Dear Families

We are well into the swing of learning for term one. Today students had their first meeting with their word study teacher for this term. Word study is part of our systematic instruction in phonics. Students are regrouped within their grade range with others who have a similar learning need for focused and targeted teaching of phonics, spelling and vocabulary. There are three sessions per week. 

Learning occurs at all levels of the school and the leadership team are busy learning about the requirements for the Lifting Literacy initiative and synthesizing the content of these requirements. Yesterday Bec Corney and I attended a professional learning session about word recognition and have two more days of this later in the year. I hope students can see that adults are also always learning and taking on new challenges too! 

This term we are piloting an options program for students in Years 5 and 6. The six class teachers and four specialists are all offering a semester long course (15 weeks). One aim of this program is to increase student engagement by working with teachers on subject matter of interest to all involved. A further aim is to increase connection across the school with students working and learning with students from different classes. A second round of courses will be offered in terms 3 and 4 in another 15-week semester.  

A reminder that I will be on leave from Monday 3 – Friday 28 March and Mrs Bec Corney will be acting principal in my absence.  

I look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks. 

Regards

Anne Reeves

Come along and grab a free snag, meet some other families and usher in the new school year!

This Thursday 27th at 3.30pm, hosted by your school association. The school uniform swap will also be there.

NAPLAN 2025

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025. 

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. 

This is the third year NAPLAN has been held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year. These can then be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year. 

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. The questions a student receives depends on their answers to previous questions. This means that students answer 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. Please note that students in Year 3 complete the Writing Test on paper. 

Parent information brochures and other resources 

A parent information brochure and questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child can be found at: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers 

The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website and covers a variety of topics such as the timing of the tests and how results from the assessments should be understood. 

It also allows access to a Public Demonstration Site which shows the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests. 

Please contact the school if you have any further queries. 

Volunteers Required:

We are seeking volunteers for our upcoming Primary Athletics Carnival.

 Time - 9.30 to 2.30pm

 Venue - Domain Athletics Centre

 Date - Friday 7^th March

Volunteers need to hold a current Registration for Working with Vulnerable People and must have completed the Safeguarding video.

Please indicate your intention to assist by email to: Mark Nichols

Mr Nichols.

Just a reminder that all volunteers at the school, for all purposes, are required by DECYP rules to have a current, Tasmanian Registration for Working with Vulnerable People (RWVP) and to have completed the Mandatory Reporting training.  

Mandatory reporting is required each calendar year.  

RWVP are applied for through the Justice Department. Please allow time for processing as at times this may take weeks. The school is unable to make exceptions to this requirement.  

At the end of this term the School Association (SA) will have its AGM. At this time a new committee will be formed. All parents with children enrolled at South Hobart are part of the School Association. Eleven people make up the SA Committee. Nominations will open next week from members of the school community to be part of the School Association Committee. Nominations are for being on the committee, not for positions (Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer).  

The AGM will be followed by the first meeting of the new committee. At the first meeting all positions (Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) are declared vacant, and nominations and voting is conducted to determine these roles. The principal chairs this part of the meeting until the positions have been filled. 

The committee is made of eight parents, two staff and the principal. The term for being on the committee is two years. At the end of every School Association year half the committee retire. This year there are four parent, and one staff position available.  

Timeline: 

• Nominations open on Thursday 6 March (week 5) 

• Nomination forms will be available from the office or can be requested via SZapp to be sent home with students. 

• Forms need to be seconded by another member of the School Association (any other parent) 

• A nomination box will be available at the office for completed nomination forms. 

• Nominations close on Thursday 13 March (week 6) 

• If elections are required (more nominations than positions) voting will open Thursday 20 March (week 7) 

• Voting will close Thursday 27 March (week 8) 

• Candidates notified on Friday 28 March (week 8) 

• AGM – Tuesday 1 April (week 9) 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start 

• First meeting of the new committee – immediately after the AGM 

The committee meets twice per term at 7:00pm. (6:30pm for nibbles and socialising) Being a part of the committee is a great way to connect with other parents and be involved in the school. Please consider nominating to be on the SA committee.  

Ride the Rivulet

Once again this fabulously fun event is happening on National Ride to School Day – Friday March 21^st. Join more than 350,000 students across the nation who will ride, walk, scoot or skate to school!!!

This is a wonderful and fun school community event for all children (and their parents) of any skill level from kinder- grade 6. The event will run from 3.30-5pm. With support of the School Association there will be a FREE afternoon tea of sushi, fruit and biscuits, fun activities, prizes and a ride/race for each grade should your child wish to participate. Be a part of the action (even if your superpower is cheering on your friends)!!

Drum roll please…..We may have a local riding legend dropping by! Keep an eye out for correspondence coming soon on how to register your child electronically or manually.

Volunteers make magic happen…. 

This event relies on the support of parent volunteers. There are lots of different ways you can help….please SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER .  

Volunteers needed to make this happen.

Roles include cooking, serving, unpacking and packing up, organising games and most importantly having fun. Please click the link below to volunteer and register for a one-hour time slot.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showRSVPSignUp/10C0E4BA5AC2FA6F9C70-55127007-soccer

If you have any questions please contact:

shpssoccer@gmail.com

Thank you

Soccer gear donation request 

We’ll be having a soccer gear giveaway at the soccer fun day on Sunday 23rd March, participation by donation. Please bring any donations of both SHPS and Morton’s soccer clothing, boots or gloves to the fun day within an hour of the starting time, or you can leave donations at the office. Please spread the word! This is a fantastic way to fit your kids with the next size boots etc., but it relies on everyone remembering to donate their soccer gear first! 

Southern Outlet Upgrades

Please see the link below for updates on Southern Outlet upgrades.

Transit_Lane_Connector_Davey_Street_Closure_2_March_2025.pdf

Road Closure: Chimney Pot Hill Road.

Contractors engaged by the City of Hobart will be undertaking asphalt works on Chimney Pot Hill Road next week, from Monday 03 March to Thursday 06 March inclusive (subject to weather). The road will be closed to all traffic during this time (see attached map). We’ve been advised that this may impact access to a school bus stop on Huon Road for some of your students who live in Ridgeway, so I wanted to provide you with details that may allow you to make alternative arrangements.

While works are underway alternative access to and from Ridgeway will be available via Ridgeway Road, with access to the lower end of Huon Road available via Waterworks Road and Romilly Street.

Link to attached map

Chimney_Pot_Hill_Rd_Spray_Seal_External_Map.pdf

https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/term-dates/