December has arrived and we know that these final two weeks leading up to the holidays is always very hectic. There are many highlights at this time of the year as we recognise and celebrate the efforts and achievements of our students and the culmination of learning for 2022.  It is really important that during this busy and demanding time of year, we don’t lose sight of what is most important.  We have a number of special events coming up on our calendar including the Year 10 Celebration Dinner and final assemblies.

Fundraising for Kyla

Our community has really rallied together to support Kyla and her family as she recovers from her injuries. Today we held a fundraising event with a BBQ, Free Dress Day, Coin Line and Cow Pat Lotto!  Thanks to our SLB students, Miss Walker, Mrs Rattray, Mrs Butler, all teachers and students involved in the Staff v Students Netball Match for your contribution to the day.  Many thanks to all students, families and staff who have donated to assist with Kyla’s recouperation.  We wish Kyla all the best and she is in our thoughts. 

Celebration Assembly – Wednesday 30 November

On Wednesday 30 November, we held a Celebration Ceremony where we recognised the achievements of many students. Congratulations to all students who were presented with certificates.  Our hosts, Sharlie and Nicole did a wonderful job hosting the Assembly and all students who shared reports, spoke articulately and confidently. The band performed an Oasis song and all musicians gave a polished performance led by Noah on vocals. The growth of our students is very pleasing to see.  I spoke to the students about the importance of school pride and how we can all foster and build this.  We have much to be proud of at our school.

We will have our final Assemblies in week 9 and 10.  The Year 7/ 8 Assembly will be held on Friday 16 December at 9am and the Year 9/10 Assembly will be held on Tuesday 20 December at 12pm.  If your child is being presented with an award or a certificate, you will receive an invitation to attend the Assembly. Please note, that due to COVID safety procedures, we do need to limit numbers for inside seated events.  These Assemblies are an opportunity to celebrate individual success, acknowledge effort and share memories from throughout the year.

State-wide Athletics Carnival- Student Representatives

Congratulations to the team of students who were selected to represent Northern Tasmania in a State-wide Athletics Carnival held last Friday.  Taia continued with her winning form breaking the State record in the Year 10 Girls high jump by 6cm!  The new record is 1.64cm.   Tara also performed strongly placing third in the Year 8 Girls’ Javelin.

Well done to:

Archie – Year 7

Tara – Year 8

Tom H - Year 8

Taia - Year 10

Rhylee - Year 10

We wish Taia all the best as she heads to Adelaide for the All Schools Track and Field Championships held next week.  Taia is representing the school in high jump.

Orientation Day

Last Monday our incoming Year 7 students visited us for Orientation Day providing them with another opportunity to become familiar with the school and to experience a range of learning activities. There was a great sense of excitement and enthusiasm amongst our new students! It was encouraging to hear so many students comment about how much they were looking forward to starting high school.

I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of Miss Walker, who has led the transition program and goes ‘above and beyond’ to ensure that all students and families feel welcome and supported.

Year 10 Picnic and Celebration Dinner – Information for Spectators

The Year 10 Picnic will be held on Friday 16 December at Croquet Lawn Beach. Information, permission and aquatic slips have been sent home about this.

On Monday 19 December, Year 10s have their Celebration Dinner at the RSL Club in Scottsdale. Information about arrangements for arrival has been sent home to parents/carers.  If you are intending to view the arrival of the students at the RSL Club, please arrive by 5.20pm at the RSL carpark.  Arrivals will start at 5.30pm and Year 10 students will assemble by 5.15pm in their vehicles at the Recreation Ground. As a spectator of the event, we ask that all members of the community stand behind the bollards located in the turning circle of the RSL Club carpark. On arrival at the carpark entrance, students will exit the vehicle and make their way around the carpark to ensure that all parties are able to view and support their formal efforts.  

As this is such a significant event for our community, we ask for your support in parking in alternative streets to George Street to ensure that all traffic can flow without interruption and an equal opportunity is given to the spectators. This will also assist with the safety of everyone.  

Thanks to the SES and Scottsdale Council for their help and support with the student arrivals.

Last Day Celebrations – Wednesday 21 December

To celebrate the end of the year, we are having a Pool Day at the Scottsdale Aquatic Centre on Wednesday 21 December. Letters and permission forms have been sent home about this and we request that students return their permission slip and aquatic form by Thursday 15 December.

School Levies and Charges 2023

Levies are one of the many ways that families contribute to our school community. Levies support student learning by contributing to the cost of essential items and services. Please be aware that levies will be invoiced to families in early February. There will be a document provided in students reports outlining further details about the levy arrangements and booksales/validation form days in 2023. Please feel free to contact our School Business Manager, Paige Howard, if you have further questions.

End of year reports: Friday 16 December, 2022

A reminder to families that end of year reports will be distributed on Friday 16 December, 2022. Year 10 students will also bring home their Transition Plan.

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 Association 2023

Please note we will have a School Association meeting on Wednesday 15 February 2023 at  5pm and our AGM will be held on Wednesday 29 March, 2023 at 5pm (both in the school Library). At the AGM, all office bearer positions will be declared vacant. Nominations are open to all School Association members, with all parents/carers of students enrolled at Scottsdale High eligible for office bearer positions and committee member positions.

We warmly invite you to attend, especially parents/carers who have students commencing in Year 7.  Tasks associated with the School Association are not onerous and are very rewarding. Nomination forms will be made available in February, when school resumes.

Elizabeth Williams

Principal

Scottsdale High School "Project Pitch" event was held in our Trade Training Centre on December 6. A panel of Agriculture representatives including Ashlee from Elders Scottsdale, Andrew our state wide co-ordinator for Food and Fibre/Agriculture Education and Tristan from Hagley School Farm visited to discuss projects with our Agriculture students and hear about their research, the Stronach View Angus Stud bulls and heifers and share morning tea catered by our school. Thank you Mrs Butler and Mrs Dawson and their students.  The panel members were highly impressed with the topics shared which included professional catalogues of Stronach View Angus bulls and heifers, our Arboretum project and a tractor lift for disabled people to name only a few.  Congratulations to students for stepping up to share their work.  It was a very enjoyable morning.

Liz Stanfield

On the 28th November a team of 34 students travelled into Launceston to represent Scottsdale High School at the Inter-High Athletics. The students competed fiercely and gave their best effort in every event they participated in. Many students stepped up in the absence of some other students to compete in extra events on top of their own, showing great courage and resilience. The team represented Scottsdale well not only in their stellar efforts but also showing great character through their respectful behaviour, great sportsmanship, and great organisation to get to their events on time.

We managed to achieve a 3^rd place overall at the carnival with standout performances from numerous students and relay teams. Taia L broke not only one, but two records with her high jump efforts, setting a new record for the Division 2 Athletics Carnival as well as a new all schools high jump record. Our Year 8 boys, Year 9 boys and Year 10 girls achieved second in the 100m relay, and the Year 7 boys placed 3^rd, with all teams putting their best foot forward.

Overall, it was a successful day out on the track with students showing the best side of Scottsdale High School. To add to our successes, Archie C, Tara L, Tom H, Jorja H, Taia L and Rhylee H-D competed last Friday in the Intrastate Athletics Carnival. The selected students competed in the events that they strived in, achieving outstanding results at the Inter-High. 

Liyana Juraimi

The students in Year 9/10 Wood Academy have been working very hard to finish their projects to demonstrate the great skills acquired over the last two years. One very popular skill a number of students have developed is in pen making. This activity requires the skill of turning wood or acrylic on the lathe. The results can often be spectacular and not only the final product but also the skills required to make a successful pen as not all potential pens are successfully completed. The first stage is cutting a pen blank and gluing in some tubes. This is followed by turning the pen on the lathe with a gouge.

The first pen was turned by Stephen K and the last two pens were turned by Jack B. After the pen blank has been turned and shaped to its final stage it is then followed by the polishing to get a nice look to the final pen.

The final stage is the assembly of the pen into its final form for use using a pen kit. As you can see they are very fine pens and anyone would love to have one as a Xmas gift.

Next year more of Scottsdale MDT students will start their journey in pen making and develop their basic wood turning skills, skills that they can turn into a hobby or part of a trade in the joinery trades. Scottsdale looks forward to seeing the pens that students will produce and who knows, you might receive one as a gift.

Some students are experimenting in using the school's laser printer. Many different designs are possible and students are always trying new ideas. They produce a design on a computer or download a design from the internet. The timber is then placed into the laser printer and the printer is set in operation. 

Scottsdale Year 8 students have been busy making hamper baskets for our hospitality faculty and Year 7 have been making Christmas decorations from wood and demonstrating their timber joint making skills this term.

The MDT staff have seen some great projects completed this year from a wardrobe, a blanket box and the re-engineering of a bed into a seat.

Damian Hyland and Phil Perkins

This year we welcomed Ms Liz Stanfield from Lilydale to the Agriculture team here at Scottsdale. Students from Year 7-12 have continued to engage in agriculture here at the farm. A highlight was Jacob Doohan being awarded as a finalist in the Tas Training VET student of the year award for his studies in Year 12. Jacob completed 3 Certificate II programs, including Agriculture, Automotive and Engineering. Ag Academy for Year 9/10 has continued to engage students, and they had the opportunity yesterday to present their research projects.

The farm has continued to be a very productive and exceptional educational facility accessible to the young people of the North East. The farm has consolidated its operation this year, with an expanding number of stud angus cattle, the introduction of layer hens, maintaining our pigs  and a small number of sheep, which continues to offer our students a wide range of experiences. We have continued to endeavour to upgrade our facilities within our budget, including reinstating the old hothouse, minor fence replacements and pasture improvements. Our major upgrade which used Revitalising School Farm funds, was installing a new kitchen in the classroom. 2022 saw the opening of the Scottsdale Irrigation scheme and the school farm has utilised this available resource.

During the year, I have had many students asking when the Stronach View Stud was started as part of their project to produce a bull sale catalogue. I said around 2016, however, earlier this week I was doing a bit of a tidy up, and found our original stud certificate. The stud was in fact registered in 2012 with the purchase of a Quarterway Cow Ellenor. So 2022 marks 10 years of the school’s Stronach View stud. I can recall the farm board meeting where I tabled the idea of the school starting its own stud, and was opposed by many views, in particular “it’s too much paperwork, how long are you going to stay, its too expensive” etc. etc. So 10 years on here we are and what a huge success.

In 2022, we have sold 6 yearling bulls, to returning customers, before they had even turned 12 months of age. We have 25 registered stud cows, with amazing calves at foot and can’t wait to see them grow out. We had an offer on a 12 week old bull calf at Scottsdale Show and our students get to see the full year on a stud beef farm, including breeding, synchronised AI, mating, bull management and heifer selection.

Our cattle continue to improve each year and it is a testament to their quality when we look at the ribbons on the board. To be able to show our own stud cattle is a showcase of our students, school and community. Scottsdale High School is renowned in the show circuit for their quality cattle and professionalism of the team. We have already signed up our team for Agfest in 2023.

I wish to congratulate the team, albeit very small this year and made up of all females Many males are participating across the state and the state finalist was a male from Sheffield. The team have dedicated themselves to our cattle team from early in May this year, breaking cattle for Agfest and competing in seven shows across all corners of the state. We have had tears, tantrums, broken toes, broken feet, broken knees, but above all, we have bonded as an amazing team. At every step along the way, I have been proud of the development and progress each of you have made. I must also thank the parents for their support of their children. Congratulations on the season and I’m looking forward to 2023 already.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the passing of Mrs Ena Hall earlier this year. Mrs Hall was the wife of the late Mr Lance Hall, who instigated cattle handling at Scottsdale High School in 1999 and who our arena was dedicated to in 2012. Mrs Hall was a great advocate of the Scottsdale High School Farm and the cattle handling program. She could sum up a bull as quick as look at it in the showring, just as good as any judge, no matter what the breed. I remember her asking that I get rid of the old blackwood trees in the laneway, as she found them ugly and unsightly as she drove past to the shops from her North Scottsdale home. We wish to pass on our condolences to the family, and will find a special place here at the school farm to plant this flowering cherry in her memory. We will be forever grateful for the contributions of both Mr and Mrs Hall to the school farm. 

Thank you

Kylie Rattray

TIC Agriculture

Report from Cattle Handling Team

After two years of show cancellations due to covid restrictions, the Scottsdale High School Cattle Handling team has competed at Agfest and 6 shows across the state in 2022. We have had a relatively small team of 8 members, and many additional handlers throughout the year to help us out. We have been fortunate to exhibit cattle from the Scottsdale High School Angus Stud, Stronach View and Ms Rattray’s stud, Three Mile Spring.

In August we attended Agfest with seven newly broken Angus heifers. The highlight of this event was Caitlyn winning the Champion Beef Handler, our School team placing first and our junior Farmer Challenge team making it to the finals.

Later in the year, we made the long trek to Hobart for the Royal Hobart Show. This was a very successful show for Scottsdale, having not attended this show since 2009. Molly was awarded Champion Handler, our Angus heifer, Stronach View Summer, was sashed Supreme Exhibit, Adara received the herdsman award and Scottsdale High School was named most successful exhibitor of the show.

November is show month, with the team attending 5 shows in 4 weekends, Westbury, Scottsdale, Sheffield, Deloraine and Circular Head.

It was Three Mile Ruby and her calf, Topaz, led by Adara and Larni that stole the show at Westbury, claiming Champion Angus Female and going onto being awarded Interbreed Champion Female exhibit.

Our home town, Scottsdale show, followed the next weekend with Scottsdale High School exhibiting  an 18 strong team of cattle, with many additional handlers helping out. The Angus breed classes were hotly contested, and Scottsdale High School was awarded first and second place with their angus heifers. A huge accolade for the school’s angus breeding program. We also entered prime beef cattle and were successful in gaining some placings in this competition.

Sheffield show was next on the calendar, with Molly claiming the Champion Junior Beef Cattle judging ribbon and a place in the 2023 state finals. We also entered our steer, Steakmaker in the Hoof and Hook competition and he was awarded third place. Later this month we will find out how he dressed in the carcass competition.

Deloraine was the following day, and again good results for our Angus cattle, but the highlight of the day was Ajana claiming Reserve Champion Handler and a place at the State finals the following week.

Again, another long drive to Stanley for the Circular Head Show with Caitlyn, Molly and Ajana competing in the State Beef Handlers Final. This very prestigious award was  contested by many very experienced handlers, with the State Title being awarded to Charlton Skirving from Sheffield School. Well done to these students on their selection to the finals.

We would like to thank Scottsdale High School, and in particular Mrs Williams for her support of the program. Ms Rattray for her dedication and all the extra time she puts into make this program happen and be so successful. Our volunteers Matt and Pip, for attending shows with us. A huge thank you to Jones Transport for supplying a truck to transport out cattle to shows.

Matilda Harper 

Year 9-10 Agriculture students visited Clovelly Dairy and were taken on a tour of their impressive facilities and watched milking. We would like to thank Mark, Conrad and staff for making us so welcome. Students were polite, friendly and listened attentively to how a modern dairy is operated. It was a really good outing.

A small group of students visited the Woolnorth Windfarm at Cape Portland this week to deliver three picnic tables and bin holders that were produced in Metal Academy. The day was spent preparing the cement slabs for the tables to sit on.

This industry project and site visit was a valuable learning experience, we thank Mr Tony Saunders from the Windfarm for the collaboration and the opportunity for our students to work in a real world setting for the day.

Andrew Krushka