Principals Message
Thank you
Next week is the final week of Term 2, and what a busy term it has been. We have managed to pack in a whole range of opportunities for students, including Cross-Country, camps, work experience, and class excursions. All this while trying to dodge winter sickness and maintain high levels of learning for all.
I have been impressed with the resilience of staff and students in making the most of these opportunities during these colder months. I wish all students a happy and safe break at the end of next week and look forward to the opportunities available in Term 3.
We will welcome students back to school on Monday, 21st July.
Reporting
The past few weeks have been busy for teachers with assessments and report collation dominating their evenings and weekends. Next week, we have the opportunity to meet with families to discuss progress across all learning areas. Booking for 3 Way Conferences opened up on Monday, 23rd of June and will close at 8:30am on Monday, 30th June. Please see our school app, sZapp, for further details on how to book. Our 3-way conference sessions will be on Monday 30th (3:00-5:30), Tuesday 1st July (3:00-7:30) and Wednesday 2nd (3:00-4:30). We will also have Don Staff on hand on Monday 30th to support Year 10 families with any questions relating to their Year 11 and 12 programs.
Colours Assembly
On Wednesday, 2nd July, we will hold our Colours Assembly. This is a celebration assembly to recognise those students who have performed extremely well inside and outside the classroom. All the students receiving colours have their own individual story that would involve setbacks, but with perseverance and focusing on our school value of “Best Effort”, they have excelled in their chosen field.
The Colours Assembly concept was engineered by a past HPE teacher in Derek Marsh. The idea for his concept came from a teacher exchange in 1987. Mr Marsh’s idea was taken from a High School in England, which focused on recognising those students who excelled in different areas in the school and within the wider community. It recognises those students who have excelled in their area of expertise. It is great to see that Mr Marsh’s legacy lives on today.
Work Experience
We have had 31 of our Year 10 students out on Work Experience this week, with another 19 students due to go out next week. I have received such positive feedback on how they have represented themselves and Reece High School during this time. Tash and Laura have done a wonderful job arranging work experience in fields our students are interested in exploring. We receive exceptional support from our community, and this experience is extremely valuable in supporting career choice.
Realising Potential Celebration Night
On Tuesday night, despite the rain, we held our Realising Potential Celebration Night. This showcased a range of talent from our Realising Potential subjects, including: music performances, a dance item, artworks, MDT projects, photos of cooking, and a dramatic play. Well done to all students involved in the amazing showcase of talent. These opportunities allow students to shine and share their pride in their work with families and our community.
Moderation Day/Student Free Day
A few weeks ago, our staff combined with the staff at Devonport High School to run our annual moderation process. This opportunity provided dedicated time for teachers to moderate with colleagues from another school. Our teachers spent time moderating work samples from students at both Devonport High and Reece High. This process allows all teachers to build consensus and understanding of where students are rated for particular pieces of work. It is very timely work as we head into mid-year reporting.
Big Freeze – 2025
On Thursday the 5th June, we had our Big Freeze/Fight MND event. Students were able to come to school in their PJs, Oodies, warm clothes, and beanies. We collected gold coin donations on the day and added to the total that the Prefects collected from classes during the week. The class with the most money raised had the opportunity to all go down the slide. Each class had a nominated person to go down the slide. Together, we raised $980 to go towards research into finding a cure for MND. Well done!
Years 11 & 12 at Reece High School
At Reece High School, our Year 10 students have started investigating what 2025 will look like for them. Reece High is working closely with Don College and the Mersey/Leven Collective to make sure that our students are well-informed about the course options available to them, so their transition is as smooth as possible. You are most likely aware of the Tasmanian government's plan for extending Years 11 and 12 into high schools. Currently, we have 2 students enrolled in Years 11 and 12 at RHS. For some of our students, the change to Year 11 can be very challenging. It is with these students in mind that we are working with Don College, Devonport High School, Latrobe High School, Ulverstone Secondary College, and Sheffield School to investigate alternative programs for these students. These programs are personalised to the individual student’s needs and may include study at their high school. Work has begun reviewing student data to identify those students who may need additional support in order to complete Year 12. The aim is to assist all of our students in completing their Tasmanian Certificate of Education.
If you feel your child may struggle with the transition to Don College and might benefit from an alternative transition process, please contact Mr Jesse Connors (Transition Coordinator) at school on 6420 8100 or Miss Amber Loone (AST Year 11 and 12) on 6420 8100.
Below are some web-based resources that would help with subject selection and give parents and students access to information that will be helpful.
Resources
Don College Website: http://doncollege.education.tas.edu.au
TCE planner: https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/students/course-planner/
Devonport Winter Solstice Splash
Well done to the brave students, teachers, and prefects who took part in the Devonport Chaplaincy Solstice Swim last Saturday morning. What a great way to show our support to Devonport Chaplaincy and the great work Darra does for our school, year after year. Devonport Chaplaincy organised the cold solstice plunge to raise vital funds to continue Chaplaincy in local schools, and support mentoring, training, our learner driver program, and school breakfasts. We have all benefited from the great work Darra has been doing at Reece over the last several years, and we are keen to see this continue into the future. The solstice plunge was a 3-minute ocean dip at the Bluff.
Conduct in the Community
As members of Reece High School, you represent more than just yourselves—you represent our entire school community. Whether you’re wearing our uniform, participating in activities, or simply spending time in the community, your actions reflect the values we stand for: Respect, Responsibility, Best Effort, and Inclusiveness.
I encourage you to carry these values with you wherever you go. Be kind to others, look out for one another, and make choices that you can be proud of. Remember, people notice how you conduct yourself in the community, how you speak, and how you behave—even when you think no one is watching.
Let’s work together to build a reputation in the community that we can all be proud of. You have the power to make a positive difference.