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Dear Parents and Families,
The last fortnight has certainly been a challenging time. I know that people are watching very closely the developments in relation to the Coronavirus and that this is impacting not only on our school community, but on a global scale. We are living in complex times in an unprecedented situation.
We have endeavoured to keep in regular contact with parents and families regarding how our school is managing the Coronavirus. The Department of Education is also working very hard in this area and as you would appreciate this requires daily monitoring as things change and progress.
The advice from the Department of Health is that schools are to remain open. Schools play a fundamental role in our community, supporting students and families. I would like to assure you that the priority for our school is the wellbeing of our students, families and our staff. We understand that many families are choosing for students to stay at home during this time and we respect that you are best placed to make decisions about what is right for your family. Where it is practicable we will aim to provide support with learning packages that can be undertaken at home. Learning packages that have been made available to students include approx. two weeks of learning in core subjects. Please be aware that this is an interim measure and that students will complete different amounts of this work depending on when they started learning from home. There is no expectation that all of the work is completed nor that parents need to replicate a normal school day. Parents are able to balance the learning in core subjects with other meaningful activities at home. This recommended approach aligns to the parental letter from our Secretary, Tim Bullard published through our Facebook page and APP. In addition to learning packages that we are currently making available to students, resources are available for parents at the public Learning at Home webpage with ideas and activities about what you can do to support learning.
As a school we are currently working on longer term and more rigorous provision for learning that will be a state-wide approach, with the view to this being in place for the start of next term.
Please be assured that we are putting a range of steps in place and acting on all advice to ensure that students are safe, our school and facilities are cleaned as thoroughly as possible and social distancing measures are in place. We have already advised of many of the steps we have taken, but we continue to review and alter this as further advice and direction is given.
While I appreciate that this situation makes everyone feel worried and anxious, I hope it is of some comfort that Tasmania is in comparison, a safe place to be. While we need to take all precautions, it is also important that we remain calm and that the messages we convey to our young people do not create alarm and panic. We know that as best as is possible, maintaining normal routines is important in times of uncertainty. Looking after our wellbeing is a challenge during this time, especially with so many activities and facilities that we normally access, being unavailable. It is more important than ever that people remain connected and take steps to support each other and their own wellbeing in whatever way they can.
I have included below a number of links that provide some useful information and resources to support the wellbeing of our young people during this time. I hope these might be useful. We will continue to provide and share resources to help in this area.
https://www.headspace.com/covid-19
I commend our students on the mature and respectful way that they have managed this situation. We are also greatly appreciative of the supportive manner in which our school community are working with us. Our Admin Office is often at the frontline of communication with families. As you would appreciate, our office is very busy at the moment with many contacts from parents, preparing work packages and keeping up with their daily work. Your patience and understanding with this has really helped.
National Success
An absolute highlight of the last fortnight has been the success of our students in the F1 National Schools Final in Melbourne. In our first year of competition in this event, the work of our students was of an exceptional standard, demonstrating high levels of skill, creativity and team work. It was a pleasure to keep abreast of their progress throughout the week. The efforts, commitment and achievement of our students was acknowledged with a variety of awards and a 2nd place in the Development Class. Given that this is a national competition, these are outstanding achievements, that as a school community we can be very proud of. The students represented our school with pride and exemplify our school values of Courage, Aspiration, Respect and Endeavour.
Our congratulations to the following students:
In Motion (Tara 8B, Anabelle 8B, Ruby 8B, Charlotte 8B & Amelie 8B)
Five Elements (Keila 8D, Sharon 8D, Gabrielle 8B, Zachary 8F & Dylan 8F)
Further details and photos are included.
Reporting and Parent Teacher Arrangements
On Monday, 30th March, we will post home your child’s Interim Report. Given that we have a large number of students absent from school at the moment, we believe that this is the most effective way to distribute these and minimises the need for parents to call into the school to collect these. Please use this as an opportunity to talk to your child about their progress at school over the last eight weeks, recognising the positives and identifying any areas where improvement can be made. At this stage in the year, talking to students about how they are approaching their learning and the need to develop/maintain good work habits is more important than focusing on academic achievement. When students approach their learning with a Growth Mindset, understanding that effort and hard work are the keys to being successful, then they achieve at their full potential. Our school values provide us with some useful language to consider our learning habits and mindsets. You might like to use these ideas in reflecting on and discussing your learning habits and progress:
Courage – Accepting challenges and embracing opportunities and stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Aspiration – Being reflective and setting ambitious goals to succeed and being optimistic and believing you can achieve your goals.
Endeavour - Demonstrating commitment to your continued growth and being a resilient learner and persevering when things get difficult.
During our current context, these values seem more relevant than ever!
As you would be aware we are currently unable to hold face to face Parent Teacher meetings, due to the restrictions in place with COVID-19. We highly value the communication between teachers and parents and the important role this plays in supporting learning. Therefore, we would still like to provide an opportunity for you to have a conversation with teachers; these will be held through a phone call.
If you would like to take up this opportunity, could you email the Admin team with the names of your child’s teachers that you would like to speak with. Please use the following email address - DoERiverside.High.Admin.Staff@education.tas.gov.au, rather than making contact with teachers directly. During the final week of term 6th - 9th April, teachers will aim to make phone contact with you for a short conversation. If by the end of the term they have been unable to reach you, they will aim to do this in the early part of next term.
Please be aware that Friday, 3rd April, will now be the last day of term for students, with 6th - 9th April, being allocated to Professional Learning Days for teachers, to support their work in our current circumstances.
This will be the last newsletter for term one. We will continue to use our Facebook page and Schoolzine APP to keep in contact with you.
Stay safe, stay well and support each other through this challenging time.
Ms Natalie Odgers
Riverside High School students have had a busy start to Mathematics this year! Classes are investigating Australian curriculum content and students are working to develop their fluency to determine calculations and apply understanding and reasoning to solve real world problems. Students have considered the following content so far this year in their classes.
Grade 7 Maths:
Grade 7 students have considered; positive integers and their operations and made connections between indices and prime numbers. Next term students will investigate decimals and money based calculations. They will also be introduced to the concept of algebra and explore calculations with rational numbers – specifically converting between factions, decimals and percentages.
Grade 8 Maths:
Grade 8 students have investigated operations with negative and positive integers and reviewed operations and conversions of fractions. Next term students will learn to apply the first four index laws and work to simplify and factorise algebraic expressions.
Grade 8 Maths Extension:
In Grade 8 Maths Extension students have explored numbers systems with particular focus on Binary and Hexadecimal numbers systems and their application in Computing. They have also worked at developing Set Theory language, symbolic representation and notation. They will learn to use Set Theory in problem solving contexts. Next term students are exploring geometry and the mathematics of Networks while continuing to enhance general mathematical problem solving skills.
Grade 9 Maths:
Students have applied Pythagoras’ theorem and trigonometry to calculate unknown side lengths and angles of right angled triangles. They have also applied index laws to simplify problems and explored scientific notation. Next term students will be working to simplify algebraic expressions to gather like terms as well as solve linear equations.
Grade 9 Maths Extension:
Students have begun the year by revising and extending their understanding of ratios and angles. They also explored congruence and similarity and are now working at solving pairs of simultaneous equations. This year students will be going on to work on extended trigonometry problems and statistics and probability amongst other things.
Grade 10 Maths:
Grade 10 students began the year considering calculations with finance where they worked to solve problems with simple interest, compound interest and depreciation. Students have also applied Pythagoras’ theorem, trigonometry, compass bearings and true bearings to calculate unknown side lengths and angles on right angled triangles. Next term students will consider applications of area, total surface area and volume in a unit on measurement and also apply operations to simplify algebraic expressions and solve linear equations. Students in the 10A Maths course have also considered the application of fractional and negative index laws.
Grade 10 Preparation for Maths Methods:
Students have explored linear functions and worked to solve linear equations, identify equations, sketch linear functions and determine points of a line segment. Next term students will consider quadratic functions and work to expand and factorise expressions, solve quadratic equations and graph quadratic functions. Students will also consider cubic and quartic functions later in the term.
We encourage students to consider and pursue maths based competitions that arise this year. Class teachers will communicate more information to students closer to the date. Students will also have access to our school online maths resource later this term, we encourage students to use this resource to assist them with their studies – this resource can be accessed both at school and home.
Miss Bonnie Hall
F1 in Schools - National Finals
Our F1 in Schools students have just competed in the largest stem based competition in the country, with 36 other teams. We have had an exceptional week and both our teams have competed at a high level. This journey started for these teams in May last year and they have worked incredibly hard to be competitive on the national stage. Congratulations on the following results:
In Motion (Tara 8B, Anabelle 8B, Ruby 8B, Charlotte 8B & Amelie 8B)
- Overall 2nd place in Development Class (lost by 20 points)
- Best Engineered Car
- Best Manufactured Car
- Best Verbal Presentation
- Best Portfolios
- 2nd Quickest Car
- 5th in Grand Prix Racing
Five Elements (Keila 8D, Sharon 8D, Gabrielle 8B, Zachary 8F & Dylan 8F)
- Overall 9th in Development Class
- Best Managed Enterprise Project
- 4th Quickest Car
- 8th in Grand Prix Racing
Tara 8B
- Placed top 3 in the Women in Stem Award – (This award was across all teams in competition), (approximately 75 girls interviewed with 9 shortlisted).
Riverside High School and the students who competed in this competition, would like to acknowledge the fantastic support they received from the following businesses. Their support significantly helped their participation, and associated success, at the National F1 Finals.
Bell Bay Aluminium
Hydro Tas
Spectrum Paints
Telstra
In Motion would like to additionally acknowledge the support they received from:
Origin Energy
Jacobs
Five Elements would like to additionally acknowledge the support they received from:
41 Degrees South Salmon and Ginseng Farm
Dexion
CNW Electrical
Enwave
Buckby Motors
Mr Adrian Smith, Mr Richard Gregory and Ms Annette McCarthy
On Wednesday, 11th March, the Grade 7s along with the Peer Mentors and Junior School Prefects set off to camp. Everyone was so excited for the three fun filled days and after a long bus ride, we had finally arrived at Camp Clayton. Every class participated in the following activities:
- Giant Swing
- High Ropes
- Agility Course
- Archery and Maze
- Beach activities
- Frisbee Golf
- Rock-Climbing
- Rescue mission
- Gaga Ball and Volleyball.
The Grade 7s also got to enjoy two special activities organised by the Grade 10s. There was the Disco that was held on the first evening and Red Faces (a talent competition) held on the second evening. This was won by 7G. These two events were a huge success as everyone got involved and had a good time. Additionally 7H won the Golden Tongs award for cleanest cabins overall.
Due to rainfall on the last day of camp, some classes had a great time playing indoor games such as charades and basketball with the Peer Mentors and Junior School Prefects.
Once the third day had drawn to a close, it was time to get on the bus and return to Launceston. Although we were sad to be leaving this great place, we were excited to see our friends and family again. It is fair to say the Grade 7 Camp was a massive success. Everyone had an amazing time. Many new friendships were formed and memories were made that will stay with the students for many years to come.
Thank you to all the staff at camp and especially the Riverside High teachers and Peer Mentors who gave up their time and made this a camp to remember.
Jasmine 10B and Hari 10D
Junior School Prefects
On Thursday, 19 March, small groups of Grade 9s had the opportunity to attend poetry performances by acclaimed South Australian Poet, Geoff Goodfellow. Geoff Goodfellow has been writing and publishing free verse poetry in Australia for over thirty years and his works provide an insight into various social issues within the community. His raw story-telling ability caught the students’ attention during every performance.
In the afternoon students from the 9/10 Creative Writing class participated in a workshop where Mr Goodfellow provided explanations of aspects of particular poems and gave clear and detailed advice on applied technique.
He provided students with invaluable advice on creating poetry and stressed the importance of:
- The benefits of writing about known and lived experiences.
- Being prepared to commit multiple drafts to bring a poem to publication standard.
- Discussion of tone, and showing by example, how and why variation occurs.
The students were fortunate to listen to and be advised by such a celebrated Australian Poet.
Upcoming changes to school service 856PM
Metro has reviewed the School Service Route 856PM as a result of enquiries from students and parents living in Blackstone Heights.
This service connects with services from other schools at St Patricks College.
From Monday 23 March 2020, the route 856PM will service Neptune Drive and Glover Ave in Blackstone Heights. This will eliminate the need for students to cross Panorama Road to access these streets.
Attached is an amended route map to indicate the new streets added to this service.