5 September 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.

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. 

Winter Fest 2024: A Heartfelt Thank You! 

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the families who came out to support our Winter Fest event. The primary goal of the event was to bring our school community together, fostering a sense of unity and joy. It was heartwarming to see so many families enjoying the festivities, especially as the weather provided true wintery conditions.  

A memorable moment from the evening was a conversation I had with a parent who remarked, "We should be paying to see this lantern display!" The creativity displayed by our students and art teachers in crafting a lantern walk through our new buildings was simply awesome. It was a shining example of the talent and dedication within our school community, adding a magical touch to the event. 

There are many people who worked tirelessly to create such a terrific atmosphere. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Sorell Fire Brigade for volunteering their time, food van operators and the dedicated staff and volunteers who were present on the night. Also, a huge thank you to the School Association. Everyone’s efforts contributed greatly to the event's success. 

Thank you for making Winter Fest a truly special occasion. Planning has already commenced for 2025.  

Teaching and Learning  

A key priority of the Sorell School Improvement Plan is improving student reading outcomes. Excitingly, our staff have been actively engaged in a reading inquiry, with a specific focus on enhancing fluency. This initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring that all our students develop strong reading skills, which are foundational for their overall academic success. 

Staff are developing their understanding of the four fluency techniques: echo, choral, cloze, and repeated reading. These techniques will be integrated into our instructional model across the school, helping students make sense of the text, regardless of subject area or grade level. This approach aims to strengthen students' reading fluency, ensuring they can engage deeply with the material in all areas of their learning. 

Open Day  

On our Open Day, September 17, parents will have the opportunity to explore our instructional model and observe our learning routines and experiences. Before the school tour, we invite families to gather in mina nina krakani, where they can learn more about our reading inquiry and the broader school improvement plan. This will be a great chance to see how we're working to enhance student outcomes across the school. 

Kelly Dyer – Principal

https://www.facebook.com/SorellSchool
Email: sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au
Phone: (03) 6269 1100

ECE CAMPUS

At Sorell School’s Early Childhood Campus, were excited to share that we’ve begun a focused initiative to help our Year 2 students transition smoothly into Year 3. This important step in their educational journey has been thoughtfully planned to ensure our students feel supported, confident, and well-prepared for the next stage.

Our comprehensive transition plan includes opportunities for Year 2 students to spend time in the 3-6 space, where they can engage with both the students and teachers in this environment. These sessions allow them to ask questions, explore new learning areas, and begin familiarising themselves with the routines and expectations of Year 3. This interaction not only eases the transition but also fosters a sense of belonging in the wider school community.

Alongside supporting students to transition, our Community lessons focus has centred on emotional intelligence and problem solving. We’ve been working closely with the students to help them identify and understand the feelings that come with facing problems and conflicts. By teaching them that they have choices in how they respond to challenges, we aim to empower our young learners to make thoughtful decisions, fostering resilience and independence.

We are also thrilled to announce the upcoming Terrapin puppet performance titled Feathers. This engaging show is sure to captivate the imaginations of all our students, offering them a blend of storytelling, artistry, and fun. Performances like these are a wonderful way to enrich our students’ cultural experiences and inspire creativity.

YEARS 3 – 6 CAMPUS

Students in Years 3 to 6 have been engaged in some exciting learning opportunities over the last month. Our Sorell Olympics challenges have continued with classes developing class raps around their learning and class community. Congratulations to Roddies Crew (3/4 Rodwell) and 5/6 Dillon as our rap champions.

Our first ever interschool chess team travelled to Rose Bay High School where they competed against other schools. All students enjoyed the day and we look forward to our next competition in Term 4.

5-6 classes have been on excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre at Woodbridge investigating adaptations of marine life and their habitats. This has included exploring the touch tank, exploring underwater environments using virtual reality and observing marine animals in their natural habitat.

YEARS 7 – 9 CAMPUS

Years 7 and 8 have been busy this fortnight! Congratulations to students who competed at the school chess competition last week. Hugo in Year 7 came second out of all Year 7-10 students across the schools who competed. Great effort, Hugo!

Year 8 students have been enjoying excursions as part of their Outdoor Experiences curriculum. Year 8 students have also stepped up to support the Senior Shakespeare Festival by catering and serving for the lunch event. It was an absolute pleasure to see students working as a team to produce and serve a delicious two course lunch. Yummo! Thanks to Annie Pickering for her work in coordinating this for our students.

Year 9 students were also busy preparing for their Shakespeare Festival that occurred last week. It is wonderful to see students getting in the spirit by trying on costumes and practicing their lines ready to perform. They too enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the Year 8s and Annie. Year 9s excel at stepping outside their comfort zones.

Year 9s have also represented strongly in both the boys and girls recent Reclink Netball competitions.

Keep up the great work!

YEARS 10 – 12 CAMPUS

This is a really critical time for end of year results and all students are encouraged to work closely with their teachers to ensure they are in the strongest possible position heading into, what may be the last Term of schooling.   

We were please to host The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP in the Trade Training Centre for the announcement of a federal grant made available to the School Food Matters program. Our resident Years 11/12 Hospitality Teacher and talented Chef Scott Hutchison along with his hospitality students were able to showcase their skill set in the kitchen and demonstrate the fantastic experience students get when undertaking the VET Hospitality program at Sorell School.  

Students in Year 10 will be given the opportunity to participate in the RYDA Road Safety Education program on Tuesday 10^th September. Sorell School will play host to around 70 students from other schools, giving our year 10 cohort the opportunity to build their understanding of road safety as many prepare to hit the road for the first time in the near future. 

Just a reminder that this Friday is a normal school day for Year 11 and 12 students.

Year 9/10 Shakespeare Festival

Some of our Year 9 and 10 students have been working very hard and stepped out of their comfort zones to stand up on stage and perform Shakespear in front of their peers and staff. A big congratulations on a wonderful performance!

Families Satisfaction Survey 2024 - Invitation

The 2024 School Satisfaction Survey is here!

Every year the Department for Education, Children and Young People conducts a School Satisfaction Survey to find out what your child(ren)'s school does well and where it may improve. We would be grateful if you completed our online survey about Sorell School. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school-planning and decision-making.

The survey is open from Monday 26 August 2024 until Friday 20 September 2024 and should take about 5 minutes to complete. Each family should nominate one person to fill in this survey for their child(ren). Take the online survey by clicking this Link, or pasting it in your browser: https://nam.dcv.ms/tLJkdAL8AG. The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

All families in this school received the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A summary of the survey results will be provided to schools.  Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department for Education, Children and Young People staff. Please contact the school if you require any assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.