5 April 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Carers

On reflecting on Term 1 2023, it is obvious that an enormous amount of time, energy, planning and collaboration occurred to give us the best foundation for the rest of the year. We feel extremely positive about our current position and our capacity to achieve our targets for the end of the year. We have a group of students, teachers and school staff who are working together to ensure that the best learning outcomes are achieved for every student.

This term we have focused on the value of Respect, with explicit focus on what it looks like, sounds like and how each student could display or explain this in their daily interactions. We have also focused on ensuring that positive connections are made between students, students and staff and students and our community. Our staff report that examples of this respect is clearly evident in the wearing of our uniform, having phones off and away all day and using the respectful language in the professional and learning environment.

We are most proud of our students who are in class, safe, collaborating and learning every lesson, every day. Our reports this term highlight the work habits, attitude, work completion/submission and attendance in class. We know that an engaged and community minded student will struggle to be in class 100% of the time, because their time is spread across clubs, activities or events that demonstrate that they are contributing to their community and making it better.

We also know that our best students are those who manage their time and juggle the competing demands of school and are able to complete and submit their work on time, every time. The reason we are focussed on this as a school is to ensure that every student can achieve their Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and progress into meaningful study or employment with a clear work ethic and the required skills to flourish.

This term has been incredibly busy and it is important to recognise this, especially if you are a new parent or a parent of a Year 7 student! Athletics Carnival, NAPLAN, Activity Days and the settling in period for new classes, changed timetables and in some cases new campuses for those in year 11! We knew that this term would be foundation building and establishing the routines and processes that will support us all as we progress. Each week we receive feedback from our parents, both positive and negative. Please know we value this highly and encourage you to continue to share it with your child’s relevant teacher, Year Team Leader, Assistant Principal or me.

Staffing Announcements

Congratulations to Adam van Sant who was recently the successful nomination for a permanent Assistant Principal role at Taroona High School (THS). We farewell Karen Brown who has decided to retire at the end of this term. Karen is a much loved, passionate and endearing teacher who has taught a range of subjects over many years. Michelle Andrews is returning to THS from a Student Support role, Michelle will return to the Year 7 Assistant Principal role. We welcome back Tim Muir from his Term 1 long service leave (LSL) while Celina Wilson will be on LSL for Term 2.

Below are our Year Assistant Principals and Team Leaders

Year 7 Team:

Assistant Principal - Michelle Andrews, Year Team Leaders - Cameron Paynter and Trav Hutchins

Year 8 Team:

Assistant Principal - Julian Muskett, Year Team Leaders - Katie Stanford and Meg Brockie

Year 9 Team:

Assistant Principal - Adam van Sant, Year Team Leaders - Tim Muir and Roxanne Pritchard-Christie

Year 10 Team:

Assistant Principal - James Trainer, Year Team leaders - Scott MacCrum and Emma Marsh

I hope you feel as energised and excited about the year ahead as we do at THS. We wish you a safe, relaxing and restful Easter break and look forward to seeing all of our families back and ready to learn in Term 2!

All the best

Charles White
Principal

Catering News

Catering and Hospitality Class has been off to a great start so far! We started by holding a stall at the Welcome Barbeque which was a great success. We made various baked goods that the parents and students seemed to love.

We also catered for the GETI (Government Education Training International) brunch where we helped with setting up and making treats for the international exchange program.

Two weeks ago, we bussed to the city to attend a ‘Futures in Hospitality’ expo. There we got to make mocktails, coffee and cupcakes. We also got to chat with organisers and apprenticeship workers at their stalls about careers in hospitality. These were inspirational and opened all these new insights into pathways that we didn’t know were possible. Catering & Hospitality has been so much fun because we get to learn how it feels to work in a commercial kitchen and the possible career opportunities it can bring.

Miley A (10Y) and Stella T (10J)

GETI Agent Tour

On Friday 24 February, eight GETI agents from schools all over the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Japan, and Thailand, visited Taroona High School. Along with Mrs Marsh, our international students introduced C-Block, S-Block, the fitness room and the MDT area to them, and shared their wonderful experiences at THS. It was a success in showing that international students are always welcomed, supported, and taken care of here. The tour ended with delicious morning tea in the staff room prepared by catering students.

Metro Bus Service

All students who use the Metro bus services daily to commute to and from Taroona High School are expected to pay, by simply tapping their Greencard on the driver’s ticket machine on entry.

The Greencard is set with information including your child’s default trip and their concession details, so the correct fare is automatically deducted and you are debited the correct amount. When your child’s travel credit is getting low, simply top it up with new credit.

How do I recharge my greencard credit?

You can top up your Greencard credit:

• At a Greencard agent, or at a Metro depot or the Metro Shop (using cash, credit card or EFTPOS)
• Online – for registered Greencard holders only
• With the Metro Tas App (Download from the iOS App Store or Google Play for Android devices).

If you are low on credit and a trip takes your travel credit balance into debit, you should recharge your Greencard as soon as possible so that you can continue to use it. Any debit amount owing on your balance will automatically be deducted at the time of your new credit recharge.

Automatic top-up

Once logged into My Greencard online, you can set up automatic top-up when your credit falls below a specified amount. You can set your own values of ‘minimum balance’ and ‘top-up amount’.

When the balance on your Greencard falls below the ‘minimum balance’, it will automatically be topped up by the ‘Top-up amount’. The auto top-up function runs in the evening following the card balance falling below the ‘Minimum balance’.

Please choose a ‘Minimum balance’ value that is enough to cover your travel in periods where a top-up maybe delayed* to ensure you will always have sufficient credit on your Greencard.

*Online credit is processed at 6am and 12am (midnight) each day however may take more than 24 hours, so please ensure you top up before your balance is too low to cover your daily fare.

For more Greencard information please click on the following link: Greencard - Metro Tasmania Metro Tasmania

Maths and Science Year 9

Maths

Year 9 students have been studying right-angle triangles this term and solving unknown sides and angles using Pythagoras theorem and Trigonometry. As a way of modelling the job of surveying, students have gone outside with clinometers and trundle wheels to work out the heights of tall objects using trigonometry and then compared with a choice of alternative methods. They created posters to show their calculations and thoughts.

Science

Biology students have been looking at how an impact to the nervous system would change you. They have built neurons, experimented on changing their reaction time and dissected brains.

Taroona High School Athletics Carnival 2023

On Tuesday 14 March 2023, we had our THS Athletics Carnival. In true Taroona spirit it was full of cheer and sporting successes. This year we had amazing weather for the day with a high of 25 degrees and sunny. Throughout the day many students enjoyed and participated in a collection of events. This ranged from high jump to the 1500m, although some of the field events were held at school at an earlier date.

Some of the popular moments of the day were the novelty events. This involved tug-o-war, vortex and circus skills, as well as the awesome team spirit that was displayed. Each of the houses participated very well and it was a truly amazing experience to look out at the crowd and see the sea of red, blue, yellow, and green.

A special shoutout to Georgia S (9R) for taking out the prestigious Taroona Gift Race, beating the fastest individuals within each year group in a handicap 100m sprint.

At the end of the day, we were presented with the final house points.

Congratulations to Crayfish on the first win of 2023!

Overall, it was another great Athletics Carnival with many great memories made. A final thank you to all of the hard work put in by everyone to make it happen.

First Aid

At Taroona High School we have a dedicated First Aid Officer, along with many other staff who hold First Aid qualifications. Students are to come to Student Services if they receive a minor injury and our First Aid Officer will be notified to provide the assistance required. Major injuries are reported to the office and the First Aid Officer will go to the student, parents will be notified as required.

It is important the school is informed of any medical conditions that your child has. A medical action plan must be provided, this plan must be renewed annually and updated if your child’s medical condition changes.

If a child is not feeling well enough to be in class, the parent/carer will be phoned to request that the child be collected in a timely manner. Taroona High School does not have a sick room for unwell children to rest in.

Please note: Our First Aid Officer is NOT a nurse and will provide the best care as a first responder.

Taroona High School Association

It has been a busy start into 2023 for all of our Taroona High Community.

We came together at the Welcome Back BBQ on Tuesday 21 February. This was a fantastic chance to mingle with new families and friends, chat to our wonderful teachers and have a snag or vegie burger on the school’s beautiful foreshore.

We then held our Annual General (AGM) and first General meeting on Monday 20 March, with great attendance. At the AGM we acknowledged the service of a number of outgoing committee members. Our gratitude and thanks go to all of them for their years of service, in particular Martine Siltman, holding the role of Chair for the past four years.

The Committee now has a number of new and continuing members (see below) which is wonderful to see. Many parents shared a passion for the natural environment and grounds around the school. As a result, our Grounds Sub-Committee will have lots of support to continue its important work this year establishing a grounds master plan and an orchard.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from parents to help in any way with the construction of the orchard commencing in Term 2. Please take a moment to read the below article including an indicative photo of our future orchard.

We look forward to seeing our students interests and talents showcased at Ember: our Contemporary Music Night; the Spring Arts Festival bringing together Art, Music, Drama, Graphic Design and Film; and the School Musical at the end of the year. We are always keen to support the Student Representative Council with their initiatives, particularly the annual Student Awards and Kate Poynter Scholarship Program, open to all students.

Our Association meetings are generally held every 3rd Monday of each month in school terms. You don’t have to be a member of the committee to come along or to help out during the year!

Please follow us on Facebook: Taroona High School Association | Facebook or contact us at taroonahigh.assoc@gmail.com

New Committee

Builder(s) Wanted! To Construct A Timber-Framed Netted Orchard Enclosure

The School Association has received funds from the Queens Jubilee grant programme to develop an orchard on the school grounds to the north of the Science block, behind the Music block.

We are wanting to engage a parent(s) with building expertise who could oversee the construction of a simple, timber-framed, fully netted (wallaby/possum/bird proof) orchard enclosure (perhaps similar to the one in this photograph) with assistance from other parents, staff and students. Approximate size 15 x 15m, depending on labour/materials costs.

Design references and materials specifications are available as a guide. The build needs to be completed by the end of August, ready for late winter planting of the fruit trees. Funds are available to pay for professional services.

If you’re keen to be involved in the school in this way, please contact Fiona Rice (Grounds Committee, THS Association) - 0400 019 758 or email taroonahigh.assoc@gmail.com

Communication with Parents/Carers

THS has several ways for parents/carers to keep informed of what is happening around the school during the year. Please take a moment to read and subscribe to the following options.

Taroona High School Website

By visiting our website you can access Taroona High School information and subscribe to the newsletter, download the app and ‘Like’ our Facebook page

Facebook

Go to the link below and “Like” us and you will start getting all the important Taroona High School information in your Facebook newsfeed.

Newsletter

You can also subscribe to receive Taroona High School’s Newsletter here:

SZapp - Schoolzine App

The app provides a convenient way to receive up-to-date information on the go:

An update for SZapp has been released to accommodate iPhones which have recently updated their software to iOS 13 and above.

Qkr! App

Using the Qkr! App instructions (click on the link below), download it to your phone to order and pay for lunches at the Canteen or make other payments.

School Calendar

Term Dates 2023

Community News