7 June 2024

News from Miss Smith

This week our staff will be participating in a Moderation Day, Friday June 7.  At Moderation we will be looking at and assessing work samples from students on the North West Coast.  Yolla District School is working with Burnie and Wynyard High Schools and Table Cape and Boat Harbour Primary Schools.  Thanks, to all the students who have completed the moderation assessment task over the last month.

Communication – It is vital that the school have an emergency contact number for every child on site.  If you have recently changed your phone number or no longer have a phone, please let the office know an alternative number.

Staff – This week we have welcomed Mr Keith Gates to our teaching team.  Mr Gates will be working mainly with Year 7 and Year 9 students.  He is joining us from NSW and is currently living in the Smithton area.  Mrs Michelle Bennett finished teaching at Yolla District School on Monday.  Mr Lucadou-Wells is currently on paternity leave, returning on Monday June 17.  Our school community would like to congratulate Mr L and his family on the safe arrival of a new baby.

Hands on Learning and Y7-10 Options

Next week Year 7-10 students will be given the opportunity to select options for Term 3 and Term 4.  We ask that families work with their child to ensure that they are making the best choice available for them.  The majority of students got their first choices in the first half of the year.

Students, families and staff can also nominate for the Hands on Learning Build and Café program.   Additional information about this program is provided in this newsletter.  Students who have been part of the program in Term 1 and Term 2 are unlikely to be given a place in Term 3 and 4.

Student Behaviour

Effective Tuesday 11 June until the end of Term 2 there will be a zero-tolerance process for the following behaviours;

• Disrespectful language towards other students and staff
• Use of mobile phones between 9am and 3pm
• Refusal to participate in class.

A letter was emailed and posted to all families on Wednesday June 5, outlining this change.  We look forward to your support and celebrating the positive choices that our students make in the coming weeks.  If you did not receive this letter, please contact the office.

Miss Smith

Mobile Phones – Off and Away All Day

The Department for Education, Children and Young People does not permit the use of mobile phones by students in Tasmanian Government Schools.

Key Dates

DECYP Values

Connection – building positive relationships and a sense of belonging.

Prep to Year 10 School Student Assembly

Parent/Teacher Conversation

Message from the School Association Committee

Our School Association Committee had our Term 2 meeting on Monday 3 June.  Our Principal gave a review of activities and events that are happening in the school, as well as plans for the rest of Term 2.   Items discussed included a review of the school budget, school attendance consultation, and reports from Farm, Parents and Friends and Stock Handling Committees.  We moved a motion to support the Principal and staff in launching a zero tolerance behaviour procedure for the rest of term two which will target disrespectful language, use of mobile phones and refusal to participate in class.

All parents, staff and community members of our school are automatically members of our School Association.  The Committee meet on your behalf to work with the Principal and the school community  to achieve shared outcomes for learners attending the school, and to benefit the whole school community. 

Our Committee members for 2024 are:
Phil Gardner                         Chair
Tiffany Gregory                     Deputy Chair
Andrew Cosgrove                 Parent Member
Jacqui Calvert                        Parent Member
Alyce Schrammeyer              Parent Member
Mandy Sharman                    Staff Member
Kathryn Marks                       Staff Member
Ros Dick                                Community Member

Committee members represent all members of the School Association and are willing to speak with you on any matter regarding the school community.  They will listen to your concern or suggestion and will table it at the next committee meeting in Term 3.  All Committee members can be contacted through the school office email (yolla.district.school@decyp.tas.gov.au). 

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a personal challenge – not a competition. What’s your best reading tally? Can you beat it?

This year you can also earn points for your House, Waratah or Wattle.

If you figure out what you love to read, reading will be easier – so try reading different things – fiction, non-fiction – blogs, comics, poetry, lyrics, essays, magazines, newspapers… it all counts in the PRC.

This is a challenge for all Tasmanian students. It doesn’t matter what your reading level is, everyone can take part.

Reading is a skill we need for life.  All the reading you do in this challenge will help you at school and at home.

Year 1-2

On Wednesday 22 May our school celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime. We joined a live stream with over 2 million other people across Australia to listen to author Aura Parker read her book ‘Bowerbird Blues’. After listening to the story, a few of our classes joined forces to create some bowers of our own using clay, sticks and lots of blue items. We think they look fabulous!

National Simultaneous Storytime ‘Bowerbird Blues’

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Year 3-4

In Maths we have been comparing fractions using lego.

In HASS we have been learning about the first fleet and collecting research about the 11 ships.

In English we have been working on imaginative and persuasive texts.

Primary Football

A big thank you to our community for their support for our Primary Football Team competition. Our first game against St Brigid’s was competitive and well attended by the wider community. The students were pleased to see Mr Lucadou-Wells visit and coach the team, despite being on leave. The final score was St Brigid’s 73 to Yolla 52.

NWPSSA Cross Country

A team of Year 3/4/5/6 students recently represented Yolla at the North West Primary Schools Cross Country.  The track is in Ulverstone – starting on the Ulverstone Football Ground and heading into Fairway Park.  Congratulations to the students who participated on the day, it was great to see you trying your best, showing courage and cheering for the thirty four other schools.

North West Primary Schools Cross Country

Certificate II in Animal Care

Recently, students in Certificate II in Animal Care have visited Trowunna Wildlife Park and Wings Wildlife Park.

Trowunna is home to many native Tasmanian mammals and birds, including those who have been injured and now live at the park full time. Students thoroughly enjoyed the tour that was given by staff and being able to learn about many of the animals including what they need to survive and their behaviours. A young hand-raised wombat was the standout animal for most students. We also had the opportunity to be up close and personal with a Tasmanian Devil. Overall, we had a great learning experience at the Trowanna Wildlife Park and are very grateful for the staff that assisted with making the day so informative.

Wings Wildlife Park at Gunns Plains is home to a wide range of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. It was exciting to learn about such a diverse range of species and their habitats. We had a tour which began at around 10am where we met Tony who was nice enough to teach us about each and every animal. The best part of the day was definitely meeting the koala and getting to learn about their normal activity in the wild as well as in captivity. Overall, this was a great experience. Thanks to the staff at Yolla as well as the staff at Wings for such a great time.

By Paige Walsh and Hannah Frankcombe

Certificate II in Agriculture

Our Year 11-12 Certificate II in Agriculture class have built an animal shelter and yard for our lambing ewes.

Certificate II in Agriculture

Mobile Phones – Off and Away All Day

The Department for Education, Children and Young People does not permit the use of mobile phones by students in Tasmanian Government Schools.

Hands on Learning

Hands on Learning allows Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students to participate one day per week in a build or café program.  This may be within the school or outside in the local community. Some examples include building basic structures, bricklaying, furniture making, painting, catering and landscaping.

The group will consist of 2 staff and up to 10 students from different year levels. The staff are called artisan-teachers and are employed by the school.

In 2024 Yolla District School is offering a HoL Build and HoL Café experience.  Students will spend an entire day in HoL.  As well as completing practical projects they may also prepare and share meals together as a group.

Additional information about Hands on Learning across Australia can be located online.  Hands on Learning is supported by the Save Our Children, Australia organisation.

It is a privilege for students to have an opportunity to be in the HoL program. We have limited places.  All nominations go on to a waiting list.  This is not a program for students who want a day out of school. This program helps students maintain a positive attitude to school.  The nomination period for Hands on Learning Build and Café for Term 3 and Term 4 is now open.

How to become involved;

• Families and staff can nominate students for HoL.
• Students can self-nominate.

Launching into Learning – Tiny Taters Playgroup

We truly value the zero to four years of age program that our school has operated over the past decade.  It is our intention to resume this program as soon as we have solved our staff shortages.  We have a team of staff who are keen to get this program operational again.

At this stage, our LiL playgroup will not operate in Term 2.  We encourage all our families to access some of the amazing free programs being offered at the Larapi Child and Family Learning Centre in Wynyard.  This centre has programs running every day.

Library News

Did you know that students in Years 7-12 can borrow a device or internet hotspot to take home for up to four weeks? Students can request to borrow a device or internet hotspot from the library to work on an assignment, research a topic of interest or complete an application online. If you do not want your child to be able to loan a device or internet hotspot, please contact the Yolla District School Office.

Share your thoughts on school attendance

Help us better understand any barriers that may be in the way, and what supports are needed to help with getting to school.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People is doing statewide consultation on school attendance. 3P Advisory is independently running the consultation. Your answers are confidential, and you won’t be identified.

We want to hear from you. You can take part in an online survey, share or vote for suggestions, or join an online drop-in session via the 3P website. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

You can also share your thoughts about what you like or don’t like about our Every school day matters campaign.

As a parent or carer, please have your say. Please encourage your child/ren, too.

Every piece of feedback counts. Thanks for helping shape future DECYP initiatives, school-based engagement strategies and public awareness campaigns.

2023 School Magazine Orders

The school magazine is now available from the school office. The magazine costs $22.00.

Community Notices

RHEE TAEKWON-DO – The Family Martial Art