Issue 2 - Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Principal's Report

Starting the college day by catching up with friends and enjoying some buttered fruit toast or a warming hot chocolate has become a comfortable routine for many students early in Term 2. We value the opportunity to check in with our students before classes and ensure a positive start to the day. With over 200 students accessing the breakfast program daily, costs are increasing, and we have been seeking community partners to sustain this important initiative.

Our school nurse, Sarah Fielding, led the way in writing a successful submission to the Variety Club of Tasmania for financial support. Thanks to the Tasmanian Community Fund, Variety Club has provided $10,000 towards our program for 2025. Last week, we had the pleasure of thanking Variety Club Tasmania CEO, Mohammed Aldergham, in person during his visit to the North-West of the state.

Just as the Variety Club of Tasmania has supported us, I encourage our school community to support the fundraising efforts of our students in the Certificate 2 Community Services class. They are holding an MD Day for Muscular Dystrophy on Thursday, 15 May. The students are also preparing for another ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ fundraiser in support of MND. Last year, we had a lot of fun raising funds and experiencing ice-cold water being thrown over many staff members and Mayor Teeny Brumby! Keep an eye out for more details through our social media to support this student initiative.

Towards the end of Term 1, our student wellbeing team was without social work support for a few weeks. We are pleased to welcome Angela Burns to Hellyer College three days a week from the start of Term 2.

We also welcome Tamara Young, a school nurse joining Sarah Fielding in providing school nurse support every day of the week.

Please feel free to contact us if you need our support with any student matters this term.

Hellyer College Association Chairman’s Report - March 2025

Another year has flown by, and the College can reflect on some really good achievements in 2024. This along with many improvements in student area facilities is a positive for Hellyer College. Added to this the recent Government announcement about funding increases to public education nationally and I believe we can look forward positively to the future.

The management and staff at the College have done a great job in delivering the year 11/12 curriculum in all its forms and supporting all our students to achieve their best results. The wellbeing of students is a key focus, and the college is working hard to engage and support students to achieve their best and to continue to improve attendance rates.

A number of new members will be joining the Association in 2025 with the likely retirement of long serving members Belinda Young, Ali Hilder, and myself this year. Belinda and Ali have done a great job with the Association, and we thank them for their commitment and drive to support Hellyer College over the years. I would also like to thank all the College Association members, Management, Staff and Students for their support over my time at the Association. It has been a privilege to be involved and to see the great things being achieved at Hellyer.

Hopefully that elusive investment in improved College facilities is just around the corner so that our Northwest communities can get the education facilities they need and deserve for a better future.

Mark Smith
Association Chairman
27/03/2025

Dakota Selected for National Youth Board

Congratulations to Year 12 Student Leader Dakota Crawford who has been successfully appointed to the Telstra Youth Advisory Council. The YAC is a diverse group of young people from 12-18 years of age from across Australia. They elevate youth voices in everything the Telstra Foundation does. From sharing their experiences with tech, to conducting research on young people's digital lives, their contributions are incredibly valuable in creating better digital spaces for young people in Australia.

We are proud to have Dakota not only representing our state but also our region. 

Students to Take on the World at National UN Conference

Year 11 students Claire Davison and Elliot Smedley recently attended the UN Youth’s State and Territory Conference in Hobart, participating in a range of workshops, speaker panels, case study explorations, and signature UN Youth activities, including Interactive Problem Solving and a model UN debate.

Both students performed exceptionally and were selected to attend the UN Youth Australia National Conference in Adelaide in July. This is a week-long residential program, which brings together students from across Australia and New Zealand to engage in discussions on global affairs.

We congratulate them on their outstanding achievements and look forward to hearing about their experience!

Congratulations to the Wynyard Wildcatz Cheerleading Squad

Ella is a year 12 student at Hellyer College and a coach of the Wynyard Wildcatz Cheerleading Squad that was recently successful in winning the Youth Novice section of a cheerleading competition in Orlando, Florida. Ella was the youngest of the three coaches travelling with the squad of twelve girls, ranging in age from 7-12 years old. The Cheerleading squad started in 2022 and Ella was a member of the original team for a year before she started to coach. The Orlando squad has been phenomenally successful since its inception in 2024 and after a successful 2024 season, the squad was invited to compete in Florida.

The Wynyard Wilcatz organised some amazing fundraising to finance their trip and contributed to many volunteer hours alongside their scheduled class time. Ella has been a coach with the Wynyard Gymnastics Club since 2021, coaching both Gymnastics and Cheerleading. This was an amazing opportunity for Ella, the athletes and other coaches.

According to Ella, highlights of the trip (apart from the win) were Universal Studios and Disney World.

We wish Ella and the Wynyard Wildcatz continued success in their chosen sport.

Cells and Membranes in Biology 2

Students have been using microscopes to study cells. They have examined bacteria in yoghurt, onion cells, human cheek cells and have looked for organisms in pond water. They have also been examining the structure of cell membranes by making bubble membranes to learn about the properties of cell membranes. 

End of Term 1 Fun

Term 1 ended with a Pyjama Day, some Easter themed CLP fun, and live music on the lawn. Thanks to our Student Leadership Team for their work promoting and organising the event.

Congratulations to the winners of the highly contested inaugural Easter Basket making challenge with Abby's CLP taking out an honourable mention, Dallas' CLP taking 3rd place, Brigid's CLP in 2nd place, and Sue's CLP winning with their amazing lab bunny creation. 

Jewellery Making Course

A great start to this year's jewellery course!

Term 1 saw our students making the most of the brand-new jewellery making space in the Design and Technologies area. They dove into the world of Sterling Silver, learnt new skills, and started to produce some truly impressive pieces. The creativity and flair displayed was nothing short of inspiring!

In Term 2, we're thrilled to announce that students will embark on new tasks, leading up to their major project work. This will be an incredible opportunity for them to unleash their creativity and design their own collections from scratch. We can't wait to see the unique and beautiful creations that will come out of this exciting new course.

Join us in celebrating the talent and hard work of our students and, stay tuned for more updates on their amazing journey in jewellery making.

Anzac Day

Hellyer College’s 2025 Student Leadership Team paid their respects on Anzac Day with representatives attending five different services across the coast from Zeehan to Penguin.

Line 5 Outdoor Education

The Line 5 Outdoor Education class had a busy second half of term 1. In Week 7, we went to Fulton Park for our first camp of the year. On day one, we hiked up the face of Mount Roland (a huge achievement and something that should be commended!). We then headed back to camp to cook dinner. Once dinner was finally cooked (for some it took far longer than others), students sat around the fire before getting into some extremely competitive games of spotlight. On day two, we headed to Turners Beach and completed our first surfing lesson of the year. I was amazed at the efforts of the students and their sheer determination to keep trying after so many wipe outs! Overall, it was a highly successful camp with many highlights and quality belly laughs. Shout out to Chase French for his iconic moments and accidently dropping his bag over a ledge and then making Bailey retrieve it. 

In Week 9, we completed our second surfing lesson. This time we headed to Midway Beach in Penguin. The positive attitude, teamwork, and leadership skills that students demonstrated were exceptional. A special shout out goes to Bella Parsons and Lila Radford for their consistent positive attitude. 

Current planned activities in Term 2 include rubbish collection, bush walking, shelter building, mountain biking, rock climbing and tree planting. 

It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Line 5 Outdoor Education class so far this year and I am excited for what lies ahead in 2025!

Working with Children Excursion

The Working with Children classes visited Milpara Early Learning Centre last term. Students interacted with staff and children to learn about managing safe and engaging play activities for different age groups. The children loved having the 'big kids' visit and enthusiastically led them around the different play spaces. 

Heavy Lifting Success

Well done Ben and Harry! 

As you would be aware, there’s plenty of heavy lifting going on at Hellyer College on any given day as people move mountains to create their futures. 

Ben Green and Harry Pearce lifted more than most recently, in a WRPF showdown competition in Launceston on March 22, winning their respective classes. Ben, competing in the U20/ below 75kg class, broke the national bench press record (161kg) and set a total for all his events of 546kg! Harry, competing in the u18/ below 110kg class, set national records in the squat, bench and deadlift on the way to a total of 475kg. 

Google reports that things that weigh those weights include a cow, grizzly bear, reindeer, heart of a blue whale and a grand piano! 

Those here last year will recall that Ben did 600+ push-ups to win the Push Up Challenge festivities. He might have some additional competition this year! 

Great Job fellas!

Computer Graphics and Design

Students in Computer Graphics and Design have been learning about the process of design. While completing this work they have been working on designs for children’s toys and energy drinks.

This has been undertaken using a mix of software including, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Blender to complete this work. It has been pleasing to see the quality and knowledge gained reflected by the finished designs.

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What’s been happening in the HPE Department?

Term 1 was packed with fun activities, including: surfing, bushwalking, kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, raft building, fire lighting, tennis, lawn bowls, intense gym workouts (maybe not so fun for some) and the highlight for Outdoor Education students, camps!

Students attended 5 camps in all within some beautiful locations such as Baker’s Beach, Lake Rosebery, Fulton Park and Guildford.

Great memories were made, and the students are now looking forward to attending their next camps.

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Exams

If your child is completing a Level 3 or 4 exam at the end of the year, the non-negotiable dates are from Monday 10 November – Thursday 20 November. The timetable of written exams for 2025 will be finalised and communicated to you by the end of August.

Careers Corner

Schools Recommendation Program - Unlock your future with an early university offer

By applying to the University of Tasmania through the Schools Recommendation Program, you can secure an early offer of a place at university before you finish year 12. This then frees you up to focus on what really matters: excelling in your studies and reaching your goals.

Here’s how it works:  Use the Undergraduate Course Guide to find the courses that interest you.
Applications can be submitted from June 26. The earlier you submit an application; the sooner you will receive an offer.

Your teacher will complete a rubric that provides UTas admissions staff with insights into your preparedness for successful study at university. You’ll receive an offer once the recommendation is received from Hellyer College.

Many other universities offer similar schemes.

University of Tasmania School Leaver Expo - Cradle Coast Campus June 26^th – 3 pm - 6 pm

School Leaver Expos are a great way to explore courses and get a feel for university life.

Friendly staff and students will be there to answer all your questions about study, scholarships, and more. If you need help, they can guide you through the application process.

Tertiary Information Service Expo - June 5th

Need information about studying at a mainland university? Consider attending the Tertiary Information Service Expo on June 5^th.

Representatives from several mainland universities will be on hand to talk to you about courses, accommodation etc. 
Transport to and from the expo will be provided. See Jane in the Careers Hub for more information.

Muscular Dystrophy Day Extravaganza! 🎉

Organised by the Certificate II in Community Services students

📅 Date: Thursday, May 15th
🕛 Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
📍 Location: The Café
💵 Note: CASH ONLY EVENT

Get ready for a fantastic event filled with fun, food, and fabulous prizes, all for a great cause! We're coming together to spread awareness about Muscular Dystrophy and raise funds for a much-needed hydrotherapy pool. Let's make a splash!

🧡 Wear Orange: Show your support by rocking your best orange outfit! Let's turn the café into a sea of orange to raise awareness.

Activities on the Day:

• 🍔 Sizzling BBQ: Our wonderful student leadership team will be grilling up a storm! Only $2 per plate, with a delicious vegetarian option available.
• 🍰 Scrumptious Baked Goods: Indulge in mouth-watering treats baked with love. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth!
• 🎟️ Raffle Bonanza: Try your luck with 8 amazing prizes up for grabs! Tickets are just $1 each or 3 for $2. You could be a winner!
• 🍬 Lolly Jar Guessing Game: How many lollies are in the jar? Take a guess for just 50¢ and you might take home the whole jar!

Come join the fun, enjoy some tasty treats, and support a fantastic cause. Let's make this Muscular Dystrophy Day unforgettable!

1 Day Autism Workshop for Parents and Carers

Million Paws Walk Fundraiser

Come Try Umpiring Sessions

Burnie Library Youth Programs