4 March 2024

A Word from the Principal…

It’s been fantastic welcoming students back to school. The Year 7s are settling in well which is pleasing because transitioning from primary to high school is a daunting experience for many students and their families. They are spending time developing class routines and expectations which enables successful learning to take place. The other year groups have been adjusting to being at school in new classes while their teachers are working hard to establish effective learning routines and habits.

Our school values - Learn, Achieve, Respect and Fairness or LARF are being discussed in our pastoral care time which occurs every Thursday in block 3 and 4. LARF provides clear expectations for all of us around what we do and how we do it, when in and out of the classroom.  For example, in 7.3 students have been looking at the value – Respect. They listed their ideas about what Respect means and they chose an idea which they shared with the class, focusing on what they would expect to see and hear students doing in our school. They also identify what they wouldn’t want to see or hear. Shortly, year teams will be thinking about how they will implement positive rewards for students who are demonstrating our LARF values consistently. Again, what this looks like for each year group may be different, but recognition is the key factor which provides an important opportunity to acknowledge students who consistently demonstrate our values. 

When students leave class, they need to follow our leaving class procedure which means they need to have either a toilet pass, RESET card or a signed note from their teacher to be out of class. They also need to sign the leaving class sheet in the classroom when leaving and returning. From a safeguarding and duty of care perspective we always need to know where students are.  Teaching staff will ask to see the pass or note when students are out of class and those students who don’t have a valid pass or note will be taken back to their class with the expectation of making up the time they were out. Students can’t actively learn when they are not in class, therefore we expect them to arrive on time to all classes and follow the leaving class procedure. Teachers will be contacting parents/carers if their child is not turning up to class on time or leaving class without permission. Time lost by not being in class at the start of each lesson or leaving without permission significantly impacts your child’s learning which is why your child is at school.

We would appreciate your support by talking with your child about being punctual to class, establishing good routines, being organised, showing resilience and have some grit and determination to do their best, even when things are a bit tough. These are critical and important life skills that will help your child have better life and career opportunities in the future.

Introducing our Teachers:

Contact Information:

Please contact your child’s teacher when you need to pass on information or discuss any concerns.

Smithton High School - 64529222. 

School Priorities for 2024

•  Reading
• Calm and orderly classrooms - effective management strategies and high quality teaching and learning practices focusing on team planning structures and consistent use of pedagogical practices.
•  Attendance
•  Safeguarding

Important Dates:

•  NAPLAN: 13th-22nd March (more info to come)
•  Athletic Carnival: Friday the 22nd March (more info to come)

Key Notices and Reminders:

Attendance - Every school day matters. Parents/guardians - please support your child to get to school every day. If your child is absent, please explain their absence by calling the office on 64529222 or through the SchoolZine APP.

Nikki Clark
Principal

EdSmart

Our School will be switching over to a new messaging platform for communicating with you. This will replace our current system MGM.

The new platform, called EdSmart is an Australian platform which is designed to improve communication in school communities by allowing electronic messaging i.e. SMS and emails. For now, it will be used to manage absence messages. You will receive a SMS or email alert if your child is absent from school requesting a response. It will also allow us to send a communication message to all parent/guardians.

The platform will, over time, be rolled out across all Tasmanian Government Schools and new features will be added. 

You will receive a text message and/or an email with further details.  Note, the text message sender will be a shortened version of our school’s name - Please keep an eye out for it!

Further information is available on the Department’s website
Communicating with your child's school - Department for Education, Children and Young People (decyp.tas.gov.au)

Safeguarding Training

All volunteers and external service providers on DECYP sites must complete a 15 minute Safeguarding Training Module before working with any children or young people this year.

Volunteers and service providers can access the new Safeguarding Training Module at 

When you sign in at the office for your first visit to Smithton High School, you will be asked to show that you have completed the Mandatary Reporting Training, this can be a photo of the completion certificate on your phone. You will only have to show this once each year as we will keep a register at the office.

Working with Vulnerable People Card

With RWVP’s it is now a requirement by DECYP that RWVP registration status is checked EVERYTIME you visit the school, so please ensure you have your card on you for presentation at the office. Thank you for your understanding as we all work together to keep our students safe. Please contact the school office if you require any additional information.

Reading

Vaping – resources available for families and students

Vaping continues to be a trend amongst children and young people.

Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, are similar to smoking cigarettes, but don’t use tobacco.

Instead, vapes are a battery-operated device which heats a liquid. This liquid turns into an aerosol and is inhaled.  Like smoking cigarettes, vaping is highly addictive. Research shows that young people are three times as likely to start smoking if they vape.

While Tasmanian law says that a person under 18 can’t use, possess or buy vapes, we know that some young people are doing it because they believe it’s a safer option than smoking cigarettes.

It’s important to work together to educate them about the health impacts of vaping and the harm it can cause on their short- and long-term physical health.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People has a dedicated webpage with information and resources for teachers, parents/carers and young people.  This includes tips for talking to your children about vaping and how you can support them in quitting.  The attached fact sheet also has some useful information to help support you in with these conversations.

At a school level, we are approaching vaping as a health issue. We use a range of educational resources to help students make healthy choices and informed decisions.

It’s important that we all work together to nurture the wellbeing of students so they can continue to grow, thrive and succeed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with either your child’s teacher or Principal.

E-Cigarettes

Student Medications

If a student requires medication whilst at school, please discuss with your child’s teacher and school administration staff to ensure that our First Aid Officers, Mrs Jackson & Mrs Kay, are clearly advised on how to administer the medication. Written permission (Education Department Medication Form) must be provided for any non-prescribed (e.g. Panadol) or prescribed medication to be taken by your child. Medication must be given to the school in its original packaging. The form for prescribed medication must be signed by the doctor or chemist who administers the prescription. Education Department Medication Forms are available at the school office.

Year 7 News

Year 7 students have been settling in well to new routines and procedures here at SHS. They have been very busy during all lessons learning a variety of different things from exciting Science experiments to visiting the school farm.

Science

Last week the Year 7s have been learning how to operate Bunsen Burners safely in the school laboratory. Lots of fun was had testing the differences between a safety and working flame.

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Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care saw all Year 7s working together for Clean Up Australia Day! We also had time competing in basketball, cricket and football, with some of us choosing to work on Art.

Visiting the school farm

7.2 were recently working through “what makes a great community”, while touring our school farm and meeting some of the residents there.

Work Placement

On Wednesday 28^th Feb, the Year 9/10 Work placement class went for a tour of Britton Timbers ‘Green side’. Students were amazed by the different stages the logs went through to be made into various products. They were also impressed by the vast range of jobs that the company has to offer. We appreciate the time and effort taken from the Britton’s team to show our students around the mill and look forward to our tour of the ‘Dry side’ next week.

MDT Projects

Year 9/10 Woodwork class have been refining their skills to build a set of shelves. Well done team!

Foods and Textiles

Year 9/10 Students from the Foods and Textiles class were excited to create baked spring rolls during class. It was great to see students take on some challenges including julienning carrots and working with unique ingredients.

9.1 Maths

Year 9s have been busy in maths, calculating the perimeter and area of squares, rectangles, circles, semi-circles and composite shapes using the different markings on the gym floor.

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House Captains

Well done to our House Captains Zarna, Sophie, Joel, Toby, William & Naite for helping Smithton Primary School at their athletics carnival recently. They also attended the CHSSSA carnival and demonstrated excellent leadership skills.

New Library Books

Community News

Dates to Remember…

Term Dates 2024

Student Free Days 2024

Year 7-10
Friday 7^th June
Friday 1^st November

Years 11/12
Thursday 28^th March
Friday 6^th September

Office Hours

8.30am – 3.30pm daily
School Starts: 8.50am
School Finishes: 3.00pm

School Office Ph: 6452 9222
Trade Training Centre Ph: 6452 9288

SMS: 0418 220 201
Email: smithton.high@decyp.tas.gov.au
Web: http://education.tas.edu.au/smithtonhigh/Pages/Home.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smithton-High-School/219062138251149