Dear Families,

I’m reminded regularly of the privilege it is to be the principal of Launceston Big Picture School.  Exhibition week is always a great opportunity to reflect on the great learning happening within our school and the broader community.  The support shown by parents and other family members to acknowledge and celebrate learning and growth is second to none.  The diversity of our learners and their interests is a great strength of our learning design and our school.  Over the past week, I have been taken on a journey by our learners as they share their learning about topics such as DNA, Physics, Computer Programming, Cats, When Machine’s Fail and Why?  The courage and confidence of our learners to share their learning journey has been exceptional.

Leaving to learn is another critical element of the Big Picture learning design. During Term One, our staff have shown great commitment in supporting students for leaving to learn – through exploring interests in our local community, building confidence and capabilities in preparation to ultimately participate in LTI (Learning through Interest/Internship).  Recently students, with an interest in hospitality and cookery, had a fabulous opportunity to work alongside chef, Luke Burgess, Eat Well Tasmania and TUSA Food Hub to delivery the Eat It All community dinner. As Eat Well Tasmania put it, “we couldn’t have pulled this event off without the skilful and incredible students – it was a pleasure to work together”.

This week Advisor and Student Narratives will be sent home, which is a great reflection of the term’s learning. If you have any questions regarding these, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Advisory Teacher.

Below are descriptions of both Leaving to Learn and Assessment by Exhibition – explaining the vital role they each play in the Big Picture Learning Design.

As the term holidays are fast approaching, I would like to thank our students, families and staff for a fantastic start to 2025 and wish you a safe and enjoyable break.  

Thanks

Cindy

Cindy Johnston
Principal 

We want to acknowledge the businesses that have supported our Learning Through Internship Program!

Launceston Big Picture School appreciates the support of the businesses who have offered a Learning Through Internship placement. We look forward to working with those businesses in the future.

If your business would like to find out how to become involved in our Learning Through Internship Program, please contact Mel Van Asperen via email on melanie.van.asperen@decyp.tas.gov.au

Ben’s Pizza Parlour Cares a Lot! - Town Hall Reflection

The year 11/12 Advisory, recently named ‘Ben’s Pizza Parlour’, has kicked off the first full school Town Hall for 2025. The Advisory explored aspects of the DEYCP value Care, with nearly all of the class taking on roles from acknowledgement to country, MCing, sharing of projects, conducting interviews, live portraits and Advisory challenges. It was great to see so many of the Pizza Crew working together as a unit and for it to be truly student run. Hearing about Harley’s Recipe Book project, Lilly’s Cat Comic, and Hamish’s blacksmithing were highlights, as was Noah’s interview with new advisor, Anthony. Cindy was back on deck with a motivational Principal’s address and Aria produced an awesome portrait in under half an hour of Bella.

Town Hall is different from any assembly, with a focus on celebrating achievements, sharing new learning and hearing all voices. Well done Ben’s Pizza Parlour, thanks for holding the anchovies!

School Picnic – Scottsdale Aquatic Centre

Grade 11 & 12 - Tasmania Zoo Excursion

The Grade 11-12 Advisories had a fantastic time at Tasmania Zoo on Friday 21st March.  

Exploring the zoo for 4 hours, we had the chance to listen to an animal talk about Tasmanian Devils and giraffes. Students also had the opportunity to feed and encounter the emus, llamas, the donkey, kangaroos and wallabies. Students will be using their photos and video footage to create a short video for Exhibitions. 

Last Tuesday I started my first day of my L.T.I at Salvos.  I was given the normal introduction on where places were, like the break room and toilets, as well as learning the basics of what my tasks were. These were to sort through clothes, and if they were suitable to be sold, put them on a coat hanger and put them on the rack. Another task I did was sorting through and hanging bed sheets and pillowcases as well as curtains. We found a couple of sets of curtains as well as bed sheets with pillowcases, I would say about four of them were a full set.

I was very worried when I had to make a few trips to the warehouse where we stored items. I was very worried a customer would go and ask me questions that I wouldn’t know, but if that did happen I would most likely just say it was my first day and I am unable to give them the information that they want, and point to where one of the senior workers were so they could get the information they needed. The warehouse was in a different building.

I got to talk with a person with the name JJ.  They were a senior staff member, and I talked with them while I worked; it was a very nice work environment. I also helped to fill the clothes bins so the next shift wouldn’t have to do it themselves at the start of the day.

A notable thing was that two people had dropped off 3 bottles of non-alcoholic wine and shockingly the wine had two types. A normal far cheaper one went for around $7.43 to $63.02, while the other far more fancy looking one with a cork was only $2.43 to $73.05. Those were from highest to lowest prices and shockingly both were marked at 4 to 5 and a half stars.

Jimmy
12 Advisory

Leannika’s Senior Project

Leannika’s Senior Project currently involves her undertaking some extensive research into the native and threatened animals around Launceston and restoring the habitats they live in.  

Have a look at the graphic Leannika has created below informing you of the species status: Endangered, Vulnerable or Threatened.

Leannika
12 Advisory

Ruby’s Personal Interest Project

Have a look at Ruby’s Personal Interest Poster with her Essential Question! However, for Term One, Ruby has been focusing on her first Framing Question: What is Feminism? Surprisingly the answer is not straightforward. We will share more about that in the future.

Ruby
12 Advisory

Career's Day

Exploring interests, connecting with experts in the community - thanks for your time and expertise Caz.

Eat Well Tasmania

Super proud of our hospitality students - real world learning through your interest areas is at the core of Big Picture learning.

Dungeons and Dragons

Friday afternoons continue to be filled with chaos and laughter as Dungeons and Dragons continues in 2025.

It has been pleasing to see returning members from last year and new members all moving around groups and interacting with peers they don’t normally work with. There have been at least two groups running each week with students able to create their own characters and test them out in the fantasy worlds that others have created.

D&D is always open each term to new members (never played before to experienced); please reach out to Ash O’Kane (TA) or Dave (10A Advisor) if you would like to take part in the future or if you have any questions.

David Claridge
10A Advisor

Sport & Recreation

On Friday afternoons the Sport & Rec students have been enjoying access to the new sports equipment that the school purchased at the beginning of the year.

During Term One, they have had a go at Foam Hockey, Rounders (modified baseball) and Flag Football (NFL). So far everything has been a hit, and students have participated with enthusiasm, getting the most out of the new equipment.

Dan Smith
Sport & Recreation

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 month are:

• Tabitha Gastin Whitmore: Courage, Respect, Connectedness, Growth and Responsibility - For community work
• Fiona Dangerfield: Courage, Respect, Connectedness, Growth and Responsibility - For being an amaziing friend
• Jesse Gabel: Growth - For a wonderful exhibition
• Lydia Jordan: Connectedness and Responsibility - For holding up the advisory's expectations

Big Picture Distinguisher: 

Distinguisher #: 

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

2025 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