Newsletter No.3, Friday 31 March 2023

Message from the Principals

It has been an event filled few weeks with lots to celebrate. The past month has seen us win the Inter-School Chess Championship as well as our Year 8 rowing team win their division in the All Schools Rowing Championship. What talented students we have! Next term we will be starting a new tradition in our school where we will be creating a ‘Wall of Excellence’ on both campuses where current students who achieve sporting and cultural achievements outside of school will be showcased and celebrated in our school community. More information on this will be sent to parents in a separate communication.

Also this term we have celebrated another first - our first ever combined Athletics Carnival. We are planning our first ever combined full school assembly, to be held in Term 2. These events help us celebrate the achievements of our whole community as we build our identity of becoming ‘the School of Choice for Hobart families’.

A piece of work that we want to share with you in this newsletter is our evolving vision. We have been working with staff and students to create our vision to help guide our work. All staff have contributed, and the various drafts are currently being workshopped with our students.

We have included a link here for you to also have input and contribute to the creation of our vision with your contribution being greatly valued.

Currently we have two versions:

A longer version:

HCHS strives to create an inclusive and safe community where all students, staff and families know, respect and value each other. We work together to empower every student with the confidence, character, voice and learning to contribute positively to their communities.

And a shortened version:

HCHS strives to create an inclusive and safe community where everyone knows, respects, and values each other. We work together to empower every student with the learning and character to contribute positively to their communities.

In the link below, you can vote for one of these versions and also provide input into anything else you think we should consider in the final version of the HCHS vision.

https://forms.office.com/r/LCbJCvKsN0

Mobile Phones

DCEYP's policy is to have 'phones off and away all day'. Our Middle School students have, on the whole been very good at following this during Term 1 and parent feedback has appreciated the strong stance and procedures to support phones being ‘off and away all day’.

During Term 2 the Senior School Campus will be ensuring that the policy is also followed. Our students have told us through our student voice surveys that feeling safe at school is a priority for them. Unfortunately, when students have access to mobile phones during the school day, the number of bullying incidents and other unacceptable behaviours increases. All New Town Campus parents will shortly receive a separate letter outlining the processes we will use in more detail. We request that parents support us in implementing the policy but please contact us if you would like to discuss this further.

Deb Day - Lead Principal

Holly Stewart - Principal - Senior School

Andrew Hughes - Principal - Middle School

From Your School Association

We are excited to welcome new and continuing members to our committee this year. We are lucky to have such a passionate group of people who care about making our school the best it can be for our kids and future students. You can find a list of committee members and meeting dates for 2023 on the About Us page of the school’s website.

Building community

Our big focus for the year is on creating a connected school community. We want to build on the success of our first Welcome Families Picnic and make it even better next year. We’re reaching out to our partner primary schools, offering to talk to parents and carers who want to know more about Hobart City High. We’ll be tapping into a huge network of former Ogilvie and New Town students through a partnership we’re setting up with the Old Scholars Association.

Meetings made easy

To make it easier for family members to join in our meetings we are making a few changes. We will be alternating our meetings between Ogilvie and New Town campuses. Snacks will be provided and space will be made available for children to wait while parents are at the meeting. We also have a Teams link for each meeting for those who can’t make it in person but want to join online.

Get involved

We know that coming along to meetings may not be your thing so we will be promoting other ways you can get involved in the activities of the School Association. Watch this space!

If you would like to go onto our list to receive information from the School Association and the Teams meeting links, email us at hchs.association@education.tas.gov.au. We’d love to hear from you.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 4 April, 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the New Town campus. Everyone is welcome.

Melinda Maddock - Chair

School Office Closure during the Holidays

Hobart City High School offices will be closed on the following dates during the Easter break and School holiday period:

• Friday 7 April – Tuesday 11 April
• Monday 24 April – Tuesday 25 April

Both offices will be open from Wednesday 12 – Friday 21 April- Hours will be 8:30am – 3:30pm

2023 School Levies

The school levies were processed on 29 March.  Invoices will be posted to parents and guardians shortly.  Please note you have until the end of the school year to clear your levy in full and we are happy to provide flexible repayment options.  If you would like to discuss, please contact our School Business Managers, Gail Reeves - Middle School Campus and Cindy McDonald - Senior School Campus.

Cindy McDonald - Lead Business Manager

Year 10 Guest Speaker - Sam Cawthorn

Hobart City High School Year 10 students had the privilege to hear from Sam Cawthorn who is the CEO and Founder of Speakers Institute and Speakers Tribe. Sam is the Author of 11 books, including 5 International Best Sellers, he is both the Young Australian of The Year and the Edupreneur of the Year.

Sam shared his life journey, which included key messages about resilience, overcoming and dealing with adversity and change and having self-belief.

Sam has become one of the world’s most in demand global professional speakers. In 2013, he became an entrepreneur and built his training company that now runs events globally, teaching people how to master communication for influence.

We would like to thank Sam for sharing his powerful story and for dedicating his time to our students and helping us to realise that no matter what challenges life throws our way, we just need to keep ‘bouncing forward’.

Technologies Learning Area - Term 1

Spotlight on Design in Wood

In Technologies – Design in Wood, students have been designing and constructing bath caddies using Tasmanian minor species timbers. Skills taught across this project have included refining measuring, marking and cutting timber, routering and sanding. Students have also been developing an understanding of safety and are learning new skills by introducing concepts relating to the safe use of both power and hand tools. All students in Design in Wood will have the opportunity to make a Huon Pine pen on the pen lathe, which is a fantastic introductory project for those that have never used a wood lathe.

Student Profile: Design in Wood

Name:  Ewan A

Home Group: 10K

Favourite Thing About Design in Wood:  Being able to refine projects and make them a high-quality finished product.

Favourite Project: Bath Caddy

Skills Learned: Resin pouring, sanding and finishing and using the drill press.

Technologies Team

Harmony Week

Harmony Week at Hobart City High School was full of activities led by our student leaders and amazing staff. We kicked off with a Poster Making Competition that invited everyone to create a poster that represented the theme of Living in Harmony. We then held our first major fundraising event for the year - Taste of Harmony Pancakes Day. Staff and students were able to purchase pancakes at lunchtime and partake in a Pancake Flipping Competition. We also had chalk messages and concluded the week with our annual Student Soccer Match that was played in unbelievable spirit. Our students wore orange ribbons to celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. A huge shout out to all involved that supported Harmony Week, especially to our student leaders and our staff that helped with the planning and running of events, thank you!

At Hobart City High School, we recognise and celebrate our diversity and strive to make school a place where all of our students feel safe and are able to learn and reach their full potential.

Chess Tournament

On Friday 24 March HCHS was represented by 17 students from Years 7-10 for the Inter-high Chess Tournament hosted at Glenorchy Primary School. Mr Ben Price mentors students on both the Middle School and Senior School campuses during lunchtimes. Students all participated in seven games and showed excellent stickability and sportsmanship.

HCHS won the Secondary Division of the tournament with Arthur L and Khanh N tied for 3^rd, Samuel B 2^nd, and Daniel O winning first place undefeated. With this win, HCHS will have the chance to represent the southern districts later in the year for the State Championships.

Congratulations to all students who were part of this winning team.

Athletics Carnival

Our first co-educational Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival was a huge success. Congratulations to all involved in the planning and running of events. A big shout out to our HPE Team, all of the supervising teachers and to every student who actively participated in carnival events and who positively demonstrated our values of Aspiration, Courage, Growth and Respect.

Important Dates

4 April - Inter-High Athletics Carnival @ Domain Athletics Centre

5 April - Campus Assemblies

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

17 May - Year 10 Vacciniations @ NTC

18 May - Year 10 Meaningful Pathways Event -9:00am - 1:15pm @ EC and NTC

25 May - Inter-High Cross Country - TBC

31 May - Big Picture Expo and Parent Information Evening @ H Block, OC

7 June - Elizabeth College Information Day - 5:00pm - 7:00pm @ EC

12 June - Kings Birthday - Public Holiday

13 June - Elizabeth College Taster Day @EC

4 July - School Association - Meet and greet partner primary schools @OC Lower Student Centre

5 July - Whole School Assembly @ Aurora Stadium

7 July - Term 2 Concludes

24 July - Professioanl Learning Day

25 July - Term 3 Commences