We hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday. Term 2 is always very busy with lots of learning in classrooms and numerous events scheduled. We have already had our student cattle handlers attend AGFEST last week with great success and Year 10 Survival Camps began this week. Survival Camps are part of the Scottsdale High School tradition – we know our Year 10s will embrace the challenges of the Survival Camps creating precious, long-lasting memories. This is our 49^th year of offering Survival Camps which commenced in 1974! Many thanks to Mr Le Fevre, Miss Juraimi, Mr Tuffin and Mr Tyson for their work with the first camp.

Last Thursday we held a whole school assembly where we recognised students with excellent Application to Learning in Term 1 as evidenced by the Term 1 report and our Swimming Champions.  We also congratulated our InterHigh Swimming Team who won the Shield for Division 2 and as a result Scottsdale High has been moved up to Division 1 in 2025. We also commemorated Anzac Day with Tara sharing one of her outstanding speeches she gave at the Scottsdale Anzac Day Service.  Tori shared her pilgrimage with us that she undertook for the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.  Tori also shared a video of the wonderful and educational experience she and Miss Rainbow had visiting Belgium and France. 

Tara's SLB Speech

The student leadership board have been very busy over the past term and have already begun to make improvements on the school having organised and ran several fundraisers.

We held an Easter day on the Thursday before good Friday to lift some school culture and to build some excitement for the upcoming holiday. We ran activities throughout the week as well as on the day, these included a ‘guess how many eggs are in the jar’ contest and an easter egg hunt. This was a very successful day and was an inclusive and fun way to finish a week leading into a long weekend.

On the 4^th of April, we held our first major fundraiser, a World's Greatest Shave event with purpose to raise money for people suffering or affected by Leukemia. The SLB as a collective were very enthusiastic and excited to host this event with most of us wanting to raise as much money as possible to help such a worthy cause. We began by setting ourselves a goal, we decided that 600 dollars seemed like a reasonably, achievable mark. We sent out the permission slips, set up our accounts and the donations started to build. The day before our event, we had already demolished our goal raising roughly 2000 dollars! The day was a huge success! We had a total of 5 boys shave their head, 8 students dye their hair, and we had Miss Juramai cut 20cm off her hair to be made into wigs!

Congratulations all who participated for stepping outside of your comfort zone in order to help people in need. After collecting gold coin donations from a dress in blue day that was also held in honour of this cause and adding it to the pile of donations that we received from the wider community, I am very proud to announce that we raised a total of 3,296 dollars! We would like to say a huge thank you to the community for their donations, to Miss Jurami for her help in running the event, to hairdressers Ange and Karen Hall for donating their time and skills for this cause and to the participants for taking on a challenge with the intension of helping someone struggling with Leukeamia.

Over the school holidays, a variety of our SLB members attended ANZAC day services to take a moment to remember the sacrifices made by the armed forces across a range of conflicts. Members paid their respects by laying a wreath at the Bridport, Scottsdale and Ringarooma services. We also had myself read a speech on behalf of the SLB at the Scottsdale dawn service, the Scottsdale mid-morning service and also a poem at St Pauls at Springfield. It was wonderful to see so many members representing the school with pride out in the community.

Plans are well underway for this term, with a few proposals currently being drafted and organising for upcoming events already in progress, there is a sense of excitement floating around the SLB. One of the first events to be held this term will be a ‘Do it for Dolly’ day, which is set to take place on Friday 10th May and will entail a dress in blue day with a best dressed competition and several fun and inclusive activities. This day's purpose is to spread kindness around the school and for people to understand that their words can affect the lives of others.

We are looking forward for this term as well as the rest of the year as a SLB collective and we are very excited to be making a change.

Tara

"Do it for Dolly Day"

Today our SLB students are raising awareness of bullying and the effects this can have on people through the "DO it for Dolly Day". "Do it for Dolly Day" this is a nation-wide day held on 10th May promoting inclusiveness and kindness, as people turn their attention to making the world a kinder, brighter place. Respect is one of the key values of the Department for Education, Children and Young People and for our school.  We are working with our students to build respect by caring for ourselves, each other and our environment.  We want our students to act with kindness and consideration in all their interactions.   As part of Do it for Dolly Day, we will be asking our students to think of some kind acts they can do to brighten a fellow student or family member’s day.

ANZAC Day Services

Well done to all our students who represented Scottsdale High at the North East Anzac Day Services including the Army Cadet students – all demonstrated reverence, dedication and respect for the fallen and those who have served our country.  Tara is to be commended for giving two insightful and informative addresses at Scottsdale Cenotaph- one at the Dawn Service, one at the 11am Service and she shared a poem at the Springfield Service.  Our community were impressed by our students’ participation and passed on to us their pride in our students.

Tara's ANZAC Day Speech

Thank you and good morning. My name is Tara, and I am a Year 10 student at Scottsdale High School and President of the Student Leadership Board. I feel very honored and grateful that I am able to give the student address for 2024.  I would like to acknowledge that we have two North East people, Tori, who is in Year 10 and Miss Sherri Rainbow, teacher, representing Scottsdale High School as part of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize which has taken them to visit sites on the Western Front. As we stand here today Miss Rainbow and Tori  are in France attending Villers Bretonneux Service on the Western Front where they will pay their respects and lay wreaths for the fallen.

Today we gather to commemorate and recognize the bravery and sacrifice demonstrated by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACS) across a range of conflicts, past and present. Furthermore, we thank them for our country’s security, safety and for the lives we live today. Most importantly today we remember the people who have dedicated their lives to our country through different roles within the military and those who have fallen or lost a loved one whilst protecting our home.

Today we pay reference  to the significance of East Timor. The conflict in East Timor took place on the 7th of December 1975. This  followed  the East Timor democratically elected government declaring independence on the 28th of November 1975. Indonesia was not accepting of this declaration as they wanted control of East Timor, therefore 9 days later, Indonesia made invaded. I have been shocked to learn that in the first few years alone, it is estimated that approximately 100,000 East Timorese people died because of a conflict that would ultimately last 20 years. During these years, the United Nations called for Indonesia to withdraw but their request was rejected. Throughout the conflict, the Australian government avoided involvement to remain in good relations with Indonesia. In August 1999, Indonesia and Portugal agreed to a Referendum, which was supervised by the United Nations and included Australia. According to the Australian War Memorial, 98.6% of registered voters submitted their vote which provoked East Timor to claim independence. 

Australia was heavily involved in peace keeping operations which took place between 1999 to as recent as 2013. Australia led a multi-national peacekeeping operation in September 1999 called Interfet which stands for International Force of East Timor. Interfet was commanded by Australian Major General Peter Cosgrove, who later became Governor General,  and the forces’ purpose was to regain East Timor’s peace and safety.  This was due to an outbreak of pro-Indonesian voters committing arson, threatening and even murder leaving only one quarter of the country’s population in their own home.  

Scottsdale girl, and my Aunty, Megan Walker, was heavily involved in the Australian Defence Force from a young age of 19 after joining because she wanted to help people, specifically the less fortunate. During her time serving, she participated in many operations including Israel, Egypt, Washington, the Commonwealth games in Melbourne 2006 and East Timor in 2001 and 2002. Her role in the military when she went to East Timor was as a Logistic  operator which entailed providing essential supplies to the front line such as fuel, food, medical supplies, vehicle maintenance, supplies and weapons. Aunty Megan describes her East Timor operation as very different to the others.  She told me how   the East Timorese people wanted military there! The situation had got so chaotic and tense that they would encourage support from other countries. She received 2 medals in Honor of these operations, one of which is from the United Nations. I am fortunate enough to have these medals with me today. The first green medal was presented for her work at East Timor and the blue medal is a United Nations medal also presented for her work at East Timor. Aunty Megan now lives happily with her children surrounded by her friends and family. Aunty Megan’s work ethic, loyalty and leadership is so inspiring for everyone around her. She has always been someone I look up to and admire not only because I’m her niece but as I’m in awe of the values she holds. 

Today, as we remember the fallen, we also must take time to educate the future generations on the significance of this day. The men and woman who fought, fell, and served for our country must never be forgotten. The legacy they built is made to be passed down for centuries to come. This makes teaching our future generations, about the sacrifice and bravery demonstrated by the armed forces more important. Furthermore, it is also vital that they understand the devastation of war, what it can do to families, the reality of the horrors that accompany a war.  Today gives us time to pause and remember  that peace is a precious gift that should never be taken for granted.

And that our peace was, and still is being fought for by our soldiers, our friends, our family, our wives, our husbands, our sisters, our brothers.  And we thank and remember them. May the memory of their courageous actions never fade and be passed down for generations to come.

Lest we forget.

AGFEST

Congratulations to our students who attended AGFEST as part of SHS Cattle Handling Team.  Well done Ms Rattray and the students on a terrific AGFEST.  Jordan won Reserve Champion Beef Handler 15+; Adara was awarded Reserve Champion Handler; Maya won Reserve Champion Beef U15;   and  A’jana won Champion Dairy 15+.  Our Angus Breed cows did very well with SHS handlers winning First, Second and Third - Stronach View Tilda was the Champion Beef Breed Heifer.

This success would not be possible without the support of families and volunteers. Many thanks to Matthew Cassidy, Natalie Sowerby and Pip Hall for their wonderful help over the four days.  A big thank you to Ms Rattray for her excellent leadership of our Cattle Handling Program. 

Uniform

One of our Department and school values is that of Connection. Uniform is an important part of demonstrating this value. We are very pleased to see so many students wearing their uniform with pride and are appreciative of parents/carers efforts to ensure students are wearing the correct clothing.  Students can wear a plain black long sleeve top under their polo but casual hoodies are not to be worn.  

If you need support with your child’s uniform you can talk to your child’s teacher or assistant principal to discuss your family’s eligibility for support or assistance in the purchase of school uniforms.

Our school dress code and uniform requirements has been developed with our School Association.

Student dress codes and uniforms have a number of important functions, including to:

• Promote a shared sense of school identity helping your child feel like they belong in their school
• Ensure your child is dressed in appropriate protective and sun safe clothing for school activities
• Assist school staff and the community to easily identify school students outside of school grounds
• Encourage students to take pride in their appearance and be prepared for workplace expectations
• Strengthen the profile and identity of the school and its students within the broader community.

Does my child have to wear a school uniform?

• All Prep to Year 10 students attending a Tasmanian Government school are required to wear a school uniform. This may be an everyday uniform, as well as uniform requirements for specific activities – for example: a sports uniform.

Make each day count!

Welcome back to Term 2, we hope you enjoyed your break!

By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.

We have lots in store for this term, including our Cross Country Carnival, Year 10 Survival Camps and Road Awareness for Year 10 students.

Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick. Keep trying to create a solid routine, to set your child up for success for the rest of the year.

If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.

With immense excitement on Sunday 14^th of April we were met by Minister for Defence Guy Barnett and wished farewell from the airport. Guy Barnett at this meeting shared his views on the benefits of this educational experience and how he had thoroughly enjoyed his trip in 2023. We then arrived in Melbourne and met those travelling from Hobart and Devonport.

After a long flight we arrived in Dubai and had a quick rest before reboarding and travelling to Brussels in Belgium. Arrival at the airport was a learning curve for all students with a long cue at immigration. We then left the airport and were greeted with a typical Northern European welcome of rain and wind. Awaiting our arrival was Claude our coach driver and Dr John Greenacre. We were very lucky to have Dr Greenacre who teaches at the University of Suffix in Great Britian as our mentor. He has completed a PHD in war history and brings to the tour his own military experience as a member of the British Airforce. Dr Greenacre has been working closely with the Frank MacDonald Prize for twelve years and is a pillar of knowledge for each study tour. His leadership and understanding of Australia’s involvement in WW1 allows for all members of the tour both students and adults to engage in conversations which promote opportunities for growth and immense learning. In addition to this Claude has been the tours coach drive for this period also and takes immense pride in getting to know each year’s study tour and hopes that one day he will meet some of the students he has worked with when they return to Europe in their adulthood.

To adjust to a time zone difference students were taken on a tour of Brussels seeing sights such as the town square and royal palace before heading out for a delicious dinner of local cuisine.  The study tour moved to Ypres here our learning really began with our first stop being St James Chapel. This is a memorial to the missing soldiers of Ypres salient. This is a stunning chapel with tributes all around the walls. Even the cushions on the seats were tributes to loved ones. From here we walked the amazing township of Ypres to a cemetery where we learnt about the significance of monuments in particular the Stone of Remembrance and Cross of Sacrifice. We began learning how to examine the war graves headstones and were able to build our own knowledge base. The Flanders Field Museum provided a wealth of knowledge to absorb in regard to uniforms, ammunition, stories from real soldiers and the geography of the area and all members of the study tour climbed the belfry.

Day two allowed the study tour to visit the Bayernwald Trenches. These are reconstructed German support trenches. Dr Greenacre explained the layout, daily life and process soldiers used in trench warfare. From here we visited Berks cemetery, and our first pilgrimage took place.  We then travelled to the unofficial Christmas True Memorial and went to some Australian cemeteries such as Toronto Road Cemetery.

Day three we crossed into France and went to VC Corner and Cobber statue. This was a particularly moving part of the trip and Dr Greenacre spoke in depth about the events of Fromelles – often described as the worst 24 hours in Australia’s military history with over 5500 casualties listed and over 2000 deaths. In one grave from Fromelles 430 unknown soldiers’ bodies lay to rest this is in the recently opened Pheasant Wood Cemetery. We then went into the museum and read more about the history of these events. Some truly heartbreaking accounts were heard in particular a set of 3 brothers enlisted called the ….. Only one made it home only to find his mother had died during the battle of Fromelles.

On the evening of the second night, we all attended and participated in the Menin Gate ceremony. At this event MLC Luke Edmonds spoke and RSL Representative Peter Williams read a piece. All students and teachers laid a floral arrangement or wreath. The Menin Gate service has been taking place since the conclusion of WW1 and continued to operate all through the Covid period due to the significance this ceremony holds for its people in Ypres. This event was amazing and a beautiful privilege to be included within.  

Day four we travelled to Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (home now to 8000 soldiers) we here had another pilgrimage take place and student learned of the nearby clearing stations and the significant work of doctors and nurses in war time. We then travelled to Hill 60 to observe the crater and scarring of the landscape. This environment has not been touched since WW1. Here student became familiar with the stories of Australian tunnellers and the instrumental role they played in contributing to the war effort.  Students then travelled to the Irish Peace Tower and became aware of how Irelands entered into the war. This is located close by the New Zealand Memorial at Messines. Students also grasped the efforts of soldiers in at Messines. Our final stop was Polygon Wood and to see the German pillboxes constructed. Discussions on tactical advances and ways in which troops moved were a fundamental part of discussions at Polygon Wood.

Day five allowed the group to really connect with the efforts o the 40 Battalion. Here we re-walked the steps of the Battle of Passchendaele and made our way to the Tyne Cot Cemetery. This battle really hit home the immense sacrifice our fellow Tasmanian made, and we were reminded of the many sacrifices associated with war. 12,000 bodies lay to rest in Tyne Cot cemetery and 35,000 missing soldiers are named on the wall of remembrance. Here Miss Rainbow gave her pilgrimage in honour of her great grandfather John William Walker and his brother Albert Walker. This pilgrimage took place at Albert’s gravestone.

Day six allowed the group to travel to some very large cemeteries such as the Notre Dame de Lorette which is a French graveyard which contains over 40,000 burials. Close by is a German cemetery which contains around 45,000 burials retrospectively. It is immensely hard to not be overcome with sadden and questions on why war exists when graveyards of this size are witnessed. In between this we travelled to Vimy Ridge – a Canadian memorial close to Arras. Dr Greenacre shared the role Canadians played in conflict and the background story surrounding this memorial developing. In neighbouring films large signs say no entry as remains of WW1 still exist today.

Day seven involved a trip to Amien to visit an incredible cathedral before heading to Newfoundland Park. This is where during the battle of the Somme the Newfoundland regiment attacked against the Germans – a massive number of casualties (3500) took place over a short period. The impact of this was detrimental to the future prosperity of the nation of Newfoundland and its ongoing existence after the war with so many of its men lost. Here we were able to see the lay of the land and what has been left after the war. We also witnessed a close by medical bunker where the Newfoundland soldiers would have been taken and triaged. To conclude the day, we travelled to the Thiepval Memorial and were again taken back by the vast number of deaths and 73,000 names of missing soldiers.

Day eight centred on the battle of Pozieres. Here Dr Greenacre described the importance of the area. In the triangle described to us 23,000 soldiers became casualties. We stood in one corner and discovered how this part of the western front was the most stained with Australian blood. We then travelled from the Windmill to Mouquet Farm to fully grasp the extent in which this devastation occurred.  In the town ship of Perrone we had another member complete a pilgrimage at Mount st Quentin and discuss this battles significance. Special fun dressing up occurred and a fun filled dinner to lighten the mood before the build up to Anzac Day.  

Day nine we moved to Adelaide Cemetery where the Australian unknown soldier came from. We discussed the ethics surrounding traditions associated with the unknown soldier and some of the differences between this tradition that exist within Australian compared with Great Britian. The Sir John Monash centre allowed all learners to immerse themselves in a virtual experience. This tech-savy facility shares a range of content which everyone is able to learn and grown from. In the township of Villers Bretonneux, we visited and spent time at the Victoria school. This was built by Australians after WW1 and still today pays tribute to the role Australians played in protecting the township of Villers Bretonneux.  

Anzac Day required a 1:45am start, however we all were promptly ready and proud to be Australian knowing what we had been so intensely learning. As promised it was very cold but thankfully no rain. The service was nothing short of exceptional and all members of our party were moved and humbled. We felt calm and respectful and were amazed that so many people could gather and be quiet without any hesitation. After laying floral arrangements or wreaths we then followed our fellow Australians into the township of Villers Bretonneux. Here we attended the 11am town service. This moving service is a combination of the Australian and French armed forces working together to honour the events of Anzac Day. 

Our last stop before exploring Paris was Compiegne. Here we visited the site where the Armistice signing took place at 5am on November 11^th, 1918. We observed and discovered photos and the destruction of the war for the French people. We really grasped at this event how the events of WW1 contributed to WW2. We were all left with a feeling of how amazing it would be to continue to German and delve deeper into the events of WW2.  

On reflection our trip abroad with the Frank MacDonald Prize study tour has been so much more than learning of WW1 history, it has been an opportunity to grow, change and reflect alongside other eager learners. This tour provides both adult and student learners an opportunity to be surrounded by other who are eager for knowledge who want to learn from history to, to question, to grasp, to explore. None of us will ever think of the events of WW1 in the same way. All our lives have been enriched by this experience and opportunity to learn together and our friendships forged from travelling abroad will stay with us for a lifetime.

By Tori and Miss Rainbow

War brings many emotions in particular…

A mothers longing for answers….

How does a mother feel knowing her sons have gone to war? How does she know the children she nurtured and loved so deeply will return to her? 

Does she feel patriotic and a sense of pride her sons have gone to battle at a time when Australia is grappling with how important it is to establish itself as a nation on the world stage? Or as a mother is she filled with dread and despair at the thought that her sons – the children she has raised and cared for over the last twenty plus years might never return to her?  As a mother how does she wrestle with them in the lead up to their enlistment? Does she try to enlighten them that with war come sacrifice and death? Or was she overcome by their stubborn will and the ability to be lured into the romance of the time surrounding war? Did her sons share their dreams and desires for a life beyond what they knew at Parkham, in Elizabeth Town Tasmania.  Did she listen to her sons as they described their thirst for adventure, the influence of the enlistment campaign or was the biggest impacting reason why her sons went to war as famous war historian Beaumont suggests ‘impetuosity…. common amongst very young men’. What we would now refer to as ‘socially normal’ or a trend amongst young people.

As the war progresses does a mother feel her nest is empty? Does she wonder when her sons will return? History indicates that a common feeling was that the war would be over and done by Christmas. Did anyone truly anticipate how long this conflict would last? As time passes does this same mother imagine her sons walking through the door of their family home on the farm? Does worry fill her every time she reads the newspaper and reads headlines such as the Gallipoli campaign? Does she believe what the local news is telling her? Is she aware the news is being censored? Does she feel a sense of relief when a letter finally arrives in the post? Or does the true reality of what her sons are facing fill her with even more worry and despair? 

For both John William Walker and Albert George Walker their personal story is lost to the annuls of time and the memories of those who knew them. Those searching for their story cannot refer to any letters or diaries that give an insight into their motivation, character, or experiences. The history of these men and the impact this war had on their family in particular their mother is something we can only attempt to empathise with. The feeling of loss and achievement that filled their mother can only be read when she writes to the Department of Defence after losing one of her Albert the young man whose grave, we stand by today to the true reality of war. The ugly side of war we tend to want to forget.

My great- great grandmother lived at a little place call Parkham near Elizabeth Town in Tasmania for twenty plus years. Over this time, she knew her children were safe and close by. She knew they would come home to her family home on their farm. When Word War One hit and her two sons enlisted all this certainty and her hopes and dreams for their futures was replaced with circumstances she could not control or truly anticipate as this was the first-time war with this immense level of devastation had occurred.

My great grandfather John William Walker and his brother Albert George Walker are two soldiers who significance and sacrifice can only be found by seeking answers in war records. Answers which lie in the documents that outline enlistment records, records of their hospital visits, statements of service, casualty forms, marriage certificates and notes taken by officers of conduct during battles. Answers that give a little insight into what battles they fought and how they were feeling physically. In Albert’s war record the most moving document that has impact me as a mother personally is when his mother writes to the Department of Defence knowing her son has been killed in the Battle of Passchendaele. Knowing his future no longer exists. Knowing the young child she raised, loved, and cherish for all those years is gone.  

In these documents she writes ‘Dear Sir, just a line to ask you about Corporal A, G. Walker deferred pay and wasn’t their any personal effects, kindly sent them along. Mary Ann Walker Parkham.

In the significance that was World War One, Albert leaves behind no extraordinary record, he is not mentioned in dispatches and is survived by his service record alone. His mother and father wrote to the Department of Defence and requested Alberts meagre possessions those that were his alone, a token to hold onto for a grieving mother.  A mother who has lost her son and is left feeling grief, heartache and anguish knowing her son had a long life to live. A life he gave in battle. 

I have often thought that many a youngster when he was hit out there on the Passchendaele heights … and he knew that the end had come – must have thought to himself: "well at least they'll remember me in Australia". C.E.W. Bean

Paul Keating in his 1993 Remembrance Day address, when referencing the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, sums up the life of an ordinary individual who heard and responded to the call for arms and paid the ultimate sacrifice. This address gives a message that they were not ordinary…. and reminding all of us that their sacrifice …… there is faith enough for all of us.

To my dear great great great uncle David,

Here we stand today in the honour of a relative of mine.

A man that is now so very close to my heart- David Howell.

David was a young man. One of many who fought and died, died representing his nation, his honour, his family my family.

Growing up in Black Marsh Tasmania alongside his three sisters Mable, Vera and Ivy and a brother Harold, to parents Jean and Ernest Howell.

David had always been a hardworking boy and after leaving state school he went on to become a labourer and a baker's assistant.

On the 15^th of March 1916 David was deemed fit for service and made the conscious choice to enlist and join his fellow Tasmanians in the 40^th battalion.

Like many of his comrades David was seeking adventure, seeking the unknown and was lured in by the tales told.

Men rushed to enlist. “Don’t worry” they told their mothers, wives and girlfriends. “It will be over by Christmas”.

Just four months later on the 1^st of July 1916 the fighting 40^th marched out of camp Claremont and entrained for Hobart before reaching the Western Front in the early months of 1916.

During David’s time on the Western Front, he éndured numerous injuries and spent a great deal of time in hospital. He luckily missed out on some major battles such as Passchendaele.

The 40^th battalion had 248 members either killed or wounded in Passchendaele. Priest Langford William Colley expressed “It is too terrible to write about, this is not human.”

 For David this was a blessing in disguise not being there as he was in Hospital for a gunshot wounds in his thigh and arm.

After getting out of rehab for his injuries on Christmas Eve- the 24^th of December 1917, David left. He left war sick of the fighting, the violence, and the emotional damage.

Maybe David knew or maybe he didn’t, but this was his last ever Christmas. On Davids last Christmas alive he didn’t even get to spend it with his family, his loving, caring, beautiful family. The same family that thought he would be home at that very moment. His three sisters who no longer had their brother David to protect them, his brother who was now left alone, his father who was relying on David to be the man of the house and his mother. His broken mother, she was horrified for her family’s future, for her son. A son she raised, a son she loved, a son she had dreams and aspirations for.

Returning and rejoining his comrades on the 30^th of the December 1917. After going missing in action for six days David was punished with 12 days confined to barracks and he had to forfeit seven days worth of pay.

David fought in the battle of Broodseinde Ridge which is remembered as one of the worst days in military history. The conditions worsened, rain and mud was everywhere. The battle only lasted one day. The Germans defeated the allies. 5,153 Australians had been wounded and 1,279 Australians had been killed.

The German Spring Offensive changed life as the Howell family knew it. On the 22^nd of April 1918 David Royden Seymour Howell died.

Died for what? For the people of Australia, so they could live a life without this horrific war. Renowned writer G.K Chesterton states “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him”. David loved his nation and was proud of Australia, for fighting on the world stage, fighting for what the allied troops believed in.

To David thank you

Thank you so very much for fighting and serving your growing nation. Paying the ultimate sacrifice. I can’t help but to think about you, your courage and bravery is one of many things I deeply admire about you. I feel so incredibly honoured to be able to stand here today and share your story.

Sincerely your great great great niece Tori H.

In 2023 schools with students in Years 7 to 12 received a pool of laptop computers and internet hotspots to loan to students for up to two weeks at a time. This loan period has been extended to four weeks based on feedback from staff and students.

This information will be communicated to your school librarian and system changes to the loan period will occur automatically overnight.

Devices and internet hotspots provided through the loaning system are:

• Available to any student in Years 7 to 12 to take home for up to four weeks at a time.
• Centrally covered by DECYP if loss or damage occurs.
• Centrally covered by DECYP for data usage through internet hotspots.
• Available through the school library system.

In Term 2 students and families will receive communication about these computers and hotspots.

Students are expected to use the equipment in accordance with their school’s ICT Acceptable Use Agreement.

Schools can access the following information to support use of the device loaning scheme:

An Australian School based Apprenticeship (ASbA) or Traineeship is an employment-based training arrangement where if you’re a Year 10, 11 or 12 student you have the opportunity to combine employment with training and school as an apprentice or trainee. An ASbA allows you to continue attending school, at the same time as undertaking a nationally recognised qualification whilst in paid employment. The qualification is usually at a Certificate II or III level and is nationally recognised by industry and employers. As an ASbA student you will enter into a contract of training as an apprentice trainee, and participate in a minimum of 7.5 hours (1 day) per week during school term, however you are able to work additional hours during the school holiday periods.

Congratulations to the following students who are engaged in a School Based Apprenticeship in 2024

Jackson M – Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication Trade)

Leigh H – Certificate III in Forest Operations

Bridie B – Certificate II in Agriculture

Charlie Mck – Certificate II in Agriculture

Joe R – Certificate II in Agriculture

Charlotte C – Certificate III in Forest Operations

James R – Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology

Zac S – Certificate III in Carpentry

More information about school based apprenticeships is available from either Mrs Fletcher, or Narelle at the Trade Training Centre.

Lee Summers Handyman is looking for a part-time trainee to join the team.

• The traineeship is Certificate III Landscape Construction and will be undertaken part time
• Work hours are 9am-5pm, with a minimum of 7.5 hours per week
• You need to be available for 2 days per week, the specific days are negotiable
• Work is within the Dorset region. A licence isn’t essential, as long as you can get to Scottsdale each day.
• Applications are welcome from school-based applicants

The work is physical and varied and will include tasks like:

• Garden maintenance
• Planting a range of plants
• General home and garden repairs
• Small construction projects like building paths, decks, garden beds and fences

If you’re reliable, enjoy being outdoors, are a natural problem solver and a good communicator, then you could be the right fit for this job.

Contact Dorset Employment Connect on 0417 155 201 for information on the application process.

Recently nine Year 10 students attended a one day training course with Master Builders Tasmania completing the pre-requisite safety unit for their industry recognised White Card. These students displayed high levels of engagement and were great representatives of our school. Well done everyone.

A further white card course for other interested students has been arranged for August.

STAY CHatTY SCHOOLS PROGRAM – “It’s ok not to be ok!”

The Stay CHatTY Schools Program strengthens young people’s awareness of mental health and resilience and builds their confidence to achieve positive mental health for themselves and their peers. The Program is grounded in evidence that shows that raising awareness and promoting resilience and help-seeking in young people can lead to positive mental health outcome.

This year, the Speak Up! Stay ChatTY Team will be running sessions with our Year 10 Students on Tuesday 28^th May, here at Scottsdale High School. This session aims to engage participants with personal story of lived experience with mental illness and share information on mental health, signs and symptoms of mental ill-health, keeping mentally, helping a friend and how to access additional support.

All Year 10 students have been provided with a letter and permission form. If you wish your child to attend this valuable session please sign and return the permission slip to the General Office.

A number of Parents/Carers are not receiving notifications through the School Stream App, to amend this please log into the School Stream App and follow the directions below.

If unsuccessful after following the above procedures we would then suggest the following steps:

 

1. Log out of your School Stream app (go to the 3 line menu in the top lefthand corner of the app, click on your name at the top and then select Log Out)  …1/2
2. Delete the School Stream app from your phone
3. Go to your app store and reinstall the School Stream app
4. Log back in to your School Stream app & school

At the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) we want to make sure that our student residences for Year 11 and Year 12 students are working well.

We want to hear from current students/families, as well as future students/families so that we know what people are expecting when they move to a residence. For those already in a residence, we want to hear what it is like. We can't fix what we don't know about so this is your chance to have a say!

We have made this survey to hear your views and ideas. You don't have to complete all of the questions if you don't want to. Your feedback will be anonymous, and we won't ask for your name - but if you raise any serious safety concerns, we will follow up.

If you are not a student or parent/carer: You can still give feedback about the student residences by emailing studentresidences@decyp.tas.gov.au, or phoning 6165 6466.

Please click on the link below to access the survey 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xzq-qWAM