In Grade 7 HaSS, students are currently studying a unit focussing on the Deep Time History of Australia. Within this unit they investigate the following topics: Out of Africa Theory, Migration Patterns, Evidence of Ancient Culture, Cultural Practices and Belief Systems, Environmental Changes and Land Management and Indigenous Sites.  Students are enjoying building their knowledge of early Australians and are looking forward to studying the next unit on Civics and Citizenship.  

This Term in English, Grade 7 students are completing a novel study.  They read books by various authors and analyse the importance of each element included in their classes’ chosen book.  Throughout the unit students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to write an essay as their end of unit assessment task. 

At the start of this term, students had the opportunity to hear from author and illustrator Martin Chatterton. Martin is well known for his series "Bad Dog", and "Middle School”, co-written with James Patterson.  In addition to this series, he also writes a multitude of other stand-alone children’s books and young adult novels that many of our Grade 7 students have grown up reading. 

It was inspiring to hear from Martin as he provided an overview of life as an author and illustrator.  Highlights from students about his presentation included, “watching the amazing artwork he drew”, “meeting a real-life author” and “hearing what it takes to write books for a living”.  Students had a fantastic time listening to Martin as he inspired a young group of budding authors and illustrators.

Our school Cross Country was held last week and as always, there were some outstanding individual performances. Just as important, however is the participation of our students, being that physical activity is vital to our health and well-being, both mentally and physically. This was the first time in many years that we’ve had a whole school Cross-Country day, and the students really enjoyed the organised activities that were held throughout the day and the free BBQ. This event has been great for building a positive school culture which is essential for creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students and staff can thrive. The Cross Country showcased the strong relationships we have between staff and students, and it was great to see the amount of encouragement everyone had for each other. Building a positive school culture promotes respect, open communication, and emphasizes positive collaboration, which can enhance academic achievement and overall well-being. 

I have highlighted the importance of Respect in previous newsletters, but I again wish to remind the community of its importance. Respectful behaviour is vital for maintaining healthy relationships and creating a positive environment. We want all members of the Queechy High School community to be considerate, kind and show empathy towards others in all interactions. Respect is behaviour that should be practiced by everyone, regardless of age, gender, or culture. When people feel respected, they are more likely to communicate openly, share their thoughts, and work with others to achieve common goals. As a QHS community, we want to create a respectful and inclusive environment and any form of disrespect will not be tolerated, this includes the use of offensive or derogatory language, or any kind of racism. For more information of the Department of Education Child and Young People's policy on Respectful Schools visit the following link:

https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/2022/07/respectful-schools-campaign-continues/

Wearing the school uniform is an essential aspect of school life. It is a symbol of identity and pride at which fosters a positive school culture. Wearing school uniform creates a healthy school environment where all students feel included and welcomed. Queechy High School students should feel proud to represent our school by wearing their uniform every day. Hoodies and tights are not part of our uniform, and I would appreciate parents’ support by ensuring that students are in full school uniform every day. If you need assistance, please contact the school office.

I would like to conclude this week's newsletter by stating how proud I was of how our students conducted themselves and participated in the Bulldogs Cup on Wednesday. Team Queechy certainly shone through with how our students competed, and how they represented our school with pride, courage and honour. Well done to all students who were involved and I would like to thank all staff who organised this event which was an amazing opportunity for our students.

Grade 10s are learning about genetics and inheritance in Science. The students are studying genetics and have used their understanding of inheritance to make multi-generational vegetable people.

How big is this shape? What is the area of that shape?

Grade 7’s have been working hard in their Maths lessons learning and using different formulas in order to find the perimeter, area and volume of different shapes.

Students have had the opportunity to do this both in theory and use in real world situations such as how many squares of carpet might be needed to cover their classroom.

We have looked at using the correct formulas to find the area of squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, parallelograms and the volume of cubes.

On Thursday 23rd May, 7 Grade 11 students as well as 3 Grade 10 students alongside Mr Tepper and Mrs Milner attended the RSA course at TasTAFE Drysdale. Students spent the day learning about the rules and regulations, standard drinks, barring protocols and much more. The day was a success with all 10 students successfully obtaining their RSA qualifications which will assist them in future employment endeavors! Well done to all involved!

On the second last day of term 1, we put on a Deck Concert with a fantastic array of performers and bands. The concert finished with Half-hearted Pilgrimage pictured below. Thanks to the musicians and the huge audience that turned out to support the acts.