We seek to inform you that all students’ Mid-year Reports will be distributed during a special Home Group session on Thursday, 4 July. This will be the second report that students have received this year, and it is designed to provide a comprehensive picture of how students are progressing in each subject. Aligned to the Australian Curriculum, in 2024 your child is studying:  English, Mathematics, Science, History and Civics and Citizenship (Grades 7 and 8), History (Grades 9 and 10), and Health and Physical Education. Each of these Australian Curriculum or core subject reports contain an overall achievement rating on the 9–point scale.

All our option subject reports are assessed against the 5–point scale. Please note that, as per previous communication with specific families, some of our students who have individual learning plans will be assessed against personal academic and/or social emotional goals.

Our Mid-year assessments are based on work covered in the first part of the year. They show your child’s current progress and what they are ‘on track’ to achieve by the end of the year. The ratings on your child’s Mid-year Report may change in December.

The Mid-year Report also includes assessments on key attributes that are essential for learning to provide you with a clear indication of how your child is working in each learning area. Our ‘Learning Attributes Rubric’ will be included with students’ reports so that you are able to see how these ratings are determined.

On Monday, 26 August, a Parent/Teacher/Student Interview Evening will be held from 3:30 – 5:00pm in Building 2 (our Grade 9/10 Area, located directly above the Administration Area).  Another Parent/Teacher/Student Interview Evening will be held on Tuesday, 27 August from 3:30 – 6:30pm in Building 2. These evenings will give both parents and teachers an opportunity to discuss how to best support students’ ongoing learning.  Students are strongly encouraged to attend with their parents/guardians.  Interview appointments are for 10 minutes.  Details on how to book a Parent/Teacher/Student Interview will be sent home early in Term 3.

Your child’s attendance records up to Friday, 28 June, will also be included with the reports for your information and review.

Mr Adrian Smith
Acting Principal

We are very impressed with the mature and thoughtful approach which our Grade 10 students are taking to their consideration of future educational and career-related pathways. This was certainly apparent when our Grade 10 students attended Launceston College’s Open Day on Tuesday, 18^th June and approximately 85 Grade 10s participated in today’s Newstead College Open Day.  Such events constitute an important part of our Grade 10 Transition Program which supports students in making informed choices for 2025 and beyond. It was wonderful to see our Grade 10 students actively engaging in the open day sessions and conduct themselves in an extremely respectful, courteous, and supportive manner.

During Lessons 1 and 2 next Wednesday, 26^th June, our Grade 10 students will have the opportunity to work on their Transition Plans and to obtain some extremely important information from guest speakers including industry representatives and educational providers. This enables our students to continue to plan their future learning and career-related pathways.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our parents and guardians for their support of our Grade 10 Transition Program. As always, we greatly appreciate the opportunity to work in partnership with you to support our wonderful young people.

The Grade 10 Team

Our Grade 10 students will be completing exams in their core subjects of English, Maths, Science, and History during Week 2 of Term 3. In preparation for these exams, the Grade 10 Team will support students’ exam preparation by providing explicit teaching regarding generalised exam tips and strategies.  Those subjects setting exams will also provide students with dedicated revision and preparation lessons during Week 1 of Term 3.

At Riverside High School, we believe that the setting of Grade 10 Exams constitutes an effective means to enhance our students' learning experience. These exams provide students with an opportunity to develop subject-specific exam skills as well as general skills, such as time management. Additionally, our exams support students in gaining confidence and familiarity with exam conditions, which can help alleviate future anxiety and enhance their social and emotional wellbeing.

Furthermore, the exams provide our teachers with one evidence of learning or an assessment task that allows them to evaluate student learning and progress. This information can be used to inform future teaching practices and curriculum content. The exams also reinforce the strong commitment to learning and achievement that characterises the culture of Riverside High School.

Please find below the Grade 10 Exam timetable for Week 2 of Term 3:

Next week, our Grade 10 parents and guardians will be receiving a letter which provides additional information about our Grade 10 Exams.

The Grade 10 Leadership Team

A group of Grade 10 students recently enjoyed an opportunity to attend the University of Tasmania’s Health Taster Day at the Newnham Campus. They were exposed to a variety of learning areas offered at UTAS such as nursing, allied health, psychology and pharmacy. The day gave them an insight into careers in a range of health fields and what study would look like at university.

Adam Child

Aurora received 1^st (Gold medal) place on the weekend (Saturday, 8^th and Sunday, 9^th June) with a cumulation of points in the Newstead Athletics 2024 School Series Cross Country Events that has been held over the last seven weeks.

Aurora also received a 1^st place in the Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize for her photograph 'Hydrosphere' (Digital Category).

Great weather and perfect running conditions made for a fantastic day last Thursday for the Tasmanian All Schools’ Cross Country. Running at Symmons Plains, our students made their way around the challenging course against students from both independent and government schools from all areas of the state. Our 15 member team of students produced stellar performances, many running brilliant times. Congratulations to all who participated, they did an amazing job representing our school. A full report of times and places for all students can be found on the Athletics Tasmania Website: tasathletics.org.au.

A special mention goes to the following students who finished in the top ten for their age group on the day:

Layla – 1^st in Girls Under 14

Sophie – 3^rd in Girls Under 17

Aurora – 8^th in Girls Under 17

These students may gain selection in the Tasmanian team to complete at the National Cross Country titles in Tasmania this year, which is a wonderful achievement. 

Mrs Coleen Elliott
HPE Team

Our school's Food Studies program has been bustling with activity this term, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of our students from Years 7 to 10. Each year level has been delving into different aspects of the culinary arts, from foundational skills to cultural cuisine exploration, and even promoting local produce. Here is a glimpse into their delicious journey.

Our youngest food enthusiasts in Year 7 have been busy learning the essentials of baking and cooking. They have taken their first steps into the culinary world by creating delightful teddy bear biscuits, heartwarming apple crumbles, and the ever-popular ANZAC biscuits. These activities not only teach basic cooking techniques but also help students understand the importance of following recipes and measuring ingredients accurately.

This term, three of our Year 7 classes have been channelling their creativity and developing practical skills in their Textiles class. The focus has been on designing and making a delightful range of soft toys using felt, with impressive results. The unit began with an introduction to the basics of hand stitching. Students learned various stitches, such as running stitch, backstitch, and blanket stitch, which are essential for assembling and detailing their soft toys. These hand-stitching sessions were not just about technique but also about patience, precision, and the joy of creating something with their own hands.

Once the students were comfortable with hand stitching, they progressed to machine stitching. This transition was an exciting milestone, as they got to experience the speed and efficiency of using sewing machines. With careful guidance and much patience, students learned to operate the machines safely and accurately, applying their newfound skills to construct their soft toys.

Year 8 students have embarked on an exciting journey through international cuisine, exploring the diverse flavours that have influenced Australian food culture. This term, they have cooked dishes from various cultures, gaining a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of global culinary traditions. From Italian pasta to Asian stir-fries, students have broadened their palates and honed their cooking skills. This exploration not only enhances their culinary repertoire but also promotes cultural awareness and understanding, highlighting the beauty of diversity through food.

Our students in Years 9 and 10 have been focusing on the importance of local produce in their "Tasmanian Grown and Produced" unit. They have been working diligently to create dishes that celebrate the fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced from our beautiful island state. By incorporating locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other products into their recipes, students learn about the benefits of supporting local farmers and producers. This unit encourages sustainable practices and helps students understand the farm-to-table concept, fostering a connection to the land and its bounty. Their final product was a pizza showcasing a unique Tasmanian ingredient.

The Enterprise class has taken their culinary skills to the next level by organising and hosting a fantastic Food Fest last Monday. This event was a great success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the students. They planned, prepared, and sold a variety of delicious treats, including pizzas, hot dogs, slices, and chocolate truffles. The Food Fest not only provided a practical application of their cooking skills but also taught students valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, teamwork, and event management. The proceeds from the event will go towards funding future Food Studies projects and initiatives.

Our Food Studies program is more than just cooking; it's about cultivating a lifelong passion for food, understanding cultural connections, and promoting local sustainability. The dedication and enthusiasm of our students are truly inspiring.

Food and Fibre from the Textiles Room to the Kitchen

Students have been learning and producing some exciting, creative and innovative designs, showing their understanding of safety, working collaboratively, and the terms used in the technology option areas.

Here is a snippet of the work they have been undertaking in this area:

7F

Grade 8 Foods of the World and Café

9/10 Lemon Delicious Puddings

Thor Porsbro-Pedersen & Angela Fitzallen

This is the second year that Riverside High has had a soccer team in the NHSSA Junior Winter Sports roster. The sports roster is a great opportunity for our Year 8 students to be able to play a sport, without the time and financial commitment that often comes with playing club sport. It is also an opportunity for students whose main sport may not be soccer, to try a new sport.

The focus of school sport is participation, having fun playing sport with peers and potentially developing an interest in a sport that students haven’t played before, which can lead to them joining a club in the community and continuing to play the game into adulthood.

We have a range of students who have never played soccer before, to students who have played soccer since they were six years of age. For this reason, it can take time to gel as a team. Having said that, the team has shown genuine improvement in their skills and game sense over the past few weeks. As we start to play more games, the students are getting more experienced and developing their skills and understanding of where to position themselves on the field to be in the best place to receive a pass from a teammate or to close space on an opposing player when we are not in possession of the ball.

As we move towards the end of the first half of the season, the following areas have been identified for future focus:

• always giving our best effort, regardless of the score
• playing with a team first approach
• representing the school in the best manner
• always showing respect to our teammates and coaches, opposition players and referees

Toby Musovic & Adam Child

The start of the season has been fun and enjoyable for our Senior 2nd’s girls football team. Most of the team members are new to the game and have little experience playing football, so our focus has been on learning football skills and executing them in game situations. Each week our goal has been to have fun, to learn something new and to improve upon our game from the previous week. Despite not winning a game yet, the girls have been very impressive in their commitment to listening, learning, and working as a team. We have been reducing the winning margin, improving our total team score for each game and getting closer to winning our first game for the season.

Early highlights of our games have been strong defensive play from Bea, Izzy, Ari and Tayah and impressive speed and agility from our onballers Tori, Estella, Nandali, Chilli, Gabi and Edie.

Our rucking team of Hallie, Isla, Phoebe and Hailee have been strong overhead, winning many hit outs during play. Superb goals and attacking play have come from our forwards Tori, Chilli, Imy, Shona and Phoebe. Our celebrations and team comradery when kicking goals has been wonderful with the girls all trying their best to be a part of the scoreboard. 

A four team roster will allow us to improve on our performance against each of the teams several times. The girls have improved incredibly over the last six weeks, with the second half of the season looking promising for success.

Coleen Elliott

Support your child’s online learning at home.  

Digital skills are critical to every child’s success, but supporting online learning can be overwhelming.

The Digital Skills for Families Team is delivering a program to help Tasmanian families support online learning at home. Spending time online at home gives children an opportunity to practice what they are learning at school. Positive home environments help children develop the skills and independence they need to succeed in a digital future. 

Learn about communicating online with schools, digital education at school and how to support online learning at home.

Digital skills for families are offering free:

• information sessions
• workshops
• one-to-one help

in libraries, schools and community locations statewide.

Email the team at digitalskillsforfamilies@libraries.tas.gov.auto to find out more and book a free session.

Digital skills for families

Digital skills for families 505.45 KB