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Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Friends of Prospect High School,
Thank you so much to students and families for your awesome effort in coping with changes in the delivery of learning. We appreciate learning at home has many challenges and commend everyone for your efforts with establishing new routines at home. As mentioned in my previous newsletter, all teachers are making every effort to keep students motivated and engaged in learning. They continue to impress me greatly with their hard work, dedication and flexibility. Teachers have continued to regularly communicate via conferencing, chat rooms and forums. However, we understand there still may be anxiety with navigating the requirements of online learning and encourage students to contact their teachers by phone, email or via Canvas.
It is important that students make wellbeing a priority as this maximises success with learning. Establishing a routine for learning, eating and sleeping well, building in regular breaks, and having some non-screen time are important strategies for managing wellbeing. Support staff at school are also available to students and families to assist with wellbeing. In addition to the availability of support staff and daily contact teachers make with students, a wellbeing check-in survey has been conducted this week with all students by Care teachers. The survey will assist us in understanding wellbeing issues that students are currently dealing with, and provide us with information on how we can continue to support students and families.
It is very pleasing to be able to begin planning for the return of Grades 11/12 students on Monday 25th May and Grades 7-10 on Tuesday 9th June. We know that students are missing their friends and interactions with teachers, and teaching and non-teaching staff are certainly keen for face-to-face interactions with students. In my next newsletter, I will outline expectations and processes for face-to-face learning in an environment where safety and hygiene will continue to be the number one priority. In an effort to limit the handling of cash, students will be asked to make canteen orders online the day before by using the app Qkr. Details and instructions on how to download the app are outlined in this newsletter.
Prospect High School 6/7 Transition
Transition for Grade 6 students from our feeder primary schools has begun. Although in a very different format, the response from Grade 6 students and parents has been excellent. Thank you to Mr Poke and Mr Bergamin for producing the video and information.
Prospect High School eLibrary
Last Friday, the new Prospect High School eLibrary was launched. This fantastic service has eBooks available 24hrs a day to students on their laptops at school and at home on any device. The range of books is excellent, and I encourage all students to use this new resource. Thank you to Mrs Williams and Ms Miller for their initiative in organising this resource.
Gr 7 Option Changeover
Congratulations to Grade 7 students for not only adapting to learning online but also for undertaking their new rotation of option subjects. Please contact the school on 63444744 if information is required.
Health Challenges and Wellbeing Tips
Thank you to the HPE team who have been posting health challenges on Facebook for students and families. Thanks also to our School Nurse Dani, who has been posting wellbeing tips. These have been supportive resources while in isolation and will be useful as a future reference for wellbeing.
Mrs Lee Barker
Principal
We are working towards a cashless canteen. Payments at the canteen can be made by using the Qkr App, debit or credit cards. While this is being phased in and until further notice, orders will need to be placed by 8:45am each day. Thank you for your co-operation in helping to keep us all safe and reduce unnecessary handling of money.
Prospect High School eLibrary
Last week we launched the new Prospect High School eLibrary. eBooks are available 24hrs a day to students on their laptops at school and at home on any device. There are around 2000 books for students to choose from, with many of them being different to those we have in our school library. Students can create their own 'saved' list of books that they want to read later, borrow up to three books a month, and place a hold on a book. To access, students will need to go to the 'Library Canvas' page, click on 'eBooks' and follow the links. If students have any questions, please inbox the Library Canvas page. Happy reading!
New Books in the Library
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Sport Fiction Verse novel
Like lightning/you strike/fast and free/legs zoom/down field/eyes fixed/on the checkered ball/on the goal/ten yards to go/can't nobody stop you/can't nobody cop you...Twelve-year-old Nick is a football-mad boy who absolutely hates books. In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover, football, family, love, and friendship take centre stage as Nick tries to figure out how to navigate his parents' break-up, stand up to bullies, and impress the girl of his dreams. These challenges - which seem even harder than scoring a tie-breaking, game-winning goal - change his life, as well as his best friend's.
Fated by Teri Terry
Dystopian Fiction
I'm just one girl. What can I do?
Sam's cosy life as daughter of the Deputy Prime Minister is about to end. These are turbulent times. Borders have closed and protests are turning violent. The government blames the country's youth, and is cracking down hard. Mobile phones are blocked, gatherings are banned and dissent is brutally crushed.
Sam is torn between family loyalty and doing what is right. when she meets Ava and Lucas her mind is made up. One girl, one choice. She can make a difference: she must. Even if her life - and her heart - are on the line ...
Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
Fantasy Fiction
Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here. For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying and some deaths are more mysterious than others. In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty, who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.
Science Comics: Volcanoes
In Volcanoes, we explore these exciting and explosive vents in the Earth's surface. Along the way readers will learn about lava, tectonic plates, islands and other land masses generated by volcanoes, famous volcanoes, and famous eruptions.
The Island of Dr. Moreau by David Rodriguez
Graphic Novel
An unnamed island in the middle of the ocean hides a huge secret. During the day, inhuman screams are heard coming from a house. At night, the silence is only broken by stifled rumours that come from the forest. It is said that someone there played God. It is said that something went terribly wrong...
The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Science Fiction
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original.
The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Family/Relationships Fiction
Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.
Neverland by Margot McGovern
Fantasy Fiction Grade 10+ students
After doing herself near-fatal damage, Kit Learmonth has come home. But it’s a place she hardly recognises: the mermaids are hiding, the witch has packed up her cauldron and the pirates have sailed to more bountiful shores. In their place is Neverland and its inhabitants – damaged teens too sick to be in regular school, but not sick enough to be institutionalised, watched over by her psychiatrist uncle. And Kit is one of them. Kit has a choice. She can use illicit night-time adventures with her friends and mysterious new boy Rohan to avoid the truth. Or she can separate harsh reality from childhood fantasy and try to remember what happened on the night of her parents’ deaths. What really prompted her family’s departure from the island? Was there a monster who drove them away? Is the monster still there? The more Kit uncovers, the more she realises that perhaps she should be afraid.
Ink by Alice Broadway
Fantasy Fiction
Every action, every deed, every significant moment is tattooed on your skin for ever. When Leora's father dies, she is determined to see her father remembered forever. She knows he deserves to have all his tattoos removed and made into a Skin Book to stand as a record of his good life. But when she discovers that his ink has been edited and his book is incomplete, she wonders whether she ever knew him at all.
Science Comics: Coral Reefs by Maris Wicks
In Coral Reefs, we learn all about these tiny, adorable sea animals! This absorbing look at ocean science covers the biology of coral reefs as well as their ecological importance. Nonfiction comics genius Maris Wicks brings to bear her signature combination of hardcore cuteness and in-depth science.
As part of a Drawing Unit in Mrs Derbyshire’s Grades 9 and 10 Visual Art classes, students were asked to create a data drawing based on their daily life experiences. Provided with a visual key of symbols, students created a design that represented data such as, getting dressed, staying in their PJs, their emotional states, how much TV and social media they had watched, and so on. Students have really embraced this creative analogue way of reflecting on their daily life during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some great examples of students' work.
If you have paid or part paid your child’s levies or Grade 7 camp, you should have had a reimbursement directly from the Department of Education, either into your bank account or by cheque sent in the mail. You should also stop making instalment payments. If you have any queries regarding the Levy refunds please contact the DoE Levies Refund Team on 1800 827 055.
7.1 and 7.4 have just started Grade 7 Drama. An important part of drama involves developing social skills, the ability to think on our feet, confidence, articulation and manipulating our bodies. Each lesson the Grade 7s are given some fun, game-based warm-ups to do with their families while learning from home. But why should only the Grade 7s have all the fun?! Here are some games that you might like to try at home with your family, and we will put some more games in the Prospector next fortnight.
Check out these fun activities that you can do with your siblings/family.
If you give them a go, how about sending your PC teacher a photo and write a couple lines on how it all went, and we will put it in the next Prospector.
Grade 7
Riley has been an amazing help with the laptops and assisting with technology onsite. Riley has even made up spreadsheets to track the laptops battery life, etc. Thank you, Riley, for all your hard work.
Grade 8
Georgia has been nominated as a Working Wonder for the dedication she has shown towards her online learning these last few weeks. In English and HASS Georgia has been motivated, and the work she is producing at home has been very pleasing. She is showing care and commitment with regards to her learning and is to be commended for working so well during these difficult times. Well done, Georgia – keep up the great work!
Grade 10
Jade, Niekaylah, Job and Ethan are to be commended for their dedication towards their learning from home. We look forward to having them back at school soon.
School Executive
Principal
Mrs Lee Barker
Assistant Principals
Mr Mario Bergamin and Mr Greg James
School Business Manager
Mrs Debbie Chancellor
Grade Teams
Senior Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mr Brendan Poke
Grade 8 Mrs Anna Musovic
Grade 9 Mrs Carmen Slore
Grade 10 Mr Scott Brewer
Grade Leaders
Grade 7 Mrs Katrina Dawkins and Mrs Hannah Derbyshire
Grade 8 Mr Will Reynolds and Mrs Leonie Smith
Grade 9 Mr Steve Andrews
Grade 10 Sonya Matthews
Support Staff
School Psychologist
Mr Gene Colgrave
(Mondays, every fourth Tuesday and Fridays)
School Social Worker
Mr Brendan Dixon
(Wednesdays, alternate Thursdays and Fridays)
School Health Nurse
Mrs Dani Seadon
(Mondays and alternate Thursdays)
Chaplain
Mr Sam Cogger
(Tuesdays and Thursdays)
NOTICEBOARD