Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,

We have been delighted by the engagement of our students on their return to study after the school holidays. I have congratulated staff on the welcoming classroom environments they prepared for students on their return. Students are highly engaged in learning and classes are positive, orderly places.

We were extremely proud of the students who represented us at community ANZAC Day services. All students were well presented and a number had roles as flag marshals or cross bearers. Rex and Emilia gave outstanding speeches at the Campbell Town service and at the Avoca service Hollie did a wonderful job reading a poem and Kevin and Hollie laid the wreath. We received numerous compliments from community about the conduct and participation of our students. We held our school ANZAC service on Thursday where our students had the opportunity to pay their respects to our service men and women.

Our staff and student leadership teams are continuing to promote regular attendance at school. Every day of learning is vital and it is important that all young people attend school regularly. Our school attendance rate currently sits at 85% for the year. This is closely aligned to the current rate for all Tasmanian schools but we aim to push the attendance rate close to 90%.

As the weather has gotten colder, a few hoodies and non-school jumpers have begun to appear, particularly in the senior school. It is important that all students present in uniform every day. If students do not have uniform, we are happy to support them with clothing from the school office.

Families will have a number of opportunities for communications about student learning and progress this term. Year 11/12 students are receiving reports on May 26 and have parent/teacher interviews on May 31. Kindergarten students will have parent/teacher interviews on June 6, 7 and 8. Prep to Year 10 students will receive reports on June 23 and parent/teacher interviews will be held on 26, 27 and 29 June. Parents of students in K-10 will also receive examples of student learning as part of the communication to families process this term. We really value partnerships with our families and hope to welcome all of you to discuss student learning and progress this term.

We are experiencing pleasing growth in our junior school enrolments. In order to support learning for all students in Prep/1 and Kindergarten, we have put in place additional teacher staffing this term. We are pleased to welcome Laura Gatenby to our team. Laura will be working with our students on Wednesday and Thursday with a particular focus on developing literacy and numeracy.

Since joining the school, I have been grateful for the support and contribution of an outstanding School Association. Our association members have been instrumental in guiding the development of school buildings, facilities programs and student services. The association is currently in the final stages of providing advice in regard to our future Agriculture facility. A final proposal will be submitted to DECYP for costing shortly.  Work continues on the refurbishment of the Year 2/3 classrooms and we still hope to have our students back in their regular classrooms to commence next term.

Kind regards

Mike

On the 27^th of April, Campbell Town District High School held their ANZAC assembly for 2023. Due to the nice weather, the assembly was held outside underneath the flagpoles. Approximately 5 years ago, Mr Peter Wickham worked with a group of students to put the names of those on the Campbell Town Cenotaph onto crosses. Each year, students are invited to carry one of those crosses and place them on display as our way of recognising those service personnel from the Campbell Town area. I was honoured to be a part of the proceedings, reciting the well-known poem In Flanders Fields and carrying one of these crosses.

Thank you to Warren and Jill Clarke for attending, and to Warren for his delivery of the ode.

Also, thank you to Tina Double for the wreath which was laid at the ceremony on behalf of staff and students by Mrs Michelle Loane and Madison from Year 11/12.

I would also like to thank all the staff that contributed to the organisation of the special event in our school calendar.

Micah

11/12 Student

Kindergarten students have enjoyed exploring their changing outside environment since returning to school this term. Students have been working together outside to make piles of autumn leaves to jump and play in. Whilst inside they have been creating art with their gathered leaves. Students have completed leaf rubbings, looked closely at leaves using a light box, practiced their scissor skills by cutting leaves as well as painting leaves to create leaf prints. Please enjoy some photos of the art we created.

Rachel Langiu

Teacher

This year in 11/12 we are studying Drama Foundations 2. We have relished in the challenge of finding suitable scripts, learning lines, finding costumes and props and being brave enough to get up in front of people and perform.  As an assessment piece, Micah recited In Flanders Fields at our school ANZAC assembly.  Micah did an amazing job, well done Micah.  So far this year, we have looked at Ballads and Myths and Legends.  We constructed a chart which showed the language and organisational frameworks of each text type before we chose our scripts for performance.  At the moment, we are working on some movie scripts.  Each student has found a 3 minute excerpt from their favourite film and is directing the performance of their script.

Julie Howard

11/12 Teacher

Do you have half an hour to spare from 8.30am – 8.50am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings? Do you like listening to children read? We are seeking volunteers for our morning Reading Club. Reading Club is for Primary aged students to help them practice their reading skills.

If you have a current Working with Vulnerable People Card and would like to help us with Reading Club, please contact the school office and leave your name and contact details.

Mrs Lyrae Rattray and Mrs Kristyn Green