Study Tour Homestays

I am thrilled that BHS has been selected to host 15 study tour students from Japan from 6 - 20 August 2023. The Japanese students are aged between 15 and 16 years old and we are looking for Homestay families for them to live with while they are here.

Hosting an international student is a fantastic opportunity for your family to learn about another culture, and at the same time you'll also help a young person experience Tasmania through the eyes of a local family by sharing culture, language, and food.

Hosts are required to provide a safe, supportive, and welcoming home environment, which includes three meals per day, and assistance with transport to and from school each day. In return hosts are provided with an allowance of $290 per student per week to assist with expenses.

To register to host, please call the homestay team at Government Education and Training International (GETI) on 6165 5727 or email homestay@geti.tas.gov.au

Staying in Touch

It was wonderful to see many families join us on Wednesday 15 March for our 2023 Grade 7 Meet & Greet. We strongly encourage parents to be involved in their child’s learning, as we know that parental involvement has a positive impact on success at school. Getting to know your child’s teachers is an important part of this. Other opportunities to keep in touch with teachers and stay updated about your child’s learning include Burnie Counts Face Book page, Seesaw App, BHS Face Book page, Parent Teacher Evening (Tuesday 9 May 3:30pm – 7:00pm), becoming a School Association member (AGM Monday 1May 5pm). Teachers and senior staff are available by contacting the school office or via individual email.

Staffing Update

Ms Anne McCulloch will be on LSL for the last week of Term 1, and the first three weeks of Term 2. Ms McCulloch will be back at work on Monday 22 May. Mr Richard Lawson will be covering Ms McCulloch’s classes for this period. As a regular relief teacher Mr Lawson is already well known to our students. We wish Ms McCulloch a wonderful time on her overseas trip.

Ms Zoe Gee will be absent from BHS from Tuesday 2 May to Friday 9 June to complete her final teaching placement. During this time Mrs Josie Bradford will cover all of Ms Gee’s classes. Mrs Bradford is very well known to these classes ensuring a smooth transition between teachers and continuity of learning for students.

Miss Rachael Gillespie will be on leave for this coming week for the wonderful event of her wedding.  Miss Gillespie will be returning to us at the beginning of Term 2 as Mrs Rachael Samson. We wish Rachael a wonderful wedding day.

Coming up next week

• Grade 7 Activity Days Tuesday 4 April and Wednesday 5 April
• Last day for students Term 1 Wednesday 5 April
• Moderation Day (Student Free) Thursday 6 April
• First Day back for Term 2 Wednesday 26 April

Trudy Durkin

Principal 

Contacts:

These boys are completing a community project at the Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens. They have been assigned "Tibet". This is a section of garden that grows Azaleas and Rhododendrons endemic to Tibet. Their mission is to have the section weeded and composted ready for blooming in October when the EVRG hosts the international Rhododendron conference. 

The H.o.L boys had a break from the EVRG due to maintenance with Taswater and were able to assist at the school farm doing some small repair and maintenance jobs. Thomas, Maryann, Murphy, Blake, James, Renegade, Kale, Jye and Gybson enjoyed a lunch of farm grown chicken and gravy rolls with a side serve of farm grown dutch cream baked potatoes (what potato shortage), followed by farm grown apples for an afternoon snack.

10G Science are growing Daikon Radishes as their Term 1 science investigation. Jakobi and Tate along with Trystan and the boys look forward to presenting their radish to the judges at Agfest in May!

Madi won a veggie pod through the Foodladder Program (see Instagram and BHS Facebook), by modifying and developing a gelati recipe with Ms. Prendergast. We have received the veggie pod and will be using it to grow Daikon Radish for the UTAS (TIA) Agfest Challenge in conjunction with 10G Science. A challenge within a challenge – which team can grow the biggest radish. The students had a great time assembling the veggie pod – some practical engineering tasks and are now completing a plant/agricultural science unit as well as food science unit with this totally under-rated root vegetable (like parsnips and Brussel sprouts). So far students have researched the origin, uses, best germination, planting and growth regimes for Daikon Radish and we are looking forward to exploring and creating a variety of recipes.

Madi and Ms. P already have a grand plan for a spicy palate cleansing sorbet using mashed radish. Watch this culinary space.

Emara, Luke and Wil digging up some farm fresh carrots – students seem to enjoy the fun of growing and producing food, as well as the flavour of fresh food. Understanding the effort to produce food enables students to appreciate this luxury more and more, in turn, being more mindful of food waste. Students eat the root and feed the greens and left overs to the farm animals. Other fruit and veggies are available for students to take home, sent over to school for cooking and various charities.

Meet our new additions to the farm – Gladys (white) and Grizelda (black and yellow) the pigs! We look forward to growing some more pork products in an ethical and sustainable way and working in conjunction with our local butcher Sharmans to have them processed into a variety of products.

Agriculture and H.o.L students have all enjoyed the fruits of their labours this term. We have had several lunch time BBQs and egg/bacon rolls using produce from the school farm.

Darcy and Stevie assist Bryan and Ms. Prendergast process chickens the old fashioned way. We pluck and gut the birds, then complete an anatomy and physiology component around digestion and reproduction. We donate the carcasses to the school kitchen, cross charities for soups and also bake them for lunches for students in the H.o.L program. 

The Concert Band rehearses early on Tuesday mornings before school. Here they are practicing a piece ready for the Burnie Music Eisteddfod in Term 2. Thank you to parents for the support you provide by getting your child to school by 8am, and welcome to our new Grade 7s!

Miss Bronwyn Darvell