Welcome back to Term 4 – we hope you had a great break. We are already heading into week 4 of what is a very busy and exciting term.   Throughout this Term, we continue to work with our students on our values that align with the Department’s values – connection, respect, responsibility, courage and growth.

It is fantastic to see so many of our students looking smart wearing their school uniform. We are excited to have the new Scottsdale High School Fleece tops available from purchase from the office for $60.00. Feedback from students and families was that the hoodies are not warm enough and through input from our Student Leadership Board and School Association, we now have the new tops for students to wear that are warmer and look much smarter!

Student Wellbeing Survey – student results

The recent Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey results at Scottsdale High School have shown positive growth for our students!  The data highlights improvements in areas such as school belonging, peer belonging and feeling safe at school.  92% of our students indicated High to Medium wellbeing in relation to absence of physical bullying, 87% of students indicated High to Medium wellbeing for absence of social bullying and 94% of students indicated High to Medium wellbeing for absence of cyberbullying. Students reported feeling more supported by their peers and teachers, which has contributed to a more positive school environment. Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in students’ motivation and engagement in their learning along with their emotional engagement with teachers.  These encouraging results underscore the effectiveness of our ongoing efforts to foster a supportive and engaging learning atmosphere at Scottsdale High School.

PAT Testing

Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) are being carried out with all students from the 23rd of October to the 8^th November.  These tests, mandated by the Department of Education, Children, and Young People (DECYP) are designed to collect evidence as to where students are in their learning and monitor student achievement over time. Additionally, the data collected supports the next steps by informing teaching and learning to set targets and allocating learning resources.

At Scottsdale High School students complete PAT in Reading and Numeracy. The tests are being completed online during their relevant core lessons. If your child is absent for any of the timetabled tests, they can complete catch-up tests held during the testing window.

PAT is just one aspect of our school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace teachers' ongoing assessments of student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

We are pleased to see our students adopting a positive mindset towards the testing and many aiming to give the test their best effort so that their results can provide a reflection of their growth and learning throughout the year.

Hobart Show – Cattle Handlers

The recent Hobart Show witnessed an impressive display of skill and dedication from our cattle handling students. These students showcased their skills in handling and presenting cattle, winning a big haul of ribbons and championships. The students’ hard work and preparation are to be commended.

In addition to the competitive events, the show provided an excellent learning opportunity for the students. They received valuable feedback from experienced handlers and judges, which will undoubtedly help them refine their skills further. The event also fostered a sense of community among the young handlers, who shared tips and support one another.

Many thanks to Ms Rattray for making this opportunity possible and for all the training provided to our students. We are also incredibly grateful for the assistance provided by families and volunteers; a warm thankyou to Matthew Cassidy, Pip Hall, Tim Hall, Nat Sowerby and Leigh Jones from Jones Transport for the truck to transport the cattle.

We wish our cattle handlers all the best for the upcoming shows!

SLB Election 2025

Well done to all students who applied for leadership positions in 2025 for our Student Leadership Board. It was fabulous to listen to the students’ speeches and see the sense of belonging they feel to our school community and desire to grow their leadership skills. We will announce House Captains in our next newsletter once voting has concluded. Year 10 SLB roles will be decided by students later this term at their Leadership Camp. Congratulations to the following students who have been elected:

Year 7

• Ned, Tom, Lotti, Madden

Year 8

• James, Beau G, Linc, Samuel, Tayla

Year 9

• Savannah, Molly, Jake, Liam, MJ, Beau S, Lily, Rhylan

A Block Toilet Upgrade

As part of DECYP’s Safer Student Bathrooms Program, Scottsdale High School is having the A Block Toilets upgraded. The work is scheduled to commence on 11th November and should be completed by mid Term 1 2025. Students will be able to access D Block toilets whilst the renovation is occurring to the A Block toilets. D Block corridor will be open so that students can access the D Block toilets in break times with a staff member on duty during the breaks. We ask that students are safe and respectful in the use of the toilets, with only one student permitted in a cubicle, no food or drink to be taken into the toilets and students not gathering in the bathroom.

We will keep you informed of the renovation progress throughout the rebuild.

Netball Championships – 9/10 Boys

We wish our Year 9/10 Netball Boys all the best as they compete in the State Championships on Wednesday 13th November in Launceston. The boys have been training with Tessa from Netball Tasmania and have Miss Walker as their passionate coach.  We wish the team all the best for the competition.

World Teachers’ Day

Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. Thank you to our big-hearted staff who work tirelessly to create thriving learning environments for our young people.

Our school staff give so much of themselves each day, and it’s vital to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate their dedication, professionalism, and the lasting influence they have on countless lives.

We love educating our young people and helping them to become the best version they can be of themselves.

Elizabeth Williams

Principal

On Saturday 19th October, the 2024 Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize winners closed out their incredible year with a Q&A event at Town Hall. The audience was treated to recollections and insights into group's experiences, from classroom to the Somme, as we heard of friendships forged, soldier's stories uncovered, and memories to last a lifetime.

Thank you to Carolyn, Erin, Esther, Holly, Macy and Tori, along with chaperones Emma, Sherri, Katie, Major Peter Williams, and Luke Edmunds MLC. You have all represented the FMMP to the highest standard, ensuring that the Spirit of Anzac is shared and remembered.

Well done to Tori and Miss Rainbow who represented Scottsdale High School so admirably this year with the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.

Last week approximately 16 students began our year 9 camp. We began by heading to the Mount Cameron Field Study Centre where we dropped off some of our supplies. We hit the road to Little Blue Lake before starting our hike up to Cube Rock. With many stops along the way, we made it to the top where we ate lunch and enjoyed the view. On the way down we were stopped by a snake that was basking in the sun.

Once back at the cabin we enjoyed some downtime, started dinner with many getting into their pyjamas. For dinner we enjoyed some lovely tacos. After dinner it was planned for us to go on an obstacle course in the night, but with a sudden change of plans as we were gearing up. This led to us being evacuated for an hour and a half, as there was a fire warning. While we sat on the bus at our meeting point, many people were making the most of the situation by chatting, with a few people having a sleep. Once the all clear was given, it was time to head back and go to bed.

Day 2 came around and everyone rose out of bed, had breakfast and slowly got ready for the day. Mr Le Fevre set up two different obstacles (Murgatroyds Rescue and The Nitro Crossing). These were beneficial for our team building, resilience and communication skills with many people enjoying these activities. We then set off to Stumpys Bay with a stop at Mount William on the way for a short hike and to enjoy the views of the Aboriginal land called Wukalina. The walk was a lot easier than the Cube Rock hike.

We set up camp and enjoyed some chill out time, with many people enjoying time on the beach and playing games. We enjoyed a little scavenger hunt, to find different things amongst our campsite. This taught us about the nature and land we live on. The toilets at our campsite were nice and smelly, with Alfie being kind and checking the toilets before the girls went in. Dinner was Shepherd’s pie made from scratch. We headed out on a late drive to Musselroe Bay and Forester Kangaroo Drive, spotting lots of wildlife along the way.

To start day 3, many people woke up and enjoyed sunrise at the point. This was rewarding as it allowed us to realise how pretty nature can be. Lots of people went back to bed before getting up for breakfast. We packed up to allow our tent to dry, and headed for a beach walk where we were shown some more Aboriginal Land and the beauty of it. After this it was time for lunch where we had a bucket lunch (all our leftovers put in a wrap). After this it was time to get on the bus and head home.

Throughout this camp there was lots of team building, and so many memories made that will last a lifetime.

We would like to thank Mr Le Fevre, Mrs Jodie Crack, Mr Tuffin and Miss Rainbow for the time and effort they put into our camp and all of the behind the scenes organising that it takes.

Lily W and Savannah B

Last week our Cattle Show Team competed at Hobart Show. This was the teams first show for the season and the students had done an oustanding job preparing the cattle and the ribbons were aplenty. A true testament to their commitment and dedication - Our students must be congratulated on the way they respresented Scottsdale High School.

Thank you to our volunteers, Jones Transport and the Hobart Show Society for this opportunity.

Mrs Sharp’s Year 8 class have been studying the Vikings. They were given the challenge to design a Viking boat and test out the floatability by immersing in water and using gluesticks to represent Vikings and see if their vessels didn’t sink. History, design and science skills all tested in a hands on activity.

On Tuesday 22^nd October, the Working with Children class held their annual Teddy Bear Picnic, a successful event that brought together numerous local families under the warm sun. Thank you to everyone who attended, and Mrs McDougall for her leadership in this space. 

Footy Colours Day was held on the last day of Term 3. Well done to our SLB on organising lunch time activities, saveloys and milk shakes.