1 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Key Dates

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
Thursday 12 April: Primary School Fair
Friday 13 April: Student Free – Moderation Day
Monday 16 April – Friday 27 April: School Holidays

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the new school year, since returning from a short period of leave during week 2 I have been really pleased with the way the students have settled into their learning and on the whole the positive and supportive interactions occurring with one another as well as with staff.

Attendance

Last newsletter detailed information regarding expectations for student attendance and the process for follow up of absences was provided. These changes are a direct result of modifications to the Education Act and the obligations of the school to work with our school community to ensure all students are here at school unless for a reason mentioned under the authorised absences list, i.e. sickness.

As a part of the school’s obligation to follow up unexplained absences, a member of our administration team will commence a twice weekly cycle of phone calls to parents who have not explained student absences.

Our preference is obviously for there to be no need to make these phone calls and for parents to notify the school of the reason for their child’s absence in a timely manner by way of the following methods;

email sheffield@education.tas.gov.au
telephone - 6491 8222
the Schoolzine app
a note to the school/child’s teacher
a response to school SMS.

Uniform

On the whole students have presented really well in their uniform to date. There are still a small number of students, particularly secondary that are not in uniform on a regular basis (especially in relation to a non-school jumper/jacket). Parents please ensure students are wearing their uniform to school, this helps to strengthen that sense of community and connectedness to school. There is also an element of safety, in that staff are then able to easily identify within the school grounds anyone who is not a part of the student body due to their casual attire. If students are not in uniform they may be provided with a shirt to wear for the day. If families are finding it difficult to provide uniforms for their children please contact the school for assistance.

Swimming Carnival

Last Friday we held our annual swimming carnival at the Splash Aquatic Centre in Devonport. It was great to see many students participating and enjoying themselves in what can only be described as trying conditions. An extended report and results will be provided in our first assemblies. Thank you to those parents, family and friends who were able to attend and support their children. Finally a thank you to all staff, particularly Mr Penney, Mr Humphrey and Mrs van Tienen for the organisation of the carnival.

Staffing

Since our last newsletter there have been a number of updates to our staffing.

Kate Boxhall will be joining us as our Social Worker two days per week (Monday and Tuesday). Ms Boxhall takes over from Gabby Volmer and will continue to provide important support to students and families at our school.

Mrs Karen Richardson will commence at Sheffield on 12 March in the position of Raising the Bar Literacy Coach. Mrs Richardson replaces Mrs Turnbull who was appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Nixon Street Primary School late last year. I look forward to the contribution and leadership Mrs Richardson will provide during her time at Sheffield. She is a highly skilled teacher with significant leadership experience in areas that are currently school priorities for us.

Finally I would like to remind our school community that we now have a School Health Nurse, Barbie Dyer. Barbie will be in the school 5 days a fortnight (Monday, Tuesday and alternate Wednesdays from after Easter; Thursdays up until then). Some of the services Barbie will provide include: hearing and vision screening; developmental checks; local, state and national health promotion initiatives; health education aligned with the Australian Curriculum; and drop in clinics for students.

RON DALY
PRINCIPAL

Australian Government Mobile Service

Fruit Fly Biosecurity Information

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.

Music News

On Thursday 15 February, students in the Musical Minds option had a guest artist attend the class.

James Ross is a guitarist, vocalist and composer who was on tour in the state.

Students had the benefit of James performing for the group as well as listening to how his musical journey has developed, how he deals with performing and some composition techniques. Students had prepared questions and James took the time to answer all. It was wonderful to see some students take the opportunity to perform for him.

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 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.

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

Please contact the school on 6491 8222 if you have any queries.

Primary School Fair

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 Photos

School photos will take place on Monday 20 March, with a further ‘catch up’ day on Tuesday 21 March dedicated to Kinder Moles, Kinder/Prep Van der Velde students and students who were away on the Monday. Leading Image, who have continued to provide a high quality service, have again been enlisted to take our photos this year.

Look out for order envelopes which will be coming home with students next week. If you wish to order school photos please return this envelope to school, with correct payment prior to Photo Day. Order envelopes can be passed to class teachers or directly to the office. Payment can also be made on Leading Image’s website. Instructions for ordering online can be found on the order envelopes. Please note that the school does not handle any money or accept payments on Leading Image’s behalf.

Any queries should be directed to Leading Image on 1300 084 586; or via email at info@leadingimage.com.au

Over the past few years, family photos have been taken in the afternoon session of School Photo day. In recent years however, the number of family photos being taken has grown significantly and results in long waits for students. In the interests of being more efficient in this area and reducing the amount of time students spend out of class waiting for photos to be taken, we would like to offer parents the opportunity to bring their children for family photos before school on Monday 20 March between 8.00am and 9:00am at both campuses. We will still make arrangements for those families who are unable to bring their children in at that time, to have their photo taken during the school day. A return slip, asking you to indicate your preference/intention regarding Family Photos will accompany the School Photo Envelope.

A timetable for family photos will be advertised in the next newsletter and will also be published on our facebook page and the student daily news the week prior.

Families who do not place an order prior to school photo day will be given a second chance to order, via a new form which will be distributed when photos are returned to school.

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 five 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.

Meetings will take place once a term on a Tuesday night at 7.00pm in the Year 11/12 Room.

If you would like to nominate for a position on the Sheffield School Association please complete the form below and return to Sheree Rodman, Returning Officer at Sheffield School. sheffield@education.tas.gov.au by Tuesday 20 March 2018.

If election of any positions are required, they will occur on Thursday 22 March 2018.

The AGM and General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 March 2018.

Community Notices

Bus Route 95 – Merseylink

(Sheffield/Railton to Latrobe and Devonport)

Devon Netball Association

Netball Players - Aged 9 and 10

We have a great opportunity for a Devon Net Set Go team to participate in a round robin competition as part of the Tasmanian Invitational Netball Series (TNIS).

This round robin will be played before the Northern Ireland v Wales practice match as they lead into the Commonwealth Games.

WHEN: Tuesday 27 March 2018
WHERE: Silverdome – Launceston
ARRIVAL TIME: 4.30pm to 7pm
TICKETS: 2 x tickets will be provided to the participant and the accompanying parent/guardian and are valid for the Northern Ireland v Wales practice match that night.

If you would like a chance to be part of this team we will be having a training / selection session on Monday March 5 - be ready to start training at 5.30-6.30pm at the Devon Netball Centre

Primary Winter Roster

Secondary Winter Roster

Family Day Care

Kentish Family Support House

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 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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Riverbend Youth Centre

Riverbend Kids Camps – April 2018

Rural Clinical School Information Session

An information evening for year 10, 11 and 12 students who are interested in a career in the health industry.

Saver Plus

Splash Devonport Aquatic and Leisure Centre