Dear Parents/Carers

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the recent long weekend for the King’s Birthday Public Holiday. Although we have been fortunate with some very mild weather recently, winter has certainly now arrived. Even though it is cold and we want students to stay warm and comfortable, students are still always expected to wear full school uniform. We have a range of flexible options with multiple layers. As always, if your family is struggling with the cost of living and may be finding it difficult to purchase uniform, please reach out to us. If students are wearing non-uniform items under their uniform, then these items should be tucked in and out of view. As we have school hats and beanies, non-school branded items are not permitted. Thank you for your anticipated co-operation in this regard.

The cooler months bring colds, flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Flu can be serious for young children. Children are more likely to catch and spread the flu and young children may become very sick. The Department of Health has launched its 2024 Winter Wellness campaign and is encouraging school communities to take care of their health by preparing, planning and protecting themselves. The attached information sheet has more details. You can also visit www.health.tas.gov.au/campaigns/winter-wellness or call the Public Health Hotline for advice on 1800 671 738.

Last Wednesday, 12 June a group of interested students accompanied Belinda Selby to UTAS for the Health Taster Day. This provided some unique insights into the varied health courses that students can undertake at university. These types of activities are designed to assist students to make well considered and informed decisions about their future education, training and employment pathway.    Similarly, last Thursday 13 June, we have had our Child Studies students working with younger students at Glen Dhu Primary School and our Foods/Catering students visiting Newstead College. Thank you to Belinda Selby, Nicole Lynch and Jo Bent for enabling these engaging and enriching opportunities for our students.

This week has been another busy week in our school with Challenge Day being held this Friday, 21 June. These Challenge Days are organised to coincide with our Year 10 students visiting both Launceston College and Newstead College, thereby freeing up enough physical space to cater for an influx in student numbers. Our current Year 7 students will also participate in an excursion to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Inveresk this Friday. Challenge Day for prospective students currently in Year 5 and 6 at primary school, is part of a suite of transition activities that are designed to set students up for a smooth, supported and successful transition to secondary school. We know that any transition point (i.e. starting school, moving to high school, going to college) can pose some challenges for some students, whereas others thrive and adapt very rapidly. It was great to meet and interact with some of our keen and enthusiastic future students. This year we have also been running more personalised school tours for future families and it has been great to see prospective families taking up these opportunities.

Please note that mid-year reports go home on Friday, 28 June. These reports provide an important update to students and parents/carers in relation to both work habits and academic progress, so it is important that the reports are considered and discussed. It is always a good opportunity to ‘take stock’ and potentially set some learning goals for the remainder of the year. We are also hosting our Open Evening on Tuesday, 2 July. While there are a few dimensions to this evening, it does provide opportunities for parents/carers to book meetings with teachers for formal progress conferences or enable parents/carers and staff to catch up in a more relaxed manner, if that is your preference. Afterall, we know that parents and carers who show an interest in their child’s education and work in partnership with school staff, are increasing the odds of their child achieving more from their education.

As we get to the last quarter of the term and some people may be tiring and looking forward to the holidays, it is important that we value every school day, students are working hard with their learning and our behavioural expectations and routines are being met at all times.

Regards

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:

Josie Dawson:  For always being organised and efficient in her learning across all subjects.

Isaac Dolbey:  For being courteous and looking out for everyone in 7D.

Year 8:

Molly Dudman: For helping another student who needed assistance with her school uniform.

Alice Patten:  For showing courage to challenge herself through participating in the recent State Cross Country Carnival.

Coby Praciak:  For showing courage to challenge himself through participating in the recent State Cross Country Carnival.

Anon Shiji: For the wonderful way he has joined our school community this term and his exceptional use of manners when speaking with staff.

Year 9:

Elli Maher-Maynard:  For being a kind person and helping keep the school a tidy and respectful place. 

Francis Azarian: For being a wonderful inclusion to Year 9 and performing at the whole school assembly.

Year 10:

Petra Bourke and Angelina Souto:  For their continued effort and application to all curriculum areas.

As we approach the final weeks of Term 2, we are still highly impressed with the way our Year 7 students consistently live up to our R.O.C.K.S. expectations of Respect, Organisation, Commitment to Learning, Keeping Safe, and Sensible Behaviour. Year 7 students recently attended their first formal whole school assembly in our newly refurbished gymnasium. This was a fantastic opportunity to recognise our students for their achievements in a wide range of learning opportunities, as well as showing our youngest cohort some of the opportunities they will have in their future years at KMHS.

This Friday, Year 7 will be attending an excursion to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, including a visit to the Planetarium. This experience not only links to elements of the Year 7 Science curriculum, but will also help foster student curiosity and love of learning. We will be departing from KMHS and returning at 2:50pm. Students are reminded that they will need to bring a packed lunch and drink bottle for the day.

Our Year 7 Transition Leaders are excited for our upcoming Challenge Day, supporting visiting Year 5/6 students from local primary schools as they are introduced to KMHS, our R.O.C.K.S. and a variety of fun challenges across the school.

If you ever have any queries about your child’s learning, please do not hesitate to reach out to their Class Teacher as the first point of contact. Our Year 7 teaching team is a wealth of knowledge and happy to support.

Year 7 Contact Details

7A Class Teacher – Mrs Anu Grewal - anu.grewal@decyp.tas.gov.au

7B Class Teacher – Miss Isabella Darsaklis - isabella.darsakli@decyp.tas.gov.au

7C Class Teacher – Miss Eloise Hart - eloise.hart@decyp.tas.gov.au

7D Class Teacher – Mr Matt Battle - mathew.battle@decyp.tas.gov.au

7E Class Teacher – Mr Matt Chatwin - matthew.chatwin@decyp.tas.gov.au

Additional teachers working with Year 7:

Mrs Renee Lunson - renee.lunson@decyp.tas.gov.au

Mr George Edmondson - george.edmondson@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 7 Leader – Mr Scott Brewer - scott.brewer@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 7 AST – Mr Robert Johns - robert.p.johns@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 7 Assistant Principal - Mrs Kate Hume - kate.hume@decyp.tas.gov.au

We invite parents to contact us either by email or by phoning the school 6343 1000.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate Coby Praciak and Gracie Burrage for their participation in the recent State Cross Country Carnival held recently.  Coby finished 12th and Gracie finished 50th. Both Gracie and Coby showed their resilience and competitive spirit on the day. They challenged themselves to push beyond their current comfort zones to race in an extremely competitive and large field. Just being selected to participate in the State Cross Country Carnival is a significant achievement and we are certainly proud of them for both stepping up to compete for Kings Meadows High School.

On Friday this week, our Year 8 students will participate in S.W.A.T. Day activities and our Year 8 Students Leaders will support Challenge Day activities when primary school students attend our campus in support of allowing them to feel confident and comfortable when they move to high school next year.  Thanks must go to Mr Dan Richardson for supporting with the planning for S.W.A.T. Day.  Students will engage in a range of activities that support transferring their learning from the movie 'Wonder' into a range of activities related to respecting difference/uniqueness and bullying.  Students will also be further reflecting and working on activities related to our School R.O.C.K.S. providing suggestions and discussions around how these could be improved to better support teaching and learning programs, while giving them a voice in the behaviours that they believe are important in classrooms.  This work will currently supplement a new focus for our staff and students around recognising, encouraging and supporting kindness to others the through our 'Random Acts of Kindness' initiative. 

In conclusion of our newsletter article this week, I would like to thank Charles McMahon who has written an article on his current learning in mathematics. This article continues to build on our focus of encouraging Student Voice and Student Empowerment across our Cohort.

Mathematics in Year 8 - Article by Charles McMahon

In a nutshell, the Year 8s have been working diligently on fractions, decimals and percentages in mathematics. This term has been a whirlwind of learning and growth and we are thrilled to share some highlights with you.

We have been engaged in a variety of worksheets and class activities designed to deepen our understanding of mathematical concepts. These activities have not only reinforced our skills but also encouraged collaborative learning and problem-solving.

We are pleased to report that many students have been working peacefully and participating actively in class activities. Their enthusiasm and dedication is truly commendable and it’s wonderful to see them supporting each other in their learning journeys.

Looking ahead, we will be delving into the topic of angles. This will be an exciting new challenge for us and our teachers are confident that we will approach it with the same level of enthusiasm and curiosity.

As always, we are expected to show commitment to learning and follow the instructions given by our teachers. These guidelines are essential for maintaining a productive and respectful learning environment.

We've been going well and are learning lots in Year 8. The progress we’ve made so far is promising and we look forward to continuing this journey of discovery and achievement.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.

Warm regards

Charles McMahon
Year 8 Student

Year 8 contact details:

8A Class Teacher – Mr Todd Nankervis - todd.nankervis@decyp.tas.gov.au

8B Class Teacher – Mr Leigh Richardson - leigh.richardson@decyp.tas.gov.au

8C Class Teacher – Ms Sherron Casey - sherron.casey@decyp.tas.gov.au

8D Class Teacher – Mrs Emma Dobson - emma.l.dobson@decyp.tas.gov.au

8E Class Teacher – Mr Dylan Warren - dylan.warren@decyp.tas.gov.au

8F Class Teacher – Mr Nick Stokes - nick.stokes@decyp.tas.gov.au

Additional teachers working with Year 8:

Mrs Jade Howard - jade.howard@decyp.tas.gov.au

Mrs Jo Bent - joanna.bent@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 8 Leader – Miss Emma Attard - emma.attard@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 8 Leader – Mr Daniel Richardson - daniel.richardson@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 8 AST – Mr Nathan Karas - nathan.karas@decyp.tas.gov.au

Year 8 Assistant Principal – Mrs Kate Hume  kate.hume@decyp.tas.gov.au

Students in Year 9 are continuing to work hard as we head towards the end of Term 2.  Our students will be completing their second S.W.A.T. day of the term next Friday 21 June which will have a focus on the use of social media. 

As the weather becomes a lot cooler heading in to winter, students are reminded to ensure they are not wearing non Kings Meadows High School hoodies at school and are encouraged to wear a school rugby jumper or a spray jacket. 

A reminder for any students looking for part time work to scan the QR codes below.

McDonalds 

Coles

Woolworths

A reminder to parents that mid year reports will be sent home towards the end of term with the chance to book in parent teacher conferences in Week 10 – stay tuned for more information around that in the coming weeks.

Year 9 contact details:

9A Class Teacher – Mrs Jessica Crawford - jessica.crawford@decyp.tas.gov.au 

9B Class Teacher – Mr Solomon Walker-Bowd – solomon.walker-bowd@decyp.tas.gov.au

9C Class Teacher – Mrs Joh Breen - joh.breen@decyp.tas.gov.au

9D Class Teacher – Mr Nathan Meurant – nathan.meurant1@decyp.tas.gov.au

9E Class Teacher – Mr Lachlan Bryan – lachlan.bryan@decyp.tas.gov.au

9EL Class Teacher - 

9F Class Teacher – Mr Mick Bent -  mick.bent@decyp.tas.gov.au

Additional teachers working with Year 9:

AST - Mr Jake Chamberlain - jake.chamberlain@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade Leader - Mr Sean Stevenson – sean.stevenson@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade Leader - Mr Sam Maddern – sam.maddern@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Grade AST - Mr Brendan Poke – brendan.poke@decyp.tas.gov.au

Year 9 Assistant Principal - Ms Kate Blaubaum - kate.blaubaum@decyp.tas.gov.au

Celebrations

Thank you!

A well-deserved thank you and well done goes to the vast majority of our Year 10 students who turn up, try their best and follow the rules and expectations every day. Thank you also goes to the brave and responsible students who speak up when things go wrong and those who accept responsibility for their actions and choices if they make a mistake.

College Open Days

This week our Year 10s will attend Open Days at both Launceston and Newstead Colleges. It is important to note that these days are designed to provide a snapshot of college life and what students can expect in 2025. Attendance on these days is important and should be strongly encouraged.

Melbourne Trip

Tickets are booked and activities are being finalised. Payment deadlines have been shared and we are only 8 weeks away from departure. Students have been made aware of the importance of the associated paperwork being returned ASAP, so we can have a smooth lead up without any last-minute stress.

Grade Focus

Our focus for Year 10 this term remains centred around making positive choices and being responsible for our own learning. The approaching College Open Days are a key step in the transition process for our students and what comes next. Please encourage and talk to them about their interests, passions and possible pathways beyond Kings Meadows.

Important Dates

• Newstead College Open Day – Friday 21 June
• Reports go home - Friday 28 June
• Open Evening - Tuesday 2 July

Year 10 Contact Details:

10A Class Teacher – Mr Chris Murray - chris.murray1@decyp.tas.gov.au

10B Class Teacher – Mrs Rebecca Glasby - rebecca.glasby@decyp.tas.gov.au

10C Class Teacher – Miss Mikhala Graham - mikhala.graham@decyp.tas.gov.au

10D Class Teacher – Mrs Belinda Selby - belinda.selby@decyp.tas.gov.au

10E Class Teacher – Mr Ben Killalea - ben.killalea@decyp.tas.gov.au

10EL Class Teacher - Miss Emily Lovegrove - emily.lovegrove@decyp.tas.gov.au

10F Class Teacher – Miss Steph Sheedy - steph.sheedy@decyp.tas.gov.au

Additional Teachers working with Year 10:

Mr Richard Goss - richard.goss@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 10 Leader – Mrs Nicole Lynch - nicole.lynch1@decyp.tas.gov.au

Grade 10 Leader – Mr Stuart Withington (stuart.withington@decyp.tas.gov.au)

Grade 10 AST – Mr James Guy (james.guy@decyp.tas.gov.au)

Year 10 Assistant Principal - Ms Kate Blaubaum - kate.blaubaum@decyp.tas.gov.au

On Wednesday 12 June a group of Year 10 students had the opportunity to visit UTAS and learn about careers in Allied Health, Nursing, Pharmacy and Psychology. This was an excellent day with students engaged in hands on activities and hearing from both UTAS staff and students.

Every year, thousands of students across Tasmania participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. This involves reading as many books as possible over the course of 10 weeks – from 17th June until the 23rd August. The Challenge is not a competition, but a way to encourage young people to develop a love of reading for life. No matter what you aspire to do or be, reading and literacy skills will help you get there.

We are overwhelmed with the number of students from Kings Meadows High School who have entered the challenge – a big ‘congratulations’ to you all!

The proven benefits of reading are endless. As such, we would like to take this opportunity to urge all students and families to find some time to read over the next 10 weeks.  Whether it’s swapping out an hour of Netflix for an hour with a good book, or exploring an eBook instead of scrolling social media, any small change you can implement will make a positive difference.

We have some avid readers amongst our staff here at Kings Meadows High School, and several of them have kindly agreed to being interviewed about their favourite books, the books on their ‘to-read’ lists and the ways that reading has positively impacted their lives.

Please enjoy! 

Name: MR MATTHEW CHATWIN

Role at KMHS: MDT Teacher

What is the best book you’ve ever read?
I have 2 and it’s too hard for me to split them so I have to say them both.

My all-time favourite book as a kid was “Don Bradman and Me” by Peter Allen. As a cricket tragic, it’s a fantastic read that paints the picture of how much Don Bradman was a beacon of hope for so many people during that period whilst giving an insight into what life was like for people living through The Great Depression.

The other one is “The Ultimate Book of Cross-Sections” which I read over and over again as a kid. It’s literally hundreds of pages of cars, trains, planes, tanks and more detailing what exactly is inside these magnificent machines and explaining how they work. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work which has carried into my adulthood and that curiosity probably stems back to this book.

Which book is on your ‘to-read’ list at the moment?
It’s a very niche answer, but I need to get around to reading “The AFL Kicking Guide” by the The Kicking Consult/Josh Growden.

For Context: Josh was an inaugural player for the GWS Giants who was well known for his immense kicking ability, but never got to play an AFL game after a gruesome leg break ended his AFL career. Josh then turned his attention to becoming an NFL Punter in America, where he attended the famous LSU college, completing a degree in Human Movement. Josh was set to try out for the NFL, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out leading to him moving back home to Australia. Josh now uses his skills and knowledge as a specialist kicking coach, teaching young AFL footballers how to improve their kicking skills.

Josh is a bit of an idol of mine, and he has written and released a book all about kicking skills and drills, and the absolute footy nerd in me really wants to read it and upskill myself. I have downloaded the E-book - just need to find the time to read it.

What is it that you enjoy the most about reading?
Reading for me now is mainly about reading articles on footy, lawn or golf, which I spend an immense amount of time doing. Being able to read and comprehend these articles is so important so I know which players to bring into my fantasy side, what fertiliser to apply to my lawn and to try and figure out why on earth I can’t hit a golf ball as far as Mr. Battle. I can learn this information because I have the ability to read it, which is not something I take for granted and why I know learning to read it so important.

When I do read books now, it is reading picture books to my nearly 1 year old daughter. Whilst she doesn’t quite understand the words or the hidden meaning of the stories just yet, she absolutely loves the pop outs or fold over sections trying to find Spot. She loves grabbing books off her bookshelf and flicking the pages and I really look forward to the time when she starts to read them back to me, as I know how important this is!

I also love the absolute nostalgic feels that come with reading the old classics – reading the likes of Possum Magic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Cat in the Hat again after all these years brings back the joy of being a child that’s hard to replicate.

Name: MRS NICOLE LYNCH

Role at KMHS: Quality Teaching Coach

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

What is the best book you’ve ever read? Such a hard question to answer, I have so many! This year, I have discovered a new author as part of my Book Club, named Kristen Hannah. Her historical fiction novels,  ‘The Nightingale’ and ‘The Great Alone’, have left a lasting impression on me for their inspiring characters and true depictions of real-life events. I also love fantasy novels, my favourites being ‘A Court Of Thrones and Roses’ series by Sarah J. Maas, and ‘The Kingkiller Chronicles’ by Patrick Rothfuss.

Which book is on your ‘to-read’ list at the moment?

I am looking forward to the holidays where I can sit back and read another novel by Kristen Hannah called ‘Wild’ and ‘Everything I know about Love’ by Dolly Alderton.

What is it that you enjoy the most about reading?  

I love to read because is allows me to be transported into a different time and place and experience lives, emotions and stories of the characters within. It is also something I love to do to help relax and wind-down!

Role at KMHS: Chaplain

What is the best book you’ve ever read?
That's way too hard to narrow down! The best book I've read in the past year is 'One Day' by David Nicholls. I love the quick and witty dialogue.  

Which book is on your ‘to-read’ list at the moment? 
'The Dry' by Jane Harper.  

What is it that you enjoy the most about reading?Reading is not just a nice escape from the busyness of my life, but it also helps expand my world and take me beyond my own little life. I love learning about the world and gaining new perspectives through reading. 

Name: MR GEORGE EDMONDSON

Role at KMHS: Science/HPE Teacher

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

Lord of the Rings – Fellowship of the Ring . Written by J.R.R Tolkien in 1954, it holds a special place in my heart with it’s universal appeal and enduring influence on literature and pop culture. No matter how many times I revisit it, “The Fellowship of the Ring” continues to offer fresh insights and a sense of wonder, ensuring it remains my absolute, timeless favourite.

Which book is on your ‘to-read’ list at the moment?

Over the last few years, I have been trying to make my way through a large list of “The top 100 most influential books of all time”. One that I have looked forward to reading for a long time is a very old book called “The Art of War” written by Sun Tzu in the 5th Century BC. 

What is it that you enjoy the most about reading?
Another tough question that I could answer in many different ways. For me, reading opens up endless worlds of imagination and knowledge. As a creative person with an over active brain, it allows me to both focus and create without moving a muscle, interpreting words as a reader is a fascinating concept of imagination that has kept me hooked and will do so for years to come.

 

Last Thursday, a group of Year 10 students spent the day at Newstead College taking part in their Future Foodie experience. Students got to take part in High Tea service in the Café, they made southern fried chicken burgers for their own lunch and finished off the day making a glitter mocktail in the bar! Thank you so much to Newstead College for this amazing transition opportunity.  It was a pleasure working alongside you all.

Recently in Science, we have been studying plant and animal cells. More recently, we have been examining organelles through a microscope. Using microscopes, we were challenged to classify an unknown sample as either a plant or animal cell and explain our thought process in a scientific report. For the report, we were taught to create accurate scientific drawings and use correct terminology to justify our hypthesis.

Lexi Albers - 8A

Support your child’s online learning at home   

Digital skills are critical to every child’s success, but supporting online learning can be overwhelming.

The Digital skills for families team are delivering a program to help Tasmanian families support online learning at home. Spending time online at home gives children an opportunity to practice what they are learning at school. Positive home environments help children develop the skills and independence they need to succeed in a digital future.  

Learn about communicating online with schools, digital education at school and how to support online learning at home.

Digital skills for families is offering free:

• information sessions
• workshops
• one-to-one help

In libraries, schools and community locations statewide.

Email the team at digitalskillsforfamilies@libraries.tas.gov.auto find out more and book a free session.

Leadership Staff

Support Staff