We have had two very successful parent teacher sessions, last week and at the end of Term 2. Over 520 bookings were made to support conversations between our staff and parents. Staff were able to share many successful stories of student learning, provide insights into next steps for improvement and continue to grow their relationships with our families. Thank you to all parents who participated in this very worthwhile process. A reminder that we are always open to conversations with families at any time, especially if you have any concerns at all about the progress of your young person. Please don’t feel you need to wait until parent teacher to reach out to us for a conversation. 

We will continue to provide evidence of learning at regular intervals this year. Keep an eye out for these as an additional way for you to engage in conversations about school and learning with your child. 

It has been pleasing to note a significant improvement in the number of students attending more than 9/10 days on average this year. Overall, we have seen a 7% increase in the number of students attending to this level so far this year. 

We are committed to supporting families and students to increase this number even more by the end of the year. 

We are still keen to decrease the number of students with lower that 70% attendance as this is an area of particular focus at Queechy. It is very hard to learn if you are not here. Our team has many different ways that we try to engage with students and the partnerships with families are critical in this space. If you would like to have a conversation with our team, especially if you are concerned about the attendance of your child, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to the grade team in the first instance to discuss. 

Our Japanese educational experience group have had a busy two weeks since arriving in Tasmania from Japan’s
Shiba Kokusai School. The students have been a positive addition to our student cohort and have been working in our Grade 9 and 10 classes. The group are here for three weeks before heading home having made lots of new friends, experience a different culture and worked on their English speaking and writing skills. https://www.shiba-kokusai.ed.jp/

This term, our Grade 8 students have been diving deep into the world of algebra, building strong foundations in expanding and factorising expressions. These key skills form an essential part of their mathematics journey especially moving into Grade 9. It has been fantastic to see the level of engagement and growth across the year level.

Students began by learning how to expand brackets using distributive methods and identifying like-terms to simplify expressions. They then moved on to factorising – the process of breaking down expressions into simpler factors – which required a sharp eye for common factors and patterns.

Below is a expression that all Grade 8 students would have been exposed to. Have a conversation with your child about the this and have them explain the process of factorising.

6x + 12 becomes 6(x + 2)

WELL DONE to all our Grade 8 learners for showing persistence and a positive attitude.

This term, our Grade 7 students have been diving into the world of literature through two captivating novels: Matilda by Roald Dahl and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Each class has chosen one of these texts to explore in depth, setting the stage for their first formal essay writing experience.

Matilda offers students a whimsical yet powerful look at resilience, intelligence, and the triumph of good over adversity. Meanwhile, Hatchet immerses readers in a gripping survival story, challenging them to think critically about independence, perseverance, and personal growth.

Through guided reading sessions, class discussions, and creative activities, students have been developing their analytical thinking and literary comprehension. Teachers have encouraged students to connect with the characters, themes, and settings, helping them build the foundational skills needed for essay writing.

As students prepare to write their first essays, they are learning how to structure their ideas, support their arguments with evidence from the text, and express their thoughts clearly and confidently. This milestone marks an exciting step in their journey as young writers and thinkers.

This term, our Grade 9 students have been actively engaging in lifelong physical activity through their Health classes. They've explored local community sports opportunities, participated in fitness testing, and deepened their understanding of fitness types and principles. These lessons have helped students reflect on how to stay active throughout life, not just during school years.

In Physical Education, we’ve proudly completed our unit on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sports, where students learnt and played traditional games such as Wulijini and Gorri. These activities offered a meaningful connection to culture and history through movement. We also focused on inclusive sports, including Goalball, which challenged students to think about accessibility and teamwork in new ways.

The school is trialling a computer-based learning system which allows teachers to track students progress and provide timely feedback. This program allows students to work at their own pace, within limits, and if the school decides to proceed with its use next year then students may be able to access the work from home. 

Grade 10 students are currently using the program to investigate the topics of Genetics and Heredity, and in later weeks will look at Evolution. This will be followed by a short period of revision prior to the examinations. 

How lucky are we to live in Australia? How happy are we compared to people in less materially developed countries? These are some of the questions our Grade 10's have been considering in their Geography unit Human Wellbeing.

They have gathered information on income, life expectancy, education, health and social stability to be able to compare their lives with those of others across the globe.

Here are Rahni’s findings: 

"If it were my home"

Australia to Canada

13% more likely to be unemployed

51% more electricity

18% less likely to be in prison

Die 0.4 years earlier

27% more likely to be murdered

Australia to Iran

Die 11 years earlier

Make 70% less money

Spend 92% less money on health care

4.4 times more likely to be murdered

Be 2 times more likely to be in prison

Australia to Peru

Die 8 years earlier

Be 4.6 times more likely to die as a infant

74% less money

Spend 94% less on healthcare

Consume 88% less oil