Filter Content
Dear Parents and Families,
It was wonderful to be able to welcome all students back to school last week. Students were excited to see friends and teachers, and I am sure that the social interaction that people have been missing so much, was one of the highlights of being back at school.
Our efforts have been focused on supporting students with reconnecting with each other and our school. This has included re-establishing relationships, revisiting routines and expectations and becoming familiar with our new facilities including some of the associated expectations that support respectful use and enjoyment of these areas. There have been opportunities to reinforce our school values of Courage, Aspiration, Respect and Endeavour. Teachers have also been looking for ways to recognise and celebrate the effort and progress that students have made across a range of learning areas, celebrating the incredible resilience and adaptability that has been demonstrated so well throughout this time.
On the whole, students have settled back into routines very quickly and we have been impressed with their level of focus and engagement with learning. Visiting classrooms over the last two weeks, it has been great to see students both launching into new learning and also being able to engage in reteaching of key concepts, skills and knowledge that was covered in the earlier part of the term. Conversations with students have highlighted how pleased they are to be back at school, how much students value the interaction with teachers and peers and the learning opportunities that a classroom environment provides. I would go so far as to say, there is a whole new appreciation for school and a greater understanding for students with regards to how they learn.
Some parents have been in touch to ask about whether student learning during the pandemic counts towards assessment. I would like to assure you that we regard this as valuable learning and we do acknowledge the progress that has been made during this time. This learning is evidence of what a student knows, understands and can do and therefore is used as part of our assessment moving forward. We know many students have worked incredibly hard and have been very committed to their learning during this time.
We are mindful that there are students who have not engaged with the learning for various reasons. There is no intention to disadvantage students because they have not completed work or shown evidence of learning. We therefore continue to look for ways to recap on that learning and allow opportunities for students to provide other evidence that we will use for assessment.
A reminder that students are expected to be at school by 8:40am and need to use this time to organise their books and other learning materials so that they are prepared for the day, with Home Group starting at 8:45am. While the majority of students are in good routines with this requirement, we have some students where there is significant need for improvement in this area.
Could I please encourage parents to talk to your children about your expectations during the time before and after school when students are travelling to and from school. This is a difficult area for us with regards to duty of care and requires a strong partnership with families. We currently have some students who choose to go to the supermarket or to socialise causing them to be late to school. I would like to stress the importance of students being punctual for school as this establishes good routines and sets students up for a positive start to the day. Our priority is to ensure that students are safe and that there is a level of supervision. Students are expected to stay in our school grounds once they arrive. We have an expectation that behaviour is at all times respectful, responsible and reflects well on themselves and our school community.
Reports
While the Mid-Year Report is usually our most detailed report for the year, the disruption caused by COVID-19 means that all schools have been advised of changes to reporting requirements and that the expectations for detailed comments and the A-E rating has been removed. Students will be receiving a report that includes an indication of progress against each of your child’s learning areas. Progress will be described as working towards the standard, at the standard or above the standard expected. The report will also include a comment on wellbeing, along with some suggested next steps for your child in their learning. While schools are unable to provide Parent Teacher Evenings at this time, we do welcome your contact with us by phone or email, should you wish to get some further information or discuss your child’s progress in more detail. Reports will be coming home with students on Thursday, 2nd July.
Updated School Intake Areas
This week the Department of Education has announced the completion of the review of Government primary and combined (district) school intake areas. Tasmanian parents have provided valuable feedback in this process. A set up of updated intake areas, applicable to Government school and effective from 2021, has now been finalised.
You are now able to access the intake area maps on the DoE website.
https://publicdocumentcentre.education.tas.gov.au/Pages/SchoolIntakeFrom2021/a-z.aspx
Please be aware that high schools do not currently have geographic intake areas. Instead they have intake primary schools from which they accept enrolments. For Riverside High School our intake primary schools are Riverside Primary, Trevallyn Primary and West Launceston Primary School.
When viewing intake area maps please remember that they will only apply to families with first time school enrolments from Term 1 2021. Parents will still be able to apply to their school of choice, if capacity allows. Students already attending a government primary or district school before Term 1 2021 will not be affected. Siblings of students already attending a government primary or district school, will not be affected.
A set of Frequently Asked Questions is attached.
Welcome to our Trainee’s
It has been great to see three young people start a School Based Traineeship in our school this term. These are accredited through Work and Training, providing a wonderful opportunity for each of these people to develop skills and gain experience along with an accredited qualification.
This term we have welcomed Aidian Withers as our new IT Trainee. Aidian is based in IT Services and his role includes helping students and staff with technical issues, the install and update of new applications and hardware and the general smooth running of the school’s technical facilities.
We have also welcomed two trainees’ in our new Canteen and Café facility. Cameron Maggs works in our school for three days each week and Jessica Turner, from Grade 10, works in the role on the other 2 days, providing us with someone full time in this area. Leading to a Certificate II in Hospitality, Cameron and Jessica are very busy with customer service and food preparation.
Piper Sanders also started a traineeship with us this year, as a Health/PE Trainee, leading to a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation. Piper is actively involved in our HPE area for three days each week.
We hope Aidian, Cameron, Jessica and Piper enjoy the challenge of these roles and gain from this experience.
Protocols in our school during COVID-19
I am sure we are all heartened to see that there are currently no active cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania and hence restrictions are easing. We continue to be proactive with regards to public health advice for schools including a range of cleaning and hygiene measures that remain in place. While it is safe to send your child/ren to school, we still need adults to maintain a distance from other adults, whilst on site.
To help us with adult physical distancing, we are asking all parents/carers to be mindful of the following:
- When picking up and dropping off students at school, please don’t get out of your car.
- If you need to contact the school or communicate with a teacher, please use phone or email wherever possible. Face to face meetings will be minimised and only held when necessary.
- If you need to call into the Admin Office, please follow our physical distancing protocols and signage.
- We would also like to reinforce the need for any visitors to our school to enter through Admin and be signed in as visitors.
We want to make school as safe as possible for everyone and we greatly appreciate your support with this. Feel free to ask questions if you require any further information. We all have a shared responsibility to act in a way that supports everyone being safe.
More information is available on the Department of Education website: www.education.tas.gov.au
Ms Natalie Odgers
Health - Term 2
Towards the end of Term 1, when COVID-19 impacted our normal way of teaching and learning, the HPE team spent many hours collaboratively planning engaging Health modules for all grades in readiness for online learning during Term 2.
The focus for Grade 7 Health was a unit called ‘Let’s Get Moving’. Students explored the benefits of physical activity, what it means to be fit and training principles that could be used to help improve fitness levels.
In Grade 8 Health, students worked on a unit called ‘My Decisions, My Life’, with a focus on Drug and Alcohol Education. The key message being ‘Not even Once’ when it comes to experimenting with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol.
In Grade 9 Health, students have been working on a unit called ‘Respectful Relationships’. In this unit the focus has been on the importance of respectful behaviours and communication and how to respond to conflict.
In Grade 10 Health, students have been working on a unit called ‘Let’s Get Physical’. In this unit, students have been learning about the overall health benefits of regular physical activity, barriers that prevent people from being active and ways to overcome barriers to allow us to be lifelong participants in physical activity.
Students were able to communicate with teachers via email or Canvas if they required additional support. As students submitted work, teachers were able to provide them with written feedback to progress their learning.
Students are to be congratulated for their motivation, dedication and for their ability to respond positively to a vastly different way of learning.
Physical Education – Term 2
The HPE team were really proud to present students and their families an option to encourage everyone to look after their health and wellbeing during the learning from home period. We created the 1000 Point Challenge where students were able to access different challenges worth varying points in an attempt to complete 1000 points each week. With a focus on different challenges that were aimed at all dimensions of health this was a fun and competitive way to engage our students and help promote the importance of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
We were very impressed with the students who were able to keep themselves active and involved in their wellbeing over the course of their time at home.
Whilst we are no longer running the competitive side of the website, you can still check it out and use some of the resources when needed.
Congratulations to all students who engaged in the challenge.
https://www.rhs1000ptchallenge.com/
House Challenge – PE Term 2
Over the last three weeks of this term, the HPE team are running a series of events that make up ‘The House Challenge’. The House Challenge, previously known as the Cross Country, aims to involve every student in a variety of cardiovascular activities. The health benefits of regular cardiovascular activity have been the driving force for the HPE team working hard to improve participation rates in this kind of exercise. We have sought feedback from students in the past for ways that we could improve the old version of the Cross Country, which involved a singular long-distance running race. The result has been the development of the ‘House Challenge’ and it has already proved hugely popular with the level of engagement of students participating in cardiovascular exercise increasing significantly.
As part of The House Challenge, students will have the opportunity to participate in ‘The Great Australian Cross Country Challenge’. This is a virtual concept that provides students with the opportunity to walk/run a 4km course. Times are uploaded to the website using the ‘Race Timer’ or Strava app., with points earned going towards their House’s tally.
To log times, go to the Results Hub on the Race Roster website. https://gaccc.com.au/results-hub/
Students can use the password RHSR for free access.
Learning and Wellbeing School Survey
Learning during the pandemic looked very different to the way it normally does. Students were learning in different places and in different ways. They had to adapt quickly and take a greater level of responsibility for their own learning. As a school we are very impressed by the efforts of students who challenged themselves to stay motivated and connected to our school, each other and their learning.
We witnessed fantastic evidence of student learning during this time, but we also know for some students it has been hard to stay motivated and engaged and that it is difficult to learn without the support of teachers in the usual way that they do at school.
Since returning to school, students have reflected on what worked well for them, what they liked about learning during this time and also what they missed. They have also been able to acknowledge what they found challenging during this new way of learning.
During Health lessons this week, students have been asked to complete an anonymous survey in their Health lessons. This is an opportunity for student voice. This feedback and thinking from our students will be used by our school to consider what we can learn from this time. There might be some things we adapt and do differently as a school, based on students input about what best supports them with their learning and wellbeing.
HPE Team
A message from the Prefect Board
Hey everyone, we hope you are all doing well and staying safe. As a Board we have been working towards all students having a seamless and settled return to school and also organising a few fun activities. These have included a basketball roster and an online trivia competition which have both been really successful. We also have many things in the works that we cannot wait to share with you all. So again, we hope you’re all healthy and we can’t wait to have a fantastic second half of the year.
Prefect Board