Issue 3 Term 2

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

As we have moved into and through the darkest days of the year we have been working hard to maximise the learning opportunities for students throughout the term. I have been pleased with the general settled nature of classes and the approach that all of our staff have taken in planning for and delivery of learning experiences for students.

For many of us we have worked through adjusting and re-adjusting to school post the tragic incident that occurred at the end of Term 1. For some of us we have felt the ongoing impact from the incident whilst for others adjusting and moving forward has been achieved. What we can confidently say is that all members of the school community have been supported with their grieving.

It is with great excitement and anticipation that the Cosgrove Revitalisation project will begin in the upcoming Term holidays. More information is presented later in this newsletter, and we will keep the community updated as the construction progresses. The key point is that Vos Construction will be completing the works which will begin with Site Office establishment and then removal of the Pine Trees near entrance to the school on Felicity Lane to make way for the new car park. This work will be well underway by the second week of the school holidays.

Naidoc Week has been recognised this week at Cosgrove though a Smoking Ceremony, Indigenous games and Wellbeing class time. On Friday we have enjoyed a BBQ to enable us to experience and taste food related to the traditional owners of the land.

Future Pathways

This term we have provided an opportunity for a number of our Year 9 and 10 students to tour the Bridgewater Bridge construction and gain an insight into the employment opportunities that exist in industry. The students have had an excellent time generating knowledge and understanding of the many aspects of the construction industry.

In Term 3 we will have 30 of our students attend the Tasmanian Building and Construction Careers Expo at Macquarie Point. This will be another amazing opportunity for students to explore the many careers available in the building and construction industry. Students will get to engage with simulators and speak with industry experts.

In Week 9 our Year 10 students attended Claremont College for the annual college Taster Day. Students were able to choose from several senior secondary courses to explore what their options might be in Year 11 and how these courses will influence and assist in future career development. The experience was a valuable one and the start of many conversations about the all-important transition to Year 11 for our students.

30 of our Year10 students have this week attained their Leaner Drivers Licence (including 10 attaining their Motorcycle Learner License) through the RYDA organisation which is fantastic for those students.

Extra-Curricular

We have been excited with the progression and success of our Chess Club this year. Recently a number of our students participated in the Inter-School Chess Tournament where Cosgrove finished in second place. This was an amazing result that showed the significant growth that our students have mad with their chess knowledge and gameplay throughout the last year.

The Reclink AFL 9’s competition has begun with our teams performing well in the opening round with a convincing win against Montrose Bay High School. It looks like it will be New Norfolk High School who will be our toughest challenge as we were defeated in a tight contest against them in the opening round.

The school’s badminton competition has come to a close with our students representing the school extremely well throughout the competition under the expert tuition from Mr Henderson. There have been individual success with Jett H receiving a silver medal and our Year 10 team fighting it out until the final rounds. Congratulations to all involved.

Earlier in the term we were delighted to hold our annual Year 10 camp at Blue Lagoon in Dodges Ferry. The students were able to enjoy a range of activities that included; abseiling, rock climbing, archery tag, fishing, beach walks and a movie night. All students who attended the camp enjoyed themselves thoroughly creating lasting memories to reflect back on their time at Cosgrove.

Throughout the Term we have had all of our Year classes participate in excursions to the Sustainability Centre at Mt Nelson and Year 8 students have had the chance to enjoy a day out at the Marine Discovery Centre in Woodbridge. We look forward to enabling more extracurricular activities in the second half of the year.

I would like to wish all students staff the very best for a well-deserved school holiday and look forward to resuming the school year in Term 3. Thank you to our parents and carers for your ongoing and increasing involvement with the school and for the engagement in the partnerships we establish to improve the learning outcomes for students.

YEAR 7

We have had an exciting term in Year 7 with lots of fun learning activities.

Maths- We have finished the term learning about fractions and how to multiply these.  We had to show our knowledge by drawing these and showing our workings out.

Science- We learnt about animal kingdoms and how feral cats and rabbits have had a negative effect on our eco system.

English- We have been studying Percy Jackson.  We have done some character studies on the characters in the book and presented these as a flip book.

HASS- We learnt about Ancient Rome and what it was like to live there.  The lives were very different for a soldier and clave.

Clubs- We have been participating in clubs every Wednesday.  I like that we get to choose and be part of a club that we are interested in.

We look forward to next term and what we can learn about.

By Taneisha, Indigo and Chloe.

YEAR 8

The Year 8 STEM class went to Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre. While there, they participated in building their own ROV (remotely operated vehicle) to test out in the water. All groups had some success with submerging their ROV and gather footage in the water.

Next, we went out in the boat. We had a safety briefing first before we were able to move round. Students then got to have a play with a real ROV connected to a device where they explore the water.

We were lucky with the weather while there, no wind and then sun was shining. It was a great day, and we look forward to going back with the Year 8 classes in Term 3.

YEAR 9

This term, in Year 9 Maths we have been completing a design your own bedroom task to show our learning of budgeting and measurement. We were given a budget of $2000 and a room with specific measurements to design a suitable single bedroom.

In English this term we have been focusing on bias in the media by analysing newspaper articles, focusing on their titles and colours and the language being used, separating fact from opinion in the media which are very important skills to learn for the future.

In Year 9 History we have learning about the Industrial Revolution and how industries developed into mass production and overpopulation in the European cities leading to the event of the First Fleet and colonisation of Australia and life of a convict. It is amazing and important to know and learn about our country’s history.

In Science this term we have been learning about our bodies internal systems such as the nervous system all leading into how our body creates its homeostasis and maintains a healthy environment. This kind of science and biology of our bodies is so we can know and understand why our bodies go through the noticeable changes and phases.

In Year 9, we have also been participating in amazing opportunities such as badminton and netball tournaments. Versing other schools after school has been really fun. This has been a great opportunity for students to make new friends and learn team communication skills. Also, it’s been so great watching Cosgrove win their matches. Great effort to all of our year 9 players!

Also, this term, Year 9/10s had the amazing opportunity to go on an excursion to Tasmania’s largest ever infrastructure project, The New Bridgewater Bridge Project. Offering students an opportunity to not only view the site but for the large-scale construction industry, exposing them to the potential career pathway into construction.

Lastly, In Wellbeing, Year 9s have been focusing on resilience to help learn how to cope with hardships and difficulties, building perseverance, self-confidence as well as self-worth and setting personal goals. Year 9s have also been focusing on good behaviour, such as arriving to school on time, wearing correct uniform and respecting peers and teachers. Students who have displayed these behaviours all term, were invited to a pizza lunch. I can confirm, it was delicious!

By Ozzy.

YEAR 10

The term has been a busy one for Year Ten students. Many students have been engaged in all of the opportunities available to them this term, ranging from careers based activities to learning and engagement activities.

The highlight for many students this term had to be the Year Ten camp. Students who met the criteria were able to attend an action packed two days and an overnight stay at Blue Lagoon in Dodges Ferry. The weather was great, and this enabled all of the activities to go ahead. Many students conquered their fears and pushed themselves out of their comfort zone by participating in indoor rock climbing and, on the second day, archery tag. Students supported and encouraged each other to be brave and have a go at these activities, even some of the staff tested themselves by leaping over the edge of the taller tower! Archery tag was a favourite as it was competitive and allowed students to work together as teams to defeat the opposition! A walk along the beach and some time spent fishing rounded off the first day and the night was completed with a campfire, toasted marshmallows and a movie. Feedback from students was that it was a fun and enjoyable experience, they got to work with each other and build connections with their peers and it is certainly one of the things they will remember about their final year at Cosgrove. Since returning, it has been great to see how many students have built connections with each other and to listen to them share their positive experiences of the time they spent there.

As we finish the term, we are starting to look into the future and prepare for the next steps. We have had Jobs Hub from Glenorchy come in and work with students to write resumes and cover letters. The Jobs Hub also have connections for students to explore with different industries. They will be returning in term three for any students who would like an appointment. Students will be heading off to Claremont College for the Year Ten taster day where they will explore different courses and options for Year 11/12. This is an excursion for the whole year group and will give an insight into what college life is like, whilst allowing students to engage with the content and staff for their chosen courses. As we move into term three, both Claremont and Elizabeth College will be visiting to complete student enrolments, there will also be a taster day held at Elizabeth College – more information will come int Term Three.

We also look forward to attending the Rotary RYDA day which will allow students to learn more about the theory side of driving, the online mentoring program iTrack and also work experience opportunities as they occur during Term Three.

Year Ten students this term have continued to show resilience, take opportunities as they arise and also have challenged themselves with their learning. In classes, we have been studying the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, we have been exploring algebra and it’s applications in real life settings, understanding our biology by studying genes and chromosomes whilst in History, the study of World War Two and what happened afterwards has helped us setting the context for the novel study within English. 

A busy term where there have been many successes to celebrate!

We look forward to continuing this in Term Three!

Respect, Responsibility and Resilience

I would like to congratulate all award recipients on your wonderful achievement. It is tremendous that we have been able to acknowledge those students who have upheld our values of respect, responsibility and resilience.

Please see below the list of certificate winners.

Learning Conversations

In week 9 we held our first Parent Learning Conversation afternoon for the year where our teachers shared student Evidence of Learning. This was a great opportunity for parents/carers to see the work that their young person has completed this year. We were thrilled with the engagement from the community with over 70 parents attending the afternoon, by far exceeding our expectations and the numbers from previous years. The feedback from parents/carers and students so far has been overwhelmingly positive and students have all felt proud of being able to showcase their work. If parents/carers have yet had the opportunity to provide feedback we ask that you please click the link here: https://forms.office.com/r/jhwBAsRMtJ We are very interested in any barriers we can overcome to keep increasing the parent/carer engagement with the school.

Evidence of Learning folders can still be collected from the front office by parents/carers and there is always an opportunity to arrange an appointment with teachers to discuss student progress.

Our next Learning Conversation will be in Term 3 in Week 9 on Tuesday 17^th September from 3.30pm.

External School Review

Thank you to those parents that engaged with us during our recent External School Review. We have received clear commendations, affirmations and recommendations from the review which are detailed below. We are heartened by the work we have done over the last two years which has been reflected in the Commendations.

Commendations

The high levels of commitment of all staff to improving the outcomes for students at Cosgrove High School. 

The focus on building respectful relationships and ensuring that all students are known and supported. 

The provision of support to meet the wellbeing and engagement of students. 

The collegial culture where staff feel supported by each other in their teams. 

The resilience demonstrated by all staff with the current challenges with the physical environment. 

The appreciation of families for the work the school does to provide support for their children. 

Affirmations

The timetabling of Collaborative Planning Teams to provide opportunities for staff to work and learn together.

The focus on the DECYP priority of Reading.

The focus on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support informed by data.

The examples of quality teaching practices being implemented by teachers in their classrooms.

The regularly timetabled teaching of wellbeing aligned to the school values.

The School Support and Wellbeing Team process that focuses on the individual needs of students.  

Recommendations

Co-construct, clearly document, and implement a coherent and agreed set of evidence-informed strategies to establish and maintain an orderly environment that supports and encourages learning. Build staff capacity to consistently implement these agreed strategies and ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of their impact.

Strategically identify and prioritise agreed evidence-based teaching practices for consistent school-wide implementation.

Build highly effective approaches to teacher collaboration, learning, and teamwork that continuously improve school-wide teaching practice to ensure every student is learning successfully. Ensure that these approaches are regularly monitored and evaluated.

Bike Club

This term students have been working in a small group to repair bikes and build jumps and seesaws. The long term plan is to build a pump track at the top of the school for students to build bikes, construct tracks and ride bikes whilst at school.

Chess Club

Last Week Cosgrove High School had some student representative take part in the Norther Suburbs Chess Tournament. All of our students played really well and as a result, came away with a silver medal.    We have now been selected to represent the south of Tasmanian at the State Chess Championships in November.

Raise Mentor Program

This term as seen the beginning of the Raise Mentor program for a small group of selected year 8 and 9 students. Raise Mentor is a program where volunteers from the community come into the school to mentor students for a period of 20 weeks. The mentors and mentees meet once a week for an hour, where they work through a booklet together, talk and play games.

The students and mentors went through some activities to begin with to see who the students would like to match with for the program. Mentors and mentees have now been matched and are well underway with their weekly meetings and getting to know each other. We are already seeing the positive impacts this program is having on our students and their excitement to Wednesday’s when they get to hang out with their mentor. We look forward to seeing how it all unfolds over the remainder of the year.

Year 10 Camp

Year 10 students spent two action packed days at camp; rock climbing, abseiling, fishing, archery tag and lots more!!

Everyone had such a fantastic time, and it was wonderful to see students encouraging and supporting each other to participate in activities which may have been a little out of their comfort zone!

Cosgrove High School - School Association

For the first time since June 2022, we have been able to form the Cosgrove High School – School Association. This provides the opportunity for parents to have a voice through the school and to work in partnership to assist Cosgrove on its improvement journey. The elected office bearers are below. If parents/carers wish to find out more or would like to be involved, please contact the Cosgrove School office.

School Association Committee Members

Chairperson: Bianca Stiglic-
Secretary: Mandy Gardner
Treasurer: Una Wood
Principal: Anthony Coe
Community Members: Josh Willie and Richard Chu
Staff Representatives: Tanya Mansfield and Samantha Jesney

Redevelopment

Our school Principal, Anthony Coe along with Bianca Stiglic, chair of the Cosgrove High School Association, met with Vos Construction today to celebrate and discuss the Revitalisation Project ahead of the works beginning over the school holidays.

We are thrilled that we will see works beginning and can’t wait to engage with Vos Construction throughout the next year and a half ahead of the 2026 opening of the new building.

Information on the project and the first steps can be found on the school website which will be updated as the project unfolds.

Share your thoughts on school attendance

Help us better understand any barriers that may be in the way, and what supports are needed to help with getting to school.

The Department for Education, Children and Young People is doing statewide consultation on school attendance. 3P Advisory is independently running the consultation. Your answers are confidential, and you won’t be identified.

We want to hear from you. You can take part in an online survey, share or vote for suggestions, or join an online drop-in session via the 3P website. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

As a parent or carer, please have your say. Please encourage your child/ren, too.

Every piece of feedback counts. Thanks for helping shape future DECYP initiatives, school-based engagement strategies and public awareness campaigns.