Dear families

Term 3 has got off to a busy start.  We hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday and that all students are prepared for a positive and productive term, with warmer weather and longer days hopefully not too far away.

It is terrific to see our production of Mamma Mia coming together and students being so engaged in their learning.  We are seeing students demonstrating good growth and being courageous as they develop their performance skills. Students in the production were able to travel to Launceston yesterday to see Launceston College’s Once Apon a One More Time.  Our students were a fantastic, supportive audience and relished the opportunity to see Year 11 and 12 students perform at a high level in front of large audiences. Experiences such as these do help to build our students skills and understanding of importance of performing arts in our culture.

Book Week 16 – 23 August

We love to see our students reading and sharing book recommendations with staff and students.  We are fortunate to have an outstanding Library run by Mrs Bryan and Mrs Mahoney with so many great books available including lots of new releases. We are looking forward to Book Week with Home Groups starting to decorate their door  based on the theme they have selected – this year’s theme is Book an Adventure.  We also encourage everyone to dress up on Friday 23 August either in their class book theme or as a favourite character.

Mrs Butler and Miss Walker are excited to be offering Readers Cup this year where we will see some friendly rivalry between grades based on reading they have done and challenges they are set.  We have grade teams entered and look forward to sharing information about this in our next newsletter.

Year 10 Exams

Year 10 exams will commence in Week 5 with English on Monday 18 August, Science on Tuesday 19 August and Maths on Wednesday 20 August. Please note that these exams are not weighted but serve as an additional piece of evidence to help teachers make balanced judgments about students’ academic progress at the end of the year. The exam process also helps prepare students for Year 11/12 by teaching valuable skills in exam study and preparation. Thank you to families in supporting your child’s study and commitment to doing their very best.

NAPLAN Reports Years 7 and 9

Reports for Years 7 and 9 were posted home last week. We have begun to examine our NAPLAN data. Whilst this is one set of data collected in a week of testing for students, we do look at NAPLAN data in relation to our Australian Curriculum data and PAT (Progressive Achievement Test) data.  This helps us to identify where our students are at and look at supports we can put in place with students to help build their literacy and numeracy skills during their high school education.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Uniform

Thank you to families for ensuring that students are wearing their school uniform. This is an important part of students being a part our Scottsdale High School community and something that we take pride in as a school. This is also a safety issue as we need to be able to identify who belongs here on school grounds and having students in full school uniform allows us to do this. School uniform also ensures equity amongst students in relation to what they wear to school. We are also aware of the financial burdens that exist at times and can assist families with uniforms if needed. Please contact the school if assistance is needed.

If students are not in school uniform, they will be offered a school top to wear for the day.

We really appreciate the ongoing support of parents who send their children in full school uniform, helping to uphold the expectations we have at Scottsdale High.

Attendance - Every school day matters.

Regular attendance (i.e. 90% and above) is encouraged to maximise learning opportunities. 

If your child is unwell, they need to stay home. However, if your child is well enough to attend school, they should be at school. Every day, Monday to Friday. Scottsdale High School monitors attendance closely. Please let the office know when your child will be absent.

The reality of missing school is not good. Data shows us that regular school attendance is one of the best things a child can do to set them up for success. But if they don’t attend, things get harder for them. Data shows that:

• If your child misses even just one day a fortnight, that adds up to 20 days of the school year. That’s the same as missing four whole weeks of school for the year.
• If they miss one day a week, that doubles to eight weeks of the school year they will miss nearly a term of learning!
• Over the course of their childhood, this would equate to two and a half years of vital education they will never receive.

The data also tells us the better a child’s attendance rate, the better their future will be, and they will experience more opportunities.

School is where they learn and grow alongside their friends, and where they benefit the most. By going to school, students have academic success, but also build important social skills, routines, relationships and confidence.

By helping your child regularly attend school you are setting them up with good habits for life.

If your child is struggling to get to school, help is available. Please contact the school to discuss.

School buses – Reminder of the Passenger Conduct Code

Our bus drivers play a critical role in ensuring our students travel to and from school safely.  It is important that our students are respectful towards our drivers and fellow student passengers, respect the bus and follow the Passenger Conduct Code. All students deserve to feel safe while travelling on buses. We do work with our bus contractors and drivers if students do not adhere to this Code.

The Code provides the following information regarding standards of student behaviour:

• Students and parents/carers are responsible for the safe arrival at, and departure from bus stops, and while boarding and disembarking the bus. The attitude and behaviours of students not only affect their own safety and wellbeing, but also the comfort, safety and wellbeing of others.

Safe behaviour when waiting for the bus

• Leave home with plenty of time to get to the bus stop, and always walk on the footpath where possible.
• Wait at the stop until your bus arrives, even if the bus is running late.
• Remain quiet and orderly while waiting for the bus, including at bus interchanges.
• Buses have an over-hang at the front. This means that when the bus is pulling into the stop the front of the bus might come up over the footpath slightly. This is why you must:
• Stand well back from the road when waiting for the bus (one metre or more where possible).
• Wait until the bus stops completely before approaching the door.
• Allow other passengers to leave the bus before stepping onto the bus in a single line.

Safe behaviour on board the bus

• Always treat the driver with respect. They have the important job of getting you and others to and from school safely.
• Speak quietly and do not create unnecessary noise that may distract the driver. If playing music, use headphones or keep it at a low volume.
• Move towards the back of the bus (or as instructed by the bus driver) and take your seat. Remain in your seat, wear a seatbelt where seatbelts are fitted, and do not move around the bus unnecessarily.
• If you do not have a seat, move toward the back of the bus and hold on to the handgrip.
• School bags should be placed under the seat, in the racks, or on your lap. They must not block the aisles, doors or emergency exits.
• Make sure you know where the emergency exit is in case you ever need to use it.
• Always show care, courtesy and common sense while travelling on the bus, including using appropriate language when speaking to other passengers. Swearing is not tolerated or acceptable behaviour on the school bus.
• Always keep your feet on the ground and your limbs within the bus.
• Take all rubbish with you when leaving the bus.
• Avoid eating or drinking except for medical reasons or where the bus driver gives you permission.
• Report any vandalism of the bus to your driver when it is safe to do so.
• Sit in a designated seat if instructed by the bus driver.

Safe behaviour when leaving the bus

• Wait until the bus has stopped before moving to exit the bus. Be aware of outside conditions at your stop and exit in an orderly fashion.
• Once you are off the bus, stand back from the road and the bus.
• Never cross the road until the bus has moved away and you can see clearly in all directions.
• Cross the road where and when it is safe to do so, use crossings/traffic lights where available.
• If an adult meets you at the bus stop, make sure they have read the special safety message below.

What to do in an emergency

• Stay calm and listen to all instructions given by the bus driver and follow them closely.
• If the driver is hurt, leave the bus, assemble in a group in a safe place away from the bus, dial 000 and wait for help to arrive.
• If someone on your bus is hurt or ill, tell the driver where they are and what is wrong with them. Do not move the person who is hurt.

Further information can be accessed at Passenger conduct code for school bus services

Elizabeth Williams

Principal

Year 11 and 12 students were presented with their Barry Jarvis Scholarships from the Dorset Council. The aim of these scholarships is to support young people to continue their education at Scottsdale High School. Congratulations Monique, Billy and Molly!

Growing Futures in Hospitality.

This exciting ten week program, which is industry-led, is designed to give these students real world insights into the hospitality sector.

So far, students have completed Responsible Service of Alcohol training (TasTAFE), heard from Darren at Hospitality Tasmania on the employment pathways available in Hospitality and under Tyler's supervision have started to build on their understanding of food safety in the kitchen.

Thankyou to Dorset Employment Connect for bringing this program to our local area.

Our Year 7 students have been studying a unit on Earth and Space in Science. Students had a fantastic excursion to Launceston to the Planetarium and Queen Victoria Museum to further their knowledge by exploring several different interactive exhibitions related to Australia’s involvement in space. They also enjoyed a 30-minute session in the new state of the art Planetarium. Our students were excellent ambassadors for our school demonstrating respect, curiosity and responsibility. Thanks to Mr Wootton for his organisation and to our staff who attended.

Below is a report of the excursion by Mayah:

On Wednesday, 23 July, all year seven students went on an excursion to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. We were accompanied by Miss Knott, Mr Wootton, Mr Buechner, Mr Le Fevre, and Jess to end our science unit.

After arriving at the QVMAG, we split into two groups. One group headed straight into the planetarium, while the other ran around like headless chooks, trying to complete the worksheet before everyone else. After forty-five minutes, we swapped activities.

The worksheets were a fun way to mix learning with adventure. Each one had about 10 questions that we answered by exploring the exhibits and filling in the blanks. It turned the whole museum into a giant puzzle! On the bus ride home, Mr. Wootton tallied up the scores to see who came out on top. In group one, Meredith and Charlotte were crowned the winners. In group two, victory went to Khloe and Mason R.

After all the running around, group one was starving, so they walked to River Bend Park and ate/ played. Group two met them there shortly after. After a while, a few students discovered the swings you clip in, and even Miss Knott couldn’t resist joining in the fun.

At some stage, the fun had to stop, and everyone loaded back on the bus

Overall, it was a fun getaway that we won’t forget.

Thank you to MAIB for funding another 28 students and 2 staff to complete their First Aid course. Students from Years 10-12 completed the course at our Trade Training Centre and learned life saving skills, and received their certificate as well as 4 TCE points.  MAIB has funded this course for three years now and it is a very valuable part of our learning programs. 

Hospitality Academy learnt how to make the iconic Australian lamington today.

And they ‘nailed’ it