29 September 2023

Principal’s Report

Dear families

I hope everyone is doing well and feeling motivated with the warmer weather approaching. The school holiday break for students and teachers is almost upon us.  I encourage our school community to continue to maintain their best efforts to finish the term in a positive and productive manner.

Celebrations

A whole school Assembly was held last week  to acknowledge and appreciate the achievements and success of our whole school as a collective effort. Our school mission is to challenge every learner in a safe and supportive environment and our catch phrase is….are you up for the challenge? This assembly recognised many students individually and as a team that have stepped up and risen to the challenge with courage, determination and resilience to succeed. This term we have had students achieve remarkable success at school, regional and state level, excelling in various academic and sporting competitions. To keep you informed of upcoming events and to recognise the achievements of our students in a timely manner we have been posting regularly to social media. Please follow our Devonport High School pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey

Last week students participated in the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. Staff have been invited to complete the Staff Satisfaction and Wellbeing survey and an online survey was disseminated to families. Feedback from each of these surveys will provide information to the Department for Education, Children and Young people about what our school does well and where you think it may improve. Your feedback informs our School Improvement Plan and decision making for the following year.

Transition

On Monday 18 September our  Year 10 Students visited Don College to participate in Don Live. Next term (Wednesday 18 October) staff from Don will visit Devonport High School to support course selections for Year 11. Devonport High School will once again be offering a statement of attainment in units from SIT 20322-Certificate 2 in Hospitality for any current Year 10 or 11 students in 2024. We are currently taking expressions of interest, if your child is interested in enrolling, please contact Devonport High School. Students’ evidence of learning in ACF curriculum areas - English, HaSS/History, HPE, Mathematics and Science are accessible this week through CANVAS for families to view. Evidence of Learning will also be displayed for Years 9 and 10 full year, Personal Interest Pathways subjects directly linked to the Australian Curriculum.

Redevelopment

During the upcoming school holidays our Student Lounge will be refurbished to represent a more student focussed, multifunctional landscape.

Fiona Gaby
Principal

Use of Mobile Phones by Students at School

From the start of the school day to the end of the school day, students must have their mobile phones switched off and stored in their locker. All communication with students during the school day must go through the school office.

From Term 4 onwards students will no longer be able to use their phone at the canteen to pay for their purchases. Students are to use their EFTPOS card or cash only.

Tour of Honour

Our Year 7/8 students were honoured to hear from the Tasmanian, Australian of the Year Nominees today. Students were inspired by stories of courage and perseverance from guest speakers, John Kamara, Meriem Daoui, Keith Parker and Dr Frances Donaldson.

We were very proud of the respect our students displayed both in terms of the questions they asked and by being a respectful audience.

Shelley Hollister
Year 7 Leader

Australian Geography Competition

The HASS team would like to congratulate the following students for taking on an additional learning opportunity. The following students tested their geographical skills and knowledge against students from all around Australia in the 2023 Australian Geography Competition. The competition aims to encourage student interest in geography and to reward student excellence. Geography is such an important subject because it develops in students a holistic understanding of the world around them, and their place in it.

Year 7

Participation: Madison, Hayden, Zahlia, Freya, Lilly , Dykota and Kaelen
Credit: Evie, Hamish and Jamie
High Distinction: Brendan 

Year 8

Participation: Gideon, Maddison, Tiaan, Shomik, Jack and Sakura
Credit: Andrew
Distinction: Toby and Jesse

Year 9

Participation: Taya, Lara, Ryan, Abigail, Tayne, Israel, Cooper, Willow, Sanskar, Kandel, Kaira, Charlize, Joseph, Mitchell, Chloe and Charlee
Credit: Macy, Zahli and Minerva

Year 10

Participation: Jasmine, Ella, Caite and Emmy
Credit: Serenity and Lachlan

Science

Year 7 Science

There’s something fishy been going on in year 7. Students have been learning about classification, the differences that make organisms unique, but also the similarities that allows us to place them into groups. Students had the opportunity to dissect a fish and a prawn to see the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates (those with a spine, and those without). Students had a great time using the scalpel to make the cut and open up the different specimens to see inside and identify which belongs to the group of invertebrates, and which belongs to the group of vertebrates and discuss why. Students are always curious about how different things work and why. Science is a great subject for students as it is able to provide them with these unique hands-on experiences inside the classroom that give them an idea of how the world works around them, and why.

Year 7 Science

Miss Heathcote’s Year 10 Science classes are currently investigating global systems and climate change. As a lead in activity students were asked to be creative in demonstrating their understanding of the Carbon Cycle and its influence on climate change. The video shows some students from 10D creating dioramas and posters.

Book Week

During book week students could read a paragraph from a novel and receive a prize from the goodie stash such as lolly pops, stickers, bookmarks and little animal figurines. This activity is still running and students are eager to read when they visit the library.

The book week theme was ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’

Teachers dressed up as a character from 101 dalmatians. Mrs Gaby looked the part dressed up as Cruella, and Mr Buckley dressed up in black and white as a dalmatian. It was hard to keep a serious face when talking to them both!

Immunisation Program

Breakfast Club – Devonport Chaplaincy

Breakfast Club is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays before school from 8:00am onwards. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Darra Boerma, Chaplain