Hobart College Newsletter 3 2011 - Tasmanian Academy

Newsletter
Pride
and
Prejudice
Careers
Expo
Visit from
Fuzhou, China
Issue 3
July
2011
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From the Principal...
American Diplomat visits Hobart College!
Premier’s Young Achiever Award
Welcome to our third newsletter for this year. With every edition I have the
opportunity to reflect on what has been happening in the College since the last
newsletter and I am always surprised at how much has been achieved in such
a short time. This newsletter showcases the recent Careers Expo, visiting
American Diplomat, Dan Callaghan, photos from the College Production,
Chicago, as well as individual sporting, cultural and academic achievements of
students.
Hobart College is well known for its very diverse international community and
we have regular exchange programs with schools in China, Japan and Korea.
In early May we hosted a delegation of staff from our sister school in China
- Fuzhou Number 8 Middle School. 2011 celebrates the 30 year anniversary
of Fuzhou as a sister State to Tasmania so we have a very special relationship with this province and school. In the
September holidays last year I accompanied a group of teachers and students to visit Fuzhou as part of a school trip
to China and it was a fabulous experience learning about the Chinese educational system and culture. We are hoping
to organise another school trip to China in June 2012 so please see Debbie Halliday if you are interested in joining
this group.
We are now in the middle of the musical production season and it is very exciting seeing all the hard work from
the last few months come to fruition for the cast and crew of Chicago. The Performing Arts are such a vital part
of a holistic education and Chicago is a fantastic celebration of what can be achieved when staff and students work
together on a real life project. Congratulations to everyone involved in this production!
The Mid Year Assessment Period (MYAP) begins on Monday July 25 until Tuesday August 2. The examinations, tests
and practical assessments undertaken during MYAP are important milestones in the academic year. For pre-tertiary
subjects they provide students with the opportunity to experience formal exam conditions and it is a valuable learning
experience for students to reflect on the specific areas they need to improve on over the rest of the year. Although
exams can be daunting, there is lots of support available to help students with their preparation. Encourage your son/
daughter to talk to their Home Group Teacher about planning their study time and to take advantage of the subject
tutorials.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that it is really important to us that every student feels connected and supported
as a member of our college community. We value our partnership with parents and if you ever have any concerns,
please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Tracy Siedler
Interim Principal
Welcome - Nigel McBrien
In the last newsletter we farewelled Jo Pang; this time we welcome our new College Chaplain,
Nigel McBrien who began here just before Easter, scoring his first coup by arranging for My
Kitchen Rules stars Esther and Ali to attend the Food Fair. Nigel has lived in Australia for only
the past two years relocating from the North of Ireland. He brings a wide range of talents and
interests to his Chaplaincy role as he quietly settles into College life.
Farewell - Joellen Bird After ten years of teaching drama at Hobart College Joellen
Bird has decided to swap greasepaint for grandparenting as she brings her illustrious career as
one of the state’s top drama teachers to a close. Joellen produced many high quality theatre
productions from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the confronting contemporary
Australian play, The Boys. Students appreciated Jo’s exacting standards and the polish she
brought to both performance and production. Working with the ensemble groups in Theatre
Performance were among her career highlights. The College has appreciated the enormous
commitment of time and energy that Joellen brought to her classes, plays and musicals. She has
been instrumental in enriching the life of the campus through her vibrant productions.
Farewell - Ian Burleigh After eleven years of teaching Design in Metal, Plant and
Agricultural Science, Vet Engineering and Future Options at Hobart College, Ian Burleigh has
decided to leave teaching for greener pastures, literally. As a keen farmer, vigneron and beekeeper,
Ian will devote much of his time to the land and to sheep grazing. A very versatile and
multi - skilled teacher he has been instrumental in setting up, developing and contributing to a
variety of areas of the College. A former Fitting and Turning engineer, Ian opted for a career in
teaching and he has shared his knowledge and skills with his students, giving them the benefit of
his broad experinece. We wish Ian all the best in his retirement and in his future endevours.
On Thursday May 5 we had the pleasure of having
Dan Callahan the Political/Economic Officer at the US
Consulate General’s Office in Melbourne come and speak
to us. It’s not every day we get a chance like this, so it
was terrific to have so many interested staff and students
come along and gather in the Theatrette for an hour!
Dan led an interactive discussion on a wide range of topics
including the U.S/Australia Alliance and the relationship
our two countries enjoy, Afghanistan/lraq and a ‘Day in
the Life of a U.S Diplomat’.
The audience was keen to ask some tricky questions
and Kate Parrott got the ball rolling with her question
about international criminal courts and the United States’
role. Students were particularly interested to grill Dan
on what he thought about Bin Laden’s demise which has
featured prominently in the news.
Dan also plugged some of the opportunities that U.S
colleges and universities offer, so if you are interested in
studying in the U.S in the near future, please check out
www.educationuse.info/melbourne or
www.ThinkEducationUSA.com for more information.
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We are proud to acknowledge that former Hobart College
dux, Stanislav Shabala, is the recipient of this year’s
Premier’s Young Achiever Award. After leaving the College,
Stas went on to complete a PhD at the University
of Cambridge and held a research fellowship at Oxford.
He is an ARC Super Science Fellow in the Astrophysics
and Environmental Geodesy groups at the University
of Tasmania and was awarded the Bok Prize for the top
astrophysics honours thesis in Australia in 2003.
During his time at Hobart College Stas won prizes for
Twentieth Century History, Chemistry and Physics and
the Ethnic Communities Council Prize for the highest
TCE score for ESL in Tasmania as well as being the 1999
Dux. His achievements at College were even more
remarkable, given that, as a relatively recent immigrant
from Russia, English was his second language. Physics
teacher, Craig Herbert, remembers having lots of
interesting conversations with Stas about the meaning of
the universe, “He was a very bright boy and what we
were doing at College was just laying the foundations for
him to build upon.”
The premier, Lara Giddings, made mention of the fact
that Stas, “has excelled academically to the point of being
internationally renowned in the field of astrophysics. This
is an amazing achievement for any pioneering scientist,
and Stas has achieved this at the age of 27.” Dr Shabala ‘s
work at UTAS involves the analysis of black holes.

VET Construction and VET Automotive
VET Hospitality & Kitchen Operations
VET Hospitality & Kitchen Operations
Certificate 1 and 2
This popular course prepares students for a rewarding
career in the Accommodation and Food Services industry,
currently the eighth largest employing industry division in
Australia.
The course covers preparation and training for those
wanting a career as a chef, event planner, kitchen hand,
front of house, house keeper as well as part time work
opportunities in cafes, restaurants and hotels. Students
attain a broad variety of skills including how to understand
the needs of customers from different cultures, how to
deal with difficult clients, the competent use of coffee
machines, the business side of running a coffee shop
and the responsible service of alcohol. This blend of
theory and practical units on campus combines with
the experience students gain by going out on work
placements. The work placements cover a wide range
of different accommodation and food businesses such as
aged care facilities, five star to two star hotels, award
winning restaurants and local cafes.
A suggested pathway into this industry is to do
Introduction to Catering in year 11 (to make sure it’s the
area for you !) and then continue on to Certificate 1 or
2 in Hospitality or Kitchen Operations in year 12. This
then leads to continuing your studies at Drysdale and
specialising in your area of interest.
Student Profiles:
Joe is a year 11 student studying Certificate 1 and 2
in Hospitality. He is currently on work placement at
the Grand Chancellor and has worked in the Tasman
Restaurant in front of house breakfast service. He has
also done room service meal deliveries and restocked
mini-bars throughout the hotel. Joe comments: “The
work colleagues have been the best part of my work
placement; they have made my time there very enjoyable”
Thea is also a year 11 student. She has very clear goals
and is currently doing Certificate 2 Hospitality and
Certificate 1 Kitchen Operations. Thea plans to go to
Tasmanian Polytechnic Drysdale South next year as well
as continuing her studies at Hobart College by studying
English Studies 3 and Business Studies 3.
Thea’s goal is to be an event manager and she hopes to do
an Advanced Diploma at Tasmanian Polytechnic Drysdale
South and then a Degree in Business Management at
UTAS. Her current work placement at the Wool Store
has really helped her in making these decisions. While on
work placement Thea has been involved in the planning
and preparation of weddings as well as learning the
accommodation computer booking system.
“Work placement is great, because I learn so much more
in a short space of time; I am accelerating quickly through
the different aspects of the job because I am learning as
I go.”
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Hospitality students run the Hobart College coffee
shop one day a week. They learn all aspects of the
business, including: deciding what food to make and
serve, the different types and styles of coffee, serving
customers, finance management, advertising and cleaning
responsibilities. Profits from the coffee shop, whilst small,
are used to purchase new equipment for the cafe. These
have included IPod speakers so that music can be played
while the coffee shop is in operation and cookbooks to
research new recipe ideas.
VET Automotive - Certificate 1
Certificate 1 Automotive is a course that is designed to
prepare students for a career in the automotive industry.
The course is quite general and it is a great introduction
into the exciting careers available in this industry. This
industry is massive and it is not just about vehicle servicing,
it could involve anything from audio installations to paint
or panel work.
You may even finish up working on a formula one team!
The course work consists of a theory component,
workshop activities and work placements in a wide
variety of related businesses.
Participants are encouraged to complete up to three
two week work placements in order to give them as
much exposure as possible to this diverse industry and
also provide them with direct exposure to employment
opportunities. The industry is very supportive of this
program and offer extra support for willing participants.
VET Construction - Certificate 1 and 2
The Vet Construction program at Hobart College
prepares students for a career in the building industry.
The Certificate program allows students to gain the
maximum level of qualification outside being directly
employed as an apprentice. The course allows students
to complete both theory and practical units identified by
industry as being essential to students wanting a career
in the building industry.
Students take advantage of the excellent workshop
facilities available at the College to simulate the work
environment and complete practical assessment tasks.
During the latter part of the year eligible students
undertake a work placement that allow them to gain
experience on a building site and make valuable industry
contacts. Students enjoy the practical side of the program
and in particular the team based activities and projects.
Photos to the left show students engaged in a team based
practical assessment task.
After completing the Certificate ll qualification students
are well placed to apply for apprenticeship positions in
not only carpentry and joinery but other allied trades i.e.
bricklaying, painting, plastering and tiling.
By choosing other subjects that complement their
construction program students gain the maximum
benefits from a college based Vet program.

“Come on, Babes, why don’t we
paint the town?”
The Hobart College Performing
Arts Department will proudly
present eight performances of
their production of Broadway’s
hit musical CHICAGO from June
29th until July 9th at 7.30pm in
the Mount Nelson Theatre -
Hobart College Campus.
This popular show has been pleasing audiences
the world over for many years and has been a
joy to work on. This year we have a large and
very strong cast of enthusiastic and talented
students who have worked incredibly hard to
make this year’s college musical one to remember
for all the right reasons and for many years
to come.
HOBART COLLEGE PRESENTS
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH DOMINIE PTY LTD
Directors ~ Bill Powell and Aaron Powell,
(no relation) along with cast and crew numbering
almost sixty including Choreographer
~ Marcia Lemm and Production Manager ~
Jarred Claydon, have slaved away since the
very beginning of 2011 to develop a unique
aural and visual extravaganza that will make
you want to rouge your knees and roll your
stockings down - and all that jazz.
All that is needed to make this a totally fulfilling
experience for all involved is large enthusiastic
audiences. Come along - back to the roaring
twenties in the US of A where jazz was the
answer and vaudeville reigned supreme. You’ll
certainly enjoy this opportunity. Support the
students in their quest to make CHICAGO a
special memory for everyone. Bookings can
be made now by ringing the College office on
6220 3133 or you can get your tickets at the
door. Hope to see you there!
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Special consideration for TQA examinations
Hobart College Joins the United Nations
Your child may be eligible for special consideration in the end of year TQA examinations if they have a pre-existing
condition such as:
• physical disability / medical condition.
• specific learning disabilities (including reading, spelling and writing) which are not related to their general
ability level.
Special considerations may include:
• Additional time. (30 mins on a 3hr paper and 20 mins on a 2hr paper)
• In rare circumstances, examinations could be sat in two sessions (morning and afternoon) as long as they do
not have two exams scheduled on the same day.
• Use of a word processor or scribe.
• Special seating arrangements.
• Permission to move about, take medication or food.
All applications to TQA have to be accompanied by supporting medical or other relevant documentation and must
be submitted no later than the end of Term 2. No applications for pre-existing conditions will be accepted after this
date.
TQA require that assessment reports accompanying the applications need to be dated no more than 3 years prior
to the end of 2011. In many cases these reports will need to be updated and this will require forward planning and
time.
If you believe that your son or daughter would qualify for special consideration in their exams please contact
Judy White as soon as possible. Judy is available at College (ph. 6220 3133) on Mondays and Tuesdays all day and
Wednesdays after 1.00pm.
Please Note: The following links will provide students and parents with information about examination procedures
and academic integrity as required by the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority (TQA) for externally assessed work
and the end of year examination period.
http://www.tqa.tas.gov.au/4DCGI/_WWW_doc/048749/RND01/2011_External_Assessment_Rules.pdf
http://www.tqa.tas.gov.au/4675
Food Fair Wrap-Up
All who were there already know that this year’s Food Fair
was a roaring success when assessed from an entertainment
and community building perspective. So, the “people” third
of the triple bottom line is nicely covered. One day, it
would be good to have the energy, finances and expertise
to introduce a “planet sensitive” aspect to the Food Fair.
The other third relates to “profit” and we’re proud to
announce that, now the expenses have been met and the
counting has been completed, the 2011 Hobart College
Food Fair has made a profit of $1545.00 making it the most
profitable of any Food Fair, probably ever! Home Groups
were inspired to work together to do the best they possibly
could which brought out the generosity of students, their
families and their teachers who in many cases donated
ingredients so that profits were maximised. Cheques are
now in the process of being organised and sent to Milpera
State High School in Queensland and to organisations
supporting the responses to the Christchurch and Japan
earthquakes. Congratulations and thank you to the whole
College community.
In early April, Kate Parrott (Iran), Rhiannon McMahon (North Korea), Edward Croger (Belarus) and Kristof Wing
(Portugal) joined with over forty other Year 9-12 students from around the state at the United Nations Youth
Assembly (UNYA) Tasmanian State Conference.
Over the course of four days, delegates were educated about the inner workings of the UN, debated their hearts
out at Parliament House as the Security
Council, ECOSOC or the Human Rights
Council, spent a day at the Menzies Institute
listening to speakers from the Australian Youth
Climate Coalition, Thank You Water, and
YEAH!, tweeted copiously, had a reception
at Parliament House with the likes of Andrew
Wilkie, Elise Archer, Bill Harvey, and Scott
Bacon, authored and presented a ‘Youth
Declaration’ to those politicians in the hope
that it will provide a voice for Tasmania’s youth
and, above all, had a marvellous time!
From the 40-odd delegates, ten have been
selected to go to the national conference - the
United Nations Youth Conference (UNYC), to
be held in Adelaide during July. Two Hobart
College students, Rihannon McMahon and
Kristof Wing have been selected for the state
delegation.
by Kristof Wing
1.4 Billion people in this world live on just $2 a day. Could you last one week?
From May 16 - 20 twenty-five students from Hobart College took up the challenge to Live Below the Line. This
campaign, run by the Oaktree Foundation in collaboration with the Global Poverty Project, challenges participants
from all over the country to taste extreme poverty, by living on just $2 worth of food. The World Bank defines
extreme poverty as living on just $2 Australian a
day (adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity) and this
is the reality for 1.4 billion people - the reality of
more than a fifth of the world.
L to R: Jesse Lynch, Jennifer Gason, Ruby Johnston and Sylvia Reddington
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L to R: Kate Parrott, Rhiannon McMahon, Edward Croger and Kristof Wing
The campaign not only gave participants a greater
perspective on extreme poverty (as well as a deep
resentment for rice, lentils and oats), it also served
to raise awareness and funds for the issue. Money
raised goes to critical initiatives in Cambodia, East
Timor and Papua New Guinea, creating sustainable
education, youth empowerment and microfinance
programs to break the cycle of poverty.
During the week Hobart College hosted a breakfast,
in which participants cooked and ate chapatis
and held a lunch time fundraiser of live music and
tasty food (which, alas, us Live Below the Liners
served up, but could not eat). These events raised
over $250 contributing to the team’s total of over
$2,200 so far.
Nationally this is one of the fastest growing campaigns
and has over $1.2 million in only its second
year.

Emma Campbell
Having won first place in the
First division of the Tasmanian
All Schools Orienteering
Championships in April, Emma
went on to represent Tasmania
at the National Orienteering
Titles in Western Australia at
Easter. She had a great competition,
gaining third place in the
Women’s 17 -20 Elite competition
Connor Yemm
In May, Year 11
student, Connor
Yemm, won first place
in the Solo Bassoon
section at the National
Band Championships
held in Adelaide.
Kate Parrott Wins Place in Geography Competition
Based on her results in the National Geographic Channel - Australian Geography Competition year 11 student, Kate
Parrott, has won a place at Geography’s Big Week Out, to be held on the Mornington Peninsula in October.
Biggest Morning Tea
Sixteen outstanding students are offered places in the Big Week Out – the highest
scoring male and female student from each State and the Territories (plus 2 extras).
Kate and her fellow winners will engage in a mix of stimulating and hands-on geography
activities, focussing on the challenges of managing the pressure of urban development
and tourist growth in fragile environments. The purpose of the Big Week Out
is to: reward high-scoring students from the Competition; serve as a showcase of
the excellent work that geography students and teachers are doing around Australia;
and incorporate the selection mechanism for choosing Australia’s team to the 2012
International Geography Olympiad in Cologne, Germany – the best four students
from the Big Week Out will represent Australia in the Olympiad.
HOBART COLLEGE - Year 10 ORIENTATION DAY PROGRAM
Friday 22 July 2011
STUDENTS ARRIVE 9.00 am onwards with their schools
‣ Welcome in the Theatre by the Interim Principal, Tracy Siedler
‣ Assigned to Home Group teachers
HOME GROUP SESSION 9.15 am – 10.15 am
‣ Timetables issued and program explained
‣ Tour of campus
SESSION 1 Timetabled subjects 10.15 am – 11.00 am
RECESS 11.00 am - 11.20 am
SESSION 2 Timetabled subjects 11.20 am - 12.05 pm
LUNCH BBQ Lunch Provided 12.05 pm – 12.45 pm
SESSION 3 Timetabled subjects 12.45 pm - 1.30 pm
SESSION 4 Timetabled subjects. 1.30 pm - 2.15 pm
STUDENTS DEPART 2.30 pm with their high school group
On Tuesday, May 17 the Community Services Certificate
II VET class held a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for
the Cancer Council. The students spent a month organising
the event. A great deal of work went into planning,
preparing and hosting the morning tea. Students liaised
with the Music Department for entertainment and the
Catering Class who made sweet treats. Students also
wrote to local primary schools and businesses to invite
them to the event. Over sixty staff and students attended
the morning tea and the class raised a total of $185.00.
As part of the process the students developed a range
of work related skills that will help them in their future
careers. Thanks to Coles Sandy Bay for contributing $25
toward the costs of the ingredients.
Students said the following things about being involved in
this activity:
“I learnt communication and time management skills.”
Stephanie
“It was fun. I learnt about serving food and working in a
team.” Taryn
“I got to know the people in my class a lot better.”
Annabelle
Students at “the biggest morning tea” - L to R: Stephanie Mayor, Katherine
Bellchambers, Yigezu Desalegn and Dejen Gebreselassie.
Staff enjoying “the biggest morning tea”
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Ashley Young Painting Stephanie Ovari Photography Maxim Tooker Drawing
Important dates to mark on your Calendar...
July 1-9
~ Chicago - Musical production - see centre page
July 22
~ Orientation / Taster day for year 10s (Study Day for Hobart College students)
July 25 - August 1 ~ Mid-Year Assessment Period
August 23
~ Term 2 Reports mailed to parents
August 28 - September 2 ~ Mt. Hotham Ski Trip
August 31
~ Parent Teacher Evening
September 2
~ Term 2 ends
September 19
~ Term 3 begins
HOBART COLLEGE Olinda Grove MOUNT NELSON Tasmania 7007
GPO Box 1188 HOBART Tasmania 7001
Telephone (03) 6220 3133
Facsimile (03) 6223 8771
hobart.college@academy.tas.edu.au 12