Dear Parents and Carers

Firstly, I would very much like to congratulate Mr Murray and Ms Mackrill on the recent birth of baby Xavier and Mr Blundell, and his wife Olivia, on the safe arrival of Ned.  

This week Ms Bignell and I interviewed Year 9 students who are interested in a student leadership role at Brooks High next year.   This was part of a three-step process that includes a written application, interview and speech shared in a special assembly.   I was very impressed by the way these students exhibited all our school, and department values.  All were understandably nervous, and they showed significant aspiration, growth and courage in their commitment to the process.  Their respectful endeavour to support Brooks to be the best needs to be highly commended. 

I would also like to congratulate our Year 8 students who participated in a Business Challenge last week.   Each student had a stall promoting their ideas and merchandise, which they shared with staff and students from across our school. Much work went into these stalls and ideas were very innovative and cleverly designed.    The wide range of student enterprise initiatives included sports products, body building, animal portraits, culinary delights, glamour beauty products and henna tattoos.    Well done Year 8’s.

Congratulations to our Inter-High Athletics team who competed at St Leonards on Wednesday, 18 November, 2020 and took out all three shields on the day being Division 2 Junior Trophy, Division 2 Senior Trophy and the Division 2 Aggregate Perpetual Trophy.  A fantastic effort and we are very proud of this achievement.

Teachers are now in the middle of report writing and end of year planning.    This year, our end of year assemblies will look different from previous years due to the COVID restrictions we have to follow.   We are limited to approximately 200 adults in our gym, due to physical distancing requirements, and this includes teachers and other Brooks staff.   For our Final Assembly on Friday 11 December, there will be no special guests such as presenters or representatives from outside organisations.   Students who are receiving an award will be given two invitations for family members.  At our Year 10 Graduation Assembly on Wednesday 16 December, each Year 10 student will be given two invitations. Family members will then need to present the invitation to be able to enter the assembly.  

I am a strong believer in family-school-community partnerships because when families and community members are involved in student learning, students improve their academic performance and gain advocates that promote their success, helping them feel more confident at school and in taking on more rigorous classwork.   These assemblies are celebrations of student work and achievement and I am challenged by these restrictions, however, in 2020, sadly we have little choice in this.   I thank everyone in advance for their support in this unprecedented year.

Mrs Louise Fisher
Principal

Year 8 Food Technology students were given the challenge of cooking and decorating cupcakes, and what an amazing job they did in meeting this challenge! Some of the skills used in creating these fantastic creations were new to all students, and they mastered these decorating techniques so well. Congratulations to all the budding chefs - hopefully the cupcakes tasted as good as they looked. Ms Carol Marshall - Food Tech Teacher

On 23 October, bands and young musicians from across the north of Tasmania came together at the Door of Hope to compete in the northern heat of the famous Rock Challenge. It was an amazing showcase of talent and originality that absolutely blew me away. Brooks High School had three incredible acts entered into the challenge. The Royals (Meagan and Emma) and Rosella and Macmandu (Olivia, Maddi, Rylee and Riharna). Rosella and the Royals entered into the High School Acoustic Section and Macmandu was entered into the High School Rock Section. Rosella made it through to the finals and then continued to win the State High School Acoustic Section with her prodigious performances!

It was an overall fantastic experience, but I had the worst nerves before the performance! It was the worst as we were waiting in the wings, ready to go onstage and set up our instruments and hopefully blow the audience away. After watching all of the other performances before us I was really doubting my abilities, but the second I was on that stage and we played the first chord to our song it all seemed to leave me. It was just me and Emma and the music.

After our performance I swear I was high on serotonin. I was so happy, and even though we may have made a couple of mistakes, we did it! I’m so proud and impressed with everyone who performed at the challenge and would love to say congratulations to everyone who was a part of it. A special mention goes out to Mr McKinnon for helping Emma and myself and another shout out to Rosella for winning the High School Acoustic Section!!    Meagan (music student)

STAS Eligibility Changes

Student assistance (STAS) is available to parents/guardians who meet the following criteria:

• Centrelink Health Care Card;
• Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card;
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Department of Veteran Affairs - Pensioner Concession Card
• Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren - if they meet requirements
• Humanitarian, refugee and asylum seekers who hold relevant bridging visas.

Online Application Forms are available on the Department of Education website. Paper forms are also available from the school office. STAS applications should be lodged by 30 December, 2020.

Further questions about STAS or Levies and Charges in general can be sent to the Department of Education’s Financial Services Unit at stas@education.tas.gov.au or by calling 1800 827 055.

Brooks High School office hours 8:00am to 4:00pm

To advise the school of a student's absence

• Office:  6324 7200
• SMS: 0416 907 090 (please advise your student's name)
• Contact us via our website using the Schoolzine app

To see our latest news and photos

• Facebook
  Brooks High School Page & Brooks High School Sports Page

• Schoolzine Szapp
  Electronic Newsletter and Information for students and families
  (Newsletter paper copies available at front reception)