Newsletter No.2, Friday 3 March 2023
Message From the Principals
Welcome to the end of week 4! It's hard to believe we are almost halfway through Term 1.
This week, we held our 'Meet the Teacher' events on both campuses. Thank you to everyone who attended these events. If you were unable to attend but would still like to connect with your student's teachers, please don't hesitate to contact the school.
Our first progress reports for the year will be sent home in a couple of weeks. These reports will focus on how your student is settling in this year, with indicators on work habits. The next round of reports will be issued toward the end of Term 2, which will have indicators based on the nine-point achievement scale as well as work habits. In week 10 of Term 2, opportunities for formal face-to-face communication with families will be provided. Additionally, all core subjects (English, Maths, Science, and HaSS) will share evidence of your student's learning during Term 2.
This week, we were pleased to open our new social space on the New Town Campus for our students. We look forward to highlighting student artwork in this space over the coming weeks.
Our Athletics Carnival is coming up on 9 and 14 March. On Thursday 9 March, there will be a campus-based event on each site, and on Tuesday 14 March, there will be our first-ever combined event. Year 7 and 8 students will be dismissed from the New Town Campus on this day. Further information will be communicated with parents in a separate letter. We are really looking forward to this inaugural event and sharing some highlights with you in our next newsletter.
In our monthly newsletter, we would like to give you ongoing updates and highlights on our 2023 School Improvement Plan. We have a two-year plan (2022-2023) with three main priorities:
- Wellbeing for Learning - With a focus on creating a school where our students feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging. Please see the information below on some lunchtime clubs that are starting up this term as part of our suite of actions in this priority.
- Reading – We are focused on improving the reading level of every student. We are also beginning some intervention programs for students in Years 8 and 9 to assist those who have particular needs in this area.
- Numeracy – With a focus on improving the multiplicative thinking skills of our students. Our data shows this is an ongoing area of need. Our Maths/Science teams are running an inquiry in their year-level teams, with a close examination of each student's abilities and how to 'lift and stretch' each and every student.
Middle School Lunch Time Clubs:
- Creative Writing – Thursday lunch in the library. Please email Ms Prenter at liv.prenter@decyp.tas.gov.au if you would like to join this group.
- Python Coding – Friday recess in the library. Please email Mr Dew at mark.dew@decyp.tas.gov.au.
- Tech Challenge Club – Tuesday recess in the library. Please email Mr Davies at dominic.davies1@decyp.tas.gov.au.
- Chess Club - Tuesday lunch in the library with Chess Master Ben. Please email mel.augustina@decyp.tas.gov.au.
Deb Day - Lead Principal
Holly Stewart - Principal - Senior School
Andrew Hughes - Principal - Middle School
From your School Association
Welcome Families
We were very happy to welcome families to the school at our barbecue and picnic events this week. A big thank you to staff and students who helped run the events and to our School Association working group led by star organiser Liv McMenamin.
Future of Hobart City High School and Elizabeth College
In February we held a combined workshop with Elizabeth College School Association members about the future of our schools. There is a decision to be made about whether to continue in partnership as separate entities or combine to be one school with three campuses. We agreed to write to the Minister for Education recommending that a community conversation be held by the end of Term 3, and that the principal positions at HCHS and EC be made substantive so as to provide certainty for our whole school community.
Our AGM and first meeting
We’re kicking off the 2023 school year with our AGM and first meeting on Tuesday 7 March at 5:30 pm in the Ogilvie Campus Board Room. All parents and carers of Hobart City High students are automatically members of the Association, and you are welcome to come along to meetings and contribute in any way you can.
For more information about the School Association go to the website:
https://www.hobartcityhigh.education.tas.edu.au/school-association
If you have questions please email us at hchs.association@decyp.tas.gov.au.
We look forward to connecting with you in 2023!
Melinda Maddock, Chair
Borrowing ICT
Students in Years 7-12 can borrow a device or internet hotspot to take home for short periods of time. Students can request to borrow a device or internet hotspot from the library to work on an assignment, research a topic of interest or complete an application online. If you do not want your child to be able to loan a device or internet hotspot please contact HCHS on 6228 8800.
Technologies Learning Area
This term across the Technologies learning area, students have been busy developing a range of skills across our many course offerings.
In Food Studies, they have been:
- establishing routines and expectations about food safety and hygiene
- interpreting and analysing recipes to produce food
- creating an orderly learning environment to ensure success in the kitchen.
In Design in Wood, they have been:
- designing and constructing bath caddies using Tasmanian minor species timbers
- refining skills in measuring, marking and cutting timber
- developing new skills by introducing concepts relating to the safe use of both power and hand tools.
In Design and Construction, they have been learning the structural components of a stud wall. This has included:
- working in groups to design and construct a stud wall with a ceiling
- building a pallet base to be joined to the stud wall.
Once complete, students will join these components together to form a wall that will be ready to commence plastering and apply cornice.
In Digital Technologies, students have been:
- learning block coding starting with Scratch before moving onto programmable robots called Spheros
Students will finish Term 1 by posing a question or problem and solving it using Microbits and microcontrollers.
In Game Design, students have been:
- Starting their game programming with a review of block coding using Scratch before moving on to Gamemaker Studio 2, while some students are extending themselves by programming a game with Unity.
We look forward to continuing to work with all our students to develop their skills across the Technologies learning area this year.
Technologies Team
NAPLAN Testing-Students in Years 7 and 9
Why do students do NAPLAN?
NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
As students progress through their school years, it’s important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy
What Can I do to support my child?
Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. Some familiarisation and explanation of NAPLAN is useful to help students understand and be comfortable with the format of the tests. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance.
See the types of questions and tools available in the online NAPLAN assessments at the public demonstration site.
NAPLAN dates
NAPLAN will occur from Wednesday 15 March until Monday 27 March.
Year 10 Hoodies
To celebrate our Year 10 students in 2023, we are offering the chance for students to purchase special Year 10 uniform options. There will be two option to choose from: a polo shirt and a hoodie, both of which will be in the new uniform colours. Students are able to purchase either or both options.
Students will choose either their first name or surname to be printed on the back of the garments. Nicknames will not be permitted.
The cost for the Year 10 uniform options are:
Hoodie - $50.60
Short sleeve polo top - $42.90
Please note that these uniform items are optional. Students who choose not to buy them will be expected to wear their normal school uniforms until the end of the year. There are a few occassions when the Year 10 tops may be inappropriate to wear, and students are asked to respect any requests to wear formal uniform at these times.
To order, simply use th Qkr! app, instuctions are below. All payments are to be made by Thursday 16 March. Once received, items will be delivered directly to students.
Year 10 Team
Celebrating Former Student Success
Congratulations to former New Town High student Hayden Beltz (who joins his brother Josh) as a representative in the national hockey team.
Congratulations also to former Ogilvie student Amy Smith for being named in the U19 T20 World Cup Women’s Cricket Squad for 2023.
9 March - School Athletic Carnival Day 1 - Campus Based
13 March - Eight Hour Day - Public Holiday
14 March - School Athletic Carnival - Whole School @ NTC
21 March - Harmony Day
22 March - Pancake Day - Flip for Good Cause @ NTC
15 - 27 March - NAPLAN - Years 7 and 9
28 March - Prospective Family and Student Information Evening - 5.00pm- 6.00pm - OC Hall
31 March - Newsletter
4 April - Inter-High Athletics Carnival @ Domain Athletics Centre
5 April - Term 1 Concludes
6 April - Moderation Day (Students do not attend)
7 April - Good Friday - Public Holiday
25 April - Anzac Day - Public Holiday
26 April - Term 2 Commences
