Office Hours

8.30am – 3.30pm daily
School Starts: 8.50am
School Finishes: 3.00pm

School Office Ph: 6452 9222
Trade Training Centre Ph: 6452 9288

SMS: 0418 220 201
Email: smithton.high@decyp.tas.gov.au
Web: http://education.tas.edu.au/smithtonhigh/Pages/Home.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Smithton-High-School/219062138251149

Term Dates 2025

Student Free Days 2025

Year 7-10
Friday 6^th June
Friday 31^st October

Years 11/12

Dates to Remember…

Community News

Outdoor Education

The Outdoor Ed students participated in their first excursion of 2025. The students headed to Trawmanna and participated in a bower spinach propagation activity, where students learnt about the benefits and different uses that native flora provide. The students were rewarded with treats from the veggie patch. We would like to extend our gratitude to Mel and Jack from CHAC for their continuous support to the Outdoor Education group. 

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This week, the Outdoor Ed students participated in a camping scenario where they pitch tents considering the wind direction. The quickest time to pitch a tent in windy conditions was 5 minutes and the quickest time to pack it up was 6.20 minutes.

Metal, Fabrication & Design

The new Year 9/10 MDT Metalwork elective has launched this year, introducing students to the fundamental principles of precision sheet metal fabrication. In this course, students are developing confidence in accurately measuring and working with sheet metal through the fabrication of a set of professional-grade workshop trays. This project is designed to build their technical skills step by step, covering essential fabrication processes such as precision marking out, cutting, folding, drilling, and fastening.

To reinforce these skills, students have engaged in hands-on demonstrations, including the creation of templates and paper models to visualize and refine their designs before working with metal. This approach ensures a strong foundational understanding of material behaviour, tolerance considerations and efficient fabrication workflows. As students progress, they will gain real-world experience in working with sheet metal, preparing them for more complex projects that demand accuracy, problem-solving, and a keen eye for detail.

Year 9/10 Foods

With a more mature palate and a little more experience working in the kitchen, this options class is going to attempt some more complicated recipes to refine and enhance our cooking techniques in the kitchen. We have attempted a classic chicken stir-fry, banana and blueberry muffins and New York Pretzels- involved yeast cookery and kneading skills. So far the results have been 100% delicious! We can only hope that they get to try out their new skills in your kitchen at home.

Year 8 News

Celebrating Year 8 Success

Students from Year 8 have also been demonstrating our school values. Congratulations to all students.

Foods

8.2 Foods have been cooking up a storm and we have a couple of young budding chefs with a particular flair for working in the kitchen! Our recipes have been both sweet and savory and Year 8’s have made some suggestions of what to cook. Our dishes so far have been Triple Chocolate Muffins (Barney’s favourite), Chinese Chicken Stir-fry (everyone’s favourite!), Carrot Cake Cupcakes and this week we are making Carbonara-a classic Italian dish that’s very hard to say ‘pass’ on. Wait to see what we are cooking in the last half of the term-it’s going to be delicious!

Year 7 News

Celebrating Year 7 Success

During Year 7 assemblies this term, students who are demonstrating the school values of LARF (Learn, Achieve, Respect & Fairness) have been rewarded for efforts. Keep up the great work Year 7s!

Art

During Art, 7.1 have been working on some 1 Point Perspective artwork. Well done!

Science

Students from Year 7 have been learning how to safely use Bunsen Burners in the Science Lab. Lots of fun was had learning the differences between safety and working flames. 

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Year 7 Cooking

Year 7 students are developing their cooking skills in the kitchen. This time they baked banana and blueberry muffins. 

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Good Reads

I have once again subscribed our school to Lamont Standing Orders for the latest fiction books. Our subscription includes Secondary, Lower Secondary and Secondary Graphic novels. We receive approximately ten books every month and our first instalment has just arrived and waiting to be borrowed. Meanwhile our non-fiction readers haven’t missed out as we have several new books including Macca - Mackenzie Arnold’s biography, a new set of World Book Encyclopedias and a set of ten History Summarized books ready for your perusal.

Happy reading
Mrs Jill Kay 📚📚📚

Attendance

Students have had a great start to first term with very high attendance across all the year levels. At present the attendance rates are sitting at a respectable 84% across the school.

The year level with the highest attendance rate of a whopping 92% is Year 7. A BIG congratulations to all the Year 7 students who are eager to make the most out of learning something new every day.  They were followed closely by a tied effort between Year 9 and Year 12 on a massive 86%, Year 10’s on 85%, Year 8 on 84% and Year 11’s on 83%.

Congratulations to students for showing up and getting involved in this valuable educational opportunity. To teachers and teacher aides for providing students with quality educational programs, to the mentors, EFA’s and admin staff for supporting our students. A big thank you to all the parents, guardians, families and carers for helping to get your children and young adults to school so they can receive the best opportunity to be involved in an education.

Absences-don’t forget to let us know if your child is away.

If your child is away from school because of sickness, an appointment, etc., please contact the office to explain their absence. You may receive an SMS to say your child is absent from school, this is an alert to let you know your child is not at school and a friendly reminder to please explain the reason for their absence (please call the office if that’s easier). Your support is always appreciated and we thank you for getting in touch.

Every School Day Matters

Start the year right by making every school day count. Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most.

Staff at SHS – 2025

If you need to contact a staff member to discuss your child’s progress, please ring the school office – 64529222 to book a face to face appointment or phone call.

Nikki Clark
Principal

A Word from the Principal…

Welcome back to the 2025 school year at Smithton High School. It has been wonderful to see students return to school ready to start a new school year and it has been fantastic to see all of our staff working hard to ensure that all of our students settle in well to their new classrooms. We have all been working hard to ensure that we are supporting our students to feel known, safe, well and learning every day. I warmly welcome all our new and existing students and families to Smithton High School. I extend a warm welcome to our new teaching staff members (please see info later in the newsletter).

Leadership opportunities for students have been happening, led by Susan Bishop (SEC and SRC) and Ryland Coombe (House Captains). Our House Leaders have already assisted with the CH Cluster Primary Schools Athletics Carnival held on Tuesday. The feedback was positive as our leaders supported staff and students at the carnival. Student leaders are ready to develop their leadership skills and are looking forward to the 2025 school year.

I hope you have seen the students who have been recognised for their contribution to meeting our school values LARF – Learn, Achieve, Respect and Fairness on our Facebook page. Our school has weekly Year level assemblies where student acknowledgement of our school values takes place in one of our Pastoral Care blocks.

All of our teaching staff have been trying to contact all families with introductory phone calls to introduce themselves and their child’s teachers; provide details about how your child has started the year and what your hopes are for your child for 2025. Please keep in touch with your child’s teacher/s when you need to discuss anything that is school related. The school number is 64529222 where you can leave a message and/or book a meeting face-face or via phone.

All staff have made a commitment to two areas: Respectful Language and You Are Where You Should Be (during the school day). These areas are connected to school culture, school belonging and impact considerably on teaching and learning.

What does this really mean?

Our expectations are:

1.Everybody speaks appropriately to others and uses positive language. (Swearing and abusive language is not acceptable in our workplace).

2.Everybody is where they should be which simply means - I am in my scheduled class on time, and I use the school process if I need to leave my class. I will be sharing more of this work with you over the year.

You would have received an attachment via our text messaging service for the SHS Student/Parent handbook which provides information related to our school. We hope that this provides you with general information about school processes and of course contact the office on 64529222 should you require any further information.

So we are all on the same page, vaping and smoking are illegal activities for people under the age of 18 and the school will respond accordingly if a student is in possession of vapes/cigarettes, involved in the distribution of these items and/or using them whilst at school. Our school is a vape and cigarette free zone.

As always, I encourage you to come into our school and speak with any of us. We are open to your feedback (both the positive and areas for improvement).  2025 has started reasonably well and we are all looking forward to a successful year of learning, growth, gratitude and positive wellbeing for all.

Community News

Spanish

The Spanish students have been working on their 'Año viejo' projects, to embrace and celebrate Latin cultures and traditions. The Año viejo represents their learning journey through the year and summarises hopes and dreams for the next one.

MDT

Well done to Year 10 student Jayden who recently completed his final woodwork project.

Crystal in Year 9 also finished her project. Well done!

OUTDOOR ED

Cradle Mountain Excursion

The Outdoor ed students went on a 3-day trip to Cradle Mountain and surroundings.

Day 1:

Students left SHS and stopped in Sheffield for lunch and a walk around the town. Sheffield is known as the town of murals and luckily for us, their famous mural contest was taking place ‘live’, where artist from across the country compete for a chance to win $15,000. The students had the opportunity to ask questions and to vote for their favourite mural in the contest.

At the accommodation students kicked the footy and went for a group walk around the place to enjoy the sunshine, in their adventure a friendly echidna came to say hello. The menu for the first night included chicken burgers, and students organised themselves with different roles for the preparation of the meal, including wash up. They also surprised Emilee with a birthday cake celebration. As the night approached students used their previously acquired skills to light a bonfire where a competitive trivia took place for the chance to win a bag of chocolates. Lights went out by 10pm.

Day 2:

Students woke up to some upbeat mariachi music at 7:30 am. All the students followed the itinerary thoroughly, and it was very impressive to see everybody in the common room before 8 am. Students had multiple options for breakfast and packed their lunches for the day including fruit, sandwiches and snacks.

At Cradle Mountain the weather was warm and sunny and students excitedly started the Dove Lake hike at 10:30 am. Students enjoyed the scenery and spotted wombats and a snake along the way. The last part of the hike presented some challenges for the students as it was uphill, and the day was getting hotter. Nonetheless, all students finished the hike at approximately 2 pm where they enjoyed their packed lunch with a clear view of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain.

Back at the accommodation most of the students enjoyed some quiet time and played some music and board games to relax and enjoy the nice weather. Spaghetti Bolognese was cooked by Ella and Tori, and everybody chipped in to assist the two chefs. After dinner Alexis and Hannah prepared a new trivia for the night where marshmallows were roasted on sticks and students sat around the bonfire and told stories. The students were tired from their big day at Cradle and some of them fell asleep before the 10 pm curfew.

Day 3:

The students had a sleep in and were woken up at 8:30. The group was ready for departure at 9:30. Students participated in a collective reflection about first impressions as they left the accommodation.

At Mole creek, students were welcomed by the Marakoopa Cave staff which include the rangers that look after the Mole Creek National Park. Inside the cave students were in awe when they saw the rock formations; some interesting questions took place. In the middle of the cave, known as the dark zone, the ranger turned the lights off, the group was in absolute darkness for two minutes and learnt about life in the cave. When the students saw the glowworms, they were fascinated by their bioluminescence. The group discussed and joked about all the formations that their imagination presented.

On the way home, most of the students had a nap in the car and finished the trip with a McDonalds stop in Burnie.

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MAST

Students engaged in a marine safety presentation with the assistance of MAST (Marine and Safety Tasmania). They interacted with boating equipment and participated in a flare demonstration. 

Kennanook

The Outdoor Ed students had the opportunity to visit Kennanook with the support of CHAC. Weather conditions were fabulous with barely any wind and plenty of sunshine. The students interacted with the landscape, gathered and tried some bushfoods and learned about the importance of this place for the local Aboriginal community. We would like to extend our gratitude to Camilla, Melissa and Jack for sharing their knowledge and skills with the students at Smithton High School.

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Trawmanna

The Outdoor Ed students had the opportunity to participate in a botanical session to recognise and clone native plants with the help and assistant of CHAC. The students were rewarded with fresh strawberries for their hard work. We would like to extend our gratitude to Melissa and Jack for their continuous support to the Outdoor Ed students.

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Work Placement

Study Centre

On Monday 11th of November, Work Placement students went to the Study Centre to learn about the support it offers to people in the community to engage in further training and education. If anyone in the community would like to know more about the Study Centre and opportunities it offers, it is well worth a visit. We thank Tony for his time on Monday. 

Clark Windows

David and Kade from Clark Windows were kind enough to show our Year 9/10 Work Placement class through Smithton's window making facility and the day in the life of a glazier. Students were lucky enough to see each stage of the process from measuring, quoting, cutting, handling, and framing to create the final product. We would like to thank Clark Windows staff for this experience and for showing the students the variety of job opportunities available. 

Burnie Police Station & Forensic Unit

Year 9/10 Work Placement students enjoyed a day out in Burnie on December 4^th for their final excursion. Firstly, sitting in on two court hearings in the Magistrate's Court and then heading to the Burnie Police Station. Here students saw a presentation and had some question and answer time on forensics, front line police work and daily dealings within the community. A huge thank you to everyone involved in enabling this to happen. 

Applied Science Excursion

Alchymia

Recently the Year 9/10 Applied Science class visited a local distillery Alchymia at Table Cape. Students had completed a practical fermentation and distillation unit in the school laboratory where they produced a viable biofuel. At Alchymia, Sarah and Matt were able to explain and show how they were able to turn water, yeast and barley into a single malt whisky. Students got to see this process first hand and ask questions about the viability of biofuel production in Tasmania.

Students then visited Fossil Bluff where they looked at brachiopod shell fossils that were approximately 275 million years old. Teachers were very impressed with student behaviour and application on the day.

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