11 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

Key Dates

Monday 15 May – STRIDE Education Seminar (Year 9)
Wednesday 17 May - Assemblies: Years 7-10 (12pm) Prep - Year 6 (1:30pm)
Tuesday 16 May – NWPSSA Years 3 – 4 Sports Expo
Thursday 18 May - STRIDE Education Seminar (Year 9)
Friday 19 May – Sheffield School Cross Country (Years 5 – 10)
Thursday 25 May – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
Thursday 25 May – Vaccinations – Gardasil (Year 7)
Wednesday 14 June – Assemblies Years 7-10 (12pm), Prep-6 (1:30pm)
Wednesday 21 June – NWPSSA Cross Country Carnival
Thursday 22 June – Bravehearts (K-2)
Thursday 22 June – Vaccinations – Boostrix (Year 7)
Friday 23 June – CORES Training (Year 10)
Wednesday 28 June – Elevate Education Seminar (Years 9-10)
Thursday 29 June – Railton Assembly 2pm
Friday 7 July – Last day of Term
Monday 10 July – Friday 21 July – School Holidays
Monday 24 July – Term 3 commences

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to term 2. I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break ready for what will be a very busy term, culminating in the mid-year reporting and the celebration of student learning.

Her Excellency the Governor visit

Last Wednesday we welcomed Her Excellency the Governor to our school as a part of her visit to the Kentish Municipality. Her Excellency visited a number of classes and talked with students before enjoying morning tea with our School Representative Council. The tour of our school then progressed to the farm where Her Excellency and Mr Warner were guided around the farm by a group of our senior agriculture students.

ANZAC Day

This year due to ANZAC Day again falling within the holiday period the school did not hold an ANZAC Assembly. During our first assemblies this term we will recognise the successful students in the annual ANZAC Day competitions supported by the RSL sub branches of Railton and Sheffield.

This year’s competitions winners were:

Railton Campus – Abbey Bryan and Tyron Forster
Early Childhood – Evelyn Molyneux and Kurt Leslie
Primary – Jacob Beswick and Bonnie Sullivan
Year 9 David Innes Memorial ANZAC Essay – Billie Chatterton and Breona Roetz

On ANZAC Day the following students represented each section of the school in laying wreaths at both the Sheffield and Railton community services.

Railton Campus - Ky-Jana French and William Lowery
K-2 - Jett Cannon and Marlei Frankcombe
3-6 - Tayla Grabe and Tahli Hyland
7-10 - Charley Davies and Balin Puccetti

This year’s winners of the Year 9 David Innes Memorial ANZAC Essay Competition also played an important role in services, with Billie Chatterton and Breona Roetz reading their essays at the Sheffield dawn and morning services respectively. Both students should be congratulated on the quality of their essays and the manner in which they delivered them on ANZAC Day. The essays are included within this newsletter.

Thank you to all of these students and to staff and parents who supported our students’ participation in the community ANZAC services.

Staffing

This term we welcome back Mrs Moles and Mr Hinrichsen from leave teaching the Kinder B and 5/6 D classes respectively. Mrs Vos will be taking up a role at our Railton Campus teaching the Prep class on a Wednesday and the 1/2 class on a Friday. Finally on the last day of term 1 Mr Hearne was notified he had been successful in winning a substantive position at Mountain Heights School, Ms Kris Carmody has stepped in to teach the Art /Drama classes until a replacement Art teacher is recruited.

NAPLAN Testing

This week all students in year 3, 5, 7 and 9 have participated in NAPLAN testing. Testing occurs in the areas of reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy. The aggregated, year cohort and individual data obtained from this testing, along with other school based testing data is very important and assists to inform school and class planning for the following year in the areas of literacy and numeracy.

RON DALY
PRINCIPAL

ANZAC Essays

Billie Chatterton

The ‘ANZAC spirit’ was developed by soldiers who fought for Australia many years ago. What is the Anzac spirit and does it continue to exist today?

On 25 April, 1915, the ANZAC Spirit was born. Mateship, fidelity, courage, bravery and endurance are all qualities that reflect the ANZAC Spirit. Each ANZAC soldier possessed these traits and emotions, along with a sense of egalitarianism in a way that every soldier was equal, whether it be a trusting mate or a terrifying enemy. The ANZAC Spirit defines Australia and their citizens today, ever since it was first born all those years ago.

Fidelity and mateship are two large elements of the ANZAC Spirit. During World War I, ANZACs who sacrificed their lives for our beloved country were not alone in the fight; mates, brothers and mere acquaintances were all in this war together. Each digger was loyal and faithful towards their country, and helped out when that help was needed, even if it was risking their own wellbeing and safety. These traits are often seen throughout Australia today, such as in the Tasmanian Emergency Volunteer Services. Hundreds of Tasmanian citizens devote their time and loyalty to their community through firefighting, SES and ambulance services. Australians show great amounts of fidelity and mateship; the ANZAC Spirit shining through.

As our diggers walked out their doors to the ships that would carry them to Gallipoli, they prepared mentally and physically for their unknown fate, knowing they may never return home. As they stood on the battlefield, they held the knowledge that one wrong step could end in an unexpected explosion, and one wrong move could end in a piercing gunshot; causing inexplicable pain. This showed massive amounts of bravery and courage, the ANZAC Spirit dancing through their veins. Soldiers witnessed many indescribable scenes which would have been incredibly unpleasant, and still had the ability to fight on, making our nation proud. Endurance is an extremely difficult trait to master, but every ANZAC perfected it. Unnecessary restrictions were refused by the ANZAC’s, so that everybody on the battlefield was equal, to foster a sense of egalitarianism. The ANZAC Spirit thrived in every soldier who fought for Australia and New Zealand, and flourishes in Australian souls today.

The ANZAC Spirit continues to exist today. Only four years ago, Australia's Cameron Baird received the Victoria Cross in Afghanistan; acting as commander for his team. The reason Cameron received this award was because he supported a different team after their commander had been extremely injured, and then charged an enemies’ position three times to neutralise heavy small-arms fire that was directed at his team to keep them safe; ultimately costing him his life. This evidently outlines the foundation of the ANZAC Spirit, and proves that it continues to exist today. Not only does the ANZAC Spirit exist in conflict and wars; but in everyday life throughout Australia. Every morning you wake up and sift through the newspaper or scroll through social media, and see that another Aussie has lent a helping hand; again, the ANZAC Spirit blooming.

On this day – ANZAC Day, we commemorate the men and women who sacrificed their lives for Australia and New Zealand. Although there was no military victory, they were more than just Australian and New Zealand citizens; they were our saviours, our ANZAC’s who showed bravery, courage, fidelity, mateship, endurance and that sense of egalitarianism. The ANZAC Spirit is what keeps Australia thriving as a nation, thanks to the diggers who represented our country and New Zealand 102 years ago.

Lest we forget

Bibliography:

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/corporal-cameron-stewart-baird/ 24 March, 2017
https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/dawn/spirit/ 24 March, 2017
http://www.1914-1918.net/Gallipoli.htm 24 March, 2017

Breona Roetz

ANZAC. Australia New Zealand Army Corp.

On 25 April, Australians commemorate ANZAC day to remember our Australian troops who have fought and fallen for us. Without them, we wouldn’t live with the freedom we enjoy today. On this very important and special day, millions of Australians and New Zealanders honour our heroes and remember together. We celebrate the ANZAC spirit every year. But what is the ANZAC spirit? How did it come about? This essay will share with you all about the ANZAC spirit and about some famous ANZAC stories.

The ANZAC Spirit is that the Australian and New Zealand troops helped to establish their countries reputation in the world through qualities of strength and bravery when faced with adversity. In fact, there is plenty more than that. The legend of ANZAC was born on 25 April 1915, with 8 months of fighting on Gallipoli. Although there was no military victory, the Australians displayed great courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship. Such qualities came to be seen as the ANZAC spirit. The legend of these men and women who endured so much, has given something of which Australians can be proud of. This is within us. It is now something that is inside all of us.

To me, this was displayed strongly last year when our communities faced isolation, despair and heartbreak. The floods of 2016 in our neighbouring town of Latrobe were devastating however; the people of Latrobe picked themselves up, dried themselves off and faced the devastation together. People from all over Australia came together to help rebuild fences, homes and business. This is the spirit we all hold dearly.

The Anzac legend suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers possessed specific qualities that were shown on the battlefields of World War I. It is through events such as the landing at ANZAC Cove, that the Anzac’s became known as ‘Diggers’. The ANZAC legend is powerful and the tales of the Diggers inspire us. Teddy Sheehan inspires me. He has taught me to keep going, to keep fighting in my day to day life, in my schooling and in my sport. The Diggers have made such an impression that we continue to remember every 25 April.

ANZAC Day is not all about the past. It is the present, and the future as well. Even though we are not AT war, many of our service men and women continue to serve in wars or peacekeeping missions overseas. They continue to assist in natural disasters at home and abroad. They continue to keep our country safe.

ANZAC Day is special to me for many different reasons. My father, grandfather and great grandfather all served. I know that so many people have their own connections just like I do. I am sure it means just as much to all of you as we stand here today to remember and honour these amazing, brave and selfless men and women on ANZAC Day.

ANZAC. Australian New Zealand Army Corp.

Lest We Forget.

Cross Country

On Friday 19 May Sheffield School will be holding a cross country event for years 5-10.

The event will be held at the school farm, located at the southern end of High Street. Students will get changed into their running clothing at the school gym and then walk in class groups to the farm to participate.

The event will be run over 2.8km for primary students and 4.1km for secondary participants. The course involves running through bush, paddocks, muddy laneways and a small shallow creek crossing.

Race Times

Students will need a full change of clothing, including underwear, socks and towel as we envisage the course will leave all participants quite muddy. A wash off hose and the opportunity to use the school showers is available to all participants.

For parents wishing to view their children participating, we ask that they park their cars in the entrance laneway to the school farm but no further south than the school farm house. Parents are then able to walk to the finish line or view the whole course from on top of the hill.

Learning in Families Together (LiFT)

Prep Oral Language Story Sacks

The LiFT team are excited to be sending out Oral Language Story Sacks with our Prep students this week. Story Sacks will stay with families for one week and then be exchanged for a new one. We hope you enjoy using these wonderful resources with your family.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The 2017 Premier’s Reading Challenge is proudly affiliated with the Hawks Football Club and is coming soon.

The challenge runs from 13 June to 18 August 2017

Have You Got A Great Idea?

Tell us what activities or events you’d like to see happen in our school. Write it down and place it the LiFT suggestion box in the Flying Start room at Sheffield and the office at Railton, or you can email us: carly.sullivan@education.tas.gov.au

Launching Into Learning (LiL)

National Simultaneous Story Time

Come along on Wednesday 24 May to participate in our National Simultaneous Story Time.

The story, ‘The Cow Tripped Over The Moon’ will be read by Mayor Don Thwaites at 11am in the school Library (next to the office.)

National Walk Safely to School

Next Friday (19 May 2017) is National Walk Safely to School Day!

Now in its 18th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school.

“We know that when children participate in regular, moderate intensity exercise (like walking!), and enjoy a nutritious and balanced diet, they are less likely to be overweight or obese and suffer from heart disease, diabetes, and mental and behavioral problems. That’s why National Walk Safely to School Day is such an important initiative”.

"Move Ahead with Street Sense" provides the following Pedestrian Safety messages

STAGE I

Hold a grown-up's hand
Hold a grown-up's hand when you're on the footpath
Hold a grown-up's hand when you cross the road
Hold a grown-up's hand when you're in a car park

STAGE II

Use a safe place to cross
Hold an adult's hand when you cross the road

STAGE III

Stop! Look! Listen! Think! Every time you cross the road
Wait till the bus has gone, then use a safe place to cross the road
Use a safe place to cross the road

'Move Ahead with Street Sense' also gives the following advice to parents regarding child pedestrian safety in the traffic environment:

Children up to eight years old should hold an adult's hand on the footpath, in the car park, or when crossing the road; an adult is defined as a parent, caregiver, grandparent, sibling in high school or older, other relative or neighbour, or other adult as advised by the child's parents/carers

Children up to ten years old should be actively supervised in the traffic environment and should hold an adult's hand when crossing the road

The cartoon provides graphic facts about Children and Safety in the Traffic Environment.

Students travelling on bus to the Sheffield Campus will be dropped off at the Sheffield recreation ground and walk to school. Students will be supported to walk safely to school by school staff, student leaders and Leading Active Community students. Parents and students who walk to school are invited to meet at the ground for the walk to school. Students will commence walking from the recreation ground at approximately 8:30am when the first bus arrives.

School buses will drop Railton students at the Railton cenotaph, where they will be met by school staff. Other Railton students and interested families are welcome to join staff at the cenotaph in Railton for departure at 8.25 for the walk to school.

Primary Fair and Pet Parade

We wish to thank all families for their support of the Primary Fair and Pet Parade on the final day of last term. It was once again a very successful day, aimed at raising funds for the development of our playgrounds.

Thank you to our fantastic support staff who gave their all to ensure the donuts were perfect, the BBQ was cooked on time and lunches were served warm. A special thank you to all of the secondary students who helped with the fair on the day. Without your help the fair would not have run as smoothly as it did!

And finally, to the families who made the Pet Parade such an event. The effort that goes in to transporting pets and preparing costumes truly makes the parade the event that it has become.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the parade.

Most Unusual Pet:

Best Dressed Pet and Owner:

Cutest Easter Pet:

School Canteen

Please do not send lunch orders without money as we do not offer credit at the school canteen. If your child does not have money in their lunch order or forgets their lunch, they need to speak to their teacher who may organise a sandwich for lunch.

In addition, once your child’s lunch has left the canteen, due to health regulations it cannot be returned and we cannot issue a refund. If your child goes home sick you are more than welcome to come to the canteen to collect your child’s lunch order.

School Fundraising

Entertainment books are available for sale through the school with $13 per sale going to the primary school for their fundraising.

The cost is $65 for either a book or digital (mobile app for your smartphone) membership. You will receive lots of money saving opportunities – whether you’re travelling, dining out, getting takeaway, going to the movies, purchasing from Chemist Warehouse or wanting to participate in family activities – you’ll find fabulous savings using your membership.

To purchase please complete the membership form attached and return to either Sheffield or Railton campus office.

For more information please contact Sue (Sheffield campus office) on 6491 8222

Stride

On Monday 15 May and Thursday 18 May the Year 9s will be participating in a classroom program with Stride.

Stride wellbeing programs help students to develop positive social and emotional skills through interactive activities and group discussions. Your child may receive a workbook as part of the program and is encouraged to talk with you about their learning.

For further information about Stride programs please visit the link below or talk with your child’s teacher or year level coordinator.

Community Notices

Junior Tennis Coaching

Latrobe Demons Basketball

Southern Cross Cultural Exchange