As we come to the end of Term 1, we have much to celebrate. This term has been one of achievement and growth, marked by a strong sense of connectedness and a positive school culture. Our Year 7 students have made a great start to their high school journey, adjusting to their timetables, finding their way to classes, and making new friends.

The Year 7 camp provided an excellent opportunity for the students to build connections and bond as a group. They engaged in various activities that challenged them in different settings. Similarly, our Year 9 students enjoyed their camp at Paton Park this week, taking advantage of the great outdoors and fine weather. These experiences have allowed students to challenge themselves, work as teams, and strengthen their bonds as a grade. We extend our thanks to the staff who organized these camps and those who gave up their personal time to support and ensure their success.

Throughout Term 1, there have been numerous offsite excursions and experiences across the school. These opportunities play a significant role in exposing our students to real-world, authentic experiences that further promote their learning.

Our focus as a school remains on improving student outcomes and ensuring a safe and secure environment where students feel a strong sense of belonging. One of our key priorities is improving reading outcomes for all students. This has led to the implementation of several evidence-based practices across all curriculum areas. We have also scheduled two dedicated reading blocks each week across all grades. Next term, students in Years 7 to 9 will be grouped to enable a more targeted focus on supporting their learning needs. Throughout the term, and continuing throughout the year, staff have been engaging in professional learning to enhance their skills and knowledge in the teaching of reading.

NAPLAN testing, a national assessment program for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, is conducted in March every year. Students are tested in Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Grammar and Punctuation. A huge congratulations and thanks to our Year 7 and 9 students for their engagement in NAPLAN this year. We look forward to receiving the results in late August.

We are excited to announce that our Ninja Warrior course will be complete and ready for use at the beginning of Term 2. This will be a fantastic addition to our outdoor space, and we look forward to seeing students enjoy it. Additionally, our Parklands Collective STEM Hub project is gaining traction with exciting new resources and technologies to engage our students through interactive and design technologies. We have also ordered our Greenpower car, which we hope will arrive from the UK sometime in May. We are very thankful to Schools Plus for the grant we received.

Congratulations to Isabelle, who will be traveling to Belgium and France as a recipient of the Frank McDonald Award. Isabelle will visit several war and memorial sites, learning more about Australia’s contribution to the two World Wars and representing Tasmania by laying a wreath overseas on ANZAC Day. We look forward to hearing about her experiences from this trip.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy break. We look forward to a productive and exciting Term 2.

Mrs M Dudley

Principal