Dear Families,

As we approach the halfway point to the 2024 school year, I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the courage and growth exhibited by our students this year.  Once again, the opportunity to attend Exhibitions was a privilege, the personal and learning growth exhibited by our younger students was particularly evident.  The diversity of learning focuses across the school is fantastic and does truly reflect the student-centred approach of the Big Picture Learning Design.

Reporting

This week we will be sending home our mid-year reports.  This will include a teacher narrative written by your child’s advisor to reflect your child’s progress and capabilities aligned to the Big Picture Learning Goals; a student narrative in which students reflect on their learning journey, and their growth as a person and ideas for next term.

This reporting period will be the first in which our 9/10 reporting is completely based around the Big Picture Learning Goals.  If you have any questions or queries about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Family Information Night

Each year Launceston Big Picture School holds two Family Information Evenings for prospective students, one in Term 3 and another in Term 4.  This year our Family Information Evenings will be held on the following dates:

Term 3: Wednesday August 28^th

Term 4: Wednesday November 6^th

Dress Code Policy

Our School Association met earlier this term.  At this meeting, a subcommittee has been formed to review the Launceston Big Picture School Dress Code Policy.  Please keep an eye out for opportunities to share your thoughts with this subcommittee.

Attendance

During Term 2, our attendance rate has dropped slightly, with it currently sitting at 78%.  We recognise that there have been high levels of illness in the community; please ensure to communicate the reasons for any absence with us.  If there are reasons beyond illness for your child’s absence, please speak with their advisory teacher to discuss how we can work together to maximise your child’s attendance and, as a result, their learning progress.  I appreciate your support with this.

Thanks again for supporting your child’s learning at Launceston Big Picture School, whether it be at Learning Plan Meetings, Exhibitions, LTIs, or other ongoing supports, we value the partnership between family, student and school.  Our learners are very fortunate to have a community who works together to support their learning and personal growth.

Have a safe school holiday period, we look forward to seeing you all on the 22^nd of July.

Cindy Johnston
Principal 

We want your help for our Learning Through Internship Program!

Launceston Big Picture School appreciates the support of the following businesses, who have offered a Learning Through Internship placement.

If you are a local business and have opportunities for students to engage in your industry, please contact Mel at melanie.van.asperen@decyp.tas.gov.au

Mel Van Asperen
LTI Coordinator

Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT)

A small group of students represented Launceton Big Picture School at the Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT) annual youth forum.  The 2024 event focused on housing in Tasmania. Young people from across the state attended Launceston Conference Centre to explore and understand what makes housing suitable for young people, and what needs to be done to ensure that all young people can access and keep a safe, appropriate and affordable home. 

The whole day was a fun, youth-driven event. Participants took part in engaging group discussions and activities to share their perspectives and ideas on what is needed to address housing for young people in Tasmania and to meet new people.

Mel Van Asperen
LTI Coordinator

TasRail Excursion

On Tuesday 4^th June, Year 9 students, Karri and Storme, had the privilege of going to TasRail for a workshop tour of the locomotives. Storme has written an account of their visit:

"On Tuesday 4th June, myself and another student in my class went with Mel, the LTI Coordinator to TasRail for an excursion to see what TasRail does. When we parked, Ben the office person greeted us at the door then we walked in and got dressed in our hi-vis vest and safety glasses. Next, we had a look around the workshop, where the workers gut the old trains to the floor and rebuild them with all new modern equipment. Then we had a look at a new train that not long been rebuilt, which looked very nice. Then they talked us through what they do to stop the train's wheels from slipping on the track. What they do is tip sand on the track to enhance traction, which was one of the things I learnt. Then lastly we looked at the service station, where the workers change the engine's and generator's oil."

Mel Van Asperen
LTI Coordinator

A Look at Alissia’s Traineeship

Alissia is currently undertaking a traineeship in Forestry, which is run by Arbre Training and Tas Wick Training.

“It has been the best choice I have made! Every Tuesday I go out to a company called JCH at Scottsdale, so I have to wake up at 5.00am or 6.00 am in the morning which is alright."

"Sometimes I go to Invermay and have been doing simulator training, which is like I'm on a computer which is like I'm in the machine. I feel like it’s good for me if I have never been in the machine before, but I am lucky enough to have had experience in the machines before!"

"I have already made so many connections with this training and traineeship, which has been fantastic and I have learnt so many new skills, built my knowledge of forestry, and can’t wait for more to come.”

Crafting

Abbie White: “My outcome was kinda like an accident, but I love it. It was really fun to do”.

Jessie Cox: “It was easier than what I thought it was going to be. I liked it a lot. It felt fun and creative”.

Now our statues will go home or be gifted to loved ones. Mission accomplished from the craft crew.

Hayley McPartlin
Teacher Assistant

Manga Art

Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conforms to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. Our group has been focused on developing individual character/s to the best of our abilities in this style.

Tom Clark
11A Advisor

Connection, Respect, Responsibility, Growth, Courage

We are always looking for ways to reward positive behaviour at our school.

Students and staff are encouraged to nominate those people who have shown Connection, Respect, Responsibility, Growth and Courage.

Winners receive a voucher to dine at Cafe Red and our winners this term so far are:

• Koby Whitmore: Growth, Respect, Responsibility & Connectedness - For setting up and helping with Breakfast Club
• Caitlin Towns: Growth, Respect, Responsibility & Connectedness - For cafe and catering service
• Amira Barker: Courage, Respect & Responsibility - For engaging with all aspects of design
• Sylvain de Clouet-Cooper: Respect - For stepping up to help in Town Hall
• Sylvain de Clouet-Cooper: Respect & Responsibility - For staying back to help and working hard in the kitchen
• Leannika Simmons: Courage - For stepping outside of your comfort zone and hosting Town Hall

Big Picture Distinguisher:

3. Personalisation: One Student at a Time

With the help of the advisory teacher and parents, each student develops a learning plan that explores their interests and passions, and identifies personal learning goals, authentic project work, and wider curriculum requirements. This plan is reviewed and updated regularly.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Please ensure your student keeps their school polo top in their bag or keeps it safe in their Advisory room at all times.

It is compulsory for students to wear their school uniform when attending school excursions, interviews, LTIs or if they are representing the school at events. 

Uniforms can be purchased from the school office and are sold at cost price:

• Polo Shirts with school logo = $30 
• School Hoody with school logo = $65

Any pre-worn uniform donations would be very much appreciated and are used in our emergency uniform/clothing pool.

COMMUNICATION & USEFUL LINKS

I would like to remind families of some useful links and apps that you may use to assist with receiving communication from our school.

• SMS Only - 0427 016 460 to report student absences, please send a text to our short message service
• Schoolzine App & Newsletter - Our newsletter is published at the end of every month through Schoolzine. Schoolzine is an app that allows you to communicate with the school, receive notices and newsletters

2024 Student Leaders 

Our Newsletter

Thank you to those people who have signed up to receive an electronic copy of our newsletter! I certainly hope that you enjoy reading it!

If you haven’t subscribed, please use the link below to do so:

If you are involved in a community organisation and would like to advertise in our newsletter, please contact our office. Where possible, we will be happy to assist.

Thank You

Just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the Launceston Big Picture School students who have contributed to this month's newsletter; we really do enjoy reading your articles and stories of your personal progress.

If students have stories they would like to share, then please email your news items to me jennifer.kendall@decyp.tas.gov.au

Jennifer Kendall
School Business Manager