This term students in Grade 7 have started a unit on number and place value. This has seen students work on developing their understanding on the place value of numbers, mental addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication strategies as well as diving into the understanding of squares, square roots and leaving us to be currently working our way through factors and multiples of numbers. I challenge you to ask your child in year 7 about any of these things. 

Mathspace Reminder

Mathspace.co is designed to make learning enjoyable and tailored to your child's needs that they can access using their school email. Here's a quick reminder of why it's a great companion for your child.

1. Smart Learning: Mathspace delivers personalised exercises, adapting to your child's unique learning journey.
2. Track Your Progress: Students can see their progress against key skills under the “Skills” tab in Mathspace. They can also access recommended practise here.
3. Quick Tips: Mathspace provides hints and encouragement, ensuring a supportive learning environment for your child. 

Embracing Safety: A Priority in Grade 7 Science Labs

As our Grade 7 students embark on an exciting journey of exploration and discovery in the science laboratory, fostering a culture of safety becomes paramount. To start off our year in science, we have been learning about the basics of safety in the lab.

This education begins with understanding the potential hazards present in a science lab, including chemicals, heat sources, glassware, and electrical equipment. Learning to identify these hazards is the first step in preventing accidents and ensuring a safe learning environment. Check out the awesome posters our talented grade 7’s have made in our labs!

Grade 10 students have begun the year by studying a unit on poverty and homelessness, which is an issue in contemporary society and one that is presented through a variety of texts.

Students read the book Way Home, by Libby Hathorn, about a young homeless boy and his cat, and have been working to practice and develop their PEEL paragraphing skills in response to this. As the term progresses, students analyse a range of advertisements, novel excerpts and a film to broaden their understanding of poverty at a local, national and international level.

They have been, and will continue to be working collaboratively and individually to demonstrate connections made to these texts; and plan and write an essay that identifies evidence and supports their point of view. 

In Grade 8 HaSS, students have been learning all about the Vikings, those fierce explorers, and traders from long ago. They have discovered how the Vikings sailed everywhere, traded goods, and even raided other lands.

They have also explored Viking culture, their myths, and stories. Then, they will move on to the medieval times in a few weeks, where they will continue to learn about kingdoms and knights, building on what they have discovered about the Vikings.

We started the year in legal studies by looking in detail at the differences between laws and rules, and the three levels of Government in Australia.  We then spent time looking at the different roles and responsibilities each level of Government has, and what laws they have the power to make.

We have just finished making a mock law, where students were given the task of debating a proposed new law.  Students had to follow the process of the first reading, second reading, debating the issue and finally voting on the law.  This was a great interactive process where students could appreciate the process of law making within Australia. 

Urban Art is a short course which runs in Terms 1 and 2 for grade 9/10 students.

We have started with a focus on creating our own unique signature in a graffiti style of lettering.

We practised different techniques in journals first and then added them to an ‘urban’ themed background.

This is the work of Diella. Note that she has also included ‘add ons’ to her signature by including a crown and a heart.

As we embark on a new school year, I extend warm greetings to all the new and existing families who make up our Queechy community. You all play a vital role in helping us create a supportive, inclusive and engaging learning environment. We pride ourselves on creating a supportive school environment where everyone feels valued.

Effective communication between school and home is essential for student success. We will keep you informed of important events and other relevant information through newsletters, emails, the school facebook page and phone calls home. I encourage you to stay engaged and reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.

We have welcomed 170 new grade 7’s into our school, The grade 7 team have been working to create a positive, engagining and connected space in the grade 7 area. Our grade 10 Student leadership Board (SLB) have been running lunchtime activities and have been fantastic examples of the positive Queechy culture. Ensuring that all students are known, safe, well and learning is the highest priority for us.

I am honoured to serve as the acting principal of Queechy High School. As a staff we are deeply committed to fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Your support in this is essential to students growth and development and I look forward to collaborating with you to ensure the success of all students.

In order for us to effectively run all our learning programs can you please ensure that you have updated, signed and returned all validation forms, including swimming permissions, ICT and immunisation forms.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education of your child. I look forward to a successful and rewarding school year ahead.

Fran Smyth
A/Principal

MSP Photo Catch up Day:

Reminder that the photo catch up day is on Friday 8th March first thing in the morning , for those who missed the orginal day. 

Validation, Immunisation, ICT forms:

If your child is yet to return these forms can you please have them to return them as soon as possible. If not returned they will not be permitted to attend minor excursions or recieve their MSP photos until returned. 

Collection of your child:

To avoid class disprution we please ask that students be collected during the below times when possile, thank you.

Recess 1 - 10:10am - 10:30am 

Recess 2 - 11:40am - 12:00pm

Lunch - 1:10pm - 1:50pm

Here we go, another exciting school year ahead! We hope you enjoyed your holidays.

By showing up to school every day, your child will have the best opportunity at a bright future. It gives them every chance to be around friends, learn new things, and find interests.

Good attendance habits can sometimes be hard to stick. But creating a solid routine, from the start of Term 1, can set your child up for success for the year ahead.

If you’re looking for tips on how to create better attendance habits, visit the Anything can happen website.

Please always talk to us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We’re here to help.

Vaping – resources available for families and students

Vaping continues to be a trend amongst children and young people.

Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, are similar to smoking cigarettes, but don’t use tobacco.

Instead, vapes are a battery-operated device which heats a liquid. This liquid turns into an aerosol and is inhaled.  Like smoking cigarettes, vaping is highly addictive. Research shows that young people are three times as likely to start smoking if they vape.

While Tasmanian law says that a person under 18 can’t use, possess or buy vapes, we know that some young people are doing it because they believe it’s a safer option than smoking cigarettes.

It’s important to work together to educate them about the health impacts of vaping and the harm it can cause on their short- and long-term physical health.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People has a dedicated webpage with information and resources for teachers, parents/carers and young people.  This includes tips for talking to your children about vaping and how you can support them in quitting.  The attached fact sheet also has some useful information to help support you in with these conversations.

At a school level, we are approaching vaping as a health issue. We use a range of educational resources to help students make healthy choices and informed decisions.

It’s important that we all work together to nurture the wellbeing of students so they can continue to grow, thrive and succeed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with either your child’s teacher or myself.

Kind regards

Fran Smyth

A/Principal