Dear families
Scottsdale High School’s Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 End of Year Assemblies were fabulous celebration events which highlighted the amazing achievements of students in Years 7 to 10. We thank the special guests, donors, sponsors and businesses and industry representatives and our families for supporting the Assemblies. Congratulations to our 2023 Dux, Zoe. Zoe is very deserving of this award and her Dux speech has been included in this newsletter. Zoe has studied consistently across her four years of high school ensuring her work is always to a high standard. Additionally, she has been an outstanding role model for others. I would like to acknowledge Ella B for her captivating the audience at the Year 7/8 Assembly with her rendition of ‘Never Enough’ from The Greatest Showman. The award recipients are listed in this week’s newsletter. Students were recognised for academic achievement, effort, progress, community involvement and leadership. Thank you to special guests and families who along with their child, joined us to celebrate at the morning teas held following the Assemblies. I would like to congratulate all students who were acknowledged; we are very proud of your achievements in 2023.
Jorja, our 2023 SLB President gave an outstanding speech at the Year 9/10 Assembly where she reflected on what leadership means and the importance of acting with integrity. Her speech is also included in this newsletter.
The staff would like to congratulate our Year 10 students on the polite and respectful way they have interacted with each other over the past week for all of the special Year 10 events. The dinner at Scottdale Football Club was a very enjoyable evening where staff and students were able to socialise, laugh and celebrate students’ time at high school. The students all looked amazing. I would especially like to thank the Year 10 teaching team for the organisation of the evening which was led by Miss Rainbow, Mr Lomman, Mrs Fletcher and Mrs McDougall. We wish our Year 10 students all the best as they continue their schooling or move into the workforce.
Congratulations to Mrs Loretta Goss who was recognised for 25 years of Tasmanian State Service at a recent DECYP 25 Years of Service Awards ceremony. Thank you for all you do in our Administration Office and for your years of service, Mrs Goss!
Given it’s the end of school year we always have staff to farewell. Scottsdale High School would like to thank the following staff for their passion, motivation and commitment to our school and wish them all the best for their new roles in 2024:
- Mrs Gaylene Shepheard
- Mr Jordan Lomman
- Mr Ethan Petterwood
- Mr Patrick Sauerwald
Mrs Shepheard has been at Scottdale High School for thirteen years working as a TA in the kitchen and Educational Facilities Attendant. Thank you to Gaylene for all her outstanding work at Scottsdale High – she will be missed.
Farewell also to our school psychologist, Ms Annie Morton. Thank you Annie for all your excellent work with students and their families. Next year we will be welcoming Ms Emma Mou in Annie’s place.
We will be welcoming back Mrs Cara Howlett who will be acting AST – Student Support and we look forward to Mr Matt Wootton joining us from Deloraine High School as a class teacher.
Thank you to all teaching staff for your care, dedication and passion for our school. We have a wonderful team of teachers, leaders and non-teaching staff who are fully committed to making a positive difference to the lives of our young people.
Next year, students start the school year on Thursday 8 February.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy holiday!
Best wishes
Elizabeth Williams
Principal
Jorja’s president speech at Year 9/10 Celebration Assembly:
We come together to congratulate those students who have been recognised for their achievements in many learning areas for their effort and academic success. I have been invited today to give one last speech about the memorable year the SLB has had over the course of 2023.
As an executive board it has been our pleasure to have been working alongside both Year 8 and 9 SLB members throughout the course of 2023. As president, I have found my greatest lesson has been learning to trust the younger leaders of Scottsdale High School as they grow and develop into compassionate, determined and strong valued students. We have grown to become a well trusted group of leaders, that not only listening to feedback, but also work as a team to develop the relationships between the community and our peers.
Through this process we have achieved so much.
As C S Lewis once said, ‘Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking’. Being a part of the SLB has shown us that being out in the school yard, in the classroom or even walking the streets of the community, the actions you demonstrate can define how you are as a person. Being a leader is about showing up when no one else will. It is an opportunity to show the values that you hold and the length in which you’re willing to go to for the people you’re leading. Being a good leader is all about the work you do behind the scenes and the values you develop in yourself and others.
As a leader of any group, it is not how you control the people around you, but it is how you set the example for them. Working together has helped us developed the skills to carry on into any life endeavours that we embark on. With differen’t fundraisers throughout the year, all grades had shown initiative to take a leading role, making sure everybody was included. Having power is a privilege in disguise. Being a leader is all about not only helping yourself grow but all the people around you.
As leaders throughout the school, it was our mission to make sure all students were a part of any fundraiser, event or activity. An example of this was when we held in-school trivia at lunch time. It was hard to persuade students to give up their lunch time to participate in an activity that they had never done before. But as leaders, we collectively encouraged many students to build a team to fight for the big prize of a canteen voucher for all group members. It was an enjoyable day with many laughs and encouraging comments towards the minute to win it games between categories.
We held a R U OK day as an opportunity for the SLB to show awareness for a cause that many had felt so passionate about. With the commitment from the executive members including the house captains, the day ran smoothly with awareness for mental health being spread around the school. I had taken the time to create a notice board getting classes to join in writing nice messages in speech bubbles.
To become a leader, the most important skills to have, are the soft skills. You don’t have to boss everyone around, or do all the work for yourself, you just have to trust the members of the committee and share your knowledge and guide them in the journey that you take as a leader. My advice to the 2024 leaders is to build a vision, work together and respect all values even if they are not your own. Do everything with intent and don’t give up.
We as the executives of Scottsdale high school, wanted to say a big thankyou to Miss J for her amazing support and commitment to the SLB in 2023, her guidance was and will be forever greatly appreciated.
Zoe’s Dux speech;
Hello Ms. Williams and all staff, students, parents and invited guests who are here today to recognise and celebrate students’ achievements. It gives me great honour to be standing up here today as Scottsdale High’s 2023 Dux. I feel very privileged to receive this award.
There are many things that have motivated me to work hard and try my best. I look up to my sister Sophie, who also won this prestigious award. I am constantly inspired by her ambition to reach her goals and I admire her work ethic to achieve Dux, I have applied myself and put work in daily to achieve consistent results. Scottsdale High School has provided me with a great start to my young adult life and I have received lots of support and encouragement from many.
I have taken part in many extra-curricular activities in hopes to better progress with my learning. These have included activities such as our recent production, to help me increase my confidence in front of a crowd and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This program has pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to try new experiences. I put myself forward and offered my skills to the school’s student leadership board. This year I also undertook work experience with the Northeast Advertiser. I enjoyed learning more about journalism and how a paper gets put together. Thank you to Rachael, the editor, for your kind and supportive mentoring. I strongly encourage every student to take up all opportunities they are presented with.
There are so many who deserve a thanks in helping me achieve this award. Firstly, I’d like to thank my family. Thank you to my mum and dad, for believing in me and surrounding me in an environment with the upmost love and support. You are always proud of my achievements, and I am thankful for all that you have taught me. Thank you to my two big sisters, who are always there for me, offering advice and helping me grow.
Additionally, I would like to acknowledge and thank all my teachers for encouraging me to try my hardest, supporting me with my learning and helping me strive to reach my potential. I would like to recognise Mrs. Rooney who has done nothing but inspire me and strengthened my love for the English and History subjects. I would also like to show my appreciation to Miss Brown, who has been a great support person at school throughout my time here at Scottsdale High. I can always count on her to lift my spirits and motivate me. And finally, I would also like to thank my friends and classmates. It is going to be hard leaving high school, although I am glad I have made so many memories that I will carry on with me into the future.
I would like to say to the younger students to enjoy high school and make memories because it goes by so quickly, I still cannot believe this is my final week of Year 10. My advice is to take responsibility for your own learning and try your hardest. You never know what opportunities will arise. I wish everyone the best of luck in their future ahead. Thank you.