Dear School Community

Welcome to the first newsletter of Term 2! I hope the Easter break gave you time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends.

It’s been a positive and busy start to the term, with a number of events and updates across our school community. One of the exciting developments is the launch of our Fluency work in English classes, aimed at improving reading confidence and literacy outcomes for our students. It’s been fantastic to see this initiative taking off in classrooms across Years 7–8.

In the final weeks of Term 1, we were honoured to welcome back Jillian Formentin, a former student and now Australian Engineer of the Year to Tasmania. Jillian has had an extraordinary career in engineering and is a passionate advocate for STEM education and its power to open doors for young people. As both a proud Huonville High and University of Tasmania alumna, Jillian was thrilled to visit her old school and share her journey with our students and staff—an inspiring way to end the term.

Our Cross Country Carnival held on the last Friday of Term 1 was another highlight. The event was a great success, both from a sporting and community culture perspective. A big thank you to all the students who participated with enthusiasm and displayed such strong sportsmanship.

A big thank you also to all the students and staff who represented our school at the ANZAC Day Parade. Special thanks go to Angela Prince, Aimee Liu and their art students for the creation of a stunning banner, and extra appreciation to Angela, who put in additional hours during the holidays to ensure it was completed on time. Congratulations to Elora Goulding and Logan Waters for their respectful and poised wreath-laying, and to Amaya Munoz Miguel, who delivered a beautiful reading of Flanders Fields to the assembled crowd.

On a sad note we said farewell to Judi Cawthorn, our Trade Training Centre Coordinator for the past 12 years, who has now retired after a long and dedicated career in Tasmanian education. Judi’s impact on vocational education at Huonville High has been significant, and we thank her for her commitment and leadership over many years. Stepping into the role is the wonderful Rebecca (Bec) Stevenson, who started in Week 1 this term and has already made a great impression. Welcome Bec — we look forward to the next chapter in the TTC under your guidance.

Our School Uniform and Dress Code Policy is looking fantastic around the school. Thank you to our students, parents and carers for the effort you’re making to support this. It’s great to see so many students wearing the uniform with pride and representing HHS positively.

Last week we hosted a very successful Jobs Expo at the TTC for Years 10–12. It was a valuable opportunity for students to connect with employers and explore future pathways—thank you to all involved.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school. It’s shaping up to be a productive and engaging term ahead at Huonville High.

Kindly

Janelle Reeves | Principal

Here are some photos from the Careers Expo held at the Trade Training Centre on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.

Some photos from Jillian Formentin, a former student and now Australian Engineer of the Year. Jillian has had an extraordinary career in engineering and is a passionate advocate for STEM education and its power to open doors for young people. As both a proud Huonville High and University of Tasmania alumna, Jillian was thrilled to visit her old school and share her journey with our students and staff—an inspiring way to end the term.

We’re thrilled to share that Repeated Reading is now being implemented across all Year 7 and 8 English classrooms! This evidence-based strategy is designed to improve students' reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension — key skills for lifelong learning.

Repeated Reading involves students reading the same passage aloud several times, either individually, with peers, or with teacher support. This practice helps build confidence, enhance word recognition, and develop smoother reading expression. Research shows that regular repeated reading can lead to significant gains in both speed and understanding.

Teachers will be incorporating this strategy into their weekly routines, using a range of engaging and level-appropriate texts. Students will also track their own progress to celebrate their improvement and set goals.

We’re excited to see how this approach supports our students in becoming more fluent, expressive, and capable readers.

Have you noticed improvements at home? We'd love to hear from you! 

If you would like to know more, please contact Christie Gumley at christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au

Welcome

• Russ White – Flex Teacher, already making a great impact in the Flex space
• Ruben Meyer-Ebert – teaching Mathematics each Friday; also providing some relief work when necessary
• Rebecca (Bec) Stevenson - new TTC Coordinator

Farewelling long term staff members

• Heather Southwell – retired at the end of Term 1 after an incredible 45 years in education across Tasmania and the mainland
• Lee Gatehouse – after 22 years of dedicated service. Lee has now officially retired, and we thank her for everything she has contributed to our school over the years
• Judi Cawthorn - After 12 years, TTC Coordinator, and many years prior to that in Tasmanian Education, has retired

Resignation

• Freyja Hansch – after a year with us, has moved on to new opportunities at the end of Term 1

Leave Without Pay

• Melissa Fennell – one of our wonderful EFA staff is taking one year’s leave on compassionate grounds

Lee Gatehouse

We are thrilled to share that many of our talented Year 7–10 Visual Art students have had the exciting opportunity to showcase their artwork in the Huonville Art Box—a vibrant exhibition space located on the main road, right near the Community Hub with the stunning swan mural on its side.

This special exhibition is part of Youth Week celebrations and has been organised by Esther from the Huon Valley Council. It's a fantastic chance for our young artists to share their creativity with the wider community and be part of a public art display.

We couldn’t be prouder of the students' efforts and the quality of work on show. If you're passing through Huonville, make sure to stop by and admire their incredible pieces!

– Ms Prince & Ms Liu
Visual Art Team

We’re already well into Term 2, and it’s been fantastic to see so many of you making strong progress in your chosen courses. Whether you're diving deep into maths equations, crafting thoughtful stories, or developing your historical research skills, your effort is really showing — so keep it up!

Big History Students: Final Stretch Ahead
If you're enrolled in the Big History course, here’s an important reminder: this is your final term to complete as much of the course as you can. Take advantage of the time left to finish your modules and wrap up any outstanding tasks. If you need help or want to set a plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to your HASS/History teacher or Ebony.

Opportunities to Challenge Yourself
Ebony is currently chatting with students enrolled in various Gifted Online courses about entering some exciting upcoming competitions — a great chance to show off what you’ve learned and challenge yourself in new ways. Here are a few to keep an eye on:

• What Matters? Writing Competition – Closes May 16. What do you care about? Share your voice and your vision.
• ICAS Competitions – Running in August, covering areas like Digital Technologies, Writing, English, Science, Spelling Bee, and Mathematics. Choose your strengths and give it a go!
• Frank McDonald Memorial Prize – Open to Year 9 students only. A great opportunity with 6 grade 9 students across Tasmania selected to travel to Belgium and France in 2026 and visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
• National History Challenge – The 2025 theme is “Conflict and Resolution.” Start thinking now about how you might explore this topic through history.

These competitions are not just about winning — they’re about thinking big, trying something new, and pushing your learning further.

Stay curious, stay motivated — and remember, your teachers are here to support you every step of the way.

This year, students at Huonville High are teaming up to create outdoor murals that celebrate inclusion and bring colour to our school grounds. The first project—a vibrant “rainbow river” flowing across the concrete benches in the quad—is already underway, with student volunteers leading the painting effort.

Next, winners of a school-wide design competition will come together to combine their ideas into a mural that shows what inclusion really looks like in our community.

The Year 11/12 Hospitality class showcased their skills during a vibrant catering event held in Week 2. The students demonstrated not only technical ability but also creativity and teamwork, making the event a standout success.

Guests were treated to an array of delicious dishes, served by the students as part of their coursework. The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed were a testament to the students’ hard work and the strong sense of pride they take in their craft.

With several future chefs clearly emerging from the group, the class has set a high standard for the rest of the year. Their teacher's dedication and guidance are valuable assets to both her students and the wider school community.

Be sure to check out the wonderful photos from the event – a true celebration of talent, teamwork, and tasty food!

This year's school production is called Snatched and Served and will be held on the evenings of Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September.

Watch this space. More information to come. Tickets will be available online.
We will let you know how to purchase these soon. 

We warmly invite members of our school community to our next School Association Meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, 31 July, from 5:00 to 5:30 pm.

We've recently changed the meeting duration to 30 mins and now hold just one meeting each term to make it easier for more people to attend. Whether you're curious about what happens or thinking of getting more involved, we’d love to see you there!

Being part of the School Association Committee is a rewarding and valued role. Members use their skills, knowledge and ideas to support our school and contribute to the success of our learners. It’s also a great way to stay informed, have your voice heard, and help shape the school community.

Joining the committee is also a chance to learn and grow—many members find they develop new skills and gain valuable experience through their involvement.

Even if you're not ready to commit to a role, just coming along to see what it’s all about is a great first step. We look forward to welcoming you!

More information can be found here.

The Tasmanian Government wants your feedback on the current public bus network in Greater Hobart including outlying areas such as New Norfolk, Sorell and Southern Beaches, Richmond, Campania and the Huon Valley. We want you to tell us how easy or hard it is to use the network and why, and what you need to be able to use it more often (or at all).

Click here to tell us what you like and don’t like, and what you would like to see in the future.

It doesn’t matter if you currently use the bus or not, we would like to hear from you!

Consultation will remain open until 20 June 2025.

 If you would like to purchase a 2024 yearbook, they are available at the office for $24.

If you've lost a piece of jewellery in the past few months, please visit the office and provide a description. We may have it in our lost property.