For all upcoming events please see:

Ulverstone Secondary School Calendar

Our School Association committee meets regularly to assist in shaping school objectives and priorities whilst fostering school values and the benefits of education.  We discuss topics that range from strategic and improvement items, teaching and learning models, staffing, as well as budget, resourcing, and programs for the school.   Our Association is made up of representative members of staff, parents, students, and community members.  Each member brings to the table a range of skills, networks, and experiences that assist in creating positive impacts and developing the education experience for our young people.  Our role is also to connect with everyone in the school community. We have shared contact details here to enable you to raise an idea or opportunity, bring to our attention a concern or put forward a possible solution, confidentially.  If you would like to be involved in the School Association or find out more, don’t hesitate to reach out to a member.

Amanda Diprose  amandadiprose@bigpond.com

Gary Carpenter garycarpenter2@bigpond.com

Andrew Woodhouse andrewoodhouse@hotmail.com

Lyndon O'Neil yz426@live.com.au

Tammy Leitch tammyleitch@live.com.au

Shelly McCullagh shelley.mccullagh@respect.com.au

Jennifer Broadfield jsbroadfield@outlook.com

Melissa Budgeon  melissa.budgeon@centralcoast.tas.gov.au

School Levies

As we are now into Term 3, it would be appreciated if parents with levies still outstanding could attend to this matter asap.

If you have any queries , please contact the School Business Manager on 6425 1433

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) for 2023 School Year

The Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to low income families towards the cost of levies for students enrolled in a school from kindergarten through to year 12.

STAS is provided through school and college resourcing rather than payments direct to families.

STAS Closes to new applications on 7 September 2023.

Eligibility

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.

To apply for STAS please complete the Student Assistance application form.

For further information please view the Frequently Asked Questions.

We warmly welcome students, parents, and guardians to our 2024 Year 7 Information Night that will be held tonight, Wednesday 9 August at 7 pm in the Gym.

What to expect:

• You will meet the 2024 Year Coordinator Mr Deegan as well as other key staff
• You will have a tour of our college as well as seeing student’s work and hearing about their experience at high school
• You will have an opportunity to ask questions

The college handbook and expression of interest forms will be available, or you can return your expression of interest form, if you have completed this already.

We look forward to meeting you.

Ms Paterson 2024

Year 7 Assistant Principal

Students and families interested in studying Year 11 or 12 in 2024 at USC are warmly invited to attend an Information Night on Thursday 17 August in the MPA starting at 6 pm.

There will be an opportunity to meet the Year 11/12 Coordinators Sam Mawer & Kate Reynolds, to have a tour of our 11/12 study spaces and to look at courses on offer to personalise your child’s 11/12 timetable. The Tasmanian University will also be attending.

We look forward to meeting you.

Ms Paterson

2024 Year 11/12 Assistant Principal.

For the first five weeks of Term Three, the Year 8 students are involved in a reading program as part of the English curriculum. Students have been placed into mixed classes for English on a Wednesday morning. In this class time, we are explicitly teaching reading strategies to help students understand what they have read. For example: predicting, visualising, using think alouds, synthesising, making prior connections etc. The strategies taught through these sessions are then practised in their regular English classrooms. We have been pleased with the way most students have dealt with this change on a Wednesday.

Congratulations to Tannah! This week Tannah is in Melbourne and will be one of the flag bearers at the Women’s World Cup event. We’re sure she will have a wonderful experience at this event.

Just a reminder to all students regarding being prepared for class and having all the right gear ready to learn. It has been noted in P.E. that some students are regularly forgetting a change of clothes. As the weather gets warmer throughout the term, it will be important to have a change of clothes.

Later in the term, we have three-way conversations, which is a great opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers. If you would like to make contact regarding any issues prior to this, please feel free to give us a call or send an email. 

Wendy Leonard          Shaun Conkie
Assistant Principal      Year Co-ordinator

On Thursday 6 July, 20 students participated in the Rustica Rural Health Program. The program was facilitated by 14 medical, nursing and pharmacy students from the University of Tasmania.

At the beginning of the session, students were given a short presentation that outlined health courses available at the University of Tasmania and interstate, each course’s entry requirements and a brief overview of the TCE/ATAR scoring system.

The program involved several stations that engaged students in hands-on activities from a variety of health science professions.  These stations were:

• Plastering
• Blood pressure and heart rates + anaphylaxis/asthma
• Bandaging using bandages to treat basic injuries.
• ‘Gutsy Gus’ Anatomy
• Reflexes
• CPR 

Ulverstone Secondary College would like to thank all the volunteers for giving up their time to come along, and specifically Eloise Knuckey for organising the program.

Students in Year 10 – 12, and the Packages of Learning Class, have the opportunity to participate in work placement during the year. 

Work Placement is a great way for students to be exposed to the realities of the career they are interested in before committing to it fully.

Last term we had several students take up this opportunity and we would like to thank the following businesses for giving up their time to host students:

• G J Electrical Service
• JDR Homes
• Platinum Pro Construction
• Smith Signs
• Topcut Welding & Maintenance
• Ulverstone Mowers & Chainsaws
• Webster Trucks
• William Adams Pty Ltd

Students wishing to participate in Work Placement should see Belinda Gillard as soon as possible, as opportunities in Term 4 will be very limited.

In November 2022, I was chosen to participate in the Curious Minds East camp. Curious Minds is an 8 month program developed to encourage young women interested in STEM. I was one of 60 girls from across Australia selected for the camp, with many coming from Tasmania. Firstly, I participated in an online 3 day camp which involved specialised lectures and fun science based activities. After the introductory camp, I started my 6 month journey which consisted of many online sessions with my assigned STEM coach and partner. On the 8th of July I flew to Canberra to participate in the final five day Curious Minds East camp. Every day we visited the ANU (Australian National University) and took part in ‘Supercharges’, which were hands-on classes based on STEM related subjects. My personal favourite was Physics as we able to learn about the physics behind visible light as well as experiment with the fascinating laboratory instruments. As part of the camp, each participant had to do a presentation on a STEM subject, mine was on Ocean Acidification. One of the highlights of the camp was the excursion to Mt Stromlo Observatory as we were able to view Mars and various stars through the special telescopes and have discussions on space related topics such as black holes. Overall, during my Curious Minds journey I made some amazing memories, gained new friends and ignited my passion for a future in STEM.

Joely N

It is very important as we start a new term, that all medical action plans for asthma, anaphylaxis or other allergic reactions are updated and returned to the school office. If we have medications or epi pens for your child at school, it is also good time to ensure these are up to date.

We currently have several school blazers that students can hire or purchase.

Limited sizes are available. If your child would like to hire or purchase a blazer, please see Ms Paterson.

Term 3 at USC is filled with exciting events. Coming up on 18 August is National Book Week. This year’s theme is ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’. We will be holding a book themed dress up day, where students have the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character. Another casual clothes day coming up is Wear it Purple Day, which is held in support of LGBTQI+ youth. The SRC has begun planning the annual USC Spelling Bee, which is a big hit every year. Students compete in their grade categories, and the top three spellers from each grade move onto the grand final to battle it out for Spelling Bee champion. On the night of the 16 August, we are having a school Movie Night. Movie nights in recent years were popular among students, and are always a fun night to get together with friends and enjoy a movie. Remember to bring along some cash so you don’t miss out on snacks! This year’s movie is The Little Mermaid. As you can see, our school is in for a busy term! We look forward to seeing you in the rest of term 3.

Lydia S

The Department for Education Children and Young People is seeking feedback from families on current feeder school arrangements. These arrangements have been in place for many years and are currently under review. The current feeder school arrangements have been published and can be found on the Department’s Find Your Local High School webpage.  

Feedback on these current arrangements can be provided via on online survey at https://forms.office.com/r/q6SrdMne2i . Your feedback will be a valuable input into the review process.

About Ticket to Play

Ticket to Play is a Tasmanian Government initiative designed to reduce the cost of sport and active recreation membership and/or registration for eligible children.

Ticket to Play provides two vouchers worth up to $100 each towards club membership fees for children aged 5-18 years who are listed on a Services Australia Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or are in Out of Home Care. Vouchers can be used at two different activity providers, or both can be used at one activity provider.

The key objective of Ticket to Play is to increase the number of young Tasmanians participating in sport and active recreation.

Who is eligible for a voucher?

Applicants must be:

• aged between 5 and 18 years old at the time of application; and
• listed on a valid Services Australia Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card (either their own or their parent, guardian or carer’s) or be in Out of Home Care

Please click on 'Apply for a voucher', if you meet the above criteria

• Special consideration may apply if the child is aged 5 to 18 years, is a resident in Tasmania and meets the following criteria:
• the child/family is a temporary or provisional visa holder, undocumented migrant or international student.

If you meet this criteria please email tickettoplay@active.tas.gov.au for more information

What can I use a voucher for?

Vouchers can be used toward the cost of club membership or registration fees at Tasmanian sport or recreation organisations who are listed as an approved activity provider. Click here to search for Approved Activity Providers.

Did you know that vapes can contain addictive nicotine?  

Vaping addiction can make you feel irritable, anxious and make it hard to concentrate in school.   

To learn more about vaping, visit:

https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/about-us/projects/child-student-wellbeing/vaping/