1 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

Assistant Principals

Paul Stevenson
Andrea Saville

Grade Leaders

Grade 7: Kendal King
Grade 8: Naomi Cartledge
Grade 9: Skye Champion
Grade 10: Allison Macpherson

Support Services

School Psychologist: Annie Fitzgerald: Wed & Thursday
Social Worker: Esther Fleming: Tues and Wed
School Chaplain: Paul Burton: Mon/Wed/Friday
School Health Nurse: David Mackay: Wednesday

Principal’s Report

It was fantastic to see so many parents of our Grade 7 students on Monday night at our welcoming BBQ. Partnerships between school and families are crucial in the success of students and this was a great opportunity for staff and parents to meet and discuss how their child has settled into high school life.

Today saw the School Leadership Council’s Induction Assembly where our 2019 SLC received their blazers and badges. I recently went on the SLC camp where I was very impressed with the calibre of this year’s members. These students also recently attended a GRIP Leadership Day with leaders from other Launceston schools and they represented our school with pride and shared many excellent ideas and thoughts with the other participants. I look forward to seeing the contributions this group makes to our school throughout this year.

I have also been impressed with the pride that our students have shown in wearing their uniforms and this reflects positively on both our students and our school within the wider community. Thank you to all parents for their support with this.

Attendance is crucial in students being successful at school and is something that I highlight on a regular basis. At the moment, our school’s attendance rate is sitting at 90% and I will be sharing this data regularly to show how our attendance is tracking throughout the year.

On the weekend, many of our students were successful at the Exeter Show, winning various certificates in the Junior Cookery sections. Congratulations to all of the students who were involved.

Benjamin Frerk
Principal

School Chaplain

Hi Exeter High School staff, parents/caregivers and students,

Let me introduce myself. My name is Paul Burton and I am the new Chaplain here at Exeter High School.

I am 49 years old and married with four daughters, one in college, two in high school and one in primary school at Riverside.

I come from a building background of 34 years. Scattered amongst this I have also been involved in Pastoral Ministry in church settings and working with the homeless of Launceston.

I grew up in a small town in New Zealand, not too dis-similar to Exeter and the surrounding towns, and have lived in Queensland (23) and Tasmania (6) over the past 29 years.

I enjoy most sports, though I’m not terribly skilled at any in particular, and enjoy a good downhill mountain bike track whenever I can. I also enjoy reading books from all styles of genre and if I’m not busy running kids around I can be found either reading or playing Gran Turismo on our PS4.

I am available at Exeter on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and am happy to discuss any issues or concerns you may have for your child or your family, even if all you need is a listening ear.

Along with the Student Leaders and some volunteers from the community, we will be running the Breakfast Club during school term on Monday and Wednesday from 8:30-8:55am.

My goal as a chaplain at this school is to help your child/children navigate high school to the best of their ability and to support staff and parents in the process of attaining the best possible outcomes emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually (where needed) for them, and where possible promoting events in the local community that are youth focused.

If you have any questions, concerns or just want to meet me to check I’m not weird, then either give me a call here at the school on 6394 4366 or drop in on the days I’m here and I’d be happy to have a chat.

All the best for 2019.

Paul Burton
Chaplain
paul.burton@education.tas.gov.au

Grade 8 Health

Students are currently studying alcohol in their health classes. Part of their lesson is to experience the “beer goggles” to see the effect on coordination (walking a straight line and catching a ball).

Year 10 HPE – Lawn Bowls Excursion

Students will walk to the venue via the Exeter Primary School oval under staff supervision and will have approximately an hour long session of lawn bowls each week.

School Photos – Leading Image - Thursday 21 March

Leading Image will once again conduct our school photos. Photo envelopes were handed to students this week and these envelopes will need to be returned to school no later than Wednesday 20th March. If you would like to have a family photo taken please arrange collection of an order form from the main office.

Leading Image do offer online bookings which is another convenient way to order your photos. Instructions can be found on your photo envelope.

From the Nurses Desk

How to Sleep Well and Stay Healthy

Sleep, why do we need sleep?

Most of us spend 30% of our lifetime sleeping and some would see this time as wasted. However, sleep is important for our bodies and we need to make sleeping a priority. Effective rest and sleep sets us up for a fabulous day. When we sleep our bodies have time to repair, grow, maintain our physical and emotional state, assists us in better learning, boosts our immune system and improves our memory. It even helps us to support a healthy weight. Just like your phone, your body and mind needs to be recharged each day-with a good night’s sleep!

How much sleep do we need?

For some adults, we can get by on 7 hours but for most of us, it can be as much at 10 hours. Teens require around 8 to 10 hours and school aged children need between 9 and 11 hours each night. Unfortunately most teens only get 7 to 7.5 hours and some get by on even less.

What happens if I don’t get enough sleep, or a good night’s sleep?

Sleep is just like money, not enough and you go into “debt-sleep” debt. If you don’t pay it back, you risk your health. People in sleep debt are irritable, moody, aggressive, restless, impulsive, often tired, have more accidents when driving, run the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. School children and teens get lower grades at school, have poor memories and they can impact on the sleep of other family members.

So what can I do to assist sleep?

Following the ‘How to sleep well’ guidelines will help-

• Establishing a routine in the lead up to going to bed
• Getting outside-helps the creation of melatonin (the hormone that helps you fall asleep)
• Exercise during the day will help you deal with stress and anxiety and will help your body burn up energy
• If you get into the habit of sleeping during the day, even for a short while, you may start to shift you circadian rhythm (your body clock). For the same reason, avoid having very late nights and long sleep-ins at the weekend
• If you have got things to do like homework, getting ready for the next day, a computer game to play or a favourite programme to watch on TV, try to get it done well before bedtime
• During the evening, give your body plenty of time to digest a meal. A heavy supper late on or close to bedtime is hard for your stomach to deal with
• The same applies to coffee or any drink that stimulates you
• The last hour is the most important hour of all. Your body is naturally getting ready to sleep with the release of melatonin, you are probably yawning, and your muscles are beginning to relax. Switch off the computer, the TV, the iPad, and don’t use your mobile phone as the light that comes from their screens can interfere with the production of melatonin and stop you falling asleep
• Have a bath (not a shower-may wake you up) and use that final hour to wind down
• Once in bed, read a book or listen to gentle, relaxing music
• Keep as close to a regular bedtime and waking up time as possible, as it helps to ‘set’ your body clock.

If you can consistently go through as many of these stages as possible, you should soon find that you are waking in the morning feeling more refreshed. Why not try keeping a ‘Sleep Diary’? Note down when you went to bed each night, when you fell sleep and when you woke up. You can then work out how many hours sleep you got.

Information taken from the SleepScotland Website and How to Sleep Well and Stay Healthy, a Guide for Teenagers, Dr. Yemula and Prof. Besag, also available as a free eBook-visit iBooks and download it onto your iPad/iPhone or Mac.

Visit the link below to download the free app:

Cheers, Nurse Dave.

The function of protecting and developing health must rank even above that of restoring it when it is impaired. — Hippocrates

Grade 10 Easter Raffle

Students who wish to be eligible for a discount on the end-of-year costs such as the Graduation Dinner, Activities days and Mystery Picnic must participate in two (2) of the three (3) fundraisers this year. A letter has been sent home with all students explaining this.

Students are asked to bring in a contribution to the Easter Raffle and any sold or unsold raffle tickets must be returned to school by Friday, 5th April. The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 10th April in order for collection of prizes to be arranged prior to holidays.

Uniform Shop Update

Sports Tops – Size 12 and Size 14 tops are now in stock at a cost of $25.00.

Any Grade 10 students who are interested in ordering a Rugby Top with their last name printed on the back can place their orders now. Cost of top is $80.00 and orders and payment can be made any time at our school office or through the Uniform Shop on Thursday mornings.

Exeter High at Exeter Show

Exeter High School was well represented at the Exeter Show on Saturday 23. Several students assisted with commentary throughout the day, acknowledging sponsors, directing people to various events and talking to MC Kerry Finch about our school.

Two cows and a calf were popular attractions with many visitors wanting to feed and pat them during the day. Cattle handlers walked Imogen in the grand parade and answered questions from the public about our cattle and the school farm.

Our students who are members of the Tamar Demons did a great job keeping bins emptied.

A pen of junior lambs, provided by Julie Hodge, was awarded Reserve Champion with a prize of $50 that has been donated to the school.

Mrs Jean Abbott-Shirley
Cattle Handling Co-ordinator

School Based Traineeship

The West Tamar Council are offering a School Based Traineeship in Certificate II in Resources Infrastructure Work Preparation in conjunction with TasTafe, The department of Education and MEGT Australia Limited commencing in 2019. Please read attachment for further information.

Youth Art Competition

As part of the upcoming Beaconsfield Youth & Community Festival, we are inviting young people of the West Tamar to enter in the Youth Arts Competition.

The event highly features the creative arts and invites any young people in the West Tamar to submit their artwork in the Youth Arts Competition. All artwork will be displayed at the Festival with judges awarding prizes in various age groups. Engaging and inclusive artwork is available for anyone to participate in on the day as well.

Young people can choose their own medium and their own design. To be eligible, entrants must be from the West Tamar, aged under 18 and be submitted by the 8th April ready for display.

Prizes to be won!

For further information, contact the West Tamar Council via andrew.beeston@wtc.tas.gov.au

Sports Arena Discount

Sports Arena are again offering sports discounts to Exeter students. When you purchase any items for your sporting needs just let staff know that you are a student at Exeter High School to receive the 10% discount. Your orange discount card from last year is still applicable.

Library Book Sale – Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library, Launceston’s Annual Library Book Fair will be held on Saturday 2 March 2019, 9.00am – 1.00pm at St Ailbe’s Hall, 46 Margaret Street, Launceston.

This is Launceston’s best book sale with a wide range of good quality donated secondhand books – crime, thrillers, science fiction, romance, children’s, cooking, health, travel, crafts, gardening, sports, war, DVDs, collectables and Tasmaniana – all at rock bottom prices.

National Volunteers Week

National Volunteer Week is just around the corner and nominations are now being accepted for West Tamar Council’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards.

Do you know someone who volunteers their time to make the community great? Nominate them now using the electronic form (attached) or by grabbing a nomination form from any Council office (available from Monday 11 February 2019).

Nominations in 2019 are quick and easy and we are here to assist if you need a hand finding the right words to describe the valuable work of your nominee.

Each nominee and nominator will receive an invitation to Council’s National Volunteer Week breakfast celebration to be held on Wednesday 22 May 2019.

Nominations close on Friday 19 April 2019 and are accepted for:

• Individuals
• Young Volunteers (18-25)
• Groups
• Outstanding Achievement in Volunteering;

For more information view the attached form or phone 6323 9200.

Important Dates 2019

Term Dates

Student Free Days

Calendar Dates Term 1, 2019

March

April

* Calendar will be updated on a fortnightly basis.

COMMUNITY CORNER