TOGETHER WE LEARN

This term we are focussing on the second part of our Vision Statement, that was co-constructed throughout 2020 by a broad representation of our school community (students, parents, staff, community members).

Our students are valued and respected

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.

Over the past three weeks I have been reflecting on this statement with respect to what it means in the day-to-day life of our school: for our students, staff, parents and carers, as well as the broader community.

With this thinking and observing of our young people in particular, the question comes to mind regarding whether some appreciate WHY being engaged and being committed to ‘having a go’ is so important to us. Not important just to the adults in the school, but important to the learners and their families.  

Many, in fact most, of our learners are committed and appreciate the WHY of improving in literacy and numeracy. Our system reinforces this with the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), which is currently being held across the country. Being literate and numerate are core needs to function effectively in society. So WHY do we also stress the need to learn about science and history, the arts, health?

Understanding our past, understanding our world and our place in it are core to how we function in society, and how we appreciate that we are life-long learners. Learning in all disciplines provides us with the skills to transfer skills and understanding into lived experiences. Being literate and numerate help; being further engaged in the arts and understanding our past and our world further enable us to understand, appreciate and live up to our values (school and society’s). To become critical thinkers needs us to engage in learning from a broad curriculum that includes literacy, numeracy, history, science, the arts, technology (information, food, manual arts) and health and PE.

As our young people move into the senior secondary years, these are even more critical, as they move from the structure of the 7-10 curriculum to more work orientated learning in the senior secondary years. In all this, fundamental to learning experiences, is our not just creating literate and numerate persons prepared for the workplace, but all the other skills and understandings that are gained through a broad curriculum will enable them to be worthwhile citizens and members of society.

Geoff Williamson
Principal

Date: Tuesday, 18^th May, 2021

Time: 6:00pm

Venue: HHS Library

The HHS SCHOOL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held immediately following the premiere screening of ENERGY INNOVATORS of the HUON VALLEY, a film co-produced by Huonville High School’s Huon Energy Team. The film showcases the opportunities in the Huon community for energy innovation.

You are invited to join us for this showing prior to the meeting at 5:00pm, or join us at 6:00pm for the AGM if unable to attend earlier.

If you are interested in joining the School Association, we are keen to have both new parent and community members as part of this important group that supports the school in creating the best learning environment possible for the young people of the Huon.

Should you wish to know more, please contact the principal at the school, or check out the Association’s Constitution on our webpage: 

With the colder weather beginning to arrive, we are seeing a number of our students wearing an additional item of clothing under their school top.  To maintain the appearance of the school uniform, we ask that these additional items are worn under an official school top, and that they be dark blue, navy or black in colour.

Thank you to parents/carers that have already paid school levies. Levies support student learning by contributing towards the cost of essential items and services.

Unfortunately we still have a number of outstanding School Levies and would appreciate payment at your earliest convenience. These can be paid by a number ways;

• At the school by EFTPOS, cash or cheque
• At Service Tasmania by EFTPOS, cash or cheque
• Through BPAY – using the Biller code and Reference on your invoice (you can also make regular instalments)
• Using Centrepay, a service provided by Centrelink

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Coming into the cold and flu season, it’s important that we all continue to keep healthy and safe. To ensure we can keep on top of COVID-19, and also cold and flu, please make sure you:

• Be alert to any symptoms of cold or flu that you or your child may exhibit
• Get tested for COVID if you or your child have symptoms
• Practise good hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes and washing hands
• If you or your child do get sick, stay at home until symptoms have passed, even if a COVID test is negative

Remember, symptoms include fever, tiredness, cough, headache, sore throat, sniffling and sneezing.

To keep our school safe, we are still:

• continuing with increased cleaning
• making sure there is plenty of soap, sanitiser and tissues available
• applying restrictions to large gatherings of adults and encouraging physical distancing
• requiring visitors to check-in on our sites

Year 11/12 has hit the ground running in Term 2 in both the Advanced Learning Centre and Huon Valley Trade Training Centre. On top of outstanding courses, some key activities include:

• 4 O’Clock Friday – students in the Cert 2 Business class, selling chicken parmi on Friday, 14th May
• Lady Nelson sailing – two students, Gil and Nathan, participated in the Lady Nelson sailing opportunity in week 1.
• Cert 2 Business class - the 'Small Metal Arts' Business class have created metal sculptures which they sold for Mother's Day (and will also sell at the Midwinter Taster)
• Cert 2 Aqua course – helped TASSAL fish monitoring

Next Key Activities to be aware of:

• Reports for Year 11/12/13:
  Our first set of written reports will be mailed out on Friday, 14^th May.

• Parent Teacher afternoon for Year 11/12/13
  A Year 11/12/13 Parent Teacher Night will be held at the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre from 3pm onwards on Thursday, 20th May.

Bookings can be made via the Huonville High School front office - please call as soon as possible (ph. 6264 0800). Please say which teacher you wish to see and book an available time slot.

• 2022 Year 11/12 Transition
  Many year 10/11 students are beginning to think about their future year 11/12 options. As such, Huonville High Year 11/12 (including the Advanced Learning Centre and Huon Valley Trade Training Centre) have already begun this transition process.

To help inform you, we are hosting a Year 10/11 Parent Information Night which will also be held at the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre on Thursday, 20th May, from 5pm-6pm.

• We will be holding our inaugural Midwinter Taster Day on Friday, 18^th June, so come and check out the site yourself at one of the sessions below:
  • 1-3pm School Focus – for students and schools – bookings required
  • 3pm-8pm for Family and Community – stalls, food, music and transition information

If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to email me (matt.eyles@education.tas.gov.au) or schedule a time to chat.

Matt Eyles
Year 9-12 Coordinator

it was great to have the school’s presence at the Cenotaph at such an important community event.

Well done to both Fraser, who presented the wreath, and Chris, who read a poem.

HHS should be proud that both presented really well – wearing blazers, being respectful; it was a good indication of the school.

Alison Asome
HASS Teacher

Huonville High students recently attended the UTAS Engineering Challenge for Year 9/10 students in secondary schools.

The Huonville High team were winners of the Bridge Challenge bearing a weight of 5kgs. 

This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to interact with, and compete against, other students from both State and Independent schools. It also highlights the talent and learning our students have gained through such programs as the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) classes, including the Huon Future Energies Program.   

Students in Year 9/10 Food Technologies Class designed a potato recipe of their choice last term. This followed a design brief, including providing quantities of ingredients, methodology, and an evaluation.

Here are some highlights:

There are a few photos of students enjoying the sunshine on the last day of school where we used the pizza oven to roast some potatoes. This was also a design challenge for the grade as they documented the types of ingredients and amounts needed for their potato. They were pretty excited to get some choice.

Jason Lunden
Food Technologies

Andy Koppleman
Music/LOTE Teacher

On Tuesday, 4^th April, selected Aboriginal students enjoyed a day On Country - they visited Fat Pig Farm at Glaziers Bay. During their visit they toured the vegetable garden area where all seasonal fruits and vegetables are grown on the farm.

They identified and drew different types of Bush Tucker from their garden, and propagated bush foods which they brought back to school to use and grow their own Bush Food Garden.

Debbie Eaves
Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Starting this year, every Tuesday we have had students from the school working with the team at Huonville Bike Collective at PCYC. They pull bikes apart, fix them up and aim to sell the bikes they have fixed up. There are stringent tests the bikes go through and the team treat the space as a workplace for the students. They are learning many skills and earning points which equal dollar value to put towards their own bike if they choose.

Community Open Day

It will be a chance to see students at work on the bikes and look through the workshop as well as purchase a bike if you would like too. It would be great if you could spread the word and come along if you are free to support the students, see what they do and be a part of the fun. I will be there helping out.

FREE of charge - for more information on times and venues click on the link below:

When: Monday, 24 May, 9:30am-11.00am
Cost: Free!
Location: Huonville or Cygnet depending on numbers

Parents and carers are invited to join Save the Children for a get-together to chat and laugh about bringing up great kids in a safe, supportive and friendly environment.

Free cuppa and snacks provided with some laughter.

Parents will learn:

• About brain development in children
• Understanding children’s behaviour
• About origins of your parenting style and how it can be more effective
• How to understand your own needs as a parent/carer while taking care of yourself and bringing up great kids!

Save the Children is currently taking expressions of interest for this program. Please contact Elke from Save the Children via elke.robinson@savethechildren.org.au or 0455 381 106.