4 December 2020

Newsletter Articles

Paul Stevenson

Andrea Saville

Grade Leaders

Grade 7: Naomi Cartledge
Grade 8: Elle Fox
Grade 9: Skye Champion
Grade 10: Allison Stone

Support Services

School Psychologist: David McCormack: Wednesday & Friday
Social Worker: Lauren Brown: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
School Chaplain: Paul Burton: Wednesday/Friday
School Health Nurse: Dave Mackay: Thursday

Principal’s Report

As we approach the final weeks of the 2020 school year, End of Year Reports are being finalised and these will be sent home next week. These are a reflection of your child’s progress and although we are not holding parent/teacher evenings, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have any clarifying questions around their report.

SLC elections were held last week for the 2021 Leadership Council and I was so impressed with the quality of the candidates and the way they presented their ideas and beliefs in their speeches. Congratulations to those who were successful in joining the 2021 Student Leadership Council. To those who didn’t make it, there will be other leadership roles to put your hand up for during the school year. I look forward to seeing the projects this fine group of students take on next year.

Grade 6 Orientation Day was held last week, and this was a huge success. Students from our feeder schools were able to enjoy a day at our school, participating in the types of lessons that they will experience in 2021. This also gave them the opportunity to begin new friendships with students they may not have met before. I look forward to welcoming them back in the first week of February as they begin their high school journey. Thank you to all the staff at Exeter High School who helped make the day such a success.

The school social was also held last week, and this was once again a tremendous endorsement for the amazingly well behaved and respectful students we have here at Exeter High School. Students danced the night away, participated in the different activities and at the end of the night, helped tidy up the area so it was ready for learning the next day. A great night of dancing and fun was had by all. Well done to the current SLC for organising the night.

Benjamin Frerk
Principal

2021 Book Sales will be held on: -

Grade 8 Drama – Two Children’s Theatre Performances

On Tuesday 1st December and again today Friday 4th December, Grade 8 Drama students performed a 30-minute Children’s Theatre play, The Not-So Mysterious Disappearance of Cinderella to Grade 3/4 and 5/6 students from Exeter Primary School.

The Not-So Mysterious Disappearance of Cinderella was written by Charles Novatka. We all know how the original story of Cinderella goes – at the stroke of midnight, Cinderella runs from the ball, leaving behind a glass slipper, only to have Prince Charming scour the entire Kingdom in search of his ‘soulmate’. He finds her, he weds her, and they all live happily ever after. As if! This play offered a much more contemporary twist to the old tale. This time, Cinderella lost her gumboot, went missing and everyone in the kingdom was a suspect. Packed with humour and fresh takes on classic characters, this play was thoroughly entertaining. Many hours were spent developing characters, blocking scenes, memorising lines, sourcing costumes/props and rehearsing.

Although it was nerve wracking waiting to perform, once things were underway, it was an exhilarating experience for the Grade 8’s. The children thoroughly enjoyed the two performances and asked many questions at the end of it. The Grade 8 Drama students would like to thank the Exeter Primary School children for attending and being such a fantastic audience.

Mrs Parish
Drama Teacher

Adventure Tourism Activities

On Friday 6th November Mr Atkinson’s Grade 9/10 Adventure Tourism class departed school to attend a rowing lesson at Gravelly Beach. Despite the cold weather everyone took part and enjoyed the experience, some even partaking in a chilly swim off the pontoon. Some of the most memorable moments resulted during the activities organised by the rowing Tasmania members. After a few mishaps where students had to be towed back in, everyone regathered on the beach to play a few rounds of football and after packing up the equipment, the group returned to school. All in all, the day was a wonderful, if not scary, experience which was well received by all.

Julia, Reece, Alexander, Evan, Riley

On Wednesday 11th November, the class went on an excursion to kayak on the Forth River. We enjoyed 3 hours on the water under instruction from the Tasmanian Canoe Club members. Playing games to further our kayaking and water survival skills, Mr. Atkinson was very enthusiastic to participate in especially in the game called cats and dogs. The weather was perfect for a day on the water and thankfully Tas Water stopped the water flow on the river to allowing for calm, flat water kayaking.

Emily, Ella, Jesse, Kristyn

On Friday 20th November, the class went to the PCYC. There we found a rock-climbing wall which is about 5 metres high and we got to climb it. We then moved on to the archery tag course, firing soft rubber foam arrows at each other in a dodgeball style game. We all had a great time.

Brock, Lauren, Lachlan

On Wednesday 25th November, the class travelled to the Cataract Gorge for an outdoor rock-climbing excursion. We trekked up the zig-zag track to collect our gear for our climbs. Our wonderful instructor Ian showed us how to tie double figure 8 knots and belay for the climbers. There were five different challenging climbs that we all gave our best to conquer. After about two and a half hours of climbing we walked the rest of the zig-zag track to spend our lunchtime on the lawns of the Gorge. We had a great time and would like to thank Mr Atkinson, Chaplain Paul and Ian for enabling us to have this experience.

Breea, Jaime, Daizi, Boyd, Tyler

Farm Update – Drainage and New Laneway

Earlier this year, before our world was turned upside-down, the school was successful in securing a grant under the Communities Environment Program. The grant funds allowed Stage 2 of the farm drainage plan to be carried out, complementing the work undertaken last year. The works included installation of over 300 meters of surface drains and the replacement of old, damaged culverts. Students in the Grade 9/10 Agricultural Studies class have planned the new layout of the laneway and will construct the new fences and gateways.

The school would like to acknowledge and thank Brett Jordan and his team for the time, effort and flexibility shown to ensure the project would be successfully completed by the end of the school year. Another big thank you goes to Beams Bros Pty Ltd, whose donation of gravel, allowed for the installation of a new laneway and gravelled gateway aprons. These works mark the beginning of the exciting new development being built on the farm next year.

Mr Fox
Agriculture Studies Teacher

Celebrating Student Success

Congratulations to Grade 8 student Callum who won the Tasmanian State Title in the 12-U14 years 85cc class at Motocross last weekend. Callum plans to race on the mainland next year in the hopes of securing an Australian title. This is a fantastic achievement – Well done!

Grade 9 Picnic

Grade 9 students will be heading to the Gorge on Wednesday 16 December for their end of year picnic. Students are reminded to return all paperwork associated with this excursion as soon as possible.

Library Returns

As the end of the year draws near, this is a timely reminder for students to check at home for any school library books that they may still have. Please ensure that these books are returned to the library before Friday 11 December.

Important Grade 10 Information

The Graduation Dinner at the Tailrace Centre and the Final Presentation Assembly are understandably major functions. Due to Covid-19 guidelines they will look quite different this year.

GRADUATION DINNER

The Graduation Dinner will be held at the Tailrace on Monday 14th December from 6.30 pm till 9.30 pm. The following changes will apply:

• The Graduation Dinner will be in a larger room to accommodate social distancing.
• Students will be able to dance as this will be held in a separate room to the dinner.
• Due to Covid 19 regulations, parents will be unable to congregate to watch students being dropped off at The Tailrace. If parents wish to take photos of their child, cars etc. we suggest that this is done prior to arrival at The Tailrace. Linda from Linda Pasfield Photography will be taking red carpet photos of students arriving and throughout the evening.
• We are allowed to have a whole group photo.
• At the end of the evening, parents can collect their child at The Tailrace entrance while remaining in their car. Staff will escort students to their parents.
• Students will need to arrive between 6.30 - 7.00 pm and be collected by 9.30 pm.

PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY

• The 2020 Presentation Assembly will be held on Friday 11th between 11.00 – 12.40pm.
• Parents will be invited to attend however; we will need to follow Departmental protocols regarding signing in and social distancing etc. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
• Grade 10 students will be allowed to sign out for the remainder of the day if their parents are in attendance at the assembly.

Other activities that the Grade 10 students will be involved in are listed on our calendar in this newsletter.

2021 Levies

The Exeter High School Association has approved the levies for the 2021 school year. The Composite Levies for the various grades for 2021 are as follows:-

• Students in grade 7 & 8 - $490.00
• Students in grade 9 & 10 - $505.00
• Students in grade 11 & 12 - $505.00

Book Sales Days

• Wednesday - 27th January 2021 - 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Thursday - 28th January 2021 - 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Further information around payment options and assistance will be sent to all families early in January as part of the validation pack.

2021 STUDENT ASSISTANCE (STAS)

The Department of Education recently announced that they would be expanding the Student Assistance Scheme for 2021.

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below, can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Service Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
• Service Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Pension Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card

Please note that if you are already receiving student assistance you do not need to complete a form.

For 2021 a new on-line form has been developed to assist with processing applications for new applicants.

The online form can be completed here:

The form will be available for public use from the 10 November.

Once a validated form is completed the Department of Education will confirm the outcome of your application in writing, this process takes approximately 14 days.

We understand this online option may not be possible for all families, so if you require a hard copy from please contact your school or stas@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 827 055.

Pork for Sale

Calendar Dates 2020

TERM 4, 2020

December

* Calendar is updated on a fortnightly basis.

2021 Highlights

Community Corner

Community Carols -13th December, Exeter Show Grounds, 5-00pm till 8-00pm

Exeter Art Studios Now OPEN

Rascal Robot Art Space - School Holiday Classes

Rascal Robot Art Space at Beaconsfield are running school holiday classes. To book your spot visit the link below:

Camps Tasmania – January 2021 Summer Camp