Fahan School eNewsletter

Principal's Report

On Wednesday morning, I was lucky enough to attend the S. days Game Changers Leadership Breakfast, an initiative run by Fahan alumna Lauren Jauncey. The guest speaker was Matilda’s player, Tameka Yallop. I’m sure we all remember the nail-biting excitement of the Matilda’s success in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and the effect this had on all of Australia and on women’s soccer and sport, in particular.

Tameka provided the audience with some excellent advice for all of us. Amongst some other gems, she included her three top tips for leadership. First, she reminded us to be open and willing to learn (no matter how old you are). Second, not to be afraid to fail, for this is a learning opportunity and a stepping stone. Third, know when to focus on what you are doing and when to focus on what others are doing. Tameka’s commitment to the team was clear. She identified the importance of having a mutual understanding of each other and having the same focus and values as essential to their success.

As our students follow their own pathways, I know this would be useful advice for them all.

Today is the commencement of the mid-year examination period for our Year 11 and 12 students. This can be a time of anxiety and nerves, but I know that all students will be well-supported at home by their families and carers.

Best wishes,

Meg Lawson

Office Hours During Holidays

The School Office will be closed from Monday 8 - Friday 12 July and will reopen on Monday 15 July from 9:00am - 3:30pm.

Expression of Interest for Before School Care

Several of our younger students are arriving at School before or around 8:00am. Please be aware that student supervision begins in the Junior School at 8:15am.

If this is an issue for your family, we have discussed the option of providing before school care. Lady Gowrie is seeking interest from parents who would use this program. Depending on adequate numbers, Lady Gowrie would initially start with a program that operates between 8:00-8:30am. If this service is of interest to your family, please email me at gatht@fahan.tas.edu.au.

Tania Gath
Head of Junior School

Learning about waste in Pre-Kinder

On 29 May, Pre-Kinder children embarked on a trip to the Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station. The children are eager to collect rubbish during our outings around the local community. Extending on their learning about various types of waste and the idea of recycling, children were thrilled to see various trucks and diggers involved in handling waste material.

Children were shown the detailed process of waste material and rubbish management, including how waste items can be repurposed into new projects. This experience will help children to understand the importance of recycling and reducing waste and encourage them to protect the environment.

We will continue to support children’s development and interests in this way.

Lisa, Vivienne, Moya, Hattie and Heena

Learning about Storytelling in the Junior School

On Friday 7 June, students from Years 3 - 6 were enthralled by traditional Hungarian storyteller, Tamas Ozvald. Prior to his visit, Tamas requested students jot down key words, which he used on the day to share traditional folktales and stories. Each story was unique, incorporating topics students suggested such as friendship, betrayal, courage and difference. Students and teachers alike were fascinated by the skill and art of Tamas’ storytelling.

Tamas’ stories were heartfelt and hilarious. By the end of the session, I was falling off my seat with laughter! The stories taught me that it is okay to be different and unique. Gertie

I though Tamas’ stories were amazing to listen to. He had all of us thinking that it doesn't matter if you are different or look different to others, you are still amazing. Olive

Tamas’ stories were very emotional, so emotional that Mrs Heather even cried! The second story was much lighter and was about a crazy chicken who was crazy for money. Tamas made everyone laugh, especially Gertie. Maddy

Learning about Fungi

Year 6 students had an enriching experience as part of the Outdoor Education Program, embarking on a 'Fungi Foray' in Fern Tree. This educational excursion provided a hands-on opportunity to explore the diverse world of fungi.

Additionally, the students honed their culinary skills in an outdoor setting using Trangia stoves, fostering teamwork and self-reliance. The freshly baked scones served with a large dollop of cream and a generous helping of berries was a tasty way to end our excursion.

By Lucy, Maddy and Olive

Students in 7N have received letters from their French pen pals in 4ème at Collège de l’Europe in Ardres, France.

It was very exciting getting responses just before the French students finish up their school year and begin their summer holidays.

Miss Sophie Gibson

Learning about Careers in Agriculture

Last week, Class 10O were lucky enough to have Dr Bianca Deans from UTAS and the TIA (Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture) visit our class. Bianca visits schools to elevate the profile of agriculture and connect schools with learning resources and industry collaborations. She spoke to the class about what a career in agriculture can look like – from biosecurity to food safety to animal or crop consultant. She also spoke about the importance and use of genetics in growing food for the future. Her talk was engaging and very educational and we appreciate the time she spent preparing and delivering her presentation.

Ms Felicity Jacobs

I found it really helpful, I loved knowing what agriculture is (I thought you only do agriculture if you want to be a farmer) but after the talk, I now know there are many job/career opportunities in it. It is good to know what you can do in the future with the subject you love. It helped me feel more confident with what I want to do in the future. Emma Zhuang

I enjoyed hearing the guest speaker talk about her own experiences, as well as what other jobs there are and information about agriculture. She was also very open to hearing if we had any questions. I also enjoyed looking at all the jobs which we could do if we studied agriculture. Bea Burgoyne

I really enjoyed listening about how scientists use genetically modified foods to help in areas where there are high rates of malnutrition. Chloe Groom

I found it really interesting hearing about different types of agricultural careers and how to pursue them, as well as how they involve what we have been learning during our classes on genetics. Alice Bergman

I really enjoyed how engaging she was and I found it really interesting how they are able to identify which diseases impact different fruits. Amelia Steedman

My favourite part about the guest speaker was hearing about all of the different aspects of agriculture science and how many things you can do with the one masters. Bella Turnbull

I liked learning about what you can do with a degree in Agriculture and all the different careers in the field. Aspen Foster

I think it was good to have someone who's dedicated themselves to the topic to come in and talk to us about it, as well as someone who can relate where we are in life to where they once were. Ash Grosvenor

I liked watching Bianca talk through her slide show and I loved giving her the card I drew in. Adele Laganiere

Ms Felicity Jacobs

Learning about the Role of Tasmania's Commissioner for Children and Young People

On Monday 3 June, the Working with Children class had a visit from Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean. Here are some of the students’ reflections:

The role of the Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People is currently held by Leanne McLean. She began working with children after her Science degree, majoring in Botany. She has worked in public policy for many years and then moved onto being Commissioner in 2018. Her role is to advocate for children and young people, but to also listen to their concerns and ideas and present them in a formal manner to the government and other organisations. Sophie B

Leanne explained the UN Rights of the Child to us and spoke in depth about some of its 54 articles. One article that very much stood out to me was how we need to protect children from war. Article 38 states that ‘Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war’. This article shocked me as sending children off to war is not something I would tend to think about living in Tasmania, but just because it is not something to happen here, it is something happening in many parts of the world. Leanne went on to explain her job as the Commissioner of Children and Young people, and what an average day in her life is like. One other topic Leanne discussed was how the right to play is important. Article 31 states that every child has the right to rest, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities. I thought this was a very important topic, as the art of play is such a basic right that not every kid is able to experience. Olivia F

Leanne spoke about a great deal of things including how to best introduce yourself when interacting with younger people, what some of the parts of her job include, what some of the laws are around children and young people and what parts of the law she hopes to reform. It was evident that Leanne was very knowledgeable and good at communicating as she was very good at engaging with us. The most interesting thing was the way that, when creating policies for young people, it is important to look at a continuum. On the bottom there is ‘doing to’, in the middle there is ‘doing for’ and on the top, there is ‘doing with’. Leanne aims to create policies that are created ‘with’ the young people they are about. Betsy

In the time we shared with Leanne she devoted a lot of her time to hearing what we thought were key issues for children in our communities. She did this because she stressed how vital consultation with children is when trying to serve their best wishes and make their lives better. Felix

Leanne spoke about various topics, though she focussed on the rights of every young person in Tasmania. The most concerning topic that Leanne addressed was the current crisis with detention centres, specifically in Tasmania, stating that “The length of time an individual is spending in detention is going up as well as the length of time they are being isolated is increasing” (Article 37). Although this is the case, Leanne spoke about how she is working continuously to fix the problem by going to detention centres every three weeks and informing the children about the rights they have whilst incarcerated. Leanne then went on to speak about the UN rights and ‘out of home care’. Currently 931 children in Tasmania live in out of home care not having adequate access to a case worker which is a major issue that Leanne is trying to solve by doing many inquiries into this concern. An inspirational quote from Leanne was: “It shouldn’t be a lottery depending on where you were born”. Ruby

Leanne’s talk with us was very beneficial for our knowledge. She spoke to us about our rights as children, what she does to look after them, how she inspires legal change, and how she listens to the young people of Tasmania and finds out what their wants and needs are so she can make them happen. I found it very interesting how she got this position, and it was nice to hear a bit about her background. It was great to see that she started her career by being a scientist, but then realising that her passion was somewhere else and being able to switch into the amazing position she has now. Sophie T

Ms Fiona Short

Spirit of Orienteering

On Thursday 13 June, Year 4  undertook  Orienteering  at Risdon Brook Dam with  Mr Hodgman, Jayde and Mr Lambert where we learnt about orienteering  and how to improve our map reading skills.  

Each pair was handed a map and asked where we thought we were positioned on the map. This is called orientating the map to the ground. We then walked around the lake and asked every now and then where we were on the map. We learnt about contour lines, scale and legends. The maps had lots of contour lines which we learnt meant a steep climb! We then stopped for lunch at the quarry, then moved on.

We all had a great time and enjoyed learning to read maps.

By Jade Spadavecchia and Penelope Cangelosi

Tuesday 11 June was the International Day of Play. Play is a fundamental right for every child. This year global leaders came together to make the world’s first International Day of Play - a day dedicated to the power of play. The Year 7s celebrated on Tuesday by thinking about play, talking about the importance of play, and of course… playing!

7N students incorporated some play into their English lesson on poetry, by creating a playful sculpture to accompany one of their poems. The students in 7O were going to head outside for some nature play during History and Geography, but the weather put a stop to that plan!

All the Year 7s had the opportunity to head to the gym at lunchtime to take part in free play. Everyone played together beautifully, by collaborating, problem solving and having fun.

Ms Fiona Short

Free Play in the Gym

We went to the gym and were able to play anything that we wanted. Most people chose badminton or dodgeball. I liked it because I got to play with people I wouldn’t usually play with, and it was nice because we don’t usually get to go in the gym at lunchtime to play. I felt happy because I got to play some games. I was tired afterwards but it also gave me more energy! Evie Essex

The Importance of Play

I think that play is important because it provides a balance to work. It allows us to have down time (and fun) and refresh our brains, ready to do something new. Caroline Senkbeil

I think play is important because it’s good for our imagination, wellbeing and physical health. Chloe Weldon

I think this is important because playing not only gives your brain a break, it also allows you to learn new and different life skills. It helps you to balance your workload. Deeksha Dharmapuri

Play is important because it gives us a chance to socialise and develop social skills. Sophie Mirowski

I feel that playing is very important for all ages and I think it improves everyone’s wellbeing and happiness. Amelie Dobson

Play is important because it opens your mind and helps you embrace abstract concepts. Apart from that it refreshes your brain and helps you think straight. Sahaja Bathineni

Play is important because it allows you to have fun and take a break from your work. Ebony Buchanan

Play is important because it can make you feel happy and you can use your imagination. Grace Jones

YES! Play is part of people’s social side of things and without it we would probably be in a world where people would not interact with one another. Sophia Stanojevic

Play is good for your mind and body and social skills, without it we wouldn't be as happy or as social. Pollyanna Penney

I think play is important because it is good to have fun sometimes and it can even help people learn new things. Niamh Hunter

Cross Country

Congratulations to all the Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 students who completed the Junior School House Cross Country Carnival on Thursday 30 May. Whilst the event was delayed by a week, and the wind was very gusty in the morning, we were lucky enough to have perfect running conditions. Every student tried their best and I was very proud of their efforts. The results are as follows:

1^st – Franklin on 109 points

2^nd – Fenton on 83 points

3^rd – Freycinet on 61 points

Well done, Franklin!

The JSATIS Interschool Cross Country will now take place on Thursday 20 June. Students in the team will compete against other schools at Rokeby Police Academy. Students will compete in their School sports polo top and School shorts.

Event times are as follows:

12:00pm – Year 3 girls
12:30pm – Year 4 girls
1:00pm – Year 5 girls
1:30pm – Year 6 girls

We wish all students competing the best of luck.

The All Schools Cross Country event will be held at Symmons Plains on Tuesday 18 June. Whilst it is a big day of travel, it’s an exciting opportunity to compete against schools from all over the state. Students will compete in their School sports polo top and School shorts.

Event times for this event are as follows:

11:50am – 12 year old girls
12:30pm – 11 year old girls
1:05pm – 9 year old girls
1:35pm – 10 year old girls

Goodluck to allstudents competing in this event.

Cross Country Training

Students who are competing in the above two events must attend training on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes from 12:45pm-1:20pm.

Mrs Katy Stewart
Junior Sport Coordinator
stewartk@fahan.tas.edu.au

Spirit - Senior School Sport

Tasmanian All Schools Cross Country

Congratulations to all athletes who represented Fahan in The Tasmanian All Schools Cross Country at Symmons Plains on Thursday 13 June. We had excellent running conditions and it was wonderful to see the Fahan competitors out on the course giving their best. The course at Symmons Plains is challenging and it was clear to see that the Fahan athletes had been training hard. We had a wonderful start to the day with our only Open competitor, Sophie Bury, coming 10th in the Under 20 Years Women. Other top 10 finishers were Lucy Meikle, who ran 3^rd and earned a place on the podium in the Under 15 Women, and Pia Abberton, who came 7th in the Under 17 Women.

Australian Rules Football

The 1^stGrade Australian Rules Football team have now completed the roster. Congratulations to all players for a great season and playing great football throughout the roster. Unfortunately, we had a few injuries, so many players had to step up, and our thanks go to our younger footballers who also came into the team to help with numbers.

We came up against some strong competition and the last game against Collegiate was an excellent demonstration of determination and Fahan spirit! A huge thank you goes to Dom Bury (coach), Mr Coulson (assistant coach) and Jill Wilkinson (team physio) who always encouraged, explained, supported and looked after the team. We now look forward to the Years 9/10 AFL roster in Term 3.

Winter Sports Day

Winter Sports Day will take place on Wednesday 3 July. This is always an exciting day with lots of House spirit and plenty of House competition! Students will participate for their House in chosen sports:

AFL
Netball
Dodgeball
Diamond Cricket
Flags
Run the Gauntlet
Volleyball
Mountain Biking

A highlight of Winter Sports Day is always the Year 12 Students v Teachers soccer game at lunchtime. This year the students will be trying to win back the trophy from the Teachers who have been too strong for the past 3 years! The Tug of War is the final event for the day and is another exciting and competitive event.

Inter House Swimming Carnival

The Inter House Swimming Carnival will take place in week 1 of Term 3 on Thursday 1 August. It will be held at The Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre from 9:30am – 3:00pm. All students from Year 7 to Year 12 are to attend the Carnival.

All students are expected to swim in an event, and anyone unable to swim on the day, due to injury or sickness, is to email or send a letter from their parents to their Pastoral Care Teacher. An EdSmart notice will be sent to parents/carers and students at the end of the term with information about the Carnival.

Parents wishing to attend the Carnival are most welcome for all or part of the day. If you would like to spend some time helping, please email me.

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

Are you ready for the ultimate game night experience? You could win one of two corporate boxes for you and 7 friends at the Tasmania JackJumpers first home game of the 2024/2025 season, with third prize being a new 2024/2025 team signed jersey.

Tickets are $100 each and there are only 460 tickets available.

All proceeds will be donated to the Year 12 chosen charities, Variety Freya Fund and Care for Africa Foundation.

Don't miss out - buy your tickets today!

Get in quick and get your raffle tickets here!

Community - Rug Up Tassie

A small group has been meeting regularly to complete squares for this years' Rug Up Tassie ' appeal. So far, we have 16 completed squares and our knitting skills and knowledge are improving. The Junior School is seeking donations of 4 mm knitting needles and 8 ply acrylic yarn to help 'Rug Up Tassie.' If you knit or crochet you may like to send along a 20 x 20 cm square. Thank you to those who have already donated squares.

This year, the drive aims to collect over 5,000 squares to assist those in need, during a time when so many Tasmanians are doing it tough.

For more details go to: https://www.abc.net.au/hobart/rug-up-tassie-2024/103746318

Mrs Meg Denman

Community - Fahan School Fair Donations!

The Parents & Friends Association have planning well underway for our School Fair to be held on 18 October 2024 and we're excited to showcase our School to the Community.

We are calling on the generosity of our School Community for donations to assist us in this important fundraising event.

Class Group Stalls

Our class reps have been fantastic in their enthusiasm in formulating plans for their stalls and many are busily working to secure donations that will enable them to produce some amazing items for sale and result in a succesful fundraising effort for the School.

Plant Stall - Call for Grandparent Helpers

We are hoping to continue with the very popular Plant Stall again this year and are calling for some keen grandparents who are willing to work at the stall in short stints. The P&F is happy to facilitate the collection of donations between now and the Fair (look out for an EdSmart request!) but it would be fantastic if your daughter's grandparents would be willing to help out. We are likely to need 6-8 grandparents happy to do 30 minute stints. Please contact me at pandf@fahan.tas.edu.au if you can help.

Donations

From the start of Term 3 we will be seeking donations of the following items:

Donations of bottled wine
Donations of plants, seedlings, small trees for the Plant Stall
Donations of prizes for the Chocolate Wheel

We will be sending out an EdSmart notice with instructions on how you can donate and would appreciate your support.

Michael O'Connor
President
P&F Association

Community - What is the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)?

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about support provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

year of schooling
category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact Stephanie Hogan, Coordinator of Academic Support, at hogans@fahan.tas.edu.au.

Community - Lady Gowrie Vacation Care

Registrations for Vacation Care are now open.

LG_Vacation_Care_Fahan_Winter_2024.pdf

Uniform Shop Reminder

Uniform items can be ordered online through the Flexischools website. You can also download the Flexischools App for Apple or Android.

All uniform orders placed via the Flexischools App will be delivered to Reception for Senior School orders and to the classrooms for Junior School orders on Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time. Please allow two days notice for delivery of orders placed before 4:00pm (three days for orders placed after 4:00pm).

If a uniform fitting is required, appointments can be made during term time by emailing uniformshop@fahan.tas.edu.au.

Student Absence, Late Arrival or Early Departure

Notification of student absence for any reason, including illness, late arrival or early departure, should be submitted through the Fahan App, emailed to absence@fahan.tas.edu.au or advised by telephone on 6225 1064 or. Requests for planned absence (eg sporting events, family events, etc) are now also advised through the App and are no longer required to be submitted on the Request for Absence form.

Please do not email notifications of absence directly to teachers.