27 May 2024

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

I acknowledge, with deep respect, the traditional custodians of this land, the Mumirimina people and pay my respects to Elders past and present, to the Aboriginal people with us today and to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community who continue to care for Country.  I stand for a future that profoundly respects and acknowledges Aboriginal perspectives, culture, language and history.

Our School Values

Our Commitment:  In partnership with community, we provide a welcoming school of choice that inspires and supports all learners to succeed as connected, creative and curious thinkers.

As we approach the end of week 4, learning is our key focus. One of the key priorities of the school, is to improve student reading outcomes. Across our Kindergarten to Year 12 campus, students engage with four different curriculums ranging from the five key outcomes in the Early Years Framework through to both VET and TASC curricular. Each course, unit of work or outcome, asks students to access and make meaning of the information being delivered.

To support our students to make meaning of text, our teachers have focused heavily on code breaking as a fundamental skill underpinning reading. We have seen improved outcomes in our NAPLAN data as this work starts to take effect.

Our teachers are currently undertaking a new reading inquiry as we shift our focus beyond codebreaking. We really look forward to sharing this work with you into the future.

Stage 3 Redevelopment

Our redevelopment is fast approaching completion. The old Year 1 and 2 classrooms have been transformed into a purposefully designed space for Year 7 and 8 students. We are hoping that classrooms will be ready for use early Term 3.

Stage 4 demolition of the patio block and big picture building will take place throughout Term 3. Students that will be required to move rooms will receive further information near the end of this Term.

Extra-Curricular Events

As always, Sorell School students are super busy with extra-curricular events and carnivals. Thank you to our Cross-Country athletes. Lots of students have been huffing and puffing around our school. We wish all students who get selected for the up-and-coming interschool carnivals the very best.

Our Year 3 – 5 mandatory Swimming and Water Safety Program kicks off next week. I have no doubt each student will learn a lot about being safe in and around water as well as having heaps of fun.  

We have some amazing History students who will be heading to Launceston later this Term. These students represented our school at the recent Remembering Neil Davis event. They look forward to learning more Neil Davis with the aim of becoming ambassadors in our school to educate the broader Sorell School community on his accomplishments and incredible contributions.

Beacon Foundation, in collaboration with the Federal Group, hosted a fantastic Speed Careering Day for a select group of Year 9 and 10 students interested in Tourism and Hospitality. They had the privilege of exploring the various roles that are crucial to running a hotel, spending the day at the Federal Group’s award-winning hotels: the Henry Jones Art Hotel and MACq 01 Hotel.

The jam-packed two-hour session covered a wide range of roles, including; Front Desk/Reservations, Housekeeping Manager, History & Art (Art Curator), Restaurants & Bars Manager/Food and Beverage Manager, Events Manager at The Story Bar, Chef at the Pass/Chefs Table, Mixologist

Our students were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to explore both the front and back of house at these unique establishments.

It was a truly rewarding experience that left them eager for the next industry session later in the Term.
A huge thank you to Ash from Beacon Foundation and The Federal Group for this invaluable experience and to all the staff at Henry Jones Art Hotel and MACq 01 Hotel for sharing their expertise and passion with us!

Recently our Year 9 and 10 students participated in the Science and engineering challenge and placed 6th. There were heaps of activities including creating a plane which Tyler, Lilly and Jastej won the flight challenge! Whilst Riley, Duke, Addy and Nat managed to have 3kgs on their bridge.

Our students were involved in the National Simultaneous Storytime that occurs on the last Wednesday in May. Teachers and students all around Australia settle down with a good book to read simultaneously. This year’s book ‘Bowerbird Blues!’

A big shout out to our School Association and school leaders for organising and running a successful breakfast to celebrate Mothers - special person Day. The event was well attended with many adults and students giving a big thumbs up for the delicious pancakes.  Thank you to everyone who attended.

Our School Association also ran a successful Polling Day event. This event raised money that will go towards supporting our students and projects across the school. Thank you to everyone who volunteered on the day.

Kelly Dyer – Principal 

Email: sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au
Phone: (03) 6269 1100

Behaviour Management Policy

Dear Families,

Welcome to Term 2. Sorell School is committed to working in partnership with families to ensure all students are succeeding. We appreciate as the year progresses there might be things that pop up, that require families to work closely with the school. The school offers many avenues for this to occur:

• -Face to face meetings by appointments
• See Saw
• Email  - sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au 
• Email to specific Assistant Principal’s across our school  
  K – 2 Teresa.Spinks@decyp.tas.gov.au 
  3 – 6 Trent.Spoule@decyp.tas.gov.au    
  7 – 8 Lauren.Clements@decyp.tas.gov.au    
  9 – 10 Jamie.Harwood@decyp.tas.gov.au    
  11 – 12 Brody.Walker@decyp.tas.gov.au-
• Phone via Administration on 6269 1100 - MGM

I would like to acknowledge and thank families for the positive interactions that occur daily from Kindergarten to Year 12.

It is important to remind families that: 

• Abuse towards staff
• Approaching another student on our school site to discuss an issue
• Inappropriate reference of staff, students or school on social media
• Parents contacting students during the school day on mobile phones, are not appropriate and contravenes our Behaviour Management Policy. Specifically, abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and may well result in a Trespass Notice or Restraining Order. 
  

It is everyone’s responsibility to create a safe, calm and productive school environment where students grow academically, socially and emotionally.

Our school has a clearly defined Behaviour Management Policy that is located on our school website that outline our procedures and expectations. If you have any questions, please contact me at Kelly.dyer@education.tas.gov.au or via phone on 6269 1100.

Kindest Regards,
Kelly Dyer
Principal

Attendance

There is still plenty of time to be eligible for our attendance incentive.

Thank you to Homelands Sorell for their continued support of our attendance programme. 

Year 7 Orientation

Our Year 7 Orientation Day is Wednesday 27 November 2024.

We look forward to seeing all those year 6 students joining us for year 7 in 2025.

E-Scooters

Just a friendly reminder we are unable to charge students e-scooters at school due to testing and tagging rules. 

2024 Levy payments

Thank you to the families that answered our phone calls during the last school holiday period and especially to those that have paid levy invoices, either in full or part, arranged Centrepay payments, set-up a payment plan or have made a commitment to pay. The levies and charges we receive from families supports our school to deliver learning opportunities for all students. Thank you for your contribution.

You may have also received a follow-up letter early this term regarding outstanding levy payments.  Please note that if you have not yet made a commitment or spoken to School Business Manager, Xanath Newbold, regarding the 2024 levy debt a second letter will be mailed out prior to the end of this term.

Payment of levies and charges can be made by:

• Cash or credit card at the school office during office opening hours
• Bpay, Bpoint
• Qkr!
• Service Tasmania.

You are a valued member of our school community and we welcome your feedback on levies and charges at our school.  You can contact School Business Manager, Xanath Newbold, if you have any questions or would like to talk about levies at our school. Personal information relating to levies will always be treated with total confidentiality.

STAS – Student Assistance Scheme

STAS provides assistance to eligible families by waiving levies for students.  It applies to students enrolled in a school from Kindergarten to Year 12.  STAS is not a direct payment but means you won’t have to pay the levy charge. Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS: 

• Services Australia - Centrelink Health Care Card
• Services Australia - Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia - Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs - Pensioner Concession Card

Parents/carers can complete an on-line application form:  

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families - hard copy paper forms are available from the school office.

ANZAC Day Service

On Thursday 25^ April, student leaders gathered at the Sorell RSL for the 11am ANZAC service.

Lilly Balmer (captain), Charlie Leaman (vice-captain), Hayley Wagner (grade 6), Tyler Bearman (grade 6) proudly represented Sorell school. They showed great courage when they read their speeches and spoke about their family connections to the war. Lest we forget.