We are already over halfway through Term 1 and our students have continued the positive and calm start from the beginning of the year. It was pleasing to see the number of parents and carers who were able to join us for the welcome BBQ, meet staff and have a wander around our learning spaces.

We also had our first School Association meeting for 2025 and I am pleased to advise that we now have a full complement of parents who are keen to support the school association and have either continued their membership from last year or have nominated to be a part of the team for the next two years. Our AGM is coming up soon and we will be able to advise who our executive members will be after this meeting. I would also like to include regular communication with families after each meeting to share more about what the school association discusses, or decides, on behalf of the parent community. I am keen to hear from any parents about how we can ensure we gather parent voice this year in an ongoing manner.

NAPLAN begins this week, and our Grade 7 and 9 students will be working their way through this assessment process over the next two weeks. I encourage all parents to be talking to your children if they are involved in this year's assessments. Please remind them that these aren’t meant to be stressful and that they need to ensure they do their very best and engage with the tasks in a positive way. Our school uses results from NAPLAN to help measure progress of students, classes and year groups over time. This information forms a part of our overall data plan and is a key measure of how our own teaching and learning program is tracking.

A reminder to all families to be in communication with the school if your child is going to be away from school for any reason. We are keen to minimise disruptions to learning across all classes this year with a goal of moving towards 95% attendance for all our students. If you are worried that your child is anxious about being at school, then please reach out to their class teacher or grade leader so we can ensure appropriate supports are in place.

In Grade 9 Science, students have been exploring the concept of homeostasis and how our bodies work to maintain a stable internal environment. Through their investigations, they have learned about the vital roles of different body systems, such as the nervous and endocrine systems, in regulating factors like temperature, blood sugar levels, and hydration. This topic has provided valuable insights into how our bodies respond to changes in the environment to keep us healthy and functioning efficiently.

Throughout Term 1 students in Grade 10 Health & Physical Education have had a focus on integrating reading strategies into our learning intentions as health literacy is an important factor in student’s and individuals ability to access, understand, interrogate and use health information and services to promote their own and others’ health and wellbeing.

Health & Physical Education focuses on developing knowledge, understanding and skills related to 3 dimensions of health literacy – functional, interactive and critical.

Students have been covering mental health and wellbeing and addressing how mental health and wellbeing can be enhanced and strengthened at an individual and community level. During physical education lessons students have completed a unit on invasion games. This is where the aim is to attack an opponents territory and score a goal or point. Usually consisting of teams of equal players, these fast-paced games focus on teamwork, keeping possession, scoring and defending.

Where to next? Challenge and adventure; focuses on how individuals participate in physical activities that challenge them psychologically, behaviourally and socially in diverse environments. The content supports students to assess hazards and manage risks.

In health; Alcohol and other drugs, addressing safe practices in relation to a range of drugs, including prescription drugs, natural and alternative medicines, energy drinks, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarettes and other synthetic drugs, cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamines.

Grade 8 students have started the year working through one of our history units, the Viking Era. This unit of work has allowed students to investigate the significance of this particular time in history and gain a valuable insight into what life may have been like during this period of time. We have focussed on some key aspects of Viking life including exploration, raiding, trading and the role the Viking Longboat played in all of these. Students have used their inquiry skills to foster curiosity and investigate significant Viking people and their importance to the Viking Era.

Looking ahead to the rest of Term 1 Grade 8 students will continue to focus on history and will further investigate Medieval Europe. This unit will provide opportunities to look at the Feudal system, knights and castles whilst continuing to build historical knowledge and skills.

In Term 1, our Grade 10 English students are engaging in an important and thought-provoking unit on the theme of poverty. Through this unit, students are developing their understanding of how contemporary issues are presented in a variety of texts, while also building their skills in critical analysis and creative collaboration.

Throughout the term, students will explore a wide range of multimedia texts — including films, documentaries, articles, and visual media — to examine how poverty is represented and the different perspectives that are offered. By engaging with these diverse sources, students will learn to evaluate text structures and language features, considering how each medium shapes our understanding of the issue.

As part of this unit, students will undertake a close study of the life text Lion, based on the true story of Saroo Brierley. This powerful narrative not only provides insight into the realities of poverty and displacement but also highlights themes of identity, resilience, and hope. Through their study of the film and memoir, students will analyse how storytelling techniques evoke emotion and convey important messages about social issues.

Collaboration and creativity are key aspects of this unit. Working in groups, students will have the opportunity to create their own multimedia texts, using their understanding of different forms of representation to produce thoughtful and engaging pieces. This process will encourage students to articulate their own perspectives and develop their abilities to present information and ideas in compelling ways.

We are proud of the effort, enthusiasm and insight our Grade 10 students have already demonstrated, and we look forward to seeing their creativity and critical thinking continue to flourish throughout the term.

This term, our Grade 8 mathematics students have been strengthening their skills in positive/negative number operations and the order of operations. They have been working on applying BIDMAS/BODMAS rules to solve complex numerical expressions accurately. Through problem-solving exercises and real-world applications, students have developed a deeper understanding of how numbers interact and the importance of calculating in the correct order.

As we move forward, students will soon begin a unit on fractions and percentages. They will explore how to simplify, compare, and operate with fractions, as well as how to convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages. These skills will be essential for tackling practical applications, such as calculating discounts, interest rates, and proportions in real-life scenarios.

This unit will challenge students to think critically and apply mathematical reasoning to everyday problems, preparing them for even more advanced topics ahead. 

We are excited to introduce our Grade 7 SRC members - Xanna, Zac, Chelsea, Olivia, Moowhan and Ruby! 

These six students put in a great effort during the application process, showcasing their leadership skills and dedication to supporting their peers. 

They will have the chance to organise activites for Grade 7, help with fundraisers, and much more. Congratulations to each of you! 

On Thursday 27th February students in Mr Tepper's Grade 11/12 Sport, Recreation & Fitness class attended an excursion to Swisherr & Launceston Squash Centre as a part of their Net/Wall sports unit.

Students developed their skills and techniques as well as had plenty of fun. Stay tuned for many more updates and excursions in our 11/12 space.

Last Wednesday, we held our annual Welcome BBQ, and it turned out to be a fantastic success! It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces alongside our new parents and students, all coming together to celebrate the start of another great year at our school. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Recognition for our School Health Nurses

School Health Nurses play an important role in our school community, delivering health education and promotion, and supporting student wellbeing.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) has recently introduced the internationally recognised DAISY Award program in schools through the School Health Nurse program.

Those with a health background may already be familiar with this program. Run by the DAISY Foundation, it is a way to acknowledge and celebrate the care and compassion that nurses deliver to the people they care for each and every day.

The program is run in 38 countries, but this is the first time anywhere in the world it will be delivered in a school setting.

Nominations are now open for the DECYP DAISY Award.  If you or a family member have had a positive experience with a school health nurse and would like to see their work recognised, why not consider nominating them! 

You can nominate them using this form, by sending an email to daisy@decyp.tas.gov.au, or getting in touch with school staff for help or more information.

Whether you’re a student, parent or carer, or a DECYP staff member, anyone can nominate a school health nurse you think is worthy of recognition.

Nominations will close on 13 June, with winners announced at an awards ceremony on 4 July. For more information, you can also visit DECYP’s website.