14 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

Key Dates

Tuesday 20 February:  Breakfast BBQ (LiL), Railton (9am)
Wednesday 21 February:  Immunisation forms due (Years 7, 10, 11, 12)
Thursday 22 February:  Sausage Sizzle (LiL), Sheffield (11.30am)
Friday 23 February:  Swimming Carnival (Years 3 – 10) at Splash
Wednesday 7 March – Friday 9 March:  Year 7 Camp (Payton Park)
Monday 12 March:  Public Holiday – 8-Hour Day
Wednesday 14 March:  NWPSSA Athletics Carnival
Thursday 15 March:  Immunisations (Year 7, 10)
Monday 19 March:  School Photos
Tuesday 20 March:  School Photo Make Up Day
Friday 30 March – Tuesday 3 April:  Easter
Friday 13 April:  Student Free – Moderation Day
Monday 16 April – Friday 27 April:  School Holidays

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

A very warm welcome to the 2018 school year. I hope everyone enjoyed some time together over the holiday period, celebrating, relaxing and recharging ready for another busy year of learning! Students have made a positive start, adapting to their new classrooms and settling into their learning. A special welcome to all new students and their families; we are confident you will find our school offers a wide range of learning opportunities.

This year we welcome a number of new staff to our school; Mrs Belinda Mason will be sharing a Prep-1 class with Mrs Sharon Allen who returns from leave, Miss Monique Dean who will teach Year 8 and 9 Humanities, Mr Grant Penney and Mr Ben Humphrey join our HPE team, Mr Callan Morse Year 7A, Mrs Cindy Skirving will teach Food Technology, Mrs Nikki Jackson joins our Administration staff and Mr Josh Tomè takes on a Teacher Assistant role predominately in the MDT workshop.

Over the summer holiday the main entrance at the Sheffield campus has undergone a redevelopment with a ramp to access the building. This new addition, along with the location of our signage, will help to more clearly identify this as the entrance to our school. Other minor works carried out include a freshen-up of our buildings with an overdue pressure clean and some ongoing painting of the exterior buildings.

Once again, past students from Sheffield School have continued to excel and were recognised at the Don College Celebration of Excellence Evening. Congratulations to Ayden Grey, Jordan Winwood, Hayley Rowland, Kaiden Frankcombe and Jacob East who received Subject Awards. Ella Bishop, Jesse Eberle, Josie De Boer and Jacob East were recognised in the Vocational Education and Training Awards. Demi Bird received two level 3 Pre-tertiary Subject Awards. In the Major Awards section Zayna Mulholland received an Academic Merit Award. These students are wonderful examples of what can be achieved by setting learning goals and giving your best effort.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are not to be taken into classrooms. The use of these devices, especially social media, are a distraction to teaching and learning. If students need to have a device at school, it needs to be in their locker or placed in the lockable container that is provided by teachers in the classroom. A copy of our Technology Policy is attached and I encourage you to make yourself aware of this information. Students are free to use their device at break times. If parents need to contact their children during the school day they can do so through the School Office 64918222. Schools in our neighbouring area have adopted a similar stance in relation to mobile phone usage. It is pleasing to report that our students have responded in a mature and cooperative manner.

iPads

Year 7-10 students will soon be issued with their iPads. This technology is an important tool for learning and provides students with access to their school work beyond the classroom. These devices will have some updated education department settings installed that restrict the content that can be installed by students. The devices are provided to enhance learning, rather than as a recreational tool. It is important that iPads are at school every day. Lockers are provided for each student and should be used for storing devices when not in use. As 2017-18 iPads are particularly expensive to repair, we have invested in a heavy duty case to provide additional protection. Please encourage your child to keep this in a well-protected place in their school bag to reduce the potential for damage.

Immunisations

Year 7, 10 and 11-12 Students will be receiving information regarding the government immunisation program for 2018. Please consider this carefully and return these forms to your child's class coordinator by Wednesday 21 February 2018.

School Crossings

School drop of and pick up times are particularly busy and it is important that the appropriate drop off and pick up locations are used by everyone. Please ensure your child uses the School Crossings before and after school. Drivers please be aware of crossings and speed zones.

Swimming Carnival Years 3-10

The Sheffield School Swimming Carnival will be held at SPLASH Aquatic Centre Devonport on Friday 23 February. Parents and families are welcome to attend as spectators, admission is free.

JAMIE SKIRVING
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

2018 SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The Sheffield School Swimming carnival will be held at the Devonport Splash Aquatic Centre on Friday 23 February. The carnival will involve students from years 3 – 10 from both Sheffield and Railton Campuses. 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 event and indicate approximate commencement times.

PRIMARY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

SECONDARY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

Biosecurity information regarding the detection of Fruit Fly in Tasmania

The Sheffield School including the Railton campus, is within the formally declared Control Zone. A map and more detailed information for schools is attached.

What this means for Sheffield School:

Whole fruit grown in backyards within the control zone should not be taken from these sites, therefore this produce should not be taken to school. However, home grown fruit can be cut up into fruit salad and taken to school.

Fruit from outside the control zone can be bought to school but cannot be taken back outside this control zone.

Fruit disposal - there are bins provided at each sector of the school for disposal of all fruit and waste that comes onto site.

This will be double bagged and disposed of correctly.

Education Act: NEW Attendance Procedures

As indicated in previous newsletters, there is a new, limited set of circumstances where a student can be excused from daily attendance. Any circumstance for student absence that is not listed below, will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised absence’.

Previously, a student could be excused from attendance by the Principal for any ‘reasonable cause’, however, principals are no longer legally able to do this.

The circumstances for which a student absence can be authorised include:

Parents/Guardians can object to students participating in school activities, with written notice i.e. religious or cultural events. If the student is away for the whole day, and no other supervision is possible to enable the student still to attend, this absence can also be ‘authorised’.

Following the guidelines provided in the new Education Act, our school has reviewed our processes and procedures for explaining student absences. In the first instance however, we encourage all parents/guardians to continue to notify the school of student absences through any one of a number of methods:

Further detail regarding our follow up processes for student absence can be found in the chart below.

Launching into Learning (LiL)

Primary Basketball

The Year 1/2 Primary Basketball roster begins 14 March and is played on Wednesday nights up to 20 June. Both Year 3/4 and 5/6 rosters begin 9 March and is played on a Friday nights, concluding on 29 June.

Matches are not played in school holidays, and are played at the Devonport Recreation Centre.

The cost of participating in this competition is:

$80 for students born from 2009 to 2011
$90 for children born in 2007 or 2008
$95 for children born from 2004 to 2006.

If your child is already registered for a basketball club, the fee is reduced to $50.

Registration is online, via the link below.

Alternatively, registration nights are being held at the meeting room (next to the Youth Centre) on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 February 4pm to 5.30pm.

Online registrations with payment close on Wednesday 21 February.

We will require coaches for all teams entered, if you are interested please do not hesitate to contact the school on 6491 8222 during school hours. Without coaches, the entering of teams is not possible.

School Bus Timetables

Some school bus timetables and routes changed at the start of the 2018 school year.

To assist parents and students, the Department of State Growth has launched a new dedicated webpage with detailed information on the changes.

The website lists all changes by region and school, and interactive maps showing the revised routes and timetables for the services that have been affected, together with contact details for the relevant operator if parents want to confirm any details.

School Canteen

Menus for term 1. Please note that due to regulations regarding the sale of fruit we will not be selling fruit (whole) until advised that it is safe to do so - however fruit salad (Sheffield Campus) and fruit cups (Railton Campus) are still available.

School Uniform

School uniform items that are available all year via the school offices:  Primary School jacket, polo top and hats from both Sheffield and Railton campuses. Secondary School jackets and lemon unisex shirts from Sheffield Campus. 

Sheffield School Association

The School Association gives parents, guardians, community members, students and staff an opportunity to participate in setting future directions for the school, making decisions and developing policies that ensure our students engage in a high quality of education. This year we have 5 vacancies for parent/guardians and two for the community positions. Parent and guardians of a student are automatically parent members and are entitled to nominate for a parent position and to vote should an election be required. Being a member of the School Association is a worthwhile and effective way to be involved in the school community and to ensure that we provide an education for our students that will foster in them a desire for life-long learning. The Annual General Meeting will be held in March and will be preceded by an election early in the month. Thank you for giving this matter your consideration.

More information will be available in the next newsletter.

Kate Haberle - Secretary, Sheffield School Association

Community Notices

Basketball Fundraiser for Cancer

Bus Route 95 – Merseylink

(Sheffield/Railton to Latrobe and Devonport)

Devon Netball Association

Primary Winter Roster

Secondary Winter Roster

Family Day Care

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.  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 Year 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 – Wednesday 7 March 2018

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Saver Plus

Tech Steps Dance Studio

Tech Steps Dance Studio is affiliated with Ballet Australasia Limited and offer exams in Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop as well as productions and eisteddfod participation.

We accept students from ages three to adult and offer classes in jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary as well as solo and duet work. We also offer extended examinations that lead into a career path in dance teaching.