Hobart College eNewsletter

From the Principal

Colleges are always such vibrant learning environments with so many different activities happening all the time and the last few weeks have been no exception.

We have just finished the Mid-Year Assessment Period which provided pre-tertiary students with the opportunity to experience formal examination conditions and other assessment activities suited to specific subjects. The feedback from these assessments will help students identify their strengths and what needs to be done to improve their learning before the formal examination period at the end of the year, which is run by the Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC). Teachers are now finalising the mid-year assessments and writing the final reports for this year which will be issued in week 4 of next term.

The last week of term has been exceptionally busy with our annual whole school Dark HoCo breakfast to celebrate the term, Talent Quest in Home Group, Festival of Voices concert, and hosting the debating competition. In Home Group, teachers are talking to students about their progress towards attaining the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and discussing strategies to ensure that students are on track to achieve their TCE by the end of year 12. Our other focus in Home Group from now is assisting students with their plans for next year.

Following our Careers Expo a few weeks ago, Year 12 students are preparing for their transition to either further study or employment, and teachers will be working with Year 11 students (and Year 10 students in our associated schools) to help them make informed decisions about course selections for next year. The University of Tasmania is again offering students the opportunity to apply for a degree through the Schools Recommendation Program (SRP). Applications for the main round opened on June 30 and will close on August 1. There will be two other rounds in term 3 up until October 7. Please contact our Careers advisor, Kate Dewar, in the library if you would like more information on this program and students can also book an individual appointment with one of our UTAS Relationships team.

I hope everyone has the opportunity to rest and recharge over the holidays and we look forward to seeing everyone again on Monday July 25 for the start of Term 3.

Regards

Tracy Siedler

Principal

Dark HoCo Photo Gallery

On June 24, members of the Hobart College LGBTIQ+ Allies group, Tori, Lyndell and Paige, met with the Ten Lives Cat Centre to pass on over $300 from their IDAHOBIT Op Shop fundraising. Thank you for representing the College for such a great cause.

Certificate II in Community Services - (Children's Services) Tiny Tackers

The Certificate II in Community Services - Children's Services students have been busy running 'play and learn' sessions at Hobart College for the Tiny Tackers Children Centre. What a wonderful collaboration for our students!

From Tiny Tackers Childcare Centre:

"This month at Tiny Tackers we have focused on recycling and sustainability. Each of our educators have been busy planning and running an experience with the children and having lots of conversations around these topics.

We have made recycled volcanos, read stories, been creative with recycled materials, collaged and drawn with plants and flowers, practised putting recycling into the correct bins and so much more!

We were so excited to see that this focus continued on to our playgroup visit to Hobart College last week.

We had the opportunity to help plant carrots, rocket, and broad beans into our veggie garden.

It was a very fun and hands-on experience for the children, who did not want to stop watering their new garden! We are all so excited to see how much our plants have grown by our next excursion This is what creating childhood memories is all about!”

Festival of Voices - Vocal Showcase

Congratulations to all performers involved in the annual Festival of Voices Vocal Showcase held on Tuesday 5 July. Solo vocalists were given the opportunity to pick a song in line with their interests, personality, and identity. They then arranged their songs for vocal ensemble and band and learned skills in how to hear harmonies and teach to other vocalists. We were fortunate to have the very talented Dana Badcock to work with our vocalists to make this happen.

The vocal ensemble was also joined by the Hobart College House Band and Extension Band who brought great energy to the music arrangements. The show was supported by a student tech crew who did a phenomenal job on lighting and sound production.

Next year, pending Public Health advice, we are hoping to return to the Hartz model and involve students from our associated high schools for the 2023 Vocal Showcase. Thanks to all the performers and crew for putting on this fantastic event, and thanks to those who came to support it.

You can watch the performances via the Performing Arts YouTube channel:

Vocal Showcase - Performing Arts YouTube

Vocal Showcase Photo Gallery

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Studies class were honoured to attend the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre's NAIDOC opening and flag-raising event at piyura kitina (Risdon Cove) on Monday 4July. The event attracted the largest crowd from across lutruwita (Tasmania) in the event’s history, including Community members and elders, allies and friends, the Premier of Tasmania, and other state representatives. A Welcome to Country was given by Dewayne Everettsmith and included a beautiful delivery in palawa kani, of the song milaynthina nika. The TAC’s Aborigine of the Year winner was also announced as Sinsa Mansell, an outstanding leader and ambassador of Tasmanian Aboriginal Country, heritage and culture. The award was accepted on behalf of Sinsa by Jim Everett, a long-term activist and advocate, philosopher, writer and elder of the Community. The ceremony was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience and learn on Country, with members of the Community.

Talent Quest

On Wednesday 6 July, Hobart College held its annual Talent Quest during Home Group and it did not disappoint! With over 15 acts, we were treated to some amazing hidden talents. From magic tricks to dramatic monologues, singing to rapping, and even whistling! Thank you to our judges Patrick, Jessie and Jeff and Jan our MC. Special congratulations to all students who braved the stage.

Talent Quest results:

First place: Arlyn Oda-Fraser
Second place: ‘Ollie and the Bollens’
Third place: Aimee and Jude
People’s Choice: Phoebe Johnston

Talent Quest Photo Gallery

Futsal Championships

Hobart College had a successful day at the Tasmanian Schools Futsal Championship on June 6. Although we narrowly missed out on the grand final, all 4 of our teams showed wonderful sportspersonship and team spirit. We had 13 students selected to represent Tasmania at the National Schools Championship to be held in Queensland in Term 3 holidays. Congratulations to the following students:

Jacob Hardie
Darcy Scott
Bowie Mc Grath
Patrick March
India Stroh Reilly
Caitlin Riley
Ruby King
Xavier Lynch
Thomas Cane
Mei Booker
Hamed Rezaie
Toby Flemming
Wesley King

Combined College Hockey

Congratulations to Emma O’Grady, Lachlan Rogers and Max Johnstone, who were members of the Combined Colleges Hockey team that won the Grand Final recently.

Badminton

Big congratulations to Lachlan Johnstone and Codi Barratt who represented Tasmania in the U19 Badminton team at the National competition in Adelaide between July 4 and July 10.

Thank you also to Lachlan who has been coordinating our College team for the past two years and who has used his initiative to form a playing group who trained at College and competed very successfully in the College Badminton Competition.

Canoe Slalom World Championships

Congratulations to Hamish Dalziel who made it to the semi-finals of the 2022 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Ivrea, Italy.

Coming up in Term 3

Poetry Competition

The 2022 campus-wide Poetry Competition attracted forty-two entries. The overall quality of the writing this year was excellent with subject matter ranging from the personal to the political. The judges chose 25 poems to be entered into the National Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition which will be judged in the coming months. The judges were unanimous in awarding first place this year to Grace Ren for her poem "我们不一样 (We Were not the Same)". The poem beautifully evokes the experience of Australians whose sense of family and belonging has been fragmented by immigration. The judges commented on Grace's deft use of specific imagery to describe the speaker's experience of being "somewhere else". Two poems were chosen as runners-up: Emma Elliott's "My mother and I, and my mother and I" and Erina Finnigan's "Fragile Gold".

Congratulations to all poets for the hard intellectual work, crafting and love that went into their writing.

We were not the same by Grace Ren

Debating News

After a COVID delay, Hobart College debaters are finally up and talking. Three teams have been entered into the Tasmanian Debating Union’s Southern Colleges Competition and have already enjoyed success in the first round on the topic of Australian Politics. Hoco 2 narrowly defeated Friends 2 arguing that “the Liberal Party should introduce a quota for female representation” and HoCo 3/4 defeated Hutchins 1 arguing that “we should dissolve political parties that represent fringe viewpoints”. HoCo 1 had a bye in the first round but will also be debating on July 6 when we host the round at Hobart College on the topic of Education.

Languages

Hobart College Language teachers Shane and Trish spoke to Grade 10 students about language pathways as part of the Hartz Collective Taster Week at Kingston High School. Shane and Trish spoke about the employment possibilities for people who can speak more than one language. In Term 3, students from Kingston High School will visit Hobart College to see Language classes in action.

Textiles

Design and Production Textiles students recently explored how user identity and needs can influence design decisions. Students used a design process to design and make a tote bag or cushion cover that expressed their individual style and creativity, and which met their needs. Students tested and trialled a variety of different decorative and embellishing processes and techniques to determine the most appropriate techniques to use for their design. Techniques included applique, heat-transfer vinyl, hand embroidery, screen-printing, machine decorative techniques, painting, beading and felting.

To celebrate the 2022 National Science Week theme Glass: More than meets the eye, the Hobart College Science Department are looking at nature through the lens by holding a Photography Competition where students (and teachers) will have the opportunity to enter their photographs based the "glass" theme.

Competition Guidelines:

The photograph must feature nature and be accompanied by a title (maximum 5 words) and a brief description (maximum 50 words).
Enter as many photographs as you wish.
The competition is open to the whole school community – including teachers.
Entries are due by 5.00pm on Friday August 5.
You must fill in the entry form to enter and upload your photograph as a jpeg file.

A variety of fantastic prizes will be awarded by a panel of teachers from the HPOE, Science and Art departments, plus a local nature photography expert. Think about what each of these departments would value in a photograph to increase your chances of winning.

A popular choice prize will be awarded after the exhibition in the Little Space Gallery during National Science Week (13th - 21st August). For more information, students can speak to their Home Group teacher to obtain the Art Department’s “Nature Photography – Basic guide” document.

Library donation

Thank you to our HoCo students who supported the Library's mega book sale in June. Together we have raised $170.00 to donate to the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation’s SHARE-A-BOOK program, providing new and quality pre-loved books to Indigenous, refugee and marginalised communities in need of resources.

ROUND TWO - Hoodie Orders/QKR! App

Students who missed out on ordering a 2022 Hobart College Hoodie/Windcheater now have the opportunity to pay and order one for Term 3.

The second round is now open with the option of paying via the QKR! App (see information below on how to install QKR!). The College Office will still be taking orders over the phone or in person at the Front Office when school returns for Term 3.

Orders can be placed up until Friday August 12.

Notices

LEVIES AND ADDITIONAL SUBJECT CHARGES

Payment of levies and additional subject charges are now overdue.

If you are experiencing difficulties with payment please contact the college office to confidentially discuss your individual situation.

Payment Options:

BPay (School Invoices)
Service Tasmania Shops (School Invoices)
Credit Card over the phone (6220 3133)
In person at the College – Eftpos, cash or cheque (made payable to Hobart College)

COAL RIVER COACHES SMARTCARD INFORMATION

Have you signed up for your Smartcard?

Does your young person travel on one of our school transfer services in and around the greater Hobart region?

Signup for a smartcard and get all the benefits that the TransportMe system has including live tracking of buses (see this flyer on how to install TransportMe app: https://transportme.com.au/.../v1.2-Passenger-App-Users...).

You can sign up for your Smartcard here: https://www.coalrivercoachestasmanianschooltransport.com....

Or ask your friendly bus driver for a paper version.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK MEMBERSHIP

Purchase your Entertainment Membership and support Hobart College via this link:

Entertainment Membership - Hobart College

AN UPDATE ON FACE MASKS

Public Health has advised that from Monday 27 June 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory in schools and Child and Family Learning Centres. This is because of reduced COVID-19 cases in our community.

It’s important to continue to:

stay at home if unwell, and get tested
practise COVID-safe behaviours such as frequent handwashing and sanitising
be up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.

Students, staff and visitors are supported to continue to wear face masks if they choose to. Face masks are still available at the Front Office if you need them.

When face masks are required

If you’re a close contact, you are still required to wear a face mask indoors as per current Public Health advice.

From time-to-time, we might identify activities or situations where masks are required to be worn. We ask for your support when this happens and know that it is in the best interests of our students, staff and our community.

Our staff will continue to wear masks when working closely with students who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly to discuss.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Tasmanian Government Coronavirus website or contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or Department of Education COVID-19 Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

If you need support translating or interpreting this information, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

LET'S MAKE EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNT

Being at school is the best place for our kids. It’s where they learn and grow alongside their friends, and where they benefit the most.

The Department of Education’s new communication resources on School attendance highlight the importance of regular school attendance – watch the television commercial here.

Going to school not only promotes academic success, but also helps build important social skills, relationships and confidence. Every COVID-safe measure is being taken, so that every student can learn in class safely.

What we do know is that every school day counts. Bright futures begin at school, so if your child is well enough to attend school, being in the physical school environment is the best place for them.

For more information, please visit the Department of Education website.