1 April 2022

Newsletter Articles

Assistant Principals

Paul Stevenson
Andrea Saville

Grade Leaders

Grade 7: Elle Fox
Grade 8: Lenny Towns
Grade 9: Allison Stone
Grade 10 AST: Sharon Parish

Support Services

School Psychologist: David McCormack: Wednesday and Friday
Social Worker: Isabel Casey: Tuesday, Thursday and every second Friday
School Chaplain: TBC
School Health Nurse: Dave Mackay: Monday

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

It’s hard to believe but we are already at the end of week 8 of Term 1 2022. We have had a busy two weeks since the last newsletter. Our Grade 11/12 build on our farm site is still progressing well and we are anticipating it being officially opened early in Term 2 and ready for classes to utilise. Last week saw us hold our first My Education Day for 2022 and this saw students in each grade participate in a wide range of activities that are all designed to help prepare them for life after school, both vocational wise and as responsible community members. Thank you to all staff who helped make the day such a wonderful success.

Our Student Leadership Group had the opportunity to attend the annual GRIP Leadership Day last Friday too where they worked alongside leaders from other schools, looking at different aspects of school leadership and ways they can further develop themselves in their leadership capacities. Thank you to Mr Stewart for organising this fantastic opportunity for our leadership group.

Interim reports went home this week with students, and we will have two Parent/Teacher/Student sessions in the final week of this term from 3.30pm -7.00pm on Monday 11th April and Tuesday 12 April. Bookings can be made from Monday 4 April at 4pm through SchooZine this year. If you are accessing the newsletter then you would already have the App on your device. If not, please follow the instructions listed below.

Students will finish school on Wednesday April 13 as teachers have a Moderation Day on Thursday 14th where they meet to assess student work samples and make sure that the assessment processes here at Exeter High School are in line with those at other schools across the state.

Our school will also be undergoing an External School Review next week where we will have educational experts from around the state visiting our school and interviewing students, staff and parents around how they feel the school is currently operating. We will share their findings during Term 2 once they report back to us.

Benjamin Frerk
Principal

MY EDUCATION DAY

My Education at Exeter High School is a supportive and inclusive approach encouraging engagement and participation that inspires and guides students from Year 7 to Year 11, as they undertake a journey of discovery in identifying who they are and what they want to become. It supports students to identify their personal interests, values, strengths, opportunities and aspirations, and teaches them how to use this knowledge to make decisions about their future learning, work and life opportunities.

Year 7

The Grade 7 focus for My Education Day was around identifying the importance of decision making. During the morning sessions, students worked through a range of activities and applied decision-making strategies to different scenarios. In the afternoon session, students practiced their decision-making skills in a class vs. class game of Generals. Students engaged very well with the content and activities, making for an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for all.

Year 8

The Term 1 Grade 8 focus for My Education Day was around self-awareness and code switching. In lessons 1 and 2 students explored the importance of being self-aware and knowing how and when to code switch. They worked through a series of activities to unpack what self-awareness is and the impact it has on our daily lives. Students also identified different situations where code switching was required to effectively deal with different situations and interact appropriately with others while continuing to develop and grow into mature adults. In lesson 3 students recognised the different strengths of class members and showed perseverance to complete a series of challenges. The Grade 8’s engaged well with the content and activities making it a worthwhile experience for all.

Year 9

Last week the Year 9 students embarked on an exploration into the world of employment. With the cohort turning of age to now be employed the focus of the day was around exploring their personal strengths and interests and how these can align with future employment. To help better prepare our students on their search for employment, they spent some time looking at how to apply for a job, preparing to work, what you need to have ready for the job such as a Tax File number and bank account and how to write a resume. In the afternoon, the time was spent examining safe social media use. As students become more independent, they are creating a social media footprint and so there was time spent looking at the impacts of this when it is used incorrectly and how to ensure we are safe online.

Our Year 9 students conducted themselves well throughout the day. They were engaged and responded to task requirements and upheld our schools core values.

Year 10

Lesson 1 and 2

Students considered the impact of social media and having an online presence when applying for a job. They developed a plan for ‘cleaning up’ social media platforms. Students began developing a Transition Plan to help them plan for the future. Using My Future website, students researched career interests, looked at the relationship between personal capabilities and potential career/life opportunities, and added these to their Transition Plans. Knowing their possible future pathway will directly affect the choices they make regarding their schooling and the subjects they choose to study. Students explored acronyms often used in relation to College – BET, ATAR, TCEA and TCE. In preparation for Mock Interviews next term, students refined their resumes focussing on details such as their skills and training, interests, work experience, and education, and, most importantly, accomplishments.

Lesson 3

Transition Plans and resumes were refined. 100 Jobs for the Future was explored and discussed. Students explored Growth Mindset and Mindfulness.

Year 10 students participate in MyEd activities

EXCELLENCE AT EXETER

These certificates are awarded to two students in each grade in recognition of their efforts in upholding the school values and helping to make our school an excellent learning environment.

Congratulations to this fortnight’s students:

Rosemary from 7D: Rosemary has commenced Year 7 in a very positive manner. She is a quiet achiever who consistently upholds our school values and applies herself conscientiously to all tasks. Rosemary is a kind, respectful and helpful student.

Cleveland from 7C: Cleveland has commenced Year 7 positively. He consistently displays an excellent work ethic and respectful behaviour. Cleveland is an extremely helpful and courteous student who always gives 100 percent effort.

Jack from 8C: Jack is an outstanding student and role model to his peers. He consistently strives to achieve excellence in all learning areas and is a caring and helpful student who has demonstrated strong leadership qualities.

Paige from 8B: Paige is a polite, considerate and respectful student whose application in class is commendable. Her friendly nature allows her to work effectively with a range of students and she displays maturity at all times.

Cameron from 9A: Cameron is a quiet achiever who consistently upholds our core values. He always gives 100% to all leaning tasks. Cameron is a kind and respectful student.

Erykah from 9B: Erykah is respectful student who stives to always achieve her best. She displays an excellent work ethic in the classroom and is always respectful in her interactions with others. Erykah is a positive student who has had an excellent start to her year.

Sharni from 10B: Shani has made a terrific start to Year 10, with her determination to do her best shining through. She is polite and considerate and is respectful of staff and students alike. It has been great to see Shani participating in class fully, following directions, helping others and demonstrating a positive attitude.

Jayden from 10A: Jayden is quiet and polite student who has consistently displayed an excellent work ethic in the classroom. He applies himself conscientiously to all tasks and upholds each of our school values by demonstrating respectful behaviour.

GRADE 7 SRC REPRESENTATIVES

The students selected on this year’s grade 7 Student representative council include Jaxson Reynolds and Gabby Wright from 7A, Libby Jarman from 7B, Cleveland Davey, Grace Martin and Asha Templeton from 7C, and Riley Evans and Rosemary Ford from 7D. These students were selected on their ability to uphold the schools core values, and their demonstration of leadership qualities thus far amongst their peers.

The first fundraising event held by the grade 7 SRC is guessing the easter eggs in the jar. The funds raised during this event will kick start the SRC budget to ensure further events and fundraisers can be held over the duration of the year.

CANCELLATION OF INTER-HIGH SWIMMING CARNIVAL:

Unfortunately, due to recent changes to the Covid-19 Safety guidelines, the annual Inter-high Swimming Carnival has been cancelled for Term 1. Whilst this is disappointing news for our students, we must abide by any updates from the Department of Education and the Department of Health.

“There is a difference between indoor and outdoor interschool sport carnivals. The ability to limit mixing of groups and practice COVID-safe behaviours such as physical distancing is more difficult indoors, including sharing of certain facilities and less physical space. For this reason, for the remainder of Term 1 schools must not participate in interschool events and activities that are held indoors – for example, interschool swimming carnivals.”

Jo Robinson

NAPLAN 2022:

NAPLAN Testing 2022 will commence on Wednesday 11th May at Exeter High School. Information has been sent home with students in Years 7 and 9 regarding these assessments. If you would like any further information about NAPLAN or did not receive the information sheet via your child, please feel free to contact the school.

HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR CHILD’S VALIDATION FORM – AQUATIC FORM – ICT FORM?

This is a reminder that all Validation Forms, Aquatic Forms and ICT forms must be returned to the school office before the end of this term. It is important that all information pertaining to your child/children is up to date and permissions are completed to enable your child to participate in all school activities. If you require another copy, please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 6394 4366.

From the Nurses Desk

Visions and voices of a healthy planet: A Healing Arts event for World Health Day 2022 (who.int)

Visions and voices of a healthy planet: A Healing Arts event for World Health Day 2022

In every crisis, it often seems that the first to arrive to help are healthcare workers and artists. This was most recently true during the pandemic, and it is increasingly true as the consequences of climate change become more apparent. Human caused climate change has created an existential threat to life on this planet and has dramatically altered our health and wellbeing as well as our conception of ourselves and our place in the world. It is in this spirit that we have called together care providers and artists across genres and geographies who recognize the relationship between planetary and human health. Health care providers are prescribing nature visits to increase vitality and reduce stress and anxiety. Artists are using the transformative power of the arts to promote awareness, dialogue, imaginative action, and a sense of reconnection. This conversation for Our Planet, Our Health brings us into a fuller, sensory immersion of the reciprocal relationship between care for our planet and ourselves.

Tune in on 5 April on the WHO YouTube channel.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Thank you to our entire school community for your cooperation this term by practising COVID-safe behaviours.

As you know, an important COVID-safe behaviour is to stay at home if you’re unwell and get tested for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test.

Public Health tells us that the number of cases of COVID-19 in children is low, and they’re likely to have milder symptoms.

It’s a good reminder to be mindful of the symptoms of COVID-19 in children. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children are cough, fever, runny nose and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

For more information, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au  or on 1800 816 057.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Calendar – Term 1, 2022

April

Term 2 - 4 Term Dates

COMMUNITY CORNER

BEACONSFIELD ROCK CHALLENGE

Situated at the Beaconsfield Mine Yard, this event will be amazing with loads of talented local musicians performing live on stage.

This is a free event however ordering tickets are required due to limited capacity. You can order your tickets here and follow the Facebook event via the link below:

The event will have food, drinks (the non-alcohol kind) and a coffee van available for purchase with a few prizes between sets also on offer. Free photo booth and temp tattoos will be on site! This is a drug and alcohol-free event and is supported by the Tasmanian State Government

Date: Friday 8th April
Venue: Beaconsfield Mine Yard
Time: 5-9pm (gates open at 4.30pm with bag check upon entry)
Cost: free entry
Featuring: Anara Carroll, Liv Van Dongen, Stupid & Dumb, Tastefully Lame, The Stingrays, World Class Cinema

WEST TAMAR SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

The West Tamar School Holiday program for April is just about to start. The program will feature archery, 10 pin bowling, trampolining, archery tag and foot golf! Spaces are limited and payments must be made prior to the activities. Bookings can be made via the link below:

RASCAL ROBOT ART SPACE PRESENTS – AUTUMN ART CAMP