Fahan School eNewsletter

Principal's Report

It has been a busy fortnight at Fahan.

Our Junior School students competed in their Athletics Carnival, and a number of our Senior School students competed in the SATIS Swimming Carnival. Last night, our 1st Grade Soccer Team competed in the Grand Final against GYC. The weather was cold, wet and windy, and all played extremely well in the tough conditions. Although the final score was not in Fahan’s favour (1-3), it was an excellent game. Our Years 7/8 Hockey Team also competed in the Grand Final yesterday afternoon against MCC, and although they were also not successful, they played very well. On Monday, our Year 8 Division 2 Basketball Team also play in the Grand Final and we wish them all the very best in this match.

Today, I had the great pleasure of officially opening the renovated change rooms on the oval. This is a milestone in the implementation of the Capital Master Plan, as it is the first stage completed. Macquarie Builders have undertaken this work under the guidance of our architects, Bence Mulcahy. I hope that you have the opportunity to look through these new spaces, which are excellent additions to our sporting amenities. This work would not have been possible without the generous support of our community, and we are very grateful to those who were able to assist financially.

This weekend is our Alumni Reunion Weekend, which is much anticipated by our alumni community. The weekend celebrations began today with a number of people competing in the traditional alumni versus student soccer and netball matches. Tomorrow, we are hosting a lunch for around 100 people, and several students have volunteered to take tours of the School for these guests. Community is one of the values at the heart of Fahan, and it is abundantly evident as people gather together and recall their school days. For our Year 12s, I know they will now begin to think of themselves as being in that position as they get closer to the culmination of their schooling journey.

I hope that you all have a renewing Term 3 holiday break, before the big push towards the end of the year. It’s quite hard to believe it is nearly upon us!

Best wishes,

Meg Lawson

Parking Around the School

Neighbours in Coolabah Road have contacted the School to advise that parents are blocking driveways and they will be contacting Police and Council in the future. It would be appreciated if parents would be mindful of our neighbours, and not block or park over driveways please.

Thank you for your cooperation.

School Office Closed During Holidays

The School Office will be closed during the holidays from 30 September to 11 October. Messages left on the answering machine will be monitored throughout this period.

Learning in Pre-Kindergarten

The Pre-Kinder children have enjoyed the inclement weather. The heavy rainfall has allowed for extension to our outdoor program.

This links into our learning about sustainability and “care for country" ethos.

Below is a beautiful quote we wanted to include this week:

Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator.

“The child in nature”

- Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Lisa, Heena, Hattie, Tiffany and Moya

Learning in Kindergarten

Kindergarten spent an afternoon at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens during the week. Although the hail had damaged a lot of the spring bulbs, we did see some tulips and daffodils.

We started our afternoon with a picnic lunch surrounded by ducks, plovers, magpies and seagulls, followed by some sketching in a few different locations and a walk around the gardens, stopping by the Vegetable Garden before catching the bus back to School.

We had many members of the community come and say hello with many of them recognising the Fahan School uniform.

Mrs Rebecca Wiggins

Curiosity and wonder are great motivators to find out more and understand something better. Recently, Prep students listened to a story written by Kath Murdoch, called The Wonder of Winsome. This book follows the adventures of a very curious and wonderful little girl who is always asking questions and seeking information and answers. Equipped with their very own little curious Winsome dolls, Prep students have embarked on their new Science unit which explores moving things.

Ms Kim Menadue

TMAG Memorial Box

Year 5 students have been fortunate to have access to this wonderful resource. They have utilised the display in the Years 5/6 foyer as part of their history studies and also shared material with the Junior School during a recent assembly.

The TMAG Memorial Box explores the contribution made by Indigenous Australians during the First and Second World Wars. It traces the evolving attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women and their valued role in the time of war.

The Box highlights the bravery and contribution of Indigenous people at a time in our history when they were making sacrifices on behalf of a country in which they were marginalised.

Mrs Susan Wright

Learning about Spelling

Year 6 students recently participated in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee run by Kids News. They were each given thirty words to spell as quickly as they could, and all did very well with some unusual and unfamiliar words on their lists.

We were thrilled to have nine students qualify to progress to the State Finals. Abbey, Catherine, Esther, Isabella, Lucy, Madison, Sofia, Tully and Rose were faced with a different set of thirty words as part of the Tasmanian round. Some of the tricky words facing the students included: myrrh, parenthesis, geriatrics, cassowary and vulnerable.

Excitedly, Isabella Atkins came second in the State Final and made it to the National final, which was a fantastic achievement. Congratulations Isabella for your fantastic spelling achievement, and well done to all Year 6 students for participating in this nation-wide event.

Mrs Kathryn Steel

Learning about Biology

Biology 2 – Modelling cell division

As part of our studies of reproduction, we have been learning about the differences between asexual and sexual reproduction. We have studied the basics of mitosis (a type of cell division required for growth and repair, and for reproduction in some organisms). We have also studied the basics of meiosis – the type of cell division used to create sex cells (eggs and sperm) used in sexual reproduction. Students spent a lesson last week creating a model of either mitosis or meiosis, to demonstrate their understanding of the stages and how the chromosomes move between each stage.

I enjoyed this activity because it allowed me to gain more understanding of the phases of mitosis. I also enjoyed working with different people and hearing their ideas and contributions on what should/should not be done. Jemima Baker

I really enjoyed this activity and was able to increase my knowledge on making stop motions and was able to develop a sound understanding of the complex process which we call meiosis. Evie Gray

I really enjoyed this task, as I felt it was engaging and a fun way to learn the stages of meiosis. This task strengthened my understanding of the topic, and I would prefer to complete more engaging assessments like these. Zara Marino

We really enjoyed doing this activity, and being organised helped us have a smoother and more enjoyable experience. We gained a better understanding of the meiosis process by breaking it down into stages and representing it visually with the cookies. Charlotte Crawford

I gained a better understanding of meiosis through mistakes made along the way, and I enjoyed the task and being able to pick how we chose to do it. Lucy Groom

I gained a further understanding and memorisation of the stages of meiosis (and how to spell meiosis) through the constant drawing and perfecting of our stop motion. I enjoyed the creative freedom we had with this task. Zoe Pitt

The new Japan Foundation Language Consultant, Mao Iizuka, joined us for the first time on Monday 16 September. He will be available for some of our classes until the end of 2025.

Year 8 students have tried their hand at calligraphy with paper which reacts with water (to save on ink).

All Year 8 students and Senior Japanese students had the opportunity to use chopsticks at RIN (restaurant) to enjoy the OBENTO lunch.

Ms Hingor Chung

Learning about Working with Children

Term 3 Wrap Up

We have had an action-packed term in Working with Children with many exciting excursions and guest speakers. Our excursions have included a visit to the children’s gallery, ‘Mapiya Lumi’, at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. This is a space designed for children aged between 0–7, and we had a guided tour with the TMAG education officer, Kate. She explained how the space was designed to allow for discovery, play and interaction. We were the first Working with Children class to visit the children’s gallery in this capacity and were very grateful for this unique opportunity.

We also visited the Child and Family Learning Centre (CFLC) in Chigwell. These centres partner with families and communities to improve the health, wellbeing and learning of children from pregnancy to five years. CFLCs incorporate a range of professionals such as teachers, social workers, midwives, nurses, speech pathologists, psychologists and lawyers. During our visit we met Tash Cowles, the Centre Leader, and were shown around the Centre. Our visit connected directly to our ‘Careers with Children’ unit and gave the students a first-hand opportunity to see several different roles in action.

In August we visited the Sustainability Centre at Mount Nelson. The Working with Children students met with teacher, Ruth Whelan and learnt about some of the safety considerations needed when dealing with children outdoors. Our visit connected directly to our units ‘Safety and Young Children’ and ‘Play and Learning’.

Our fourth and final excursion was to the Lady Gowrie Integrated Centre in South Hobart. Our visit connected directly to our 'Nutrition and Health’ unit and gave the Working with Children students a first-hand opportunity to learn about food in a childcare environment. They discovered what needs to be considered with planning, preparing and serving food to young children. A highlight of our visit was running into past student Asha Ratcliffe who works at the Centre part-time while she is studying to become a primary school teacher.

We tapped into our amazing Fahan Community to arrange guest speakers who spoke to the students about the different roles they do, that involve working with children. First of all, we had a visit from Suzanne Purdon who is the Manager for Policy for Schools and Early Years. Suzanne is also a past student, past staff member and past Fahan parent! We loved hearing about how her experiences led her into the career she has today. Our next speaker was Dan Firth, one of Fahan’s Outdoor Education staff members. Dan spoke about some of the different jobs he has had that led to working with children and talked about the impact that some of his high school teachers had on him.

During Book Week we had Maddy Summers-Stewart (mother of Mia Stoklosa in Year 7) come and talk to us about her role as a librarian, more specifically as a children’s librarian at Australia’s only dedicated children’s library in Ipswich. Last week we had a visit from Anna Williamson (currently on maternity leave) and her 13-month-old daughter, Nina. The students had fun planning what they would do if they were tasked with baby-sitting a 13-month-old for a few hours! This week we welcomed Dr Fran Hosking (past student and current parent of Rosie Ward in Prep) into our classroom where she talked about her fascinating role as a neonatologist.

To finish off Term Three, the Working with Children students are excited to be assisting in the K-2 Vertical Groups with cooking, STEM, gardening and Forest School.

Ms Fiona Short

Congratulations to Tiger Somerville on her selection to attend the highly competitive three-day immersion course held at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston in early October. The Australian Maritime College, a specialist institute of the University of Tasmania, is the world’s #1 ranked maritime research and teaching centre.

Along with 13 other Tasmanian high school students, Tiger will spend time in immersive simulators driving boats, learning how to save a sinking vessel, operating tug boats and 200 metre ships, will design and test floating structure prototypes in an engineering challenge, plan a global shipping network in a logistics challenge, learn about autonomous vessels, meet experts and be inspired by current university students and researchers. Tiger will also learn more about the exciting developments and opportunities in the maritime industry, options at university and the future of maritime.

Congratulations Tiger, we know you will make the most of this amazing opportunity and look forward to hearing all about it in Term 4.

Miss Felicity Jacobs

Learning in Object Design

We are pleased to acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of four of our students, Elizabeth Headlam, Charlee Hunt, Zoe Le Guilly and Evyenia Papastamatis, who have recently participated in the University of Tasmania's University Connections Program (UCP) course in Object Design.

This year, the design brief focused on the theme of “Adaptation,” challenging students to explore how objects can be reimagined and repurposed in response to changing needs and environments.

Throughout the year, these students have demonstrated exceptional creativity and dedication, engaging deeply with the design process to produce unique and thought-provoking works. Their projects were recently featured in an exhibition held at UTAS Hunter Street Art School, where they showcased their ability to translate complex concepts into tangible, innovative designs.

We extend our congratulations to these students for their hard work and commitment!

Mr Chris Summers

Learning about International Relations and Diplomacy

Years 11 and 12 students were treated to an inspiring and fascinating presentation last week.

U.S. diplomat, Brian Bauer, who began his assignment as Public Affairs Officer and national Head of Public Engagement for Mission Australia at the U.S. Consulate in December 2023, took time out of his busy 2-day visit to Hobart to speak with us.

Mr Bauer shared insights on international relations, diplomacy, his career journey, and life as a diplomat. His experiences certainly opened our eyes to exciting global opportunities!

Spirit of Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival

Competition, Fun and Friendship

Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed the Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival at the Domain on Tuesday 17 September. The weather was cold, but participation high. Students encouraged each other, cheered from the sidelines and performed their best.

Thank you to all the volunteers who ran events and a special thank you to Mrs Stewart for managing a super Carnival.

Mrs Susan Wright

Spirit of Year 4 Camp

From 18 to 20 September, Year 4 students headed off to camp at Southport.  For many girls, this was their long camp.  The girls supported each other beautifully throughout the challenges of being away from home. We were treated to three days of liquid sunshine.  

The happy campers did a wonderful job participating fully and wholeheartedly in all the activities.  These activities included a walk to Duckhole Lake through an aptly named rain forest, navigating Hastings Cave tour, bush walk, indoor Olympics and fossicking for gemstones at Lune River.    

I was in team All Blacks and we had an amazing camp.  I loved Hastings Caves and Red Faces. Tamsin O’Connor

I loved going to the beach, building a dam and doing cartwheels. Scarlett Fox

Camp was a great hanging out with friends, especially cabin time. I loved Red Faces and the indoor Olympics. Jade Spadavecchia

In Terms 2 and 3, Year 7 students worked on productions of The Jungle Book. Both classes rehearsed separate performances.

As well as our class time, we had a weekend rehearsal, a full day rehearsal and a couple of lunchtime practices. We had to learn stage cues, blocking (knowing where to stand and where to move to), our lines, and, for many of us, a dance and song. We didn't just have to learn our lines, but you also had to learn the scene, so you knew when your line was, and help your friend if they forgot their line. A lot of work was put into these performances by not only the students but also Ms Best, and the people working in the tech booth. Rosie helped backstage and two Year 8 helpers, Isabelle and Emma. It was a group effort by everyone.

After lots of work, we had come to the week when we performed for other students, family and friends.

All the performances went well with very few mishaps! It was loads of fun to see the shows come together after all the hard work put in.

Thank you, Ms Best, for organising and helping us put the performances together. Your patience and skills were appreciated!

By Eleanor Baxter

The Rowing team had a busy weekend on 7 and 8 September, in preparation for this year's upcoming season. On Saturday the girls took part in a shed tidy where all their equipment was cleaned and checked in preparation for the season. The next morning rowers and their parents met at a farm west of Ouse to collect manure in preparation for their annual Sheep Manure Fundraising Drive. The girls and their parents worked tirelessly collecting 700 bags for sale and the day was enjoyed by all. A barbeque provided much needed energy and the chance to get together and socialise before the season commences.

Our thanks go to Steve Lambert and Anna Grant for lunch and the army of Dads and Mums with their Utes and trailers. The owners of the property, Isobelle and John, commended our girls on the way they conducted themselves and were impressed by their work ethic, positive attitude and team atmosphere.

Sheep manure for your garden will be for sale at the School Fair.

Mrs Natasha Lambert

Arts Week in the Senior School was a vibrant celebration, featuring a variety of engaging activities and performances. Year 12 Arts Chair, Ashleigh Kim, with support from Ms Alex Pitt, Arts Coordinator, Ms Christine Best, Drama Teacher, and staff members, orchestrated a diverse program that captivated students throughout the week.

Highlights included: A lively Family Feud-style game show, an intriguing "Masked Singer" competition, an origami workshop and an extremely entertaining Lip Sync Battle involving both staff and students shining on stage.

A surprise performance by the Year 12 cohort added an extra layer of excitement to the final day of the festivities. Arts Week truly showcased the creative spirit thriving at Fahan!

Junior Athletics Carnival

On Tuesday 17 September, the Junior School Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival took place at the Domain Athletics Centre. The weather was classic spring—intermittent rain, wind, and bursts of sunshine to cap off the day!

The event kicked off with the 800m race, where many girls participated enthusiastically, giving it their all. The “Late for School” race was a hit, with students donning some creatively quirky ‘school’ attire! During the lunch break, the Parent/Daughter race showcased a fun mix of bouncing, dribbling, skipping, catching, and running. The smiles on both parents’ and daughters’ faces were a testament to how much everyone enjoyed this event.

We concluded the day with the challenging 400m race, and I was thoroughly impressed by the determination the girls displayed, finishing strong at the end of a long day.

Congratulations to all the girls who competed in the Carnival! You exemplified true Fahan spirit by participating in numerous events and giving your best effort. A big thank you to the staff and parents who supported us throughout the day.

Final results from the Carnival will be tallied and announced during Assembly next week.

Basketball

On Thursday, students played their final basketball games of the term. We had an impressive turnout with three Years 3/4 basketball teams and five Years 5/6 basketball teams competing in the roster. Congratulations to all the girls for their participation throughout the term and the teamwork displayed. I was particularly impressed by the improvement many of the girls showed during the season.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteer coaches and managers. Your commitment to attending training and games each week has made a significant impact, and the girls truly appreciate your support.

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

Thank you to everyone for a fantastic term in sport! I look forward to an exciting Term 4 and hope everyone keeps active during the school holidays!

Swimming

The SATIS Swimming Carnival was held on Wednesday 18 September at the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre.

There were many impressive individual and relay swims and the Fahan team finished 6^th in the Girls Aggregate Shield. Fahan was 3^rd in the Under 13 Pennant, 8^th in the Girls Senior Shield and 6^th in the Girls Junior Shield.

Congratulations to Ava Mignanelli who came 1^st in the Under 15 50m Freestyle and the Under 15 100m Freestyle and to Poppy Davies who came 2^nd in the Under 13 50m Breaststroke. Congratulations also to the Under 14 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay swimmers who came 3^rd – Sophie Unwin, Emma Schoeman, Maisey Smith and Islay Smith.

Soccer

Congratulations to the 1st Grade Soccer team who played in the SSATIS Grand Final on Thursday 19 September against an undefeated Guilford Young team. Unfortunately we were defeated 3 - 1. Our Fahan team can definitely hold their heads high and be proud of their season and the final they played. They gave it everything and really made GYC fight for the win. Thank you to Mr Bevan for coaching the team.

Hockey

The Years 7/8 Navy Hockey team played in the Grand Final on Thursday 19 September against Mt Carmel College. Mt Carmel College defeated our Fahan team in another tightly contested game. Congratulations to the Navy team for an excellent term of hockey. We look forward to seeing this cohort continue with their hockey as they are definitely a team with great hockey strength. Thank you to Mrs Buchanan for coaching the team.

Basketball

Congratulations to the Year 8 Basketball team who will play in the SSATIS Div 2 Grand Final on Monday 23 September. The details for the game will be put on the News on the Tree once they have been finalised. We wish this team all the very best.

Term 4 Sport

Thank you for submitting the Term 4 Sports sign ups. Teams have been entered and we are looking forward to more sport as we approach the summer months!

Touch Football

Touch Football games will begin in week 2 of Term 4, with training commencing in week 1. Team lists and information will be put on the Tree during the school holidays. Students who have signed up to play are expected to wear Fahan sports shorts and Fahan t-shirt (not House t-shirts) for all games. Students are also required to wear football boots for all games. All games will be played at Wentworth Park. Years 7/8 games are on a Monday afternoon and Years 9/10 games on a Wednesday afternoon. Rosters will be put on the Tree on the Senior Sport page once they are finalised.

Tennis

We have a large number of tennis teams entered in the Term 4 rosters. It is great to see so much enthusiasm! Tennis games will begin in week 2 of Term 4. Training will begin in week 1. Team lists and information will be put on the Tree during the school holidays. Students must wear Fahan t-shirt and Fahan sports skirts. Years 7/8 games are on a Tuesday afternoon and Years 9/10 games on a Monday afternoon. Rosters will be put on the Tree on the Senior Sport page once they are finalised.

Australian Rules Football

Australian Rules Football games will begin in week 1 of Term 4, with training commencing in week 1. Games are on Thursday afternoons. Team lists and information will be put on the Tree during the school holidays. Students must wear Fahan sports shorts and Fahan football socks. Football jumpers will be given to students at the game. Students are required to wear Fahan t-shirt and rugby jumper to games and wear football boots and mouthguards when playing. Rosters will be put on the Tree on the Senior Sport page once they are finalised.

2023 Tasmanian All Schools Track and Field Championships

The Tasmanian All Schools Track and Field Championships will be held on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November at the Domain Athletics Centre, Hobart. Fahan will not be attending this event as a formal team, but individual athletes may enter, and entries will open shortly.

Please note that this registration is completed on an individual basis without the School entering or supervising a team.

From this event, athletes are selected to represent Tasmania in the 2024 Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships which will be held in Brisbane from Friday 6 until Sunday 8 December 2024.

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

Community - Your Invitation to the Fahan School Twilight Fair

We are only four weeks away from the Fahan Twilight Fair!

Mark your calendars for Friday 18 October from 4pm-8pm (the first week of Term 4). Join us for an evening of excitement and community spirit at the Fahan School Twilight Fair. The P&F Committee and our generous parent community has been working hard to provide a memorable event and we're excited to share with you some of the fantastic activities on offer.

Dance your heart out at the Silent Disco or unleash your creativity with fun face painting and crazy hairstyles. For thrill-seekers, the Dunking Machine and Crazy Bikes promise loads of fun, while those feeling lucky can spin the Chocolate Wheel, with over $4,000 in prizes up for grabs. Kids and adults alike will love the lucky dips, squishmallow games, meeting the friendly alpacas and getting crafty with badge-making and photo booth fun. With live music, delicious BBQ & hot food, a huge array of sweet treats, a 'Nearest the Pin' golf game and a visit from the Hobart Hurricanes, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Fair.

Bring your friends, family and neighbours for an unforgettable evening filled with fun and laughter. We can’t wait to see you there!

Kind regards

Michael O'Connor
P&F President

Community - Seeking Donations for a Sustainability Stall

The Sustainability Committee in the Senior School is aiming to hold a Christmas stall at the end of the year. We will be selling handmade, upcycled crafts.

We need your help!

Do you have any of the following items that you could give to us?

Bottle caps
Corks
Plastic bags
Old CDs or DVD discs

Please drop these into the School Office or send with your child to give to Miss Jacobs.

Thank you for your help!

Years 7-12 Sustainability Committee

Community - New Fahan Rowing Fundraiser

We are very excited to launch our latest fundraising project for Fahan Rowing. We hope our amazing community can assist the School's Rowing program in realising its highest priority needs. With our community's help we aim to purchase a new four/quad and up to a half dozen new single boats. While our older boats are still safe and comfortable, they have seen better racing days. We would greatly appreciate community support to help us acquire these new boats, especially as the School plans to race at the Nationals next year at Lake Barrington, an exciting event for us on home turf.

Donations can be made through the School's fundraising partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Please show your support and click here https://asf.org.au/projects/fahan-school/new-fahan-boats-202425 to donate today!

Yours sincerely,

Steve Lambert
Director of Rowing

Community - Lady Gowrie Vacation Care

Registrations for Vacation Care are now open.

LG_Vacation_Care_Fahan_Spring_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).

Appointments can be made during term time by emailing Birgitta at 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.