Moderation Day/Student Free Day

Today, our staff combined with the staff at Devonport High School to run our annual moderation process. This opportunity provided dedicated time for teachers to moderate with colleagues from another school. Our teachers spent time moderating work samples from students at both Devonport High and Reece High. This process allows all teachers to build consensus and understanding of where students are rated for particular pieces of work. It is very timely work as we head into mid-year reporting.

Matilda: The Musical – JR

Our school production of Matilda JR: The Musical, is progressing well and on track for performances at the start of August. Tickets are selling really well and most shows are approaching capacity. It has been great to see the support and sponsorship from our local primary school and local businesses. There has been great traction in the community with support for this as well.

Our students are motivated and enthusiastic about the show. Many of them are keen to give up more time to rehearse and do odd jobs to support the show's success.

Another positive has been the cross-grade pollination between kids. There have been countless positive interactions between kids and a great culture of helping each other to shine. I personally love opportunities like these for students to be able to see them excel in a different area to their usual classroom. Get your tickets at: trybooking.com

Big Freeze – 2024

On Friday 14^th June we have our Big Freeze/Fight MND event. Students can come to school in their PJs, Oodies, warm clothes, slippers, and beanies. Please make sure these are appropriate for wearing in public. We will be collecting gold coin donations on the day. Prefects will also be collecting donations from classes during the week – the more we raise, the more staff will go down the slide into the icy pool. The class with the most money raised will have the opportunity to all go down the slide. Each class will also have a nominated person to go down the slide. Food and treats will be available for purchase on the day. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday there will also be winter/cold-themed activities at lunchtime.

Years 11 & 12 at Reece High School

At Reece High School, our Year 10 students have started investigating what 2025 will look like for them. Reece High is working closely with Don College and the Mersey/Leven Collective to make sure that our students are well-informed about the course options available to them, so their transition is as smooth as possible. You are most likely aware of the Tasmanian government's plan for extending Years 11 and 12 into high schools. Currently, we have 2 students enrolled in Years 11 and 12 at RHS. For some of our students, the change to Year 11 can be very challenging. It is with these students in mind, that we are working with Don College, Devonport High School, Latrobe High School, Ulverstone Secondary College and Sheffield School to investigate alternative programs for these students. These programs are personalised to the individual student’s needs and may include study at their high school. Work has begun reviewing student data to identify those students who may need additional support in order to complete Grade 12. The aim is to assist all of our students in completing their Tasmanian Certificate of Education.

If you feel your child may struggle with the transition to Don College and might benefit from an alternative transition process, please contact Mr Jesse Connors (Transition Coordinator) at school on 6420 8100 or alternatively, Miss Amber Loone (AST Year 11 and 12) on 6420 8100.

Below are some web-based resources that would help with subject selection and give parents and students access to information that will be helpful.

Resources

Don College Website:    http://doncollege.education.tas.edu.au

TCE planner:       https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/students/course-planner/

Attendance

Finally, I wanted to highlight the Department’s new Every School Day Matters campaign and the importance that attendance has on the outcomes for our young people. We know this increases engagement with learning and actively supports students to participate in their learning.

Here is the link to watch the campaign message https://youtu.be/2hSg5_ys-2w

Student Achievement

Recently, at the North West Athletics Dinner, Sianna, in Year 8, took out the U16 women’s champion.  Sianna then went on to win the U16 Women’s Athlete of the Year at the Tasmanian Athletics Dinner on the 25th of May in Hobart at the Domain. What an amazing achievement! Sianna has also been selected for the State TTP Program for Athletes. As a school, we are so very proud of her achievements and know she is an absolute inspiration for so many.

Here is a picture of Sianna from the Tasmanian Athletics dinner with her awards.

As we dive into Term 2, our Year 7 students are turning up the heat, working more independently and whipping up some tasty dishes. They've been busy making chicken fried rice, chocolate cake, savory muffins, and self-saucing puddings. Talk about a culinary adventure! They're also mastering the art of time management in the kitchen, aiming to finish cooking and clean up before the end of the lesson.

Year 8 students have been egg-citedly challenging themselves by designing their own egg-centric recipes. The kitchen has been buzzing with creativity, serving up pavlova nests, macarons, crème brûlée, and cheesecakes. Sure, not everything went off without a hitch, but the flops were just as educational as the successes, sparking lots of reflection and learning.

In Year 9 Hospitality, students have been embracing the French concept of "Mise En Place," which translates to "Everything in its Place." This organisational wizardry helps them spot potential recipe pitfalls and ensures they have all the necessary utensils. As they hone this skill, they're becoming kitchen maestros with top-notch organisation and time management abilities.

Some of our Year 10 Hospitality students are in for a treat, with a day-long coffee course at TasTafe coming up at the end of the month. They'll learn the art of coffee making and earn a certificate of attendance, a perfect perk for future job opportunities. We're all about developing life skills and practical work skills in Year 10, and this coffee course is just one of the many ways we're preparing them for the future.

Meanwhile, our canteen has embraced the winter vibes with a menu full of hearty favorites like curried sausages and potato mash, meatballs, and warm curries. Don't forget to preorder your delicious meals at the start of the day or during recess by heading over to the kitchens.

Here's to another exciting term filled with culinary creativity and tasty triumphs!

In Year 7 Science, we have been doing our “Separating Mixtures” unit this term.  Students have completed Evaporation, Filtering, Chromatography and Crystallisation experiments.  Along with this, we have been learning to write Science reports after these experiments and how to incorporate scientific language into our writing.  We have enjoyed the opportunity to be in the laboratory regularly this term.

Maths and Science

In Maths, Year 9 have progressed off Data and Statistics and have begun work on Linear Functions. This involves understanding coordinates and relationships on a cartesian plane (x and y axis). We will relate the theoretical functions to real-world scenarios.

In Science, we have returned to the second Chemistry Unit which is building off what we had started last term. Students will learn how reactions change the environment and understand terms such as “Physical vs Chemical” and “Endothermic vs Exothermic”.

English and HASS

In English, students have been continuing to explore the book “By the River” including literacy circles where students have different roles to play in expressing their interpretation.

In HASS, we have been exploring the causes and effects of the industrial revolution. This involves an upcoming mini-assessment to demonstrate their understanding of this topic. This unit will be finishing up shortly.

As well as being engaged in class, Year 10 students have been busy engaging in extra-curricular activities these past few weeks. In week 4, we had a group of students participate in the Health Careers Expo which was held at the Mersey Community Hospital. As part of this program, students had the opportunity to learn about different careers in the health industry, and participate in simulation activities where they had to diagnose illnesses and even take blood! We would like to thank the University of Tasmania for organising such a terrific event.  

We were impressed with the efforts of the year 10 cohort at our cross country last week. There were some amazing examples of Best Effort – from those who made the top five, to those who simply participated in their first-ever cross country. A special mention goes to our winners, Chloe and Tyson. Tyson even managed to break the record for Year 10 boys! 

Last Thursday saw year 10 students participate in the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA). RYDA provides students with the tools and understanding they need to see themselves as active, responsible road citizens. Students who participated have the opportunity to add 5 hours to their learner driver logbooks. Instructions on how to redeem these hours can be found on our Year 10 homegroup page on TEAMs.  

I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that year 10 students will sit exams in weeks 8 and 9. They will have four: English, Maths, Science and HASS. Students have been encouraged to start studying for these exams and to seek support from their teachers. Please find attached an image of our term planner which highlights when the exams will be. While we use the exams for academic purposes, there is also a valuable lesson for students to learn about study skills, managing time, and looking for ways to manage stress. These are all things your child’s teacher will be supporting your child with in the coming weeks. Please take the time to ‘check in’ with your child about their studying and preparations for the exams. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact your child’s teacher.