students visited Harvest Moon at Forth to see the range of opportunities available in the industry and to enjoy a carrot or two! A small number of students spent the day at the University of Tasmania Rural Medical School which showcased many job opportunities in the Health industry. A number of students experienced a week of work experience in a variety of industries with many receiving outstanding feedback. Well done!

We have so much happening this term in the Work Studies/Transition space with incursion, excursions, more students going on work experience and visits from Don College staff.

DON COLLEGE PARENT INFORMATION EVENING

NAPLAN

Naplan reports for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 have been posted home - click the link below for more information

NAPLAN Information

CANTEEN MENU

Click for Canteen Menu

QKR

Order (and pay) for school lunches for up to two weeks in advance from your Smart device.   Please note there are two separate QKR Menus, one for Sheffield Campus, 5 days per week and the other for Railton Campus on Thursdays only.

QKR Set Up Instructions

STUDENT WELLBEING & ENGAGEMENT SURVEY

The wellbeing of our students is important to us - we want to hear how students feel, and think, about different things going on in their lives.

Those in Year/s 4-12 at Sheffield School will be taking part in the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. The results from this survey will help us get a picture of the current wellbeing of our students, and what we can do to improve future wellbeing for learning. The more students who take part, the clearer our picture will be. 

The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey is part of the Department’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy .

The details for the survey are:

When:                          26 August- 20 September
Who:                            4-12
What do I need to do:  You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.

A letter with more information has been sent home with all Year 4-12 students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.   

If you would like further information, please contact Mrs Davies (6491 8222)

2024 SCHOOL LEVIES

There are a number of ways that you can pay your child's school levies: At either school office (Cash, EFTPOS, Cheque), via BPAY or QKR (online app on your smart device).

If you would like to organise regular payments via a formal payment plan, please contact us on 6491 8222.

STAS

If you wish to check whether you may be eligible for Student Assistance (STAS) which will pay for your child/ren's levies, please click the link below current guidelines:

Student Assistance and Other Financial_Assistance_Guidelines

YEAR 9/10 ENGLISH

This is a poem written for Mr Ashby’s Year 9-10 English class. He believes it may well be the best poem he’s ever read from a student.

Where do I sleep tonight?

The place where I shall feel hidden.
needing to be fulfilling with my dreams,
That could never be unwritten.
I can feel my heart beating and my blood streaming.

As I lay my head on your chest,
I don’t know how I am so deeply in love.
Indeed, my feelings are calm, but can’t confess.
Always us till the end, flying so freely as doves.

My old friend I say, a memory so beautiful,
We dance in the sky when the leaves dance in the wind.
Our friendship can never be so irresistible.
Can’t imagine to see your last ever grin.

Where I have my very last few breaths, they were shown.
But as I took my last breath, I tried to whisper but nothing was said.
Beeeep, the heat stops in the cold stiff body, I fear in dread.
I never imagined it any sadder and alone.

Floating as a pale, white, sad and alone spirit.
My head to full to even clear it.
The last petals on a rose, and the cuts of the thorns.
The only spirit I ever wanted was yours.

By Kirra, 9/10B

FOOD INSECURITY

ACTIVITIES/EVENTS

INFORMATION

SPORT