Newsletter No.1, Friday 1 March 2024

Message from the Principals

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we extend a warm welcome to all our families as we embark on a new academic year at Hobart City High School. We are filled with anticipation as we continue to build the culture of Hobart City High across our two campuses. We have had a fantastic start to the school year and students are engaged in learning and following our school routines. In 2024 we will continue our school improvement focus on building our positive school culture and sense of belonging and lifting our reading achievement.

At Hobart City High School, everything we do is underpinned by high expectations and guided by our four fundamental principles that shape our daily interactions and endeavours: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be a Learner. These values serve as the foundation upon which our school culture is built, and they are integral to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for all.

Being Safe can mean prioritising the well-being of ourselves and others, both physically and emotionally. We encourage our students to make choices that promote a safe and calm environment where everyone can thrive and learn.

Being Responsible involves taking ownership of our actions and decisions and understanding the impact they have on ourselves and those around us.

Being Respectful is about valuing diversity and treating each other with kindness, empathy, and consideration. It means valuing and being open to the perspectives and experiences of others, even when they differ from our own.

Being a Learner is a lifelong commitment to curiosity, growth, and self-improvement. It means approaching every challenge as an opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills and to continuously strive for excellence in all that we do. We encourage families to engage in conversation with your young person around what the 4B’s means to them and how they demonstrate these on a daily basis.

At Hobart City High we value learning both inside and outside of the classroom. We are very fortunate to have dedicated staff that commit to a wide range of extra curricula activities. Our students have been busy already with rowing, Run the Bridge and helping at our feeder primary school athletics carnivals. There will continue to be many opportunities throughout the year, make sure you follow the Bulletin to learn more.

As we navigate the year ahead, let us collectively uphold these values in everything we do to foster a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and support, where each member of our school community feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. We  are confident that by embracing these core principles, we will create a school environment that demonstrates academic success, as well as personal growth where every student is empowered to succeed. 

Once again, welcome to Hobart City High School for 2024. We look forward to working in partnership with our families throughout the year to make this academic year a memorable and fulfilling experience for each and every member of our school community.

Britany Roestenburgh - Lead Principal

Holly Stewart - Principal - Senior School

Andrew Hughes - Middles School

Laptops 2024

Dear Families

A few important notes regarding laptops.

HCHS is a 1:1 device school which means each student in Years 7, 8 and 9 is issued their own school device. We explicitly teach our students to use their devices safely, respectfully, responsibly, and for learning.

If you have not yet returned your child’s 1) ICT Agreement and 2) Laptop Agreement, please do so. Both agreements are required before your child’s laptop may be issued. Your child needs their laptop for learning and for the upcoming Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN online commencing on Wednesday 13 March 2024.

-It is helpful if your child establishes a good routine of charging their laptop at home overnight, ready for the next day’s learning.

-Loss and or damage:

-If your child loses their charger, a new charger can be purchased at the NTC or OC Office for $40.00.

-If your child has a damaged laptop sleeve or laptop case that they would like to replace, a new sleeve can be purchased at the NTC or OC Office for $14.85 or they may prefer to purchase their own privately. Please return the damaged case or sleeve to the office.

-If your child has a damaged laptop, please bring it to IT Support for repairs. Your child will, if possible, be provided with a temporary loan device while the repairs are undertaken. Depending on the nature of the repairs, an invoice may be issued to the family for the cost of the repairs at the discretion of the Principal. 

Mandy Maree - Assistant Principal - Year 7 & Literacy

Attendance

We want to ensure that we are supporting our learners in their attendance at school. Many of you may have already seen some messaging regarding this on the TV. “Attendance Matters” and here at Hobart City High “Every Minute Matters”. Attendance is calculated each class attended, so when a class is missed, unless already notified, a notification by text is sent to a family contact.

It will not surprise you that research has found, higher levels of attendance correlate with higher level of achievement. Attending gives you the opportunity to achieve more. We have revised our attendance processes so that we can engage with and support our learners and families when there is a potential attendance concern. We ask that if there is a concern, that you also take the initiative to discuss this with your leaner’s Home Group teacher.

The Education Act specifies the reason a young person can be authorised not to attend school. They are:

• sickness/incapacity.
• medical, legal or related appointments.
• natural disaster or extreme weather preventing your child from safely attending their enrolled school.
• terminal illness of an immediate family member.
• bereavement of a person your child had a close, significant or family relationship with.
• having witnessed or been subjected to family violence.
• being a participant or official at a recognised State, National or International event.
• participation in a recognised learning experience.
• an application for home education being received by the Education Registrar and provisional registration being granted.

What will happen if my young person is absent for a reason that isn’t listed?

• The absence will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
• Notifications are sent when classes are missed.
• Principals receive notifications about the number of unauthorised absences.
• We are required to send you a letter notifying you of the equivalent of 5,10 and 15 day absences, as stated above these are not always full day absences, but any time missed where classes are scheduled each day. For example, if your student does not attend home group each day, that is 15 minutes missed so in less than 4 weeks that results in a 5 day absence letter.
• We will seek to work with you to increase your child’s attendance to maximise their learning if the principal is concerned about your child’s attendance.

As responsible young people we expect all learners to be punctual to their classes. We will seek to support them with punctuality in instances where there is an ongoing concern, we hope to have our families support on this matter too.

For learners the school day starts at 9.00am and runs until 3.00pm each day. Please see the our timetable below.

School hours are from 8:30 am through to 3:30 pm. It is important that parents do not bring children to school before school hours because there is no supervision of students at that time. Similarly, it is important parents either collect their children at the end of the school day or arrange for them to catch the bus home/make other collection arrangements so that students are not left unsupervised at the end of the school day.

Unsupervised students may engage in dangerous play or put themselves in dangerous locations such as car parks being used by buses and cars during school drop off/pick up. Parents are responsible for their child outside school hours unless they have accessed school-based childcare during these times.

NAPLAN 2024

News from the School Health Nurse

This year, Hobart City High School has two School Health Nurses, Anita and Hayley who will be working across both Ogilvie and New Town Campuses during 2024.

School Health Nurses provide health and wellbeing education and support to students on a wide number of topics including:

• Hearing and Vision screening
• Positive Mental Health strategies eg: Mindfulness
• Oral Health
• Sexual Health, Puberty and Periods
• Decreasing substance use (including smoking and vaping)
• Gender and Sexuality
• Sleep
• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Support booking health services such as GP and dentist appointments

If you think this service would be beneficial to your child, please discuss this with your child and their home group teacher who can submit a referral to the School Health Nurse. Alternatively, students can request an appointment via their Home Group Teacher or Grade Team Leaders or speak to the School Health Nurse directly.

Anita Alomes - School Health Nurse

Welcome Picnic

All families of students across both campuses were invited to our welcome picnic on Wednesday 28 February. This was a wonderful opportunity to meet the teachers from Years 7-10 and our Big Picture advisors as well as other families.

Thank you to our community for coming, it was a wonderful opportunity for families and staff to meet and chat. A special thank you to our student leaders for their assistance as well!

School Levies

Year 7-10 levies have been invoiced to parents and guardians. The expectation is that these will be paid fully by the end of term 2. It is not a requirement for you to pay this amount in one lump sum, you can make regular payments through BPay or by contacting the office to arrange for regular payments to be deducted.

Welcome GETI International Students

HCHS welcomed our 2024 cohort of GETI international students with a getting to know you morning tea on Thursday 22 February. We’re already looking forward to planning an excursion to Bonorong park in the near future. 

Think Big Run The Bridge Fun Run

Think Big Run The Bridge fun run and walk is one of Tasmania's premier running events. Each year several of our staff and students compete.  On Sunday 18 February it was an early start for the Run the Bridge crew. The sun was shining whilst staff and students ran or walked the 5km or 10km. Congratulations everyone who paticipated in the 2024 on your achievements!

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Schools are no longer a distribution point for Rats. Across Australia, the primary use of RATs now is to access medication and treatment, and in settings with vulnerable people such as aged care. These tests are able to be purchased by individuals from chemists or your healthcare providers. 

Rowing Success

Hobart Regatta

On Monday 12 February our rowers from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 were up bright and early to compete at the Royal Hobart Regatta.

As usual, our students punched well above their weight. The conditions were choppy and the current was strong. Our students raced in quads, doubles and single sculls against Hutchins, Collegiate, St Marys and St Virgils. We had podium finishes across all age groups and were privileged to have some former students from 2023 to mentor our juniors. This is really special and added to the positive vibes around the group.

A special congratulations to Jasper from Year 9 for winning the Alexandra Sculls. This is a handicap event across 1,200 metres and is a very historic and prestigious race held at the Regatta since 1915. Throughout history, the winner was awarded with a gold pocket watch, but now the award is a cash prize. This will go to The New Norfolk Rowing Club who devote a lot of time and effort to the Hobart City High School Rowing Team and also where Jasper trains. This is the second consecutive year a student from Hobart City High has won the event.

Congratulations again to Jasper for this achievement and to our whole crew for upholding the Hobart City High School values.

Lake Barrington

On Friday 16 February our rowing students headed north on a four hour road trip to represent Hobart City High School at Lake Barrington. Despite the hot weather, approximately nine hundred athletes competed in the event. Our team was the largest public school team. Participation in this event qualifies the team for the Tamanian all Schools Championship which will take place on March 8 – March 10.

The team was brilliant for the entire event and their sportsmanship was 10/10! They rowed strongly and now qualify for the All Schools Championship. They are proud to be representing public schools and we are very proud of their achievements. Congratulations also to the volunteering coaches from the New Norfolk Rowing Club.

Some of the highlights were:

Grade 7: Sam and Harrison – this was their first trip to Lake Barrington. They competed well in doubles and singles. They competed in three different composite quad crews with Launceston Grammar. They were also coxswains for several of our senior crews.

Grade 8: Ruth, Nola and Maddy  – this was also their first trip to Lake Barrington. They were superstars in the quad sculls along with Imogen from Sacred Heart College. They took out first place in Division Two, narrowly beating Scotch Oakburn by half a boat length at the finish line. They also all competed in singles and doubles races. These girls can row! I am very excited to watch them compete at the Championships.

Grade 9: Jasper, Josiah and Sanuka – this is their second season of rowing and they have achieved so much in the last 12 months. Josiah and Sanuka rowed strong and consistent in their Division five doubles. They also finished sixth in the Division one quad sculls.

Jasper starred with his doubles partner, Samson, from Home School in Div 2.
Jasper’s time of four minutes, twenty nine seconds in the singles means he is the second fastest rower in Tasmania in his age group.

Grade 10: Jackson – now a seasoned veteran and three years into school rowing. Jackson finished fourth in Division one doubles with his partner James, from Dominic College. He finished mid-pack in the singles and got invited to row in a composite eight with Launceston Grammar. Jackson worked very hard and loved the opportunity to participate in an eight.

Grade 10: Chloe – this is Chloe’s first season of rowing and she participated with Year 11 students from Elizabeth College. Talk about a baptism of fire! Sarah, Ava and Melinda took Chloe under their wing and competed in a quad with her. Chloe also rowed in the Gr 10 singles where she competed against others who have been rowing for three years.

Thank you again to all of our rowing team.

Jane Brooks

Important Dates

5 March - GRIP Leadership - Year 10 Prefects and House Captains

5 March - School Association AGM - OC Boardroom - 5:30pm - 6:30pm

8 March - Catch Up Photo Day

11 March  - Eight Hour Day (Public Holiday)

13 -25 March - Naplan - OC - Years 7 & 9

18 March - Indoor Volleyball - Moonah Sports Centre - 4:00 - 6:00pm

21 March - Harmony Day

25 March - Indoor Volleyball - Moonah Sports Centre - 4:00 - 6:00pm

26 March - Year 10 Immunisations - NTC

27 March - House Reading Event

27 March - Interschool Chess Tournament - The Friends' School

28 March - Newsletter

29 March - Good Friday (Public Holiday)

1 April - Easter Monday (Public Holiday)

2 April - Easter Tuesday (Public Holiday)

8 April - Indoor Volleyball - Moonah Sports Centre - 4:00- 6:00pm

11 April - Term 1 Concludes

29 April - Term 2 Commences

29 April - Indoor Volleyball - Moonah Sports Centre - 4:00 - 6:00pm