29 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Key Dates

Thursday 29 March: Casual Clothes Day (RSPCA)
Friday 30 March – Tuesday 3 April: Easter
Tuesday 10 April: Bravehearts (K – 2) 10am
Wednesday 11 April: Railton Assembly 2pm
Thursday 12 April: Primary School Fair
Friday 13 April: Student Free – Moderation Day
Monday 16 April – Friday 27 April: School Holidays
Wednesday 25 April: ANZAC Day
Monday 30 April: Term 2 Commences

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

This week we held our first assemblies for the term at the Sheffield Campus, with an assembly at the Railton Campus in the final week of term. These assemblies are great opportunities for students to showcase their work, demonstrate leadership and be recognised for their achievements. This year the focus of our awards will be around the demonstration of our new school values; Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Respect for Learning. Parents, friends and community members are most welcome to attend our assemblies and join in the recognition and acknowledgement of student achievements.

Reporting Review

Over the next two weeks a small group of staff representing each sector of the school, and a number of parents from the School Association will commence a review of our current reporting format (mid and end of year) with the view of refining the process and product with the goal of increasing the value of the report for parents and students. Last year we sought feedback from parents in the form of a survey following the mid-year report, this feedback combined with updated department guidelines and staff input will inform the review. If any other parents would like to provide input to this group please contact Miss Pearce who is coordinating the review. Our aim is to come up with a reporting format that will provide the information parents and students seek, as well as reducing the emphasis and time spent on the production of reports by staff which tends to take much of term 2.

Inter-Primary Athletics

Recently a large contingent of 53 primary students represented our school at the NWPSSA inter-primary athletics event. Our students participated extremely well with many students going on to make semi-finals and finals. The following students made it through to the twilight carnival; Jobie Hicks, Sianna Martin, Mackenzie Duraj, Mia Saunders, Emily Wilden, Jordan Burton, Malachi Keen and Sarah Welch. Noteworthy performances included Jobie Hicks finishing second in the year 6 boys 75m final and Hollie Diprose finishing third in the year 4 girls 800m event. Mackenzie Duraj’s performance at the twilight carnival (first in the 100m and 200m year 4 girl’s finals) resulted in her selection to the NWPSSA Athletics Team to compete at the State Primary Athletics event on 11 May in Launceston. Well done to all of the students for your participation in this carnival and for striving to do your very best, you should all be very proud of your efforts!!

Inter-high Swimming Carnival

On 14 March a small group of secondary students represented our school at the inter-high swimming carnival. These students equipped themselves well against students from other high schools with a number of students placing in their events. Well done to all students on the manner in which you represented Sheffield School!

iPad update for year 7-10 students

Unfortunately it has taken much longer than anticipated to configure the school iPads to work on our network. This has been a frustration for students, teachers, our IT technicians and I am sure parents.

Most year 7-9 students have received their iPads now and we hope the year 10 iPads will be distributed before the end of term. We recognise that parents have paid a hire fee for their child to have an iPad for the school year and will compensate this by reducing the hire fee for 2019 and offering our current year 10s the opportunity to buy their iPad at the end of the year at a reduced cost.

Children and Young People’s Advisory Committee

Recently one of our students, Laura Ashby (Yr 8) was advised that she had been successful in her application to hold a position on the State's Children & Young People's Advisory Council. The Advisory Council meets several times throughout the year, and allows the Commissioner to consult with Tasmania's young people on a wide range of issues. Some of the previous topics have included Cyber-bullying and Safety, Sex and Gender in schools, Cultural and Recreational Opportunities for students, and differentiated education and a range of other educational issues. This is the third consecutive year that Laura has represented the youth in our region on this committee. During the year Laura will provide updates in our newsletter on the progress of the committee.

Student Achievement

Congratulations to Ethan Tirant who recently returned from the Australian Boxing Championships with a gold medal in his class and weight division. This is the second year running that Ethan has achieved this feat, a wonderful accomplishment!

Congratulations also to Sharna Dolbey and Sophie Richardson who represented Sheffield School at Northern Eventing Championships on the weekend, Sharna was placed 6th on Simba and 2nd on Tango, Sophie came 7th on Lethal Passion. Fantastic effort girls!

RON DALY
PRINCIPAL

Assembly Awards (Tuesday 27 March)

Class Awards P-6 Assembly

Class Awards 7-10 Assembly

Athletics Carnival

On 20 March a strong team from Sheffield took on the best Primary athletes across the North West in the NWPSSA Twilight athletics championships in Penguin. They all performed fantastically on the day but one young girl from Sheffield School Mackenzie Duraj stood out with her amazing display of speed and power on the running track by winning the 100m and 200m finals comfortably. She has been selected in the North West squad to contest the State Championships on Friday 11 May in Launceston. Well done Mackenzie all of Sheffield will be wishing you the best in your races! Mr Penney will be making the trip with the team to ensure Mackenzie and all the North West team perform at their absolute best.

Autism Australia

Information Sessions for Parents and Family Carers

Cambodia Volunteering Team

Last year we had a selection process involving applications and interviews to be selected to be a part of the third global volunteering experience for our school. We leave in October for a two week experience volunteering and exploring the culture of Cambodia.

The confirmed team for the 2018 Cambodia Volunteering trip are:

Alex Diprose, Ethan Duff, Alannah Jones, Breona Roetz, Chloe Currie, Caitlyn Loane

At the end of last year the team decided on a figure of $5000 for our goal to fundraise. This money will be used to buy school supplies and donated to the schools we visit. We will be staying at the Samrong Children’s farm for four nights. The money will go towards the education of orphaned and impoverished children living at the farm. At the farm they are taught sustainable living through the agricultural lessons at the farm as well as English and mathematics.

So far, through the recent Pie Drive we ran and our collection tins located at various business, we have raised just over $1300. Future fundraising events are a Mother’s Day Plant Stall to be held in the High School corridor on Friday 11 May, a movie night at CMAX cinema, a cake stall and a raffle, just to name a few. These events will be well publicised for those who would like to attend and we appreciate your support.

If classes or students would like to be involved in this opportunity, please discuss your ideas with our team members, or Mrs Bransden and Mrs Maddick. In the past our Cambodia teams have taken over items made by our students and classes, and the Cambodian children have been delighted to think students from Australia care about them. Examples of things made by classes include – stain glass window crafts, little handmade soft toys, drawings.

We look forward to sharing with you the developments of our fundraising in all upcoming newsletters leading up to our departure in October.

Back row: Ethan Duff, Breona Roetz, Caitlyn Loane, Alex Diprose. Front Row: Alannah Jones, Chloe Currie

Cooking with Kids

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.

LiFT

Ryder Brown was the winner of our lucky door prize from our Open Classroom Afternoon Tea, held on Wednesday 14 March. This was a great opportunity for parents and teachers to catch up and look at what students have been working on as well as enjoy a yummy afternoon tea thanks to our fantastic catering team! This was our first LiFT event for 2018. Kai-Raymond McCall was the lucky prize recipient from our Railton Campus.

National Walk Safely to School Day (Friday 18 May)

Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 18 May 2018.

National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children. Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking also has a favourable impact on their cognitive and academic performance.

The annual event, now in its 19th year, encourages primary school aged children to build walking into their daily routine, by walking to and from school, not just on Friday 18 May, but every day.

Primary Basketball

The Year 1/2 Primary Basketball roster is played on Wednesday nights up to 20 June.

Both Year 3/4 and 5/6 play Friday nights, concluding on 29 June.

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

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

Please note that due to regulations regarding the sale of fruit we will not be selling fruit (whole) or fruit salad until advised that it is safe to do so.

School Nurse

There has been a case of chickenpox in our school this week. If your child has not had chickenpox before it is possible that he/she will catch it. If they have been immunised it is unlikely but still possible to get a milder version of it.

School Property

Just a reminder that animals are not allowed on school property, we have had some instances of children having to deal with animal faeces which is a health hazard for students.

Social Media

SRC Report

The year 10 Student Representative Council has had a blast to start off the year. We have been putting ourselves out of our comfort zone and trying new things and planning events to run across the school.

So far this year we have placed new recycling bins along the secondary corridor and we have also invited both the Secondary SRC and the Primary SRC to join us in our meetings. During this time, we got to know each other and talk about any feedback or ideas that we would like to do throughout the school to feel more involved.

On Monday 26 March the eight Year 10 SRC students headed to Burnie to participate in the first of three leadership learning sessions run by UTas. This turned out to be a wonderful experience which all of us enjoyed being a part of and we hope future Year 10 SRC will have the chance to experience this fantastic opportunity.

On Thursday (today) we are holding our first fundraiser of the year. This is a casual clothes day to raise money and awareness for our focus this year, the RSPCA. Thanks to everyone for showing their support and wearing their favourite clothes for a gold coin.

Congratulations to everyone who made it onto the 2018 Student Representative Council. We all look forward to working with you and involving you in events throughout the fun year to come. Alysha Mulholland

Community Notices

Auskicks

Bus Route 95 – Merseylink

(Sheffield/Railton to Latrobe and Devonport)

Devon Netball Association

Netball Players - Aged 9 and 10

Primary Winter Roster

Secondary Winter Roster

HIPPY

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.

Railton Outdoor Cinema Event

Riverbend Youth Centre

Riverbend Kids Camps – April 2018

Splash Devonport Aquatic and Leisure Centre