29 September 2023
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 embark on our last day of term, it is a great reminder to celebrate the many achievements and positives that have occurred throughout the term. One such highlight was the outstanding result of our F1 in Schools team, achieving two seconds and champion for senior cadet in their inaugural State Championships. F1 in Schools is an extension STEM program that explores key mathematics, physics and coding concepts to design 3D F1 racing cars. Congratulations to our F1 team.
Academically, we have seen significant gains in student learning. Our recent NAPLAN data verified and substantiated the significant PLD phonics program professional learning and teaching across the primary school and commencement in the secondary school. Our Year 3 NAPLAN data saw Sorell School achieve above similar school ratings across 3 of the 5 domains. We also saw significant growth in Year 9 reading. We look forward to building on this success as we commence our Kindergarten to Year 12 reading inquiry in 2024.
School Improvement Plan
Our school improvement plan has been constructed against two key priorities - quality teaching and learning and engagement for learning. One of the improvement actions for our staff is to embed a common instructional model across every classroom and lesson. This model provides a powerful learning routine to support student predictability and clarity of the learning task. Please see our model below.
Staffing
We would like to wish Sheila Hameed a wonderful Term 4 full of exciting travel and family time. Sheila, please enjoy this special and well-deserved time.
Jacquie Oates was the successful applicant for the ESS role at Campania District. Jacquie will commence in her new role next term. Jacquie, thank you for your dedication and commitment to Sorell School. We wish you every success at Campania. Kim Wilson will be joining us as the new ESS starting Term 4.
Sarah Atkinson joins Leisa Wheller on maternity leave. We wish Sarah and Christo every bit of happiness during this special time. We welcome Kim Neville who will undertake the Support Teacher role for Term 4 and Term 1 of 2024.
Zoe Thurstan will be finishing up with us tomorrow. We would like to thank Zoe for her wonderful work as a TA in the Yr 7 – 10 space and wish Zoe every success moving forward.
Teresa Spinks will be taking LSL for the first three weeks of term 4. Bree Griggs was the successful applicant for the acting Assistant Principal position against Teresa. Kat Mathias was the successful applicant for the acting AST position against Bree Griggs. Congratulations Bree and Kat.
Mel Symmons will be taking LSL for the first two weeks of Term 4. Liam Rudolf will be acting AST for the duration of Mel’s leave.
Cayd McGuire was the successful applicant for acting AST position Term 1 of 2024. Cayd will commence aspects of this role in Term 4 to support the Year 6 – 7 transition program.
Tam Norton was the successful applicant for the Safeguarding role.
We would like to wish every family an enjoyable school holiday break. We thank our parents for ongoing support and partnership with us. We look forward to working with you, to ensure we maximise every students time with us in term 4.
We would forward to seeing students back at school on Monday 16 October 2023.
Kelly Dyer – Principal
https://www.facebook.com/SorellSchool
Email: sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au
Phone: (03) 6269 1100
Kinder 2024 Enrolments
If your child is born in 2019 and you live within the Sorell School catchment area, please reach out to us regarding enrolling your child in Kinder for 2024.
Pop into our admin building for an enrolment pack, call the office on 6269 1100 or email us at sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au
Heritage Day Kinder – Y6
You are invited to join with us and celebrate Heritage Day, on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
All students are encouraged to dress up in olden day clothing/costumes. Kinder to Year 6 students will be involved in playing olden day games with buddy classes and performing a bush dance.
Writing Competition Winner
“Congratulations to Brianna Wright in Grade 9 who co-winner of Working it Out’s WEAR IT PURPLE Writing Competition, 26 and Under Category! Working it Out described Brianna’s piece as both brave and moving in equal measure. Brianna will receive a $50 gift card and have her writing published both online and in print. Well done Brianna for stepping out of your comfort zone and demonstrating our school value of aspiration and courage!”
Purple
By Brianna Wright
I am currently sitting in detention with a boy I hate because he wouldn’t shut up, yay me.
“Hey Lucas.” And the boy still won’t shut up.
“We are in here because you wouldn’t stop talking, so maybe just maybe be quiet during detention, please.”
“Can you just answer one question for me?” He is going to be the death of me. “Fine, one question then no more talking” I say sternly giving him no room to argue.
“Why do you hate me?”
The one Question with so many answers, yet they all lead back to one thing, purple. I know, I know that sounds stupid I hate a boy because of a colour, but my hatred for purple is justified and Ezra Mills the boy in detention with me wears purple every single day.
“It doesn’t matter.” I say not wanting to talk about purple in general but especially not with him.
“It does matter, if I’ve done something bad enough to cause you to hate me then I want to know so I can apologise.” Well, that was oddly sweet.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat preparing myself to tell a story I wish to forget but he’s right he does deserve an explanation. “Purple.”
“Purple? You hate me because of a colour?” Ezra’s voice is laced with confusion as he asks.
“Well, sort of.” Oh god this is going to be a fun conversation. “Back in high school there was this girl who didn’t like me very much and I don’t know how, but she found out I was gay and outed me to the whole school.” That wasn’t even half of the story, but I feel sick just at the thought of it.
“That sucks Lucas like really sucks but, what does that have to do with me or purple?”
“Well…” Here it goes. “My school wasn’t very gay people friendly like at all so after I got outed basically the whole school hated me, and it wasn’t just verbal bullying, it got physical.” I want to scream, cry and throw-up at the same time “And by physical, I mean I got bashed at least once every week, sometimes it was really bad and other times not really, but every time it happened, I’d wake up the next day and find new purple bruises.” Just the word “bruise” makes me feel ill.
“So, I hate the colour purple because it reminds me of the bruises and the bruises remind me of the bullying and thinking about the fights and all the things, they said to me makes me want to curl in a ball and hide away so I never have to see anyone again. Dramatic I know, so it might sound stupid, but I sort of hate you because you wear purple.” I swear I might throw-up.
“That is so messed up, did they get in trouble?” He sounds genuinely upset almost angry.
“I mean a couple of them got detentions but that was it.” I need the subject to change away from the bullying. “So why do you like purple so much?”
“It’s not a happy story.” His face automatically dropped at the thought of whatever purple means to him. “So, you’ve been warned.”
“I had this friend Rowan, we’d known each other since we were babies, so we grew up together, I mean he felt more like a brother than a best friend.” He stopped talking and by the way he screwed up his face I can only guess this is a sore topic to talk about.
“Rowan was like the smartest person I have ever met he never failed a class, until high school.” I want to stop him from talking because I feel bad watching him struggle to speak considering Ezra Mills is never lost for words.
“When high school started, he became more distant and he started skipping, he never skipped class. I was so worried, and I had no idea how to help because I had no idea what was going on, until he called me at like 3 in the morning telling me I had to come get him. I found him sitting on the sidewalk high out of his mind, I was scared but I knew I had to help him, so I took him back to mine and when he woke up the next morning, he told me he’d been using drugs basically all year. I was so confused, and I wish I tried to understand or tried to help him, but I was young and had no idea what to do.” He takes a deep breath before continuing.
“He kept using all throughout high school and I know I should have stopped him but I guess in a way I didn’t see my best friend in him anymore, I mean he still looked like my best friend just more skinny and less alive looking, but he didn’t act like my Rowan anymore he didn’t laugh as much, he didn’t correct me when I sent a text that wasn’t grammatically correct, it’s like he was existing not living.” Ezra looks like he is about to cry.
“Then last year on the 20th of March Rowans mum called me to tell me he had overdosed; they don’t know if it was suicide or an accident. I’m going to skip most of the extra sad parts but basically, I lost myself after he died and then I found out that purple is the colour for overdose awareness and Rowans favourite colour, so I started wearing it everyday to feel closer to Rowan I guess.” Ezra looks genuinely pained but also relived that he told someone.
“Well now I sound like and asshole.” I admit feeling extremely embarrassed.
“You didn’t know, I mean we all make assumptions of people based of things we already know.” And all my assumptions about you were wrong Ezra Mills completely wrong.
“Well, I’m glad you proved my assumptions wrong Ezra Mills.”
Secondary End of Term Assembly
Congratulations to our award recipients at our end of term assembly. Awards we recognised were School Values, Brass Band Mentors, Netball and 100% Attendance – thank you Homelands for your prize voucher. We were also treated to a performance by our School Rock Band.
Sorell School Association
Are you able to assist the Sorell School Association with prize donations or support for our upcoming fundraisers (details to follow soon - quiz night and silent auction, Christmas raffle etc) Please contact Nicki Batchelor, Secretary, Sorell School Association on batchelornicki@gmail.com
We would also love to recognise the achievements of Sorell Students in their sporting clubs etc, congratulations all:
Thomas Crossin, South East Junior Football Club, U16.5 Best and Fairest
Addison Downham, South East Suns Womens Football Club Juniors, U14 Most Valuable Player
Molly Edmand, U14 Runner Up Best & Fairest, Clarence Junior Football Club
Georgia Haw, South East Netball Association, Junior Sportsmanship Award
Tessa Batchelor, South East Netball Association, Junior Club Service Award
And Kirsty Dillon (5/6 teacher) was nominated for Club Volunteer - Umpire of the Year, South East Junior Giants.
We love to recognise the achievements of all our students in their activities outside of school - please email us at sorell.school@decyp.tas.gov.au
VET Animal Care
The VET Animal Care & VET Agricultural students recently worked with Dr Margaret Thompson from Brighton Veterinary Services to complete the annual JD & CAE testing at the farm.
The grade 9/10 & Cert II in Animal Care students have been busy preparing for and conducting farm tours this month.
The students received amazing feedback from all the visiting schools. Special thank you to; Campania Primary x2, Holy Rosary Catholic School, Big Picture - Hobart, Austin's Ferry Primary, New Town Primary, Rosetta Primary and Bellerive Primary
Breakfast Club Thank You
Thank you to Belle Parker Homes for their Breakfast Club donation recently.
Breakfast Club runs from 8.30am at our Mina Nina Krakani building for all students to grab a toasty and some fruit to start their day.
Uniform Shop
The Uniform shop will be open Thursday 12 October during the holidays from 10am – 2pm.
The shop is now located off the Mina Nina Krakani building through the orange door.
Combined Primary Schools Annual Concert
Barista Skills Course
Would you like to learn how to be a Barista?
Enrol in the course held at the TTC on 11 October. $50.00 per person.
Follow the link; Course Enrol - VXT
Child & Family Learning Centre
We are close to naming our new CFLC, we would love for you to vote for a new name. Please follow the QR code or this link to vote.
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