Dear Parents, Students and Friends of Prospect High School,

Welcome to past, present and new parents, students and friends of Prospect High School, in particular families of Grade 7 and families of new students in Grade 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. I am pleased to report there has certainly been a buzz around the school with reconnecting of friends and staff and engagement in learning has been excellent. 

I feel very privileged to lead a school with such a fantastic team of teaching and non-teaching staff. Students will be provided with excellent learning programs and opportunities to participate in a range of educational activities throughout this and subsequent years of high school.

I would like to welcome the following staff members:

Chaplain – Mr Tobais Verhaegh

Teacher Assistants – Ms Jessica Barnett, Mr Andrew Bayes, Mr Alec Crosswell

Mr Andrew Bayes

 Mr Alec Crosswell

Grade 7 Team – Ms Katie Davies, Ms Jessica Teesdale

Ms Jess Teesdale

Grade 8 Team – Senior Grade Leader Mr Brendan Liddell, Mr Zac Saville

 Mr Brendan Liddell

Mr Zac Saville

Grade 9 Team – Mrs Helen Carnell,  Ms Carolyn Smith

Mrs Helen Carnell

Grade 10 Team – Mr Aaron Gilligan (on leave) Mr Ariel Halperin, Ms Emily Burn

Ms Emily Burn

Covid Safe Practices

As mentioned the first few days back have certainly been positive, but very different due to Covid. Prospect High School has a number of practices to keep students Covid safe – masks to be worn inside, sanitising hands when entering classrooms, physical distancing inside and out,  no sharing of food or drink, and encouraging sneezes to be covered. Students are also requested to wash hands before eating and clean the equipment after use. Parents and visitors are asked to check-in. Please note students are to be kept home if unwell.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind our school community that mask-wearing for high school students is a Public Health directive – students have to do this.  Further information is available on the following links:

https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/

https://www.education.tas.gov.au/

2022 Student Leader Induction Assembly

As we are not in a position where we can have a full school assembly and/or have parents attend due to current DoE Covid Restrictions we held a Student Leader Induction Assembly for Grade 10 students and staff only. Congratulations and well done to the following Student Leaders for 2022.

The school community is looking forward to working with you.

Duty of Care

A reminder that staff are not on duty until 8.20am and that students should not be on school grounds or inside school buildings until this time. Prior to this, students are the responsibility of parents and/or carers.

Attendance and lateness 

It is vital that students attend school every day. A sense of purpose and commitment is achieved with regular attendance. Every child has a chance of success with their learning when they attend regularly. Please encourage your children to value their education and help them become organised and attend every day. Please make appointments before or after school hours. It is also important to get your child to school on time. Care starts at 8.40am. Students miss important information when they arrive late. Please do not let your child be late. This can develop into a poor habit that affects learning when prolonged.

Uniform

Students are looking very smart in the Prospect High School summer uniform. Well done to students for representing the school with pride and thanks to parents for your support. A reminder that white socks (without logos or markings) are required to be worn. Failure to wear these may mean restricted participation in school activities and/or restricted movement in areas of the school. The uniform shop has a supply of white socks and other items of uniform.  I would like to remind parents of uniform requirements and that no writing, logos or stripes should appear on any item (shorts, track pants, socks, long pants) except for the Prospect High School logo. Sports clothes, such as Adidas, Nike, socks, shorts, and track pants can ONLY be worn for Physical Education lessons and sporting activities. A reminder also that shorts should be mid-thigh length. The School Association have endorsed our uniform dress code and support the following reasons that full school uniform should be worn:

1. Sense of Belonging

When students are dressed in school uniform, they all have a sense of belonging to the Prospect High School community.

2. Safety

It is easy to identify people who should not be on the school grounds if Prospect students are in full school uniform.

3. Judgements About Our School

We present a positive image to the wider community if all our students are in school uniform and people are more likely to make positive judgements about our school and our students.

4. Social Equalisation

Students are not judged on the basis of what they are wearing if all students are in school uniform. Having all students in school uniform sends a strong message that we value all students equally.

5. Preparing for Expectations in the World of Work

Many workplaces have a uniform and most workplaces have a dress code, so we are preparing students for the world of work by asking them to be in the habit of wearing a uniform at school.

Reminders

We require the return of validation forms which are usually collected at book sales. These allow students to use computers, have photos taken, attend excursions, etc. Can you please ask your child about these and sign and return as soon as possible?

Students are encouraged to use the QR app at the office and canteen for purchases. If students do not have this app they will need to order food at the administration office before Care, ie before 8.35.

For your information, students are unable to use mobile phones during the day. In accordance with the DoE policy phones are to be off at the start of the day, which for us is 8.35, put away lockers for the entire day, and can be removed from lockers at the end of the day - 3pm.

Finally, I am looking forward to working with families to ensure a year of continuous improvement, growth, achievement, and success for all students.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child/ren’s teacher/s if you wish to discuss their learning or if you have any concerns.

Mrs Lee Barker

Principal

In the information pamphlet contained in your rapid antigen test, under section 6.0 there is an instruction stating ‘you must take a laboratory PCR test immediately’ if your RAT test is positive.

Public Health assures us that school staff and students do not need to do a PCR test if their RAT test is positive. If you have any concerns, please contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Students can continue to collect additional RAT tests from the school as required.

These safety procedures are designed to ensure students are safe and do not walk through traffic.

Please note - Students MUST NOT be dropped off or collected from the front or rear of the school.

• Zone 1 – Drop off and pick up only
  Cars are not to wait in this zone.  This will allow traffic to continue to flow.
• Zone 2 – Drop off, pick up, waiting
• Zone 3 – Waiting only

• Cars are not allowed to drop off, or pick up in Zone 3 because Zone 3 is not next to the footpath where students enter the school.
• Parents/guardians will need to move from Zone 3 to vacant spots in Zone 1 or Zone 2 when dropping off, or picking up students.
• Students can signal or text parents when they are on the footpath at a vacant spot in Zone 1 or Zone 2 ready to be picked up at the end of the day.

Polo Tops:  Unfortunately due to more Covid delays in processing, the polo tops have still not arrived. As soon as they arrive we will fill all backorders and get them out to students. We will also put the new stock up on QKR once they arrive and notify parents so they are able to order extras. We understand this is inconvenient and thank you for your patience.

Bucket Hats:  These are now out of stock due to popular demand. We do still have plenty of PHS caps in stock. We will notify parents/students once the bucket hats are back in stock.

Grade 7:

Maka (7.4) for using his initiative in class and showing persistence.

Tyson (7.5) has been nominated for a Grade 7 working wonder for his positive start to the year. Tyson has been enthusiastic and motivated in all of his classes. Keep up the great work, Tyson!

School Executive

Principal
Mrs Lee Barker

Assistant Principals
Mr Mario Bergamin and Ms Bonnie Hall

School Business Manager
Mrs Debbie Chancellor

Grade Teams

Senior Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mr Brendan Poke
Grade 8 Mr Brendan Liddell
Grade 9 Ms Anna Collins
Grade 10 Ms Sandra De Paoli
Years 11/12 Ms Jennifer Pollard

Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Miss Kirsty Wilson
Grade 8 Mr Brad Colson
Grade 9 Mr Steven Andrews
Grade 10 Mr Will Reynolds
Years 11/12 Mrs Jan Phillips Mr Thomas Leydon

Support Staff

School Psychologist
Mr Gene Colgrave
(Mondays and Fridays)

School Social Worker
Mr Brendan Dixon
(Monday, Thursdays and alternate Tuesdays)

School Health Nurse
Mrs Mia Blair
(Monday and alternate Tuesdays)

Chaplain
Mr Tobias Verhaegh
(Monday and Tuesday)