Dear Parents/Carers

There is always so much happening in our school, with many opportunities and experiences for our students to engage with. It is always such a busy and vibrant place.  On Wednesday 26 March, we had many of our Year 8 students participate in the Beacon Prepare Program as part of our efforts to prepare students for the world of work. Last week, our student leaders ran a hugely successful World’s Greatest Shave event. Thank you to everyone who supported this worthy charity either by donating, having their hair shaved or coloured or simply by being an encouraging and interested spectator. Last Thursday, our swimmers represented our school at the Interhigh Swimming Carnival. There were some outstanding performances and congratulations to everyone involved.  Perhaps, most importantly, our students ensured we had representation in every event.  That level of participation and commitment is fantastic. Well done!

On the evening of Tuesday, 1 April we hosted school tours for prospective and interested families. Thankfully people recognised it was a ‘real’ event and not an April Fool’s Day joke, as we had over one hundred people visit and tour our excellent, modern facilities.  Thank you to Assistant Principal, Brendan Poke for co-ordinating this event and also to the eight other teachers who gave up their time to conduct these valuable tours.  Thank you to everyone who came along and showed an interest in our school. I hope you found it useful. We were certainly happy to show you around. Should any prospective family require a more personalised approach or if you could not attend on the night, please let us know as we would still like to support your inclusion into our school. Supporting student transition to a new school is crucial work but it is also important that families feel engaged and are also transitioned successfully into our school community.

To ensure we are clear and transparent about our expectations and to seek the support of parents and carers in helping to uphold some for our student behavioural expectations, I have listed a few rule reminders below:

• Mobile phones should be off and away in lockers from 8.35am to 2.50pm. Students should not have phones on their person. Parents and carers can also support us in managing mobile phones by not contacting their child directly during the school day. Communication can be done via the school office.
• Students are not permitted to enter toilet cubicles together. One person only per cubicle.
• If students need to leave class for any reason (e.g. to go to the toilet) they need a signed pass from their teacher.
• If a student is late to school, they must sign in at the front office upon arrival, not later on.

Thankyou in anticipation of your support.

Today we have students involved in an umpiring and refereeing clinic co-ordinated by the Northern High Schools Sports Association (NHSSA) and tomorrow we are hosting the AFLW and boys Netball Gala Day on behalf of the NHSSA. This Friday, we will finish the term with a whole school assembly to recognise ANZAC Day, which occurs during the school holidays. Some of our student leaders and staff will also be representing our school at a number of the local ANZAC Day services in Launceston and surrounding towns and will be laying wreaths on behalf of our school community.

Last Thursday evening we held a meeting in an attempt to re-establish the School Association Committee which has been in recess the last couple of years.  I am very pleased to announce that we were able to form a School Association Committee consisting of Jaclyn Kosta (parent and Chairperson), Brendan Poke (staff member and Deputy Chairperson), Denis Kosta (parent member and Treasurer), Kate Hume (staff member and Secretary) and Callan Hume (parent and committee member).  My sincere thanks to these wonderful people for their commitment to our school community.  Nevertheless, there are still spaces on the Committee for others who may wish to be involved or you can simply attend meetings as an observer. An observer must be a member of the School Association (i.e. staff member or parent member) and can participate in discussions at the discretion of the Chairperson but is not officially a member of the Committee and therefore doesn’t have voting rights.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 15 May at 6.30pm. Thanks again to the above-mentioned people and I look forward to having others involved in the future.

I find it hard to believe that Term 1 is nearly over as it has been so busy.  I hope that students and staff have an enjoyable and restful holiday break. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Monday, 28 April for Term 2.

Regards

Cary Stocks
Principal