I would like to welcome everyone to the 2025 school year, especially our 129 new Year 7 students. We also have a number of new students in Years 8-10 over the last few weeks.

We have had a great start to the year, with students already fully engaged in their learning. Our vision “Inspire Today, to Empower Tomorrow,” gives us a strong direction and focuses on ensuring we give our students the important skills that require them to be successful in today’s workforce. Our Motto, Realising Potential, highlights that active participation in school or community life has a significant positive impact on a person’s wellbeing. We encourage students to keep making the most of their opportunities at school. 

It is important that our whole school community aligns their actions towards our values. The values highlight the behaviours we expect to see from students, staff and our community. We keep each other accountable to these values and understand that our work in this area has helped us build a strong culture, based on high expectations.

The focus value for this term is ‘Best Effort.’ Please talk with your child about the different ways they can display this value in different aspects of their daily life.

Whole School BBQ Meet and Greet

It was great to have so many families attend our meet and greet afternoon this week and take the opportunity to connect with the school and your children’s teaching team. We hope to continue to see families engage with school in a range of ways. Whilst we didn’t keep a tally of exact numbers in attendance, 400 sausages being eaten is either an indication of great numbers or hungry families!

Pump Track

We are so fortunate to have our own Pump Track that students can utilise as part of our HPE program, before school and at lunch time. The Pump Track is supervised by a duty teacher before school from 8:15am-8:30am each day and at every lunch break from 12:30pm-1:00pm. Students are not supervised when riding the Pump Track before 8:15am or outside of school hours.  

2025 Staffing

Below is a list of our leadership team and principal teachers.

2025 Leadership Team

Principal – Mr Tom Murray

Assistant Principal – Mr Daniel Franks (Senior School)

Assistant Principal – Mrs Fiona Heazlewood (Junior School)

Assistant Principal – Mrs Danika Hess (Hillcrest Recovery/PLT Quality Assurance)

Assistant Principal – Mrs Sarah Elliott (PLT Quality Assurance/Year 10 English PLT)

Instructional Specialist – Mrs Tara Nathan

Year 7 AST – Miss Casey Frimley

Year 8 AST – Mrs Lucy Withers

Year 9 AST – Mrs Caitlin Baxter

Year 10 AST – Mrs Sarah Elliott

11/12 AST – Miss Amber Loone

Year 9 Maths PLT – Mrs Alex Stubbs

HPE Team Leader – Mrs Kaylah Rataj

RP Team Leader – Miss Meg Lutwyche

Student Support Teacher – Mr Andrew McDougall

School Business Manager – Mr Max Brown

2025 Principal Teachers

7A Miss Frimley

7B Mrs Chynoweth

7C Mrs Rabe

7D Mr Schmidt

7E Mrs Dalle-Nogare

7F Mrs Cooper

8A Mrs Withers/Miss Jago

8B Miss Mack

8C Mr Yeates

8D Miss O’Halloran

8E Miss Reeves

9A Mrs Baxter/Mr Eeles

9B Mrs Bellchambers

9C Mrs Allen

9D Mrs Stubbs

9E Mr Viney

10A Mrs Elliott/Mrs Smith/Miss Hooper

10B Mr Connors

10C Mr Crabtree

10D Mr Robinson

10E Mr McClymont

2025 Prefects

During the second half of last year, our current Year 10s worked through a leadership process to nominate for Prefect in 2025. These students stepped out of their comfort zone and put themselves through an application, speech and voting process. I would like to thank all students for embracing this opportunity and giving it their “Best Effort”. Below are the elected prefects for 2025.

Our prefects are:

Head Prefects 2025

This week we held our Head Prefects process for 2025. All prefects were invited to share a speech with the Prefect Board outlining their suitability for Head Prefect. Applicants then had to sit an interview with Mr Murray, Mr Franks and Mrs Heazlewood. The Board voted on the most suitable applicants and I am pleased to announce Erin and Gabriella as the 2025 Head Prefects of Reece High School.

NAPLAN 2025

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025. The National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

Why NAPLAN is conducted online?

NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results.

One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do.

Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN.

Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.

Parent information brochures and other resources

Your questions answered on NAPLAN and what it means for your child: NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers

The link will take you to the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website.

Resources (nap.edu.au) Please contact the school if you have any further queries.

Harding Miller Education Foundation

Earlier this term, Aloka, Laura and Heidi received their brand new laptops as part of their Harding Miller Education Scholarships. The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship Program provides practical support to lift the educational and career aspirations of high-potential Australian girls. New scholarships are valued at approximately $20,000 over four years. Scholarships are provided as a ‘toolkit’ that students can use to support their pursuit of academic excellence.

School Association Annual General Meeting

The School Association Committee AGM will be held on Wednesday 12^th March at 5.30pm. We have vacancies for parents on this committee. If you would like to get involved, please see the associated form in this week's newsletter or collect a nomination form from the main office and submit it to the returning officer by Tuesday, 11^th March.

Reece High School has appointed Fiona Heazlewood & Daniel Franks as our Safeguarding Leads for 2025.
Safeguarding Leads have been appointed in all Tasmanian state schools to help ensure all children and young people in Tasmania are known, safe, well and learning.
Mrs Heazlewood & Mr Franks will enhance our efforts in promoting and nurturing a culture of safeguarding at our school. This will enable us to better support the wellbeing of all our students and help us all understand that keeping children and young people safe is everyone’s responsibility.

2025 Volunteer Requirements

As we kick off the new school year, we want to remind our school community about the important requirements for volunteering at our school. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, it is mandatory for all volunteers to have their RWVP (Registration for Working with Vulnerable People) and to have completed the Our Obligations – Safeguarding Training 15-minute video before engaging with children and young people in a volunteer capacity at our school. Certificates for the training video are valid for 12 months from the date of completion. These steps are essential in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for our children.

To apply for a Registration for Working with Vulnerable people, please visit: Apply for registration to work with vulnerable people | Service Tasmania https://www.service.tas.gov.au/ services/working-in-tasmania/working-with- vulnerable-people-including-children/apply-for- registration-to-work-with-vulnerable-people

To complete the Our Obligations – Safeguarding Training 15-minute video please visit: Compulsory Safeguarding Training for workers - Department for Education, Children and Young People Volunteers are a vital part of our school community, and we are excited to collaborate with you in the year ahead! https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/safe-children/ safeguarding-children/safeguarding-training/

Please email your completed certificate to fiona.heazlewood@decyp.tas.gov.au

If you have any questions or would like some help, please come in and see Mrs Heazlewood or Mr Franks

2025 school levies were generated last week & you will receive them anytime now.

These can be paid via BPay, or Eftpos and cash at the School Office. 

Please note the trading terms, alternatively  if you wish to have a payment plan, call/see the School Business Manager.

It has been great to have students back at school in our Realising Potential subjects. Year 7’s will spend the first two terms doing 3 Realising Potentials (RP) subjects and then change over to another 3 in the second half of the year. Year 8-10 students have settled into their 2block and 1block RP subjects. 1block RP’s will run for the first 2 terms and then students will have the option to change if they wish. 2block RP’s will run for the whole year.

Here are some photos of students in their RP subjects so far this year!

Thank you to all staff and students for your effort, enthusiasm and excitement during Beach Week. We were incredibly lucky with the warm conditions that presented us, allowing for maximum participation and opportunities for growth.

During Beach Week students were guided through water rotations aimed at developing, improving, and refining their practical skills and reminded of how to keep themselves safe in aquatic environments.

*See the next newsletter for our Champions and overall House winners!

The key learning focus for each Year level was:                                                                                                                    

Level 7: Safe entries, PFDs, Survival swimming, introduction to First Aid with St John

Level 8: Hazard identifying walk, Draw a line in the sand planning, basic first aid

Level 9: DRSABCD and wet/dry rescue technique practice at Coles beach

Level 10: Small group First Aid scenario responses while walking to Turners Beach, beach activities and river float

It has been a busy start to 2025 for Year Seven students at Reece High School. On Thursday the 6th of February, students arrived looking very smart in their school uniform and a little nervous about their first day of high school. As a team, we have been very impressed with how students have come to school ready to learn whilst demonstrating our school values. We have been very fortunate to have had some wonderful opportunities to participate in, learn from and make new connections with classmates during Beach Week and at the Surf Carnival where we learnt how to:

• be safe around water environments
• kayak
• use a surfboard
• accurately fit and use a PFD
• administer basic First Aid

On Wednesday, we welcomed many of our Year 7 families at the ‘Meet and Greet’ evening. It was wonderful to meet so many families and hear the level of support for our students. We look forward to continuing to work and communicate with families throughout the year.

A reminder of the expectation that all students are in all black school shoes as per our uniform policy. It has been great to see most families supporting this expectation. Also, I will be contacting families in the coming weeks to communicate the expectations of Year 7 camp which will be held in week 10.   

What a start?!? Year 8 have had a fantastic start to the year. We have been busy in all subject areas. We have also welcomed Mrs Withers to Year 8 and we are so lucky to have her on our team.

In Maths, we have been getting all financial, starting our year with learning about fractions, decimals, and percentages. Look out for our banking, shopping and investing skills in the future!

In Science, we have familiarised ourselves with the lab and learned what cells are. Mel showed us how to use a microscope, and we examined an onion's skin to observe its cells.

The English team have been busy writing their PEE paragraphs demonstrating their understanding of how to get their point across and using supporting evidence in their writing.

In HASS, students and staff have been learning about society in Medieval times. They are exploring the Black Death and the impact this had on society immediately, and also into the long-term future.

We are so excited for what 2025 is going to bring.

We were pleased to meet so many families on Wednesday night as they popped into the classrooms to visit with Principal Teachers. We have sent a letter home with students  (either on Wednesday evening, or Thursday) to introduce families to the staff working in the senior school area. If you have any questions or queries, all principal teachers’ email addresses are included in that letter, and you are invited to get in touch.

NAPLAN

Year 9s will participate in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) during the period 12^th – 24^th March. All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in the annual NAPLAN assessment. Students with a disability or who receives additional teaching supports may qualify for adjustments (adjustments are only granted if they reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments).

As this newsletter is placed down in the chronicles of Middle-Earth, it reminds me of the rolling hills and bubbling brooks of the Shire lands.  Our young Hobbits (Year 10 students) have begun a journey as epic as the fellowship’s audacious task of destroying Sauron’s ring of power.  Our own Dark lord, Jesse Connors, has cast his dark shadow across Year Ten, but with the help of the maths wizard, Randulf and his hardy companion, Stuart Aragorn Crabtree, a small light of hope still shines in the beleaguered land of building one, bottom floor.  The students have had a busy start to year ten, completing Resilience Training, a first aid beach day, a surf carnival and a tour of the Burnie Utas campus. As we move into week 5 (entering the doors of the prancing pony), we have combated the deadly scourge of linear algebra and are moving towards graphing straight lines in Math. In English, we have been busy examining a variety of ancient texts to determine their Values. With the passing of John Marsden, students have also been reading one of his best-known novels, ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’. In HASS, students have been hard at work, investigating the key events of the 20^th Century. Finally, the young students have been studying alchemy (Science) to determine how things work, including looking at atoms, elements, ions, and their bonding structure. As we escape the clutches of the Dark Lord’s forces, the students gather up their trusted pony, Bill McClymont, and head towards the beacon, that is Weathertop (end of Term 1). Good luck and God speed on your journey, young Hobbits – Randulf, the 4^th Age, 2025. (AKA - Richard Robinson)

Ecofest is absolutely thrilled to announce that in 2025, the festival will be expanded to a phenomenal two-day event! The overwhelming excitement and support from our festival attendees has been the key factor in making this incredible decision. We are genuinely hoping that having the festival spread over two days will create a more laid-back and enjoyable experience for everyone. With this extended duration, you'll have ample opportunities to plan out your festival experience, ensuring that you don't miss out on any of the amazing exhibitors, presenters, workshops, or delectable local cuisine, all while unwinding to the fantastic sounds of our talented performers.

Our enthusiastic Camp Clayton team and community members have curated a dynamic EcoKids program to ensure children are inspired, educated, amused, and delighted throughout the festival. Young attendees can look forward to engaging in hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and educational sessions designed to foster a love for the environment and sustainable living.

This year our festival revolves around our "Random Acts of gREen" campaign. All our exhibitors, presenters, workshops are showcasing how they aim to REthink our REsources and inspire REmarkable changes towards sustainability. Beyond the usual REcycling, REusing, and REfusing, let's REdiscover innovative ways to REinvent REsources for a more REsilient community. REmember to plan ahead to get the most out of your ecofest experience. REvamp the tool box by REdistributing unwanted tools at our tool swap, REplacing them with REliable REsources. The ChildREn can REvel in the swap too, by bringing up to six clean, and undamaged toys to REshare.

Join us at North West Ecofest on April 5th and 6th at Camp Clayton in Ulverstone, for an unforgettable journey! Skip the queues and save by pre-purchasing discounted tickets online—get a two-day pass from just $18. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Gates open at 8:30 am each day. Get ready for two incredible days of Ecofest magic!

Visit our website for all festival info and tickets www.ecofesttas.com.au