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Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Friends of Prospect High School,
We are so pleased to have all students back at school. Most students have adjusted to face-to-face learning and are enjoying the company of friends and settling back into school routines. There are some students who, understandably, are experiencing some anxiety, whether it be returning to school routines, or concerns about the pandemic and struggles families are still enduring. We have been offering a range of support both with learning and wellbeing.
On return to school, students have been reviewing procedures and processes and following new guidelines for safety and hygiene. Revision of work in all subjects has been a priority, as has reconnecting and re-establishing relationships.
In addition, students and staff have also reflected on the opportunities that online learning has provided. An increase in technological skills and greater independence with learning have been two positive outcomes for students. Teachers have also increased their technological skills and used different ways to assess and give feedback to students. Feedback from parents has been supportive of the awesome efforts teachers have made to make the online learning accessible and engaging to all students. We will use results from student and staff surveys as opportunities to continue with some new practices with future learning.
Staffing
This week we farewelled Education Facility Attendants (EFA) Hailiegh Wise and Simone Denman. Many thanks for their work, particularly in Terms 1 and 2 during the COVID-19 period. Welcome to new EFA team members, Will Fox and Margaret Perri and Aboriginal Education Officer, Gareth Holt.
Transition
Grade 6-7 transition has been very creative this year taking advantage of the online platform. We are pleased that there has been an easing of restrictions and will be conducting an information evening for parents on Tuesday, 30th June 5.15 - 6.30pm. Parents of Grade 6 students please contact the office if you have not received an invitation to this.
Exams
Grade 10 exams will not be compulsory for all students this year, because we need this time for learning due to COVID-19 interruptions. However, for students who would like to try an exam before they enrol in Grade 11, we will offer an “exam type experience” where students are tested on all the work that has been covered so far in the year. (This opportunity will be particularly useful for students intending to enrol in level 3 and 4 TASC subjects in Grade 11). It is envisaged that exams will be held at the start of Term 4. Students have been asked to think about whether they would like to participate in an “exam type experience” this year to help prepare for Grade 11 next year. Parents are encouraged to talk about future pathways and whether an exam experience would be beneficial for their child.
Reminders
Students have been reminded when leaving school at the end of the day that they are to walk straight home. Residents have reported students disturbing neighbouring properties. This behaviour is not tolerated and should cease immediately.
Students have also been reminded to leave their mobile device and/or earphones in lockers from 8:35am (when the first bell goes) until 3:00pm (when the last bell goes). This includes smart watches.
Thank you
Staff enjoyed delicious cupcakes last week for morning tea made by a parent of the PHS community. This lovely gesture was to “say a massive thank you to all staff at PHS for being so amazing during Covid”. She wanted everyone, including teaching staff, cleaning, administration and grounds staff, “to be applauded for their efforts”. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, it was much appreciated by all.
Farewell International Students
On Tuesday, we farewelled our international students from Brazil, South America who have been with host families and attending Prospect High School this year. The girls enjoyed the last couple of days of their stay visiting Mole Creek Caves, Cradle Mountain and City Park. The girls adjusted to our school and state with ease, and Prospect High School students have enjoyed learning about their country and culture. Cradle Mountain will be remembered as a favourite place and pavlova a favourite food! The girls have exams on their return and then university. We wish them well, and hope they have fond memories of their stay. Many thanks to host families and teachers and staff at Prospect High School, in particular Mrs Tatiana Hinds, Mrs Debbie Chancellor, Mrs Sonya Matthews, Mr Scott Brewer, Mr Brad Colson and Mrs Rosalie Flood.
Communication for parents/carers – Please see an item in this edition about current permissions.
Mrs Lee Barker
Principal
They were here for almost two terms, and they had an experience like no other International group we have ever had. Prospect High School regularly has the fortune of hosting International students from a variety of countries. It is such a valuable learning experience for both the Prospect and International students to be able to learn about new cultures and languages directly from people of other countries. Just listening to people speaking in a language other than English is fascinating and fun for our students who like to learn new keywords and phrases. Discussions about food, living and lifestyle in other countries have been some of the new and fascinating information that the students have been able to pass on to us.
The six Brazilian students who visited us this year were Alice, Deborah, Gabriela, Iasmin, Samara, and Yohana. They arrived in the middle of February, and once they had their lockers, timetables and uniforms sorted, they were introduced to their buddies who were to help them through the first few weeks of their stay. They came to us with varying levels of English, which was a helpful start. Throughout their time here it became easier and easier for them to understand what we were saying, and more lengthy conversations were made towards the end of their stay. Usually, there are more opportunities to go shopping in town, out for dinner, go camping, riding, or for a drive. However, due to the current pandemic, the students were unable to do many of these things. Instead, they were set up comfortably with their homestay families and online-learning. Whilst this was not what was expected of the tour, it proved how resilient our visiting students could be by adapting to change.
The students have made firm friendships with both their homestay families and students at PHS and will keep in touch. The staff at PHS have been impressed with the enthusiasm and skills that each student has bought to their class. Their work ethic and ability to keep trying, even when things were hard, was commendable. To the Brazilian students of 2020, well done, thank you for visiting PHS, and we wish you all the Best from the staff and students of PHS.
This week the students enjoyed visits to Mole Creek Caves and Cradle Mountain.
Read Less
As part of the process to help students transition into Year 11, conversations about creating a Transition Plan have started. Jennifer Pollard (PHS 11/12 Coordinator) has been visiting the Grade 10 classes and giving students a brief overview of options for 2021 with regards to education and training. Ms Pollard will be chatting with students individually over the next couple of weeks to help them plan and start their Transition Plan and consider course and destination choices. A Transition Plan is both a mandated document, as well as a valuable tool to help students look to the future with a sense of direction, purpose and confidence. During Term 3, transition talks and information sharing will continue. Additionally, there is a notice board in the Grade 10 area dedicated to Transition matters and activities, and a Canvas page with numerous useful links where students can research and gather more information to help them make an informed choice. More information for parents can be found on the: My Education website - https://my.education.tas.gov.au
Anything Can Happen website - https://www.anything.tas.gov.au/#transition
Department of Education website for Years 11 and 12 - https://www.education.tas.gov.au/students/school-and-colleges/years-11-12/
Chess Club is back on Tuesdays during lunch, in the Maker's Space. This activity is a great way to develop skills, strategic thinking, and concentration, as well as an opportunity to build friendships. See Sam, the Chaplain, for details.
Dress a Girl Around the World.
Some of our Grades 7 - 10 in the Tier 2 program are making dresses for girls living in poverty in the developing world.
Our mission, as a class, is to provide the very best new dresses made especially for children living in poverty around the world. Making a dress can elevate the esteem of girls by making sure every little girl has the dignity of owning at least one dress.
For this, we urgently need pillowcases. If you can donate any pillowcases for this project, it would be greatly appreciated. Please bring pillowcases to the admin office or give them to Mrs Dawkins.
Come in to the library and check out some of our new books. We have heaps of other new titles, too.
Elon Musk by Tracey Turner
Elon Musk is definitely one to watch - he's a multi-billionaire, mega-brain entrepreneur who's building the world's biggest space rocket and some awesome electric cars too. Those are just a couple of Mr Musk's many projects. Find out what drove him to shovel gloop, how parties helped fund his college years and why he wants to move millions of people to Mars.
The Short Story of Modern Art by Susie Hodge
The Short Story of Modern Art explains the how, why and when of modern art – who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, and why they matter. Simply constructed, the book explores fifty key works – from the realist painting of Courbet to a contemporary installation by Yayoi Kusama – and then links them to the most important movements, themes and techniques. Accessible, concise and richly illustrated, the book reveals the connections between different periods, artists and styles, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of modern art.
Australian Geographic Geography: Custodians of the Land by Ellen Rykers
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people are the first inhabitants of Australia - there were once more than 500 Indigenous 'nations' across the continent. ATSI people have a strong understanding of the land and its animal inhabitants, which they used to decide where to live. In this book, students will investigate how Indigenous knowledge and practices are linked to sustainable use of resources and how their ways of living were influenced by their environment.
Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank by Nancy Churnin
Picture Book
Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. were born the same year a world apart. Both faced ugly prejudices and violence, which both answered with words of love and faith in humanity. This is the story of their parallel journeys to find hope in darkness and to follow their dreams.
The Lost Diary of Sami Star by Karen McCombie
Family/Relationships 10yrs +
Being at home is hard for Hannah. With mum, dad and Vix always fighting, they've got no time for her or her worries, she might as well be invisible. But when she finds an abandoned diary in the park containing snippets and photographs of the colourful life of the mysterious Sami Star, Hannah hopes she's found the real friend she always needed. Little does she know Sami really needs her too. A heart-warming story of finding friendship in the most unlikely of places.
Harley Quinn: Hot in the City by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Graphic Novel
The cyclone ain’t the only roller coaster in Coney Island… at least, not after Harley Quinn rides into town. When Gotham’s favourite sociopath inherits a building off the famous boardwalk, she feels right at home in the (literal) freakshow. Unfortunately, the legion of bounty hunters after the price on her head seems to know it too.
National Geographic Geography: Human Influence
Environments can change over time due to natural effects, such as erosion and storms, but a large proportion of environmental change is a result of human actions like land clearing, development, irrigation and dams. In this book, students will discover how Indigenous Australians manage land and resources to create a sustainable way of living. They will also explore the extent of change in Australia's environment due to human actions, and the positive and negative effects in terms of environmental sustainability.
Toilets Tank! Their Inner Workings by Riley Flynn
Get ready for some literal bathroom reading. Discover the story behind their home's most under appreciated feature. From facts on how much bodily waste the average person releases a day to information on what the first "toilets" were like. Readers will learn about why we need sanitation and where our waste goes when we flush.
The Game by Elizabeth Neal
Sport Fiction
Marcus and his best friend Taj have never been great at basketball. But during the final game of the season, their coach finally gives them the chance to play. As the minutes count down, Marcus chokes and misses his shot while Taj saves the day with a buzzer-beater. That night Marcus receives a text from an unknown number asking if he would like a do-over. He accepts and gets to relive the game and make the winning shot. But will correcting his mistake be worth taking away his best friend's moment to shine?
Bloodline by Kevin Brooks
Mystery Fiction
Finbar's fed up. He's back at his dad's house for the usual weekend visit of watching TV and eating chips. Just like every other weekend. Finbar's day gets considerably more exciting when a crazy girl bursts into his house, with a gun and a bag full of cash. Who is she? And what has she done? Will Finbar's life ever be the same?
Grade 8
Patrick is a valued class member and respectful student who is always engaged in his learning. He works productively individually and in group situations and is happy to assist his peers during tasks.
Ethan has a great work ethic and excellent engagement in his core subjects and as such has been nominated as a Working Wonder this week. Well done, Ethan.
Grade 10
The following Grade 10 students have been nominated as Working Wonders for upholding our Prospect High School expectations of Respect, Fairness, Integrity, Empathy and Optimism.
Bethany, Madison, Spencer, Alex and Aimee have recently displayed a high level work ethic, helped other students in the classroom and ensured that they are fair and honest. They have shown empathy and work well with others by encouraging those around them to do well. They have shown great leadership by ensuring that they do the right thing and follow our new school guidelines. Congratulations Grade 10s, well done and keep up the good work.
These two camps are for school students Grades 7 to 10 and are being held in the July holidays. One will be an online camp and the other a residential camp. Both are run by Scripture Union Tasmania.
SUPA & Beyond will run from Monday, 6th until Wednesday 8th of July and will be delivered online. That means, "campers" will gather via Zoom for a morning session with games, challenges and part of a movie, go off for the day fully equipped with fun stuff to do before gathering again via Zoom for an evening session. Campers will receive an "action camp pack" which will be delivered to their doorstep and include everything they will need to participate in the camp activities. The theme of this camp is based upon the teenage movie "Overcomer". Price is $10
Element Camp will run from Friday, 10th to Sunday 12th of July. This year the camp will be held at Carnacoo at Paper Beach. The theme of this camp is based upon the documentary "The Dawn Wall", and, thus, we anticipate an action-filled camp including rock climbing, games, craft, and time to just hang out with each other. Price is $110, but you might be able to be partly funded by the SU.
School Executive
Principal
Mrs Lee Barker
Assistant Principals
Mr Mario Bergamin and Mr Greg James
School Business Manager
Mrs Debbie Chancellor
Grade Teams
Senior Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mr Brendan Poke
Grade 8 Mrs Anna Musovic
Grade 9 Mrs Carmen Slore
Grade 10 Mr Scott Brewer
Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mrs Katrina Dawkins and Mrs Hannah Derbyshire
Grade 8 Mr Will Reynolds and Mrs Leonie Smith
Grade 9 Mr Steve Andrews
Grade 10 Sonya Matthews
Support Staff
School Psychologist
Mr Gene Colgrave
(Mondays, every fourth Tuesday and Fridays)
School Social Worker
Mr Brendan Dixon
(Wednesdays, alternate Thursdays and Fridays)
School Health Nurse
Mrs Dani Seadon
(Mondays and alternate Thursdays)
Chaplain
Mr Sam Cogger
(Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Aboriginal Education Officer
Gareth Holt
(Wednesdays and Thursdays)
NOTICEBOARD