Professional Documents
Culture Documents
6 November 2009
6 November 2009
6 November 2009
6 November, 2009
P O Box 1261, Devonport 7310. PH: 6420 8100
The Minister of Education has agreed that schools may request up to three professional learning days, in addition to the one day
designated by the Minister for moderation each year from 2009 to 2012. This enables all school staff to participate in professional
learning. On these days students do not attend.
We are seeking your support for three (3) additional professional learning days in 2010. These days will be beneficial for the
students of Reece High and are strongly supported by our School Association and our teaching staff. Additional professional
learning days have become common practice state-wide with the important aim of improving student learning outcomes. The days
will be used to provide whole staff professional development in a cost efficient way and will be timed to minimize disruptions
within the school year.
In 2010 it is our intention to use these days to continue our professional learning in several key areas:
Tasmania Curriculum Framework: Learning Area development.
School Improvement Plan review and redevelopment
Teacher effectiveness
Separate from this proposal, under the conditions of the Teaching Award, teachers are required to undertake five professional
learning days outside normal school hours each year.
In addition Reece teachers undertake professional learning every three weeks after school. A complete professional learning plan
for 2010 will be available upon request early in 2010.
These three days are in addition to one day designated by the Minister for the purposes of moderation for the Tasmanian
Curriculum Framework. This day will be held on Monday 3rd May.
Parents will be reminded of these dates (or notified of any changes) through the school newsletter eight (8) weeks prior to their
implementation. The school will make appropriate arrangements for students who are unable to be supervised on professional
learning days at no cost to parents.
The Minister of Education is the only person who is authorised to change the attendance times for schools. He has indicated he
will approve change when less than 25% of families lodge an objection to the proposal. If you wish to register your opinion, please
complete the attached form and return it to Reece High School by 20 November 2009.
Yours faithfully
Sheree Vertigan
PRINCIPAL
On behalf of the School Association
Email reece.high@education.tas.gov.au
Professional Learning Days
CONFIDENTIAL
The Survey process will ensure that the Principal, School Association and Staff will not know how you voted.
Note
The Minister for Education is the only person who is authorised to change the attendance times for schools.
The Minister has indicated he will approve change when less than 25% of families lodge an objection to the
proposal.
If the proposal has parent and staff support as well as the support of the School
Association and the Minister approves the proposal professional learning days, the days will be taken on:
9th February
30th July
11th October
If you have any questions or comments about the survey or you would like more information, please contact
the Principal.
The survey can be returned to the Reece High School Office. The final return date for the survey is Friday
13th March 2009.
Email reece.high@education.tas.gov.au
Web http://www.reece.tased.edu.au/
Grade 9 Ecoventure Camp
This year the grade 9 Ecoventure classes will be participating in a camp at Arm River from the 10th-12th
November. Camp preparation is well under way in class and camp forms and permission slips have been
sent home, however a reminder that these forms, permissions slips and money need to be returned to the
office ASAP. If you have any queries please contact Casey Frimley or Nigel Woolley on 64208100
While the Internet is a great tool for learning, communication and entertainment, research shows some
ongoing, as well as new, challenges facing young people, schools and parents.
1. Online social networking – with teens communicating online, the potential is there for turning online
communication into real-life meetings which can be fraught with danger
2. Illegal content downloads – in a growing trend, teens are routinely downloading content without
parental knowledge or approval.
www.safeonline.org.au provides safety guidance for young users of the Internet and provides research on
problems young people face using this medium. The role of parents has been taken into consideration also with
advice to assist parents understand the potential threats to their children and provides guidance for correct
supervision.
The site will be launched at the school on 29 October and will be promoted to other schools and the local
community.
Well done to Dillon Brooks, Byron Davies, Cody Williams and Russell Burgess!
Supported by the office of Children And Youth Advisory Services(CAYAS) and
Department of Premier & Cabinet
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REECE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
Our major fundraising event for next year is catering for the Breathe of Life Concert to be held at Reece
High School on Saturday 27th March 2010.
We are asking for volunteers to assist us in our endeavours to raise much needed funds for the school.
Please complete the form below if you are able to assist us in any way and return it to the office as soon as
possible
Research into the long term effects of energy drinks is limited and what research is available is coming from the United States.
In the past there has been a cautious approach to warnings regarding energy drink consumption but, as we learn more about the
associated risks, there is growing community concern. Some European countries have bans on the sale of some energy drinks.
At the moment, Australia has no bans or legislation in place, resulting in energy drinks being available for sale to the general
public and easily accessible to young people.
Following a recent professional learning session about the risks associated with energy drinks it was agreed to provide teachers
with some additional information and materials to:
increase awareness of the potential risks of energy drinks
increase awareness of the aggressive marketing of energy drinks to young people
inform the school community of the physical, social and psychosocial risks associated with energy drinks
provide ideas to support teaching and learning programs.
The information presented here, whilst not definitive, will provide teachers, school leaders and school communities with
sufficient information to make informed comment and decisions ranging from some short grabs of information for the school
newsletter or to inform more lengthy processes around policy.
In addition to this information, I have prepared three brief learning sequences based on the key understandings, standards and
stages of the Health and wellbeing curriculum. These learning sequences are designed to improve student understanding and to
challenge their perceptions of energy drinks consumption.
MEDIA RELEASE
22 SEPTEMBER 2009
Parents are invited to select their child’s age and review a comprehensive list of common questions and discussion points,
related to the child’s particular age group. See these examples of what’s on offer for you:
Parents-to-be
• How your alcohol consumption affects your baby
• Encouraging family and friends to be better role models
• Making fun of people who don’t drink
Parents have the option to vote on a particular issue such as “Do you think your alcohol consumption affects your kids?” and
the results are updated instantly to reveal the consensus from the active online parent community. They are also invited to
register to become an active contributor and receive invitations to upcoming events.
Highly respected and authoritative experts, including Royal North Shore Hospital’s Emergency Registrar and What’s Good For
You host, Dr Andrew Rochford, and family and child psychologist, Dr John Irvine, then provide professional advice on these
issues and more.
1
Chris Watters, CEO of DrinkWise Australia, said the website was developed in direct response to research which showed that
over half (51%) of parents indicated they had insufficient tools, knowledge and support to delay the age at which their child first
started drinking alcohol. “We’ve created a place for all parents, no matter what age their children, to go with questions and
concerns related to kids and drinking. From pregnant mothers through to parents with teenagers, it’s a dynamic online community
offering expert advice but also the opportunity to share opinions and initiate parenttoparent conversations.”
KIDS AND ALCOHOL DON’T MIX is a continuation of the generational change journey that DrinkWise commenced last
year with its successful KIDS ABSORB YOUR DRINKING campaign which informed parents that children form their
attitudes toward drinking from a young age.
DrinkWise is an evidencebased not for profit research and social change organisation that fosters innovative approaches towards
developing and maintaining a safer drinking culture in Australia. DrinkWise relies on key independent research and clinical advice
which has informed the development of this campaign.
1
Quantum Market Research, 2009. Parents of Tweens and Alcohol. Quantitative Findings. February 2009.
For further information, please contact Belinda Aspinwall on 0448 120 976, Lelde McCoy on 0417 362 768 or The
Reputation Group on 03 9820 2633.
Grade 10 Dinner and Final Assembly
on Tuesday Dec 15
November
4-5 Athletics Carnival
27 Show Day
December
2 Recreation Day
11 Walk-a-thon
Email reece.high@education.tas.gov.au
Web http://www.reece.tased.edu.au/