The Department for Education, Children and Young People has a new strategic plan and a new set of values. In 2023, Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) staff, children and young people were asked ‘who do we need to be’ to ensure our children and young people have bright lives and positive futures, and what are the values that we need to be guided by. These are Connection, Growth, Respect, Responsibility and Courage. These values guide us in planning for student achievement, wellbeing and in the way we interact with each other in our school each day. Students and teachers are starting work discussing how the values should be applied in their classes, in all interactions and endeavours in our school. We have ordered display materials to support our values work and these will become visible around our school once they arrive.

SLB Induction.

Last Friday we presented the Student Leadership Board of 2024 with their blazers/jackets and badges, and formally introduced them to the school community. Our student leaders certainly demonstrate the DECYP values. Tara, our SLB President, gave her first speech sharing with us about the Leadership Day at Hollybank and how the SLB intend to contribute to leading school culture in 2024.

It was wonderful that family members were able to attend the assembly and the morning tea to celebrate the student leaders and their roles.

The guest speaker for this special assembly was Mrs Taylor Clyne Smith, former editor of the North Eastern Advertiser. Taylor gave an inspiring speech about embracing opportunities that come your way, being prepared to get out of your comfort zone and to be your unique self.  Taylor shared her experiences with us and her exciting opportunity to be travelling to New York this year to further develop her media skills. A huge thank you to Taylor for providing us with such an engaging and motivating speech!

International Women’s Day – Girls’ Breakfast

We celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March with a light breakfast for a number of our Year 7-12 female students.  We were very fortunate to have Mrs Cynthia Summers from Scottsdale Shoe Shop address the students.  Cynthia provided the girls with some very wise advice including the importance of building relationships, taking up opportunities that come your way, being resilient and putting your phone down and engaging in conversations with others. Many thanks to Cynthia for giving so generously of her time and being so supportive of our female students.

Swimming Carnival

I would like to thank parents, students and staff for their support of our swimming carnival last week which was held in idealic summer conditions. A particular thanks to Mrs Tuffin for her outstanding leadership of this event and to Scottsdale Swimming Club adults who assisted. We are all justifiably proud of the spirit of competition and inclusion displayed by our students in all events. I was particularly impressed by the courage shown by students who entered events they had not undertaken before and which were challenging for them. It was great to see so many students participating in the novelty events and the smiles of enjoyment on their faces.  Well done to our 2024 House Captains who encouraged participation and friendly, positive competition.  Thank you to Scottsdale Aquatic Centre for their work in supporting the Carnival.

Congratulations to Minstone on winning the carnival with 533 points.  Well done to Ellesmere coming second with 210 points and Stronach placing third with 187 points.

Students sitting NAPLAN between 13th March - 25th March

NAPLAN testing has commenced this week and we encourage all Year 7 and 9 students to give the testing their best effort as this data helps to inform our teaching and learning.  The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online?

NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.

One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.

Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.

Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.

School Association- AGM Tuesday 28th March

Reminder that the next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th March at 6.15pm in the school Library. There will be a short AGM then general meeting. New members are welcome to join. Meetings run for approximately an hour. This is a great opportunity for parents/carers to be kept informed of our improvement journey.  Nomination forms are attached.

Energy Drinks – not to be brought to or consumed at school

As part of our Healthy Schools and Canteen, students should not be having energy drinks at school and are encouraged not to have them before school.  Students are not permitted to consume them at school.

Julie, our school nurse, has shared this poster with us to raise awareness of the effect energy drinks can have on our health.

Elizabeth Williams

Principal

In both Year 9 and Year 10 classes, it has been excellent to have all students beginning English lessons by engaging in a range of Readers Notebook activities. This task requires students to select a text of interest - often from a recommendations list we suggest for Year 9-10 students to read. Students then undertake a range of comprehension activities to build their understanding of the texts. At the end of the term students will submit their Reader's Notebook for assessment. 

Studentworks applications are now open for Term 2 for students in Years 8-10. Appliation forms can be collected from the Gereral Office, closing date is 28th March.  

Please open the link below for options available at Studentworks.

Year 7 and 8 students participated in Clean Up Australia Day on Friday 1st March, a fantastic effort from all involved.