PRINCIPAL'S REPORT:
Dear Parents/Guardians
As I pen this last newsletter for the year I smile as I reflect over the last couple of weeks, this last term and the school year that has now concluded and feel incredibly proud of another stellar year at Kings Meadows High School. Last week at the Grade 10 Celebration Dinner I spoke about our wonderful school, and proudly referred to it as THE BEST SCHOOL! I truly believe we have an outstanding place to work and learn in every day and that Kings Meadows High School continues to be a leader in standards of public education for Northern Tasmania. Some may say I am biased or that I am compelled to say that as Principal but if you had the opportunity to sit at either our Presentation Assembly or Graduation Assemblies this week you would know why I confidently refer to our school this way.
On Monday at our Presentation Assembly we witnessed a record number of students receive awards for their outstanding achievements and contributions to our school. I would like to thank all the wonderful sponsors and donors of these awards for continuing to support our school and our amazing students. Thank you also to our guest speaker Mrs Tara Howell who spoke about her journey that has led to much success already with the Blue Derby Pod Business and Change Overnight Hotel. Congratulations to all recipients (please see the list in the newsletter) and a huge thank you to Miss Kate Blaubaum for the exceptional co-ordination of this assembly. Special thanks also to Mrs Robyn Ponting and the administration team.
As mentioned, the Graduation Dinner was held last Thursday at the County Club and it was another beautiful celebration occasion for our students. The students were impeccably and sophisticatedly attired and their behaviour matched. Everyone had a fantastic evening. Special thanks to the Grade 10 Team and Mrs Pam McGifford for all their work in coordinating the dinner.
Today we farewelled our Grade 10s at their Beacon Charter Signing Graduation Assembly. This was another wonderful assembly where our students were acknowledged and received their Graduation certificates, signed their Beacon Charter pledge and fondly farewelled. Guest speakers Ms Laura Turner – ex KMHS student and now international pilot for Jetstar and Mr David Cox - Hawthorn AFL Tasmania State Manager, certainly inspired all our students with their addresses and we certainly wish all our Grade 10 students all the very best for their futures.
My Education
Our last My Education day for the year was once again a fantastic day across all grade areas as they continued their thorughlines guided by our clear Scope and Sequence.
The day also saw our Healthy Me expo presented in the gymnasium throughout the day. All grades had the opportunity to go through the expo and we had many presenters from a huge variety of organisations including, Cancer Council, Oral Health, Headspace, YMCA, The Salvation Army, Animal Rescue, the LC Virtual Reality encounter just to name a few, all providing valuable information and activities for all students to gather and participate in. A huge thank you to the Peer Support Leaders and Mrs Belinda Selby for all their work in co-ordinating. My Education continues to be an important focus for us at KMHS in assisting our students with their career and life planning and we look forward to those continued partnerships with all industry and business and the Beacon Foundation.
Big Day Out/Kings Culture Week
On Friday 6th December we saw the culmination of Kings Culture week with The Big Day Out. Our senior leadership students have done an outstanding job this year in co-ordinating and leading a variety of events for all students to be involved in throughout the year and the Kings Culture Week activities that the Prefect Board have undertaken throughout each term have been fun and fabulous. They worked in conjunction with our House Captains last Friday to run the Big Day Out - another annual event that is very much enjoyed by all. The atmosphere on the day was relaxed and a celebratory vibe across all grades as we took the time to enjoy the activities provided including the now famous Water Slide activity. Thank you to all involved.
Our Leadership Groups this year have been outstanding; our Prefects, Peers Support Leaders, House Captains and Beacon Student Ambassadors have all excelled in their roles to ensure that we continue to have student voice, strong student leadership and activities and events in our school throughout the year. Their support of each other, students and other charity organisations has been wonderful and I commend them all and thank them on behalf of the school community.
Congratulations to:
- Our Senior Girls basketball team for winning their Grand Final 2 weeks ago in the NHSSA Finals. Congratulations girls. Thanks again to Miss Males for your continued support of this team and basketball in our school.
- Abbie Butler for winning the National Under 16 Steeplechase race earlier this month at the Australian National Championships. Abbie ran a time that places her fastest in Australia (both U16 and U18 time) and 16th in world rankings.
- Ashtyn Peters for being selected in the Tasmanian U/15 Indoor Hockey Team to compete at the Nationals in Wollongong in January.
- Charlotte Layton on her selection in the Tasmanian U/18 Womens Cricket Team to represent Tasmanian in January.
- Phoebe Withington has been selected again in the Tasmanian U/18 Indoor Hockey Team competing in Wollongong and she has also been selected in the U/18 Tasmanian squad.
- Ali Ahmad Noroozi for being selected to participate in a 10-day Voyage on the Windward bound sailing ship. Currently Ali is at sea undertaking this amazing experience.
- Mrs Wendy Dalton, our wonderful Business Manager, who has been successful in her application on the school’s behalf for a Local Schools Community Fund Grant. We will receive $17,000.00 which will go towards upgrading of some playground equipment. Thank you and congratulations to Mrs Dalton.
Staffing News
As always at this time of the year we farewell some staff. I would like to thank the following staff for their contributions to our school during their tenure with us and wish them all the very best for the future:
Mrs Karen Williams, Mrs Rebecca Rockliff, Mr Heath Hodgetts, Miss Caitlyn McCarthy, Mrs Jennifer Copeland and Mr Tim Elliott.
Mr Roger Lockhart one of our loved Educational Facility Attendants will be retiring at the end of the year and we wish him all the best for his retirement and thank him for his loyal service.
Finally, we farewell Ms Helen Burley and Mrs Sharon Geale who have both been at KMHS for a lengthy period of time. I know I speak on behalf of all the school community when I sincerely thank them for their many years of service and wish them all the best for their future roles.
Bus Route Changes
Please note that there will be some changed routes to Metro services in the new year. For more information please copy and paste the link below:
https://www.metrotas.com.au/schools/kings-meadows-high-school-2020/
New Mobile Phone Policy
As many people would be aware the Department of Education have announced a new policy for mobile phones to be introduced in the new year. As a school we have decided to implement these changes at the beginning of the year to avoid confusion and ensure clarity right from the beginning of the year.
The key elements of this policy include:
- Schools must implement restrictions on the use of mobile phones by all students from the time they arrive at school to the end of the school day. All communication with students during the school day must be through the school office.
Schools must implement the following rules for students:
- Kindergarten - Year 12: Students must have their mobile phones switched off and securely stored during the school day. Schools must determine an appropriate storage approach (of which we have very secure lockers for students to use).
- Schools must require students with ‘smart watches’ to set them to ‘aeroplane mode’.
Where restrictions are not followed by students, schools will utilise their existing school behaviour management policy.
This will be a state-wide policy and we are obliged to implement by Term 2. We will be beginning from the start of the school year and appreciate in advance full family support.
Farewell Grade 10s
Farewell and congratulations to all our Grade 10 students as you transition to the next stage of your learning. We know that KMHS has prepared you well and we encourage you to continue to be aspirational, have the courage to embrace new opportunities and challenge yourselves, be kind and respectful, laugh and keep on learning. KMHS will always welcome you.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone in our school community for their ongoing support of our magnificent school. We have had another outstanding year and continue to go from strength to strength as a school due to this support and commitment of those who work and contribute each and every day to KMHS.
I sincerely wish everyone a happy Christmas period and restful and relaxing break.