Dear Families,

What a fantastic, energised term we have had.  Despite some challenging weather and loss of power for two days – LBPS has not missed a beat.  In addition to ‘doing the work’ of their Term 3 learning plans, our students have explored their diverse interests through a number of out learning opportunities including

• Reclink Netball,
• Grade 12 Camp,
• THA Hospitality Showcase
• City Park Radio
• A variety of excursions (MONA, Seahorse World, Female Factory, Art galleries)

Along side this we have challenged our thinking and explored our interest by experts coming into our building to speak to our students, including:

• Young Tassie Scientists,
• Speak Up and Stay Chatty
• Tanya from Teen Challenge,
• Kellie – Working It Out

We have celebrated our diversity and our interests through Book Week and Wear It Purple Day.  It was fantastic to see students across our school participate in both events – well done to the students who planned these events for our school.

It has been exceptional to see our community of learners in action with our Grade 11 students mentoring our Grade 9 students – with some exceptional connections between peers with common interests growing the learning of both mentor and the student being mentored.

Our enrolment process for 2025 has also started this week with the first of two Family Information Evenings taking place.  It was great for our staff and students to share the Big Picture Learning Design new families and young learners. 

A quick reminder that we have Term 3 Exhibitions in Week 9 for Grade 9/10 students and Week 10 for Grade 11/12 students. 

Thanks again for your continued support.

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

Mel Van Asperen
LTI Coordinator

Tyler’s Cranes

Students may have noticed a giant black cat being wheeled around Big Picture lately, I caught up with the creator Tyler in 9-10, to find out the story behind his project.

Tyler’s calico cat box is doing the rounds as he is collecting paper origami cranes with the hopes of getting to 1000.

“I’m making them because it’s something that piqued my interest” he said.

“My goal in origami is to eventually be good at it and maybe even teach people to make them.”

Origami cranes have a story where a Japanese girl Sadako, who was injured in the atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima, hoped to make 1000 to get a wish – a wish to recover. Tyler has visited the Hiroshima Peace Park in Japan and is pursuing his interest in history research through this project. Tyler, if he reaches 1000, is planning to wish for peace everywhere.

Tyler started collecting the cranes in a large cardboard box, he has since transformed it into a cat.

“The calico cat came as an idea to turn the cardboard box that it once was into an animal between a fish or a cat. I picked a calico cat to be what it is today."

Tyler was currently at 300 cranes at the time of writing this story. He is gladly accepting donations to get him to his goal quicker.

National Automobile Museum of Tasmania Excursion

Grade 9 and 10 students with a passion for all things mechanical took part in an excursion to the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania.

Since its move in 2019, the museum has taken on a lot more donor vehicles to show a broad range of local and national driving history. Students were fascinated by the collection ranging from a Rolls-Royce Phantom – the same model that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II once rode in, to the Holden Monaro that was made famous by dangling over the Tasman Bridge in 1975 when a bulk carrier collided with pylons, which caused a large part of the bridge to collapse. The museum also boasts a large range of racing cars and motor bikes, including a 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 that holds the current speed record on Conrod Straight at Bathurst at 327kph when it was clocked.

The students took photos and spoke to staff, including a former alumni of Big Picture who secured work there as part of his Big Picture experience.  

Young Tassie Scientists

Big Picture students were treated to a visit from the Young Tassie Scientists this month, with guest speakers sharing their fields of interest and imparting knowledge for students to gain a deeper understanding of the world.

Students were challenged in their knowledge of density, flies and their importance in the world, and how technology can be used to enhance basic human rights. The speakers engaged students with open discussions, samples and demonstrations.

Young Tassie Scientists is a program that aims to help researchers early in their career to connect with the community through school visits and supporting National Science Week. The guest speakers all shared how they were able to delve deeply into fields that they were passionate about – explaining what piqued their interest to become scientists.

David Claridge

Grade 9 Advisor

9A Sports Colours Day

9A is hosting a Footy Colours Day on  Thursday, 26^th September!

For a gold coin donation staff and students can wear their sports teams’ colours and support young people with cancer.

Even if you don’t have a team, you can still donate toward the cause! There will be activities and food for sale on the day.

All funds raised will be donated to the Fight Cancer Foundation. Fight Cancer Foundation pays toward extensive cancer research, and helps families who struggle to pay for flights and accommodation.

Charlie Cunningham

Grade 9A Advisory

Reading is Magic - Book Week @ LBPS

LBPS celebrated Book Week on Friday 23rd August! We dressed up and celebrated our favourite book character/s. 

Visit to Punchbowl Primary School

Our students participated in out-learning at Punchbowl Primary School. Great to connect with and contribute to our local community. Thanks to Brock for supporting this opportunity for our students.

Newstead College Masterclass Day

Last month, a group of students attended the seventh annual Newstead College Masterclass Day at the Launceston University of Tasmania campuses

Students from Don College and Launceston Big Picture School joined Newstead College for a day designed to allow students to experience first-hand what learning at university looks like, and to see the facilities and opportunities that are on offer at the new Inveresk campus.

We are incredibly grateful to the UTAS academics and students who ran sessions for us across 13 disciplines, including Nursing, Maritime Seafaring, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Geography, Education, Architecture and Design, Fine Arts, Theatre Arts, Research Skills, Sociology, Community Development and Nutrition

A massive thank you to Invermay Primary School Grade 5/6 students who attended so students could get an authentic experience of working with young people in the education and community development fields.

This informative and joyful day has become an important part of our UniHub and Careers calendar at Newstead College

Wear It Purple Day

Wear It Purple Day took place on Friday 30th August. Students and staff wore purple or colourful clothing to celebrate diversity and young people from the LGBTIQA+ community. It was great to see the rainbow shine!

RUOK Day

Tom’s Advisory are hard at work organising RUOK Day as our Social Action Project for the school on Friday 13th September. We have 3 guest speakers already organised, a free lunch and some great wellbeing activities planned for the afternoon.

Tom Clark

Grade 11A Advisor

Jewellery Making 

Due to a large amount of interest in our group, we now have 2 groups to accommodate more students with an interest in making jewellery. Students have enjoyed working with a variety of materials to make their creations, often printing out a reference photo as a guide. We now have a ring sizer, and the making of wire wrapped rings has been popular. Our group time is always fun as we chat and laugh while exploring our creativity.

Mel Tyson
Teacher Assistant

Cooking 

After exploring various sweets in Term 1, Term 2 we transitioned to savoury dishes, making pasta dishes, savoury toast, sausage rolls and mini quiches. We had a great start to Term 3 with a successful attempt at making pork dumplings. We enjoyed the process of making and cooking them. All students very much enjoyed eating them! We have also made potato salad and spring rolls. These dishes have received a lot of positive feedback from both students and staff.

Mel Tyson
Teacher Assistant

Sport & Rec

On Tuesday 6^th August our students participated in the Reclink Northern Tasmania Netball Tournament. It was great to see our students exploring their interests and trying something new. They displayed great teamwork and leadership throughout the day. Thanks to Rob and Coby for taking the team.

A huge thanks to Bek from Reclink for organising the event and taking training. Congratulations to Malachai for being awarded one of two MVPs for the tournament.

Art

A wonderful group of creative students had the fantastic outlearning opportunity to participate in the Meander Valley Community Mural Workshop with artists James Cowan (@KreamArt) and Jay and Charlie (@Elev8ed Creations).

The mural workshop was held in Deloraine at the Meander Valley Performing Arts Centre, with students helping to paint a community mural over three days. Artists James and Jay designed a mural incorporating local wildlife and landscape elements reflecting the Meander Valley region. The students worked with ease alongside students from Deloraine High School, local Home-Education students, youth representatives from the general community and the aboriginal community.

The completed artwork will cover two facades of the building along the river walking track, revitalising the area and celebrating community engagement. We would like to thank Alison Hugo from the Meander Valley Council for organising the event. The Mural Workshop was funded by the Tasmanian State Government to support Youth Participation. 

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:

• Harvey Brunskill: Growth & Responsibility - For taking on responsibility
• Decon Murfet: Connectedness - For learning how to use digital portfolios so you can teach the advisory
• Bryah Firth: Courage & Growth - For reaching out to an expert linked to their project
• Annabelle Airey-O'Byrne: Growth - For wanting to work with others and start a flexible learning group
• Viktor Suchenko: Growth - For attending an imformational interview
• Robin Armstrong: Courage - For always having amazing courage bouncing back
• Ash Ready: Connectedness, Growth & Responsibility - For getting an LTI and helping with tree planting
• Bryah Firth: Courage & Growth - For managing the delay of a guest speaker at Town Hall so well and for being a fabulous MC

Big Picture Distinguisher:

4. Authentic Assessment

Each term the students exhibit their portfolios of work to a panel made up of the advisory teacher, family, peers, the mentor, and others from the community. They provide evidence of progress against their learning goals, and they reflect on the process of their learning.

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