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- Principal's Report
- Year 7 - The start of our High School Journey
- School Photo Day
- Stringalong 2022
- Art Competition
- Oral Health - FSFVP
- Burnie Netball Association - Mid Week Roster and Selections
- A Safe Return to School
- Your Go-To Guide to Rapid Antigen Tests
- How to do a NASAL RAT
- Do's and Don'ts of Mask Wearing
- 2022 Tasmania Term Dates
- Tuning Into Teens Sessions
- Parklands Pop-Up Pantry
Welcome to 2022
Hello and welcome back to a new school year to both our new students and their families, along with those that have been part of our Parklands community over a number of years. Having come back from taking leave in Term 4, I have both personally and professionally found it rewarding and exciting to be back catching up with students, staff and parents. I commend the way our students have returned to school and settled back into what we know is a very different and unpredictable school life. It has also been great to see them all proud of being a member of our Parklands team wearing their uniform with pride and demonstrating our core values of respect, relationships, responsibility and high expectations. It has also been fantastic to see how everyone has accepted, and have been consistently wearing their masks and have been considerate in maintaining physical distancing.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new staff to our Parklands team:
Teachers – Mrs Trish McPhee, Ms Carlie Howlett, Ms Codi Lincoln and Ms Alice Karpiniec. We also welcome Ms Cyndra Williams, Daniel Willcox and Mrs Angela Hancock back as fulltime permanent teachers on our team. We also extend a warm welcome to Naomi Gelston as our school Social Worker.
Covid
Unfortunately Covid is here and we are all working together to manage it as best we can. During the Christmas break the Department of Education has been working tirelessly to plan and support schools to implement Covid Safe plans, and also ensure the safest possible environment for our young people and the adults who work in schools. There has been a large amount of information provided to schools and the broader community, at times, it can be overwhelming - however, within it sits valuable information to help us work together to best manage the situation.
Prior to the return of students, schools were provided with Covid back to school packs for each of our students. It was great to see that most of our parents collected theirs via our drive through arrangements. We encourage all parents who did not have the opportunity to collect their packs to contact the office and arrange collection. We have a large supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and also encourage parents to arrange additional tests as soon as a test is used. The school has also distributed masks and sanitiser in grade areas, and throughout the school. We have ensured classrooms are ventillated, and installed a large number of air purifiers to help with air circulation.
The Department has also provided schools with an external support person to help in managing any group or school outbreaks. Information will be provided to parents as positive cases or an outbreak is confirmed. Our school is also working closely with families who’s children are at home for Covid related reasons. This includes providing additional RATs to families, delivering laptops and providing information to access online learning. We ask that you contact the school if your child tests positive, or is considered a close contact.
At this stage we have extremely low numbers of covid positive students and staff, which means there is no impact on the school, or your child’s education. We will keep our community informed and up to date with any covid cases and outbreaks. If you have any concerns or wish to discuss the arrangements we have in place, please contact the office.
Learning Programs
Parklands continues to extend its personalised approach to learning through providing a diverse range of learning opportunities and programs. Our Support Hub continues to grow, along with our ACE program, supporting students learning through alternate and flexible approaches. Our Year 7 & 8 Aspire classes provide strong literacy and numeracy focus, as well as integrating inquiry into the learning experiences. Our Year 9/10 ‘Packages of Learning’ in Advanced Manufacturing and newly introduced Health package provides pathways for students interested in these areas, as well as providing students with a more hands-on and cross curriculum style of learning. These along with our traditional class structures and programs, provides every student with a learning approach that supports their individual needs.
We are looking forward to a positive and exciting 2022 and the opportunity to work with students and parents to maximise learning opportunities.
Mrs Magella Dudley
Principal
Welcome to Year 7!
Over the past week, 113 Year 7 students have officially joined our Parklands High community and school. It has been an exciting time for staff and students getting to know our team, their classmates, new schedules, and getting set in a routine. I would like to take this opportunity to mention how fantastic it has been to see our students arriving daily wearing their full school uniform with pride and looking fantastic. We would like to thank parents and carers for all of your work in preparing students for a successful and positive first week at Parklands.
We are already off to a flying start in 2022. Students have settled in fast and well, and are showing both great potential and development. The Year 7 teaching staff have been blown away by the respect, care, positivity, and engagement of all students and we congratulate them on a brilliant start to the year. This year, we have also trialled a new system around option subject selection, with ultimate success seen from students selecting option subjects they are interested in. It has been wonderful to get around many classes to see the work, learning, planning and ideas underway and coming to life.
I would like to thank our fantastic Year 7 team for all of their work, time, effort and support for our students and ensuring a comfortable start for all to the new year.
Finally, I caught up with a few of our Year 7’s this week to see how they have been enjoying high school so far and how their first week at parklands was:
Chelsea Lovell:
I’ve actually found I’m enjoying it a lot and I’ve made a couple of new friends. My favourite class is Science especially when we go to the Science labs, HASS, English and Maths.
Rhune Nichols:
My experience so far has been VERY good. With all the different subjects and teachers, I’m enjoying high school a lot. I would say MDT is my favourite class so far, I learnt how to isometric draw last lesson which was really cool!
Lewis Button:
At first it was stressful going from one teacher at primary school to 8 new teachers, but after a few days it was much more enjoyable as I got to know everyone and I’m really liking high school. Music I know is going to be my favourite subject as I have always had a passion for it and playing the piano.
Bree Rooks:
My experience of high school has been pretty good, most of the subjects are amazing. I’m really happy with the choices I’ve got. My favourite subject is History with Mrs Kerr.
Bronte Morey:
I’ve really enjoyed the days I’ve been here. It’s been really fun and a lot of the classes have been really good, and the teachers also. My favourite classes are probably music and drama as I’m quite passionate about the arts.
Jaden Spiteri:
At the start, high school is somewhat confusing, however, getting around you get used to it and it gets better. My favourite class so far is probably cooking cause its one of my hobbies.
Stringalong at Parklands High School 2022
Stringalong is on again at Parklands in 2022! We are very excited to welcome a new teacher to the program, Helen Hurst, who is a cellist and has taught for many years in string music programs in Queensland.
Would you like to learn to play violin, viola, cello or double bass? We welcome anyone who has been a part of Stringalong in the past to return, and invite any newcomers to join this year. Lessons will be on Thursday afternoons during blocks 5 or 6. We will be recruiting members in the weeks ahead and more information will be made available soon, so keep your eyes and ears open for further announcements. We look forward to making music with you...
Josie Riches
Stringalong Instructor
