As we begin the year, we are excited to share some positive changes around the school. Our G Block classrooms have received a fresh coat of paint, new furniture has been added to classrooms around the school, and we've removed the boarding on windows in H Block, allowing more sunlight to brighten the space. I’m also pleased to announce that we are fully staffed with no vacancies, which is a fantastic way to kick off the year.

Thank you Mr Rottier and his helpers for organising our Welcome to High School BBQ, held in week 3. It was a great success, even though the weather could have been better. Staff, parents, carers, and students connected over a BBQ and some games in the quadrangle.

A special thanks to Mr. Mislov and his team for their hard work in organising the Community Connections activities for Year 7 and 10 students. The photos shared on our socials clearly showed the positive experiences and strong connections being built between the Year 7 and 10 groups.

Last week, we held a wonderful Senior Student Dinner for Years 10, 11, and 12 at Home Hill Winery. Thank you Mr Dorrington, Miss Rainbird and their supporters for organising this wonderful event which was very much enjoyed by all. Look out for pictures on our socials and in our next newsletter.

While we’ve had some illnesses affecting both staff and students recently, I hope the long weekend helped with everyone starting to feel better.

Lastly, I trust you enjoyed reading the Year 7 & 8 and Year 9 & 10 coordinator updates that were emailed home last week.

 King regards

Janelle Reeves
Principal

Here's a brief update on new staff at HHS

• Tameika Holland has commenced in the Kitchen Aid and EFA role in H Block.
• Glenn Freeman joins us from Hobart College into the 11/12 AST role. Glenn lives in the valley and is really keen to continue to support our valley community and kids.
• Jonathon Linn joins us, teaching Maths and Science. Jono is also a valley dweller. Jono did a prac session with us a couple of years ago, really enjoyed the kids and the team, and was keen to join us.
• Hatoa Sweet is an early career English and History Teacher. Hatoa has had a big few months finishing up in QLD and moving to Tassie and finding a home. He has settled in Margate which is a nice short commute compared to what he was used to in Brisbane.
• Rob Shaw joins us from about 6 years at Kingston High. We're excited that Rob chose to join the team in the valley. Rob is one of our Maths Teachers.

Textiles has been reintroduced as an options class in 2025. Students are well underway with their projects which have included personalisation of their project bags, a bookmark and placemat. While the class started with some hand stitching and simple embroidery stitches, some students really showed off their skills by including some more complex stitches before moving onto using the sewing machines and creating bookmarks and placemats. The class are proud of their products and keen to share their successful creations.

Ms Reeves

        

Get ready for an awesome time filled with fun and excitement! Here's what's happening:

Free Dress Day: Wear your own clothes for just a gold coin donation! All the money raised will go towards the Grade 10 final dinner/celebration.

Live Music, Games & BBQ: Enjoy live music, fun games, and a BBQ with $2 sausages, veggie burgers, and drinks available for purchase.

Dunk a Teacher: Want to dunk a teacher with water? For another gold coin donation, you'll get the chance to take your best shot!

EFPOS available: You can use EFPOS to buy food, drinks, or even Dunk a Teacher!

This event kicks off around 12pm and will run until the end of lunch. Don’t miss out on the fun—come join the action and support your school!

Reading Update

Welcome to a brand-new school year! As we gear up for another exciting year of learning, one of the key areas we will focus on in Grades 7 and 8 is reading fluency. Reading fluency is not just about recognising words, but about reading smoothly, with expression, and understanding what we read. It's an essential skill that supports academic success across all subjects—from English to Science, History, and even Maths.

This term we will be introducing our Grade 7 and 8 students to reading fluency focussed tasks. This will happen in every English lesson and will support students to gain confidence in reading more advanced material, from novels to informational texts.

Keep an eye out on our social media pages for more information as the term progresses and feel free to contact christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au if you have any questions.

At Huonville High School we use Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) to measure students' knowledge, skills and understanding in reading and numeracy. This information helps teachers pinpoint where students are in their learning journey and what they need to do to progress. 

PAT testing is conducted online and is completed in Term 1 and then again in Term 4. The Term 1 PAT testing period started for all Grade 7 students and all new students to the school on Thursday, 20 February.

The testing was completed in English and Maths classes and took approximately 30 minutes. Students unable to do their test at those times were given the opportunity to complete their tests during catch up lessons in the following week

If you have any further questions, please contact me at christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au

Are you currently employed in industry or hold industry qualifications and looking for a career change? DECYP and HHS are seeking expressions of interest from people who are interested in completing their Cert IV in Training and Assessment to become a trainer in your area of expertise. Get in contact with us to discuss opportunities, in person, or email huonville.high@decyp.tas.gov.au or phone (03) 6264 0800. 

Dear Parents, Carers, and Community Members

The first meeting of 2025 for the Huonville High School Association is on Thursday 20 March, from 5.30 to 6.30 pm in the school staff room. All welcome.

As the Chairperson of the Huonville High School Association, I am delighted to share that our school is commemorating its 85th anniversary this year. Established in 1940 as the Huonville Area School, our institution has a rich history of serving the educational needs of our community.

The role of the Huonville High School Association:

The Huonville High School Association is integral to our school's success, fostering collaboration between parents, carers, staff, and the wider community. Your involvement ensures that we continue to provide enriching experiences and uphold our tradition of excellence.​

Why Join Us?

• Stay Informed: Engage with the latest developments and initiatives at the school.​
• Voice Your Opinions: Participate in decision-making processes that directly impact our students.​
• Strengthen Community Bonds: Build lasting relationships with other members of the school community.​
• Support Student Initiatives: Contribute to programs and projects that enhance student learning and well-being.​
• How to Get Involved:

We warmly invite you to join our upcoming meetings and events. Your insights and contributions are invaluable as we celebrate this milestone year. For more information or to express interest please email huonville.high@decyp.tas.gov.au or phone (03) 6264 0800.

Let's come together to honour our school's legacy and shape its future. Your participation enriches our community and continues the tradition of excellence that Huonville High School embodies.​

Warm regards,

Troy Cook
Chairperson, Huonville High School Association

This year, we are reinforcing the school uniform policy, which has always required students to wear navy-coloured bottoms. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a consistent and professional environment.

Additionally, please be aware that uniform prices will be increased from Term 2 to reflect the rising costs of supply. A full price list will be included in the next newsletter. To avoid the price increase, we encourage you to make your purchases soon.

Thank you for your continued support!

To help support our students and bus drivers, we kindly ask that parents and carers drop off and pick up their children on the same side of the road where the bus is stopping. This helps ensure everyone's safety and keeps traffic flowing smoothly. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

A big thank you to those parents/carers who have returned their annual Student Information Validation form and a reminder to others to return them as soon as possible. Before returning the form, please check the accuracy of the pre-printed information and make any necessary changes (eg. contact numbers, medical conditions).  It is a legal requirement for parent/carers to give permission each calendar year for minor excursions, photos, etc., so please complete this section, sign and date the form, then return to the school office at your earliest opportunity (the letterbox at our main entrance can be used at any time when returning forms to school). If you have any questions, please contact the office on 6264 0800.

Gifted Online at Huonville High School is back for 2025!

Gifted Online programs are designed for students who would benefit from advanced learning in areas such as English, Humanities and Social Sciences, Maths, Science, and Digital Technologies. These programs are free for students to participate in and are taught by experienced educators who specialise in challenging gifted students.

Students are selected based on their previous NAPLAN, PAT, and school reports, or a formal gifted diagnosis. Each eligible student has been spoken with by Ebony Taylor, one of our teacher assistants, who will support them throughout the program.

The available Gifted Online courses for students are as follows:

• My Maths (Grades 7 & 8)
• Pathway to Maths Methods (Grades 9 & 10)
• Creative Writing (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10)
• STEM: Senior (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10)
• The Science of Big History (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10)
• Philosophy: Theories of Thought (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10)
• Code & Create (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10)

Most courses run for the entire year, but some are offered for only half the year.

If your child has been accepted into any Gifted Online courses, you will receive a letter with details about their enrolment and the specific course. You can support your child by discussing their courses with them. Students are encouraged to share what they’re learning and demonstrate how the courses work.

Students are given time to complete their courses during class, either in the classroom or in a separate space with other students working on Gifted Online programs. If your child has been identified for a course, they will have chosen whether to access the course during class time or during scheduled times each week.

Students will participate in their courses through Canvas, a password-protected learning management system.

At the end of the year, all students will receive a certificate for completing at least one hour of course work each week.