Dear Parents and Families 

The election process for the 2023 Student Leadership Board has taken place.  Well done to all students who put themselves forward for leadership positions in 2023!  Taking on a leadership role does require courage and aspiration, key values that underpin our school and the Department for Education, Children and Young People.  We look forward to seeing the growth of the students elected to positions and we congratulate them on their speeches that they presented to their year group. Students will vote on positions next week.

Congratulations to the following student leaders:

Year 7: Rhylan W, Jake F, Larni E, Beau S and Lily W

Year 8: Tara L, Tori H, Maverick W, Miki M and Molly F

Year 9: Montana S, Ava B, George E, Grace O, Zoe C and Jorja H

House Captains: Matilda H, Xavier R, Nicholas C, Logan H, Kyla HJ, Isaac W

Regional High School Basketball Championships

Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th November saw the Regional High School Basketball Championships played across Elphin Sports Stadium and the Scotch Oakburn College. We had a Year 7/8 boys team enter the competition and they played four games of basketball over the two days. They demonstrated great sportsmanship, team spirit and enthusiasm and they generously shared the play around. The boys won two of their four games with a strong win over SOC in their final game. Well done to Alfie, Chaice, Eli, Blake, Lachlan and Maverick and thank you to parents/carers who supported the boys over the two days. Thanks also to the coaches Miss Walker and Mr Petterwood for giving of their time and expertise.

Cattle Handlers – Scottsdale, Deloraine and Sheffield Show

Our Cattle Handlers’ success has continued at both the Deloraine and Sheffield Shows last weekend and Scottsdale show in the previous week. This week we have several students representing the school at the Circular Head Show, the final one for our students. Well done to our students involved – the growth demonstrated throughout the year has been immense and the students have represented the school with pride at each show, taking on board feedback and advice from judges with humility and interest.  Thank you to families and volunteers who have supported the team in a variety of ways. Special thanks to Ms Rattray for her tremendous work with the students and for her time, effort, commitment and passion without which, we would not have a Cattle Handling Team.

Attendance - Every school day counts

Although we are in the final term, I would like to remind families again that regular attendance is encouraged to maximise learning opportunities so students finish the year strongly.

The DECYP Attendance Policy states;

“Consistent attendance at school is critical to achieving positive educational outcomes and keeping students engaged in their learning. Parents/carers have a legal obligation to ensure a child is enrolled in and attending school or is registered for home education. “

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 teachers 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!
• If they miss one day a week, that doubles to eight weeks of school they’ll never get back.
• Over the course of their childhood, that equals two and a half years of vital education they’ll 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. Going to school not only promotes academic success, but also helps build important social skills, routines, relationships and confidence.

Helping your child regularly attend school will set them up with good habits for life.

If you or your child is struggling to get to school, help is available. Please contact the school on 6352 6333 to discuss.

Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT)  

Over the past few weeks all students have engaged in Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT). PAT assessments measure what students understand and help us to monitor progress over time. This set of data is a requirement in Tasmanian schools and is in addition to National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). PAT provides a useful set of data which assists at the whole school, classroom and individual level. We still have a number of students who need to complete the testing and we encourage all students to do their best when sitting the reading and numeracy tests. Thank you to Holly Butler for co-ordinating the tests in our school.

Student Behaviour Management Policy—New in 2023

Scottsdale High School, along with all other Tasmanian Government schools, is committed to providing your child with a learning environment that supports them to be the best they can be. We work hard to provide safe, supportive and inclusive environments where your child can engage positively with their learning.

To strengthen the way that schools prevent and respond to bullying, a new Policy and Procedure will be in place in Term 1, 2023. The new Policy is known as the Student Behaviour Management Policy. It replaces the existing Respectful Student Behaviour Policy.

The important change between the old Policy and the new Policy is that now all schools will have the same minimum standards for preventing and responding to bullying. The new Policy also has a clear definition of what bullying is, and sets clear expectations for how we support students impacted by bullying.

These changes mean that the way Scottsdale High School prevents and responds to bullying will meet the same standards as all other Tasmanian Government Schools. Some schools may incorporate different programs or measures to respond to bullying, but all will have the same foundation.

For more information, see the Staying Safe in Tasmanian Government Schools parent fact sheet at https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/staying-safe/

End of year reports

A reminder to families that end of year reports will be distributed on Friday 16th December, 2022.

The report will show your child’s learning achievement on a 9-point visual scale which replaces A-E ratings for students in Prep to Year 10.

The 9-point scale shows more specifically where your child’s learning achievement is against the expected standard for their year level.

There will be no teacher comments on the report.

For more information about the changes to reports:

• School Reports FAQs
• Understanding the 9-point scale
• Reporting - The Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania (decyp.tas.gov.au)

Scottsdale High School Centenary – Special Interest Contribution by Ms Tania Rattray MLC, 15 November 2022

We are very grateful to Ms Tania Rattray MLC for her Special Interest Contribution that she shared in Parliament on Tuesday 15th November where she reflected on the school’s Centenary and the celebrations held on Saturday 22th October. Ms Rattray also advocated for upgrades to the school to allow for our students to engage in contemporary learning and have access to improved facilities. Please find included Ms Rattray’s speech in the Hansard for 15th November, 2022.

Elizabeth Williams

Principal 

During the year, Nathan Saunders from Elders Scottsdale has given our Year 9/10 Agriculture classes two hours per term to link what we learn  in our Agriculture lessons to industry outside the school setting. We have had sessions on WHS, soils, tools, chemical usage and careers. Students have greatly benefitted from these very well thought out sessions and we appreciate the time it has taken to plan and run the sessions.

Our Cattle Handling Show Team have hardly had time to touch the ground over the past three weeks, attending Westbury, Scottsdale, Sheffield and Deloraine shows. The team have had great success at the shows with the Scottsdale High School Angus Stud, Stronach View and Three Mild Spring Black Angus Stud.

Well done to the team on the following results:

Westbury Show

Heifer 12 months

2nd TMS Sapphire - Adara

3rd SVA Spring - Caitlin

Heifer 18 months

1st TMS Sophia - Charlotte

Cow

1st TMS Ruby & Topaz - Adara/Larni

2nd SVA Narelle & Thunderstruck - Archie / Ajana

3rd TMS Rose & Thorn - Molly/Tully

Champion Senior Female

TMS Ruby & Thorn

Reserve Champion Senior Female

SVA Narelle & Thunder

Breeders Pair

2nd SVA Spring & Sienna - Caitlin/ Ajana

3rd TMS Sarah & Sapphire - Matilda/Adara

Interbreed

Cow and Champion Senior Female

TMS Ruby & Topaz

Interbreed Champion Female

TMS Ruby & Topaz

Handlers

13-14 - Molly 4th

Scottsdale Show

Bull 1year

SVA Steele - Chloe

Heifer 1 year

SVA Spring - Caitlin

SVA S3 - Chelsea

Heifer 18 months

TMS Sophia - Charlotte

Cow 2 years

TMS Ruby & Topaz - Ajana/Tully

TMS Rose & Thorn - Brianna/Larni

Cow 3 year and over

TMS QW Josepha & Tipsy - Archie / Theo

Reserve Champion Senior Female

TMS Ruby & Topaz

Group of Three

Beef calves

Mother reared 1st Sept

SVA Thunder - Ollie

4th TMS Tipsy - Theo

Best Cared For Calf

TMS Tipsy - Theo

Handlers

9-12 Tully

15-16 Jordan

School Teams

Sheffield Show

Beef Junior Judging

15-25

Caitlyn 4th

Matilda

9- under 15

Shakira 4th

Molly

Overall Champion

Molly

Molly will represent Sheffield Show at State finals in 2023

Hook and hook light weight steer

3rd on the hoof -Steakmaker 425kg Angus Steer

School Teams - 2nd & 3rd

Handlers

13-14 years

Heat 1 - Molly

Heat 2 - Shakira

Final - Molly

15-16 years

Heat 1 - Ajana

Heat 1 - 4th Adara

Heat 2- Matilda

Heat 2 - 4th Jordan

Final - 4th Matilda

Deloraine Show

2 year old Cow

Ruby and Topaz - led by Adara and Tully

Angus Senior champion

Ruby and Topaz

18 month Angus Heifer

2nd Sophie - led by Molly

12 month Angus Heifer

1st S19 - led by Ajana

2nd S3 - led by Shakira

3rd S7 - led by Adara

4th S2 - led by Caitlyn

Junior pairs

Junior beef handlers

15-16

Heat 1 Finalists

Ajana

Adara

15-16 Years Handler

Champion Ajana

Reserve Champion Handler

Ajana and Deloraine Show State Handler representative at Stanley.

School teams 2nd & 3rd

Congratulations and all the best to the following Cattle Handlers competing in State Junior Beef Handlers at Circular Head Show, Stanley this Friday and Saturday.

 Molly – representing Hobart Show

Caitlyn – representing Agfest

A’jana – representing Deloraine Show

We are awaiting the results of the Sheffield Show Carcass competition, which will be known after slaughter on 7^th December. A presentation for this competition will be held on 16^th December at Sheffield School.

Thank you again to our wonderful volunteers, Pip and Matt, who have attended every show this season and assisted the team to achieve great results. A huge thank you to Jones Transport for lending a truck to cart our cattle and Matt for driving.  Considering current fuel prices, this is a massive contribution to our team and we greatly appreciate this. Thank you to the farm enterprise and Scottsdale High School for their ongoing support and costs associated with the program.

The families and friends of our 2022 Cattle Handling Team are warmly invited to a BBQ and team presentations on Wednesday 7^th December at 6pm at the Stronach View Campus. RSVPs are due to the General office by Monday 5^th December.

Well done to the students who represented Scottsdale High School in the Schools’ Challenge Triathlon at Devonport Bluff on Wednesday. The students’ participation was excellent and well done to Ava who placed 6th in her individual event. Great team spirit was evident in beautiful sunshine.

Congratulations to Scottsdale High School students who are members of the Army Cadets (603 ACU ) and who were involved in the Parade opening of the unit on Wednesday 16th November. What an impressive group of young people.Well done to Cody and Ivy on their articulate speeches that they delivered with confidence to a large crowd.