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Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Prospect High School,
Eagle Sculpture
A new Eagle has been installed at the entrance to the school in a similar location to the original sculpture. The wedge-tailed eagle is Prospect High School’s emblem. This inspiring symbol is significant to the school and is proudly displayed on the school uniform, letterhead and promotional material. The new sculpture was the vision of the 2018 and 2019 Student Leader Boards after the previous eagle, created by art teacher Des Murray, had deteriorated due to age and weathering. Funds raised by both Student Leader Boards and donations from local businesses enabled Prospect High School to work with Arts Tasmania to tender artists for possible designs. The modern and contemporary sculpture was designed and made by local artist Jackson Wells. Jackson used AR (augmented reality) to assist in the creation of the Eagle Statue. The sculpture is made from corten plate and stainless steel which will weather with time and blend into the natural environment at the front entrance to the school. This has been an exciting project for students and staff of Prospect High School and Arts Tasmania. Congratulations and thanks to all involved. Further details are contained in an article later in this edition.
Prospect High School Senior Secondary Campus
Prospect High School offers Grades 11 and 12 in a new purpose built Senior Secondary Campus composed of learning spaces and areas for socialising and independent study. There are many subjects offered (both TASC and VET) that cater for a wide range of interests and future pathways in a spacious, well-resourced learning centre. Students experience a personalized approach to study and are provided with extensive resources and technology. There are a range study options where students can undertake a full time enrolment at our campus or a shared enrolment with a College or other Extension High Schools. Next year we are also offering a Japanese Language Program. Students from other Colleges or schools can do this program through a shared enrolment with Prospect Senior Secondary Campus. Japanese can be studied as a “stand alone” subject or in combination with Tourism, Hospitality, Business or STEM/Engineering. This program prepares students with unique employability skills in growth industries in Tasmania. Parents who would like more information about our offerings in 2021 are invited to an information evening to be held in the Prospect High School Senior Secondary Campus on Tuesday, August 25th from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Canvas for Parents
Prospect High School is a trial school for introducing parent access to Canvas – the Department of Education’s Learning Management System. To take advantage of the platform’s capacity to share information between home and school, Prospect High School will be using Canvas Parent to enhance the way our school communicates with families about the learning progress of their children. Canvas Parent will enable parents/carers to review upcoming or past assignments, receive alerts for student activity, and most importantly, see ongoing teacher feedback for their child in order to progress their learning. To provide you with access to Canvas Parent, we require up-to-date email information for all parents/carers. We will work with families over the next few weeks to review and update parent/carer email information where required. Further information regarding the use of Canvas Parent will be shared as soon as the platform is available. We look forward to embarking on this journey and strengthening our connection with our parent community.
School Association
The School Association Annual General Meeting and ordinary meeting were held on Wednesday, 12th August, 2020. Congratulations to the following elected office bearers: President – Russell Kerr, Vice President - Brendan Poke, Secretary - Anita Stephens, and Treasurer - Brad Reardon. The School Association acknowledged that online learning was handled very professionally, and that the PHS community appreciated ongoing communication about all situations and developments which impacted on children. Items discussed included school uniform, diaries/communication books and fund raising ideas. Many thanks to the contribution made by retiring community member Pete Garwood.
Staffing
This term we are without two staff members who have taken extended sick leave. Mrs Tatiana Hinds is courageously undertaking chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although very tired and feeling nauseous, Mrs Tatiana remains positive. Mr Scott Brewer has undergone back surgery in Hobart. He also is remaining positive.
Helena Winnberg who was new to us at the start of the year, has made the difficult decision to return to Sweden to be with her father who is very ill. On behalf of the Prospect High School community, I would like to extend our best wishes to Tatiana, Scott and Helena.
Finally, there are many activities recommencing this term with COVID-19 restrictions in place. We are still insisting students and staff practice good hygiene and stay at home if unwell. Extra cleaning and provision of sanitiser is still a requirement. There is no requirement for parents/carers to complete the Visitor Health Screening Form when visiting for a purpose, such as to collect your child if they are unwell, however, visitors/guests on site are required to complete this form. Adults on site are required to physically distance. Further information is available via the link: https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/. We are still not sure of some arrangements, particularly large gatherings and events, and hence, cannot provide information for families of Grade 10 students with regards to end-of-year activities. However, we will update once informed.
Mrs Lee Barker
Principal
The wedge-tailed eagle is the Prospect High School’s emblem. This inspiring symbol is of profound significance to the school and is proudly displayed on the school uniform and letterhead.
The motif of a wedge-tailed eagle has a long tradition as the symbol associated with Prospect High School. In 1978, the art teacher and art students created a concrete sculpture based on the school’s logo of an eagle. The sculpture has sat at the front entrance to the school for many years and has been an important symbol of identity for students. It has been repaired several times and the harsh weather has altered the appearance of the sculpture. This sculpture was moved from its prominent position at the entrance to the school, to across from the entrance during major works construction in 2017.
The 2018 Student Leadership Board’s vision was to locate a new and contemporary eagle sculpture at the entrance to the school that was reflective of our modern school, sustainable, monumental, inspiring, and possibly ‘out there’. They worked hard, fundraising, applying for grants, seeking financial support from the community, and seeking local artists who would be interested in working alongside them to achieve this goal. This work was led by 2018 Co-Presidents Hayden Johnstone and Jiranan Stearnes and supported by Emma Blackberry, Kaitlyn Bussey, Jackson Cooke, Ella Cornelius, Ebony Cuthbert, Amber Goodyer, Kate Harris, Lincoln Matthews, Nicholas Mayne, Jacob Mitchelson, Benjamin Moir, Hayden Partridge, Madison Sefton, Georgie Spaulding, Mr Gregory, Mrs Mackrill, and current Principal, Mrs Barker.
Funds from fundraising and donations from Prospect IGA and Tasmanian Alkaloids were carried forward to the 2019 Student Leader Board who continued to fundraise and canvas for the installation of a new sculpture. Once funds were secured, the 2019 SLB, Mrs Barker and Mrs Chancellor worked with Arts Tasmania to tender artists and designs.
After reviewing many great submissions, Jackson Wells, a freelance designer/maker, was commissioned to design and install the project. Jackson worked with students William Terry, Mitchell Holmes, Lachlan Lowe, Connor Ellery, Joseph Coates, Daniel Stearnes, Cassidy Kent, Rebecca Hearps, Jazmin Szmekura, Jade Cohen, Bianca Jones, and Rebecca Milbourne to finalise the design. Jackson used AR (augmented reality) to assist in the creation of the eagle statue. AR is an interactive experience and defined as a system that fulfills a combination of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects. This was an exciting experience for the students and staff involved.
The eagle sculpture is made from corten plate and stainless steel which will weather with time and blend into the natural environment at the front entrance to the school, in the same location as the original sculpture.
This has been a great achievement by students who persevered and worked hard to achieve their goal. As a school, we are very happy with the outcome and proud of our students. We thank the school community who supported raffles, Krispy Kreme drives, Bunnings BBQ’s and Trivia Nights, and thank David Baxter from Prospect IGA and Tasmanian Alkaloids for their donations and supporting our students.
What a successful achievement!
Mrs Debbie Chancellor
School Business Manager
The wellbeing of our students is important to us. To get an understanding of how students across Tasmania feel about their own wellbeing, students will be taking part in a wellbeing survey.
The Student Wellbeing Survey is part of the Department of Education’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy.
The survey will be done in class time between 24 August and 4 September and will not require your child to prepare in any way.
A letter with more information has been sent home with all students, including Frequently Asked Questions and a form to sign and return to the school if you do not want your child to participate in the survey. If you would like further information, please contact Mr Poke.
Thank you for supporting us to ensure that all our learners are safe, feel supported and are able to flourish, so that they can engage in learning.
A reminder to all families and carers that if you need to communicate with your child during the day, please contact the admin office. It is a Department of Education requirement that all mobile phones (and devices such as Smart watches) are kept in lockers from 8.35am unitl 3pm. If you need to collect your child from school throughout the day for an appointment, which cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, please follow the correct procedure to do so. Please write a note or telephone the admin office on 6344 4744 with as much notice as practicable, and staff will contact your student for them to be ready to leave when you arrive. Thank you.
This week in our Grades 9 and 10 Forensic Science option class, students completed a unit of work exploring Blood Pattern Analysis techniques by creating their own “crime scenes” to examine. Students were able to choose an object to use to attack a butternut pumpkin covered in paint. Then, they could practise collecting data and evidence to develop a hypothesis of which weapon was used and how for each other’s crime scenes.
Great work, PHS Forensic Scientists!
Last week the Grade 10s had the opportunity for an Introduction and Q&A session about their transition from Grade 10 to further learning. It took place in the Grade 10 break out area via a TEAMs meeting with presenters from the Northern Urban Collective Transition Team. Presenters went through a number of pathway options, explaining subject choices, links to TCE and VET courses and other options. This is an exciting time for our senior students, and there are some amazing opportunities out there for them.
Check out some of the new books in the library!
Tom Gates: WHAT monster? By Liz Pichon
Comical Fiction
This book contains monsters – mystery – a music festival – missing stuff – me and Marcus (not necessarily in that order), and a very strict supply teacher, but don’t let that put you off.
Caster by Elsie Chapman
Fantasy Fiction 13years+
Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Fight Club in this action-packed fantasy about a secret, underground magic fighting tournament.
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader who oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.
The Kensington Reptilarium by N.J. Gemmell
Mystery Fiction
The Caddy kids are home alone and they're having the best time ever. Until a stranger arrives with news . . . This is the story of how four loud, grubby urchins from the Australian outback find themselves in London for the first peacetime Christmas after years of war. But their new guardian hates children. He prefers the company of the hundreds of snakes in his house – the Kensington Reptilarium. Fate lends Kick, Scruff, Bert and Pin a helping hand when outraged citizens call for the Reptilarium to be shut down. With the police about to descend, can the Caddy kids warm Uncle Basti's heart – and have their Christmas wishes granted – before it's too late?
Survivors: The empty City by Erin Hunter
Fantasy Fiction
Lucky has always been a lone dog, but when the devastating Big Growl Earthquake strikes, his life changes forever. In a dangerous new world without humans, Lucky must learn to live and hunt with a pack in order to survive.
Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan
Graphic Novel
For fans of Dork Diaries and Wimpy Kid comes a funny, heartfelt story about friendship!
Natalie has never felt that she's enough - athletic enough, stylish enough, or talented enough. On the first day of middle school, Natalie discovers that things are worse than she thought: now she's not even cool enough for her best friend, Lily! As Natalie tries to get her best friend back, she learns more about her true self and natural talents. If Natalie can focus on who she is rather than who she isn't, then she just might realize she's more than enough, just the way she is.
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Fantasy Fiction 13years+
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown, and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomach ache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of beasts. But becoming the Queen Crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it's not just a game of win or lose... it's life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.
Grade 10
Pichanan strives to complete all her work to a high standard and has shown that she works well in groups and with a variety of other students. Recently she has been involved as a buddy for a new international student (as she has done many times before) and consistently works respectfully with staff to enable new students the best start at Prospect High School. Thank you, Pichanan.
Ebony has recently displayed our expectations of respect and optimism when helping with the transition of one of our international students. As part of the buddy system, Ebony ensured that our new international student found her way to classes, deciphered the timetable and always knew who to come to when in need of assistance. It was particularly wonderful to note that in her own time Ebony waited with the student and ensured that she was picked up after school. Thank you, Ebony.
Zane has shown continued dedication and enthusiasm to his studies throughout this year and has shown care and compassion to students of all grades. Zane consistently displays the PHS expectations of empathy, fairness and respect. Keep up the good work Zane, well done.
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