Newsletter 1 - 15 March 2024

Principal’s Report

Hello everyone

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families. We have had a very positive start to 2024 with our students and staff having confidently settled into the routine of another school year with firmly entrenched high expectations and values.

Our new DECYP strategic plan has taken effect as from the beginning of this year and clearly articulates our commitment to upholding the rights of children and young people in all that we do, and how our behaviours and decisions will truly reflect our values of connection, courage, growth, respect and responsibility.

The Strategic Plan also acknowledges the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community as the traditional and continuing custodians of Lutruwita, where Palawa people have cared for their children and prepared them for life since the beginning of time.

Safeguarding, Reading and Attendance are system priorities and feature in our 2024 School Improvement plan.

Safeguarding

Last year a Safeguarding Lead was appointed in every Tasmanian Government school to help ensure all children and young people in Tasmania are known, safe, well and learning. Caitlin Midson is our Safeguarding Lead. Ms Midson’s role is to help plan and implement school strategies to support the wellbeing of all students and foster a culture where it is understood that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

All DECYP employees, volunteers and external providers must complete the improved Safeguarding Training every year, before working with any children or young people. This training is compulsory under new laws designed to better safeguard kids in Tasmania.

Reading

This year all Tasmanian Government schools are taking steps to introduce a new way of teaching literacy. This follows the latest national and international research about how our brains learn to read. Our teachers are boosting their skills, it is important that every teacher in Tasmania has a common understanding of best practice when it comes to teaching literacy. Our teachers are currently undergoing training in how to teach reading based on the latest evidence.

Attendance

A key focus for us will be attendance.  Consistent attendance at school is critical to achieving positive educational outcomes and keeping students engaged in their learning. Every day a student is absent from school may reduce a child or young persons’ chance to reach their social and educational potential. Thank you to all our families who support their children to attend school regularly and arrive at school on time. We also appreciate being informed of your child’s absence from school.

Our goal is for DHS students in Years 7 -10 to achieve a current year-to-date attendance rate equivalent to or above secondary DECYP Schools.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing has commenced for Year 7 and 9 students. Please encourage your young person/s to apply themselves to the best of their ability as this assessment is a critical data point for understanding the growth and achievement of our learners.

Last week we held our first whole school assembly to welcome our Year 7 cohort and to induct and celebrate our student Leadership team.

Please read below to access our full newsletter. Stay up to date with all of the latest news on our Schoolzine App and Devonport High School's Facebook and Instagram pages. Upcoming events are posted on our school website.

Fiona Gaby
Principal

School Levies

Invoices for the School Levy have now been generated. If you are not eligible for Student Assistance, you should have received the invoice in the mail by now. 

Levy invoices can be paid online or via BPay, alternatively you can pay at the office. If you wish to pay by instalment, please contact the office and a payment plan can be arranged. 

If you believe you may be eligible for Student Assistance we can also help with this.

We would appreciate full payment being made as soon as you are able to. Thank you to those families who have already paid.

Rose French
Acting School Business Manager

Immunisation Program Year 7 & Year 10

THINKUKNOW

Today, all grades were taken through the Australian Federal Police Program, ThinkUKnow. This was presented by Shane Askew and Paul Murray from Tasmania Police. The following website has excellent resources for parents, and we encourage you to access the site and assist in keeping our young people safe online. The site has information about gaming platforms, social networking and meeting people, how to protect personal information online, how to respond to blackmail and sexual extortion, advice for posting images, etc.

If you have any questions related to the program or require more information, please email the ThinkUKnow team at online-child-safety@afp.gov.au.

Thank you, Shane and Paul, for working with Devonport High School students today.

Mrs Midson, Safeguarding Lead

Water Safety Days

Our 2024 Water Safety Days were held at Lake Barrington Rowing Course. The days were run with three stations for the students to participate in.

Rowing   -   conducted by Volunteers from the Mersey Rowing Club Greg Marshall, Simon Newell, Pru, Lydia, David and Merv Tippett.
Kayaking   -   conducted by Mr Jordan
Water Safety   -  conducted by Mrs McCall and Mrs Macfadyen.

We had amazing weather for all three days and the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. A big thank you to Rowing Tasmania and the Mersey Rowing Club for their assistance on the day.

Swimming Carnival and Swim Trials

Our Swimming Carnival and Swim Trials were held at the Ulverstone Pool.

The events were Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke and Relays and from this, DHS has selected a team to participate in the North West Inter-high Swimming Carnival.

Carnival Results

1^st APPLEDORE – 490
2^nd WENVOE – 390
3^rd SHERWOOD – 310
4^th PARDOE – 300

Swimming Champions

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Years 8, 9 and 10 students visited Lake Barrington for our annual Water Safety days. Student engaged in activities including rowing, kayaking, swimming and survival skills. 

Some highlights included learning how to row, the beautiful weather and the fantastic, enthusiastic participation. Thank you to all staff and students for another successful Water Safety experience. 

NWHSSA Inter-high Swimming Carnival

The next event is the NWHSSA Interhigh Swimming Carnival held at Devonport Splash Aquatics – the selected team will receive letters in the coming days of their selection. Goodluck to all involved.

The next event is the NWHSSA Interhigh Swimming Carnival held at Devonport Splash Aquatics – the selected team will receive letters in the coming days of their selection. Goodluck to all involved.

Brent Munday and Breanne McCall, PE Department

Student Leadership Team 2024

Hello, we are excited to present our first President’s Report for the year.

The 2024 Student Leadership Team’s vision for the year is about
 creating a sense of connectedness throughout all grades.

We are beginning the year with Pink Stumps Day to raise money and awareness for the McGrath Foundation. We are eager to see everyone dressed up in their best pink outfits and getting involved in our planned activities.

This year our team has had an important role in creating a formal Policy for future Student Leadership Teams to follow, such as the way we vote for our roles. This has been planned in our allocated class time and the camp held earlier this term, ensuring it has brought student voice to the decision making process.

As a team we are looking forward to working together to improve our school culture to maintain a positive and respectful environment. We are also planning fundraisers, assemblies and school events which will involve the whole school and we look forward to the memories we will make along the way as a team and school.

We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to represent Devonport High School and look forward to working with everyone.

Ryan and Macy
Presidents SLT 2024

Year 10 Science

Miss Heathcote’s two Year 10 Science classes are completing a Physics unit and have been investigating Newton’s Laws and also the principles of speed, velocity and acceleration.

This has involved conducting practical experiments to help students learn and develop their understanding where they can then apply their knowledge to real life situations. They have also built their own Newton’s Cradles and in the near future will look at the physics behind rollercoasters.

Djaan Heathcote, Science Teacher

School Nurse

My name is Mel and I am the School Health Nurse at Devonport High School. My role within the school has a few different aspects:

• Being available for students to come to me with ANY questions or concerns and providing them
  with a safe space to talk, helpful resources, referrals or linking them with services they may need.
  I will work alongside the school psychologist and social worker to provide support to students.
• Deliver health education and health promotion to DHS students and staff via whole school promotions,
  student group work, class lessons and other methods on an as needs basis. Topics may include mental health,
  sexual health, friendships & relationship safety, drug & alcohol awareness and health
  prevention/intervention campaigns.

My working days are every Friday 8am to 4pm.

Mel Smith, School Nurse

Breakfast Club – Devonport Chaplaincy

Breakfast Club is on Tuesdays and Thursdays before school from 8:00am onwards. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy something to eat and have a chat.

Darra Boerma, Chaplain