Montrose Bay High School Newsletter - Term 1 Week 6

Principal's Report

Dear Families,

Term one is just over halfway complete with our days getting that bit shorter and fewer daylight hours as we move through Autumn.

We have been making the most of the good weather of Term One and have been engaged in lots of outdoor learning opportunities as part of Health and Wellbeing, our Garden program and our Adventure Skills and Outdoor Education classes. This year we are back to having four Outdoor Education based subjects and it is great to see our students learning and developing new skills both in and on the water.

So far this term we have been very fortunate to only have small numbers of Covid cases and close contacts with both our students and our staff. However, we have had an increase in weeks six and seven in both student and staff cases. This week we have had our first deemed outbreak which means that we have one class with five or more cases. At the time of writing this newsletter article that class has seven cases and we have enacted the public health guidelines of writing to the families of that class and making sure that they have ample RAT testing kits for home.

With staffing, we have seven staff away this week and unfortunately relief teachers are very difficult to source now, so our staff here are providing covers for these classes. We have been fortunate not to have to collapse classes like many schools however this may be required if staff cases continue to increase.

The Covid restrictions haven’t changed from the beginning of the year in schools so both staff and students are still required to wear masks when indoors and any visitors to our school must wear a mask also.

We have our fingers and toes crossed that when we return in Term Two restrictions will be cleared and we can go back to our normal operations for teaching and learning.

Reporting Term One 2022

Changes have been made to reporting requirements across all Government Schools. A phased implementation of the new reporting requirements will begin for all Tasmanian Government Schools (Kindergarten to Year 10) from the start of Term One, 2022. Full implementation of the Communicating Learning Progress with Families Policy and Procedures is expected to be in place by 2024.

Term One 2022 - Communication with families

• Communication with families focusing on application to learning:
• phone conversation (Connect teachers)
• tick-box template for application to learning completed (all learning areas)

Our Connect Teachers and Specialist Teachers have already been calling families this term to have conversations about students learning progress and to gain input from families.

Our term one reports will go home to families on Friday 8^th April.

Grade support Structures

We have tried in 2022 to keep our grade support structures the same as 2021 with our Assistant Principals and Advanced Skills Teachers going up with their students. These people along with your child’s Connect Teacher are your first contact point with our school. They can be contacted by calling our school office.

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: Johnathon Cook AP and Jamie Kieliszek AST

2022 School Improvement Priorities

1. Wellbeing for Learning
2. Numeracy – Number inquiry
3. Literacy – Reading inquiry

As always please keep in touch with our school and follow our journey on Facebook and through our school newsletter and school app product. Our website is also in the process of being updated and should go live shortly.

Duncan Groves - Principal

Changes to reporting in 2022

This year, you will notice some changes to reporting in Tasmanian Government Schools.

Firstly, you won’t see A-E reporting any more for Prep to Year 10 students.

Most families in Tasmanian Government Schools have told us that A-E reporting isn’t meaningful enough for them. So, the Department is introducing a new 9-point visual scale.

Along with the visual scale a worded description will be included to help you understand how your child is going against the expected standard for their year level. The 9-point scale will show more specifically where your child is at with their learning. This change won’t apply to students in Years 11 and 12.

The second main change you’ll see is that teachers will be communicating with you more regularly throughout the year, instead of providing written comments on reports.

This more regular communication might be through online communication, telephone calls, or face-to-face conversations.

By having more regular information about your child’s learning progress you’ll get a better understanding of how your child is going across the entire school year (not just twice a year).

What you should expect across the school year:

Families will be supported to understand the new reporting requirements and the changes to mid and end of year report as they are implemented.

Watch the video introducing the changes: Changes to reporting in 2022

If you’d like to know more about why these changes are occurring, visit Review into Reporting to Families - The Department of Education Tasmania

School Association - Montrose Bay High

Tuesday this week the School Association met for the Annual General Meeting. If you are interested in being a part of the School Association please contact the fromnt office on 6208 2666.

Grade 7

Athletics Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 9 have been showing great levels of resilience over the past few weeks with the ever-changing impacts that Covid 19 is having. We have been lucky enough to have some of our grade 9 leaders visit the feeder Primary Schools to assist in the running of their school athletic carnivals, all students involved represented the school to a very high standard. Grade 9 are focusing hard on showing empathy to their peers and teachers by trying to put themselves in somebody else shoes.

In English, students have been working on creating short stories of their choice and looking at ways in which they can have an impact on the reader. We have found some outstanding levels of creativity within our grade which has led to some excellent stories.

In Humanities, we have been learning about the Industrial Revolution with a particular focus on young people working in the factories and mines of Victorian Britain. Students have been able to use the skills they have learnt in Social and Emotional Learning to show empathy towards these children. Students are looking forward to using their persuasive techniques to express how the industrial revolution has had an effect on us today.

Eli Luttmer - AST

Grade 10

Year 10 have continued to make a fantastic start to the year, quickly settling back into their learning routines. The Year 10 team have welcomed Mr Hamish Bruce and Mr Zach Griggs to Montrose Bay High School and we are lucky to have continuing staff join our Year 10 teaching team – Ms Hazel Buchhorn, Ms Hiliary Officer, Mr James Philips, Ms Heather Jackman, Mrs Holly Lancaster, Ms Jean Bayles, and Mrs Lucy Nolan. This year, students have a continued focus on living the Montrose Mindset by demonstrating the school values in all that they do. This includes being leaders in the school for modelling devices off and away all day, wearing full school uniform, being in class on time and prepared for learning. 

In our Maths and Science learning areas (MAS), students have been investigating genetics and biology. The have looked at the role of genes and DNA in passing on adaptations from one generation to the next. In their Science theory and laboratory based lessons they will continue to look at the structure of DNA, exploring punnet squares while demonstrating how to be safe in the lab. In Mathematics, the focus is on Financial Mathematics. Students are looking at how to read and interpret payslips. They are converting from percentages to decimals and fractions, and calculating simple interest. They are also looking at how to use the compound interest formula. 

Recently it was pleasing to see many Year 10 students challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zone in their last Athletics Carnival, with new records being set and personal bests being achieved. Information has gone home around the Seniors Tops (both polo's and hoody's) for students wishing to order these. We ask that all orders be returned promptly with payment to the Front Office by Tuesday 29^th March to allow time for our suppliers to make and deliver all items in time for Term 2.  

Jamie Kiesliszek - AST

Grade 11 - 12

MBH Extension School (Studying Years 11/12)

How can my child achieve their Tasmanian Certificate

of Education at MBH?

To achieve a Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) students                  are required to meet the Everyday Adult Standards and gain                        120 TCE points throughout Years 11 and 12.

The Everyday Adult Standards require students to complete study in:

• reading, writing and communication
• mathematics
• use of computers and the internet

As a Year 11/12 student at MBH your child will have the opportunity to study the required courses to meet these standards as well as a variety of other courses at MBH and across the Derwent Collective to gain their 120 TCE points.

What if my child wants to go to University?

Those students planning to study at University will need to gain an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Students choosing this pathway must still meet the TCE requirements but will need to study level 3 and 4 subjects. Although we don’t currently offer these courses at MBH they are offered withing the Derwent Collective. We will be working with all Year 10 students to complete their Transition plans throughout the year to support students in selecting the right courses for their chosen pathway.  

"Studying at two different schools means that I get more freedom at one school and more support at Montrose Bay High School. I am more familiar with the staff here and have better connections at Montrose but I enjoy meeting new people at my other college. I benefit from the variety of courses I can choose from at the other college, but it's good getting my Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Ticks for the TCE at Montrose."

Montrose Year 11 student

Athletics Carnival 2022

After a false start on the Wednesday, Montrose students headed to the Domain to compete in the annual Athletics carnival. Students showed enormous House spirit and looked ready for action when they arrived. The day started with a bang and the amount of Grade 7 girls in the 100m’ s was absolutely awesome. Throughout the day students moved with their Grades and competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m, High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump, Javelin, Discus and Shot Putt. The determination shown by all the students who attended to boost their House point total was amazing. There were some stand out performers on the day who managed to smash records and the rivalry between competitors whilst fierce on the track always ended with a fist pump and a congratulations.

The day could not have gone ahead without the support of all the staff at the carnival who helped make it a huge success for all the students involved.

 Lucy Nolan - Health & Wellbeing

Dates to Remember

Your go-to guide to rapid antigen tests

24 Carrot Garden

We are proud to announce that we have now partnered with MONA  for the next four years as a 24 Carrot Garden school one of only four high schools in the state. We look forward to a fruitful relationship as we move into combining our garden, kitchens and the arts.

School Notices

Student Absence

If your student is absent from school for any reason please notify us as early as possible. You can do this via:

• Front Office – 6208 2666
• Student Administration – 6208 2699
• Text message – 0418 137 500
• Schoolzine or Montrose Bay High App

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

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.

If your student is absent from school for any reason please notify us as early as possible. You can do this via:

• phone - 6208 2666
• text message - 0418 137 500
  

If you need to collect your student early for any reason our student admin staff would appreciate if you send a note in the morning rather than just before you arrive.

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 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 ready for 2022. Below is a step by step instructions on how to download.

Community Noticeboard

Please see what is happening around the Glenorchy City area.