I would like to start this newsletter with a very sincere apology for accidently missing welcoming one of our beautiful new teachers in my last article.

Special welcome to Aimee Liu who has joined our Maths team and is on the Grade 7 team taking Home Room 7 Weld. Staff and students alike have warmed to Aimee’s infectious personality and ever-present displays of kindness. Students have described her as bottled sunshine! Welcome to our school community Aimee and so sorry I missed you off last time.  

NAPLAN 2023

NAPLAN testing for Year 7s and 9s has commenced this week and will continue the next few weeks. We would appreciate it if parents can continue the conversation we have been having at school about the importance of students doing their best, as the data we obtain from these tests is critical for us to guide how best to support your children in their learning journey.

Laptop roll out for Years 7 and 8

Over the last week laptops have been distributed to all Grade 7 and 8 students who have returned the appropriate forms. It has been wonderful to see the joy on the students' faces and see them engaging with their device in class, developing their capacity to utilise them to support their learning. Having a device makes an enormous difference to the accessibility to information for our students and also learning skills associated with various applications. Thank you to Angela Cooke and Josh Dickenson, our awesome IT team, for coordination of this program and also to parents for your support in returning the forms. If you have not yet returned forms, please do so as soon as possible so your child can benefit from this resource.

Attendance

We are very concerned about the attendance rate at this early stage in the year. Obviously, we have been through a challenging period these last few years as a result of COVID, however, where we should be seeing an improvement in attendance, we aren’t. Just one day a fortnight off school from Kinder through to Year 12 will mean your child has missed one-and-half-years of schooling! Just a reminder that the Department of Education requires a Medical Certificate to be supplied for every absence beyond 5 days. Given that employers also require a Medical Certificate when we as adults are absent from work, it is logical that we expect this for our students as we are preparing them for the real world. This is a requirement brought on through the implementation of the Education Act 2016.

Please support us in supporting your child’s learning by ensuring your child is at school everyday so they are not missing critical learning time.

Until week 9.

Kindly,

Janelle Reeves
Principal

janelle.reeves@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Students in Grade 7 have demonstrated exemplary resilience and effort as they have begun their NAPLAN testing this week. Using their new laptops to complete the testing, the majority of students have already sat their Writing and Reading tests and will complete their Conventions of Language and Numeracy testing in coming lessons. Our focus throughout this testing period has been on maintaining a growth mindset and putting in our best effort, even if the task is challenging.

We have been so proud of the way students have taken NAPLAN testing in their stride and have supported each other during this time.

Good luck to all students and continue to put in your best effort!

Rebecca Clarkson
Grade 7 Coordinator

rebecca.clarkson@decyp.tas.gov.au 

If your child needs to stay home due to illness, but is well enough to continue learning, they may like to access the Virtual Learning Centre via Canvas.

For Kindergarten to Year 10 students, the VLC provides access to online lessons and activities for your child on various focus areas including Reading and Writing, Number, Science, Physical Activity and Wellbeing.

Your child can complete activities of interest to them or to support catch-up learning and revision.

If your child is unsure of their Canvas username and password to access the VLC, please let us know and we can provide these to you.

You can also access resources and ideas to support learning at home at Learning at home. You can find out more about the Virtual Learning Centre on the Department for Education, Children and Young People website.

Whilst we acknowledge that illness may mean students are at home for a short time, it’s so important that our students are actively participating in their learning. We know that going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grown and connect with their friends and teachers.

If you’re struggling to get your child to school, help is available. Please contact the school about your situation. We’ll support you, in whatever way we can.

Year 7 Coordinator: Rebecca Clarkson rebecca.clarkson@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Year 8 Coordinator: Bobby-Jack Bowen Butchart bobby-jack.bowen.but@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Year 9 Coordinator: Amy Richardson amy.richardson1@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Year 10 Coordinator: Riley Mislov riley.mislov@decyp.tas.gov.au 

In homeroom over the past couple of weeks, Grade 9s have been looking at examples of how people adapt and moderate their behaviour and language, depending on the type of setting they’re in. They’ve applied this learning to their own context, explaining how they relate to people in their lives differently and identifying the skills they use to do so.

For the remainder of Term 1, Grade 9 homeroom classes will be learning to appreciate diverse perspectives by developing their tolerance and empathy for people with different values and backgrounds. We hope that this will help Grade 9 to be kinder and more respectful to all students, particularly people outside their own friendship groups.

Finally, we congratulate grade 9s for their efforts with NAPLAN so far this week. As NAPLAN has occurred early this year, the data will be available for their teachers to use to diagnose and respond to students’ learning needs in a more targeted way. The testing will conclude on Monday, 19^th March with catch up tests happening in the following weeks for students who were absent. We wish them luck for their final tests.

Amy Richardson
Grade 9 Coordinator

amy.richardson1@decyp.tas.gov.au 

The Grade 10 celebration jumpers are now available for purchase from our suppliers, OneSport.

The online shop can be accessed by opening a web browser and entering the following domain, or by going to www.onesport.com.au  and heading to the ‘leavers’ page where you will find the ‘HHS’ shop    https://shop.onesport.com.au/cat/huonville-high-school/

The shop will only be open from Monday 13^th March through to Thursday 23rd March. This is to ensure we can have hoodies delivered and provided to students early in Term 2.

Important information to consider when ordering your jumper is to ensure you check the sizing chart against clothing you already own and remember that you will grow! Also, when adding your name to the jumper use first/preferred name or surname only. Nicknames will not be accepted for the final version. We will check all the names before the order is confirmed with the supplier.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school – ph. 6264 0800 or email clint.rottier@decyp.tas.gov.au

Clint Rottier
AST Yr 9-10

Year 9 and 10 Food Technology students have been learning how to make a Hollandaise sauce for their eggs Benedict.

Later this term, they will be presenting a potato dish that they have planned and designed.

Jason Lunden
Food Technologies

jason.lunden1@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Huon Valley Council proposes to conduct the first round of its 2023 School Based Immunisation Program on Wednesday, 10th May (Term 2) offering the following free vaccines to Grade 7 and Grade 10 students at Huonville High School:

12–13 years

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) (Boostrix®)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil®9)

14–16 years

• Meningococcal ACWY (Nimenrix®)

Forms have been sent home with students and need to be returned as soon as possible so that vaccines can be ordered; please return the forms to school even if you don't wish youir child to participate in the School Based Immunisation Program - simply indicate 'no' in the applicable box on the form - if you haven't already done so. 

If your child has had a previous reaction to an immunisation, it's recommended that they have the vaccines at your doctor's surgery. Your child can have their vaccinations with your own doctor if you prefer.

See below for more information:

Greetings from Nurse Katherine …

In the last two weeks, our Grades 7, 8 and 9s have received education from Rob and Dave from the Drug Education Network (DEN). Next week our Grade 10 students will have their sessions.

DEN have been working with the Tasmanian community for over 30 years to deliver training, develop resources and provide information and education.   They visit both government and independent schools all around Tasmania to provide education to students and staff.

Students at Huonville participated well in different discussions (including why people choose to use alcohol and other drugs) and learnt how alcohol and other drugs affect our brains and our pleasure/reward system, which can often lead to dependence and mental illness. They also learnt about many different substances, how different circumstances and substances can change the way people feel and act, how to stay safe when partying, and where to find help and information about the harms associated with many commonly known drugs.

This page has examples of some great, reliable websites and services you can access for drug information and support, including factsheets about how to talk to your children about these topics.

The support team at Huonville High also have hard copy resources for students and their families. Please contact us through the school office on 62 640 800 if you would like any. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, these helplines are available 24/7:

National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline: 1800 250 015 

This service is free and offers confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs, support, information, counselling, and referral to services. 

Family Drug Support:  1300 368 186

This service provides support and information to families, friends and carers of people who have problematic alcohol and other drug use across Australia.

	Holyoake (03) 62241777 https://holyoake.org.au/
	https://code.den.org.au/
	https://positivechoices.org.au/
	Get mental health support - Beyond Blue

Katherine Lee
School Health Nurse

katherine.lee@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Sleep is Essential

Did you know that most of us spend 30% of our lifetime sleeping!

Just like your phone, your body and mind need to be recharged each day – for us it’s through a good nights sleep!

When we sleep our bodies have time to repair and grow. This helps us manage our mental health, helps us learn better, boosts our immune system, and improves our memory.

How much sleep do our learners need?

Primary school aged: 9-11 hours

High School and College age: 8-10 hours

What happens if I don't get enough sleep?

Without enough sleep we can be more irritable, moody, aggressive, restless, impulsive, be more likely to have accidents, and longer term are at higher risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

School children may struggle with their learning, have poor concentration and memory, and have trouble staying mentally well.

For some great sleep tips and further information…visit these sites:

https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/ (they have many great factsheets)

https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/sleep-problems/sleep-problems-solutions

https://headspace.org.au/assets/Factsheets/HSP225-Sleep-Fact-Sheet-DP3.pdf

If you are concerned about your child's sleep habits and would like some support, contact your Health Nurse through the school office.

Katherine Lee
School Health Nurse

katherine.lee@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Parents/carers will receive an invoice shortly for 2023 School Levies.

It would be appreciated if payment can be made by end of Term 1. If you find this puts financial pressure on your household we strongly encourage regular weekly or fortnightly payments.

Payments can be made at the school office by Eftpos, cash or cheque. Payments can be made online or at the Post Office using BPay - there is a reference number on your invoice.

Huon Valley Council’s Community Awards recognise the contribution community members and groups make to the Huon Valley. 

2023 Community Awards categories are:

• Citizen of the Year 
• Young Citizen of the Year 
• Community Event or Community Group Initiative of the Year 
• Sporting or Club Achievement of the Year 
• Volunteer Service Award (up to 5 years)
• Major Volunteer Service Award (5-10 years)
• Outstanding Volunteer Service Award (over 10 years)
• Lifetime Volunteer Service Award (over 20 years)

You can nominate someone by downloading and completing the nomination form  2023 Community and Volunteers Service Awards Nomination Form.pdf

Check out the 2023 Community Awards guidelines

Nominations for the 2023 awards close Sunday 17 March 2023

Need some help? 

We can help you through the nomination process. 

• Call us on (03) 6264 0300 
• Email us at hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au 
• Drop in and see us at the Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville 

SZapp is a mobile app that’s free for parents to download. SZapp allows the school to send notifications to parents, as well as being a platform where the school's important information is available to parents anywhere, anytime, on their mobile device.

Some of the features and applications that are already available on the app or will be added in the coming weeks include:

• Link to call the school directly or to access the school website
• Comprehensive school calendar that will be continually updated
• Forms and Documents – which will provide digital access to all forms sent home in hard copy
• Newsletter subscription link and archive of all previous newsletters
• News Feed – which will allow us to send notifications as a reminder of things that are coming up
• Bus details
• Staff email contacts
• And much more…

Download Schoolzine for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pidigi.schoolzine&hl=en_AU&gl=US

Download Schoolzine for Apple https://apps.apple.com/au/app/szapp/id982105479

Once you've downloaded the App, open it and search for Huonville High School by searching the region for Asia Pacific, then click on Huonville High School - your screen should look like this:

* If your child no longer attends HHS and you don't want to receive further newsletters or notifications, please email huonville.high@decyp.tas.gov.au