Please click on the link below to view our Assembly video:

https://youtu.be/dJthA8_EUYA

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:

Grace Weldon & Mary Yel -  For consistently following the ROCKS expectations.

Grade 8:

Celebrations

During our last My Education Day for the year our students prepared their ‘Raising Awareness’ projects. This involved each class teacher group selecting an awareness campaign that they were passionate about as a class and then decorating their classroom with posters, colour, information and digital media presentations. Our classes chose the following to base their classroom projects on:

• 7A - The Big Freeze ‘MND’
• 7B - Beyond Blue
• 7C - Cancer Council
• 7D - Headspace
• 7E - Eating Disorders ‘The Butterfly Foundation’
• 7F - Fred Hollows
• 7G - LGBTQIA 

Our guest judges then in Block 5 (Mrs Pinnington and Mrs Wightman) visited each of the classrooms where students were waiting to present their rooms. The judges came and gave feedback to the grade about their displays, which was very positive. Congratulations to 7B and their Beyond Blue display which took out first prize. 

It was a fantastic way to end our My Education learning with students this year. We would like to thank students for their enthusiasm and commitment to these projects.

Grade Focus

Our focus continues to be around our ROCKS expectations with particular attention to Keeping safe, Sensible behaviour and Organisation. Students are reminded every Monday in our grade assemblies about their commitment to the ROCKS. Our students have now been with us for 3 terms and this term will be making their transition to Grade 8. Our staff have high expectations of behaviour and it is important that students rise to the occasion to grow and mature as they head towards the end of their first year of high school.  

As we head into our last week of term, we would like to thank our Grade 7 families for their ongoing support throughout the course of the year. Grade 7 can be a tense time for our students. There have been many obstacles to 2020. It has been a challenging time but also one for growth, aspiration and courage. As our students transition out of Grade 7 and into Grade 8 we encourage them to reflect on their year and set some SMART goals ready for 2021. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely goals are a fantastic way to keep motivated with learning.

On Thursday 10^th December, the Grade 7 staff hosted a celebratory morning tea for students who had achieved academic success and rated highly in their reports for our ROCKS expectations. These students have displayed exemplary academic success and work habits throughout the year. We are so proud of our students and their achievements and we congratulate them on their successes! Thank you to Miss Males, Mr Pedersen and Ms Howard on their organisation and wonderful food! We look forward to continuing to work with such amazing students.

Reports can be a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly an end of year report. Reports have been issued to students Friday 11th December. Congratulations to all students on their academics and work habits this year. We encourage students to continue to strive for greatness and use this report as a reflection and goal setting tool for 2021.

The Year That Was!

Written by the 2021 Grade 9 Beacon Student Ambassadors.

January: In January we were all preparing for the start of the next school year. We were nervous but obviously excited.

February: We started school on 6th February and we were unaware of what the year would hold. The swimming carnival was also held in this month. The Tamar Grade 8 girls broke a record, as well as other individuals throughout the school!

March: School started off normally in this month but halfway through students started isolating for their own health due to Covid-19. People started to notice the cases rising rapidly.

April: Students caught up on the previous schoolwork before online schooling took place. Students took this time to take care of themselves before Covid escalated. Visits were limited with family and friends and there was also a major toilet paper shortage!

May: This was the month when online schooling started so this was a big adjustment! Some people found it more difficult than others to keep up with the workload.

June: Everyone was still adjusting to online school. Kahoots were very popular throughout quarantine! Everyone tried their hardest to stay up-to-date on their schoolwork and complete assignments by the deadline.               

July: This was the month when we came back to school! We had coloured dots on our lockers that organized us into groups so that we were physically distanced. Most classes had a set seating plan so that we met the 1.5m rule. It was very different, but we soon adjusted!

August: August was overall a pretty normal month. Students throughout the school worked on leadership applications so that they were prepared when opportunities came up. The cross country took place, as well as a few other events! August was also the month of our snow day – this was so exciting!

September: The dots were still on our lockers and the social distancing rules were still in place, but certain restrictions were lifted. 

October: Around the first two weeks of October were the Term 3 holidays. This gave students and teachers a good chance to have a break from the busy few months they all had! We all enjoyed resting and spending time with our loved ones.

November: November was a very busy month. Some of the highlights include the Careers On Wheels event, The Beacon High Impact Program, sporting activities and our My Education Days!

December: What a crazy year 2020 has been! Throughout the year we have learned so much about ourselves and others, about our strengths and our capabilities and about how adaptable and resilient we can be in the face of challenges. In December, we enjoyed the Big Day Out, performances, sporting events and much more. We are looking forward to finishing the year on a high with the Bridport Picnic!

Bring on 2021!

Celebrations

We have finally made it to the final week of 2020. What a year it has been. The Grade 9 team has been very impressed with how our students have risen to the various challenges that have been thrown at them this year and very proud that they have come out the other side more resilient, mature and focussed than before. In our time left we are asking all Grade 9 students to finish the year with academic rigour and to uphold the school ROCKS expectations at all times. This week the Grade 9’s were involved in two major assemblies; the Presentation Assembly, where the school recognises students who have gained awards, prizes and certificates and the Grade 10 Graduation Assembly to recognise the Grade 10 students.

Both of these assemblies were filmed and recorded for families and friends to view online. Due to the restrictions placed on us with the Covid–19 pandemic, parents and friends will not be permitted to attend. This is very unfortunate as we know how important these assemblies are for those students and families involved.  We are hoping that next year will bring further easing of restrictions and we can once again invite families back into the school.

This week also brings with it our annual school picnic to Bridport. The focus for the day will be around celebration, connecting with one another and having fun. We are hoping that all students will be invited to this fun celebration. Traditionally this has been a brilliant day which all students really value and enjoy.

Next year brings with it many more challenges for our students. As the Grade 10’s of the school we will be expecting all students to show leadership. Our student leaders will be working hard to fulfil their roles and all students will be setting goals to achieve by the end of the year. We are looking forward to seeing how our students will tackle these responsibilities in 2021 and the successes they will have.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Grade 9 teaching staff on behalf of our students and parent body. They have worked tirelessly this year to produce the best lessons and they have supported our students and kept them focussed with academic rigour. The hours of time each of them has given to our students has been most appreciated.

The Grade has also been lucky to be superbly led my Mr Tom Hartley as their Grade Leader for 3 years. As we know all good things come to an end and we are sad, but also excited to announce that Mr Hartley will be working with Grade 7 next year as their Grade AST. He will be sorely missed by our Grade but know that he will do an amazing job working with next year’s Grade 7’s. Mrs Megan Pel will be our new Grade Leader for Grade 10 and we know she will do a fantastic job in this role.

Finally, we need to acknowledge the fabulous work Ms Kate Blaubaum does as the Assistant Principal of our Grade. She has been an amazing support to both our staff and student body and we are very glad that she will be working with us again next year.

Congratulations Grade 9 students, families and friends, we made it! In what has arguably been a very tough year. We have survived the ups and downs and have had successes along the way. I would like to wish all families a wonderful Christmas and New Year and a safe and fun holiday break. 2021 is going to be a fabulous year!

Grade Focus

Our focus for Grade 9 this term continues to be developing formal and informal leadership in all of our students as we head into our final term for Grade 9. We will be continuing to apply good learning behaviours and academic rigour, ensuring that deadlines are being met and that we finish the year positively.

Celebrations

Grade 10 are celebrating a successful Graduation Dinner at the Launceston Country Club Casino. Students arrived and were greeted by staff at the event and went on to enjoy a two course meal and celebrated throughout the night. There was plenty of dancing and the DJ Will Tracks provided plenty of music for students to enjoy the night.

We would like to thank Mrs Hodges, Mr Walker-Bowd, Mrs Breen, Mrs Wilson, Mr Neilson, Mr Parker, Mrs McGifford, Mrs Lovitt, Mr Chamberlain, Mrs Williams, Ms Blaubaum and Ms Hudson for their contributions to this year group.  They have done an exemplary job throughout 2020 as the class teachers and teachers of the Grade 10 year group.

As a group we would describe you as aspirational, connected, inspirational,  motivated, entertaining, full of character and spirit and according to those staff who have been at Kings Meadows High School for a while, one of the best year groups to leave our school in many years.

You have represented yourselves well this year and we have received such positive feedback from many people outside our school whenever you have been in the public eye, and so you should, as you are such lovely people. Well done to all of you and particularly to those who received awards, bursaries and subject prizes. Those people have done an outstanding job in 2020. We hope that you all have the chance to look back fondly on your time at Kings Meadows High School whether it’s because of the experiences you had, the people you met, or the friends you made. We will certainly remember you all for the good things you have done and the positive ways that you have impacted on our lives. We would like to leave you with some final pieces of advice.

• Keep people close who will allow you to reach your full potential and cut loose the ones who hold you back.
• Live well by doing what is right, what is just and what will make you a better person.
• The world is full of good people - find them and learn from them.
• Be proud of your past, be proud of where you come from and make yours a future filled with happiness, laughter and mateship.
• Time is precious and friends and family even more so.
• Be your best and enjoy life.

And finally a quote to finish with from Dr Seuss: 

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes - you can steer yourself any direction you choose.

The school has developed a levy structure in line with the Department of Education’s Levy Policy. The School’s levies and charges have been determined in consultation with the school association.

The student levy contributes towards the cost of your child’s educational program studied across Grades 7–10.  The activities and materials are a necessary part of the curriculum.  All parents or guardians, 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 2021 is:

• Grade 7 & 8 - $550
• Grade 9 & 10 - $550

The Student Levy is a contribution towards:

NOTE: Devices (IPads), Calculators and padlocks are to be retained from Grade 7 through to Grade 10.

OTHER COSTS

Kings Meadows High School endeavors to include all student learning requirements within the Student Levy.   However, to maintain the quality and broad flexible learning opportunities the school requires payment for students choosing optional activities due to the costs associated with running these.

Please download the Qkr app to your phone.  This enables you to purchase and pay for your uniform orders online.  Uniforms will then be packed for 'click and collect' via the school office.  This will reduce the need to book an appointment.

Those parents who may need to come in for sizing etc. are required to book a 15 minute appointment time by calling the office on 6343 1000.

Extended opening times are provided for parents from 19 January to 29 January between 9.00am - 3.00pm daily.  Bookings are essential.

If you wish to purchase uniforms this year, the uniform shop is open during office hours, no appointment required.

The school will be closed on 26 January 2021.

2021 STATIONERY COLLECTION:

Due to COVID-19 gathering/density restrictions, students will receive their stationery pack on their first day back at school on Wednesday 3 February 2021.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please be advised that there have been some changes to the Term 1 school holiday dates.The end date for Term 1, 2021, has been brought forward to allow the school holiday period to commence immediately following Easter Tuesday.  This means that students will not have to return to school for three days between Easter break and Term 1 school holidays, which was previously the case.  The overarching reason behind this decision is to allow for greater learning continuity for students.

The new arrangements are as follows:

With the school holidays falling directly after Easter, it will be an ideal time for your family to take advantage of the extended holiday period!  All term dates for 2021 can be found on the Department of Education website at www.education.tas.gov.au/about-us/term-dates/term-dates-2021/

Regards

Maree Pinnington

Student name:  Lilyanne Richardson

Student class: 10F

What can you tell us about this piece of work? 

I wrote this for my English exam, so I was very stressed out whilst writing it! I still tried really hard though and was happy with the outcome.

What is your favourite thing about English? 

My favourite thing about English is class discussions! I love hearing what everyone has to say.

What are yoU reading at the moment?

The book I am currently reading is, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling.

What is your favourite book and why? 

I really enjoyed the Divergent series because of the way they were written.

What are some books that you would really like to read? 

I would like to read some books by Stephen King.

Straight Lines by Silverchair

Breathing from a hole in my lung
I had no one
But faces in front of me
Racing through the void in my head
To find traces
Of a good luck academy
Ooh, Ooh, Ooh
Sparks ignite and trade them for thought
About no one
And nothing in particular
Washed the sickened socket and drove
Resent nothing
There's goodwill inside of me
Ooh, Ooh, Ooh

Wake me up lower the fever
Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening
Everything will be fine
Waking up strong in the morning
Walking in a straight line
Lately, I'm a desperate believer
But walking in a straight line

Something I will never forget
I felt desperate
And stuck to the marrow
Invisible to everyone else
I'm a sex change
And a damsel with no heroine
Ooh, Ooh, Ooh

Wake me up lower the fever
Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening
Everything will be fine
Waking up strong in the morning
Walking in a straight line
Lately, I'm a desperate believer
But walking in a straight line

I don't need no time to say
There's no changing yesterday
If we keep talking and
I keep walking in straight lines

Wake me up lower the fever
Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening
Everything will be fine
Waking up strong in the morning
Walking in a straight line
Lately, I'm a desperate believer
But walking in a straight line

“Straight Lines” is a song performed by the Australian rock band, Silverchair.  It was released on 10th March, 2007 and hit number one on the ARIA singles chart.  “Straight Lines” tells the story of a person who is struggling but continues to push on.  Eventually, they find that everything is beginning to get better.

While listening to the song or reading the lyrics, the listener/reader gains understanding of the songwriter’s emotions through the themes communicated.   The themes of “Straight Lines” include:  loss, longing, isolation, desperation and hope.  These themes are made clear by the use of storytelling and poetic devices.  For example, the lyric “I had no one” communicates the themes of loss and isolation.  The lyrics:

                 “Racing through the void in my head

               To find traces of a good luck Academy”

show the theme of desperation through words like “racing” and “traces” when used in this context.  As the song progresses the themes change and the reader/listener is taken through the songwriter’s process of emotions.  The songwriter begins to become hopeful and determined as they push on through their struggles.  They are not entirely happy yet but are certainly on their way to it.  The reader is positioned to understand that through the struggle the songwriter has come out stronger.  Throughout the song many metaphors have been used to emphasise feelings and situations.  For example, “I’m a sex-change” has been used to describe how the songwriter feels insanely different to who they once were.  “Breathing from a hole in my lung” has been used to show the songwriter’s immense struggle.  They are not literally breathing from a hole in their lung, but rather are struggling as someone with a hole in their lung would.

Hyperbole has been used to allow the listener to comprehend the songwriter’s intense feelings.  Alliteration, assonance, repetition and rhyme have been used so that the song will flow consistently.  These devices are especially important in songwriting as the lyrics must flow with the music.  These poetic devices make for a much more enjoyable read/listen for the reader/listener.

“Straight Lines” positions the reader/listener to understand the songwriter’s struggles.  They may not physically feel the author’s pain but can understand and relate to it.  AS the song progresses it uplifts the listener, as the songwriter repeats:

“Everything will be fine….

Walking in a straight line”

This reassures the reader that everything is getting better. Through the use of poetic devices such as; repetition, metaphor and hyperbole “Straight Lines” shows the reader the songwriter’s struggles, allowing them to empathise, but it also shows the reader how the songwriter survived this, uplifting them in the process.

“Straight Lines” was written to show the reader that struggles do happen, but with hard work they can be overcome.  The use of poetic devices communicates emotions that would be hard to understand without them, and storytelling helps the reader/listener to comprehend the songwriter’s ideas.  The themes are clearly expressed, therefore allowing the songwriter’s emotions to be understood.  Once taking a closer look at “Straight Lines” the viewer understands the song’s deeper meaning and sees that it is not just about someone walking in a straight line.

On Wednesday 2nd December the Peer Support Leaders held their annual Healthy Me Expo. The day was a great success with students exploring the 5 Dimensions of Health, from the amount of sugar in certain drinks to managing your financial health.

The kittens from Rescue Cats Safe Haven were a highlight.

Thank you to Rescue Cats Safe Haven, The Cancer Council, YMCA Kings Meadows, Newstead College, the Migrant Resource Centre, Headspace, The Branch, Family Planning, Jasmine Poslon, Launceston College, Mandy Richie, Tasmania Police, The Roman Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Epilepsy Tasmania and Anglicare - your support was greatly appreciated.

2020 Peer Support Leaders

Congratulations to Lucy Oetterli from 7E on winning our Grade 7 Poetry Competition this term with her poem, The Gift.

The Gift

The box gleams, just there
Be stupidly excited
Everyone knows why

Not a soul caring
About the physical gift
It’s not about that

Anticipation
A simple glimmer of hope
Ifs, maybes, could-haves

It is the lead up
Bask in imagination
Possibilities

The gift, means nothing
The event, secret, surprise
It is the unknown

Every unspoken
Gift is a gamble, a rush
The world becomes yours 

Just for a second

               You can envisage a life 

                                    The box opens up 

By Lucy Oetterli, 7E

Some more wonderful Grade 7 poems

Haiku
Feasts in the dark night,
The pack sprints through the dark woods,
Howling at the moon.
By Eva Hjort

Haiku Poem
Let’s be mindful,
The trees dance in the breeze,
Water trickles down a stream,
The spring air is clean. 

But this starts to fade,
When the pollution worsens,
All life is now gone.
By Casey Boyer

Diamante
rain
gentle, steady
drizzling, pouring, freezing
puddles, torrential, bright, beach
beaming, heating, blinding
golden, fierce
sun
By Jorji Dalton

Ode to my rabbit Coco
I pat you
And you relax into a rest.
I haven’t seen you all day.
When you eat your cheeks inflate.
As you chew the food furiously.
Oh, how adorable you look.
When you stretch out on the ground facing the sun.
You always smell like fresh hay.
From sitting in your hay box.
Once you’re comfortable.
You do not move, like a statue.
Every time I see you.
You put a smile on my face.
When I pick you up.
You’re like a little baby that I’m cradling in my arms.
With every pat you slowly close your eyes.
And fall into a peaceful sleep.
By Jenna Kirk

I am a weird kid who likes to wonder
I wonder what happens when we die
I hear the rage of fallen animals
I see the edge of the galaxy
I want to know when the end of time is
I am a weird kid who likes to wonder

I pretend to never care
I feel the tears of a lonely star
I touch the nothingness of space
I worry about a crumbling mind
I cry about nothing I know
I am a weird kid who likes to wonder

I understand the weight of challenges
I say about anything I want or need to say
I dream about flying with a nebula
I try to make my future a reality
I hope my actions aren’t in vain
I am a weird kid who likes to wonder
Claye Coad, 7C

War
Terrifying, suffering
Fighting, killing, dying
Cruelty, violence, freedom, compassion
Hoping, empowering, healing
Love, security
Peace
Jonty Groves, 7C

Falling from the sky
the fluffy blanket of snow
Settled on the ground
Grace Anderson, 7C

Shoes screech on the ground
Bouncing the ball, shooting hoops
Siren sounds, we won
Aiden Barnes, 7C

A lumber jack axe
Chopping at a tree
Crash! The tree falls down
Mikayla Castagna, 7C

Staring out my window,
my feelings bottle up,
gasping for air,
Suffocating 

I’m isolated,
locked away in my own prison,
and I can’t find the key,
maybe I’m not trying hard enough?

As I focus in on the outside world,
the way of life slowly fades away
and I’m staring into my own eyes but I don’t recognise them
I don’t recognise myself 

I don’t recognise this person I’ve become

Lifeless
Cold
Cobi Griffith

The ancient ocean slowly reaches out with wizened arms
To embrace the sole ship that thought to disrespect him
Drag it down to the depths for its insolence
Some of those who were aboard float in the surf
Maybe he will give this boat like a little gift
To the cliffs or the shore to remind them
That he is powerful
Stella Jones

Waves crash on white sand
Drawing back, swallowing shells
She’s scared of nothing
Mae Gilligan

Party
Wild, popular
Weekend, embraces, gathered
Book, reading, borrowed
Create, filled, enjoy
Calm, clever
Library
Charli Crowe

Day
Light, clear
Shining, smiling
Sun, spider, moon, bat
Darkening, declining, crying
Dark, scary
Night
Tomas Cartes

A haiku
Little red football
Bouncing across the oval
Roll towards the goal
Bodie Hodgetts

Winter
A blanket of cold
Cuddled up by the fire
Warm hot chocolate
Charli Merrit

Ode
Oh paintbrush, you make me happy
Whenever I am with you I am full of joy
You paint all of the colours of the rainbow and more
I would do anything for you
Just to paint a stroke
Lily Johnson

Blackout poem - Sophie Thomas