Hello, my name is Christie Gumley, and I am the Assistant Principal of Grade 7/8. I hope everyone enjoyed a restful Easter break and are feeling ready for the final week of Term 1. We have had a busy few weeks with lots going on including: NAPLAN, 11/12 Moderation, ARBRE visits, and finalising assessments for the Term. It has been wonderful to see both our staff and students engage in so many of these activities with such positivity.

Term 1 assessments have been completed and progress reports have been handed to students this afternoon - please ask your child for theirs. Any that weren't handed out today can be collected from the front office. We believe that developing a deeper understanding of what happens at school and sharing this with you regularly will allow for greater engagement, understanding and achievement from our students.  Reports will include effort, attitude, organisation, and behaviour. We encourage you to discuss your young person’s report with them and contact Home Room or subject teachers if you have any questions.

Work on our schoolwide teaching and learning priority of reading will begin next term with reading skills being explicitly taught across all subjects. Target groups of students will receive extra lessons and students' learning gains shared with families. To prepare for this important work, teachers have been completing DECYP Reading Modules. We are learning to understand a structured and evidence-based approach to teaching reading so we can all plan and prepare for developing reading skills in all our classrooms. This is exciting work and we look forward to sharing our progress throughout the year.

Ensuring our students are ‘ready to learn’ is an important part of our teaching at Huonville High School. This Term we have spent time making sure students know classroom routines and expectations. Senior staff have supported this work by commencing lesson observations. These observations allow staff to discuss class routines, expectations and learning with students. It has been wonderful to have these conversations with our students and to be a part of so many calm, orderly and productive learning environments.

On a final note, next week is our Cross Country and Colour Run, held on Monday, 8^th April, at Huonville High School. This is a great opportunity to build positive connections with peers outside the classroom and for students to challenge themselves physically. Both teachers and students are very much looking forward to getting out and about and enjoying this annual event. A big thank you to our HPE team for all their work in organising this event.

Christie Gumley
Assistant Principal Yr 7/8

christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Let’s make every day count! By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.

If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick, but creating a solid routine can set your child up for success for the year ahead.

⭐ Make every school day count

⭐ Get your child excited for school

⭐ Talk to your child about school

⭐ Celebrate the milestones

⭐ Talk to your child’s teacher or grade coordinator

⭐ Know when to seek help.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.

Even when it is at home, it is important that student laptops are kept in their protective case. Unexpected things can happen, and the case helps to protect the laptop.

Remember:

• If a laptop needs to update, let it, and wait for it to finish.
• Do not have drinks and food while using your laptop.
• Keep charger cables away from pets and younger children.
• Do not use or leave your laptop on the floor.
• Use your device in a clever way to avoid cyber danger.
• Remember where you have stored your laptop.
• Bring your laptop to school fully charged each school day.

Angela Cooke
ICT Manager

angela.cooke@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Dear Grade 7/8 Families,

Hopefully you had a fantastic Easter break and enjoyed a long weekend with your children. As we approach the end of the term, it’s a good time to reflect on the term that has been… …and what a start we’ve had!

For Grade 7s, it has been a whole new way of life. Students have been engaging in unique subjects such as Cooking, Music, Digital Technologies & PSC (homeroom). They have done a great job at acclimatising themselves to the expectations and values of our school, and are well on their way to becoming productive, efficient operators.

For Grade 8s, students have adapted to a change of staff and leadership well. Students have embraced the use of lockers and living in our ‘HUB’ (H Block) without issue, and have demonstrated their ability to be leaders within our 7/8 community. Options subjects have been incorporated into their timetables, with subjects such as All-Stars, Firefighting & Drama being particularly enticing.

Our students will participate in our school’s annual Cross-Country/Colour Run on Monday. The day will be filled with fun activities, competition and comradery. Make sure to ask your child about it!

We hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday. We look forward to seeing you in Term 2 when Grade 7/8s will get stuck into the ‘meat’ of their learning.

Regards,

Riley Mislov
Grade 7/8 AST

riley.mislov@decyp.tas.gov.au

Thomas is a growing teenager and is fond of his food. Last week students made some beautiful apple turnovers. The apples are as local as they can get, from my garden. Students learned to make a shortcrust pastry and it is low-sugar too.

Another example of the beautiful apple turnovers from Food Technology:

The following photos are Luke from Bruny Island Cheese who came in with some fresh Glen Huon milk to teach us how to make haloumi, cheese curd and ricotta. I know I learned heaps and have more confidence to do it myself. I think some of the students really got a lot out of it as well. The students who were less interested still enjoyed tasting all the different cheeses, along with the samples that Luke brought along. Thanks a lot Luke! 

Jason Lunden
Food Technology

jason.lunden1@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Students are studying and learning about different kitchen equipment within commercial kitchens and how to use them in their Hospitaltiy class. Students have produced some cakes and gelato.

Students have also been practicing fine dining service with “silver service” at the table, the technique of transferring food from a serving dish to the guest's plate using a spoon and fork. They've also been learning how to present and pour different beverage bottles and plating of the table with a maximum of 5 courses with the correct glassware and cultery, etc. Pictured above are Ella, Elly, Lily, Isac and Karryne.

Belinda Stewart
Hospitality

belinda.stewart@decyp.tas.gov.au 

As this Term comes to an end, we are reflecting on how students have started off 2024. Throughout the Term, they have demonstrated great work ethic, dedication, perseverance, and enthusiasm for learning. With our first round of reports coming out, we hope you can see the work your child has put into this Term. Students have shown positive engagement, actively participating in class discussions, collaborating with peers, and embracing opportunities for growth and learning that have come their way.

There have been some fantastic opportunities this year so far for students in Year 9 and 10 to showcase their leadership and sporting skills. We have had several whole school and grade assemblies, which provided students with leadership opportunities to speak and showcase their fantastic work so far this year.

A selected group of Year 9 and 10 students also participated in the RecLink AFL 9s Tournament last week. This involved Huonville High School playing various matches, both boys and girls, against Kingston High School. We displayed fantastic sportsmanship and sporting ability; all players should be very proud. Although we did not progress to the finals, it was an excellent day for those participating. A special shoutout to Jacob Richards, who won the boy's overall Most Valuable Player.

Year 10/11/12 students will have their Senior Winter Ball on the 20^th June (Term 2) to celebrate their achievements thus far in high school. We will be holding various fundraisers prior to the Winter Ball to raise money to support this event.

This will be the last newsletter article from me for the Term, so I wish you all happy holidays. Use this time to rest and reflect, see you in Term 2!

Sophie Rainbird
Grade 9/10 Coordinator

sophie.rainbird@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Our school’s Senior Winter Ball for years 10, 11 and 12, will be held on Thursday, 20^th June, 2024 (Term 2, Week 8). The Ball will be held at the Glen Albyn Estate, Taroona.

Students are asked to begin arriving at school from 4:15pm for photos to be taken, with students then travelling by bus to the Estate for further photos and dinner. We will return to the school site at 10:00pm from where students will need to be collected.

The cost for our Winter Ball is currently looking to be $80, which will include a 3-course meal and soft drinks. This can be paid for at the front office when bringing back the RSVP form (to be distributed shortly). We will be holding regular fundraising to support the dinner, this will cover the costs of the transportation to and from the venue, venue hire costs, styling and theming, and other associated costs.

The Winter Ball is a celebration of senior student’s achievements so far in high school - student attendance at the ball will be reliant on student behaviour and school attendance. Our attendance benchmark will be 90%, giving students ample time to increase their attendance at school between now and 20^th June.

Should you have any questions about this, please contact me via email at sophie.rainbird@decyp.tas.gov.au

Sophie Rainbird
Grade 9-10 Coordinator

Leading Image School Photos

Family photos will be taken at Huonville Primary School on Wednesday, 3rd July (times to be advised)

We would like to congratulate students who have been successful in applications for DECYPs Gifted Online Courses in 2024.

This is an exciting opportunity to extend our students in a range of subject areas and ensure they can experience their best results. Students participating in these courses are given the opportunity to learn independently as well as being a part of a bigger community of learners across the State. We are looking forward to seeing our students progress in these courses and engage in activities which allow them to learn together.

These Online courses are taught by experienced DECYP teachers across the State in Canvas and supported by teachers and teacher assistants here at Huonville High School. One of our teacher assistants, Ebony Taylor, has worked tirelessly this term in order to set up and co-ordinate this opportunity and we look forward to working with her and our students on this exciting new adventure for Huonville High School.

To find out more information have a look at the gifted online courses that are available here: Support for gifted and highly able students online courses - Department for Education, Children and Young People (decyp.tas.gov.au)

Kelly Flanagan
Support Teacher

kelly.flanagan@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Congratulations to Year 11 student, Amity Stanway, who's been selected for the Tasmanian Devils Coates Talent League Girls Squad!

Do you have ideas for school ground improvements, new learning resources, extended learning opportunities (excursions, external programs), community engagement, or something else?

Our School Association do a wonderful job at our school and we're asking for your help to gather feedback around what you think the School Association can help with.

Click on the link below or scan the QR code to access the survey:

HHS School Association Student survey 2024 (jotform.com)

Enquiries: Rachael (School Association Chairperson):
rachael-otoole@hotmail.com

T

To sign up, scan the QR code or click on the link below:

To find out more, click on the link below:

What is the headspace Hobart Youth Reference Group? (jotform.com)