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Welcome to Term 3. The Term started with a student free day that enabled our teachers to spend some quality time planning and focussing on improving our teaching. Throughout the day staff worked toward improving Student Support Programs offered at Parklands, collaborating to deliver literacy initiatives, consolidated grade focuses, and worked with each other to improve our use of effective teaching strategies.
Schools are dynamic places and due to this there have been some teacher movements to support programs at Parklands. Mr Hall is bringing extensive knowledge and enthusiasm to the Support Coordinator role and Mrs Carol Boyd is now our school's Quality Teaching Coach. Mrs Boyd has a wealth of experience and will bring a lot of exciting ideas to the school. Mr Andrew Hay has transitioned into ACE, a student support program and we are excited to see this new aspect of the school grow. I would also like to welcome Mr Daniel Willcox to the Parklands team. Mr Willcox will be teaching in the Year 7 and 8 Science and History areas of the school. His addition to the school has already been noticed and Parklands is very lucky to have him onboard.
Before we speak about the exciting things approaching in Term 3, the efforts of our parents and teachers needs to be recognised. At the end of Term 2 we held our Parent Teacher interviews, it was excellent to be able to see and hear the feedback students and their carers were given on the success they had in the first half of the year and areas to focus on in Semester 2. I want to thank our teachers for the time and effort that goes into preparing for the interviews and also parents for making the effort to support their children. We recognise that carers are busy and if you were unable to come during Term 2, please call the school and ask to speak to your child’s homegroup teacher or year coordinator.
There are lots of exciting things to look forward to over the Semester 2. One of these events has been our External School Review that started on Monday. The purpose of external school reviews is to support schools to raise achievement, sustain high performance, and provide quality assurance to build public confidence in government schools. All Tasmanian government schools will be externally reviewed every four years. The focus of the review is to evaluate school performance. The Review Team consists of a Review Chair and at least one trained Review Principal. We will find out the aspects of the school’s improvement that have been verified through the review processes as well as the improvements that we need to make in the future.
During the External School Review, some students, parents, School Association members and staff were asked to provide information to the Review Team in a number of ways. These included:
- individual interviews
- group discussions (with students or staff or parents)
- meetings (usually School Association, staff meeting)
- visits into classrooms.
Parklands welcomes the review and looks forward to using its findings to grow and improve into the future.
Apart from the External School Review there are a number of exciting things for out students to look forward to, these include; Girls Football, Sports Expo, Creativity Art exhibition, Year 11 Transition, Year 7 Transition, Beacon Foundation , Healthy Living Day and the Winter Sports Carnival. The lists of events highlight what a diverse place Parklands is.
We hope everyone in our school community has a successful Term 3. If there are any questions or information that would support our teachers in working with your child please make contact with the school.
Year 11/12 Health Services Assistance
This term the Year 11/12 Health Services Assistance students have been working on their Communicate and Work in Health and Community Services unit. The activity demonstrated in the photos shows students required to use their verbal communication skills to guide a blind-folded student through a set course within the classroom.
Ms Andrea Crawford
Year 11&12 Coordinator
Year 10 Transition to Year 11 in 2022
By staying at school until the end of Year 12, students increase their life chances considerably. The Education Act 2016 has made it a requirement for all students to continue their education until they finish Year 12, achieve a Certificate III, or they turn 18 – unless they have an exemption.
The extension of Years 11 and 12 into all high schools in the North West Coast provides students with the opportunity to choose a course of study that meets their learning needs and career goals in a place that works best for them.
Our Year 10 students have already spent time considering their options for 2022. This has included exploring study and course options across the Hellyer Regional Collective. All students have received a copy of the Hellyer College Student Information Guide 2022. College staff have also conducted information sessions outlining course options for 2022 with our students.
The remaining steps in the Transition Program are outlined below:
- A Taste of Years 11 & 12 Day will be held at Hellyer College on Friday 20, August. Students have already selected four classes they would like to sample on this day.
Schools will transport students to and from Hellyer College on this day and they will be required to wear their school uniform.
The Hellyer College Café will be open for morning tea, and pizza will be provided free of charge at lunch time. Students are still encouraged to bring some refreshments with them for the day.
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- Due to Public Health restrictions on the number of adults who can be on school sites, Hellyer College is hosting a VIRTUAL Parent Information Sessions on their website https://www.hellyercollege.education.tas.edu.au from Wednesday, August 18th. This will allow parents and students to explore all, or some of the following, from the comfort of their homes.
- Welcome videos from Hellyer College’s Principal, Judy Fahey and Nikki Clark, Principal of Smithton High School, on behalf of the Hellyer Regional Collective.
- Videos showing: a Day at Hellyer College, the Hellyer Regional Collective and Learning Area subject overviews.
- Videos outlining Student Support at Hellyer College, the TCE and ATAR requirements.
- The Hellyer Student Information Guide 2022 and individual subject flyers.
- Information about the Hellyer College Student Residence.
- Hellyer College staff will visit our school on Monday 6, September from 3:30 - 7pm for personalised course counselling with you and your child.
- Parents/carers who would like a tour of Hellyer College have the option of booking a small group tour of the College on the following dates.
- Tuesday 22, or Thursday 24, September at either 3.15pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm, 5.00pm
- Tuesday 13, or Thursday 15, October at either 3.15pm, 3.45pm, 4.30pm, 5.00pm
- Due to Public Health restrictions on the number of adults who can be on school sites, Hellyer College is hosting a VIRTUAL Parent Information Sessions on their website https://www.hellyercollege.education.tas.edu.au from Wednesday, August 18th. This will allow parents and students to explore all, or some of the following, from the comfort of their homes.
These tours can be booked via the Hellyer College office on 6435 5200.
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- Hellyer College will host an Orientation Day for 2022 students on Thursday, December 2.
We will be working with Hellyer College and other extension high schools to make sure that students who require additional information, or more support to make their transition, receive the personalised attention they require.
On My Holiday
Nan and pop came down to Waratah to pick me up and then they came down and picked me up and we went to their house we went out and went shopping we went to Kmart to buy clothes we got the clothes and went home the next morning we had to pack some clothes in suitcases and we done that and we had to pack the car too and we packed the car the next morning at one o’clock me and nan went to get our nails done we were so excited because there was one sleep to go and then we had dinner and went to bed the it was the finely the day that I was waiting for had came then we put the suitcases in the car we left at night to go on the boat we had to show the passes to get on the boat I was so happy then we got on the boat and went to the room that we were in we got settled down in our room and then we went for a walt on the boat we went out side on the deck of the boat then w went back in side and had dinner I had fish and chips then we went for a look around the boat then we went back to the room that we were in and went to bed there was a top bunk and beds on the floor my nan and pop slept on the bed on the floor I was meant to sleep on the top bunk but I didn’t I thought that I would fall on the bed so I slept on the floor we went to sleep we had to wake up early in the morning and we went down to our car and got in it and travelled 7 or 8 hours driving from Melbourne to Adelaide then we finely got there I was so happy to get there because I could stretch my legs we were staying at my casein kayas house then a few days I met my casein and her name is ivy she was nice to me and then the next day we went on a steam train it was so fun and we had lots of photos taken and after that we got picked up and went home for a bit and went back out to go shopping I got some stuff I got my brother cooper some think I got my baby brother some think too and I got mt mum and dad some think too and they all liked what I got them then me and my forth casein went and got her nails done and I got mine toenails done too it was so fun then after that we went to a fidget shop I got 2 fidgets then I went to ivy’s house and we went and got a photo taken of both of us it was fun then I had to go so I said bye and I went home the next morning I had to get up early in the morning to go to the airport then I said bye to my nan and pop and then I had to get on the plan I went from Adelaide airport to Melbourne airport then I had to wait for a hour and then I got on the plan and had to go to seston airport then I seen mum and dad waiting for me at the front of the airport then we drove to my home and I was happy to get home because I missed my mum and dad and brothers and I missed my dogs and cat I was so happy to see my dogs and my cat. I hope that you enjoy the story and thank you for reading it.
By Shelby-Lea Crockford
Support Hub Literacy & Numeracy
Students in our Support Hub classes are encouraged to use a range of strategies as they meet their learning goals. Talk to text is a useful tool that allows students to create a draft that can be used in future lessons to build on knowledge of simple sentences, punctuation, and phrasing.
To celebrate half a year of learning about a new language and culture, students made some Sushi and Tempura.
‘いただきます (Itadakimasu)! たのし かた です Tanoshi katta desu!’ (Year 8 Japanese class)
Drumbeat is an evidence based social and emotional learning program, with hand drumming being used as the medium. We learn core rhythms; play rhythm games; we have discussions around life skills; we improvise on the drums and we finish with a performance. Drumbeat is an acronym: Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions Attitudes and Thoughts.
Over the course of the program we learn about healthy relationships and the factors that are important to developing and maintaining positive, supportive relationships with others.
We will talk about central themes and issues that are important to our wellbeing. We learn to work together as a team to make music and as individuals express ourselves in ways that harmonise with others.
We learn how to play the djembe and we have a lot of fun.
It is great to partner with community groups. The Somerset Rotary club has made a generous contribution to the program by purchasing 12 drums. The opportunity that this creates is enormous and we at Parklands High are grateful for the investment that the rotary club has made into the future of our young people.