21 December 2017

Newsletter Articles

Key Dates

Thursday 21 December – Year 10 Assembly.
Thursday 21 December – Last day of term (students).
Tuesday 30 January 2018 – Book Sales, Railton (9am – 1.30pm).
Wednesday 31 January 2018 – Book Sales, Sheffield (8am – 1pm).
Thursday 1 February 2018 – Book Sales, Sheffield (1pm – 6pm).
Wednesday 7 February 2018 – Term 1 commences.

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Presentation Day

Our Presentation Assembly last Tuesday was very well supported by our Federal and State politicians, Kentish Councillors, representatives from local organisations, parents and community members. The local business community is extremely generous in its sponsorship of our school for which we are extremely thankful, and it was pleasing to see so many community members participate in the assembly by presenting awards.

The achievements of our students were celebrated in a photostory, my report, and in the presentation of awards. All in attendance appreciated the quality of achievements by our award winners. Well done to Balin Puccetti who won the Thomas Alexander Memorial Award for the best year 10 results. Congratulations to all of our other award winners, listed within the newsletter.

Congratulations to our newly elected 2018 Year 10 Student Representative Councillors.

• Billie Chatterton
• Chloe Currie
• Samantha Denby
• Catie Loane
• Alysha Mulholland
• Takisha Norris
• Breona Roetz
• Kasey Woods

To those parents of year 10 students who now end their association with the school, thank you for your support over the years and for allowing us at Sheffield School the privilege of being a part of shaping your child’s development to where they are today; terrific young citizens, equipped with knowledge, skills, and personal traits that will hold them in good stead in the years to come.

Reports

Reports were sent home with students last Friday; all students have been assessed against the assessment standards of the Australian Curriculum in the core areas of learning. A reminder to parents that a C rating is the standard required for each year, hard to achieve, but achievable for most students with consistent work and effort. The report also included a front cover page that includes attendance information for your child, the year group, and the school and state/sector average. I hope you find this information useful.

Staffing 2018

Each year we farewell a number of staff, and this year is no exception.

Mr Tony Hays will be taking leave for the first half of 2018, we wish him well and look forward to his return term 3.

Miss Amy-Rose Langmaid, Ms Kristine Carmody and Miss Annie Williams have all completed fixed term roles at Sheffield in the second part of the year, we thank them for their contributions to their learning areas and wish them well in the future.

Mrs Kate Jackson is reducing her teaching load for next year so will no longer be teaching Japanese at Sheffield. We thank Mrs Jackson for her commitment to teaching LOTE at our school and wish her well in the future.

Mr Newton Maddick, Mrs Teresa Bentley and Mr Danny Bentley have all resigned from the Department to pursue new opportunities. Both Mr Maddick and Mr Bentley, two very skilled and committed Teacher Assistants have supported many students during their time at Sheffield and will be sorely missed. Mrs Bentley has had an enormous impact in the Visual Arts and Drama areas over a long period of time at Sheffield, and we certainly wish her well in her new position at Geneva.

Miss Anita Richards has won a substantive Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) position at Latrobe Primary School for 2018. This is a fantastic and well deserved result for Miss Richards. Miss Richards has contributed so much to the upper primary area of our school over her time at Sheffield, apart from being a fantastic classroom teacher she has acted in AST roles demonstrating considerable leadership, we wish her well in her new appointment.

Mrs Lynda Wallace will be transferring to Miandetta Primary School, Mrs Wallace is an exemplary Early Childhood teacher and has contributed significantly to, and demonstrated excellent leadership in the Early Learning area during her time at Sheffield. We wish her well in her new appointment.

Mrs Charmaine Butcher, has indicated she will retire at the end of term 1 next year, following her current period of leave. Mrs Butcher has been employed in the Department for nearly 25 years; we have been very fortunate to have had Mrs Butcher as our School Business Manager (SBM) for the last 10 years of that time. During this period Mrs Butcher has managed the facilities and finances of the school in an astute and efficient manner. We wish her a happy and healthy retirement and thank her for the excellent contribution she has made to both the Department and the Sheffield School.

As a result of some of the above staffing movements there will be some changes in regard to class teacher allocations and teaching loads. At this stage I am also still in the process of recruiting staff for a number of positions. There may also be some senior staff changes, all of this information will be confirmed in the first newsletter next year.

Congratulations and thank you to all staff and students for a terrific year; have an enjoyable and safe holiday period and I look forward to the commencement of an exciting year ahead in 2018.

RON DALY
PRINCIPAL

Arts Concert Evening

On Thursday evening 7 December over 60 students performed in front of a packed audience.

A wide variety of acts, with students from all P-10 year levels were represented, including choir, piano/violin/recorder/guitar and vocal solos, taiko drums, rock bands, electronic music, drum kit duet, musical comedy skit and beatboxing were on display.

I could not be prouder of all the students who performed, they displayed confidence (despite nerves) in themselves and their performance.

The visual arts display was also a huge success, with representations not only from individual artists but also beautiful wood work pieces, very yummy looking cakes and gingerbread houses and creative instrument designs.

Well done to all!

End of Year Awards

iPad Provision Years 7-10

In the 2018 school year we will be offering iPad hire to our students in years 7-10. Year 7 students will receive a new iPad and year 8-10s will be reissued the iPad they have previously hired. All secondary students also have the option to bring their own device to school through the Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Policy which will be available to students upon request.

Student will have the option of hiring the same device each year for an annual fee of $50. At the end of year 10, students will have the option of paying an additional sum of money and own their device outright, this means the total cost will have been $250.

More detailed information about school iPads is attached below (iPad Provision). A hire agreement form will be available to parents at book sales and parents will have the option to pay the annual hire fee at book sales. iPads will be issued to students at the commencement of term 1 and collected in the last week of the school year.

Railton Class Awards – 19 December

School Levies/Book Sales 2018

• Kindergarten  -  $180
• Prep – Year 2  -  $220
• Year 3 – Year 6  -  $250
• Year 7 – Year 12  -  $450
  (this does not include iPad Hire for Years 7 – 10 which will be invoiced separately)

Levies can be paid at the office during “School Book Days”. The dates for 2018 are:

• Railton Campus Tuesday 30 January between 9.00 am 1.30 pm
• Sheffield Campus Wednesday 31 January 8am – 1pm and Thursday 1 February 1pm - 6pm.

Stationery packs for Kinder to Year 12 can be collected at the same time.

There has been no increase in school levies for 2018, invoices will be mailed out during the school holidays. Payments of accounts can be made at Service Tasmania, via BPay or at either the Sheffield or Railton school office.

Parents and guardians should be aware that there is a range of financial assistance schemes available to them which is means tested. Application forms are available from the school office.

School Uniform

School uniform items are available all year from both Sheffield and Railton campuses including 2018 book sales days. Uniform prices remain unchanged from 2017 and in addition we are now stocking the yellow senior (unisex) school shirt. See the attached brochure for uniform information.

Community Notices

Bike Riding Group

Assistance for students over 5 who would like help riding their bike.

BoxWorld

A model city made almost entirely out of recycled materials.

On display at Don College in December and January school holidays.

Check the Website for dates and times:

Bus Route 95 – Merseylink

(Sheffield/Railton to Latrobe and Devonport)

Kentish Family Support House

Learn How to Surf – Surfgroms

Linc Summer Reading Club

Meningococcl W Vaccine – FREE for 15-19 year olds.

FREE immunisation available at Don Medical Clinic for this age group until April 2018, phone 6441 5299 to book.

The meningococcal W vaccination program was implemented in August 2017 for 15 to 19 year olds. DHHS Public Health Services encourages GPs to offer the vaccine opportunistically to eligible teenagers who attend practices and to invite 18 and 19 year olds to receive the free vaccine.

The program will continue until 30 April 2018, beyond that young people will have to pay for the vaccine.

Students in Grade 10 in 2018 will be offered the vaccine in term 1 through the school-based immunisation program.

Positive Partnership

Free one day workshop for parents and carers – Wed 7 March 2018

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