18 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. 

Sorell School’s SunSmart / sun protection policy

Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. More than two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. As the sun’s UV radiation is the major cause of skin cancer, most skin cancers can be prevented by using sun protection measures whenever UV levels are three or higher.

This policy applies to all;

• students, staff, volunteers, visitors and contractors,
• activities and events on and off-site including; recess/lunch, outdoor lessons, assemblies, PE and sports classes, interschool sports activities, excursions, camps and free dress days,
• school environments and environments where school-related events occur.

Hats: Slap on a sun protective hat

• All staff and students are encouraged and reminded regularly to wear broad-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire hats that protect their face, head, neck and ears, whenever they are outside.

• Caps and visors are not considered a suitable alternative.
• Students without a sun protective hat are provided with a spare hat where possible.
• Students without an appropriate hat will be asked to use shaded areas or suitable areas protected from the sun.

Sunscreen: Slop on sunscreen

• The school supplies SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen for staff and students to use.
• Where students have allergies or sensitivities to sunscreen, parents are asked to provide and alternative sunscreen.
• Strategies are in place to remind and encourage students to apply sunscreen before going outdoors (e.g., reminder notices, sunscreen monitors, sunscreen buddies) with time for this scheduled into the daily routine.

Please talk to your child about the hat they are wearing at school. Legionnaire hats are available at the uniform shop.

School Wide Reading Inquiry

As the end of term rapidly approaches there have been many highlights. The one highlight that resonates for me, is the implementation of the Fluency Reading Inquiry. As a staff we have worked together to decide on a teacher focus to improve reading outcomes. Our focus is - explicit teaching of the four fluency techniques.

The power of our reading inquiry is to ensure consistency of techniques being implemented with fidelity from Kindergarten to Year 12. Each of the techniques will support all students regardless of curriculum areas to better make meaning of the texts they are reading. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our interim data show such positive gain.

Kelly Dyer
Principal

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

ECE CAMPUS

It’s been another vibrant fortnight of learning and excitement on the Early Years Campus, and we’d love to share some of the highlights with you.

Our current community focus is on teaching students the importance of protecting themselves from harmful UV rays. Despite the weather being rather chilly, the UV rays are at a range that can cause damage. It’s essential that our students learn the habits of sun safety, such as wearing hats, sunscreen and seeking shade. We appreciate your support in ensuring that your child has a school sun hat to protect their skin while playing outdoors. Each classroom has sunscreen available for students to use throughout the day. If your child requires a specific type of sunscreen due to allergies or sensitivities, please ensure they bring it along in their bags. Don’t forget to inform your child’s teacher so we can make sure they are using the right product.

Last week, we had an incredibly dynamic assembly that was a hit with students, staff, and families alike. The assembly featured an impressive skipping performance, showcasing the ability and skill of some of our prep students. It has been inspiring to see students improving their skipping skills through plenty of playtime practice. We will be taking the Skipping Event by storm!

The Year One-Two students expanded sentences using adjectives. It’s been wonderful to hear the creativity from students as they describe the world around them in more detail. Finally, we were entertained by Prep Forbes who have been making learning fun by singing the days of the week, helping them with both memory and routine.

Next term, our assemblies are changing to Wednesday afternoons. The doors to the ECE campus will open at 2:10pm ready for a 2:20pm start. This change allows for our Kinder students to attend along with our Prep to Year Two students.

Teresa Spinks
K-2 Assistant Principal

YEARS 3 – 6 CAMPUS

Students have continued working hard in their classrooms. Years 3 to Year 6 have a focus area on improving student reading fluency. All students are undertaking Fluency Friends sessions each week in their classrooms. Please ask your child about these sessions.

Sorell Olympics challenges have continued this fortnight and have involved classes constructing the Eiffel Tower and the class designing and creating an outfit for their teacher using paper and sticky tape.  Great fun was had by all.

Trent Sproule and Jamie Harwood
3-6 Assistant Principals

YEARS 7 – 9 CAMPUS

It has been a busy couple of weeks in Grade 7, 8 and 9. Students have completed the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. This survey gives them an opportunity to give feedback about how they are travelling at Sorell School. We use this data to ensure we focus our school priorities in the right place – this year, primarily school belonging. The care and consideration students put into giving us feedback has improved so much – student voice is important to us.

Students are also positively engaging in our explicit social skills curriculum run during Community time each day. Our focus for the rest of the term are two crucial areas – sun safety and rubbish. Students have been brainstorming ways to improve the rubbish challenge at Sorell School. Thanks to Emily in Grade 9 who plans to build us a Sorell School robot to help support the rubbish plan. Imagine the possibilities!

The students have settled well into the 7/8 building and in the coming weeks the newly sewn grass will be ready to access. We will be gaining some student voice to determine what to put in the new area for break times. Suggestions so far include more swings, outdoor table tennis tables and a multi-purpose half court. Stay tuned for updates in this space.

Lauren Clements
7-9 Assistant

YEARS 10 – 12 CAMPUS

Many students in years 11 and 12 are busily working away completing what will be for some their final school related assessment tasks! As we head into the last two weeks of Term 3, students have realised that Term 4 is fairly short for years 11 and 12 courses, only running for 4 weeks next term. Many students will need to keep working right until the final deadline to complete all the required assessment tasks, tick off those last remaining VET units or secure strong final ratings for TASC courses. 

As students continue working, it has been a nice change in pace to complete some planning for our end of year celebrations. This year we will offer a celebration lunch to our Years 11 and 12 Students on Thursday 31^st of October. We will head to the Tasmania Golf Club where students will have a two-course alternative drop dinner and celebrate the years achievements.

Our year 10 students have also had their eye on celebration planning, this year we will head to Club Wyndham at Seven Mile Beach on Friday the 13^th of December for the year 10 formal. Students will have a two-course alternative drop dinner. The evening will feature a photobooth, music, special lighting and a video 360.

Both end of year events are significant achievements for all students and represent an important milestone in education and future training/employment. Our year 10 students will each start to follow a more specialised learning program next year, some commencing a full time apprenticeship, undertaking VET courses or enrolling into specialist TASC classes. Our year 12 students are off to the world of work, or further study in TAFE or UNI. It's certainly an exciting time for all involved and we are very much so looking forward  to the end of year celebrations.

Luke Hamilton
10-12 Assistant Principal

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS UNIFORM SHOP HOURS

The school uniform shop will be open during the school holidays on Thursday 3 October, 12pm – 4pm.