It is hard to believe we are at the end of Term 1!  This term has focused on students developing relationships with their peers and teachers, establishing learning routines and developing an understanding of what teaching and learning looks like at Reece High School.  Well done to all students for their positive and productive start to the school year!

Staff Farewell

Mrs Maree Cole is retiring at the end of this term after 19 years as a teacher assistant at Reece High School. Over her journey, Maree has touched the lives of so many at Reece High and has been an amazing wealth of knowledge in the development of our Intervention and WINN programs. We wish Maree all the best in the next chapter of her life and hope she will be in to see us regularly.

Progress Report

Progress Reports will be sent out on Wednesday of Week 10. The purpose of the report is to inform parents about how their child is settling into school and to advise them of any early areas of concern.  We are dictated to by the reporting template in how much information we can provide. If you would like to discuss information from the report, please contact the office and organise an appointment with your child’s teacher.

 NAPLAN

Well done to all students in Yr 7 and 9 who have recently completed NAPLAN testing. Seeing students put in their best effort and having a growth mindset about what they can do has been inspiring. We look forward to celebrating their results and growth later in the year.

 Uniform Expectations

I would like to again thank parents and students for the effort they have made to make sure they are in full school uniform. The school uniform builds a sense of connectedness among students and to the school.  When worn well, it enhances how individuals and the school are viewed in the community.  Uniform also means that students can easily be identified as members of RHS, increasing safety and supervision for all students

As we head into the cooler months, we want to ensure that all students have warm uniform options to wear. Along with the school hoodie, jacket, and jumper, students can wear a black puffer jacket at break times and before/after school. Puffer jackets cannot be worn in any classes. I would also like to highlight that long sleeves of colour undershirts are not part of our uniform policy.  We now have a long-sleeve polo available as part of our uniform.

Seeking Kinmen Homestay Hosts

From the 25^th of July until the 15^th of August, Reece High will be hosting 12 international students from Kinmen County (Taiwan). This is a fantastic opportunity for students from Kinmen County to live with a local family and enjoy a genuine cultural immersion. The Kinmen students will attend school each day with their host family.  

Homestay Program

Education International (EI) arranges homestay accommodation for international students in Tasmanian Government schools (grades 9-12).

Hosts can be single, a family, or empty nesters – and you can choose to host for a period of time that suits your lifestyle.

Enrich your family life by sharing it with a young person from another culture.

Hosts provide:

• a safe, supportive & welcoming home environment
• a private, furnished bedroom inside the family home (not a separate dwelling)
• all meals and snacks
• use of utilities (i.e. water, electricity, internet and heating)
• use of facilities (e.g. TV, iron, vacuum cleaner, laundry)

Education International provide:

• Homestay resources and ongoing support
• 24-hour emergency telephone service
• An allowance of $330 per week (single room)

Give it a go, and embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Register your interest here:

More information to become a homestay host – Tasmanian Government Education International

e-Scooters

There has been an increase in the popularity of e-scooters over the past few years. E-Scooters are classed as Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), which are small, electrically powered devices designed to transport one person over short to medium distances.

A device is a PMD if it is electrically powered and:

• has at least one wheel
• is less than 125cm long, 70cm wide, and 135cm high
• is less than 45kg
• is not capable of travelling faster than 25km/h
• is designed for use by one person.

The definition of a PMD aims to include a variety of micro-mobility technologies, such as e-scooters, e-skateboards, self-balancing hoverboards, and one-wheel devices.

Bicycles, motorised scooters, motorised wheelchairs, and wheeled recreational devices are not PMDs.

Under Tasmanian laws, a person must be 16 years or older to ride a PMD. Children under 16 will still be permitted to use low-powered e-scooters that do not exceed 200 watts and 10km/h.

All PMD users must wear an approved helmet. PMD users must not exceed 15km/h on footpaths and 25km/h on shared paths, bicycle paths, and roads. PMD users must also ride with due care and attention, as well as consideration for other road users. This means that even if users comply with the speed limits for PMDs, they may be liable for a fine if they are riding irresponsibly.

PMDs are designed for use by one person, and PMD users cannot carry a passenger or animal.

Tasmania Police enforce road and traffic laws. PMD users may face penalties, such as a fine, if they do not follow the road rules. Police also have the power to temporarily confiscate a PMD.

Find out more info at: Personal mobility devices – Transport Services

Just a reminder 

Inter-High Swimming Carnival Success!

On March 26th, our school’s swim team made a splash at the Inter-High Swimming Carnival, bringing home the Division B Championship! Our swimmers showed outstanding skill, determination, and team spirit throughout the day. A huge congratulations to all team members for their efforts in the pool. Special mention goes to our outstanding performers:

Year 7 Girls Runner-Up: Mya H

Year 8 Girls Champion: Beth T

Year 9 Girls Champion: Mel S

Next year, we look forward to taking a bigger team to represent Reece High as we move to Division A!

What's Been Happening in Year 8......

Since coming back from camp, we have been very busy in Year 8. With lots of learning to get on with since building connections and relationships at Camp Banksia, we have been very focussed in all subject areas.

MATHS

In Maths and WINN, we have been finishing up our Finance unit, learning about percentages, reverse percentages, and tax tables. Hopefully, this will come in very handy when we are shopping and doing our tax returns in the future! Students have also been unpacking the first five Index Laws and applying the rules associated with each law. As the term end draws near, we will be assessing the learning that has occurred in the last part of the term to celebrate our growth.

In week 7, a small group of students completed a math problem-solving competition. This formed part of their extension pathway. It was a fun and challenging experience for those who participated.

SCIENCE

In Science, students have been learning about the human body, undertaking lessons on the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and skeletal systems. As part of this unit, students participated in a heart dissection in the lab. Mel ran students through how to dissect the sheep's heart, and students were able to view the aorta, the vena cava, and all four chambers of the heart, with some students even seeing the chordae tendinae (heart strings) in their sheep's heart. 

ENGLISH

As we wrap up the term in English, students have been diving into informative texts with a focus on environmental impact. They have been thoughtfully annotating One Bottle at a Time, honing their analytical skills in preparation for their final summative assessment. It’s been fantastic to see their critical thinking and engagement with real-world issues!

HASS

Meanwhile, in HASS, students have been exploring Australian values, our government, and the laws that shape our society. To conclude the unit, they will take on the role of lawmakers, designing their own laws they believe should be implemented in Australia. This hands-on activity encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how laws influence our daily lives.

We’re looking forward to seeing their insightful ideas come to life!

Year 8 Camp By  Darcie Fagen

Year 8 camp 2025 was a packed, fun adventure where we got together and got to connect with each other more. We got to know more about our teachers during a fun trivia night where we learnt some fun facts and hidden talents of theirs. Some grade 8s were in their element opting to go in a swag or tent, others chose a warmer option and stayed in a cabin.

We started our camp with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony by Brodie, the aboriginal educator. We then split into six groups for rotations. The rotations included Minute to Win it games, a beach walk, bracelet making, sports challenges, and table tennis. During bracelet making,g we traced hands and wrote what we like about country as ‘Close the Gap’ day was approaching. We used the hands to create an Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait islander flag.

We also made a year 8 banner where we all got to include drawings or symbols that reminded us of camp and what made camp special to us.

The following day, we all woke up with very little sleep. We went for a walk down to the Port Sorell Surf Club and walked back with no one complaining, which we were all greatly appreciative of. After cleaning and packing up, we were all keen to head on home.

As I write these words, dear readers, it is hard to hold back the tears. Term 1 is drawing to a close, and the two-week holiday break is about to begin. Many students have shared their personal sadness about being separated from their Year 10 teachers. One student, reflecting on their creative writing in English class, even described themselves as a "destitute sock puppet—empty of emotion and a hand."

But fear not, for the exciting learning opportunities of Term 2 await you after the holidays! Before we wrap up Term 1, there are several major assessments to complete. The final science test on the periodic table is fast approaching, so be sure to harness your enthusiasm for the subject and prepare diligently.

Here's an update on your subjects:

• English: Students are diving into creative writing.
• Mathematics: The study of simultaneous equations has been completed.
• History: Lessons on World War II will continue for the remainder of the term.

Wishing you all a fantastic holiday break, and I can't wait for the adventures of Term 2 to begin!