Newsletter 7 June 2024
Principal’s Report
Dear Families
Last year as a family engagement strategy we asked you for your opinions on the most effective ways of communicating home. It was unanimous that families preferred methods of communication are by text message, mobile phone call and/or social media platforms. Ms Heland and Mrs Polden have been working hard behind the scenes to post information in a timely manner to Facebook and Instagram and the analytics show an increase in the number of school and wider community users. I strongly encourage families to stay up to date with all of the latest news on our Schoolzine App and Devonport High School Facebook and Instagram pages. Upcoming events are posted on our school website.
Earlier in the week a text message was sent to families with a link communicating what students are working on in each year and class across our school, and what assessment is coming up. We are communicating this as one of our agreed actions in our School Improvement Plan. We will communicate again in Term 3. If you didn’t receive this text message, please contact the school so we can resolve this problem.
Staff have been working to develop and update learning plans for students who require adjustments or a differentiated approach to their learning. Parents of students with learning plans will receive a copy of their student’s learning plans with their reports that will be sent home with students in Week 9. Families will have an opportunity to discuss their child’s learning plan and/or report in Week 10 at our face-to-face three-way conferencing. We encourage you to make a booking when reports are sent home to meet with your child's teacher/s. A link to book online will be provided wth your child's report. If you have any difficultities please contact the office.
In Week 5 we held a special assembly to induct our Aspiring Leaders. Congratulations to the successful recipients from Years 7-9.
Our DHS team placed third at the Inter-High Cross Country Carnival held earlier in the week. Our students gave their best efforts to achieve a fantastic result.
Friday is a Student Free Day. Teachers will be spending half a day moderating samples of work with teachers from Reece High School at DHS to ensure consistency of judgement in assessment among educators within a school and across schools in the system. Following this we will be undertaking professional learning in curriculum development.
As you are aware we have a strong focus on improving attendance and engagement at school. Attending school every day has a big impact on how well your child goes at school and has a positive effect on student learning. Please ensure you notify us of your child’s absence. Our data shows an increase in the number of families notifying us of their child’s absence, we appreciate your contact and encourage you to communicate with us any barriers that may be in the way or what supports are needed to help with getting your child to school.
Have a lovely weekend,
Fiona Gaby, Principal
Student Attendance
Help us better understand any barriers that may be in the way, and what supports are needed to help with getting to school.
The Department for Education, Children and Young People is doing statewide consultation on school attendance. 3P Advisory is independently running the consultation. Your answers are confidential, and you won’t be identified.
We want to hear from you. You can take part in an online survey, share or vote for suggestions, or join an online drop-in session via the 3P website. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
You can also share your thoughts about what you like or don’t like about our Every school day matters campaign.
As a parent or carer, please have your say. Please encourage your child/ren, too.
Every piece of feedback counts. Thanks for helping shape future DECYP initiatives, school-based engagement strategies and public awareness campaigns.
School Levies
Invoices for the School Levy were generated in February. If you are not eligible for Student Assistance, you should have received the invoice in the mail.
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
Uniform Sales
We have restocked our uniform supplies and now have student hoodies for sale. We are expecting student trackpants to be available next week.
Immunisation Program Year 7 & Year 10
The school Immunisation Program for Year 7 students was held at school in May. The immunisation was for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough (Pertussis) dTpa.
The Year 10 Immunisation Program for Meningococcal (ACWY) will be held on Thursday 31 October. If you have returned a Consent Form for your child, they will be vaccinated.
IMPORTANT: If your child has received vaccinations elsewhere since completing the Consent Form, is
unwell or has commenced taking some form of medication – YOU MUST advise the Devonport City Council Customer Service Department immediately on 64240 511.
Parents are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of information provided on the Consent Forms and for any necessary alterations to the information being passed on to the Health Department.
Should you have any other queries about the program, please contact Devonport City Council’s Customer Service Department on 6424 0511 during Council’s office hours.
Safeguarding Training in our Schools
Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize is now open for Year 9 students for 2024. There are two question options (see image) and two ways to respond (an essay or an audio-visual presentation). Students who have expressed interest have received an information letter from their History teacher. If you haven't received one and are interested, please see Mrs Midson. Entries are to be given to Mrs Midson no later than Friday, July 26 (end of week 1, Term 3).
Well done to those who are taking up the challenge.
Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize Recipient – Macy Deegan
I’m Macy and I was one of the six recipients of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize for 2024, a WWI essay-based competition open for all Year 9 students in Tasmania.
Being a recipient of the prize entails attending monthly educational meetings, travelling to Canberra as well as following the Western Front in France and Belgium.
In February this year the Frank MacDonald group travelled to Canberra for 2 days. While we were in Canberra we visited the Australian War Memorial, Anzac Parade and Parliament House. My highlight of the trip was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located in the War Memorial.
In April we travelled to France and Belgium with a layover in Dubai. While in France and Belgium we visited various WWI cemeteries, museums and sites of significant battles that took place during WWI. In Belgium we stayed one night in Brussels before travelling to our hotel for the next five days in Ypres. Ypres was my favourite city with amazing architecture and the Menin Gate which we unfortunately couldn’t see due to reconstruction, but will be open for the trip next year. We participated in the Last Post Ceremony where Carolyn and I had the honour of laying the wreath.
In France we visited very large cemeteries of over 40,000 burials, a French cemetery Notre Dame de Lorette which featured a Cathedral as well as a German cemetery. We travelled on to Bullecourt were I presented my pilgrimage about my great-great grandfather Michael Deegan, who played an important role as a driver and shoeing smith for horses in the first World War. Michael returned home at the conclusion of the war. We also visited the Sir John Monash Centre, which was my favourite museum, it had an amazing immersive experience. One of our nights in Albert the group followed the Frank MacDonald tradition of a costume dinner, the theme chosen this year was a movie character. On Anzac Day we woke early to attend the dawn service in Villers Bretonneux and then travelled into town for the town service and a hot chocolate. We visited Compiegne – the place where the Armistice was signed on the 11 November at the conclusion of the first World War and much to our surprise the Armistice between France and Germany in the second World War.
Our final stop in Europe was Paris where we enjoyed some sight-seeing – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Arch De Triumph and the Champs-Élysées. During our final dinner together we were put to the challenge of trying escargot (snails) which the general consensus was ‘not too bad’.
The memories I made throughout the time of the prize will stay with me forever. I highly encourage all Year 9 students to apply or any younger grades to aspire to it for Year 9. The essay questions are available - question one is based on the ‘spectacular defeat’ of the battle of Fromelles and question two is based on the service of nurses during WWI.
Macy Deegan
RYDA YEAR 10
14 May Students in Today our Year 10 students attended the RYDA Driver Education Program facilitated by Rotary Tasmania earlier this term.
Students participated in a range of educational activities including viewing breaking distances and different speeds, hearing the story of a car accident survivor, learning about the safety features in a car and road use laws.
Senior Football – AFL Studies
Students in Years 9 and 10 who have chosen AFL Studies for one of their Enrichment PIPS will participate in the Senior Football Roster commencing Wednesday 28 May.
The first game of the roster was played on Wednesday 28 May, it was a beautiful day for Football and Reece High School jumped out of the blocks and left the Devonport High School Jets chasing after them.
After a settling period Devonport High School Jets started to get into their groove putting through a couple of majors to stem the Reece flow.
After displaying some good game play to move the ball from end to end at times, Devonport High School Jets are looking promising for the remainder of the roster. Well done!
Brent Munday, AFL Studies Teacher
CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
On Wednesday 22 May and Thursday 23 May Devonport High School held the annual Cross Country Carnival at Fulton Park. We were lucky to have magnificent weather and student participation at the carnivals was fantastic.
Students completed the cross country run in the morning and the Student Leader Team organised fun activities for the afternoon -
- Marble Run
- Log Line Relay
- Slack Line Challenge
- Bush Obstacle Course
The results for the days saw Appledore come out on top closely followed by Pardoe.
1st – Appledore 653 points
2nd – Pardoe 633 points
3rd – Wenvoe 535 points
4th – Sherwood 525 points
Congratulations to the top five runners in each category from the school cross country who were given the opportunity to compete in the NW High Schools Cross Country Championships which were held at Penguin earlier this week.
Our individual Cross Country Champions will be decided with a combination of results from our Cross Country Carnival and results from the NW High Schools Cross Country Championships.
Brent Munday, PE 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
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