Fahan School eNewsletter

Principal's Report

It’s hard to believe that we are nearly halfway through Term 1. Our Year 7s have camped at Kelvedon, some of our senior students have participated in the Relay for Life, there have been rowing regattas at Lake Barrington and Junior School students have commenced their Swim and Survive program, to name a few of the many activities happening in the last fortnight.

It might be interesting to reflect on the history of Swim and Survive, as this is a program that many of us who grew up in Australia remember participating in.

Swim and Survive has been a long-running program in Tasmania, and at Fahan, necessitated by the fact that we are an island state. As I understand it, the program was initially conceived and carried out by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA). After a period of trialling a program in several states and territories, the RLSSA launched the ‘Swim and Survive’ program in 1982. Swimming and water safety is now compulsory in Tasmanian Government schools for all students in Years 3, 4 and 5.

At Fahan, the skills of swimming and Life Saving have been taught for many years. In fact, in the 1940s Life Saving was extremely popular, and the School enjoyed considerable success in inter-school and state competitions. In 1947, Fahan won the Australian Teams Championship; this is phenomenal, given that the school only had around 196 pupils.

Fahan has taught swimming as part of the Physical Education program for many decades. Mr Robert Owens, who commenced at Fahan teaching PE in the early 1980s, can remember taking students to the ‘Top of the World’ pool in Dynnyrne, which operated until the 1990s.

These days at Fahan, students in Prep-Year 6 participate in Swim and Survive, which is currently taught at the Collegiate Pool. These skills are essential for water safety so that people are provided with the required skills to lead safe and active lives in, on, and around the water.

On Wednesday, our younger students put these skills into action at the Junior School House Swimming Carnival. It was a fantastic atmosphere, with excellent participation and swimming skills on display.

Tonight is our first Parents and Friends community event for the year, Sunset at the Barn, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Best wishes,

Meg Lawson

Learning in Pre-Kinder

Marble Run

Our children have been learning about mathematical concepts, cooperation, spatial awareness, and teamwork. Working together as a team to build a marble run has provide a wonderful extension to their learning.

We talked to the children about working collaboratively on a communal structure that was spread out over the table and was wide rather than tall. This allowed for more stability of the structure.

Each child added their own element to the equation. This was like a giant three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle and the children were learning about problem solving, critical thinking and solution-based ways to make this work.

We continue to offer wonderful extensions to our program to support further development and thinking in our learners.

Lisa, Vivienne, Moya, Hattie, Heena and Sean

Learning about Living Things in Prep

What do tadpoles eat? How long until the tadpole changes into a frog? What sort of frog will it be? Why is that stick moving? Hey! The stick has got legs!

Prep students have been studying pond life in the classroom aquarium very closely. They have posed many questions and are noticing some very interesting changes to the myriad of inhabitants. Students are learning to make scientific drawings and record what they see as accurately as possible.

Ms Kim Menadue

On Tuesday 20 February, Year 5 students were fortunate to have a visit from Fahan parent, Michael Robertson.

As a naval helicopter pilot, with incredible passion and experience, Michael shared his survival knowledge in a thoroughly engaging presentation. Students discovered the meaning behind the Survival Rule of 3, as well as the three elements needed for making fire. We talked about how important good protection was for survival and that you should always be prepared for weather and situations, even if you are not expecting them. Students shared their individual knowledge relating to how to gain attention if lost or requiring assistance. Very impressive information was also shared on various ways to collect and purify water.

Two big messages from the session that will assist students throughout the year were the importance of group morale, being able to support and look out for others, as well the importance of planning prior to any outdoor/adventure activity.

Thank you, Michael, for sharing your wisdom.

Mrs Susan Wright

Learning about Leadership in Year 6

An important focus for Year 6 students throughout the year is to develop their leadership skills, as the oldest students in the Junior School. We have many discussions and activities to help develop these skills, with a key message being that no one needs a title to be a ‘leader’. We lead every day by our own example, by how we approach team tasks, how we communicate with others and with how we motivate people.

This week, eleven Year 6 students had an opportunity to be leaders for their Houses at the Junior House Swimming Carnival. To prepare them for this role, the Junior School Chair, Jazmin Kempnich, along with the House Chairs, Rosie, Evy and Sophie, visited the Year 6 House Captains and talked with them about how they can motivate and encourage the younger students at the Carnival.

The Year 6 leaders also visited Years 3, 4 and 5 to introduce themselves. They reassured some nervous younger students and explained their role for the day. It has been a valuable experience in connecting with other classes across the School, and each of the House Captains demonstrated wonderful leadership skills during the Swimming Carnival.

Mrs Kathryn Steel

Freycinet

The Swimming Carnival was an enormous success for Freycinet House. There were lots of events including Freestyle, Butterfly, Backstroke and Breaststroke.

Everyone gave their best, and we are really proud of everyone who tried different events. Thank you to all the staff members for organising and helping at the event, and the parents for their support.

Freycinet House Captains: Maddy Ball, Freya Boost, Olivia Robertson and Saige Scott

Fenton

This Wednesday was the Junior School Swimming Carnival. Years 3 to 6 participated in races such as Freestyle, Backstroke, Butterfly etc. A couple of days before the Carnival we met with each class from Years 3 – 5 and talked to them about the Carnival. We also met with the House Chairs, and they gave us tips about leadership and what we should look out for at the Carnival. At the Carnival, we helped the Year 3s especially as it was their first carnival. We also encouraged everyone to join as many races as they can for House points and made sure everyone cheered as loud as they could! Go Fenton!

Fenton House Captain: Evie Baldock, Evie Ashlin, Madeleine Dutton and Rose Page

Franklin

We felt honoured to be the Franklin House Captains for Swimming because we really felt appreciated and liked having the opportunity to lead our House.

Some of the things we did as leaders were:

We talked to the House Chair, Sophie, and she gave us advice on how to lead the House.
We had the opportunity to encourage and help the younger year levels with the Carnival.
We helped the Year 3s before they went to their events and explained the layout of the race and when their events were on.
We chanted our War Cry together as a group and felt like we came together as a House.
We helped everyone cheer for the relays and got the House spirit going.

Franklin House Captains: Maggie Davies, Olive Smith and Ava Reynolds

Learning about Working with Children

This year we have ten students from Fahan and Hutchins undertaking the TASC subject, Working with Children. The subject includes learning about child growth and development, safety, play as well as a practical component of working directly with young children. The students are looking forward to having lots of wonderful opportunities to work with the youngest members of the Fahan Community. Some practical experiences they will be involved with include:

Visting Lady Gowrie Pre-Kinder
Assisting in Kinder, Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms
Helping to plan and set up the ‘Little Sparks’ playgroup
Assisting with Vertical Groups
Supporting the Junior School Chair with Big Sister, Little Sister activities
Attending Junior School events where appropriate
Planning activities for whole School events, such as the Fair

We are so lucky to have a Pre-Kinder to Year 12 campus, as this will allow for extremely rich and meaningful experiences for the Working with Children students. Thank you to all the Junior School staff for supporting these students. They can’t wait to get started!

Last week, the Working with Children students helped Mrs Gath in setting up the first ‘Little Sparks’ playgroup session for the year. The theme for the session was Summer. Under Mrs Gath’s direction, some people made play-doh, others went to the Junior School library to choose books, some people set up displays and others set up the home corner.

Ms Fiona Short

In Week 3, Year 70 students set off to Kelvedon to enjoy a camping adventure together. The time away was an opportunity for the students to get to know their peers whilst at the same time participating in a variety of structured outdoor activities based on teamwork and resilience building. Thank you to all the staff who created this wonderful outdoor experience for our Year 7 girls.

In week 3, an excited group of girls from Year 70 went to camp at Kelvedon on the East Coast of Tasmania. While we were there, we developed our skills in different activities such as bike riding, stand up paddle boarding, raft building and other teamwork games and challenges. At dinner time, we cooked our meals on a Trangia with a partner and had so much fun at the Camp Concert!

I really enjoyed walking down to the beach and playing bin cricket in our spare time. Anna
I enjoyed going down to the beach with friends. Poppy T
I liked going stand up paddle boarding. Chiara
I enjoyed the Camp Concert at night. Ruby
I enjoyed sleeping in the tents. Bianca
I liked playing with my friends. Abbie
I enjoyed hut building. Sahaja

Junior Rosters

All of our Junior sport rosters are now underway. A big thank you goes to our coaches and managers whose efforts enable Fahan to enter the number of teams that we do. A quick check of the soccer rosters shows Fahan fielding ten teams, in comparison to one of the much larger schools with only six.

Junior House Swimming

This Carnival was conducted on Wednesday 28 February at the Clarence Pool. The weather did not stop a great number of parents coming along to support the girls.

We have some girls who enjoy swimming, a result of lots of practise, and who may take their swimming more seriously. We also have girls who find swimming a real challenge and to see them overcome their apprehension and give it a go is just so rewarding. This is always reflected in the sign up rate of the Year 3 girls who, after seeing what the Carnival is all about, turn up en masse for the 20m races, resulting in 2 or 3 extra races being added to each event! This year our hearing was also tested, with some spirited House chanting being traded back and forth across the pool!

I look forward to annoucing the House points once I have had the opportuity to tell the girls first. As they have all been busy with Swim and Survive, I am hoping this will be possible early next week!

As this will be my last Carnival, I would really like to thank the staff and volunteers who assist at these events. The success of these days does rely on the motivation of those helping you, and I have always been extremely well supported by a staff and parent group who don’t see carnivals as a ‘day off’. They always do their very best to ensure that the girls have a positive experience, and that I do not implode!! I know from colleagues that this is not the case everywhere and it has been greatly appreciated.

From this event an Interschool Squad will now be selected. At present, we are trying to organise some training sessions at the Aquatic Centre in the lead up to JSSATIS, and more information will be provided in the coming days. Any girls absent at the first of these sessions will have the opportunity to trial.

JSSATIS Swimming

The JSSATIS Swimming Carnival is on the horizon. An Edsmart notice will be sent to those girls involved in the initial squad, with a list of training times leading into the event. The trialling process will occur at the first training, and the girls involved have been communicated with and are aware of the bits and pieces attached to this. Once this process is completed, the girls will receive a program with their events.

When: Monday 25 March
Where: Hobart Aquatic Centre
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm

Mr Tim Dale
Junior Sport Coordinator
dalet@fahan.tas.edu.au

Spirit - Senior School Sport

Inter-House Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to Franklin for being the winning House at the Inter-House Athletics Carnival.

Congratulations also to the Championship winners:
Junior Field Champion – Milla Gorringe (Year 7)
Junior Track Champion – Lucy Meikle (Year 8)

Intermediate Field Champion – Chloe Groom (Year 10)
Intermediate Track Champion – Jaden Goodey (Year 10)

Senior Field Champion – Charlotte Cutrale (Year 12)
Senior Track Champion – Prue Clarke (Year 12)

Overall Inter-House Track and Field Champion – Milla Gorringe (Year 7)

The squad for the SSATIS Athletics Carnival has been selected and training is in full swing! We look forward to competing on Tuesday 12 March at the Domain Athletics Centre and sharing our results.

Information about the SSATIS Athletics Carnival is on the Senior Sport Online page.

Rowing
Best wishes to all rowers who will compete in the Tasmanian All Schools Rowing Championships on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March at Lake Barrington.

The Head of the River will be held the following weekend on Saturday 16 March. This will be the final regatta for the Fahan Rowing team for the 2023/2024 season. We look forward to hearing the results and know that this is the culmination of many, many hours of training and hard work

Mrs Jo Banks-Smith
Senior Sport Co-ordinator
bankssmithj@fahan.tas.edu.au
0428 031 012

Community - Year 8 Fundraising for Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

In 2024, Year 8 is fundraising for Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wild Ride is Bonorong’s new fundraising campaign where they encourage supporters to do a ‘Wild Ride’ to raise money for wildlife in care. The funds raised will help run Bonorong’s rescue, critical care hospital, and rehabilitation animal care services.

Ride a bicycle, a scooter, a skateboard, or roller skate, hop on a pogo stick, even wear a costume while you’re doing your Wild Ride!

Year 8 has created some Wild Ride teams and on Monday 25 March at lunchtime, we will create a Wild Ride Relay Event on the School oval. The students will dress in costume and race against each other.

We are looking for sponsors for our campaign. For your information here is a link to the event.

https://www.wildride.au/

and if you would like to donate to the Fahan team this is a link to the Fahan Team page.

https://www.wildride.au/campaign/wild-ride-2024/team-leaderboard/

Ms Christine Best

Community - Congratulations to the 2023 Kinders

The 2023 Kindergarten class (Prep in 2024) submitted a poem to the OzKids magazine towards the end of last year and we have just found out that it has been selected to be part of the upcoming edition.

The poem was written after a visit to the Botanical Gardens. Upon returning to School, the children worked together to write the collaborative piece, revisiting it on numerous occasions until they thought it was the perfect description of our time exploring the gardens.

Congratulations to Delilah, Sylvie, Olivia, Heidi, Salinda, Alexandra, Dottie, Willow, Elodie, Zara and Natalia.

The Excursion

A hat and sunscreen
A teddy and my lunchbox
Off to the gardens

On the bus with Ken
From school to the big gardens
Skipping to the gate

The queen and king’s crown
The gate, fancy and dark
Photo with teddy

No picking flowers
Bees and butterflies need them
Pollen to honey

Lily pads and ducks
A bench for our lunchboxes
Sunny, bright and hot

Baby ducks, ducklings
Green lily pads are floating
Mummy in the shade

A pond and a path
White bridge and blue waterfall
I can smell hot chips

Roses and tulips
Indigo granny bonnets
Flowers on archway

Mrs Rebecca Wiggins and Mrs Meg Denman

Community - Relay for Life

On 24 and 25 February, Years 11 and 12 Fahan students, along with thousands of other Hobart fundraisers, took to the Hobart Domain to complete a 20-hour relay.

The Relay for Life is something that Fahan values deeply and we have participated in it for a long time. It is essential for raising awareness so we can fight back against cancer. Our fundraising goal this year was $4,000 but we managed to raise $4,988. This year, the Relay for Life was held earlier in the term, making this result even more impressive. Out of the 69 teams that participated, Fahan raised the seventh highest amount!

We all took it in turns and had set shifts to give everyone time on the track and time for rest. There was lots of other entertainment too with Army marching bands, dancers from Encore, line dancers and so many more that helped everyone get thought the day.

Relay for Life is such a fun event that gets everyone involved and makes all groups and schools feel welcome. We are very thankful to Mr Summers, Ms Jacobs, Ms Williamson, Mrs Hayes, Mr Bevan and Mr Coulson, for coming and visiting us during different times of the relay and helping too. It cannot go without saying though, that Ms Harcourt, who stayed the whole 20 hours, put a smile on all our faces when we needed it most. All these teachers made such a huge difference to our experience.

The Relay for Life is such a vital and fun part of fundraising for cancer. Our Fahan team did such an amazing job, working together to reach such huge goals. As a member of that team, I am so happy to have completed it with such pride being on the track for the first to last lap with Ms Harcourt.

Well done to everyone who participated and helped out. Let’s make an even bigger impact next year!

By Olivia Bottomley, Year 11

Student Absence

Notification of student absence due to illness should be emailed to absence@fahan.tas.edu.au, advised by telephone on 6225 1064 or submitted through the Fahan App. Please do not email teachers to advise of student absence.

You are also reminded that if foreseen absences are unavoidable, such as holidays during term time, a Request for Absence form should be completed and returned to the School.