Dear Parents/Guardians

Thank you to everyone who participated in the School Satisfaction Survey 2022, your feedback is very important to help us inform our school improvement planning and decision-making into the future. The survey is now closed and we will receive summaries of the results in Term 4.

On Monday our Grade 10 students attended Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA).  Students had the opportunity to learn about road safety awareness and responsible decision making.  We received feedback on the wonderful presentation of our students at the event and the polite and friendly way in which students represented Riverside High School.  Thank you to the Grade 10 teaching team for supporting the day.

The Transition Program for 2022 is well underway.  Grade 9 Student Mentors have been involved in school visits and supporting the transition of our Grade 6 Associate Primary School students to high school.  Photos from the transition visits are included in the newsletter.

The Riverside High School junior and senior netball teams were highly successful at the recent Netball Championships held at the Silverdome.  Included in the newsletter this week is a report and results from the event.  We wish to thank all of the students involved for their outstanding sportsmanship and commitment to their teams.

On Sunday the Riverside High School junior and senior Maths Relay Teams both placed first in the Northern Competition.  Thank you to Ms Jago and Miss Huddleston for supporting the teams and encouraging student participation.

The Prefect Election Process for 2023 has been underway for several weeks.  Students have participated in Leadership and Peer Development (LAPD) training at Newstead College followed by a Leadership Forum at the Tailrace Centre, with aspiring student leaders provided an opportunity to display their leadership skills and understandings in group situations. Students then submitted a written application and those through to the final stage of the process will complete a candidate poster followed by speeches and grade group voting in Term 4. 

Grades 7 and 9 students should have received their individual NAPLAN report in the post. As a school, we were really pleased with our 2022 results, Grade 7 students were above the Similar School Mean Score in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy – all five domains.  Year 9 students at Riverside High School were above the Tasmanian Mean Score in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and above Similar School Mean Score in Numeracy. Thank you to all parents who supported and encouraged their child’s participation. The school NAPLAN results will be used by teachers to continue our work on school improvement and quality teaching and learning.

The Prefects held the ‘Big Freeze’ on Friday, 30^th September, during the lunch break.  The money raised will support vital research into Motor Neuron Disease. Students and teachers had the opportunity to go down the slide, a casual clothes day was held, a lunch time barbecue and sponge throwing competition.  A wonderful day was experienced by all!

A reminder that Friday, 29^th October is a Teacher Professional Learning Day (Student Free).  Teachers will be involved in professional learning on quality teaching and learning specifically differentiation and student moderation of work samples.

Ms Jeanna Bolton
Principal

Creative Writing is a subject that allows students to develop their writing in a variety of forms.  Their imagination and creativity can be explored through stories, poetry, script writing, fairy tales, gothic stories and the use of satire and parody. 

Throughout the year writers have been encouraged to explore their skills and take risks with the different elements of their writing from brainstorming an idea to checking drafts and adjusting to proofreading and sharing their ideas. 

The Ring with the Amber face

Where have you been?
Hamburg or Nowra or Culburra Bay
Over oceans and rivers that push and pull
Carried by one woman or another over mountains and fields
What wonders have your murky waters seen?
The waxing and waning of a thousand moons
The youthful face of my great grandmother, radiating warmth
The fall of an empire? Of two?
For how long have you been the thread?
The thick, silver thread which follows my family line
What were you to somebody else
Before you found me?

Jarrah B 10C

A silver ring worn out through years,
Seen worry, laughter smiles and tears,
Engraved with butterflies, detailed and small,
Reminds her of them when beginning to fall,
A comfortable silence between the two is shared,
An unbreakable bond no other could have dared.
Like a home, it brings comfort and peace,
Really reinforcing respect and reassurance with no decrease,
A lost piece she found whilst searching not,
Always something that will forever mean a lot. 

Chelsea B 10G

To lose someone
without losing them
and
to hold onto the pieces
without wanting to:
this black leather chord that frays and thins
I could just let it break.
Just let it slip from around my neck
And tumble away.
Would I miss it
If I lost it? 

Can you love someone who
was never really there?
(the kindly old woman who knitted me jumpers, spoiled me rotten, shook her head and laughed with me.)
Can you mourn them
While they live? 

She heard I liked elephants,
And she gave it to me-
A soapstone carving from her auntie from
A holiday in Thailand. 

That was, maybe, eight years ago?
And I wear it to this day.
Not out of guilt or loyalty or because it’s pretty.
It’s just-
There.
Would I miss you, I wonder, if I lost you?
Tell me how to
feel: the right thing to feel.
(or anything, really. Feeling something is better than nothing, surely?) 

Do I even want to hold onto this?
I don’t think it really matters.
I think that you are already gone.
Just like the cold hard stone that sits between my buttons and my breastbone-you are here.
Warmed
By the heat from my skin
Alive within myself-
Whether I want you here or not. 

Erin C 10A

Shein

Making new clothes for you no matter the consequences. Shein is an online clothing store that is known for its affordable and wide variety of clothing. Shein is also known for helping people deal with their patience as they wait for their package to come in the mail 4 months after they ordered it.

They aspire to have their best quality clothing as their employees work 75 hours a week. Shein’s a resourceful brand, as they buy the cheapest fabrics and underpay their workers, always looking for the most convenient ways such as: borrowing small businesses designs, forgetting to ask for consent and then ignoring the complaints from the original artists. They don’t borrow names for their products though and originally come up with their own new names. For example, when they renamed a Muslim prayer mat as a ‘frilled Greek carpet.’ Or calling South Asian clothing, ‘patterned sleepwear.‘ Their brand also gives new purpose to some designs as they have also been called out for selling jewellery with offensive and controversial symbols.

Another way of Shein being resourceful is to advertise their products as having free shipping and then charging the customer for shipping once the package arrives or charging the customer when the package never arrives at all. Shein never runs out of new imaginative ways to improve their business!

If you’re looking for an unproblematic brand to buy from Shein should be your first pick, as they never reply to any claims against them and though many people have accused them of child labour the brand hasn’t been shut down. Other (according to Shein ‘fake’) accusations include photoshopping models’ bodies and even changing their race. Though from Shein’s history they would never pick the cheapest option and do this. Another accusation claims that Shein copies designs from their rival brands until they are identical, again from Shein’s history its obvious they are extremely unique and always come up with their own designs.

Shein is always looking out for your future because if your clothes break, no problem! Their clothes are made from materials such as polyester and nylon which never break down, meaning you can always use it as a rag for the rest of your life, as well as the next generation in 100 years. From these facts you can tell that Shein loves the environment and always tries its best to be the most sustainable. They dispose of their waste in the most ecofriendly way. Instead of dumping their dye in the ocean where there are many living creatures, their waste ends up in lakes where it can’t spread anywhere else. Shein is always aware of the trends and their site is constantly up to date with the new fashion trends as the produce 700-1000 new designs daily and the clothes that don’t sell are put into landfill for the rest of their life.

Overall, these issues show how as a brand Shein always is trying their best to create a sustainable and ethical business that is looking out for the people that benefits their needs.

Mackenna S 9H

Deborah Dave

Grade 8 Creative Writing

This term during Grade 8 Creative Writing, we have focused on identifying theme in Children’s books, interpreting meaning and purpose and have written and illustrated our own Children’s books. Students have read a variety of picture books including, The Water Tower and Beneath the Surface by Gary Crew, Mirror by Jeannie Baker, Possum Magic and The Magic Hat by Mem Fox and Are we There Yet? and Magic Beach by Alison Lester. Students explored the shortlisted Children’s Book Council of Australia texts and analysed their underlying themes and meaning. Our Grade 8s have followed the creative writing process and narrative structure to write and produce their own Children’s story. Our class has written a limerick poem below to capture the essence of their learning during Term 3.

Identifying theme was our knack
We ate it like a tasty snack
Our creative Children’s books
Had our readers hooked
Into our vocab we did hack 

Charlotte M 8A, Charlotte M 8A, Ida W 8A, Emelia J 8B, Sithmi A 8B, Alana P 8H, Ella S 8H, Faith R 8F, Isabelle C 8F.

Karen Dudley

The 1^st Riverside soccer team had a fantastic season. After mixed results at the start of the roster, Riverside was able to secure first position on the ladder.

The attack line put pressure on the opposition all game long and the backline were solid allowing minimal chances each game. The midfield were composed, helping set up multiple chances each game and were pivotal to helping Riverside achieve success throughout the season.

In the Grand Final against Queechy, Riverside were favourites and it didn’t take long to show the crowd why. Riverside were dominant throughout the match, scoring a couple of goals early to go into half time 2-0.  The second half was no different with 4 more goals scored in that half to end with a 6-0 win. A special mention to PJ C 9B who scored 5 goals in the Grand Final. Another special mention to all of the 2^nd players who helped when the team were short on players. A massive team effort, well done Riverside.

James Beardwood

The much-anticipated High School Netball Championships were held in Weeks 9 and 10. This year, Riverside were lucky enough to enter two teams in the highly contested competition. Students competed in back- to- back games against fellow Government, Catholic, Independent and Specialist schools from around the state in a round robin, day long, carnival, with the prospect of making State Finals in Hobart in late October.

The first day showcased some of Riversides fantastic emerging talent and saw our grade 7/8 girls come away with strong wins and tough losses. With the Grade 7 team finishing in the middle of their pool and our Grade 8 girls making finals against Grammar. Our girls fought hard to hold Grammar off but came away defeated, 26-15.

Day two showcased the athleticism and sportsmanship of our Grade 8 boys. With an early bye, then straight into back-to-back games, the boys did a tremendous amount of work to make the grand final against Scottsdale. Scores were point for point all game and in the end, Riverside were unable to take back a Scottsdale turnover, missing out by only two points in the end. Safe to say no one had fingernails by the end of the day!

Day three saw the Grade 9/10 boys play some of the most fast paced netball I have ever seen. Both teams finished second on the ladder showcasing their athleticism, talent and impeccable game sense, with the Grade 10 team qualifying for finals in a point- for point semi against Grammar, leading by one point on the buzzer. Unfortunately a tough loss to Queechy in the grand final was the end result.

Day four presented some of Riversides best Netball talent with our experienced and season primed Grade 9/10 girls. The Grade 10 girls finished third on the ladder and took away great wins against Launceston Christian School and Kings Meadows. The Grade 9 girls started and finished strong, holding leads in some tough games throughout the day. The girls defeated Scottsdale High in the Grand Final 32-17, taking home a well-earned ticket to State Finals in October.

Well done to all who were involved in this competition (student super coaches, relief staff and parents) as it wouldn’t have been as successful of a week without you!

Georgia Rolls

On Thursday, 29^th September, 40 Grade 9/10 girls travelled to Windsor to participate in the Girls Gala Footy Day. Riverside High School were represented by a division one and a division two team. Amongst this group of students, there were several girls who had never played before, along with some experienced players. Both teams had a successful day, winning all of their games and developing their skills, confidence and teamwork.

Tyeisha Hinds

After a very successful Battle of the Bands on Friday, 2^nd September, it was time for our two representatives to go to the Northern Heat of the Rock Challenge. Taj and Ruby competed in the acoustic section, the wonderful tones of their two originals ringing through the Door of Hope, with many comments made on how wonderful they sounded. Zapperheads (Bailey, Theo, Noah and Robbie) then set the rock vibe for the evening competing in the High School band section. The boy’s performance was outstanding and they ended up winning the Northern Heat.

The following week we were back at Door of Hope with Zapperheads ready to compete against the best of the best in the state and boy did they set the bar high. Their stage presence and musicality was second to none and they won the State Champion title. As a Music Department, we could not have been prouder of the way our students represented Riverside High School and we were extremely impressed by their talent.

Riverside High School - Rock Challenge State Final Winners.

Melissa de Jong

This term our Grade 9 Mentors have been visiting our local Associate Primary schools to meet the Grade 6 students who will be attending Riverside High School in 2023. This has been an excellent opportunity for our Mentors to spend time with their Grade 6 buddies and have informative conversations about High School life. These visits give Primary School students the chance to build positive relationships with our students prior to starting Grade 7 and provide an authentic leadership experience for our Grade 9 students.

Karen Dudley

The Grade 9/10 Drama students have been working hard all term on their whole class plays.  These were finally presented to the public in an evening performance at the Riverside High School Hall last Thursday, 15^th September.  The crowd enjoyed seeing students perform in two very different plays. 

The first, Just Another Night, was a comedy full of larger-than-life characters and was set in a hospital emergency ward.  Lydia and Jayden arrived early in the scene, as Lydia had gone into labour and was well on her way to giving birth to their first child.  Unfortunately for them though, all of the rooms on the delivery ward were full and so they had to stay in Emergency.  Meanwhile as the contractions continued, a range of patients were seen to, including young snorkellers stung by a cone fish, a geriatric at risk of a heart attack, a couple of whining English backpackers, a handyman who was not so handy with a nail-gun and a patient who showed a lot of patience.  Finally, the child was born and everyone could celebrate what was Just Another Night in Emergency.

The second play had a rather more serious tone and was called Captivated.  This play followed the relationship between Elle and Damon.  This play revealed some of the more subtle ways that a toxic relationship can play out and Elle was lucky to have her family and friends stick by her, until she finally found the courage to take control of her life.  We saw students do a marvellous job of presenting this challenging material in a mature and sensitive way.

Then last Friday night, these plays were performed at the Deloraine Drama Festival where students were rewarded with a host of positive feedback by the adjudicator Danny Gibson.  Just Another Night won Best Ensemble performance and below is a list of those students who also received special accolades on the night.

Thanks to staff, students and parents who provided such excellent support to these students and the Drama Department. Also thank you to the Grade 8 Council for providing delicious homemade treats at the kiosk on Thursday night.

The Kent Furmage Memorial Trophy for Best Comedic Performance of the Festival

Cameron B 10H as Tyson and Eli G 9C as Calvin in Just Another Night Riverside High

Student Initiative Award

Celeste J 8B as Genevieve in Captivated Riverside High School

No Such Thing as a Small Role

Rhys D 9C as Justin and Aiden M 9A as Curtis in Captivated Riverside High School

SENIOR SECTION AWARDS

Best Actor Runner Up – Jackson K 10H as Damon in Captivated Riverside High School

Honourable Mention

Rhys D 9C as Dr Glendale in Just Another Night Riverside High School

Logan G 9C as Jayden in Just Another Night Riverside High School

Isabelle P 9B as Danni in Captivated Riverside High School

Emily McMahon

On Monday, 26^th September, Grade 10 students attended the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) Program at Symmons Plains.

The RYDA Road Safety Education Program equips young people with the knowledge to stay safe on our roads. The RYDA workshop delivers six interactive sessions addressing crucial aspects of travelling safely and supporting government road safety measures.

Students participate in workshops and demonstrations to devise strategies focused on:

• Key government and policing road safety priority areas – speeding, alcohol and drugs, fatigue, distraction and wearing seat belts
• The social responsibility aspects of being a driver or passenger
• Lowering personal risk by making better decisions.

The workshop discussions are designed to be all-inclusive, with students encouraged to engage in the discussions and share their own views. By running the sessions this way, it supported our students to build strategies from their own personal experiences.

RYDA proved to be an extremely valuable day for our students, with many already having learner’s licences and driving on the roads.

Stay safe on the roads!

Toby Musovic

Last year we had a request from NRM North to be part of their Eastern Barred Bandicoot project. The project involved planting more than 100 Tasmanian native grasses and shrubs to create a Bandicoot friendly garden. Apart from providing a refuge for local wildlife, the area also provides a fantastic long-term learning experience for our students, with opportunities to develop knowledge of native plant growth and wildlife habits.

This week a group of 7 students from across the grades helped erect a sign describing the project, as well as plant some more plants across the area. The sign and plants were kindly donated by NRM North.

The students involved were Hunter A 7D, Lincoln H 7E, Tibias S 9G, Sam B 10F, Ryleigh E 10A, Freya C 10H and Jarrah B 10C. All the students showed fantastic teamwork, erecting the sign and planting the plants with great enthusiasm.

Many thanks to Stephen Izzard from NRM North for his time and continued commitment to this project at RHS.

Jane Farrell & Annette McCarthy

On Tuesday, 27^th September, 50 Grade 9 and 10 students attended a STEM and Careers Expo at the Tailrace Centre organised by BBAMZ.

In the morning, 25 students from the Grade 10 Extended Science class participated in a science-based opportunity with a project run through Origin Energy called StudentBuddy.  

StudentBuddy is a complex solar energy system, designed to provide more than just light to children living in energy poverty, but light that can be ceiling hung, used as a torch and has USB charging capabilities. Working in teams of 2-3, students assemble a StudentBuddy which will then be internationally shipped, donated and distributed to communities in developing countries in extreme energy poverty. This teacher-led program is aligned to the Sustainability cross-curriculum priority and mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Students then had two afternoon sessions which were split over 90 minutes. One offered the opportunity to discuss careers within the renewable energy sector, with the core focus on the generation of Green Hydrogen within Tasmania, along with many other careers which have a Science/STEM focus and are supported by Tasmanian industries. The other session had a hospitality focus and here students participated in a range of activities involving donut decorating, bar skills and mocktail preparation, waiting and napkin folding and the making of sushi and rice paper rolls.

Throughout these sessions the students were outstanding in their level of engagement and in the questions, they asked around career opportunities.

As a school we would like to thank BBAMZ for their amazing amount of work which went into hosting this event and the amazing range of experiences offered to our students on the day.

Richard Gregory

On Tuesday, 27th September the RHS Climate Council got the opportunity to attend Walk for Peace held by Launceston College and Amnesty International. The event was presented by the Tamar Peace Festival and included live music, speeches sharing personal rights experiences and a peaceful walking protest where students got to share their posters that represented the rights they cared about. Of course, being the Climate Council, our focus was Climate Rights and the rights to a safe future free of Climate Change.

We would really like to thank Launceston College, Amnesty International, Tamar Peace Festival and Ms Bolton for giving us this wonderful opportunity to share our thoughts as young people.

Karsha Barwick and the Climate Council

Riverside High School has again assembled a group of passionate authors and illustrators to compete in the Write a Book in a Day Challenge. The competition is a fundraiser organised by the Kids’ Cancer Project with students given 12 hours to write a story up to 5000 words, guided by a series of parameters, regarding themes, characters, setting and a list of five random words which had to be included in the final product.

On Monday, 19^th September, three teams of students from Grades 8 and 10 gathered together to create their book. An additional 2 teams of students from Grades 7 and 9 completed their Write a Book Challenge on Thursday, 29^th September.

With an early start and armed with substantial amounts of sugar for energy the participating students received their story parameters, a reminder of the competition rules and assembled in their allocated rooms ready for the marathon writing session. Each team were given a different set of parameters to ensure that all stories were unique and interesting.  After 12 long hours and with sugar supplies running low, the teams scrambled to finalise their stories for submission prior to the 8pm deadline.

The finished products were titled Posted In (Grade 8), Other Side of Sports (Grade 8) and Tap Dance to Freedom (Grade 10).

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience, as not only did it allow students to flex their creative muscles, but it also challenged their ability to compromise and think collaboratively, meet deadlines as well as providing the opportunity to socialise and bond with peers.  

Jarrah B – 10C

Are you receiving the Riverside Rippers weekly? These can be accessed via our SZapp. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate in contacting the Admin Office.

The Prefect Board have been busy planning a range of activities and initiatives for Term 4.

The Board will be implementing a range of resources to help keep Riverside High SunSmart and SunSafe. Attending a Cancer Council SunSmart workshop with School Nurse Nigel, Prefects Tristan and Mackenzie learned that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, caused primarily by UV radiation. To combat UV damage, UV forecasts will be visible on screens around the school, Riverside High bucket hats will be available for purchase and sunscreen dispensers will be stationed at doorways for staff and student use.

The Academic Carnival will be hosted early in the Term 4 by the Learning Prefects, with house points up for grabs. Events such as a spelling bee, times table race and writing competition will allow a wide range of talents to shine.

In Student Voice, we have heard from a range of core subject teachers on their career backgrounds, passions, teaching processes and the highlights and challenges of their role. We will be hearing from participants in Inter-High Debating, Battle of the Bands, the Tasmanian Rock Challenge and the Deloraine Drama Festival. Additionally, the student body will have opportunity to contribute their own ideas and content to the podcast.

To fundraise for our GaGa Ball Pit and outdoor stage, we will be hosting a Trivia Night on Friday, 11^th November from 6:30pm -9:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and will be available on the Qkr App in Term 4 with tables consisting of between 8-10 contestants. We hope to see you there!

A Bunnings North Launceston Barbeque will be held on Saturday, 29^th October, to fundraise for the projects. Prefects will also be helping with St. Anthony’s Athletics Carnival, coordinating the whole school assembly and beginning the handover process to the Prefects of 2023, who we will be working with closely during their selection process and beyond.

Thank you to the entire student body for your support of our initiatives so far this year, we hope you enjoy what we have in store for the rest of the year.

My name is Lilea and I work as part of the Learning Portfolio on the Prefect Board 2022. From as long as I can remember, my passions have been dedicated to everything to do with the arts. From playing the piano and guitar with my parents and joining a band at age 10, to painting portraits in the paddock with all seven siblings. I learnt to face my challenges through artistic outlets. I grew up spending most of my time out on my grandparent’s farm, Elgaar Farm, with my cousins, where we would play hide-n-seek in the hay shed or have water fights under the big water sprinkler. It is safe to say, my family is what makes my life feel so special. Although it seems chaotic from the outside, it is what has shaped me into the person I am today.

As a Prefect at Riverside High School, I have been given the opportunity to grow my leadership skills and share them with not only the school but surrounding community. I feel as though through COVID 19, our Board has been given a unique opportunity to really test our ability to create an engaging and worthwhile year for all students whilst dodging all the downfalls and restrictions Mr.19 has given us. Personally, it is what I am enjoying the most about leadership. To be able to challenge myself and my team to see what we can achieve through such difficult times. It is rewarding once all of the hard work pays off, and it becomes visibly successful throughout the school and community. Thanks to 2022, I am constantly evolving my skill sets in all areas of leadership and developing my resilience, setting me up for the real world challenges the future holds.

My name is Anabelle and I am a part of the Community Portfolio as well as being Lawson House Captain. I am a proactive person and love to exercise and be active inside and outside of school. I also love to travel and experience new places with family and friends. 

I have really enjoyed being a part of the Prefect Board of 2022, however, I believe this year has been a learning experience for the entire Prefect Board. COVID 19 has definitely changed the way things would normally run. But as a result, we have had to brainstorm and learn new ways to overcome challenges and make the year one to remember.

My name is Nikitha and I am one of the Deputy Head Prefects and member of the Community Portfolio. I am a creative individual and enjoy exploring different art forms. I have been playing piano for two years and have participated in many visual art and fashion design competitions. I also love travelling and have visited Dubai, Singapore, India and have recently been to Sydney. Some of my other interests include netball and dancing.

This year was off to a challenging start as we faced numerous obstacles due to COVID 19. However, as the Prefect Board learnt to work together, we also learnt how to navigate these obstacles and solve problems. We were able to provide opportunities for students to have fun, build strong connections and contribute to great causes. This is my favourite aspect of my leadership experience so far. It’s wonderful to see the sense of belonging when everyone comes together to create these memorable moments. I will definitely cherish these moments and my leadership experience.

My name is Keila and I am a part of the Community Portfolio. In my free time, I enjoy reading, baking and spending time with friends and family. I love to travel, having been to Wales and Romania to visit family recently. I also like the snow, and my family and I often make trips to Cradle Mountain during the wintertime which is lots of fun.

Despite COVID 19, it has been amazing to work with the people on the Board and connect with the community in different ways. We have been able to support important causes and are continuing to do so as the year progresses, organising many exciting events. One of the most remarkable parts of this role is watching how an event can impact people and seeing how students can grow and gain new, fun experiences as a result. I have developed many new skills that could not have evolved without the support of our Prefect Board, student body and teachers.