28 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

A Word from the Principal…

Welcome back everybody! I’d particularly like to welcome our Year 7s and new students who are joining us for the first time. With the new school year comes a fresh start and I’m pleased to see students, new and old, engaging in their learning and working productively with their teachers.

Teachers are working together across the cluster, using the Teaching and Learning Cycle to improve writing outcomes for all students from the Early Years - Year 12. We know the consistent practice of using this cycle in primary and secondary classes is making a difference as the data shows our NAPLAN results are trending up in Year 7 and 9. Our teachers will work together, using a common planning document which focuses on the cycle, looking at the best ways to support student writing for assessment. Below is the Teaching and Learning Cycle.

Uniform, Mobile Phones and LARF

I’d like to congratulate all students and parents on ensuring our uniform and mobile phone policies are being followed. We are already seeing more productivity in classrooms and more students are talking to each other in break times without the distraction of their phones. We appreciate the effort when it comes to wearing uniform and handing in your phone at the start of the day. With new research released only a few days ago with evidence of physical alterations to the brain as a result of smartphone usage, it’s satisfying to know, whilst at school students are smartphone free.

I’d also like to remind our school community about LARF which stands for:

These values underpin everything we do and we aim to exhibit them on a daily basis. Teachers and students will be working together with LARF in classes and I look forward to celebrating many successes with each year group as they actively engage with our school values.

Staffing

We welcome Mr Phil Keffer, Mrs Despina King, Mrs Megan Haworth, Mr Rohan Bones and Mr Phil Duncan to SHS. Our new staff have a good mix of experience, enthusiasm and knowledge in their chosen fields and we are excited to have them here. In the last two days of 2019, Mr Keith Bragg unexpectedly won a leadership position at Burnie High School, as such we are looking to fill his teaching position for the remainder of the year. We are currently advertising this position, in the meantime, Mrs Lauren Burgess and Mrs Tania Grey have picked up Mr Bragg’s load.

Contact home

Your child’s teacher will make contact with you in the next few weeks to provide feedback about how your child has settled into the new school year. These conversations also provide you with an opportunity to discuss any queries or concerns. The following information outlines our year group structures. Please make contact with these teachers should you have any queries on 6452 9222 or email smithton.high@education.tas.gov.au

I look forward to a productive year at SHS. Thanks for your contribution to a successful start; we realise positive relationships, including open communication with our school community is a key driver to the overall success of our school.

Nikki Clark
PRINCIPAL

Novel Coronavirus – What You Need To Know

What is novel coronavirus?

The novel coronavirus is a new virus recently detected in Hubei Province, China. Most people infected with the virus live in or travelled to Hubei Province. A small number of cases have been diagnosed outside of China, including in Australia.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath. Anyone who has recently been in China, particularly Hubei Province, should be alert for these symptoms. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to show after a person has been infected.

Should I send my child to school?

You should NOT send your child to school or childcare if:

• They have been in contact with any confirmed novel coronavirus case they should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days following exposure;
• They have recently visited Hubei Province in China they should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province; and
• They have departed mainland China and arrived in Australia on or after the 1st of February they should not attend school or childcare and remain isolated in their homes for 14 days after leaving China.
• If they arrived in Australia from mainland China (other than Hubei Province) before 1 February they can attend school or childcare, as long as they are well.

Any unwell child should also not attend school or childcare.

Should I come to work?

The above advice to remain at home for 14 days applies to any person who has been in contact with a confirmed case or recently visited mainland China.

What does ‘isolated and remain at home’ mean?

This means a person must not attend a public place, particularly work, school, childcare or university. Only people who live in the household should be in the home – no visitors.

If a person who requires isolation must leave the home, such as to seek medical care, a surgical face mask must be worn.

What do I do if my child (or myself) is sick now or within 14 days of being in mainland China?

If you or your child have recently returned from mainland China and novel coronavirus is suspected, please call your GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to speak to a Clinical Nurse Consultant. They will ask you questions and provide advice about next steps.

If serious symptoms develop, such as shortness of breath, call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Inform the paramedics of your recent travel. If novel coronavirus is suspected, tests will need to be done. Your doctor and Public Health will provide you with advice on managing the condition.

What do I do if I have a student or staff member who is sick now or within 14 days of being in mainland China?

If they have returned from mainland China on or after the 1st of February the person should remain in isolation in a room away from others. For students, the parent/guardian should be contacted immediately and told to arrange an urgent medical review.

The parent/guardian or staff member should call the GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to speak to a Clinical Nurse Consultant.

If serious symptoms develop, such as shortness of breath, call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Paramedics should be informed of their recent travel.

How can I help prevent the spread of virus and seasonal illness?

Practicing good hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. This includes:

• Washing hands regularly, including after using the toilet and before eating
• Covering mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing (with a flexed elbow or tissue, not hands)
• Disposing of any used tissues in the bin and washing hands afterwards
• Avoiding close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough

Where should I go for up-to-date information?

For the latest information, visit the Australian Department of Health website at the link below.

The Department of Education will also continue to monitor the situation and will provide updated information as it becomes available.

Who do I contact with concerns?

If you have questions about novel coronavirus, contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

What’s Up? Fishing Competition

Congratulations Hunter and Dylan on winning the Year 7 What’s Up? Fishing Competition. Thank you Luke at Clarksons Sports for donating two rods and reels and also for supporting the competition.

The fishing competition was organised by Seth, Tahj, Logan and Thomas.

Autism Workshop – 23rd March, 2020

Mental Health Care Plans

Have you been less happy than you would like to be? Not coping? Need some support?

Then getting a mental health care plan might be the right move for you!

Getting a mental health care plan can make a big difference to your headspace. A mental health care plan is a support plan for someone who is going through mental health issues. A mental health care plan gives you up to ten visits to a mental health specialist over 12 months. The Government will pay some or all of the cost for those visits (see below). Getting a mental health care plan is simple and only takes four steps.

Four steps to a happier and healthier mental headspace

Step one: book an appointment with your doctor. When you book, tell them you want to talk about a mental health care plan. That way, the doctor will know in advance and be able to set enough time.

Step two: At the appointment, talk to the doctor about what’s been going on. It helps to be as open as possible. If you’re feeling nervous, there’s no need to worry – that’s a really normal response, but doctors see people for mental health care plans all the time. They’re trained to listen, and except for in some special circumstances (which you can ask them about beforehand) what you tell them is confidential.

Step three: Your doctor might ask you to fill out a questionnaire about how you’ve been feeling to work out the best support for you.

Step four: Your doctor will refer you to one or more mental health care providers. This could be a social worker, paediatrician, psychiatrist or psychologist. Your doctor will make some suggestions to who you can see, but you can also request to see someone specific.

The price of a happier headspace?

If you have a mental health care plan, the Medicare rebate covers you for a certain amount of the value of your session – ($124.50 for 50+ minutes with a clinical psychologist). If your psychologist charges more, you’ll need to pay the difference – the “gap”. Some psychologists offer cheaper visits for concession holders, so if you’re a student or have a health care card, make sure you do your research. If you're in Year 11 or 12, you might be eligible for extra support.

It’s important to remember you won’t be able to get a referral for all ten sessions for the year in one go. Your plan will cover you for six sessions. After that, you can go back to your doctor for a review, where you’ll talk about whether it would be helpful to have another four sessions. For any further information, contact your local GP health care provider, or speak to your school nurse.

Hear Hear!

From 1st-7th March is Hearing Awareness Week.

Did you know that our hearing changes over time and is not always obvious right away?

Sometimes, our family or friends notice that our hearing has changed before we do. Hearing loss can occur in any age group and for different reasons.

There are five ways to tell if your hearing has changed:

• You ask people to repeat themselves

• Your family or friends complain about the loud volume that you have on your device
• You frequently hear a buzzing or ringing sound in your ears
• Your ears strain when you’re in a noisy place
• You miss everyday conversations or sounds.

So what do I do? The link below is a link that allows you to test your hearing free of charge and get the results. It has a 10-minute audio hearing test and a short questionnaire. Those results also identify if you should investigate your hearing loss further. To make an appointment to see a hearing specialist you can also access the same linked website, or call 6432 6500 to talk to a local Hearing Australia clinic. If you also feel that, your son/daughter has hearing concerns, contact the school office and ask for the health nurse to do a screening test.

Community News

Dates to Remember…

Term Dates & Student Free Days for 2020

Terms

Student Free Days

Year 7-10

Tuesday 4th February
Thursday 9th April
Monday 20th July
Friday 30th October

Year 11/12

Tuesday 10th March
Friday 4th 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: 0427 016 460
Email: smithton.high@education.tas.gov.au
Web: http://education.tas.edu.au/smithtonhigh/Pages/Home.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smithton-High-School/219062138251149