Filter Content
Dear Parents and Families
Students have now had two weeks back on site undertaking face to face learning again and we have been very impressed with how well they have transitioned back to learning and re-engaging with their teachers and peers and upholding our high expectations with behaviour and conduct. As I have said previously, we know that our students have been very well supported with their learning despite the pandemic, due to our online Canvas courses and regular live sessions that students were able to undertake whilst learning from home. We continue to be impressed with the level of resilience and self-directed learning that our students have been able to demonstrate, and they have spent time reflecting on themselves as learners during Home Groups.
Since returning, teachers have been able to evaluate where students are at with their learning and provide various opportunities for them to be supported to catch up if they are behind in classes. One of these extra opportunities has been during Enrichment Course time and I have been so impressed with how many students have voluntarily taken up these extra sessions in order to catch up particularly in core areas, English and Maths. These extra sessions will be provided until the end of term and then case by case as needed into next term. Junior students already have an extra lesson of English and Maths (Toolbox lesson) with extra staff available to support and they will be utilising these lessons for intervention and support.
Families will receive a report at the end of term outlining where students are in their learning and wellbeing. Whilst this will not be as detailed as our normal mid-year report it will still give parents an understanding of where they are at; described as working towards, working at or working above the standard. The work habits rubric will be important to gauge students wellbeing and next steps in learning required.
Parent Feedback Invited
Students have spent time reflecting on their own learning and progress during this last term and this will be valuable data for us as we continue to look at ways of harnessing many of the positive learnings from this unique time.
We would also like your feedback around the learning at home period and celebrate the many stories of innovation and collaboration and invite families to complete the short online survey and thank you in advance for taking the time to assist us collecting this valuable data. Please see the link further in this Newsletter.
Schools continue to remain safe places to be and as the restrictions are continually lifting here in Tasmania, I would like to reassure families that we will continue to have our safety and hygiene guidelines in place including hand hygiene routines and cleaning protocols. All schools have a very detailed Safety Plan in place as per Government requirements. We will continue to provide information to families about the implications on the restrictions on educational activities as they arise, and we are hoping that we will be able to undertake activities such as winter sport soon.
I would like to remind families that students are welcome to arrive on campus from 8.20am onwards as this is when we have staff on duty. As the weather is now very cold on some mornings it is concerning to see students on sit out in the cold even before 8.00am.
I would also like to remind and thank students and families for their continued adherence to our clear uniform policy and guidelines. I understand that with cold weather it is important to remain warm and dry but I remind all families that we have a clear uniform standard that allows for a variety of choices to items in order for students to layer and remain warm. Puffer jackets, hoodies and track suit pants are NOT part of our uniform, nor have been ratified by the School Association who approve our uniform standards and policy. This policy has been in existence for many years and clearly outlined for students and families when they enrol with us with an understanding that parents and students support this policy. Changes to the policy can only be made through the School Association and proper process. We are very proud of our school and of our students and believe that high standards of uniform, behaviour, being properly equipped and attending regularly give each and every one of our students the very best chance of learning well and achieving their very best. Thank you all very much in advance of your anticipated support and understanding.
We continue to make improvements to our school and currently have builders on site undertaking the redevelopment to our Year 11/12 & wellbeing space in D Block. This will provide a space for any Year 11/12 students who remain on site along with a small break out study nook and offices to allow for our wellbeing team to also utilise this space. We are anticipating that the area will be completed towards the end of next term and thank staff and students for their accommodations whilst this redevelopment is taking place.
Transition both to and from Kings Meadows High School is a very important to us and we have begun both transition for students coming in to KMHS in 2021 and those leaving us to college. The College Transition Team (from Launceston and Newstead Colleges) have begun to disseminate information, and this will definitely increase next term.
Families of students beginning Grade 7 in 2021 have access to a wide variety of detailed information through our internet and also through our feeder primary schools. All students in Grade 6 have been invited to our Transition Canvas Course which also houses all the information regarding transition.
We will be conducting a Parent Information Evening via Microsoft Teams Live on Tuesday 30th June at 5.30. Please refer to the section on Grade 6 Transition further in this newsletter.
As Mrs Kate Gibbons has now taken maternity leave awaiting the arrival of their baby, we have welcomed Mrs Lisa Blackwell to the Admin Team for the remainder of this year.
I wish everyone a lovely holiday and time for everyone in our school community to take a well deserved “ brain break” . Stay safe everyone.
Warm regards
Maree
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:
Grade 7:
Georgia D'Alton - For consistently following all of the ROCKS but in particular the way she engages with all students and teachers with the utmost respect.
Ethan Robson - For outstanding organisation and commitment to learning across all subject areas whilst online learning.
Grade 8:
Annika Webb - For showing kindness and compassion towards her peers.
Jye Walmsley - For his diligent efforts during class and always listening and taking on feedback.
Grade 9:
Brooke Cunningham & Paige Smith - For their ongoing commitment and application in Mathematics.
Grade 10:
Joyal Jogan - For his commitment to learning and engagement in his learning.
Orestis Marinakis - For excellent contributions and dedication to his studies during online learning.
Coming Up.....
The Grade 7 team are working hard behind the scenes to bring Grade 7 students a ‘retreat’ experience during Term 3. We are aware that our Grade 7’s were disappointed about the cancellation of their camp at Camp Clayton due to the Tasmanian Government not allowing schools to go on major excursions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Camp provides students with an invaluable experience where they challenge themselves to be courageous, make new connections with students across the grade, and build trust and friendships.
Our retreat experience for Grade 7 students will occur during the first few weeks of Term 3 and is planned so that it will emulate experiences that students would have had on Grade 7 camp. Students will be placed in groups that are mixed across the Grade so that they can connect with others they may not have met before. We understand that many students have expressed recently that they feel less connected to school and their peers. The retreat experiences will allow students the time and place to make those connections and grow as a person.
Our retreat experience aims to promote and develop
- Building and developing trust
- Strengthening relationships
- Make new connections across the grade
- Socialisation skills
- Team building
- Resilience
- Courage
- Respect
- Collaboration
- Personal Growth
Watch this space for information about the Grade 7 retreat coming up in the new few weeks. We are excited to be able to support our Grade 7 students' development in this way and hope that they enjoy the experience.
Celebrations
Lead by Mr Murray, our Grade 7 Leaders were finally able to have their first face-to-face meeting this week. It was fantastic to see them working together to give some feedback on new furniture for the Grade 7 common room space and them preparing for our end of term assembly. During our online learning Mr Murray engaged with the leaders via email providing them with tasks about leaderships to complete in order to gain a more holistic view of who leaders are and how leaders have impacted our world. It has been an unconventional start for our class leaders, but we have been so impressed with their resilience and commitment by being role models in behaviour and uniform to other students.
Grade Focus
Our Grade focus for the remainder of the term is students following our ROCKS Expectations consistently both in class and in the yard. We understand that students have spent much time away from our school environment and need time to adjust back to the expectations of school life. By remembering and practising our ROCKS every day and using them as a guide for their behaviour will enable them to get the most out of their learning environment.
R - Respect for themselves, others and then environment
O - Organisation
C - Commitment to learning
K - Keeping Safe
S - Sensible Behaviour
We would like to encourage our parents and carers to discuss the ROCKS with our Grade 7s on a regular basis to reinforce messages and behaviour guidelines that they are receiving at school.
Grade 7 Gratitude Project
‘Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart’
Secondly, our Grade 7 students started a Gratitude Project this week and have created a wall of gratitude in each of our class teacher rooms. Each day for the remainder of the term when they arrive in class teacher, students will be given a sticky note to write down something that they are grateful for and stick it on their class gratitude wall. At the end of each week they will review the classes' contributions. It is scientifically proven that grateful people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships. People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways (Harvard University). This is a way for our Grade 7 students to start each day in a positive way.
Grade Assemblies
On Monday we held our weekly grade assembly; below is a summary of the important items presented to our Grade 7 students:
- Uniform reminder - Winter uniform (beanies and puffer jackets are not to be worn at school)
- Grade 7 Retreat
- Gratitude Wall
- ROCKS Expectations - Review
- Transition Leader Application Reminder (due on Friday 26th June)
- F1 in Schools (Mr Richardson)
EOI Transiton Leader - Leadership Position Application
Below is the position description for our Grade 7 2020 Transition Leaders. This is a highly regarded leadership role in our school and we would like to encourage all our Grade 7 students to apply for this position to further develop and showcase their leadership skills.
Celebrations
It has been a busy couple of weeks as students settle back into school routines and best practises for learning. We have been impressed with the way students have maintained our social distancing rules as we still endeavour to maintain a high standard of precaution. Students are towards the end of their Biological Science work on Cells and have been given the task of creating a model cell. Below are some pictures of our amazing students' masterpieces.
In Grade 8 we would also like to celebrate some outstanding entries to the Kings Meadows High Writing Competition. We saw many interesting stories which some authors would be proud of. Thursday 25th June will see our annual Kings Meadows High School Cross Country being held, albeit different from previous years. Grade 8s will have the opportunity to run the course during Block 5. We wish all of our participants the best of luck.
Grade Focus
In the coming weeks, it will be very important for us to continue to maintain as positive mindset towards learning and remain focused on getting the most out of the educational program offered to all students.
Celebrations
Back to school is in full swing as we finish another week back at Kings Meadows High School. A lot has been happening within our classes this week. Our teachers have hit the ground running ensuring that students have been given the opportunity for catch up in core areas. Students have worked diligently to complete important tasks and we are making good progress to get all students back on track.
With two weeks of learning left in Term 2 the following current topics are being studied in our core classes:
HPE is focussing on World Games and Food and Nutrition, English is undertaking persuasive writing, HaSS is studying Slavery, Mathematics is delving in to a Measurement unit and Science is undertaking Chemistry. We are very much looking forward to seeing what work our students can produce in these units of work.
Our adapted Cross Country carnival will be held Wednesday 24th June and we are looking forward to seeing how our grade fares in their fitness after being at home for some time.
Terms 3 and 4 are going to be very important for our Grade 9 students. It is during these terms that we place an emphasis on the leadership skills of all of our students. Our My Education sessions will be focussed around developing leadership and workplace leadership. During the last week of Term 2 we will be giving students a take home information sheet outlining our formal leadership process. It is during this process that we will be developing and selecting our Prefects, Beacon Ambassadors, Peer Support Leaders and House Captains for 2021. This is a lengthy process with many steps involved to ensure that we gain the best possible leaders for our grade for 2021.
This process is a very exciting one, but also a time of extra pressure and stress on our students. We have acknowledged this and will do our utmost to ensure all students are supported fully during this process. Mr Hartley and Mrs Elliott, along with our Grade 9 Class Teachers will be discussing at length with the students about this process, guiding students in their choices and nominations and keeping the process as clear and as stress free as possible. Our information newsletter will have details about timeframes, processes and election dates. We wish all of our Grade 9’s the best of luck in this process and ask that they consider carefully the decision to run for student leader in 2021.
Grade Focus
Our focus for Grade 9 this week will be to reconnect with our school environment. Re-establishing relationships, catching up with class mates and teachers, re-setting schedules, following school procedures and generally transitioning into face to face learning. This process will be ongoing for the remainder of Term 2 as we set about our new “normal” at Kings Meadows High School. We will be continuing to apply good learning behaviours and academic rigour, ensuring that deadlines are being met and that we have caught up on anything that may have been missed whilst learning from home. In addition the Leadership process will begin for all students.
Celebrations
Young Migrant Students Unlocking their Futures - Meenakshi Singh and Erfan Rahimi
A group of Tasmanian refugees and migrant students have been involved in a mentorship program. The learning grants program started in 2019 and matches 567 high school students from refugee and migrant backgrounds with mentors. The students come from 13 different countries and the mentors from nine. The idea is to help the students’ English language skills, and help them with tasks that aren’t taught in the classroom, like writing a resume and preparing for a job interview. Meenakshi Singh, 16 from India said the program had made a big difference for her. It is very helpful we learn things that we don’t get to learn in class, like how to get a job and our future pathways. It also helps us build confidence, and we all become friends with each other. Meenakshi is aiming to study architecture when she finishes school.
Erfan Rahimi is from Afghanistan, said the program had been very useful. At the start it was difficult settling in a new country, but this program has helped us to do this. They tell us essential information that is helpful for our future, and provide us with help and support in our regular schoolwork. It helps build our communication and leadership skills. Erfan is hoping to study International Relations in the future.
Abbie Butler
Abbie has been selected in the Tasmanian Target Talent Program for Athletics where she is working and training with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport. Congratulations Abbie and well done!
Uniform
As the winter months are upon us we are focusing on ensuring our Grade 10s are good role models for the school community and are in full school uniform. As part of our winter uniform students are allowed to wear a winter skirt with navy stockings and a blue shirt, in addition to this grey trousers or shorts may also be worn.
Students are encouraged to wear their spray jackets, woollen or rugby jumpers in order to keep warm. It should be noted that beanies and hoodies are not part of our school uniform and are not to be worn to school. Students are able to layer, for example, singlets underneath their uniform as extra layers, however these should not be visible from the outside.
Mobile Phone & Device Policy 'Off & Away'
- The Department of Education has mandated that all students in Tasmanian Schools are not permitted to use their mobile phone or device during the school day.
- Mobile phones are to be kept in lockers throughout the day.
- All ‘Smart Watches' must be placed on ‘Aeroplane Mode’.
- Mobile phones and iPads (+ other devices) are not to be used at break times (recess & lunch).
- Students are able to briefly check their device at their locker at the beginning of a break time.
- Important/urgent messages during the day from parents to students should be communicated through the Main School Office.
Consequences will be put in place for breaching this policy
Other Grade 10 News
KMHS Cross Country
Senior Cross Country will be held this Wednesday Blocks 4 and 5. All students who are in Sports Skills and Drills Football, Netball and Soccer - it is compulsory for you to compete in this event other students may enter by seeing the House Captains prior to the event or signing up through the CANVAS page.
Curiosity Program if you are interested in focusing your learning in a specialised area please see Mr Chamberlain or Mrs Williams for more information.
Rugby Jumpers
There will be a final run for students to have their names and year on the rugby jumpers. If you are keen to pursue this offer please return your form, rugby jumper and $16.50 to the main office by Friday 3 July. (Forms are available from Mrs Williams in the Grade 10 staffroom).
Weekly Check in Survey is completed every Monday and Friday during CT and students are supported by their CT, GL and AST if there are any concerns.
Nurse Dani’s Health and Wellness Resources
Dani’s support resources include Strong Physical Health, Positive Mental Health, Teenage Stuff and Coping with COVID 19.
Leavers Hoodies and T-Shirts.
Mrs Williams is currently investigating designs and prices for Leavers Hoodies and T-Shirts (watch this space).
Parents considering enrolment for Year 7, 2021 at Kings Meadows High School are invited to join the virtual Transition Information Evening on Tuesday 30th June, 2020 from 5:30pm.
Follow this link to join the event.
Or copy this address into your web browser
The streamed event will include presentations by:
- Principal, Mrs Maree Pinnington
- 2021 Transition Leader, Miss Nicole Williams
- AST, Mrs Emma Dobson
- Grade Leader, Mr Tom Hartley
- Assistant Principal Junior School, Mrs Katie Wightman
Parents/Guardians will learn how Kings supports children to confidently transition into High School and to embrace the array of quality academic, personalised learning pathways, leadership and wellbeing opportunities on offer across the school from Year 7-10.
The presentation will explore the rich educational opportunities at Kings. Year 7 students are equipped with strong curriculum knowledge and skills, particularly in literacy and numeracy, and explore programs to develop inquiry skills and thinking dispositions in order to excel in learning and life.
Kings’ data-informed academic program also supports students to deepen their understanding and competency in order to apply this to more complex problems and contexts.
Parents/Guardians will also learn how students at Kings develop their information communication technology (ICT) skills, citizenship, ethical learning and leadership skills through exciting leadership opportunities, community service projects via My Education, enrichment course opportunities, extension programs, learning support program, outdoor education experiences, pastoral care and wellbeing support.
To close the event, there will be a Q&A session with our leadership panel.
Here is the link to the intention to enrol form: https://bit.ly/IntentionToEnrolGrade7_2021
Capturing and Celebrating our Learnings – Parents/Carers:
Over the past few months, we have heard many stories of innovation and collaboration as we have all been supporting our learners. We would like to capture these stories to ensure that we are able to learn, celebrate and grow from this experience; including the new and collaborative approaches and ways of working.
All schools are inviting parents and carers, to share their stories and experiences throughout this very unique time.
Please find attached below a link to the KMHS parent/guardian survey.
Student name: Chill Kettle
What can you tell us about this piece of work?
This writing was an essay describing the techniques and strategies used in the Great Gatsby film.
What is your favourite thing about English?
I enjoy being creative and expressing emotion.
What are you reading at the moment?
I am currently halfway through the autobiography of Flea, the bass player from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
What is your favourite book and why?
Although I haven't finished reading it, I am really enjoying 'Acid for the Children', the autobiography I mentioned above because of his wide range of experiences.
Discuss the purpose and evaluate the effectiveness of the film techniques Baz Luhrmann uses in The Great Gatsby
The 2013 work The Great Gatsby, a film produced and directed by Baz Luhrmann, uses an array of both strong and subtle techniques and strategies to aid in carrying meaning and emotion. Everything from the soundtrack, to the lighting, to the camera angles were tailored to direct a certain feeling or idea through the audience as they view the film. These seemingly miniscule parts of a movie can actually play a crucial part in the overall effectiveness of themes and emotions throughout and have been used effectively in this text, as will be displayed when some of these techniques are discussed. One of the strongest in fact being the aspect not visible to the eye.
Produced and co-produced by Baz Luhrmann, the director of the film, and Jay-Z, a well-known, successful musician, the sound track of The Great Gatsby has been created with the intent of combining elements of classic 1920s Jazz and modern day Hip-Hop. They decided on this fusion as Hip-Hop is as close as a comparison as they could find when it comes to the feeling the music gave to listeners during this period. Hip-Hop mirrored the fascination of money, power, violence and sex that were newly prominent in the underground Jazz scene during the 1920s, while also providing with a unique and engaging sound. Luhrmann worked with a little known Jazz band/orchestra called the Bryan Ferry orchestra when recreating recordings of original jazz pieces with audio quality suitable for production in a film, and also to keep true to the key elements of Jazz when creating new fusion pieces. The collaboration between this type of Jazz band and big name mainstream artists Baz felt was perfect to fill the position he needed in a soundtrack and to keep a modern day audience engaged, while also introducing them to these jazzy elements and evoke the same feeling of excitement and rebelliousness.
Every part of a musical work is crucial to the way it interacts with an audience, from the general style and genre, to the dynamic level and aspects as small as the timbre or characteristics of an instrument used. Luhrmann made sure to make use of every musical element he could where possible and worked it into the film. For example, during Gatsby’s party, the pieces are much louder and more upbeat than normal, written in major keys to convey excitement and happiness, causing the characters to have to yell over the top when communicating. An instance where the music is interacting with how the story is told. The film makes great use of a majority of these strategies and the music behind it enforces strongly the messages and emotions, while also blending them well with other mood setting techniques like lighting.
Writers and directors have to make use of film design techniques that effect an audience subconsciously when trying to get their meaning across, a great example of this is the different lighting scenes implemented during certain events throughout the movie. While the viewer may not realise it at the time, light instantly creates the idea of a particular perspective or feeling directed at a character or setting which can then be built on further. Some examples that provide a good contrast from the text are most appearances of Daisy, and on the opposite of the spectrum, scenes set in the Valley of Ashes. Scenes featuring Daisy generally are bright, well lit and have a warm yellowish colour to them, which instantly builds a sense of easy going, care free happiness. Characters are lit in complimentary ways as to not create much shadow over the face or body, bringing them to full attention and focusing on positive emotion in their faces. Scenes in the Valley of Ashes on the other hand are dark and gloomy, the light colour focused around Greys and dark hues of Blue. Shadows are intentionally cast over portions of a character’s face to generate mystery and represent the shady occurrences that happen within the valley, usually displaying the sadness and anger associated with the area.
Similar applications of the lighting are used to manipulate a viewer’s position surrounding an event, which “side” they take. When Gatsby recounts accidentally killing a lady in the car with Daisy, he is highlighted while Daisy is in shadow, made to almost blend into the dark background, bringing focus onto him, associating him with that event, even though Daisy was the culprit. The way elements that are seen to a regular audience member as not largely significant can be manipulated or used to bring greater meaning and understanding to the plot of a film is what makes The Great Gatsby so highly regarded and successful in its industry.
Baz Luhrmann and his team’s ability to use the few techniques mentioned to expand on and build depth in the film’s plot has resulted in multiple awards, the achievement of Luhrmann’s highest grossing film to date and much praise from other industry professionals. An incredible amount of thought has gone into every detail ensuring the elements mesh and work together to contribute to the success of the film. They have been used effectively in the right context and this can be seen consistently throughout the text with little to no flaw, creating a stable platform for the plot and its emotion to be conveyed upon.
By Chilli Kettle 10F
As Beacon Ambassadors, we believe it is of utmost importance to give our students the resources to make the best decisions around their future pathways and life after school. Even with COVID-19 pushing back our plans as Beacon Ambassadors, we still hope to carry out events for our grade 10’s in the coming months, with these events centring around the idea of ‘inspiring futures’. Careers on Wheels and MyRoad are still planned to go ahead this year and Beacon Student Ambassadors are planning events for upcoming MyEducation days with a focus on workforce mentoring and college transition and the for our senior school. We are also excited to be hosting High Impact Programs for Grade 8 and 9 and organising site visits with The Country Club Casino and Haywards. While the current pandemic has caused our team some difficulties, we are excited to get back to running events and providing leadership to our school.
Thank you
Freya Pedersen (Beacon Co-Captain)
KMHS ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL 2020:
On Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June we will be holding our annual inter-house cross country carnival. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic we have had to alter our program in order to fit with the current restrictions. Despite these changes our students will still be able to participate in this event, achieve success, build house spirit and contribute to the total points for their house.
The modified version of the carnival will be as follows:
- Grade 9 and 10 students will be running their carnival during Block 4 and 5 on Wednesday 24th June
- Grade 7 and 8 students will be running their carnival during Block 4 and 5 on Thursday 25th June.
- All students who have winter sport as their enrichment option will be required to run. Students in other enrichment options will have the option to sign up for their run.
- House Captains will be helping out for both carnivals and will be there to generate house spirit.
Unfortunately we currently have restrictions in place regarding visitors to our school. For this reason we will not be able to allow parents to spectate at this event. We are deeply sorry about this but are working on how we can deliver some video and photographic footage of our students to their family and friends at home. We are looking forward to seeing what performances the students can produce on the day and hope that most students will participate.
Students should also be aware that due to recent rain our course is a little muddier than previous years. For this reason students are asked to ensure they wear shoes which they do not mind getting a bit dirty and clothing which may get mud on it. A plastic bag and a towel would also be advisable.
Good luck to all students, remember the house that wins is usually the house that has the most participants. So dust off your shoes and give it a go!
2019 results are as follows:
- ESK: 395
- NEVIS: 394
- TAMAR: 350
- LOMOND: 329
- WHO WIN THE 2020 EVENT??
Courses
- Grade 7 Boys and Girls, Grade 8 Girls - 1 lap = 2.3km
- Grade 8 Boys, Senior Girls - 1.5 laps = 3.0km
- Grade 9 and 10 Boys - 2 laps = 4.6km
Our students' comments from Grade 7 - 10 re the Mentoring Program:
UTAS Mentoring Program assists us in mixing into a new culture.
The mentors come from different countries like us so they understand our challenges.
They are easy to talk to. They help us talk through our problems or worries.
They understand us and help us with the Australian language.
They make us more confident.
They help us with our resumes and we talk about interviewsd and getting jobs.
We feel more connected and happy in our school and community because of our mentors.
We play games, talk and share our ideas.
The mentors are kind and helpful.