Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,

We are extending an invitation to parents to join us at the school on Tuesday 28 March for a sharing of learning. Teachers will be opening their classrooms from 4.30pm-5.30pm, sharing student learning and setting learning goals with students and their families. This will be followed by a community barbeque at 5.30pm. Invitations have been sent to all families this week. Please reply to the office to assist us with arranging catering.

Our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students commenced NAPLAN testing this week. Our staff have been supporting student preparation by focusing on comprehension, problem solving and writing strategies. The values of aspiration and courage have been promoted. We understand that this testing can be stressful for some students and our emphasis has been on the way students interact with the test instruments rather than the outcome. ‘Every student, every question, your best effort’. We have been delighted by the way our students have enacted these skills and values in the first week.

Moderation for Kindergarten – Grade 10 will occur on Thursday April 6. This will be a student free day for students in those year groups but a normal day school for Year 11/12 students. Our teaching staff will be travelling to St Mary’s District High School to share samples of work and moderate assessments. This is a vital process in ensuring that our students are assessed fairly and accurately against the standards of the Australian Curriculum.

Our School Association is holding it’s AGM this Monday 20 March. We welcome expressions of interest from parents in joining our association to support its vital work in our school. We continue to progress a number of building projects at the school. Our Year 2/3 classroom redevelopment is due to begin in coming weeks, a draft plan for a new agriculture facility has been submitted to DECYP facilities for costing and we continue to refine the master plan for the long-term development of our school site.

I have been delighted to observe the energy of our student leader groups for 2023. They have already organised class competitions to promote attendance at school and commenced planning fundraisers and school events. These are vital to the sense of community and promoting wellbeing in our school.

Kind regards

Mike

Campbell Town DHS are participating in a competition being run by Australian Wool Innovation which involves the feeding and handling of 6 merino wethers for 6 months. At the end of October, participating schools will meet at the Campbell Town Showgrounds for a day of competition involving sheep handling, shearing, wool handling and a carcass competition.

The VET Agriculture class spent time building the sheep yards that will be utilised. It was great to see them problem solving with the panels not fitting together as expected. Next week they will build the fences for a couple of temporary paddocks.

The sheep will be shorn and arrive towards the end of next week. We are very grateful to the Scott family of Myrtlewood for donating the sheep. Over the coming months, we will be reporting on our progress in halter breaking the sheep and getting them prepared for the up coming competition, so watch this space!

How Could You Help?

We would gratefully accept donations of pasture hay, in small bales, suitable for the wethers. Or if there is a quantity to purchase. Please ring the school office & leave your details.

Jill Bennett

Ag Teacher

Students have done an amazing job making models of cells using modelling clay, lollies, cotton buds, jelly and string. This major assessment task has given students a greater appreciation for the organelles found inside a cell and the roles they play. The task also involved problem solving when things did not go as planned. Well done Piper, Elijah, Olivia, Daniel, Madison & Micah.

Jill Bennett

Biology Teacher

Notice of AGM

Our School Association AGM will be held on Monday 20 March 2023 at 9.00am at the school, all parent members are invited to attend.