Well, it's been a bit of a full-on term 1 here at HHS, starting the year with 3 senior staff short and this only being resolved in recent weeks. As a result, as well as having a number of classes with different teachers, we have had to re-gig the timetable to fit in with the longer-term changes necessitated by our not being able to support certain courses.

This has put an incredible amount of pressure on various staff, with them having to change courses or lines mid-stream, but as always, everyone’s focus has been entirely on ensuring students’ learning is optimised at all times.

During Term 1 we focussed on our Vision's leading statement: TOGETHER WE LEARN: At Huonville High School we are responsible, valued, engaged and inspired learners. We care about each other and our community.

As we go into Term 2, our focus will maintain TOGETHER WE LEARN, but with a new focus on where our students fit within the vision.

As a school community, we co-constructed the whole vision, with Our students are valued and respected being the next phase of implementation.

This means: They are engaged with their learning and committed to having a go. They gain, demonstrate, articulate and appreciate knowledge and skills which empower them to embrace our values, be aspirational thinkers and be life-long learners.

Our students feel safe and welcome at school. They are celebrated for who they are, their hopes and their dreams. They are supported to be resilient, confident and kind. This is their school, their place and where they want to be.

Throughout Term 2 you will hear much about this Vision for our students, along with actions that will enable us to work to this end, where our students are not only valued and respected, but value and respect each other. It is through this that we will be a school of choice for our community, where the clearly defined pathways from Year 7 on into the workforce, are not only based on outstanding learning opportunities, but an environment that inspires and engages all.

I encourage you to view the attached clip from Matt Eyles, AST 9-12, who put this together for a transition conversation with other schools in the region (if the link doesn’t load you may need to cut and past it into your browser).

Have a wonderful Easter break with your families. We look forward to having all students back on Wednesday, 21st April, ready for the next term of engaged learning.

Geoff Williamson
PRINCIPAL

Thank you to all students and parents and carers on successfully completing our first term of 2021. The term has not been without its challenges as we have worked to be proactive in identifying and resolving issues before they arise.

One of the early challenges has been the allocation of staffing resources across our newly created home room group. This has been a successful approach for 2021, creating smaller homegroups with a more positive balance of students across them.

Homegroups will stay as four classes, however, during the term we have found the need to re-distribute the teaching load in our English and Maths departments back to three class groups. To achieve this change, we sought feedback from a number of parties on establishing a balanced load and fair distribution of students across the three classes. In saying this, the process has caused some valid concerns among students which we have tried to address as best we can.

Class groupings have taken these concerns into consideration and will be reflected in the new timetable for the students impacted. New timetables will be available first day of term 2.

On another note, I have been trialling opening up the art classrooms at lunch times as a grade 9 breakout area. So far this has been successful, and I am happy to announce grade 9 students will be invited to participate in using the space during second lunch on the following days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

We expect that students using the space will demonstrate our school values of Respect, Safety, Responsibility and Growth at all times as our grade 9s grow into roles as our future leaders.

I wish you and your family a happy holiday, and we look forward to seeing you back safe and well in term 2.

Bobby-Jack Bowen Butchart
Year 9 Coordinator

One focus of the term has been using seasonal foods, so Year 9/10 Food Technologies students prepared plum tartlets. Later on in the Term, seniors made chicken pot pies using it as an opportunity to design the best type of pastry top.

Early in the Term, Year 8’s made pancakes with plum sauce, then we moved onto some healthy breakfast foods where students made breakfast burritos.

The Year 8’s also helped out with a large Huonville Primary School leadership catering job. The Primary School funds this event, bringing additional funds into the cooking budget. A big "thank you" to Leanne Coulson for all of her hard work to get this happening, including the food ordering.

Jason Lunden
Science/Food Specialisation Teacher

Some key ordering dates:

All INDIVIDUAL orders must be in by 4.30pm Friday, 7th May. 

All FAMILY orders must be in by 4.30pm on Thursday, 29th April. 
Any family who misses the family order cut-off date, but still wishes to have a family photo taken, will incur a $20 late fee - they will be able to put an order in for this photo through Leading Image's second chance system. 

For a family discount coupon/code, please contact the school - 6264 0800

www.leadingimage.com.au

If you are unable to order online, please phone Leading Image: 6228 9966
You will need the school access key:
H6D3BR5L

Huonville High School has teamed up with the Tasmanian Bike Collective to deliver an alternative education program.

Running on a Tuesday, and with limited places, participating students are selected by senior leaders. The School Chaplain, Narelle Chester, is assisting in the logistics of the program.

The Tasmanian Bike Collective creates a place for young people to grow and develop character and skills for life. The Organisation exists to create a better future for young people in Tasmania.

The program is designed to teach life and work skills through repairing and then selling on second-hand bikes. Focusing on building confidence, resilience and reliability, has seen the Program embraced by the students involved. Students learn skills to ready them for the workforce as the Program area is regarded as a work space.

Operating out of the Huon Valley PCYC, the Huonville Bike Collective got off to a fantastic start with a number of students engaged in the Program. An exciting initiative, the more often students attend the program, the more points they earn towards rewards such as a bike or bike parts of their own. The students involved also have the option to work on the bikes or bring their own bike/scooter in to work on after school and continue earning points.

If you have a bike you would like to donate to the program, it can be dropped off at the PCYC in Huonville during their opening hours (9am-8pm Monday-Thursday, and 9am-6pm Friday). Bikes in any condition are accepted as some are pulled apart for parts for other bikes.

School Chaplaincy is a Federally funded program delivering wellbeing and support to communities in a values-only capacity in public schools. I am employed by Scripture Union who deliver the program into around 83 primary and secondary schools in Tasmania.

As a Chaplain I’m here to support staff, students and families, regardless of their background or beliefs, and started working at Huonville High School last year after moving here from South Australia.

I work at the School on Mondays and Tuesdays, and at Geeveston Primary School on Fridays. I’m available to chat with staff, students and families. I work closely with school leadership and the wellbeing team, and am guided by them as to what I am involved in, to deliver whatever is needed to add value to what’s already happening in the school.

Currently I am involved in the Bike Collective which is a new initiative between Tasmanian Bike Collective and Huonville High School, and based at the PCYC each Tuesday. I support classes as needed and promote events, etc., that are on in the local community. I run board and card games in the library during breaks, and I have also run small groups, helping build resilience and self-esteem through Sensability, a Beyond Blue program. 

If you would like to catch up for a chat I can be contacted through the front office or student services (ph. 6264 0800). I can also help connect you to the right services in the community, give resources on wellbeing and refer as needed.

There are two drop in centres in the community that students can go to after school if they are looking for something to do:

Open Thursdays from 3pm–5pm - free entry and free snacks!

Years 7-12 students can shoot hoops, play table tennis, futsal, cricket, eight ball, playstation and also charge their phone. There were approximately 15 students the first week, and it would great to see the word spread so students know that it’s somewhere they can go.

The Salvation Army in Huonville have a number of services available to families, including financial counselling, and drug and alcohol counselling. Food boxes are available on Thursdays for families in need.

A full list of services can be found on the website:

Salvation Army - services https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us/our-services/

The Salvation Army in Huonville is located at Shop 20, 79 Main Street; opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. Phone: 6264 2572.

Create your own Collage T shirt, Workshop 1 (ages 10-24yrs)

Date & Time: Tuesday, 13th April, 2021, 9:30am–11:30am (Cost: FREE!)

Location: Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville, TAS 7109

For more information and to register:

Create your own Collage T shirt, Workshop 2 (ages 10-24yrs)

Date & Time: Wednesday, 14th April, 2021, 1:30pm–3:30pm (Cost: FREE!)

Location: Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville, TAS 7109

For more information and to register:

Express yourself: Emoji Making, Workshop 1 (ages 10-18yrs)

Date & Time: Thursday, 15th April 2021, 9.30am-11.30am (Cost: FREE!)

Location: Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville, TAS 7109

For more information and to register:

Express Yourself: Emoji Making, Workshop 2 (ages 10-18yrs)

Date & Time: Friday, 16th April 2021, 1:30pm–3:30pm (Cost: FREE!)

Location: Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville, TAS 7109

For more information and to register:

The holidays present both an opportunity, but also a difficult time for some. We would encourage all our students to reach out for support should this be needed.

The Department of Education Tasmania recommends the following wellbeing support organisations: