For all upcoming events please see:

Ulverstone Secondary School Calendar

As winter really sets in, I hope everyone is keeping warm and staying dry.

Fittingly, the MND Big Freeze fundraiser struck an icy winters day to dunk the brave staff who had put their hand up in support of raising funds for this great cause. I would like to congratulate our house captains for organising and running this event.

Being well and truly past the halfway mark of term two (7 weeks down and 3.5 to go) teachers have been preparing for another reporting phase. This will include:

• Assessment ratings
• Parent-Teacher conversations

I encourage parents to take up the opportunity to have conversations with your child’s teacher, be that in person or on the phone.

Recently I wrote to all parents outlining several areas that we have been targeting to address and strengthen safety, respect and engagement at our college. Since then, I have also encouraged students to provide me with feedback as to how we can better recognise, or even reward, students who consistently act in a safe, respectful and engaging manner. If you have any suggestions, I welcome them also.

One area that was not addressed in that parent communique was our college uniform. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents that support students to attend each day in uniform. It certainly makes us feel more of a team and is in fact an important safety measure in that we can easily distinguish students from members of the public that may enter our college grounds.

A special shout out to the Year 7 classes that I have visited recently and had 100% of students decked out in uniform. If anyone is struggling to keep uniforms washed and dried or simply has lost items, please reach out to your homeroom teacher or year coordinator as we are only too happy to support students to be in uniform.

I hope the rest of this term is a good one for you as we all strive to stay warm, dry and willing to get the most from each day.

Sincerely

Simon Dent

Continued communication throughout the year is strongly encouraged to promote student learning and wellbeing. Face to face meetings are available this year of which we encourage not only the parent to be involved however also the student.

We are holding student-parent-teacher interviews (two or three-way conversations) over three consecutive nights:

• Monday 26 June: 3.15pm - 4.00pm
• Tuesday 27 June: 3.30pm - 4.30pm
• Wednesday 28 June: 3.30pm - 6.00pm

Booking Three-way Conversations

If you wish to attend the three-way conversations, please make a booking using the link: Student-Parent-Teacher Conversations  by Thursday 22 June.

We strongly encourage parents to make contact with your child’s teachers if you have any queries or concerns.

Some exciting news! The Department for Education, Children and Young People has recently launched a new online information hub for families with school-aged children in Tasmania. Our new website has information to help you navigate your child's education, from birth all the way up to 18 years of age.

Visit our new webpage at Welcome to your child's Tasmanian education - The Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania (decyp.tas.gov.au) (https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/information-for-families-and-students)

Some of the things you’ll find include

• tips on how to support your child’s learning at home
• information to help you keep your child safe and well
• a guide to explore courses for the career they want
• school holiday and term dates.

We hope this website will be a valuable tool for you as you help your child navigate their education journey. We would love to know what you think of our new information hub for families. You can tell us by completing a quick survey on the webpage.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People is excited to announce that our YEP! program is officially launched on 9 May 2023. Your Engagement Place (YEP!) is a place where children and young people under the age of 18 can find ways to engage with CCYP and other organisations around Tasmania to have a voice on things that matter to them.   

You can check out our YEP! hub now by visiting our new CCYP website. If you are an adult and would like to keep up to date with current engagement opportunities available to children and young people in Tasmania, fill out our adult subscription form. 

Should you have any questions at all about the new program or wish to promote an ethical engagement opportunity open to young Tasmanians, please do not hesitate to email us at childcomm@childcomm.tas.gov.au or call us on (03) 6166 1366

For more information please click YEP! INFO SHEET

Our Year 7’s have made an excellent start after our term break, and can be commended on their commitment to their learning at USC. Since our last Year 7 report, we have had many opportunities to engage students in our school community and provided them with different experiences to help them learn and grow. At the end of last term, we had our team building day at Paton Park Scout Grounds. It was a very warm day, and students were fully engaged in the activities such as the eating challenge, shelter making, orienteering and the obstacle course. We had many students overcome some fears to ensure they helped their team win points.

This term students had the opportunity to attend an all-day excursion held by Paralympics Australia. Our Year 7’s heard from Paralympians Al Viney and Deon Kenzie who shared their stories and how they worked towards the Paralympics. The purpose of the day was to educate students about Paralympic movement and Para-sports, promote inclusion and understanding of disabilities and provide students with the opportunity to engage in physical activity and teamwork. It was very meaningful day and students were able to reflect on the different types of challenges people face and began talking about how they can overcome these challenges.

Well done to our Year 7s who participated in our Swimming Carnival and Cross-Country Carnival. We had a fantastic turn out from Year 7, with students giving their best, or cheering on their houses. Congratulations to our swimming champions Kate S and Jacob B, and our cross country champions Libby C and Cooper M.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the following students who have received their first volunteering badge after the Youth Volunteer Army presentation to all Year 7s.

7A – Andre, Jacob B, Ali

7B – Lamar, Jacob L, Amelia, Ruby

7D – Cooper H, Arie, Riley, Mitchell, Sienna

7E – Matilda

Keep up the good work Year 7’s, and I encourage families to continue the conversation at home on our main topic for the term - belonging and inclusion.

Miss Ellen Bowerman

This term, we have seen a lot of sickness and have missed many lovely Year 8 faces. A friendly reminder that if your child is ill, please contact the office so we can adjust their attendance and if necessary, organise some learning for your child to do at home. We still promote washing hands and using hand sanitiser regularly as we know how easily germs can spread.

We have had some students receive good notes this term. Congratulations to the following students:

8A Tahlia, Jarod

8B Reed

8C Michaela, Sarah

8D Shakayla, Emma, Shantay, Kielen, Stella

8E Mel, Charlie, Oliver, Jak

Also, a big ‘shout out’ to Tahlia in 8A who has been doing some volunteer work in the school canteen. The team in the canteen have been very impressed with her work ethic and the respect she has shown in this area.

Congratulations also goes out to the following students:

• Montanna, Gracie and Olivia who made the Under 14 NW/North representative AFL team. They will compete against the best from the South in July.
• Tannah, Roxy and Eli represented the school at the Inter-High chess tournament where the school placed second.
• Reed is continually doing well in the state mountain biking championships, Tas Gravity Enduro Series.
• Roxy has been succeeding in the state gymnastic competitions.
• Tannah and Rubi have been efficient in the Devon netball Under 14 team.

On Wednesday June 14, the House Captains will be taking the Year 8s out for a sports afternoon as part of our Home Room Top Dog Competition. This competition started at the beginning of Year 7, and we are pleased to say that our Top Dog Mascot has only lost one eye in this time. Currently 8E have ownership of the Top Dog after taking out the Term 2 win by having the best attendance at our swimming carnival. Thanks to Mr Harvey and the House Captains for organising this event!

A few weeks ago, the Year 8s were lucky enough to have a guest speaker from Life Choices, Andrew ‘Fishtail’ Fisher. Andrew is not just a successful race car driver but also a highly respected and successful businessman and public speaker. He has won many race events, but more importantly has spoken to over 350,000 high school students about being courageous when facing difficulty. Through his own personal stories, Andrew discussed the importance of selfcare, and the importance of making good choices in life.  The presentation and the messages delivered by Andrew were well received by the students. After the performance, students had the opportunity to view the race car and collect his signature.

Reports are going home this week. Please take the time to go through your child’s report and take advantage of parent/teacher evenings set aside later in the term.

If you have any questions at all, please contact one of us on the school number.

Wendy Leonard (Assistant Principal) and Shaun Conkie (Year 8 Coordinator)

Good News Stories

Congratulations to Seth C! Seth has been collaborating with the Devonport Choral Society as part of the work requirements for his Technical Theatre 2 course. Seth was recently awarded a Bursary in recognition of his excellent work.

Excursions

Padock to Plate

We are very pleased to see that a number of our students have recently got apprenticeships. Congratulations to Logan L, Jack N, Kalan M and Maddi R!

Recently we have had a group of Year 10 to 12 students participating in the ‘Paddock to Plate’ Program; this is a fantastic initiative for students to learn about the wide range of careers in Science and Agriculture related to the ‘life of a potato’.

First Nations 

The First Nations Studies class recently attended a lunchtime forum as part of Reconciliation Week. Students had the opportunity to hear from Aboriginal elders in our local community including Fiona Green, Hank Horton and Uncle Sammy. Students listened to community members tell their stories and shared their views about a range of issues including the 2023 Referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

Grange Resources, Savage River 

On 2 June, a group of students headed to Grange Resources, Savage River for an industry excursion. They came from the Year 12 Work readiness class and a mix of Year 9 and 10 students from the Packages of Learning class.

After a 2 hour drive, with a short stop at Waratah, we arrived at Grange to be welcomed by Declan, the workplace health and safety manager.  The students and staff were checked for health via a thermal camera, inducted via a safety video and fed and watered by the wonderful catering team.

We dressed in Hi-Vis vests, with hard hats and eye protection before heading to the mine lookout and mine sites.

We were taken to look at the entrance to the new underground section and to the workshops where the huge trucks are worked on.  After kicking the tyres on some of the equipment, we went to the truck simulator.  This forms part of the training program for operators and can be set for trucks, excavators, diggers and drills.  The instructor made the simulations more interesting by simulating snow, rain, engine fires and lack of brakes or steering.  Mr Mainwaring is already plotting how he could get one for the school!

Finally we walked through the processing plant where haematite is crushed, processed and then sent to Port Latta. Many thanks to Belinda, Declan and the drivers, mechanics and simulation trainer at Grange Resources.

Mid-Year Assessment Schedule

The Mid-Year Assessment period is coming up soon for our Year 11 and 12 students; including Year 10 students studying Maths Extended and those in Transdisciplinary Science 2. Please see the schedule below.

Exam Preparation for Pre-Tertiary students        

We have a number of students who will be sitting examinations during the mid-year assessment period. Students need to be prepared for exams with the relevant equipment below.

The approved equipment for all assessments are:

Writing equipment in a clear, sealable plastic bag or clear pencil case:

• Black or blue pens (please note: erasable pens are not advised)
• 2B pencils, sharpener and eraser
• Highlighters
• Clear plastic ruler.

Watches:

• Basic analogue watch that is not ‘smart’, programmable or computerised
• Must be placed at the top of a candidate’s table where they can be clearly and easily seen by a supervisor.

Dictionaries:

• Standard English dictionary/thesaurus

Medication:

• Asthma inhaler.

Water:

• Clear plastic bottle with 1500mL maximum capacity
• Cannot be refilled during an exam.

Calculators:

Candidates may bring TASC approved calculators into some exams – check which exams and the types of calculators allowed in the TASC Calculator Policy.

In Year 9 & 10 Visual Arts Mixed Media with Miss Vanderpol, students have been learning different technical skills using the charcoal medium. Students have been applying these techniques to different styles of art such as still life and abstract art. These great artworks are on display in the school galley for the Options Showcase happening on Wednesday 21 June.

On the 19 and 20  of May students from the Performing Arts and Drama 2 classes made our way to Launceston College to attend the Australian Music Theatre Festival. On the first day once we made it to Launceston College we went straight to the acting classes. We were split  into three groups and went into different areas with schools from all around Australia. Group one worked with Robin McLeavy who is an Australian actress. Group two worked with Ylaria Rogers who is an Australian director and actress and group three worked with Queenie van de Zandt who is an Australian actress and comedian. After the acting classes the whole group made our way outside for lunch. Later, we watched a small concert, then had some time to go shopping before heading home.

On the 20 May we headed back to Launceston College to watch a Master Class run by Elenoa Rokobaro and Tyran Parke. We were very fortunate to have two former students, Tallirah and Jada Li participating in the Master Class, and Miss Harvey and Ms Paterson said they learned lots from watch this class. We then made our way to the Princess Theatre to watch the big concert that is the headline act of the Australian Musical Theatre Festival. We watched people like Rachael Beck, Loren Hunter, Matt Hayward, David Hobson and more perform. At the end of the night everyone was happy and ready to hit the road. It was a great experience and an unforgettable two days. A huge thank you to Ms Harvey & Ms Paterson for making this possible.

Brianna S

So far this year our SRC is off to a great start. In week three, the SRC, House Captains and Peer Leaders went to View Road Reserve in Burnie to participate in the Operation Resilience Course, run by the PCYC. We were all excited for the day and worked in teams containing students from each leadership group. For the day to run smoothly we had to work together as a team and perform out of our comfort zones. It was a very rewarding experience.

On Friday of week 7, Term 1 the SRC held a casual clothes day with a gold coin donation to raise money for our school’s team going to Relay For Life the following weekend.  There was also a lunchtime concert on this day, showcasing the talent of our students, and providing entertainment for the rest of the school.

The next day (25-26 of March) a group of students went to the Penguin Athletics Track to take part in Relay For Life. Relay For Life is an event run by the Cancer Council, aimed to raise money for all people affected by cancer. Our team was called the USC Dream Team, and we raised over $6000. Our afternoon got off to a great start, with everyone participating in the opening lap, and then splitting into groups and walking in shifts. We filled in the hours with card games and banter, followed by pizza for tea. By around 1:00 am, the team was tired but we still had the motivation to keep on walking. Many of us stayed awake all night. After all, cancer never rests, so neither will we. We took part in Relay For Life because we want to see a cancer free future. Every dollar we raised for this amazing cause helps save lives. We would like to thank Herb’s Pizza for donating pizzas for our dinner, and to the Apex Club of Ulverstone for a generous donation of $1000.

Sport Access Foundation No Barriers Grant

The No Barriers grant will help young Australians aged 7-12 with a disability over come initial start-up costs to participate in sport. The funds are to be used towards new and upgraded equipment, club and competition fees, cost of travel and accommodation. Applications will close on Friday August 18, 2023

Sport Access Foundation No Barriers Grant | 2023 Grants | Sport Access Foundation

The Compeat Performance Pathway to Paralympics grants are for aspiring Paralympians.

2 x grants worth $1500 each are available in 2023 and are open to 13 - 17 year olds with a disability.

This grant will help support two potential Paralympians to reach Paralympic-level performance and assist with the additional costs incurred. Recipients must have achieved state or national representation in their sport and state their plans or intentions to qualify for the next Paralympics or international competition. The recipient must be registered with a sporting club or intend to use the funds to join a sporting club. Applications will close on Friday August 18, 2023.

Compeat Performance Pathway to Paralympics Grant | 2023 Grants | Sport Access Foundation

The cooler months bring colds, the flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Being prepared is the best way to protect yourself and your family.

Prepare

Children are most likely to catch and spread the flu. Make sure your child has received their annual flu vaccine. This will boost their immunity against most likely circulating flu strains. It will also help stop them getting very sick.

Plan

If your child is at higher risk of becoming very sick from the flu, COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, make a plan with your healthcare provider for when your child becomes sick.

Protect

Protect others by keeping your child home if they’re unwell, encouraging regular hand washing, and covering coughs and sneezes.

For more information, read the Parent and Carer Factsheet  or visit the

Department of Health website.

Thanks for doing your part to keep our school community safe, healthy and learning.