Dear Parents and Carers

Firstly our thoughts and prayers are with the Hillcrest Primary community as they navigate an absolute tragedy.

Our students had many opportunities this week to celebrate another big year in the history of Queechy. Whilst we managed to escape any further lockdowns in 2021, we have yet to return to the pre-COVID times of the past. As the pandemic continues to throw curve balls at us, we head into 2022 with a little trepidation as the effects of an open border and a new COVID variant cast some doubt over the new year.

As a school we are very well-placed to overcome any challenges we face during 2022. Our staff have worked hard in their teams to ensure our classroom learning is of the very highest quality and our online offerings are equally well prepared.

I encourage all families to take the time to relax and re-energise over the Christmas break and I look forward to lead once again Queechy High on our journey to be the best High School in Tasmania.

End of Year Celebrations

Students celebrated the end of 2021 in style over the last week with many opportunities to relax, be challenged and enjoy time with each other and our staff. The highlights for myself were the Presentation Evening and the Celebration Dinner.

Both these events highlighted the significant connection to Queechy High our students and staff have. Our presentation evening celebrated many students who live our ideals of Quality, Harmony and Success in everything they do here at Queechy.

The celebration dinner was an opportunity for our students to participate in a significant rite-of-passage as they head from one stage of their learning journeys, to the next.

I would like to thank all our students for celebrating in a positive and respectful way this year and look forward to working with you all once again in the new year.

Departing staff

The end of each year is always tinged with a level of sadness as we farewell staff who won’t be with us in 2022.

Mr Goodwin will return to a full-time teaching position at Launceston College after working in our EAL program this year

Emily Lloyd one of our amazing TA team, will be taking up a position at Punchbowl Primary

Mrs Attenborrow, Mrs Mesman and Mrs Hall are all heading off to have brand new babies early next year, we wish them all the best and can’t wait for them to come back for show and tell in the new year.

Nathan East will move back to his position at the eschool

Penni Ives and Mia Blair our two wonderful school nurses are heading back to work in hospitals and our former nurse Peter Jacobson, Jake, will be returning to us in 2022.

Toni Gorham in our office will be starting a new role in her family business.

Mrs Maddy will be taking up a new position at Riverside High and I wish her the very best

Jack Spotswood-McDonald will be finishing his Aboriginal Education Worker role with us but will hopefully return as a part of a new initiative in 2022.

Mrs Kroon will be on leave during 2022.

And finally, Mr Fleming, the older one, will be leaving us to take up a position at Port Dalrymple school. I know he has had a significant impact on a large number of students here at Queechy and he will be sorely missed!

All of these staff have made a significant contribution to the lives and wellbeing of many students in our school community. Some will return to us in the future, but all will be sadly missed next year, and I wish them the best for whatever the future has in store.