Montrose Bay High School Newsletter - Term 2 Week 3

Principal's Report

Welcome back to Term 2 we are excited to continue our learning journey and build upon the teaching and learning which occurred across Term 1. Students have returned to school with enthusiasm, and we are looking to challenge them across all learning areas. We would like to thank our community for their support with our increased communication via text message around class exits.

We are looking forward to a number of in school incursions happening across our grades in coming weeks. Our Year 7 and 8 girls will be involved in the Live/Life/Whole program and our Year 9/10 students will be supported with a Life Choices presentation also. Other events across the school include the Human Library, Science Challenge and PCYC fitness program. A big thank you to our staff who continue to reach out into our community to support events for our students to stretch their thinking and experiences.

New Staff

This week we welcome a new staff member - Sam Jesney (Assistant Principal), Sam joins us to support our school in the areas of adjustment and engagement. Sam is currently working as an AP at Cosgrove High School and part of the Derwent Collective Team. Sam will continue in these roles but join us on Thursday and Fridays.

Attendance

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most. https://anything.tas.gov.au/schools

Know when to seek help, there is no weakness in admitting you need help. If your child has completely disengaged with school, and not attending at all, there is support to help you. In the first instance, talk to us at school or link with the above website.

Behaviour Policy updates

This week has seen the updated introduction of our mobile device and bathroom policies. I would like to thank parents and carers for their support in regards to after school detentions and follow up for these policies. Staff are working very hard on ensuring a consistent approach across the school to support teaching and learning without interruption.

School Association

Our next school association meeting will be held on Tuesday 23 May at 5.00pm. I would encourage any community members to come along and support this group and help shape our school moving forward. It is vital that we receive feedback from our community in a variety of ways to ensure future planning is meeting the needs of our students. Please make contact with the office if you would like to attend so we can support appropriate catering.

School Association-Montrose Bay High

Hi everyone,

Now that Autumn is nearly over and the colder weather is approaching, it is great to see students embracing the uniform policy and wearing their school jackets and hoodies. It not only looks good, but displays a sense of pride and unity in our school to the wider community. 

Well done to all participants in the Cross Country, whether you ran in the event, walked or simply provided encouragement and support to your house teammates, it’s great to be involved in this whole school event.

The next School Association meeting will be held on Tuesday 23rd May at 5pm. As always, everyone is welcome to come along for a relaxed, friendly and informal chat about what’s happening in and around the school.
Look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Earle Patman on behalf of the School Association.

Grade 7

Grade 7s have enjoyed a busy start to Term 2. In week 2 each Connect class participated in Legal Aid Workshops that explored the impacts of violence on communities, victims and perpertrators. Students completed their first High School Cross Country in week 3, with some awesome performances shown on the day. Grade 7 girls began their first Live Life Whole Workshop centred around female health, wellbeing and nutrition, while the boys used the time to develop skills on mindfulness and empathy. We are also excited to have the Human Library come to visit the grade on Monday the 15^th and Tuesday 16^th of May. A letter about the Human Library was sent home last week, please contact us if you have any questions.

Weekly grade assemblies have also been a feature this term. These assemblies are focussed on student learning and celebrating success via merit certificates. A big focus this term is on celebrating students who are demonstrating our school value of Respect. Class Dojos are being awarded to to students for their positive efforts in class and students earn a ticket in the weekly raffle for every 10 Dojos they earn.

There are many more exciting learning opportunities ahead for the grade this term.

Jack Young - AP 

Grade 8

In Year 8, our students have had a busy start to Term 2. The students have jumped back into their learning and engaged with enthusiasm and intrigue.

Below we have provided the content areas for each subject so far this term and hope that our wider school community can continue the discussion about our students’ learning. Our students are covering the following content:

Live Life Whole

We have been fortunate enough to have a number of our girls participate in the upcoming Live Life Whole Program. Live Life Whole is a federally funded program that addresses female body image and related issues that young ladies face daily. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to be involved in and we hope it will help them to develop into informed and resilient leaders of tomorrow.

Montrose Reads

Year 8 classes have been recording the books they have read and the time spent reading both in class and at home.  8E won the competition in Term 1 and enjoyed a pizza lunch during the last week, clocking over 30 books read and 650 minutes of reading recorded.  Classes keep track of separate genres including fiction, non-fiction, graphic (including comics, picture books and magazines), e-books and audiobooks.  Students with laptops have access to the Sora app with hundreds of audiobooks available online.  We are looking forward to seeing who wins the competition this term, recording the most books read and hours spent reading as a class.

Finally, I would like to commend our Year 8 students on their response to our new policies relating to being in class on time and keeping our phones off and away all day. Our students have been positive and understanding of the policies and can see the benefits in creating and maintaining a calm, safe and learning focused school community.

Matt Rice - AST

Grade 9

The Year 9 students have returned from Term 1 holiday refreshed and have started Term 2 successfully. We have challenged the students to aspire to be leaders within the school and continue to demonstrate the high expectations and standards that were achieved throughout term one. With new school-wide processes and policies introduced at the start of this term, we would like to reiterate that these processes are put in place to ensure that quality teaching and learning is happening across all classrooms.

In Science, the students have been exploring how carbon travels through the four Earth spheres (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere) through the processes of combustion, respiration and photosynthesis.  The learners have been applying this knowledge to understand the greenhouse effect and its implications for our society.

In Mathematics, the students have been learning fundamental skills for manipulating linear equations (y = mx + c).  Students have been calculating gradients of lines and exploring how to determine the midpoint of a line segment.  They have been learning how to apply these concepts to real world problems.

In Geography, the students have been learning about what factors affect the types of ecosystems found across the earth’s surface and recognising what global and local elements affect these systems.  Students are learning how climate change affects the global distribution of these ecosystems and how solar energy plays a crucial role in determining climate on a global scale.

In English, students have started our class novel, Lion, in year 9 English. This is an inspirational true story of survival and triumph against incredible odds. Students have been learning to analyse how India, Australia and characters are represented in the novel, and building important reading comprehension strategies such as visualisation and prediction in their Reader’s Notebooks.

In History, students are learning how to conduct a source analysis to discover more about the White Australia Policy and Women’s Suffrage on the 1900s. Through understanding the purpose and context of primary and secondary sources, students can delve more deeply into this important part of Australian history, whilst building their historical skills.

Liam Rice - AST

Grade 10

Grade 10 Health & Physical Education Update

This Term, Grade 10 HPE students are examining how migration and cultural identity have influenced the physical activity choices of Australians and their communities. Students practical focus began with ‘berionjin’ an Aboriginal peoples’ and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ game and have transitioning into cricket, influenced by the British. They will examine characteristics of ethical decision-making and how it contributes to respectful relationships. Students will explore diversity and identify attributes of community wellbeing, and investigate how local physical activity groups support community connections and wellbeing.

Isaac Lillico (Grade 10 HPE teacher)

Grade 11 - 12

Cross Country 2023

This term our junior and senior students competed in their cross-country fun-run at Montrose Bay High School. Both grades ran along the Montrose foreshore track out along to the My State Basketball arena and back. We were blessed with beautiful autumn weather with blue skies and no wind, which resulted in a huge turnout in participation across all grade areas. Through their efforts and training during Health and Physical Education, our students showed their courage and aspiration to out-do each other and to compete to the best of their ability. Congratulations to all students who ran on the day. Well done from the HPE team.

Student Health

Vaping and Young People

The rising number of children and young people vaping is a growing issue of concern in our community.  

Electronic cigarettes (vapes) can be appealing to young people due to bright colours and flavours. But no vapes are safe as they are often full of harmful chemicals and nicotine.  For this reason, vapes can be addictive and harmful for lungs, brain development and general health.  

It is important to talk to your children about vaping. Try to be understanding, compassionate and non-judgemental as you support them to learn more about the dangers of vaping or in seeking support to quit. 

Information on what vaping is, the impacts and how to support your child is available on the new Department for Education, Children and Young People webpage on vaping, which can be accessed here: 

https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/about-us/projects/child-student-wellbeing/vaping/  

Dates to Remember

School Notices

Every school day matters

Start Term 2 right by making every school day count!

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most.

When your child goes to school every day, it helps them to:

• learn better
• find interests
• make friends
• connect with teachers
• be happier
• have a brighter future.

If you’re struggling to get your child to school, help is available. Please talk to us at school about your situation. We’ll support you, in whatever way we can.

To find out more, visit the Anything can happen website.

School App

Please sign up for our new school app. Below is a step by step instruction on how to download