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 day is Wednesday.

Please make sure your orders are in by 9:30am.  You can either order on the QKR app or at the office.

We have added Gluten Free Wraps to our regular menu, and Hot Chicken and Gravy Roll to the specials.

Click HERE for the current 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.

Swimming Pool

The pool season ended on 6 April.  Keys can be returned to either Sheffield or Railton Campus in order to receive your $50 refund.

Every school Day Matters

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most. 

Vaccinations

Is your child in year 7?

School vaccinations are happening soon.

• human papillomavirus (HPV), and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa)

Vaccinations help protect them from serious diseases - now and later in life.

If your child is getting vaccinated,  make sure you’ve provided your consent.

Contact your child’s school for information on how to do this.

Learn more at https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/immunisation-for-adolescents

Safeguarding Training in our school

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.

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

All Girls - U11 Mini Series

Our four-week U11 Girls Mini Series is the perfect introduction to the game. It’s relaxed, local, supportive, and designed for girls of all experience levels. This is a great chance to stay active, make new friends, build confidence, and be part of a growing community.

Details:

• Free 4-week competition
• Friday Nights 5pm - 8pm 
• Two Hubs (Port Sorell - Ulverstone OR Penguin - Smithton)
• Commencing Friday June 13th

Click on the link to start the registration process: https://forms.office.com/r/XrkMNgbv1i

Absolutely no experience needed. Brings your friends and have some fun! 

For questions: Beth.Kompes@afl.com.au

Devonport Library

13YARN

13YARN have a dedicated team committed to crisis support and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing a crisis, helping to prevent self-harm and suicide. We aim to remove cultural barriers stigmas, shame, guilt or the feeling of helplessness by allowing a person in crisis to who calls our support line a moment to be heard, validated, without judgement.

Our free and confidential service is available to school students of all ages experiencing a crisis, we offer one-on-one crisis support to help seekers of any age who call the line on 13 92 76. We can offer referrals to local and national support services if requested, along with a simple safety care plan to help navigate their next steps.

Click HERE for more information on 13YARN

The Australian Institute of Family Studies reports that Australian children spend more time on screens than is recommended. I’m writing to you to invite your support for National Spinal Health Week 2025 (26 May – 1 June 2025) to help increase awareness of the risks to students and parents of developing tech neck through misuse or overuse of technology devices.

This annual awareness initiative aims to shine a spotlight on spinal health issues affecting millions of Australians, including children and young people, and how educators can take proactive steps to improve the spinal health of our children.

An initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), Spinal Health Week is Australia’s leading and longest-running, award-winning community health awareness campaign for musculoskeletal health. For nearly 30 years, it has promoted the importance of maintaining spinal health and preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Click HERE for more information on National Spinal Health Week

Click HERE for more information about HEYWIRE

Crash Team Racing Championship

Click HERE for more information on CRASH TEAM RACING

Kentish House

2025 Devon Netball Netta Roster

2025 Devon Netball Primary Roster