Welcome back to all students, staff and families

We started the year in a different manner with time invested in meeting the social and emotional needs of our students. With quite a few class changes since the end of 2019 it was timely to spend time getting to know your teacher and other students before the academic year began. We have a focus this year of ensuring we provide not only academic learning to our students but also the equally important social and emotional learning so important during adolescent development.

We are developing a structured program of learning opportunities based on our wellbeing data and other information gathered on our students to ensure they have the most successful year possible.

One of the frameworks we will be using to support this work will be the integration of our school values of Respect, Aspiration, Courage and Growth into all that we do at Queechy.

These important values help ensure our school outcomes of Quality, Harmony and Success.

Mobile Phones

As parents will be aware we have made the transition to no phones during break time and before school from day one this year. I have been extremely impressed with the way the student body has responded with almost no instances of phones being used across the school during our first week. We have even noted an increase in the noise in our school during break time as students engage in more conversations and game playing. Well done to all students for your support of this new approach to managing our devices.

A reminder to all families that messages to students can be passed on through our office during the day. We are suggesting that unless absolutely necessary that phones remain at home rather than travel to school at all.

Thank you for your support on this matter.

Leadership Induction Assembly

I had the pleasure late last year of working with the SLB team up at South Mount Cameron as they came together under the leadership of Mrs Mesman and Mr Bent. We explored what leadership means to each of them and helped re-define their thinking to focus on their own leadership journey for 2020.

Each portfolio area spent significant time planning for the year ahead, honing their own teamwork skills as they negotiated a number of significant team and personal challenges at the field studies centre.

I know all the members of the SLB walked away from the camp with a clearer understanding about what leadership is, and what it isn’t, about the strengths and qualities they already possess and those they wish to further develop.

We recognised our new SLB at the Induction Assembly on Wednesday this week.

I look forward to working closely with the SLB during the remainder of this year as we implement the initiatives already identified by the portfolio areas and develop more based on feedback from students about our school needs and aspirations.

Welcome Back BBQ

Thank you to the large number of families that attended our welcome back BBQ on Tuesday. This was a great opportunity for an informal catch up with teachers before the year begins. Our year 10 team had a good turnout of parents at their information session as we set our learners up for the most successful year possible.

All grade sevens have had a fantastic start to the year. Our first few days were spent allowing each Tutor Group time to build some positive relationships, which was a great success. We look forward to building on these relationships throughout the remainder of the year.

First Days:

Last week all grades started the 2020 year off at Queechy after the school holidays. Year sevens have transitioned from multiple primary schools in the area, with over 170 attending Queechy this year. Before the holidays grade 6 students made multiple visits to the school to make sure we knew our way around, learned the school’s expectations, and so we could get to classes easily. Being made for only grade sevens, C Block is excellent and the most updated block in the school. It is great to have our own space so that we get to know people in our own grade.

Most of our grade 7 classes take place in C Block, like Digital Technologies, English, Maths and History. The classes 7A to 7G each have different subjects at different times, with some subjects only lasting half of the year. Being in high school also means we each have individual lockers for storing personal belongings, school books and folders.

Most people now travel by bus to school, which is a big step considering some people have never caught a bus to school before. The other new part of high school is having multiple teachers for different subjects, with classes having 6-7 teachers during the week. The overall behaviour and effort has been good and we have had a great start to the year so far.

Mikaela
Grade 7 Student

Last Thursday 6 February, the Year 8 team spent a few hours at Punchbowl Reserve.

Over the course of the first two days of school, students focused on building their understanding of values. Once individual values were identified, the students unpacked the Department of Education Values of Aspiration, Growth, Courage and Respect.

From these first few sessions, the Year 8’s focused on the value of Courage and the Grade Team asked students to step outside their comfort zone to build relationships within their Tutor Group classes and as a whole year group over the course of the Punchbowl excursion.

Students walked to Punchbowl where they were greeted by a selection of Year 8 students who had done a wonderful job of setting up seven fun and interactive activities.

Students then gathered in Tutor Group lines where they were dismissed into their first rotations. Seven 10 minute rotations occurred and then students were given some free time to mingle amongst other Tutor Group classes and ensure they have introduced themselves to students they may never have interacted with before.

All of the rotations were a hit and students ran, hopped, and skipped with a smile on their faces.

The Grade Team were extremely proud of all the students who stepped out of their comfort zones to participate, encourage and support their new class members.

We look forward to seeing what this Year 8 group can achieve over the year.

Grade 9 got off to an excellent start to 2020, with two days full of purposeful activities. On Wednesday, students began the morning with a Grade assembly, where we talked about 3x key words - respect (for self, others and the environment), relationships (the importance of investing in people) and resilience (the ability to bounce back after challenges). 

Wednesday then involved some work in Tutor Group (TG) classes, setting up for the year and after that, students completed some icebreaker and team building activities with their TG teacher. In block 3, as a TG class, students had to plan an item to present to the rest of the Grade in Block 4, in our very special "Queechy's Got Talent". After some very strong performances, it was decided that 9F (Miss Mitchell) were the winners after their rendition of "We Will Rock You", due to the number of students involved, the props, costume and energy. A close 2nd was 9C, who displayed some awesome talent and synchronisation with a few Tik Tok dances!

On Thursday, students did some further work in their TGs, before completing a circuit of activities prepared by their teachers, including activities based around communication, resilience, empathy, mindfulness, a "getting to know you" adaption of speed dating and a massage session! The day wrapped up with students opting into a fitness circuit, music session, boxing session, board games or a Just Dance challenge. This was an absolutely fantastic way to finish the first two days of school in Grade 9.

A huge thanks to the amazing teachers for all their time, effort and enthusiasm in preparing the schedule of events and running activities and particularly the students for their awesome behaviour, attitude and participation.

The Grade 10 team have had a productive and settled beginning to 2020. On the first two days, both students and teachers downed the traditional tools to focus on developing strong working relationships with their teachers, as well as a stronger sense of belonging amongst their peers.

On day one, the students focused on establishing some clear goals for the year as they developed a better understanding around the importance of goal setting. This has allowed our students to aspire to be the best learners that they can be, as they begin their final year as a Queechy student. Intense games of “Keepy Uppy”, as well as some physical challenges, were also incorporated as part of their day.

On day two, we switched our focus to resilience, particularly on being courageous and embracing failure as a learning experience. This culminated in an activity which required students to work in a group and construct the highest tower out of spaghetti that would hold the weight of a marshmallow. We finished the day with a ‘Fast Friends’ activity, where the entire grade lined E Block corridor to have conversations with other members of our grade. The students were fantastic over these two days, and we now have a clear focus moving forward into this busy year.

On Tuesday the 11^th of February, it was great to see so many parents attend our information session, where we provided information on topics such as work placements, Year 11 at Queechy in 2021 and the structure of the Grade 10 year. We also were able to share our vision and expectations for Grade 10 students, with all parents and friends that attended.

We look forward to continuing our settled and focused start to the year, and seeing the achievements that this outstanding year group can accomplish by the end of 2020 and beyond.

School Based Immunisation Program 2020

Grade 7 and Grade 10

Grade 7 and Grade 10 students have been handed their Immunisation Forms for 2020.  Parents/Guardians are requested to complete the consent form and return to the school office even if you do not wish your child to be vaccinated.  Students will be having the following vaccinations:

Grade 7 (HPV)

and

Grade 10 Meningococcal ACWY

Students are requested to return their form to their
Tutor Group teacher no later than Tuesday 18^th February.

Immunisation Dates for 2020

Thursday, 26^th March 2020 and Monday 19^th October, 2020

Student Wellbeing Survey

The wellbeing of our students is important to us.

To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students in Years 4-12 will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.

The Student Wellbeing Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.

The details for the survey are:

When: March 10^th – April 3rd

Who: All students in years 7-10

What do I need to do: You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way.

A letter with more information will be sent home with students including details on how to access Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.   

If you would like further information, please contact Caleb Turale.

Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so they can engage in learning.

Grade 8 students have been studying Information Texts through the topic of sustainability and through this lens, they recently attended a talk by Dr Kim Beasy from the University of Tasmania.  Kim spoke of the importance of sustainability in all our lives and what we can do on an individual, local and global level.  Students will be encouraged to use our guest’s expertise and their own research to write feature articles of their own on an issue related to sustainability, for instance recycling, water management, consumerism or landfill.  We would like to thank Kim for her time and generosity in speaking to our students. 

Debating

This year Queechy High School was fortunate to have two teams in the Junior B Inter-High School Debating Competition. The roster took place over 7 weeks and our students competed against teams from St Patricks’ College, Scotch Oakburn College, Riverside High School and Scottsdale High School. Topics debated included ‘that we should all be vegetarian’, ‘ that performance enhancing drugs in sport be allowed’ and that ‘plastic water bottles should be banned’.  By the final week, QHS 3 had made the grand-final and competed in an impromptu debate against Scottsdale High School on the topic ‘that these are the best days of our lives’. The team performed a fantastic debate, winning the Junior B competition. Many thanks to Zarah (ex student) for captaining the team and mentoring the grade 7 students and former Queechy students, Chloe, Mia and Reuben for coming along to the competition each week, adjudicating the debates and supporting our junior students. Many thanks also the parents who also came along and supported our teams.

The 2019 Queechy debating students were

QHS 2 – Oliver, Mia, Jessica, Kirralee, Holly, Ruby

QHS 3 – Courtney, Abbie, Elenoa, Ella 

QHS Debating Captain – Zarah 

Grade 10 English – War Literature

Currently Grade 10 English students are studying a range of texts that explore the concept of war. One of the poems studied is Dulce et Decorum Est, written by Wilfred Owen in 1917. This poem was written in response to his experiences in France during WW1. Unlike many other poets of his time, Owen challenged the patriotic view that is was honourable to die for one’s country in war; instead, Dulce et Decorum Est depicts the horrors of life in the trenches.  

Dulce et Decorum Est   by Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

Notes:
Latin phrase is from the Roman poet Horace: “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”

When studying war literature, students are learning to use the SPECS and SLIMS framework, which requires them to analyse the poet’s use of a range of language devices to convey their message.

SPECS and SLIMS:

Subject matter (content)
                Perspective (point of view)
                Emotion (mood and tone)
                Craftmanship  > > > Structure
                                               Language
                                               Imagery
                                               Movement
                                               Sound
                                               Summary

Class Times

Who to Contact:

2021 Term Dates

2021 Student Free Days: