Dear Parents/Carers

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

Respect for others, self and environment

Organisation

Commitment to learning

Keeping safe

Sensible behaviour

We would like to acknowledge the following students:

Year 7:

Charli McLean - For being super helpful during the first week of school and helping her peers.  

Seth Donaldson - For being responsible on camp and forming relationships with friends. 

Year 8:

Lexi Albers - For making a new student feel welcome into 8A this week and organisation with the required equipment for each class.

Caleb Roberts – For his quiet, friendly manner and the way he always helps others out.

Xavier Bourke - For spreading his positivity for learning amongst other students in 8C.

Year 9:

Oliver Midson - For seamlessly settling back into KMHS and showing an incredible amount of enthusiasm in organising a school cricket team for a Term 1 roster.

Tyler Praciak - For an incredible amount of enthusiasm in organising a school cricket team for a Term 1 roster.

Year 10:

Maddison Medwin - For exceptional leadership, initiative and encouragement of Evandale students at their Athletics Carnival.

Harry Self - For being a positive role model and supporting his peers.

Celebrations:
Congrartulations to all Year 7s on their resilience, respect and positive attitude during camp. We had so many members of the public compliment our amazing cohort on their politeness during our stay at Port Arthur. Camp was a fantastic experience and allowed students and staff to build positive connections.

The following camp reports are from students in 7D and 7E:

Wednesday through to Friday, 7D and 7E went to Port Arthur for the Year 7 camp. It was an exciting opportunity for all the Year 7s! It was a long bus trip that went for 4 hours. The Year 7s had multiple stops for lunch breaks and team building activities. We all arrived around 3:00pm. There was about an hour and a half to unpack, chill and get to know each other in our cabins before dinner.

The second day we walked to the Port Arthur historic site where we spent our day. The historic site had many interesting buildings and places to learn about. The whole historic site was filled with so much information, emotion and history. We then went on the Harbour Cruise over to The Isle of the Dead where we had a tour guide tell us about the graveyard and gravestones.

Friday then came around, 7:00am wake up call for breakfast and 8:00am the Year 7s got onto the bus. Our first stop was ZooDoo, we had the chance to buy animal food for the kangaroos and feed them. We got to watch the lions get fed although they were not moving very much as they were sitting in the shade. We then set off again to our next stop. Everyone then stopped in Richmond for lunch, most people went to the Richmond Bakery. The Richmond Lolly Shop was a group favourite and the place basically everyone was most excited for.  Finally, around 4:30pm we got back to school all in one piece and got our stuff from the bottom of the bus and made our way home (where we probably all went straight to bed).

By Isabel Brain and Yasmin Black 7E

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 7A, B and C went on camp to Port Arthur. This journey started on Monday 12 February. The bus ride was really long but very enjoyable with our new class groups. The highlight of our first day was settling into our bunks and having lots of snags for dinner.

The second day started off with a hot and sunny walk to Port Arthur, where were able to explore and learn about how the convicts lived in horrible conditions. The history of all the ruins were fascinating and interesting to learn through Jet, our tour guide.

On the third and final day the first moments consisted of cleaning our rooms (ours and the teachers were the cleanest). We then had bus ride to ZooDoo where we saw lots of fun and jumpy animals. We even saw a tiger getting fed. Also at the zoo, people could buy food to feed the kangaroos. After we stopped at the Richmond Lolly Shop to stock up on lots of sugar and have a nice hot pie at the bakery.

To conclude on behalf of all of us, camp was a blast and the experience really well worth it.

By Phoenix Munoz - 7C

Grade focus:
During Week 4, the focus for our Year 7 classes is to continue building on the positive relationships with their peers and staff members. It has also been fantastic to see our year 7 cohort being organised for their learning with the appropriate items and being on time.  Keep up the amazing work Year 7s! 

Year 7 Staff Team:
Each Year 7 class has a Class Teacher, who students will see every morning and is the first point of contact for families. We have a phenomenal team, and we encourage families to communicate with their child’s Class Teacher with any queries throughout the year. Our team of Class Teachers are supported and lead by our Year 7 Leaders Mrs Pel and Mr Brewer, Year 7 AST Mr Johns, and Junior School Assistant Principal Mrs Hume. We look forward to working with families to support each student to achieve their best learning outcomes over the next four years. 

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

Grade 7 Leader – Mrs Megan Pel - megan.pel@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.

After settling into their new classrooms and for some students, their new school, our students have now started to thrive in their classes, taking on challenges, developing new friendships and learnings. I would like to acknowledge their success, their hard work and dedication to becoming committed to their learning once again.

It’s our hope that as they continue to work well and start to develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their abilities, that this boosts their confidence and motivates them to continue striving for further success.

Year 8 staff are proud of the efforts our students and parents have been putting in lately to ensure the correct school uniform is worn every day, as it shows a sense of responsibility and respect for our school R.O.C.K.S. and values. 

Next week will continue to give our students further exciting opportunities with our school swimming carnival being held on Friday 8th March at the Launceston Aquatic Centre and the chance to leave Kings Meadows High School to participate in events that create a sense of teamwork and individual success.

Over the coming weeks. our team will continue to focus on helping our students to further develop their commitment to learning as responsible young adults with sound learning habits.  Commitment to learning can take many forms, such as being attentive in class, actively participating in class discussions, completing work on time and seeking help when needed.  Showing a willingness to learn and engagement with learning will further help our students develop positive relationships with their teachers.  It is important for students to understand that the effort they put into education can have a significant impact on their success, both in high school and beyond and that by staying committed and engaged in their learning they can make the most of their educational opportunities. 

Parents continue to play an important role in helping our students to become further committed to learning, which includes encouraging good study habits, prioritising academic responsibilities, and fostering a love for learning.  If you haven’t already done so, we certainly encourage you to have a conversation with your child about how they are going with their commitment to learning and new class this year.  We also ask that you talk with their Class Teacher, Grade Leader or Grade AST if there are areas that might need extra support or assistance.  

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

We are incredibly pleased with the first month our Year 9 students have put together. With a busy term coming up, our students have hit the ground running with their organisation and getting themselves ready as they consolidate their position in the senior school. As our Year 9’s are becoming more independent over their own learning, we expect Enrichment and Full Year course changes to be in motion, with the closing date being 23 February.

Mr Poke is coaching a cricket team to compete in a weekly roster against other local schools with Tyler Praciak and Oliver Midson being massive in the organisation of the team, our Grade Team is incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and effort put in.

Our Class Teachers should be the first point of contact for your child here at Kings Meadows High School with Grade Leaders and Grade AST being there for more urgent or important matters. Please find the contact information for each teacher on the Grade Team below:

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 – Miss Grace Bannon – grace.bannon@decyp.tas.gov.au

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

9EL Class Teacher - Miss Emily Lovegrove - emily.lovegrove@decyp.tas.gov.au

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

Mr Isaac Pinnington – isaac.pinnington@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
Now that we are fully “back into the swing of things,” it’s worth highlighting the focus and enthusiasm the majority of students have demonstrated towards their learning. As Year 10 is an important transition step in moving forward into the next phase of education, training and/or work, it is vital for our students to aim to really set themselves up for that next step and be prepared to take the opportunities that may present themselves. Congratulations to Taliesin Sharman and Deegan Malcolm who have already started their School-based Apprenticeships, congratulations also to the students who have taken steps towards undertaking Work Experience this year. We also have to mention our Student Leaders who have worked with our new Year 7s, assisting with primary school carnivals and already started organising KMHS events. Finally, congratulations to Cohen Walmsley, Daniel Hilbert, Amaya Summers, Amir Rahmi, Angelina Souto, Levi Swift, Shade St Claire, Darcy McMahon and Arthur Bishop who are all attending Newstead College twice a week to study Mathematics Methods Foundation Level 3.

What are we learning at the moment?

English - The Great Gatsby

Maths - Measurement (Surface Area and Volume)

History - World War II

Science - Genetics

HPE - Summer Sports / Risk Taking

These core subject areas provide vital learning for our Year 10 students. By regularly sharing current areas of study allows parents/carers to have meaningful conversations with students about their learning. If you would like to know more, please contact the relevant teacher.

Grade Focus
Year 10 students are focusing on being organised and taking responsibility for their own learning. This means arriving to classes on time, with the correct equipment and ensuring all instructions are followed to enable the best learning outcomes possible.

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

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 13 and 25 March 2024.

The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

This is the second year NAPLAN has been held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year. These can then be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online

NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.  One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. The questions a student receives depends on their answers to previous questions. This means that students answer questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.

Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.

Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging. Please note that students in Year 3 complete the Writing Test on paper. 

Parent information brochures and other resources

A parent information brochure and questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child can be found at: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers

The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website and covers a variety of topics such as the timing of the tests and how results from the assessments should be understood.

It also allows access to a Public Demonstration Site which shows the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests.

Please contact the school if you have any further queries.

Dance classes have started very strongly this year!  Mrs Selby has four dedicated Full Year Option classes and Mrs Pel has a large and dynamic group in Junior Enrichment. Full Year classes have undergone a range of tuning in and re-connecting activities before launching straight into planning for Launceston Competitions.  This will be held in Week 2 of Term 2 (early May) and information will go out closer to the time.  It is expected that Year 8 students will perform during the day and Year 9 and 10 students in the evening – both will be at the Princess Theatre.  All Full Year Dance students are encouraged to have a set of ‘dance blacks’ ready for any performances such as this that come up during the year.  Tights, short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts and wide strap singlet tops are all acceptable.  Black sports shorts are also acceptable but NOT Nike Pro style shorts.  These are not recommended for stage performances. We are really excited about the year ahead with so many skilled and enthusiastic students eager to show off their talents!  Mrs Selby and Mrs Pel.

Welcome to 2024!

I’m Hannah, the School Chaplain (or Student Wellbeing Officer). I’m here for social, emotional and spiritual support, for our staff and students and their families.

I’m at KMHS on Mondays and Fridays and I’m here to be a listening ear, a friend for those who need one and someone to build up and encourage when others tear down.

I know times are tough and families and students are facing many different challenges at school and at home. If you or your child need support, please reach out. You can contact me at hannah.page@decyp.tas.gov.au.

I hope and pray that this year is a great one for you – filled with growth, love, joy and peace.

Take care,

Hannah Page

This week, staff and students have represented Kings Meadows High at various welcome BBQ’s at our feeder primary schools. Transition is a critical component in the growth of a student (academically, socially and emotionally). Parents of prospective 2025 Year 7 students stay tuned for details coming out later in the term.

Kings Meadows High School claimed a victory over Riverside High School on Wednesday night in the first round of the 20/20 season. Played in very humid conditions, the Kings Crew led superbly by Tyler and Oliver, elected to bat first with all players contributing to the score board, making a total of 100. Standout performers with the bat were Tyler, Rory and Sam, with Francis playing shots like David Warner (in his first ever game). Defending the total, the bowling attack had Riverside at 24 off 8 overs, to end up making 92 runs in and exciting finish. The comradery, encouragement and sportsmanship was something the Kings Meadows community can be very proud of. We now look forward to a home game against Scotch Oakburn on 6 March.

Leadership Staff

Support Staff