Montrose Bay High School Newsletter - Term 2 Week 9
Principal's Report
Dear Families,
Welcome to our term two, week nine newsletter. Our newsletter comes out every week four and nine of each term. It is emailed to our families that are on our email list and is also uploaded to Facebook and available in printed copy at our front office. We also celebrate learning and share news every day on our Facebook Page and reminders on the digital signage on the Brooker Highway.
Staffing updates
- Jonathon Cook AP of Grade 10 is currently on leave (Jack Young and Millie Clifford will be APs on Grade 10 until Mr Cook returns).
Grade 7: Frances Cole AP and Matt Rice AST
Grade 8: Ella Hansson AP and Liam Rice AST
Grade 9: Sam Cure AP and Eli Luttmer AST
Grade 10: Millie Clifford and Jack Young AP and Dave Watkins AST
Grade 11/12: Danni Bewley AST
Uniform Changes - Updated
We have been working with our student leaders this year around some new and warmer uniform items for our students. So far, they have decided upon a new school beanie and a new ¾ zippered jumper both items are now in stock. They are now also working on a MBHS Hoodie which we have some samples of and are now getting student feedback on.
Other learning opportunities this term
We have had a huge variety of learning opportunities spread across the last four weeks to the point that we are sharing these through our Facebook site at least twice a day. Experiences have included:
- MONA ceramics workshops
- Mountain biking at Tolosa Park and the Meehan Range
- DRILL Dance with Grade 7’s
- Dance Concert preparation with Grade 9/10’s
- Engineering challenges
- Australian Film and Radio school
- Grade 10 Reward Day
- Stay Chatty, Shorts for shorts day
- Netball rosters
- Pride week celebrations including our first ever colour run!
Face to Face Learning Evenings
This week we have held our face-to-face learning conversations and it has been fantastic to meet and see families and chat through our students progress with you especially around the new reporting format that all schools are now using.
We have seen 167 families over the last two evenings which is wonderful and a 365% increase from the numbers we had in 2021.
MONA 24 Carrot Garden
We have been lucky over the last month to have had two foods sessions with the MONA crew where we have had Kirsha, Andy, Vlad and Marty come in and work with Mr Green’s 9/10 Foods class. The focus of these sessions has been to cook and create with fresh Tasmania produce supplemented by produce from our own kitchen garden.
As always please keep in touch with our school and follow our journey on Facebook and through our school newsletter and school app product.
Duncan Groves - Principal
Grade 7
You would not believe that we are halfway through Grade 7 and what a busy 2 terms it has been. With a focus on learning, meeting new friends and finding our way at Montrose Bay High School. As we move into the second semester of the year Grade 7 electives will change. Below is some information from our elective teachers on what students can expect from their subject in the second half of the year. MDT (Material Design and Technology) In Grade 7 Material Design and Technology we will be discovering the wonderful world of designing and making useful objects out of various materials such as timber, plastic and metal. We will be learning new skills and developing our design and creativity while using some practical problem solving as we create our projects. Our Material Design journey will involve learning how to safely operate various tools and equipment such as saws, files, drills and sanders to create personalised projects to meet design requirements. These projects include a wooden spatula, plastic keyring ornament, spinning top toy, a pull along children’s toy and a lolly dispenser. Drama In Year 7 Drama, students explore a range of dramatic forms and how to communicate with an audience using a range of techniques. Drama develops students’ self-esteem and confidence which can be applied to many other careers and everyday life. In term three, students learn how to stage a play with simple props and set pieces with the class working together collaboratively and engaging in the performance elements of a production. In term four, students will develop knowledge, understanding and skills about improvisation, physical comedy techniques, creating and developing characters and performance styles. Students explore how dramatic forms and performance styles create meaning using voice, mime techniques and movement skills. Art In art next term, students will be creating artworks exploring the themes of ‘juxtaposition’ and ‘belonging’ they will create artworks inspired by the author Shaun Tan. They will be developing their drawing skills by exploring various techniques and processes, such as tone, shape and line to create pencil renderings. In term 4, students have the opportunity to learn techniques to create 3-dimensional artworks and will explore a variety of acrylic painting techniques and processes. Music Students will learn to read music including treble clef, bass clef, note duration and rhythm. The students will then apply this knowledge as they begin to learn to play woodwind and brass instruments as part of a class band. In term 4, students will also start to apply their theoretical knowledge to learn to read and play basic drumkit beats. Digital Tech Students will start the term looking at the simple processes and functions of their computer device including email, saving documents in a logical manner and cyber safety. We will also explore the applications provided to students in the Microsoft Office package that can be used at home and school. In the second part of the course, we start to create memes, poster advertisements, video montages and play games that involve coding elements. Food Studies Students will begin their food journey by looking at how the kitchen is run, some basics about cooking, safety in the kitchen, and food safety. They will then look at healthy eating and balanced diets. We will be learning about fats, proteins, dairy, grains, vegetables, and fruit, etc. We learn about how to create a balanced diet and how to identify ingredients and nutrients in food products. Students will get to cook in the kitchen and learn how to make delicious recipes they can make at home. Students have a chance to adapt recipes to their liking and are set challenges to complete. We know our students are all looking forward to the change in electives which Term Three brings and hope they have enjoyed the subjects they have completed in Semester One. We finished this term with a Pizza Garden Day for all grade 7’s to enjoy. Evie and Derek on Monday morning arrived at school at 7:30 am to set the wood fire pizza oven. The challenge for students was to include a vegetable from the garden on to their pizza. All students enjoyed the day and was a nice way to finish off the term. Frances Cole - AP |
Grade 8
It has been a busy term in the Grade 8 space. We are proud to see the students put their best foot forward in all learning areas to gain the best possible report and feedback from their teachers.
In Humanities, the students have been working hard on their writing skills by creating sci-fi narratives that show fantastic elements of creativity. Through investigating different forms of energy, students have been able to learn in a hands-on way during science lessons.
In our Grade 8 spaces, we have committed to having a strong focus on looking after and respecting our learning environment. It has been great to see the classrooms being taken care of and respected.
Have a great and safe holiday period and we look forward to seeing you back at the start of term 3.
Creative Writing - Heath B - Student
Surrounded by damp overgrown pine-forests, settled the charming town of Dawson, Tasmania. Quaint family homes spread far and wide throughout the area. The majority of the homes had a large amount of grassy woodland between each, although, a neighbourly street, multiple houses, could occasionally be found. A perpetual warm breeze floated through the town daily. The weather was regularly sultry, though quite temperamental. Paddocks of sheep, cows and even llamas were sprawled throughout Dawson. ‘The Dawson Pig Farm’ was located behind a hill near the town centre.
Grade 9
In Year 9, we have continued to work hard throughout Term 2. Students have participated in Pride Day activities, Cross Country, InterHigh Athletics and Cross Country, Shorts Day for Speak Up Stay Chatty!, school netball and are busily preparing for the Dance Eisteddfod and music and drama performances later in the year. We have a continued focus on students’ working hard by remaining in class, keeping electronic devices off and away all day and demonstrating the Montrose Mindset in everything we do. Our key focus areas fall under our school value of Respect and we are placing significance on our display of respect by taking care of our place, space and possessions and speaking kindly of ourselves and others. It has been wonderful seeing many of you at our face-to-face learning conversations and providing updates about student progress.
As has been the case in each of our newsletter articles, we like to provide you with more detailed information regarding what your child is learning about at school. This week, we have a particular focus in English and History. This term, students have been examining what makes a powerful persuasive speech and recognising persuasive techniques in famous speeches from world leaders, influencers and motivational speakers. They analysed the effects these techniques had on audiences and identified the purpose of each speech. We then presented two speeches to the class, one the students had researched themselves and one that was created to persuade their audience about a chosen topic. This gave us the chance to practise the essential skills of public speaking and active listening. In History, we started the term examining the Australian federal election and comparing the viewpoints of the competing political parties prior to voting on May 21st. Many Yr 9 students will be able to vote in the next election in 3 years time, so this was a chance to think about their rights as an adult and the way government works in Australia. We are finishing the term examining the question “What does it mean to be Australian?” and identifying events from history that have shaped and moulded our country from a purely Indigenous land to the multicultural nation we live in today, discovering the perspectives of different groups of people throughout that time.
We look forward to Year 9 students continuing to represent themselves to their best of their ability in all aspects of school life and hope they have a safe and restful holiday break in readiness for Term 3.
Sam Cure - AP
Grade 10
As part of our focus this term on student wellbeing, and to support some of this term’s units of work, we headed out for our first whole-grade excursion for the year on Friday 24th June. Students split three ways in the morning, going to either Hobart Penitentiary, Eastside Gymnastics Centre or Grote Reber museum (radio telescope) and then met back together for lunch and some activities in the afternoon at Legacy Park.
The group that went to Eastside spent some time on ‘ninja’ activities including mini obstacle courses and a high jump challenge, but most preferred their time in the trampolining and gymnastics, especially doing flips into the giant foam pit.
Another group visited the Hobart Penitentiary in Campbell Street. In a fascinating tour, students learnt about the harsh history of crime and punishment in Van Diemen’s Land. In the courtroom, Ms Buchhorn was sentenced by Judge Caleb Bromfield, and later students explored solitary confinement cells and viewed one of only two sets of working gallows in Australia.
Another group travelled out to the Grote Reber museum near Cambridge. We were greeted with strong winds and bright sunshine upon arrival. Once at the museum, students went on a tour of the museum where they heard about the early life of Grote Reber – the American pioneer of radio astronomy. We learnt about the shape and structure of radio dishes, and observed satellites in space through one of them. We then watched a few 3D movies of the formation of the Universe and how stars were formed.
Woodfired pizza was cooked for lunch using the fantastic community wood oven. The delicious pizzas were made by an amazing group of catering students. Afternoon activities and Connect-class based challenges included a dress-up photo booth, tug-of-war, egg and spoon races, scavenger hunt and wheelbarrow race. We’re looking forward to our next outing!
Grade 11 - 12
Student Leaders 2022
In 2022 the student leadership team have been extremely busy; exploring new ideas and evolving our school.
Our first whole school focus was to raise awareness for suicide prevention and fundraise for the Speak Up Stay Chatty foundation. As a part of this we ran a Short’s for Shorts Day with the whole school being asked to wear their shorts on the shortest day of the year to “brave the cold, brave the conversation” and the grade 9s and 10s participating in a morning of activities.
This week the Student Leaders will be running a Pride Day in order to celebrate Pride month and people of the LGBTQIA+ community at Montrose Bay High. This will consist of a flag signing, bake sale, face painting, free dress day, live bands and our very first COLOUR RUN along with a series of activities.
The student leadership team are also in the process of implementing biodegradable packaging for the canteen, beginning the journey to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly school. Replacements for the canteens current packaging are beginning their transition into a biodegradable alternative, kicking off at the start of Term 3.
We are also in the process of implementing a student magazine, written by the students, for the students. Montrose Minds will be published twice a term, and we hope that through this we will be able to give the students a voice and the younger generation a chance to express their opinions through art and literature.
We are looking forward to implementing more projects throughout the school year and working with the teachers to continue to develop our school.
Jewel Hathaway - Student
24 Carrot Garden Program
The Year 7 Pizza Day was a thank you and reward for the all the Year 7s' hard work in the garden over Terms 1 and 2 as part of the 24 Carrot Garden Program.
Almost all the ingredients were from the garden: passata made by Nigel in the kitchen from school-grown tomatoes, blanched broccolini, roasted pumpkin, tatsoi and rosemary. The only ingredients that weren't from the garden were the pizza bases, the fetta and the mozzarella!
We had a lovely day using the pizza oven that the Year 10s made, eating the food we had grown and chatting in the sun.
Thank you to all the teachers who helped make this happen, in particular Derek, Frances, the Year 7 teachers, Nigel, Lindy & Brian Green.
Inter High Cross Country
A cold blustery day greeted our students at Bayview Secondary College for the Inter High Cross Country held on 1 June. Well done to all students. Amazing effort.
Pride Day 2022
On Thursday the 30th of June, for the last day of Pride Month, the Student Leaders and A-Z club organised Pride Day celebrations. To celebrate diversity at MBH students were given the opportunity to get involved in a variety of activities at lunch and during lesson 4 including, a colour run, sports activities, games sessions, face painting and listening to the school rock bands. As a part of the day the students also organised a free dress day and a bake sale to raise funds for Pride Australia.
Well-done to the Student Leaders and the A-Z Club for putting together such a colourful and enjoyable day for the whole school!
Dates to Remember
| 25 July 2022 | Professional Learning Day (student free day) |
| 11 August 2022 | Introduction to Montrose Bay High School (Campus Tours) |
School Notices
Student Unwell-Procedure to follow
Could you please discuss with your student the following procedure if they are feeling unwell?
- Students should not contact their parent/guardian direct when they are unwell.
Talk with their class teacher who will send them to see a Grade Leader. Grade Leaders will contact Student Admin who will callt home and arrange collection. Student Admin will update student attendance accordingly.
When sending a message to advise of an illness, it would be of great assistance if you noted that the absence is NOT COVID RELATED
Student Absence
If your student is absent from school for any reason please notify us as early as possible. You can do this via:
- Student Administration – 6208 2699
- Text message – 0418 137 500
- Schoolzine or Montrose Bay High App
General enquire to school please phone 6208 2666
REMINDER: Early Departure
If you wish to collect your student early please send a note with them on the day or ring before 2.30pm as it becomes quite difficult to get messages to students after this time.
A reminder that students must not use their phones during the school day. If a student needs to go home sick please remind them to go and see their Grade Leader or the office.
Canteen Payments
If your child is ordering food from the canteen, the payment MUST be made via either cash or card. We are unable to accept payment using a phone.
School App
Please sign up for our new school app. Below is a step by step instructions on how to download.
Holiday Activities
Community Noticeboard
Please see what is happening around the Glenorchy City area.
