Dear Parents/Guardians

On Thursday, 6^th March, the Riverside High School Swimming Carnival was held at the Launceston Aquatic Centre.  The carnival catered for all swimming abilities and was focused on participation, students making connections and student leadership.  The carnival is conducted in grade and gender groups with each group rotating around competitive races and novelty events which were led by the Wellbeing Prefects.  The novelty events this year included the water slide and water polo which were extremely popular.  The Year 10 Student Council supported by Mr Stephen Hindrum, Ms Annette McCarthy and Ms Jane Farrell provided drinks, sausages and hamburgers for students, staff and spectators.

School swimming carnivals offer benefits that go beyond just physical activity. The swimming carnival and other school carnivals help to foster a sense of community within our school and belonging for students. Students, teachers and parents come together to support each other, creating a strong, inclusive environment where participation and fun are the focus.

Participating in the swimming carnival allows students to build friendships and strengthen existing relationships. Students shared the experience of competing and cheering their friends and supporting their house.

Overall, our school swimming carnival was a great way to promote physical activity, build community, and develop important life skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Thank you to the parents/guardians who supported their child’s attendance and participation on the day!

NAPLAN 2025

Thank you to the students in Years 7 and 9 who have participated and applied themselves to NAPLAN 2025.  NAPLAN at Riverside High School is coordinated by the instructional coaches Ben Gadsby and Kylie Jago.  The testing blocks have run smoothly due to the one to one iPad devices our school provides.

The testing will continue in Week 7 beginning 17^th March, with students who were absent being provided the time to complete any missed tests.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with more information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working, and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

The NAPLAN test window is 9 days. The NAPLAN test window started on Wednesday 12 March 2025 and finishes on Monday 24 March 2025.

The school public calendar can be found at https://riversidehigh.education.tas.edu.au/.

Please check it regularly for important events and excursions.

Elective/Option Subjects

As you are aware Interim Reports are currently being completed by teachers. 

Students in Years 7 to 10 who have requested a change to their full year elective subject choices have been provided the opportunity to do so by competing the ‘change of elective subject form’ and submitting this to the Assistant Principal. 

From Week 7, the week beginning 17^th March, any changes to full year course options which are assessed under the Australian Curriculum Achievements Standards prove more challenging, with students missing major assessment tasks and course content due to the late change.

From Monday, 17^th March, all requests to change option subjects MUST be directed to Grade Leadership Teams due to the impact the potential change has on student results.

Reminder - Compulsory Safeguarding Training for Workers

All DECYP workers must complete annual safeguarding training. A worker is any individual engaged by the department who is an employee, volunteer, trainer, trainee or student on work placement, contractor or sub-contractor over the age of 18 years.

Requirements

• Non-DECYP employed workers (volunteer, trainer, contractor or sub-contractor, external service provider), aged 18 years or over, must complete the Your Obligations – Safeguarding Training 15-minute video each year before engaging with children and young people.
• Certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of completion.
• For further information, access the frequently asked 

Helpful links

Learn more about DECYP’s Safeguarding Training.

Learn more about DECYP’s efforts to be a child safe organisation via the Safeguarding Children and Young People website.

Jeanna Bolton
Principal