School Newsletter - Term 2 Newsletter 1

Principal's Report

Last week was a momentous one for Bothwell District High School. We welcomed The Hon. Jo Palmer, MLC, Minister for Education to our school to officially open our Agricultural and 11/12 Facilities.  Claire delivered the Welcome to Country and student leaders Danielle and Robert were our MC’s for the event. The students all spoke with confidence and our School Choir delivered a wonderful performance of two songs, including our new School Song. A big thank you to our staff, students and community members for the collective effort in bringing this event to life last Thursday.

I include some messages in this newsletter below that I shared with the community during the launch.

The Agricultural facilities offer our students a contemporary learning space to play, learn and grow - from Kindergarten to the Senior Secondary years. Our students have already begun to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, learning with Ms Tamika Burrill as part of the Food and Fibre and Agricultural Science and Landcare curriculums.

Experiences this year have included packaging the eggs from our chickens (which our Kinder and prep students collect every morning), to harvesting sunflower seeds, strawberries, zucchinis and tomatoes from our garden beds and hazelnuts from our grove.

A group of secondary students will work with our wethers as part of the Merino Challenge. They will focus on sheep handling skills and learn more about wool production and the diverse careers available across the wool industry.  We look to the future with opportunities for our students to engage in courses that will provide a pathway into careers in the primary industries.

We look forward to an exciting partnership with the Forest Education Foundation and Sustainable Timber Tasmania to plant a series of native shrubs and trees around our swale to create a natural environment and we will be creating a shelter belt in the near future. Our students will also be planting a row of flowering cherries at the Waddamana power station as part of a partnership with Hydro Tasmania.

Our Year 11/12 facilities were completed in 2022 as part of the extension schools funding. We currently have a small number of students enrolled in senior secondary courses and we aim to grow this provision into the future. I would encourage you to take a tour this afternoon with our student leaders to see all of the facilities.

Some messages of thanks are extended to the team at Tim Penny Architecture and Interiors as the Principal architects for both projects. To Jason Followes and Mark Hallsworth as the capital project managers. To Fairbrother Construction as the building contractor for the Ag Facilities Build and to CDC Development for the 11/12 facilities build and to the DECYP Facilities team. Throughout the works, Christine Turner and John Webb, our Bothwell staff members, have played a key role in bringing these projects to fruition.

Finally, a thank you is extended to Karin and Michael of Gravelly Beach Metal Works for our wonderful sculpture, ‘Harmony in Hands’. The Corten steel bull, sheep and hands represent the harmony between the land, soil, and the people who cultivate and reside on this land. I think you will all agree that it is a striking entrance feature to the Agricultural facilities. The sculpture is a very fitting representation of our values and our vision of being a connected community.

Erika Boas
Principal

Ag Building Opening

Our New School Song
Our Choir performed the School Song at our recent Launch Event. The lyrics are posted here for our family members who may like to sing along at upcoming assemblies and community events.                                                                                                        

Farewell to Mr Vreman

Due to family reasons, Mr Vreman will be moving to Queensland for the foreseeable future. We wish Mr Vreman all of the very best at this time and know that when he returns to Tasmania we would welcome Mr V’s enthusiasm and expertise back at our school. Mr V has been a highly valued member of our teaching staff over the past few years and he will be missed. We farewelled Mr V this week with a morning tea and presentation.

Senior Secondary Pathways and Possibilities:

We will be holding a student and family information session to share information about Year 11 and 12 pathways for 2025 and beyond.  We encourage all inerested families to attend, even if your child is in upper primary and it might be a while away.  Our aim is to inform students and families of the pathways available to them.

When: Tuesday June 25th from 5 to 6 p.m

Kindergarten Enrolments:

We are now taking enrolment enquiries for 2025. Please contact the school for enrolment information so we can ensure that the young person and family are included in all important transition events.

Kind Regards,

Erika Boas

Principal

Our Reading Focus:

Supporting our students to achieve reading success is one of 2024 school priorities. We will explore the question, ‘How can we all be teachers of reading, and which explicit strategies will best support our students to grow?’

In the early years, the important work centres word knowledge and fluency through a focus on phonics and spelling. These skills will be put into practice through reading groups. For our older students, teachers have introduced ‘reader’s notebooks’ and ‘book club pedagogies’ to actively engage students in the close reading of different texts.

Primary Reading Groups

Reading groups have started up across the primary classes. The aim of these reading groups is to support student learning of phonics and reading strategies. This aligns with our whole school focus on supporting student reading success, with the goal of improving all students’ reading skills. Groups are focusing on building a strong foundation to reading using phonics and continuing to strengthen comprehension through learning different reading strategies.

Miss Pennicott's reading groups:

Simultaneous Story Time

This National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) book for this year is "Bowerbird Blues" by Aura Parker. The story follows a beautiful bowerbird on a quest for blue treasures across land, cities, and under the sea. This week our students participated in NSS through listening to the story and then doing lots of class activities.

Our Wellbeing Focus:

In all of our classrooms and communal spaces you will now find our four commitment posters connected to our school values. We are continuing to reward positive behaviours through daily VIP (Values in Practice) tokens and weekly spot prizes in our Meet and Greet Assemblies.

We are currently working as a school community to have a common language and set of positive behaviours that connects to our four values commitments:

Breakfast Club and Weekly Fitness Club

Two of our wellbeing initiatives are held weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8.30am. We invite all students to the Breakfast and Weekly Fitness Clubs.

School Choir

Singing has many positive health and wellbeing benefits as well, not to mention the friendships being forged and the sense of community. A reminder that our Choir rehearses every Monday and Thursday morning from 8.30am.

Student Engagement Survey

All students in years 7-10 recently completed a Student Engagement and Wellbeing Survey. Student feedback is being gathered from all of the Derwent Cluster of schools to identify areas of focus for each of our schools. We have already identified that our students would like assistance in how to navigate small conflicts with other students and we will be using more restorative practices within the school to assist our students in dealing with problems when they are small and on ways to clear the air and then move on.

Learning Showcase:

LiL:

Our LiL students had a lovely excursion to the Oatlands pool.  Lil meets at BDHS every wednesday morning starting at 9 to 10.30 a.m. you will find us in the Music Room, everyone welcome!

Kinder/ Prep:

This term, we are exploring prediction. Making predictions is a comprehension strategy that assists readers to understand and make meaning from a text. We are learning to use clues to make predictions. In this activity, students were introduced to a mystery bag, and they used clues to make a prediction about the object inside could be and why. The clues that were used to aid prediction, were touching/feeling and then listening to the sound it made inside the bag. The object was then revealed to be a collection of shells.

1/2:

Our 1/2s have been learning about how places have changed over time and the importance of Country. We have also been learning palawa kani names of places and people in lutruwita / Tasmania. The palawa kani name for Clyde River is lukina minanya. You may have heard another palawa kani word in the Bothwell School Song!

3/4:

After reading the "Bowerbird Blues" by Aura Parker, some of the 3/4 students decided to make their own bower.

Library Activities

Students from grade 3/4 with the puppets the made after reading a book with Brigette.

5/6 Science with Mrs Wise:

Grade 5/6 students made hand lotion bars in their weekly science lesson with Mrs Wise.  They were making these as part of their reversible/irreversable reactions unit of work.

5/6:

This term the students have been focusing on making predictions. In this lesson for Science, the students practised their investigative skills by making predictions and then conducting an experiment to test their hypothesis. Students then wrote science reports which included their results and conclusions.

7/8: 

English: Students are working on their creative writing for the What Matter’s writing competition. Included in this newsletter is a piece written by Eliza E.

Science:

The Grade 7 students are looking at various techniques as a part of their science work.  Last week they were using filtering and learning how to fold filter paer.  They successfully filtered dirty water  to obtain a much cleaner batch of water.

9/10:

The Grade 9/10 science students have been busy looking at and testing a variety of chemical properties of various elements from the Periodic Table.

More Learning Showcase: Grades 9/10:

On the 17^th May, the 9/10 class, Mrs Doyle and Jo Cash travelled to New Norfolk. Our first stop was Willow Court where we were met by our very knowledgeable guide, Shakira. Between intermittent showers of rain and the cold wind, we had a very enjoyable and interesting tour. Willow Court was the oldest, continually run asylum on the same site, in Australia, and predates Port Arthur. Willow Court once segregated and housed people with disabilities and the mentally ill.

Some of the interesting facts that the students commented on were:

• The painted windows in the building that was a feature of Georgian architecture so that the building looked symmetrical – this is called Trompe-l'œil or illusion painting
• The mathematical writing or scribbles on the outside of a building. They have been analysed by a university mathematician who couldn’t solve it, so decided that it was either the work or a genius or a madman
• The cost of running C block annually was more than the cost of building it. C Block housed the criminally insane up until late 2001, when any remaining inmates were transferred to Risdon Prison
• That husbands could have their wives committed to the Asylum with only a few signatures and it was nearly impossible to be released even if there was nothing medically wrong.
• Willow Court was one of the first laces to try colour therapy with the mentally ill.
• C Block was built in the early 1900’s and there was a big public outcry when it was built with hot and cold running water and underfloor heating.

It is truly a fascinating site, steeped in history.

We had planned a picnic in the park after Willow Court, but the rain saw us descending on fast food outlets to top up our energy before, we headed to New Norfolk High School for their inaugural career's expo. The students used their allotted 1 hour visit wisely with most students talking to the various stallholders about different career and college options. MacDonalds was on site as well and they had a competition to see how many students could name all the ingredients of a Big Mac in under 4 secs. Ashley B was successful even though she said she doesn’t eat Maccas! She won herself a t-shirt!

Our final stop of the day was a visit to Arthur Square, where we took the opportunity to take some group photos and discus the history of town squares and the various monuments. Some students visited the Quilted Teapot to grab milkshakes and hot chocolates and a lesson on quilt making from Mrs Doyle, before heading back to school on the bus.

We would like to thank Julie for driving us there and back on the bus and I would also like to congratulate the students for their excellent behaviour all day. What they learnt will be put into practice for History and all gained some insights into possible careers.

We would like to thank the Central Highlands Council and Wild Cattle Hill Windfarm who made our visit to Willow Court possible.

Specialised subject showcase:

Art Classes with Sarah Hawson:

Our students had the opportunity to take part in two Art Workshops with Tasmanian Ceramicist and Art Teacher, Sarah Hawson. Sarah worked with students on creating portraits. We look forward to inviting Sarah back later in the term to do some clay work with the students.

Agricultural Studies with Tamika Burrill

We are so excited to be using our new Ag building and exploring our school farm! This term our students have been focussing on how we can stay safe on our farm and exploring ALL of our exciting learning environments.  The Primary classes have been investigating what lives on our farm and sorting them into plant and animals. We have now begun observing our hens and learning more about them!

The 9/10’s have welcomed our wethers for the Merino Challenge. They will be feeding the wethers daily as well as learning about the breed, other breeds with a focus on the Tasmanian wool industry. 

Mother's Day :

Here are some of the coasters that were made for Mother's Day.

The students enjoyed listening to the story "Happy Mother's Day" read by Brigette in the Library.

ANZAC DAY Book Donations:

ANZAC DAY BOOK DONATIONS  from commitees and individuals as at 24-5-2024.

I would like to thank the following students who read poems at the ANZAC s day service Harry B, Danielle B, Ava B, these students did a great job reading, also to Malcom & Avril G, Logan W, Wyatt B, Mitchell B, for placing books around the cenotaph. 

We would, very much like to thank the organisations/clubs & individuals who donated books. They will become great additions to our school library in remembrance of ANZAC Day 2021. These are greatly          appreciated by our school community & particular our students.

They include donations from:

Central Highlands Council, Kathy & Laurence Jones & family, Bothwell CWA, Bothwell Volunteer Fire     Brigade, Bothwell Historic Society, Bothwell DH School Association, Bothwell Uniting Church, ST Michaels Anglican Church, Bothwell  Volunteer  Ambulance, Bothwell District School Students, Bothwell Football Club, Anglicans Womens Fellowship, ST Andrews Catholic Church, Lions Club of Bothwell & Districts,

Bothwell Masonic Lodge,  Bothwell Cricket Club, Mayor Loueen Triffitt,  Duncan & Anita Campbell &

Family,  Josh Turner Memorial, Bothwell District School Susie Neil– Rolls Memorial,  Mrs Mary Ramsay & Family, Tanya Lovell & Family,  Central Highlands Clay Target Club, Kimberley, Sheridan & Brigette White, Whites Painting, Kaye Neil & Pam Jones, Mrs Judi Turner

Thank you to everyone that donated or helped on the day very much appreciated.

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Our values certificate and prize winners for our first Celebration Assembly were as follows.

Celebrating student success:

From our student leaders:

We have been busy running a weekly Footy Tipping Competition. Staff and students take part each week with each winning match in a round tipped correctly earning a house point.

We have been running House Activities every second Friday afternoon.

House Points Update

Shannon: 476

Clyde: 390

Introducing our new House Mascots
We have been working with former staff member Ms Bronte Anderson on the designs for our new mascots. From our school-based design process, we presented Ms Anderson with chosen elements that we liked: a crown, a chequered pattern, footwear and accessories. Ms Anderson did the rest with her creative genius. Introducing ‘Ecki the Echidna’ as the mascot for Clyde House and ‘Indie the Platypus’ as the mascot for Shannon House. Our two native monotremes will be displayed during carnivals and events and we will look at ways to brand some school flags/ banners with the new mascots.

Bothwell District School 2024 Fun Run (Cross Country)

What: Students from K-10 will walk/run laps around our school for 20 minutes, earning points for their house. The more laps they complete in the time, the more house points will be earnt. Participation is the key winner!

When: Tuesday 28^th May, 2pm.

2pm: Classes to meet at Primary Garden area for opening of the carnival

2:10pm: Fun Run begins.

2:30pm: Fun Run ends.

2:35pm: Classes to meet at Primary Garden area for closing of carnival.

Students are encouraged to wear their Shannon and Clyde colours and all participants will receive House Mascot stickers.

Where: Bothwell District High School ground (Marked course, including oval and playground)

Starting points:

Yellow: Kinder/Prep

Blue: Class 1/2

Green: 3/4 & 5/6

Pink: 7/8

Orange: 9/10

Yellow and Green stations - Point checkpoints.

Bothwell District High School Association:

School Association News

Working With Vulnerable People Card

Anyone who intends to volunteer at Bothwell School and needs to obtain a “Working with Vulnerable Peoples” card, can apply to the treasurer to be reimbursed the application fee ($21.36 at the time of printing).  Any reimbursements must be declared by the treasurer at the next Association meeting.

Safeguarding Training For Volunteers - Keeping our Kids Safe, Secure and Supported.  Training is only a short 15-minute video for volunteers.  Training is required for volunteers. Please scan QR code to access training.

The next School Assocation will be on Tuesday, 18^th, June. All parents are very welcome to attend. 

Other Messages:

Expression of Interest

If you would like to express an interest in enrolling a young person at Bothwell District High School now or for 2025, please complete the process outlined below. This includes enrolment in Years 11 and 12.

Claremont College Information Evening:

Prospective parents and students are invited to an information evening on 12 June, at either 4:30pm or 5:30pm. During the evening families will hear about college life and possible pathways, tour the College facilities, and have a chance to speak to subject matter experts.
To register, clicking on the following link: https://claremontcollege.cc/parentinfo_booking24

Thank you:

A big Thank you to Will Campbell, for assisting with his machinery to put in a post for the rain gauge in the Ag area.

From the Whole School.

Upcoming Events/Calendar

Information on upcoming events are on the side panel, near facebook.