As we approach the end of Term 3, I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work and engagement of our students and staff. The last day of school will be Friday, 26 September, and Term 4 will commence on Monday, 13 October. It’s been a chilly end to winter, and we’re all looking forward to the warmer weather ahead!

Last week (Week 8), all Year 7s visited the Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre—an engaging experience that highlighted their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

A special thanks to our amazing School Nurse, Katherine Ross for planning and accompanying our students Aimee, Zac, Zavier, and Logan to participate in the Sun Safe Ambassador program at Collegiate last Thursday. It was a joy to see our students engage kindly and confidently, a wonderful reminder for me that the power to lead change often sits with our students.

Evidence of Learning reports went home last Friday along with NAPLAN results for Years 7 and 9. If you haven’t received these, please contact the office.

Our Year 11/12 Hospitality students continue to impress under the leadership of Belinda Stewart. Last week, they catered for the RYDA program, receiving this special message of appreciation from the Rotary Club of Huon Valley:

"The quality, presentation, and care that went into the food were outstanding. Your hospitality added a wonderful touch to the day and helped keep everyone energised and smiling. Thank you for making RYDA such a success."

I also extend my thanks to Janelle Newton, who has supported our Textiles class during my absences—your expertise and dedication are greatly valued.

I will be on leave next week and the first week back after the school holidays. Clint Rottier will be Acting Principal during this time.

I encourage everyone to rest, enjoy the break, and return ready to wrap up the year with our last 10 weeks.

Kindly

Janelle Reeves
Principal

Thanks to the support of the Lions Clubs of Kingborough and Huonville, along with Tasmania Police, students with excellent attendance and positive engagement were rewarded with a fun day of indoor go-karting.

The excursion was a wonderful way to celebrate student achievement, build community spirit, and strengthen connections between schools, service groups, and police — all while having plenty of fun on the track!

A big thank you to the Lions Clubs and Tasmania Police for making this fantastic experience possible.

Heading into Year 11 or 12? Build your future at the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre!

Choose from: Engineering, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Hospitality

Call 6264 0888 to explore your options or book a tour today!

Our talented students are thrilled to present “Snatched and Served”, a darkly comedic and original play developed entirely by the drama students of Years 8, 9, and 10. Mark your calendars for Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September, and join us for an unforgettable theatrical experience!

Behind the Scenes: How the Magic Happened

This production is the result of a truly collaborative and innovative creative process. Instead of following a traditional scriptwriting method, the students took a hands-on approach that allowed their imaginations to take center stage.

At the start of the year, each student selected a character they dreamed of playing and built detailed profiles. These characters, from cheeky police officers to a drag queen inspired by a real Hobart performer, and even a former chicken, were all placed on the board, setting the stage for the story development.

Next came the most intense part: weaving all these diverse characters into one cohesive and hilarious plot. Through improvisation and repeated exploration of movement, dialogue, and relationships, students experimented with scenes until they found the perfect fit. These improvised performances were then used to draft the script, which the students collaboratively refined through multiple edits.

A Story That Reflects Us All

The plot of “Snatched and Served” is as unique as its development: students get kidnapped by a drag queen, sold to a cannibal, and then wait to be rescued. This storyline, filled with dark humour, cleverly mirrors the quirks and challenges of school life, even poking fun at what some teachers might be thinking on their toughest days.

Come see the result of months of dedication, teamwork, and creativity. Tickets are now available for Thursday 25 and Friday 26 September. Bring your friends and family for an evening of laughter, surprises, and outstanding performances.

Get your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/DDBNO

This term, our Year 7 and Year

8 students have been strengthening both their literacy and science skills through cloze reading activities. Cloze reading involves filling in missing words from a passage, encouraging students to use context clues, scientific vocabulary, and critical thinking to make sense of the text.

In science lessons, students have tackled topics such as ecosystems and cell structures using this strategy. The approach has helped them slow down, reread, and focus on key terms and concepts while building confidence in their subject-specific language.

Teachers have noticed that cloze reading not only improves comprehension but also sparks lively discussion as students justify their word choices. This balance of literacy and science is giving students a stronger foundation for success across all learning areas.

Families can support this learning at home by encouraging regular reading, whether it’s a novel, an online article, or even a science magazine. Talking about tricky words together, asking questions about meaning, or simply setting aside 10 minutes of quiet reading time each day can make a big difference.

If you would like to know more about cloze reading or tips on how to help your young person at home, please contact Christie Gumley at christie.gumley@decyp.tas.gov.au

Three of our students – Archer, Tyler and Alex – were recently interviewed on Huon FM. Rod from Huon FM congratulated the boys, saying they were a pleasure to chat with and made the interview flow so easily.

Hear the full interview here: Huon FM interview T3 W7

Despite the winter weather, students have embraced our school values and high expectations. Morning homerooms have strengthened connections and prepared students for the day, while our Personal and Social Capability program has focused on community through engaging group projects. Families can view subject focus tables to stay informed and support conversations at home. If you missed this term’s parent/carer/teacher/student interviews, please call the school and we’ll do our best to connect you with your young person’s homeroom teacher.

As we near the end of Term 3, students are encouraged to stay focused and finish strong. Year 10s have been busy with real-world learning, including the Beacon Career Program, Build Up Tassie, work placements, and the RYDA road safety program—all providing valuable skills and experiences. A special mention to Alex Bauer, Archer Watson and Tyler Garth who represented HHS on Huon FM.

Our 9/10 Home Room program continues to thrive, with students showing creativity, teamwork, and leadership through Project Groups and PSC lessons. Families can view the Teaching and Learning schedule to see what’s being studied and spark great conversations at home.

With only seven weeks left, students are encouraged to attend all classes, use teacher support, and complete work to secure passing grades and TCE points. Assessment records are shared regularly and are available to parents on request.

Year 11s have completed course counselling with Mr Rottier to plan their 2026 pathways. Students should now be wearing their senior jumper or polo. Many students are gaining valuable skills and experience through work placements, and families can check the Teaching & Learning schedule to stay informed.

Key Dates & Reminders

• Construction Catch-Up: Tuesdays & Thursdays, Term 4

• Parent–Teacher–Student Interviews: If you missed this term’s interviews, please contact the school and we’ll ask your young person’s homeroom teacher to get in touch.

• Work Placements: Contact Bec Stevenson or Glenn Freeman

• BBQ Lunch: 25 Sept 2025

• Final Day for Students: 14 Nov 2025 (Farewell Lunch – 13 Nov 2025, TTC)

Below are some great photos from events over the last couple of weeks.

Our Lost and Found has quite a collection of jewellery at the moment, and we’d love to see it reunited with its owners. If you or your child have misplaced a piece of jewellery recently, please come and let us know what you’re missing. If it matches something in our collection, we’ll be glad to return it to you.

Art and Music at the Bay is a two day event to be held over the weekend of January 17-18 2026.  Through the HVC Youth Officer Esther Shilling and Art teachers Ms Angela Prince and Ms Amy Liu at the school, two of our team have spoken with the Art Classes regarding their possible involvement.  Students could submit artwork in the Youth Category which is free to enter.  The Open category is $10 per entry.

There are also opportunities to be involved in other areas of the event, eg, catering or event management for those looking for work experience. We are also keen to talk to musicians in the school who may wish to perform.

We did stress to the students that as this is not happening in term time the students will have to take a degree of responsibility for their involvement and we will support this process in conjunction with the school, parents, caregivers and families.