Welcome back for another school year – we’re excited for what’s ahead!

Start the year right by making every school day count.

There are lots of things you can do to set your child up for success:

Make sure your child goes to school, every day

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow, and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most.

Get them excited for school

If you show a positive attitude and excitement towards school, your child will pick up on that.

The most common thing we hear from students, of all ages, is that school is where they can:

• spend time with their friends and teachers
• create new and fun experiences
• find their interests
• learn new things
• open up their options – for whatever future they want (whether that’s their dream job or to travel around the world).

Share these positives with your child.

Talk to your child about school

Open up a conversation with your child about what’s happening at school. It will help you to better support their interests and confidence in learning. If you show an interest in school, they’ll know that getting an education is important and valued.

Celebrate the milestones

Big and small! Celebrate milestones such as making it through the first day or week of school. And remember: all milestones look different. If it’s a big achievement for your child, it’s important to recognise it.

If you’re struggling to get your child to school, help is available. Please talk to us at school about your situation. We’ll support you, in whatever way we can.

There is no weakness in admitting you need help. If your child has completely disengaged with school, and not attending at all, there is support to help you. In the first instance, talk to us at school.

Jeanna Bolton
Principal

On Thursday, 6^th March, Riverside High School held its annual Swimming Carnival at the Launceston Aquatic Centre.

Once again, the main emphasis of our school swimming carnival is students participating in a range of races, events, and novelty activities while having lots of fun and building strong connections with their friends and teachers. To support and encourage more students to participate and get involved in aquatic activities, the waterslide was once again operating for our students to enjoy. Novelty events such as water basketball, gladiator challenge, and an array of races and competitions were organised and led by the Health and Wellbeing Prefects. These activities were very popular with all grades and ensured our students had a variety of opportunities to participate, regardless of their swimming ability or confidence in the water.

House spirit was sprinkled throughout the students, with many students decked out in their House colours, leading loud house chants, and displaying positive support for their peers and teammates. This community spirit and support for others is an important aspect of our school carnivals as it aligns to the school value of Connection. We aim to continue to foster and encourage our students to display this type of behaviour.

There were many students who participated in multiple events, displaying outstanding Courage and Growth that produced some fantastic individual swimming performances across all four grades. It was wonderful to witness many students stepping outside their comfort zone to participate in swimming races, whether it was division 1 races over 50m or division 2 races over 25m. Students showed great aspirational qualities to give their absolute best in their events.

Congratulations to the following students who are the Riverside High School swimming champions for 2025:

Congratulations also goes to the below students who have been awarded Runners-up to the swimming champions 2025:

All students are to be congratulated for the outstanding way that they participated and supported each other throughout the day. Respect was always shown towards fellow competitors, officials, and the facility, which made for a hugely successful swimming carnival.

After our whole-school House Assembly the week prior, where barbs were fired at each other, there was as usual a friendly, but fierce, rivalry between the four Houses of Forrest, Kingsford-Smith, Lawson, and Monash. After compiling the House points from both the competitive races and student participation in the novelty events, it was Lawson House who were able to back up their win from 2024 with another first place in 2025. Monash managed to come from fourth place in 2024 to finish a close second place this year.

The final House placings for 2025 were:

We would like to thank Catherine Mulder and the lifeguards at the Launceston Aquatic Centre for hosting us and the support they provided regarding the set-up of the event.

We would also like to thank the families who were able to make it along to support their children. A special thank you to a couple of parents who volunteered their time on the day to fulfil roles.

The Riverside High School Inter-High Swimming Team will compete at the NHSSA Swimming Carnival on Thursday, 3^rd April at the Launceston Aquatic Centre. This team will be announced in Week 7. To prepare students for this event, we will be holding two training sessions prior to the carnival. Dates and times to be advised.

Adam Sanders
AST

Japanese has had a great start of the year. Classes are full of engaged, enthusiastic students who are ready to learn their second, third, or even fourth language!

For all grades, the term has started with self-introductions. Whether learning for the first time, reviewing, or expanding, students are practicing the essential skills needed to communicate in Japanese. At the end of the term, year 7 students will make a self-introduction PowerPoint, year 8 students will write and perform a speech, and year 9/10 students will be interviewed, showing that they can apply their knowledge under pressure.

Outside of language skills, students have also had a chance to engage in some cultural learning. The year 8 cohort read the story of Sasaki Sadoko and the thousand paper cranes, learning more about the impact of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in World War II. To celebrate peace, each student made a paper crane, just like the ones from the story.  March 3^rd was Hinamatsuri or the girl’s day festival in Japan. The year 7 students learned about this day, why it is important, and the way people celebrate. The students then used origami to make emperor and empress dolls, just like the ones displayed in Japanese homes. As the year continues, students will have many opportunities to learn about different festivals from Japan and participate in many ways.

Students of Japanese can look forward to enhancing and expanding their Japanese skills and cultural knowledge during 2025.

Crystal Coleman-Cox

It is pleasing to see the large number of students that have joined the Grade 10 Council for 2025 – see the list below.  We have had a number of meetings to organise council activities for the year, but our first major activity was running the BBQ at the recent Swimming Carnival. 

As well as hamburgers, sausages and hashbrowns council members also iced donuts in house colours to sell, which proved very popular. All donuts were all sold by 11:30am.

Council members supported staff during the very busy day by collecting lunch orders from staff on duty around the Carnival and then delivering these orders.

From the sales of food, drink and donuts nearly $1000 was raised, which will be shared between the Council and F1 in Schools racing teams.

Future activities will include supporting the Prefects with School Community Days and running the BBQ at other sporting events.

Stephen Hindrum

On Friday, 7th March, our Grade 9 Visual Art students had the opportunity to visit the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Wellington St.

As the Australian bush is a theme across our senior classes this year, it was an excellent chance for our students to gain inspiration from the artworks across the gallery.

We visited Tasmanian artist Michael McWilliams' extensive exhibition of surrealist landscape paintings along with the First Nations Dessert Painting exhibition and ARTRAGE. 

We look forward to the work that both our Grade 9 and 10 students produce this year.

Caz Saunders

Our two Grade 10 CAP classes are participating the Beacon Career Program (BCP) this term.  The eight session career program aims to increase participant confidence in identifying and navigating towards personally aligned, post-education opportunities. Participants develop this confidence through a series of facilitated sessions, which engage industry volunteers through three phases: Awareness, Exploration and Experience. 

On Wednesday students enjoyed site tours as part of the program. Visits to Tas City Building sites and University of Tasmania Stadium allowed the classes to understand the range of activities undertaken by workers, linking to the career cluster groups they have focused on in class.

A special thank you to Tania and Taylor from Beacon for their outstanding facilitation of the program. We look forward to the last four sessions as our students aim to land work placements for next term.

Adam Child
AST

My name is Amy, and I am a member of Riverside’s 2025 Executive Portfolio, as Deputy Head of the Learning Portfolio. I am excited to have this opportunity to represent our school, as being a Prefect has been a great aspiration of mine since I first walked our school’s halls. I am eager to see what the year ahead will hold for our school community and I am hopeful that our Prefect Board will achieve great things.

Outside of school, I keep myself busy with netball and work, whilst inside school I enjoy challenging myself in academics and performing music.

The Learning Portfolio focuses on providing opportunities to showcase and encourage the academic and artistic talents at our school, and I am very proud and thrilled to be a part of it. This year’s Learning Portfolio is made up of six enthusiastic and talented individuals. We are all very excited and hopeful for what our portfolio is going to achieve this year to help benefit our school and have already started planning many fun events and opportunities for the year ahead. We look forward to the memories and changes this year will bring, and we endeavour to help make this school year the best one yet for all.

My name is James, and I am honoured to serve as the Deputy Head Prefect for Wellbeing this year. This role is something I’ve aspired to for a long time, and I’m truly excited to see what the year brings. I am proud to represent our amazing school, filled with inspiring students and voices that make it so unique.

Outside of school, I keep myself busy with various activities. Whether it's staying active through sports, spending time with my friends and family, or simply exploring new interests, I’m always on the go. I truly enjoy taking on new challenges and pushing myself to grow every day.

As a Deputy Head Prefect I am committed to using this position to support others, my main priority is to focus on the mental and physical health of our students. This year, I’m committed to fostering an environment where students feel encouraged to engage in both their schoolwork and extracurricular activities. A big part of this involves promoting wellbeing activities such as carnivals and lunchtime events, which are not only fun but offer a valuable opportunity for students to connect with one another outside of the classroom. I believe these activities can help students relieve stress, build stronger relationships, and enhance their overall sense of belonging in the school community.

I’m incredibly excited to tackle this year with the help of my excellent team of Wellbeing Prefects. Together, we’ll work to create a school environment that is supportive, inclusive, and focused on student well-being. Additionally, I’m looking forward to collaborating with the other Prefects from different portfolios. Their help and teamwork will be crucial in ensuring that our goals are met, and that we create a school culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered.

My name is Jaelyn, and I am Deputy Head Prefect of the Community Portfolio. I always knew I wanted to be a Prefect, and I am so incredibly privileged to hold this role. To me being a Prefect is someone who leads others, tries to be the best version of themselves and holds themselves to high standards. I’m so proud to represent both the school as a whole and the amazing students that attend Riverside High School. Inside and outside of school I am always aspiring to be better and support those around me.

Outside of school I spend my time working at Chemist Warehouse and Tidal café, I also enjoy reading, running and playing sports.

The Community Portfolio is about connection both within the school and within the community. My portfolio is made up of seven individuals that are determined to make this school a comfortable and safe space for everyone. This year we have already begun working on many events, fundraisers and changes we can implement to help you achieve your learning, sporting and social objectives.

Amy, James and Jaelyn

On Friday, 28^th February to Saturday 1^st March all the Prefects got together for a sleepover in the Riverside High School Hall.

During the evening, we consumed a large amount of pizza for dinner before we brainstormed events and fundraisers for the rest of the year and begun the planning process for these, with Mrs Faulkner and Mr Lee assisting. Each portfolio team was challenged to create a list of possible activities and events, which then had to be reduced to a top five for each portfolio.  These were then presented to the rest of the board for feedback. We also participated in a team bonding activity led by Miss Males where we made bracelets and putting a significant word on them which motivated us, some of these words would be “determination” and phrases like “never give up”.  We finished the evening with a very competitive session of basketball before settling in for the evening.

In the morning, we woke up to Mr Lee, Mr Gadsby and Mrs Coleman-Cox cooking us a BBQ breakfast before we cleaned up and headed home, tired but excited by the prospects for the year.

The sleepover allowed time for all Prefect members to become closer and created new friendships as well as allowing solid time for us to produce ideas for the year ahead.

We would like to thank Mr Lee for organising the night, and Mrs Faulkner, Miss Males, Mrs Coleman-Cox and Mr Gadsby for attending.

Jaelyn 
Deputy Head Prefect: Community

What should you do if your child needs to leave school early?

Students are required to sign out at the Student Admin Counter if they have to leave school early for any reason. Communication from parents/guardians can be via:

• Phoning the Administration Office which is open between 8:00am – 4:00pm (6327 6333)
• Using the Schoolzine App.
• Sending an email to either the Home Group teacher or our school email address Riverside.High.Admin.Staff@decyp.tas.gov.au
• When LEAVING our school for an appointment, students must have a green leave form which has been signed by Admin Staff and an Assistant Principal. 
• The Leave Pass is preferably completed before school and must be left with a member of our Admin Team at the time of leaving. 
• The student must also sign out at the time of departure.  
• Students who sign out for appointments should sign back in at the Student Admin Counter on their return.

Following this process ensures that students meet their parents for collection promptly without interrupting classes.   

If a student is feeling unwell or injured, the correct procedure is for them to get a signed pass from their teacher to go to the Admin office and ask for First Aid assistance.  The First Aid officer will then determine if the student is well enough to stay at school or needs to go home.  The First Aid officer will then contact parents/carers if the student needs to go home. 

Could parents/carers please discourage their child from messaging or calling home during class time instead of going to First Aid.

Riverside High School wish to acknowledge and thank Variety Tasmania for supporting our Breakfast Club this year.

We all know the best possible start to the day involves a nutritious breakfast - shown to improve problem solving, memory, concentration, and anecdotally, the teachers find the kids are calm and ready to learn.

Variety School Breakfast Club enables schools to deliver a nutritious breakfast five days a week, to all students.

(https://www.variety.org.au/tas/how-we-help/)