Issue 1 - March 2022

From the Principal

Welcome to the first Newsletter for 2022 and especially to all our new students, parents and carers. We hope you enjoy being part of this vibrant, safe and diverse community of learners.  Returning to college looked different again this year due to our continual adaptation to living with COVID-19 but with all the safety and protective measures in place, we have had another very smooth start up with an increase in enrolments, several new staff joining our team, and much to celebrate from last year.

Our main goal at Hobart College is for all students to complete the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) or Tasmanian Certificate for Educational Achievement (TCEA), and for us to prepare students for a successful transition to further studies or employment.   We are also committed to providing students with a holistic education that enables them to be healthy, connected, and responsible members of the community.  As well as a focus on careers and goal setting, the weekly Home Group Program provides opportunities for students to participate in enrichment activities and themed events like Clean Up Australia Day and Harmony Day.

Wellbeing and differentiation in learning continue to be our main school improvement priorities for this year as well as an increased focus on student voice.  Last year we revamped the Student Leaders program to give students more opportunities to take on leadership roles and to have a greater voice in their learning and how the college operates, and this work will be extended in 2022.  Finally, we will continue to work with the Hartz Collective of associated schools (Taroona, Kingston, Woodbridge, Huonville and Dover Schools) to ensure there are relevant and engaging pathways for all students in our southern region to continue their education and to achieve successful outcomes at the end of Year 12. 

Hobart College students continued to achieve outstanding academic and vocational results in 2021.  We are disappointed to be unable to host our annual Awards Evening but are currently planning other ways to recognise the many student achievements from last year.   We will be having a special Awards Newsletter coming out soon!

I would encourage you to stay connected with the college through our Parent Teacher Evenings (held in Terms 2 and 3) and engaging online with our Schoolzine app, Facebook page, Instagram and website.  You may also consider joining the College Association.  We meet virtually by TEAMS (and with some limited face to face capacity) 6 times over the year and I am currently taking nominations for the committee positions of Chair and Deputy Chair.  The AGM will be held on 29 March.  Please contact me on 6220 3133 or email tracy.siedler@education.tas.gov.au if you would like a TEAMS invite to the meeting, would like to nominate for a Committee position, or if you have any concerns throughout this year. 

I really look forward to working with all of you over this year to ensure that we continue to uphold our traditions of excellence and diversity. 

Tracy Siedler

Principal

International Women's Day

HoCo celebrated International Women's Day with a panel of inspiring and motivational women who shared their stories to a group of aspiring students. Chatting over breakfast, the panel members spoke of their time at Hobart College and how it helped shape their journey into further education and work.  Each story was unique in it's narrative with the common themes of "you CAN do whatever you want" and "make the most of your opportunities" threaded throughout.  It was a truly enriching experience for all who attended. 

Thank you to our panel members who gave up their time speak to our students:

• Emily Doi - Project and Policy Officer Education Performance and Review - Department of Education
• Elizabeth Philips - Department of Health (Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in the COVID-19 Safe Events Team) 
• Taryn Reid - Experience and Engagement Manager at Business Events Tasmania
• Caitlin Richardson - HoCo English teacher and screenwriter
  
• Ella Vanzino - Registered Nurse on Paediatrics and Adolescent ward at RHH and completing graduated certificate in paediatric nursing
  

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News from HPOE

Bruny Island Expedition

At lunchtime on Friday the 25 February an excited group of 15 students loaded up the bus and a trailer to attend the first camp on Bruny Island with the focus on surfing and bushwalking. Students from a variety of feeders schools bonded on the bus and ferry trip down to the campsite. Their the first problem-solving task was to change the flat tyre on the trailer!

The weekend was filled with fun and laughter as students explored a variety of walks and surfed the seaweedy waves of Cloudy Bay. On Saturday evening, frisbee and a sunset swim meant that people were happy to head to sleep once back a camp.

On Sunday a  small group of students rose early for a sunrise surf in perfect glassy conditions.  Then a pack up and a final walk before returning on the ferry back to normal life.  Students were both tired and refreshed from the weekend away. But all were very happy to escape the confines of the bus which smelt of  damp wetsuits and rubbish.

We are all looking forward to Camp 2 which will involve a bushwalk around the Freycinet Circuit.

Thanks to John Dalco and Callum Dungey who assisted on the camp.

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Success in the Australian Open Canoe Slalom

Hamish and Hugh contested the selection trials for the Australian Junior Team in Penrith NSW recently. Hamish managed a second place in all four events, but with three different winners in the previous races it all came down to the final event on Saturday. Hamish held his nerve in a high pressure final to pull off a second place and a spot in the Australian team to travel to Italy in June (TBC soon). Hugh managed some equipment failure issues to achieve a sixth and a fifth place on the weekend, with a likely Australian ranking of 5^th.

Success in the Victorian Swimming Championships

Congratulations to Hobart College student Noah who competed in the Victorian Swimming Championships recently achieving a world junior qualifying time in the 800m freestyle.  He will now be off to Hawaii in August to compete in the World Junior Championships.  Noah also received a Bronze in the 1500m freestyle and Silver in the 200m butterfly at the championships.  Fantastic results Noah!

Tasmanian State Atheletic Championships - Domain Athletic Centre, 18 - 20 February

Hobart College students were well represented at the State Athletic Championships with some fantastic results:

Isabella

• Silver  Open Shot Put
• Bronze Open Hammer Throw
• Bronze Open Javelin
• Silver in Women’s U/20 100m
• Gold U20 Hammer
• Gold U/20 Javelin
• Gold U/20 Shot Put
• Bronze U/20 Discus

Caleb 

• Silver Open Hammer Throw
• Gold U/20 Hammer Throw
• Silver U/20 Shot Put
• Silver U/20 Discus

Alex 

• Gold U/18 800m
• Alvaro Canosa Vasquez
• 4^th Final U/20 100m
• 6^th Final U/20 200m

Zarian 

• Gold U/20 Long Jump
• Silver U/20 High Jump
• 7^th Final U/20 100m
• 8^th Final U/20 200m

Emily 

• Bronze U/18 800m
• 1500m Final

Richter 

• 100m Heats

Tasmanian State Rowing Championships – Lake Barrington, 19-20 February

Two students from Hobart College had great success at the recent State Rowing Championships:

Patrick

• Gold U/19 Doubles
• 4^th U/19 Single Singles

Julian

• Gold U/19 Doubles
• 5^th U/21 Men’s Singles

HoCo Library

We have been so pleased to see so many smiling eyes in the library already this year, with 9342 visitors so far.  Already our library is a place of calm, connection, joy and inspiration.  We have loved seeing so many students playing board games, participating in crafternoons and sharing their love for reading at Book Club.  Well done to those students who have entered our first three competitions – our cheeky ‘Welcome Back’ competition, our Love Your Library haiku competition and our latest, a celebration of the library’s popularity, ‘Guess how many people have visited?’ 

Thank you to those students who have already had their photos taken and collected their student cards.  It’s not too late to have this done - call in anytime.  Thank you to Thomas, our student monitor, who has collected our newspapers each morning. 

Check out our latest displays and newest releases if you haven’t done so already.  Let us know if you’re after a title we don’t have or if there’s anything we can do to help you ease into the 2022 school year. 

From the Library Team and Titch.

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Connecting virtually with our Sister School, Fuzhou no 8 Middle School

Hobart College has a long standing relationship with Fuzhou No 8 Middle School, China, and we have hosted many staff and student exchanges since 2007.  So it was exciting to engage virtually with the school for the first time in December with an online intercultural competition.  Following a presentation on life in Tasmania by Hobart College teacher, Trish de Jersey, the students from Fuzhou worked in groups on their presentations which were held a week later.  The quality of the multi-media presentations was outstanding and it was hard to decide on the winners!  This event also coincided with the State Government Reception at Government House celebrating 40 years of sister state relationship between Tasmania and Fujian Province.  We are looking forward to more virtual events between our two schools later this year.

Sustainability Learning Centre

The SLC has hit the ground running with the organisation of hard to recycle items being counted and weighed ready for mailing off to be recycled and repurposed, and preparing collection bags for the HoCo Clean Up Australia event.  With over 21 Home Groups participating, the Student Environment Team (SET) and Steiner Home Groups have created packs ready for the big clean up in Home Group this week. 

Maths and Science

Life Science Excursion

The Line 5 Life Sciences students enjoyed a morning out collecting plankton to view back at college. They had the opportunity to see how small life is in water from Hobart’s wonderful Derwent Estuary. This is just one of many learning opportunities provided to have a taste of Science in this course.

Maths and Science Tutorials up and running

The E block tutorials for Maths and Science subjects are on again, better than ever. Three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) in the E block common area. There are at least three staff answering questions, teaching finer points and generally helping students to achieve their best. This year the Student Leaders have volunteered to staff a student help desk. This will provide even more opportunities for students to seek help they need. Well done to those student leaders!

Many of our students use the tutorial time as their regular homework and study time. This way they get several hours study done each week (essential for all pre-tertiary subjects), they can work with their peers, help is there if they need AND they don’t have to take the work home.

News from Visual Art

ArtRage 2021

The work of fourteen Hobart College Visual Art students was selected to be a part of the ArtRage exhibition at the end of 2021. ArtRage is an annual initiative of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery that exhibits the top works from young Tasmanian artists in Years 11 & 12 studying Art Production or Art Studio Practice as part of their Tasmanian Certificate of Education.

Congratulations Amelia, Amy, Annie, Audrey, Cadi, Ella, Emma, Hikari, Ibuki, Ivy, Miriam, Mitch, Poppy, and Willow. And a big thank you to the Visual Arts staff who have helped you along the way.

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2021 Photographic Competition success

Eloise recieved first prize in the annual Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society with her photograph "Embraced by a Riptide" at the end of 2021. A wonderful achievement!  Eloise has now gone onto start her Fine Arts Degree in the Print Studio at RMIT.

Belinda Winkler Exhibition - NGV In Melbourne 

Congratulations to our very own Ceramics teacher Belinda Winkler, whose work Brink #4 is being featured in the Melbourne Design Fair from March 16 - 20 in Victoria.  The Melbourne Design Fair is an initiative of the National Gallery of Victoria in collaboration with the Melbourne Art Fair. For the first time, Design Tasmania will present a range of naturally resourceful Tasmanian designer-makers whose "practice embodies a living relationship with their craft and our island’s beautiful materials".  

Nursing students hit the ground running!

Introduction to Nursing students have been learning new skills in infection control, manual handling and workplace health and safety. They have been learning how to talk to patients, about consent and how to protect themselves in the workplace.

Students in the 300 hour Nursing Course have been busy studying dementia and have been completing online programs that are provided by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. All students have demonstrated incredible enthusiasm for the course and are working very hard.

News from Performing Arts

HoCo Band Tour Rocks Hobart

To celebrate their love of music and performing, the Hobart College House Band hit the road after the 2021 TASC exams for their annual end of year tour. They entertained and inspired thousands of students at a number of schools over the week and finished with two public performances in the Elizabeth St Mall and the Hobart Twilight Markets @ Brooke St Pier. A wonderful way to end the academic year!

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Cry Baby - The Musical: Cast Announcement

Hobart College is proud to announce the student cast for the Tasmanian premiere of Cry Baby presented in the Mount Nelson Theatre from 26 May to 4 July this year.  Rehearsals are well underway with the cast, band and crew throwing themselves into all aspects of the show, learning new songs, choreography and staging and it's already looking and sounding fantastic.  Tickets will be on sale soon, so keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram pages.   

Update from the Music Area

It’s an exciting year ahead for the music department as our young performers work towards excellence. 

• The UTAS Performance course has had increased interest with a second class being opened, giving more opportunities for students to hone their craft on their instrument with the support of our talented tutor team.  They have already had their first in class performance in front of lecturers from UTAS giving them valuable feedback to support their musical journey.
• We have a brand new course; UTAS Songwriter, which is an ATAR accruing subject where students learn to develop their song writing.  Students will receive mentorship from UTAS lecturers and it is a direct pathway into the Bachelor of Songwriting run at Hedberg Conservatorium.
• Our UTAS Music Technology students are working hard developing their recording and production skills with assistance from UTAS lecturers.
• Music 3 and Music Studies 2C students are working towards their first assessments and learning lots of music theory to empower them as musicians.
• The College record label Olinda Groove is up and running, and students in Contemporary music, VET Music and UTAS Songwriter are busy planning for events and recording projects to release throughout the year.  They will also continue and strengthen their connection with the Hobart College Media Department in creating music film clips later this year.
• The Hobart College House Band and Vocal Ensemble is in full swing with 42 members this year. They are building up their entertaining set list for their first concert near the end of this term. 

Upcoming Performances

PERFORMING ARTS LAUNCH: 30 March 2022

NB: Due to public health restrictions this performance will be filmed and released to public at a later date.  

This concert will feature pre-tertiary music students as well as performances from the Musical Production Cry-Baby, Vocal Ensemble and Hobart College House Band.  The night will showcase the thriving Performing Arts culture at Hobart College.

OLINDA GROOVE 2022 LAUNCH: 31 March 2022

NB: Due to public health restrictions this performance will be filmed and released to public at a later date.  

This performance will showcase the creativity and talent from the Contemporary Music and VET Music classes as they present their best 2 songs in preparation for further industry events and the Rock Challenge.  The show will cover a diverse range of genres from pop acoustic, indie, funk, rock and metal, both original music and covers.  The event will also give opportunities for students to develop event planning and technical skills. 

Concert Band Summer School

From February 1 to 4 this year, 65 performers from 16 schools joined our annual Concert Band Summer School program at Kingston High School. The students worked with guest conductors and instrumental specialists to prepare performance pieces over three days. The ensemble included a range of abilities from Primary School right through to UTAS Conservatorium.  This year the Summer School ran an intermediate and advanced ensembles as well as combined pieces.  Thank you to all the performers, parents, teachers and tech crew for supporting our 2nd Concert Band Summer School!

To watch this performance plus many more from Hobart College please visit our youtube channel which can be accesses below.

Keep up to date

To access all our Newsletters on your Android or IOS device, install the Schoolzine App. Click on the "how to" link below.  Please use this PIN number when prompted: 3185.

TASC Special Provisions for Examinations

Please find below details regarding those wishing to apply for Reasonable Adjustments for TASC Examinations in 2022.

College Association AGM & First Meeting for 2022

The Association’s purpose is to facilitate the flow of information between stakeholders and the College and to develop initiatives that contribute to improving student outcomes and the ongoing success of the College. There are no fundraising activities. The Association is represented by an elected committee of 11 (parents, staff, community members and the College Principal) and meets around six times per year.  We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Attendance may be face-to-face in the A Block Conference Room (next to the main office), or via Microsoft Teams.

All attendees are asked to RSVP to Tracy on 6220 3133 or at tracy.siedler@education.tas.gov.au

General Information

How to deal with School refusal

A lot of parents experience difficulties getting their teen out of bed and off to school every now and then. However, if your teen is regularly asking to stay home and seems upset or worried about school, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. Watch this short video in the link below to find out some ideas to deal with school refusal or resistance….and where to get the support you and your young person might need.

New changes to hay fever advice

Public Health has reviewed their advice about hay fever in the current COVID-19 environment.

Hay fever symptoms are similar to COVID-19 symptoms, so it’s important families know what they need to do if your young person experience hay fever symptoms.

If your young person has hay fever symptoms, please keep them at home and test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test (RAT).

If your young person tests negative on a RAT and symptoms continue, Public Health advises that you must do a second RAT 24 hours later, or seek a PCR test. 

If the second RAT or PCR remains negative, this is sufficient evidence for your young person to return to school if they feel well.

If symptoms change or increase in severity, please see your treating medical practitioner for review.

Please know that Public Health advice can change at short notice, and we appreciate your patience as we respond to these changes as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office. For more information, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

Passenger Code of Conduct for School Bus Services

The Department of State Growth (DSG) has released a Passenger Code of Conduct (the Code) for School Bus Services.

The Code sets out the expected standards of behaviour for students when using a bus.

It provides guidance and processes for bus operators and drivers to follow when a student breaches the Code, ensuring that all students, and breaches of the Code, are treated in a fair and consistent manner.

All operators of School Bus Services have adopted the Code as conditions of travel for the purposes of regulation 11 of the Passenger Transport Services Regulations 2013.

The Code has been developed by the Department of State Growth in consultation with the Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus), the Department of Education, Catholic Education Tasmania and contracted school bus operators.

A shared understanding between all stakeholders of the expectations of students travelling on buses – and the consequences for any inappropriate behaviour – is essential for ensuring compliance with the Code.

·       A link to the code is shown below  Link: Passenger Conduct Code for School Bus Services – Transport Services

Clarence City Band

Want to learn a musical instrument? Woodwind, brass or percussion?

The Clarence City Band Development Program is launching its 2022 Beginner Band!

The program offers expert tuition, instrument hire and a supportive and friendly atmosphere.
Weekly rehearsals are on Tuesday's, 5.00 - 7.00pm, at the Centre, commencing Tuesday 22 March.

There are opportunities for all levels of musicianship across 9 bands/ ensembles.

Membership costs

Adult: $60 per year
Under 18 / full-time student / pensioner: $35 per year
Instrument rental fees: $120 per year

For more information, visit our website or contact michael.allan.young@gmail.com

Helping teens cope with bad world news

When bad news breaks – like the distressing situation in Ukraine – it can be hard to avoid being affected, especially when it’s all over TV and social media. Knowing how to discuss it with young people can be even more of a challenge. Reach Out Australia have put together some tips on how you can help teens learn about current affairs in a healthy way and what you can do if bad world news is getting them down.  You can access the information via the link below.

The Smith Family - Saver Plus

Our school and The Smith Family are involved in this initiative and you may be eligible to receive $500 with Saver Plus!

Saver Plus is a matched savings and financial education program that supports you to save for education costs for either yourself or your children.

At the end of the program your savings are matched, $1 for $1 up to $500.

Saver Plus is an Australian community program and has been running since 2003, helping more than 50 000 participants to save more than $23million!

Eligible savings items include school uniforms and books, laptops, iPads and tablets, school trips, sports, music and extracurricular costs, TAFE and Uni costs and lots more.

For more information and to enquire online go to www.saverplus.org.au, or call 1300 610 355