29 September 2023

A Word from the Principal…

Tuesday we had our final term assembly where we celebrated student achievement in a range of areas:

• Performing Arts - Year 7 Drama Eisteddfod and the Tasmanian Rock Challenge finals
• Applied Science
• ICAS testing
• Athletics and Cross Country

I was lucky to be in Launceston to watch Shayla and Bronte perform at the final of the Tassie Rock Challenge. Their performance was top notch and the growth they’ve shown from Year 7 to now has been really profound. They held their own and did Smithton High proud.

Performing on stage or in front of an audience is an area most people try to avoid. I’m really proud of our Year 7 Drama students for sharing their mime, duologue and monologue with our school community. Australian celebrities such as Margo Robbie, Rebel Wilson and Chris Hemsworth took Drama in high school, and we know where they ended up. We just may have some stars in the making.

Many of the students who received certificates and medals for Athletics and Cross Country have been recognised for their efforts since they started in Year 7. These students have consistently performed to an outstanding level in these events over the last three years, which is a real credit to them.

We had students receive great results in the ICAS testing and were presented with certificates for outstanding academic achievement in Maths and Science. Our students are rated against the achievement of the rest of the world during this testing and their results place them in great stead for success into the future. Likewise, our students performed exceptionally well in the Circular Head Science Gig and the Burnie Big Science Fair, winning major awards and receiving high commendations. We are really proud of our students and their achievements and I thank staff and families for providing the support these students needed to participate and succeed in their events.

Farewell to Andrea ‘Wils’ Wilson

Ms Wilson started teaching here in 1998. She has supported many teachers and students during her time at Smithton High through various mentoring roles. Her support and care is far too great to count, but I know her influence has been critical to everyone she has worked with during her teaching career. Smithton High School and the Circular Head community is significantly in her debt and all the better having been taught, led and supported by Ms Wilson.

On behalf of the past and present staff and students of Smithton High, we wish her all the best as she enjoys some ‘me time’ after years and years of generosity, serving and giving to others. Thank you for your dedication, good humour and caring nature – you thoroughly deserve this break. We will miss you dearly.

Nikki Clark
Principal

Athletics Carnival

We held our school Athletics carnival back in Term 1. Due to a number of events being held outside of the carnival time slot, the results took some time to gather. We can finally announce our athletics and field champions and runners-up. Congratulations to:

Our Cross Country Carnival was held during normal PE lessons in Term 2. Here are the results of this:

Congratulations to Perkins house who successfully won both carnivals. What a great team effort!

Year 7 Food & Textiles

Year 7 students have been constantly working on their cooking skills. From deserts to pasta, students are gaining confidence in the kitchen. This time students experimented with bacteria ‘Saccharomyces cerevisiae’ commonly known as yeast. Students took good care of their bacteria, they activated it, fed it and watched it grow. Following this, students used their experiment to make pizzas from scratch. The result was delicious.

Year 9/10 Spanish

In the Spanish unit students have been learning a great deal of words and sentences using games, and interactive activities, but also learning about culture and places. In this opportunity students practiced how to order some food in Spanish. They were delighted to receive some Mexican dishes prepared by the hospitality team.

Paddock to Plate Excursion

Students participated in a site visit of Yolla District School and the courses offered to Year 11 and 12 students.  Students participated in activities from Certificate II in Aquaculture, Agriculture and Animal Care.  Thank you to John Lehman and the students for showing us around.

Sustainability Excursion

Year 7 and 8 students went to Burnie High School to take part in the Sustainability and Youth Climate Change Leaders Conference, organised by Sustainable Living Tasmania, UTAS and the Tasmanian government. Students had a live session with famous TV presenter Costa Georgiadis from Gardening Australia. SHS students Alexis Stokes and Hannah Sutton-Collins, along with their mentor Kylie Hanson presented their sustainability project to the audience, which included their mosaic art and work in the bee garden. Furthermore, students reflected on sustainability concepts such as recycling, upcycling and alternatives to engage in sustainable practices. They also visited Burnie High School’s farm where they interacted with other students and exchanged ideas that will support their future projects.

Big Science Fair 2023- Burnie

Recently Smithton High School entered six practical research projects into the annual UTAS Science Fair. This year around 20 other projects were submitted from North West regional schools located in Wynyard, Burnie, Penguin and other regional towns.

We were delighted to have a project completed by Ashka and Asten win the Year 9-12 High School section. We also had a project completed by Gabbie and Jayda receive a Highly Commended certificate. It was pleasing to see our students involved in science and represent our school with distinction.

Biggest Morning Teas

On behalf of the 2023 Year Ten Student Executive Council, we would like to thank everyone who purchased a box of delicious cooking for our Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. On Wednesday 13^th September, we managed to deliver over 150 boxes to various businesses around the community. A huge thank you to all parents and staff who helped keep us organised, donated cooking or ingredients & gave us valuable advice. It was a rewarding day for the SEC and Smithton High School & we managed to raise over $1500 for the Cancer Council of Australia!

By: Kishani & Hannah.

Visual Arts - CHArts

This year students from the elective Visual Art classes have submitted a range of pieces to the CHARTS Festival. Students from Year 9 to Year 12 have created submissions that draw on the knowledge and skills that they have acquired throughout the year. Many of the canvases are bold and vivid pieces that show the Visual Arts students knowledge of concepts such as the psychedelic, expressionism, surrealism, and modernist influences.

We would like to thank the students for their accomplished pieces which has required time and effort. We acknowledge that these Visual Artists of tomorrow have brought their own vision and talent to this exhibition and that they have not only grown and matured as Visual Artists, but display the potential to continue to grow and achieve.

Youth Mentors

Students have been hands on in the bee garden recently. With the new reset room up and running, the bee garden has been incorporated into this space.

The bee garden will now be used as an outdoor option for those students that wish to engage in the space and will eventually incorporate our five senses; sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing to empower students to self-regulate and get in touch with nature when needed. It’s hoped that through self-regulation, it will bring positive experiences to help sustain positive interest for students and staff members.

Some students have been busy relocating the existing pond to make way for a swing for students to use, this was hard work and was done in one day! All materials were reused in the relocation process (even the tadpoles). Many conversations were based on our environment and how we can better look after our space.

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