In Year 8 English, students are exploring the structure (layout, graphic elements) and language features (past tense, nouns, perspective, subject specific words) used in recounts and how recounts can be written from different perspectives.

They are using different note-taking and summarising strategies whilst reading Crash! Search for the Stinson. The text recounts the harrowing 1937 plane crash in the picturesque Lamington National Park in South-East Queensland. Our students are enjoying reading the real-life rescue and how recounts are used to tell an engaging story. 

In Grade 7 HaSS in term 4, students have been working on the geography unit Place and Liveability. Students have been learning about age demographics of different cities, understanding what makes a city liveable and unliveable.

At the end of the unit students will need to select 2 cities: One liveable and another that is deemed to be unliveable. This task requires students understand what factors contribute to the liveability of the cities that they have selected.

This will teach students about understanding different nationalities and cultures, customs and traditions, population and population density of different cities, latitude and longitude. After putting all their new found skills to the test, they will then do a compare and comparison between their two chosen cities.

We are excited to share with you what our Grade 7 students have been up to in their science classes. Currently, our young scientists are delving into the fascinating world of classification, a crucial concept in the study of biology. This unit provides a strong foundation for understanding the diversity of life on our planet.

Classification is the process of organizing and categorizing living organisms based on their shared characteristics. It helps scientists and students like ours to make sense of the vast variety of life forms that exist on Earth.

To bring this concept to life, our students have been stepping out of the classroom and into the wonderful natural environment right here on our school grounds. They are exploring the habitats around our school, to observe and categorize the various organisms they find.

In their outdoor expeditions, students are equipped with magnifying glasses, notebooks, and field guides. They are encouraged to examine different plants, insects, birds, and other creatures they encounter. By observing these organisms up close, they are developing a deeper appreciation for the rich biodiversity that exists in our local environment.

As they collect data, students are actively categorizing the organisms into different groups based on shared characteristics. This practical experience is not only engaging but also reinforces the theoretical concepts they learn in the classroom.

As the year winds down drama students are busy working on performance pieces to show family and friends at a drama night later this term.

Grade 8 students are just about ready to start filming a movie. One class is doing a comedy western featuring the Wendigo and Lobsterman. The other class are making a short film about some detectives who try to find out why people are mysteriously disappearing.

The graduating senior class of grade 10s (many of whom have studied Drama for all four years at Queechy) are excited but also saddened that this will be their last drama night at the Q. They, and the grade 9s, will also be presenting works later in the year.

More information to come.

Students in Child Studies have been very busy gaining experience in careers involving babies and children. We were lucky enough to be invited to attend a tour of Good Start Early Learning Centre in Prospect Vale. Our classes spent most of the morning playing games with the children and reading to them. They really shone and let out their inner child!

Year 10 students in Child Studies also had the opportunity to have a tour of the Launceston Birthing Centre. The midwife, Jaimee was so passionate and engaging and spoke about her facility and the amazing work that she gets to do. She inspired many students who came away with a much deeper understanding of the birthing process and how hormones work to progress labour naturally. We would like to thank Jaimee for this insightful learning opportunity.

Earlier this year, the HPE staff had the ability to nominate two year 10 students for the Australian Olympic Change-Maker program, which aims to recognise students from across Australia who demonstrate the Olympic spirit – friendship, sportsmanship and striving for excellence - both on and off the playing field, through leadership and driving positive change in their school and local communities. 

As a school we nominated Zoe and Kobe as it was felt that they exhibited the Olympic Spirit the best within our year 10 group. As a part of their nomination, Zoe and Kobe were required to submit a video detailing how they best demonstrated the Olympic Spirit, with each video from around Australia being reviewed by the programs committee with the top 20 students being invited to the National Change-Maker forum at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

We are excited and proud to announce that Kobe has been selected as one of the 20 students to attend the National forum, where he will meet and hear from past and present Australian Olympic athletes, work with the other students invited and get to experience the AIS facilities first hand. This is a great reward for Kobe and for all of the hard work that he has put in this year both on and off the sporting field. 

Congratulations Kobe 

Professional Leaning Day

Our staff enjoyed a day of professional learning on Friday 3rd November exploring Reading Instructional Practices, completing units of work for handover at the beginning of 2024 and student assessment portfolios.

Opportunities for staff to work together intensively on our professional learning days are highly valued. Staff are able to spend dedicated time planning with a focus on embedding multiple reading strategies in units of work across all learning areas for 2024.

Year 11 Enrolments

Thank you to staff from Newstead and Launceston Colleges who came out for our enrolment sessions last week. Our own Year 11 Community Services program is going from strength to strength with 13 students enrolled here full-time in 2024. Our students have had many opportunities this year to make an informed choice about the location that best suits their learning pathway.

We also have a number of students who will continue with their Australian School-Based Apprenticeships next year with an increasing number also gaining full-time apprenticeships from the beginning of 2024.

All students in Tasmania need to be on an “Approved Learning Pathway” until they are 18. These pathways include TASC subjects in year 11 and 12, VET subjects in year 11/12 or Tas TAFE and apprenticeships/traineeships.

If any of our students missed the enrolment days, don’t panic! We work closely with all students to ensure their enrolments are completed as soon as possible over the next fortnight.

Student Leaders Camp

Last week the 2024 SLB students went to the Field Studies centre at South Mt Cameron on our annual leadership camp. The team spend considerable time learning more about leadership, themselves and each other as we begin to create the strongest team we can for 2024. Students have an opportunity to nominate and vote for the executive positions on the SLB and invariably walk away with a deep understanding of themselves as leaders and what skills and attributes they need to grow during 2024.

A big thank you to Cat Attenborrow and Kaleb Clark for their organisation and support of this camp and for Nigel Bent for travelling up to work on individual and team leadership development with the SLB students.