Newsletter No.6, Friday 30th June 2023
Message from the Principals
As we approach the end of another successful and busy term at Hobart City High School, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the achievements of our students and express our gratitude to the entire school community for their ongoing support.
Throughout the term, our school has been abuzz with numerous special events and noteworthy achievements. On Friday 16 June we celebrated our students many achievements at the Wall of Achievement afternoon tea. Our students have not only excelled academically but have also demonstrated exceptional skills and talent in various sports and extracurricular activities. 26 students recently competed in the inter high chess competition showing high levels of patience and tactical skills. On Wednesday night I had the pleasure of watching the Tasmanian Union debating semi finals. Both the Year 9 and 10 debates were of a very high standard. Unfortunately our Year 10’s were defeated by Taroona High School and our Year 9’s dominated against Friends School progressing to the grand final next week. We applaud all our students participating in extra curricula activities for their commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship. Their achievements are a testament to the hard work and resilience of our students and the tireless efforts of our teachers and staff.
Our mid-year reports highlighted many students' commitment to learning and academic excellence. Their hard work and dedication have resulted in some outstanding achievements in various subjects. We encourage all students to continue to work hard to show continued growth over the year.
We would like to extend our thanks to the parents and carers who were able to attend the recent Discussions of Learning. We understand it can be difficult for parents to attend and we encourage you to reach out to your student’s teacher if you have any questions. Your interest, support, and collaboration play a crucial role in fostering a positive and conducive learning environment. The opportunity to discuss your student’s academic and personal development with their teachers helps to build a strong partnership between home and school. By working together, we can provide all students with the necessary support and guidance to thrive academically and emotionally.
As we bid farewell to another term, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming term with excitement and anticipation. Our dedicated teachers are already preparing engaging learning and extracurricular programs to enhance the learning experience. We encourage students to make the most of the break, recharge their energies, and return with a renewed zeal to engage in learning and explore new opportunities. Thank you also to all our families for supporting us with our focus on phones being off and away all day. We have seen a significant reduction in phone related issues this term and will continue to monitor this closely and seeking support from families when required.
Next term’s focus will be in class, on time, ready for learning and we will communicate with you soon about ways we can work together to ensure all our students are maximising learning time while at school.
We would like to express our appreciation to the parents and guardians for your support, trust, and collaboration throughout the term. Your partnership plays a vital role in the success of our students, and we are grateful for your continued involvement. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 25 July. Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable break!
Britany Roestenburg - Lead Principal
Holly Stewart - Principal - Senior School
Andrew Hughes - Principal - Middle School
From the School Association
School Association Meetings
Our meetings are good opportunities to ask questions directly of our three principals. At our last meeting we talked about the school’s approach to bullying and how it is dealing with the national teacher shortage to make sure there is continuity for students. We also shared our views on the Department’s latest ‘out-of-area enrolment’ procedure.
Families From Diverse Backgrounds
We are keen to know how we can help families from diverse backgrounds better connect with our school. At our last meeting we came up with ideas like providing interpreters, using SMS, conducting surveys and hosting events. We’ll be trying some different approaches in the second half of the year. If you have any suggestions or would like to help please send us an email at hchs.association@decyp.tas.gov.au or talk to staff at the office and they can put you in touch with us.
Meeting Our Partner Primary Schools
We will be hosting School Association committee members from our partner primary schools at a ‘meet and greet’ event on Tuesday 4 July. We held our first event last year and really valued the opportunity to answer questions and listen to the ideas people had about how we can build our school community. Our committee members are also taking turns to go along to primary school association meetings from next term.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is Tuesday 8 August, 5:30pm – 7:00pm at the Ogilvie Campus. You are welcome to come along or join us online via Teams – email hchs.association@decyp.tas.gov.au to get the link.
Melinda Maddock - Chair
Course Information Evening
Earlier this month we enjoyed lots of transition activities across Hobart City High School. We now look forward to welcoming students and their families to our Course Information Evening on Tuesday 22 August.
There will be two sessions. One for current Year 7 students who will be entering Year 8 next year (on the Ogilvie Campus) and one for current Year 8 and 9 students who will be selecting Senior School courses for next year (New Town Campus).
Further information will also be available about Big Picture at the New Town Campus event. Please book via the form link:https://forms.office.com/r/KkMFF6mmSJ
Science - Senior School
Zac with an amazing demonstration of the fact that like charges repel in Year 9 Science.
Year 10 Science students Molly, Isabella, Dominic, Fletcher and Alex investigating Newton’s second law with the dynamics carts.
Earlier this month the Year 9 and 10 students were lucky enough to have Dr Karl answer some very tricky Science questions! A big thank you to Mr Geissler for setting up this wonderful opportunity for our students.
Orion Hedges - Science Teacher
Library News
Our campus libraries have been busy in the first half of the school year.
We have loved the joyous chaos of House Reading in Term 1, with about 300 students reading silently for twenty minutes for house points. Some students were also fortunate enough to recieve books as a lucky door prize.
During Term 2, New Town Campus students got the opportunity to be library monitors. Students gained experience in shelving books, creating displays, and choosing books for the library. Our main event in Term 2 was the National Simultaneous Storytime. Classes watched live streams from zoos around the world reading The Speedy Sloth picture book. Students made their own hand sloths and learned how to draw sloths and saw sloths in Costa Rica via slow TV. We have also started having low sensory days in the libraries, Wednesdays on the Ogilvie Campus and Thursdays on the New Town Campus. A low sensory day is when the lights are turned off at break times in the library and calming music is played whilst slow TV is on the big screen.
We are looking forward to Term 3, with our main event being the Book Week Celebration on Friday 25 August. Students will have the opportunity to dress up for house points, and handmade costumes get more house points! The theme this year is read, grow, inspire, so we want students and staff to dress as a character or person who inspires them.
Katie Thompson - Senior Library Technician
Inter High School Chess Tournament
On Monday 26 June, 23 students competed in an Inter High School Chess Tournament competing with the best schools in Tasmania. According to the organisers this was possibly a stronger field than the State Championships which will take place later in the year. Our chess mentor, Ben Price, said that this was one of the strongest fields he has seen in Tasmania, and that HCHS did exceptionally well. I am proud of the way our students competed and represented then school.
HCHS Team A finished 4th just ½ point behind Taroona High School.
HCHS Team B came 5th out of 8 teams.
Each team played teams from other schools. If a school had more than one team, then those teams also played each other. This meant that during the 7 rounds, members of our Hobart City High School Team A played members of Hobart City High School Team B.
Each team combines the scores of their top 4 players to come up with their total result. For example, if a team's top 4 players scored 6 points from 7 rounds + 5.5 points from 7 rounds + 4 points from 7 rounds + 3.5 points from 7 rounds respectively, then the team would finish with a total result of 19 points, which is then stacked against the other schools' top 4 players' scores and their total results.
Normally a team scoring 20 points or over would come close to the team prizes. If two teams' results are equal, then their respective 5th player's results are taken into consideration to generate a tie-break.
Each student received a certificate based on how well they scored on the day!
We now work toward the Term 3 Interschools Tournament. Ben and I look forward to seeing all the Chess players in the library every Monday at lunchtime (New Town Campus) and Tuesday (Ogilvie Campus).
Mandy Maree and Ben Price - Chess Co-ordinator and Chess Mentor
New Online Information Hub for Families
Some exciting news! The Department for Education, Children and Young People has recently launched a new online information hub for families with school-aged children in Tasmania. Our new website has information to help you navigate your child's education, from birth all the way up to 18 years of age.
Visit our new webpage by clicking the link below:
Some of the things you’ll find include:
- tips on how to support your child’s learning at home
- information to help you keep your child safe and well
- a guide to explore courses for the career they want
- school holiday and term dates.
We hope this website will be a valuable tool for you as you help your child navigate their education journey. We would love to know what you think of our new information hub for families. You can tell us by completing a quick survey on the webpage.
Music News
Congratulations to the Hobart City High School Band members who competed as part of Hobart City Band at the Tasmanian Bands League solo and ensemble contest. They were awarded 1st and 2nd places in their sections.
Thank you to Mr Simon Reade for your ongoing support of our music students!
Big Picture News
Congratulations! Big Picture student Mae has been shortlisted for the 2023 VET in Schools Student of the Year Award. Mae is on a Nursing pathway and has been doing the Certificate II in Community Services and is heading to UTAS next year to complete a Diploma in University Studies – Nursing Foundations.
Important Dates
4 July - School Association - Meet and greet partner primary schools OC Lower Student Centre
4 July - Middle School Band Excursion - LVPS and NTPS 9:00 am - 12:45 pm
4 July - Vocal Ensemble - State Library (LINC) for Festival of Voices - 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
5 July - Middle School Campus Assembly - OC 9:15 am - 10:25 am
5 July - Senior School Campus Assembly - NTC 10:55 am - 12:05 pm
6 July - Big Picture Year 9 Celebration Day - NTC 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
7 July - Term 2 Concludes
24 July - Professioanl Learning Day
25 July - Term 3 Commences
1 August - School Tour - OC 9:30 - 10:15 am
7 August - 11 August - School Satisfaction Survey Week
22 August - Course Information Evening
- Year 8 - 5:00pm - 6:00pm - OC
- Years 9 and 10 - 6:30pm - 7:30pm - NTC
24 - 25 August - Elizabeth College Preliminary Enrolments - NTC
25 August - Book Week Celebrations
29 September - Last Day of Term 3