Dear Parents/Carers

All State Schools in Tasmania undergo an External School Review (ESR), on average, every four years. Our next Review is scheduled over four days for the week commencing Tuesday 5 November. The Reviews are not used to compare schools or to rate the performance of principals, teachers or school staff. They are about supporting schools in a differentiated way, with Reviews tailored to a school’s context and need. They are designed to help all schools to improve. As part of this process, the External School Review team (four people) reviews school data and plans, speaks with a sample of staff, students (in small groups) and parents/carers, while also visiting classrooms to see teaching and learning in action. If you do not want your child to participate, please compete the form included with this newsletter. I look forward to the Review in November and welcome your participation. 

Yesterday we also had a group of students attend the Silverdome to support the LSSSA (Launceston State Schools Sports Association) Dance Event. I know the Association really values and appreciates our support in running these large events and it also provides another learning and leadership opportunity for our students. Congratulations to all students who took up the opportunity and thank you to Dylan Warren for enabling this opportunity for these students.

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:

Allira Roney - For consistently following the R.O.C.K.S. and setting a good example to her peers. 

Rezvan Heydari – For her positive and friendly approach to learning and making a concerted improvement in getting to school on time more consistently. 

Year 8:

Callum Monk-Morcom 8A - For showing improvement in demonstrating the KMHS R.O.C.K.S. and Values.

Ruby Brown 8B - For consistently working hard to demonstrate the KMHS R.O.C.K.S. and Values on a daily basis.

Catelyn Mayne 8C - For consistently working hard to demonstrate the KMHS R.O.C.K.S. and Values and also showing improvement in her attendance this term.

Sophie Bartlett 8D - For her efforts in collaborating with others to write a newsletter article to be shared with parents and for demonstrating improvement in meeting our R.O.C.K.S. and Values.

Scarlett Wischnat 8E - For showing improved attitude and effort during class learning and improvements in her attendance this term.

Jasmine Crawford 8F - For showing improvement with her attendance this term and for also demonstrating consistent efforts in demonstrating the R.O.C.K.S. and Values each day.

Year 9:

Elli Maher-Maynard - For always being polite, respectful and going above and beyond in helping our school during recess and lunch times. 

Oskar Wynne – For continually following the school R.O.C.K.S. and applying himself across all areas of his learning.

Year 10:

Niamh Chugg 10D - For her dedication and preparation for her exams. 

Stephanie Watson 10C - For her proactive approach to her school work and preparation for exams.

Firstly, I would like to thank Mr Withington and Mrs Selby for helping to lead and support the Year 8 team while I was on Long Service Leave.  Thank you also to Mr Richardson and Miss Attard who continued their terrific leadership over our Year 8 students in my absence and supported our new focus on improving the pre-conditions for learning in each classroom through our weekly focus on the KMHS R.O.C.K.S. and DECYP Values.  It’s also encouraging that although some students had been impacted by illness that our attendance data is still on target to reach the attendance goal set within our school improvement plan at the end of the year.

In the last newsletter item Mrs Selby unpacked current work being done with our Year 8 students and their teachers on Organisation and Respect. 

Since then, I’m happy to report that 52 students were able to demonstrate consistently meeting all focus areas.  All these students received congratulations cards that we asked were shared with parents to acknowledge their hard work and efforts.  These students also went into the prize draw to win a canteen voucher drawn at our weekly assembly. Students have also completed the next weekly focus cycle on Organisation and Courage.  A quick scan of our weekly data showed another 34 students demonstrated improvement from the previous week and all students who reached their targets will receive another personalised card congratulating them on their achievements and efforts.  It’s hoped that regular positive feedback and acknowledgement for students who are working well in classrooms and demonstrating each R.O.C.K.S. value weekly, will allow our students to feel known, heard and appreciated on a daily basis while helping them to become better learners.

The current focus for our students is on Commitment to Learning and teachers will be looking for students that are consistently:

• Asking questions about their learning if they are unsure
• Collaborate and work with others
• Focus and try to complete the tasks they have been given
• Put effort into their learning and ensuring they do not stop others from learning or the teacher from teaching
• Trying their best with all learning tasks, even unfamiliar ones.

Teachers will also be focusing on the DECYP Value of Respect and they will be acknowledging students who can consistently:

• Keep their voices calm and quiet and keep their hands to themselves
• Listen while others are sharing and contribute their ideas by putting their hand up and not calling out
• Coming into class quietly and sitting in the right spot ready to listen to their teacher while also having their iPad face down and not using it until instructed by the teacher
• Making sure they are not talking while the teacher is talking
• Looking after their workspaces by keeping them clean and undamaged

I look forward to sharing the progress of our students with you further in the next newsletter. 

Included with our newsletter this week is an article written by Sophie Bartlett, Cassie Davis and Bella Hammond on their current work in Art on making an Aleberije.  Congratulations to these girls for showing Courage and a sense of collaboration in getting their article completed and ready for sharing with parents and also thanks to Ms Crawford for her terrific work in class.  We have also included photos of finished pieces by students in class.  I was completely blown away and inspired by their finished pieces when I was in their classroom last week and inspired to share them further with our parent community.

Finally, thank you to all the parents and students who continue to attend school on a daily basis.  I’ve noticed that we have a small number of students who are almost approaching regular attendance of 90% and I’m hoping that over the coming weeks leading into the end of the term that these students can reach the 90% attendance goal and remain there or beyond until the end of the year.  We will certainly be encouraging and supporting them over the coming weeks. 

On a final note, can I please ask parents to check in with their children by promoting daily habits of making sure their iPads are charged before arriving at school each day and asking them how they are going with their learning.  I also encourage you to connect with their teacher if they might be facing any challenges at school or in a particular learning area so that parents and our team can keep working together in partnership. Also don’t forget to praise them if they bring you a card for being acknowledged for being consistent with demonstrating the current KMHS R.O.C.K.S. or DECYP values each week.  This is a significant achievement and the message in each card certainly acknowledges the positive impact that achieving this goal has for their learning and their classroom environment. 

Year 8 contact details:

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

8B Class Teacher – Mrs Margaret White - margaret.white@decyp.tas.gov.au

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

8D Class Teacher – Mr Dave Carswell - dave.carswell@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

Dear Parents

As part of our focus on continuous school improvement, we will be involved in an External School Review this year. 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 an External School Review Leader and trained Principal Peer Reviewers. The review will occur on Tuesday 5 November 5until Friday 8 November.

We will find out the effective school practices 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, families, School Association members and staff will be asked to provide information to the Review team in a number of ways. These include:

• individual interviews (can include family phone calls)
• group discussions (with students or staff or families)
• meetings (usually School Association, staff meeting)
• visits into classrooms. We appreciate your support and time in helping us with this External School Review process

Please complete the reply slip below and return to the front office if you do not want your child to participate. If you would like more information, please contact Cary Stocks on 6343 1000.

Regards

Cary Stocks
Principal

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EXTERNAL SCHOOL REVIEW PROCESS – return by end of Term 3 (27 September)

STUDENT NAME: ________________________________

I do not want my child, to be involved in the External School Review discussions.

Signed: _______________________________

(Parent/Carer)

Date: _________________________________

The 2024 School Satisfaction Surveys are here! 

Every year the Department for Education, Children and Young People conducts a School Satisfaction Survey to find out what your child(ren)'s school does well and where it may improve. 

We would be grateful if you completed our online survey about Kings Meadows High School. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school-planning and decision-making. 

The survey is open from Monday 26 August 2024 until Friday 20 September 2024 and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Each family should nominate one person to fill in this survey for their child(ren).Take the online survey by pasting the link below in your browser:

https://nam.dcv.ms/942v49myZl

The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential.

All families in this school received the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A summary of the survey results will be provided to schools.  Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department for Education, Children and Young People staff. 

Please contact your school if you require any assistance.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.

A reminder to all Year 10 students considering VET Courses at Launceston College or Newstead College for 2025:

Launceston College EOIs close Friday 13 September

Newstead College EOIs – no closing date, but first in, best dressed

The Tasmanian Rock Challenge has been a constant for high schools and colleges across the state for over 30 years and this year Kings Meadows were a part of this entering a whopping six acts! Due to the amount of acts this year the acoustic and band sections were played over two nights.

All acts were required to do two songs, a cover and an original song which they had written themselves. 

Thursday night the acoustic section was held in the phenomenal new performance space The Ark, (formally the Launceston City Baptist Church).

Representing Kings Meadows in the High School section, Abbey, Francis, Olive and Sheena all performed two songs each, a cover and an original. And perform they did! All the judges praised them for their beautiful vocals and the way in which all their personalities shone through in their songs. The standard was very high and our kids rose to the challenge. They all showed courage and passion and impressed everybody in the room. 

Friday night's band section was held in the conference room at The Door of Hope.  Again the bar was set super high with the highest number of high school bands for quite a few years.

Saturday for Sale were up first, playing their version of the incredibly difficult Money by Pink Floyd followed by their original song. Penya, Levi, Cameron, Shade and Charles all put on a cracker of a show with Charles's sax solo and Shade's jacket noted highlights. 

The boys from Pilgrim were a definite crowd favourite. James, Manjy, Penya and Levi tore the roof off with their high energy stage show taking on Nirvanas Aneurysm and unleashing their original titled ‘Garbage”.  At one stage Penya made the show interactive, filming himself and the band with a myriad of the audiences phones, who were willingly passing them over. 

Over two very long nights our students showed patience, resilience and conducted themselves with pride and respect. And they rocked that stage!

A massive than you to Glenn for his support both nights.  Our students made us very proud!

Last Friday our talented Senior Drama students performed at the Deloraine Drama Festival. It was wonderful to see the students spend a day together perfecting their pieces and spending time supporting one another.

Ms Blaubaum’s Drama A class has taken out the shield for best Ensemble Performance which will be displayed proudly at school!

In addition individual winners from Mrs Breen’s class were Olive (Best Actor) and Abbey (Runner-up) and in Ms Blaubaum’s class Ella (Best Actor) and Tahli (Runner-up). Olive also took Best Actor of the Festival overall.  Honorable mentions also for Lucy, Hannah, Ash and Taryn.

What fantastic achievements and lasting memories for students. Congratulations everyone!

On Thursday 29 August, the Junior STEM Enrichment Class visited Castings Tasmania Foundry in Youngtown. After a safety induction and the supply of hard hats, high visibility vests and ear plugs, students toured key areas of the workplace. This included the pattern shop where wooden prototypes are made for mould development, the offices where 3D modelling is used to design and virtually test products before going into production and the mould making area where sand and resin are pressed to make two-part moulds for the molten metal to be cast into. The process of cleaning up final products and testing for impurities in the completed metal items was also seen.  

As students left the foundry with their new Castings Tasmania beanies and a wooden plaque for the school the feedback from students was positive. They had experienced a versatile workplace with potential future employment opportunities that require people with a range of different skill sets and interests. Many students expressed that they really enjoyed the tour and learnt a lot from the unique experience.  A big thank you to Castings Tasmania and everyone that made the excursion possible.      

Making an Aleberije in Year 8 

We have recently been working on our Year 8s Art project, where we had to make an Alebrije, which is a traditional Mexican sculpture made from paper mâché. An Alebrije was originally made by a man who fell into a coma for some time. According to him, while in the coma he had dreams of strange, vibrant creatures who were whispering 'Alebrije' to him. When he woke up, he recreated these creatures, but no one wanted to buy them because they were too hideous. The man then changed them to look better and they quickly became popular. Now, his family makes and sells paper mâché models of Alebrijes and they sell them to others. 

For this whole term, we have been working on a project called, 'The Alebrije’. Everyone is the class has done an outstanding job with their work and have made it their own style and made them unique. Some of the peers who have finished their work have gone on with either a theory task that is mandatory or a name task where you make your name using 3D art techniques. Ms Crawford, our art teacher, has been a helping hand with our work and helping people get back on track when needed.  

It’s been an interesting project to work on this year and we’ve all enjoyed the opportunity.  We hope you enjoy some of pictures from our designs. 

Sophie,  Bella & Cassie

Leadership Staff

Support Staff