New Town High School

ISSUE: No. 4, 20 March 2015

2015 CALENDAR TERM 1

Peer Support Camp 3

7H1+7H2

Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 March

Peer Support Camp 4 7J1+7J2

Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 March

Questacom

Thursday 26 March

School Association Meeting

Tuesday 31 March

Moderation & Student Free

Day

Thursday 2 April

Easter & Term 1 Break

Friday 3 to Friday 17 April

TERM 2

Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July

Junior Concert Band Trip

Wednesday 22 to Thursday 24

April

School Newsletter

Friday 24 April

School Association Meeting

Tuesday 28 April

2nd hand Uniform Shop

Thursday 30 April 8.30am to

9.00am

Science & Engineering Chal-

lenge

Tuesday 5 May

Grade 7 Immunisations

Tuesday 5 May

Swimming Carnival

Friday 8 May

FROM THE PRINCIPAL At last week’s whole school assemblies, I took the opportunity to ask

our students to reflect upon the amazing range of extra curricula activi-

ties that will be presented to them throughout the year. In doing this,

it became abundantly obvious that our teachers have developed an ex-

traordinary program for 2015. Some of the highlights of this program

will include the following:

For a number of months now, we have had a group of students prepar-

ing for a wonderful global adventure. Those senior students, who have

been involved in the preparation for this year’s World Challenge Pro-

gram to Africa, are shortly going to be embarking on an experience that

will no doubt be a highlight and point of discussion for the rest of their

lives. Very few people get the opportunity to travel overseas, fewer

still, get the opportunity to work in international villages and take on

adventure pursuits such as climbing Mount Kilamanjaro.

Our International program will also be extended to incorporate a Euro-

pean adventure this year. A number of students will be taking the op-

portunity to travel to Paris, France with Ms Guerzoni. This is an in-

credible opportunity, which will provide participating students with a

deep understanding of the French culture, whilst also providing students

with a first-hand experience within the broader globalised world that

we live in. This follows on from our Language trip to Japan that was

conducted last year.

Whilst talking about climbing mountains and associated adventure pur-

suits, we are reminded that later in the year, we will be sending a group

of senior students off to Mount Hotham on our annual Ski Trip. A

weeks skiing on world class snow fields will be a thrilling experience for

all.

At a national level, we will also be conducting our bi-annual Central

Australia trip this year. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to

travel to the heart of our own country, on an adventure that will truly

be an eye opener to the vastness of our land and the richness of our

national history and diverse culture.

Later in the year, we are looking forward to sending

a group of students to the mainland through our

school music and bands program. This is a great op-

portunity for participating students to represent us

whilst performing in front of a wide range of audienc-

es on a significant tour.

We will also visit Victoria through our Athlete De-

velopment Program this year. Students will be

spending a week visiting the North Melbourne Foot-

ball Club on an intense training program, that will

expose them to what it takes to become an elite

Australian Rules footballer. They will get the chance

to speak to players, train at their facilities and visit

the famous MCG from a player’s perspective. No

other school in Tasmania has a program of this na-

ture.

Opportunities such as these complement all aspects

of our overall curriculum and program at New Town

High School. We are extremely pleased to be able

to provide our students with challenging and exciting

learning experience that broaden their horizons,

build relationships, and create lifetime memories. Sandy Menadue

Principal

GRADE 7 NEWS The camps have started and here is what two boys

thought of their camp. I would like to thank all the

staff for their efforts in making the camps such a suc-

cess.

On Monday 16 March, New Town High Grade 7s and

their Grade 10 peer support leaders from Dechaineux

went on a three-day peer support camp at Orana, Roach-

es Beach, Lauderdale.

Early on Monday morning we left from school and arrived

at Orana in time for morning tea. Once we had our

morning tea we began to do a variety of activities that

some people had experienced and others were keen to

try. These activities involved: archery, surfing, kayaking,

raft making, survival challenge, grokking, (blind folded

obstacle course), camp catering and a peer support ses-

sion. The activity we enjoyed the most was surfing and

archery.

On the last night of peer support camp all of the peer

support groups put together a performance to entertain

the teachers. The brilliant meals throughout the camp

were created by the fantastic Mrs Weitnauer and the

various peer support groups. Our favourite meal was the

apple crumble with ice-cream. A huge thank you to all

the teachers that made this wonderful camp possible.

Written by Joshua Maddock and Jacob Kingston

GRADE 8 NEWS We have some fantastic sporting endeavours and

achievements to report from the Grade 8’s. First-

ly, a big well done to the following boys who were

selected to represent our school at this week’s

Inter-High Swimming Carnival:

Sam Jordan (8H1)

James Elliot (8E2)

William Searle (8H2)

Daniel Searle (8H2)

Zakk Long (8H2)

Joel Cartledge (8J2)

We also wish good

luck to Adam Nan-

kivell (8E1) who is

off to Brisbane this

week to attempt to

procure his Black

Belt in Karate.

Adam has worked

very hard to reach

this high level of suc-

cess and he is a won-

derful example of

what you can achieve

if you work hard and

persevere.

As well as our sporting success we also have had

some academic achievements over the past two

weeks. A big well done to Brandyn Hasell (8D2)

who was the recipient of our Trade Skills of the

Month award. Jonathon Gourlay (8D2) was the

well deserving winner of Ms Weitnauer’s Chef of

the Month award, and Ben Oakley and Jacob Gil-

ham (8D1) were both recipients of our Artist of the

Month award.

Grade 8’s are also busy with the SRC nomination

process. It is wonderful to see a very large group

of boys putting their hand forward to represent

their home group and grade, as our representative

body. A big thank you to Ms Guerzoni, who has

once again kindly offered to run a public speaking

and speech writing workshop with the nominees,

which will be held on Monday 23 March. We look

forward to announcing those successful candidates

in our next newsletter. Shaun Newbold & Sara Mulholland

AST Grade 8 & Grade 8 Coordinator

GRADE 9 NEWS We would like to thank Mr Paul Tabart for his hard

work and efforts in his role as Acting Assistant Principal

of Grade 9 for the past seven weeks. Ms Sheenagh Neill

returns from leave on Monday and will resume her role

as Assistant Principal Grade 9.

Congratulations to Joshua Blum and Joshua Butler

who have been voted President and Deputy respectively

of the 2015 Grade 9 Student Representative Council. All

class representatives voted and we look forward to

working with both boys this year.

Lochie Bromfield, 9H1 was chosen to participate in

the Tasmanian Junior Athletics team that competed in

Sydney at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.

Well done, Lochie – an outstanding achievement. Con-

gratulations also to Joshua Hughes who received his

100 Onya badge in last week’s Junior Assembly – a fine

effort, Josh!

The Grade 9 members of the Inter-high Swimming team

performed extremely well at last week’s Inter-High

event. Congratulations to: Lochie Bromfield, Nicho-

las Baker, Nathan Walsham, Josh Jordan, Liam

Rolle and Jack Edwards.

A reminder to students and parents that staff are cur-

rently in the process of writing Progress Reports – these

reports will be emailed to parents on Tuesday 31st

March.

Finally, we encourage all students and staff to sup-

port our Easter Raffle – tickets are available from

the office and Grade 9 SRC representatives will also

be visiting all Home Groups to sell tickets. Leone Lamont & Andrew Harrison

Grade 9 Supervisors

GRADE 10 NEWS

Our Prefect Board

continued the strong

streak of fundraising

with the World’s

Greatest Shave event

hosted on Friday 13

March. Due to the

strong work of the

organising prefects

we had a record turn

-out of students and

teachers wanting to

support the Leukae-

mia Foundation with

donations and a will-

ingness to shave

their heads!

Prefects and House Captains attended the GRIP

Leadership Conference on Monday 16 March. They

joined many other school leaders and spent the day

learning about different leadership styles, and how

they can be effective leaders in our school.

It was an exciting day of meeting other school lead-

ers and learning in an interesting format.

Well done to John Roberts, Christopher Ran-

som, and Sam Fros for being chosen for the Inter-

High Swimming team. It was a successful carnival for

the school on Tuesday, and we’ll keep you posted

on the results of the swimmers!

The Prefect Board started off one of their most im-

portant roles for this year, hosting the junior and senior

assemblies. Blair Woolley, Sam Fros, Mitchell

Woolley and Jagmeet Grewal successfully ran the

first assemblies of the year with confidence. The Prefect

Board and the House Captains were all invited to the

stage to sign their pledges, committing themselves to a

year of hard work and dedication to the school commu-

nity. The signed copies of the pledges will be framed and

placed on display as a reminder of their responsibilities.

The Grade 10 Peer Support leaders have started off the

Peer Support camps well, with Dechaineux and Ellis lead-

ers away for this week and Hunter and Jarvis next week.

The leaders are taking their groups of Grade 7s through

various activities such as kayaking, raft-making, Frisbee

golf, and surfing. We look forward to hearing about their

positive experiences with the Grade 7s. Hayley Noonan & Nathan Heidenreich

Grade 10 Supervisors

ARTS NEWS With Progress Reports about to be distributed Arts

teachers have been busy studying our boys’ efforts very

closely. It is worthwhile considering the effort that goes

into making a work of Art. Theatre, Music, Visual Art and

Creative Writing all have one thing in common – they all

require time and serious effort to produce a quality item.

In the Arts we work very hard at encouraging boys to

focus their abilities on what they are making because

quality Artwork requires commitment. I guess, for par-

ents and boys, the single most important aspect of learn-

ing within the Arts, or indeed anything in school, is the

act of finishing something. This means your son has fol-

lowed a process right through from its early planning

stages, through experimentation and then refinement,

finally finishing his project to the best of his ability.

It is important to understand progress as the willingness

of your son to participate in a process and demonstrate a

broad set of skills from a wide ability range. A boy who

has the potential to be good at Visual Art, but refuses to

participate in projects will not be worthy of the mini-

mum standard within The Australian Arts Curriculum;

likewise a boy who tries his best, finishes his projects, but

struggles with art-making techniques will be achieving at

the minimum standard. Of course there are common

sense exceptions to this rule, but the theory is easily un-

derstood. Participation is essential!

The act of participating and making finished artworks is

paramount. Success can only be fully achieved when

your son participates in a musical performance at an as-

sembly, sees his painting proudly on exhibition or enjoys

the positive experience of an appreciative audience after

being part of a theatrical production. They realise they

are part of a worthwhile process with a purposeful and

valuable end result.

There is a lot to be said for developing essential skills

that enable your son to listen carefully and then sus-

tain his focus for increasing periods of time, so he can

compete in an adult work or learning environment.

Whatever your son does within the Arts at New

Town High he will be required to work hard to im-

prove his organisational abilities, his willingness to

work independently and most importantly his desire

to finish an Artwork, perform a piece of Music or

deliver a Theatrical performance.

It would be safe to say that if your son is not working

as hard as he could he will record a “needs atten-

tion” rating in his Progress Report, however, if he

receives a “making progress towards the stand-

ard for his grade” and positive conduct rating then

it is safe to assume he is on track to meet the Arts

minimum standard, given time. Making artworks

takes time and students create work at different rates

of production. It is therefore important to under-

stand that if not enough artwork has been completed

by your son, at this early stage in the year, for his

teacher to confidently mark him at the standard then

he will be “making progress towards the minimum

standard”.

I trust this information has been useful to you. Please

take the opportunity to mail, phone or see your Arts

teacher if you have any concerns or, of equal im-

portance, anything positive relating to your son’s Arts

education at New Town High School. Peter Young

HOD Arts

Music

We have large numbers of students involved in the

extracurricular school music program, Grade 7/8

concert band, senior concert band, guitar ensemble,

brass ensemble, stage band and woodwind/saxophone

ensembles. Our ensembles rehearse at different

times and new students are most welcome to attend

rehearsals. As new Grade 7 students improve on

their instruments they are encouraged to attend after

school rehearsals.

All Grade 7 students who were part of the primary

schools instrumental program are encouraged to at-

tend Monday after school rehearsals 3.00 to 4.00pm.

Recently new Grade 7 students who were part of the

primary schools instrumental program have received

an invitation letter to participate in the Grade 7/8

concert band. It is important that these students

continue to play their instrument in our Grade 7/8

concert band and parent support for your son to at-

tend is appreciated. We are pleased many students

are attending rehearsals.

Rehearsal Schedule

Monday after school

- the Grade 7/8 Concert Band 3.00pm to 4.00pm

Tuesday after school

- the Senior Concert Band 3.00pm to 4.30pm (at Ogilvie High

School)

Tuesday after school

– the Guitar Ensemble 3.00pm to 4.00pm

Tuesday lunch time

– Woodwind Ensemble

Wednesday after school

– Stage Band

Friday before school

– the Brass Ensemble 8.00am to 8.45am

Friday lunch time

– Saxophone Ensemble

In April the Grade 7/8 concert band will have their three

day music camp at Orana Lauderdale. The camp infor-

mation has just been handed out to students. If your son

is unable to attend a rehearsal please send an apology to

the teacher who runs the program so that we know that

they are unable to attend. At the end of the year senior

students who have participated in extracurricular ensem-

bles will receive recognition of their involvement.

All Grade 7 students have chosen their instrument and are

beginning to learn how to play them. Our music program

includes literacy. Students are taught how to read written

music notes on their instrument. All of our instruments

use written music including woodwind, brass and classical

guitar. Reading printed music is essential to playing an in-

strument and it is an important part of literacy in music

education. Grade 7 students have started to borrow in-

struments for homework practice. All music students are

required to do home practice as part of their weekly

homework schedule. Instrument borrowing is for over-

night loan only and borrowed instruments must be re-

turned the very next morning. Andrew Sweeney

Music

NEWS FROM FOOD STUDIES The Food Studies department has a monthly award called

Chef of the Month. This award is presented to the success-

ful student at both the junior and senior school assemblies.

The students are selected by Ms Miller and Mrs Weitnauer

after consultation on their progress and aptitude in both

the practical and theoretical aspects of Food Studies.

Local Supplier, Medhurst Equipment in North Hobart sup-

ports this award by offering New Town High School a dis-

count on the student prize and as a school community we

value their continued support of our students. The junior

students receive a silicon heat resistant spatula, whilst the

senior students receive a whisk as well as a certificate.

We also display the student’s photo in the Foods corridor

outside Room C111.

At the first junior and senior assembly for 2015, Jono

Gourlay (Grade 8) proudly accepted his award from Mrs

Weitnauer as Head of Department. In the senior assembly

Enzo Balducci (Grade 10) gained the award for his

work in Ms Miller’s class. Well done to these boys.

Who will be next month’s recipient??? It could be you!

Other news from our learning area concerns the ongo-

ing testing and assessments of students. Ms Miller and

I assess all student practical work and regularly set

homework on related theory topics. In the coming

weeks all classes will have a short test on what they

have learnt to date, and the senior Foods Studies stu-

dents have just completed their Moderation task, a

bread and soup recipe design challenge. On 2 April

(Pupil Free Day) we will collaborate with other Home

Economics teachers in the southern region of Tasma-

nia and discuss our assessment techniques.

Well done to all our boys! Mrs Karen Weitnauer

HOD Food Studies

Junior Chief of the Month Senior Chief of the Month

WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE

The World’s Greatest Shave had a record turn-out of four

teachers and twelve students sacrificing their hair to sup-

port the Leukaemia Foundation. Prefects set the target of

having Ms Tighe shave her head at $1000, and they were

certain that hefty goal would be reached. Toby Burridge,

7E2 kicked off the fundraising effort, raising almost the en-

tire goal amount in a few days with online donations.

Altogether we raised over $2200 towards research and

support for Australians suffering from blood cancers. It was

brilliant to witness the response from the school communi-

ty for such an excellent cause.

Hundreds of students turned up on Friday at lunch to cheer

on the head shavers, and students were still giving dona-

tions at the door!

Well done to Toby Burridge,

Sam Fros, Joel Halbe, Isaac

Izbicki, Lachlan Plummer,

Dillan Upton , William

Searle, Ryan Marshall, Finlay

Semmens, Angus Wolfe, Ty-

son Hunter, Harrison Lewis,

Mr Howard, Mr Friend, Mr Ox-

ley, and Ms Tighe!

Special thanks to two local sa-

lons, Circles Haircare and Minx

Hair & Beauty, for donating their

time to come in to shave the

boys’ heads! We’d also like to

thank New Town Woolworths

for donating chocolate eggs as

prizes for our head shavers!

Circles Haircare

93A New Town Road, New Town

(03)6228 2610

Minx Hair & Beauty

70 Pirie Street, New Town

(03)6228 7733

2015 TOUR OF FRANCE

We are expecting an absolutely fabulous itinerary for a tour to France in the September/

October holidays. We are asking for a few more students to join us and be part of a great

travel experience in 2015. We will be taking in the wonders that France has to offer

from trips through the magnificent South of France – Nice, Avignon, Arles – to several days

in Paris revelling in the sights - ferrying the river Seine, climbing the Eiffel Tower and the

Arc de Triomphe, strolling the Champs Elysées, visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre,

the Catacombs, Montmartre, the Science Museum and many other sights. We will enjoy

good food, good accommodation, good weather and good company and create a host of

memorable moments.

Accommodation, transport and meals are of excellent quality at an economical price and

offer our students a feel for life in France. The trip costs just under $5,500 and offers a

breadth of cultural, historical and language experiences. The cost will include all airfares,

accommodation and meal costs as well as entrance fees to places we visit.

Act fast to join us now on the trip of a school lifetime! You will build a treasure

trove of living lessons in language, culture, food and history.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak with Ms Guerzoni, Mr Newbold

or Ms Noonan or email Ms Guerzoni at grace.guerzoni@education.tas.gov.au .

Grace Guerzoni

New Town High School

6 Midwood Street, New Town, 7008

Phone: 6278 0400

Absence Line: 6278 0499

Fax: 6278 1717

E-mail: new.town.high@education.tas.gov.au

Web: https://education.tas.edu.au/newtownhigh

https://www.facebook.com/NTHSTasmania

Questacon are coming to

New Town High

Thursday March 26

Are you going to be part

of it?!

Afternoon/early evening session

Grade Group Sessions

Grade 7/8

9.00am to 10.30am (Period 1, half of Period 2)

Grade 9

11.00am to 12.30pm (Recess, Period 3, half of Period 4

(an early recess will be arranged)

Grade 10

1.30pm to 3.00pm (lunch, Period 5)

(an early lunch will be arranged)

Boys are reminded that they should not be walking

along Midwood Street at any time, due to the dan-

ger of being hit by passing traffic - it also creates

unnecessary stress for drivers who have to avoid

you.

You can either leave via the bike path (using the

railway crossing provided), or walk via the MDT

alleyway to access the footpath next to the Pavil-

ion, to walk past the hostel.

At no time should a student be walking on the road

opposite the hostel.