Dear Parents/Carers

As part of our Positive Behaviour Support Program at Kings Meadows we will be acknowledging students who have been contributing positively to our learning environment.  This means that they have been supporting our school wide expectations.

Respect for others, self and environment

Organisation

Commitment to learning

Keeping safe

Sensible behaviour

We would like to acknowledge the following students:

Year 7:

Alexandra French, Ellah Dudman & Joseph Norman:   For their outstanding participation in the Interhigh Athletics Carnival.

Year 8:

8A - Gracie Burrage & Cayleb Templeton

8B - Oscar McIlwain & Tyrone Cox 

8C - Addison McKercher

8D - Cassie Davis & Eamon Farrell

8E - Nathan Hilbert & Stella Wright

8F - Jett Knight & Zane Lewis

For demonstrating exceptional improvement in their average attendance this year when compared with their average daily attendance from last year.

Here we are at the end of Year 7! This has been a fantastic year with an outstanding group of students as they started their High School journey.

While it has been a long time since Year 7 Camp at Port Arthur, the impact that this experience has made in forging strong relationships between students and staff has been well and truly evident throughout the year, with mutual respect embedded in our Year 7 culture.

This week sees End of Year Reports going home. While these are a reflection of the past year’s learning, we suggest also using this as a discussion starter to set goals for 2025.

Also this week, we have our Presentation Assembly and the final Year 7 Assembly which will celebrate the success of students in a range of contexts. Congratulations to all students who receive awards on Wednesday!

Continually strong attendance has always been a goal we have worked for throughout the year and success should always be celebrated. At the end of past terms, a class with the most positive attendance change has been rewarded with a hot chip lunch. This term instead saw an invitation extended to the 15 individual students with the highest attendance for the year, as well as the top 15 students with the biggest increase in attendance from Term 3 to Term 4.

Mr Brewer and Mr Johns want to extend an enormous thanks to all of our students for making this year such a positive experience, to our Year 7 teaching team for their ongoing efforts and collective approach to providing our young people with every opportunity and to all the families and carers of our Year 7 students that we have worked with across the year to set these students up for success. On behalf of the Year 7 team, we want to wish all of our students a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to continuing to work with this fantastic cohort in 2025!

As the school year draws to a close, we are thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to our remarkable Year 8 students.  This year has been a journey of growth, resilience and academic achievement and we couldn't be prouder of the accomplishments of all our students and dedicated staff. 

I would like to take the time to congratulate Ambria Stafford who was recently notified that she was a successful applicant for a Harding Miller Educational Foundation Scholarship.  These scholarships were hotly contested across Australia and the application and selection process was very competitive so receiving a scholarship is an excellent acknowledgement of her efforts to complete her application as well has her academic achievements and efforts to continue attending school consistently at high levels. 

Congratulations also to Sophie Bartlett who recently won the 100m Handicap race at Little Athletics on Sunday afternoon.  Sophie competed against 70 athletes and persevered through nine heats, two semifinals and the final eight to become the first female home in the 100m handicap race.

Last Thursday our students had a wonderful Newstead College Taster morning and demonstrated high levels of excellent behaviour and engagement with all activities on the day. Thank you to Mr Dean at Newstead College for helping to work with us to plan activities and events that were highly engaging while helping our Year 8 students to feel comfortable and learn more about what life like be like at Newstead College if they choose to enrol for Years 11 and 12.  We returned to KMHS in time for our Healthy Me activities and students across Year 8 certainly enjoyed participating in these activities together. We hope you enjoy the pictures from the day included with this newsletter. 

On Monday 16 December we celebrated the achievements of Year 8 students who were acknowledged for consistently demonstrating our KMHS R.O.C.K.S. and DECYP values each day during term 4 with 21 students across our cohort being selected to participate in bowling at Launceston Lanes and another 26 students being selected to enjoy a movie afternoon due to their high levels of consistently showing learning attributes that support engagement and positive behaviour in classrooms as recorded by their teachers. We hope this time out provided them with positive acknowledgment for their efforts this term.

In conclusion I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Year 8 students, their dedicated parents and the tireless efforts of our exceptional teachers for their collaborative spirit in enhancing both learning and well-being within our classrooms this year. 

The synergy between students, parents and educators has created a dynamic and supportive environment, fostering a culture of curiosity, resilience and camaraderie. The active engagement and commitment from each party have contributed significantly to the overall growth and success of our school community. Together, we are building a foundation for lifelong learning and positive relationships and for that, I express my sincere appreciation to the entire Year 8 community. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the journey of education and the well-being of our students. 

The last few weeks have flown by with lots of events and interruptions breaking up the last few lessons of each subject. Our Year 10s have continued to follow the R.O.C.K.S. and finished the year really strongly with a fantastic legacy left behind. Congratulations have to go to our House Captains and Peer Support Leaders, supported by Mr Williams and Miss Sheedy, for the fantastic organisation of the KMHS Big Day Out and Healthy Me Expo. Students from all grades thoroughly enjoyed the activities on offer despite some of the questionable weather we were dealt on the day.

On Friday last week, we celebrated together as a group of staff and students at the Graduation Dinner held at the Country Club Casino. The dinner was a great success and a wonderful celebration for completing their final year of education at Kings Meadows High School. It was amazing to see the students formally dressed and looking so mature and grown up. A massive thank you to all the families who had helped to prepare our students for this wonderful night; you did an amazing job as they all looked incredible. In addition, we must thank Mrs Lynch, Miss Sheedy, Mrs Selby and the Graduation Dinner Committee of students and staff who put this wonderful night together. Thank you also to Mrs Glasby and Mrs Breen for their efforts in setting up at the Country Club, it looked fantastic and made for a really memorable evening.

Monday was our last day of “normal” classes with reality starting to set in for some students. The big wide world awaits, whether it’s college, an apprenticeship, TAFE or employment, so a final chance to sit in Maths or History, a final locker cleanout and/or a final debrief about the events of the weekend was greatly appreciated.

Yesterday saw our students travel to the Devonport Bluff for their “mystery” picnic. The experience and opportunity for one more day of fun was still embraced by both the Year 10 staff and students. It was wonderful to be able to spend one of our last days together as a group having fun at the beach in such a relaxing environment. Thank you to the Year 10 staff, in particular Mrs Selby and Miss Attard for the organisation of a great day.

This morning was one final opportunity to take a trip down memory lane reminiscing and viewing some pictures/videos from the previous years. Mrs Selby prepared a fun Kahoot for us to see who knows the 2024 leavers cohort the best, then we shared a fantastic morning tea prepared by the Year 10 staff. Our Presentation and Graduation Assembly was also held today where we celebrated the success of our students in all grades. Congratulations to all our Year 10 award recipients, they were thoroughly well deserved for an outstanding final year.

The final Year 10 newsletter report would not be complete without thanking a multitude of people. We would like to thank our 2024 Class Teachers: Mr Murray for always smiling and keeping 10A focused and organised; Mrs Glasby for her infectious laugh and continued support of 10B; Miss Graham for her ongoing care and positive regard for students in 10C; Mrs Selby for unwavering encouragement of 10D and the Beacon Student Ambassadors and fantastic organisation of a variety of events, excursions and activities; Mr Killalea and Mr Williams for keeping 10E and the House Captains in line and always bringing a sense of humour to all situations; Miss Sheedy for her continued support and guidance of 10F and our Peer Support Leaders, Maths Monday (Thursday) and her determination in seeing students succeed and finally to Miss Lovegrove, Mr Daly and Mr Fisher for their care and support of students in Elevate. 

Thank you to all the people who have shaped the journey over the last four years: Miss Blaubaum, Mrs Hume, Mrs Lovitt and Mr Stocks for their leadership and willingness to listen; the many and varied fantastic teachers who have been Class Teachers since 2021 and all other KMHS staff who have taught and supported this great group of students. Last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Mrs Lynch and Mr Withington for their tireless work and dedication to our 2024  leavers, they will certainly miss your guidance and support. To the parents, carers and families of our Year 10 students, thank you for allowing us to teach, inspire and educate your children for the last four years. We hope we have in some way shaped your children into respectful, kind and courageous people. We will miss them and think of them fondly. Good luck Year 10’s – be brave, make good choices, surround yourself with positive influences and look after yourselves and each other. The Kings Meadows High School community wish you all the best for the future.

As we close out another remarkable year, it’s a pleasure to celebrate the incredible achievements of our students across the Technologies Learning Area. This year has been one of growth, creativity and skill development across our workshop subjects - Metalwork, Woodwork and broader, Materials Design and Technology programs.

Our students have excelled in designing and constructing a variety of impressive projects. From custom-built furniture and artistic woodturning pieces to functional metal tools and decorative works, the level of craftsmanship has been outstanding. These projects not only showcase the students' creativity and technical proficiency but also their ability to apply practical problem-solving skills.

We also celebrate the success of our Food Technologies and Catering programs. Students have demonstrated exceptional culinary skills, producing a range of dishes that highlight their creativity, teamwork and understanding of food preparation and presentation. Our catering team has excelled in hosting school events, further showcasing their dedication and professionalism. These achievements underline the holistic support provided by the Technologies Learning Area, encompassing both design and food technologies.

The focus on hands-on learning has been a cornerstone of our program this year, enabling students to build skills that are directly applicable to future pathways in trades and design industries. Many of our senior students have embraced the opportunity to undertake projects aligned with industry standards, demonstrating exceptional readiness for workplace environments.

Our Year 9 and 10 students have delved into complex tasks, refining their abilities to work with precision and care. Meanwhile, junior students have built strong foundations in safety, tool handling and material manipulation, setting them up for success in future years.

We continue to celebrate the amazing work of our students through our Honour Wall, showcasing standout personal projects that highlight their creativity and technical excellence. The pride these projects bring to our students and school community is truly inspiring.

Looking Ahead

Next year, we are excited to expand our offerings with new tools and technologies, including an upgraded 3D printer, CNC router and an enhanced laser cutter, to further enrich our students’ learning experiences. Additionally, we will be continuing our mentoring program where senior students can support younger peers in their projects, fostering collaboration and leadership within the learning area.

A Big Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to our staff, who have guided and inspired students throughout the year and to the families who have supported their efforts at home. Special thanks go to Karen and Jacqui, whose dedication and support have been integral to the success of our learning area. We also extend our gratitude to our community partners who have provided invaluable resources and expertise.

As we reflect on 2024, we celebrate the many moments of learning, innovation, and success. Be sure to check out the photos below for a glimpse into some of the incredible projects our students have created this year.

Here’s to a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing what 2025 will bring!

Warm regards,
Jake Chamberlain
Learning Area Leader: Technologies

Year 8 students out and about in Science last week.

Last Thursday, a selected group of students went through to represent Northern Tasmania in the All-School Championships. Congratulations and well done for representing KMHS on the big stage. Overall results saw Team North take out the junior shield, with a second place in the overall aggregate.

The school has developed a levy structure in line with the Department for Education, Children & Young People Levy Policy. The school’s levies and charges form an essential income component for the school. 

The levy contributes towards the cost of the educational program studied across Years 7 – 12.  The activities and materials are a necessary part of the curriculum.  All parents or carers, other than those approved for Student Assistance (STAS) are required to contribute towards the cost of their child’s education through levies.

The Student Levy for 2025 will be

Letters confirming STAS 2025 eligibility are now being delivered by post.

Families who have not applied for or received STAS previously are encouraged to apply online at https://stasonlinesubmission.education.tas.gov.au (or Google STAS to be taken directly to the link). Online applications can be submitted on any electronic device including mobile phones.

Families who are advised by letter that they are approved for STAS 2025 and who need to add another student can email their full name and the name, date of birth and grade of the student in 2025 to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au and the newly enrolling student will be added to their file.

2025 approval letters also provide the facility to add a new student and return by email or post. Parents/guardians cannot add a student to an existing file using the online service.

Applicants who have been assessed as not eligible and wish to have the assessment reviewed can call Financial Assistance on 1800 827 055 or email their query to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.

If you have any STAS queries, please contact Financial Assistance on 1800 827 055 or via email to stas@decyp.tas.gov.au.

Call for members: Premier’s Youth Advisory Council

Do you know a young person aged 12-24, living in Tasmania and passionate about Tasmania’s future? If so, you can encourage them to express interest in becoming a member of the Premier’s Youth Advisory Council (PYAC) in 2024. There are 12 positions available.

The PYAC is an opportunity for young people to meet with the Premier, Minister for Education, Children and Youth and Government to discuss their ideas on how we can make Tasmania a better place.

All young Tasmanians are encouraged to apply regardless of their background or participation record.

The PYAC has a diverse and inclusive membership where all members feel welcomed, safe, and supported. PYAC members come from different backgrounds, and we encourage applications from diverse young people so that the Council has a mix of beliefs, skills and life experiences,

The PYAC values the unique experiences, knowledge, and skills that its members bring to the group. If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!

Recruitment is now open and closes on 11:59pm on Monday 27 January 2025.

For more information and to apply,

visit www.dpac.tas.gov.au/pyac

email youthadvisorycouncil@dpac.tas.gov.au

or call 6232 7676.

BIG SUMMER READ:

A summer of reading fun with the Big Summer Read

Students and families can join the Big Summer Read at Libraries Tasmania for the chance to win prizes and be part of a statewide reading club.

The Big Summer Read is a reading initiative that makes reading over the summer holidays fun and engaging. Students can participate in reading challenges, add book reviews and track reading progress as they aim to read at least 10 books for a chance to win a major prize.

The Big Summer Read ends on 2 February 2025.

Visit https://libraries.tas.gov.au/BigSummerRead to register and join the Big Summer Read.

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