Dear Families,

As the cooler days are a reminder that winter is upon us, and getting moving in the mornings can be a little more challenging, there has been no slowing down for our young people at Launceston Big Picture School.

May has been a very productive month for our community of learners, with many great learning opportunities for staff and students.  I had the privilege of attending the Big Picture Learning Conference in Sydney earlier this term.  It was fantastic to hear and learn from students, educators and speakers from across not just Australia, but across the world.   It was great to reflect on the great work happening at LBPS and to consider ways in which we can continue to grow our practice on a day-to-day basis.

Following the conference 40 of the international guests travelled to Tasmania, spending two days at our school.  This provided our students with an opportunity to share their learning experiences with our visitors and to learn about the design in practices in very different contexts, including New York, Barbados, Kenya and Hawaii. Our Hospitality students also had a fantastic opportunity to challenge themselves, catering for our visitors across the two days. The thought, time and effort our students put into this was exceptional, sharing local produce and ensuring our guests got to try some uniquely Australian food. Rob and the Hospitality Crew did a fabulous job. During lunch on the first day Leannika (Grade 12 student) shared some of her research on Monotremes and some of the unique characteristics of some of our native animals. Her presentation was exceptional and demonstrated the depth of her knowledge in her area of passion.

Our staff also got to spend some time speaking with the founder of the Big Picture Learning Design, Eliott Washer, who reinforced the importance of outlearning, mentors and student interest driving their learning.  It was a great opportunity for us all.

Over the past month we have had some fabulous opportunities for our learners to learn outside of the school. Recently a group of our students attended the YNOT Youth Forum with other student leaders across the north of the state, and just last week 33 of our students participated in the air crash simulation at the Launceston Airport. Each student had an individual role as first responders got to test the implementation of safety procedures. 

As the colder months have arrived, can I please remind families that it is important that students push through those slow mornings to ensure they are at school, continuing with their fabulous learning. If illness does impact your child’s ability to attend school on any day, please ensure you let the school know via your child’s Advisory Teacher or the school office.

Finally, this week we will be farewelling two staff members. I would like to thank Vivienne Webb, who has been our A/SBM whilst Jennifer Kendall has been on leave. Vivienne moved into the role without a hitch, she has led our admin team exceptionally well – always providing a calm, happy and team-oriented approach to her work. Thank you Vivenne, your time here has been greatly appreciated, perhaps we may see you back at LBPS is some capacity in the future.

Last, but certainly not least, we are farewelling Jenni Fraser. Jenni is in her 5^th year at Launceston Big Picture – her experience and knowledge of the learning design and learners, along with her commitment to support all learners, will certainly be missed. Whilst we are extremely sad to see Jenni leave, we understand her desire to take on her new role at Cape Barren Island, what a fabulous experience this will be. Jenni is living the Big Picture learning design, leaving to learn. We wish Jen the absolute best, and hope it is a ‘see you later’ rather than a goodbye. We look forward to a continued connection during your time on the Island.

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

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:

• Hayley S: Connectedness - For being good at art
• Samara C: Respect - For respecting others

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

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

2025 Student Leaders 

ANZAC Day

Launceston Big Picture School joined other local schools and groups in the ANZAC Day march on April 25^th, walking through town to a large crowd of spectators.

Hamish T, accompanied by Dave, returned to represent LBPS and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate the 110^th Anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.

“It is good to get out and represent the school at an event like this.” Hamish said.

“I hope that we can get more students to attend next year.” He added.

Big Picture students Liam H and Rhys M were also present, representing the Australian Air Force Cadets.

Abby - Term 1 Project

Abby in 10A chose to do her first project at Big Picture on character design using Blender, using an old 2D model she had previously drawn and making it into 3D, learning valuable lessons along the way.

Tom Clark

12 Advisor

Staff Foundation Training 

In week 10 Term 1 Mel T, Jacqui and I went to Perth, Western Australia for a week of foundation training about the Big Picture Design. We felt very fortunate to travel to Yule Brook College each day and share the training with like-minded people from schools in Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Over the 5 days we learned about the Four Big Shifts of the Big Picture Design: student interests, internships, assessment and the new credential. I felt I gained the most learning around sparking student interests and have changed my check-in routine to allow scope for exploring new ideas and the world around us every day.

We watched two exhibitions presented by students from Yule Brook College and visited some advisories. It was interesting to hear how much the students pack into their week. Advisory tasks, LTIs, courses, plus English and Maths classes! I realised how privileged we are at Launceston Big Picture School to only follow the Big Picture Design and not have to compete with subject-based learning as well.

My biggest take aways from the training:

1. Make check-ins about the world around us and do activities to help students get to know each other
2. Delve deeply into your interest before making a learning plan
3. The right mentor can make all the difference in a student’s life

Hayley Gangell

10B Advisor

Launceston Big Picture School fundraises money to adopt Tasmanian Devils!

Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is a contagious disease that develops as a tumour primarily on the face and neck of the Tasmanian Devil. The disease is transmitted from each devil to another through direct contact, practically through biting during fights, mating, or other social interactions. This disease has led to an 80% decrease in the Tasmanian Devil population, and there is currently no treatment. Through the Tasmanian Devils’ breeding program, it has helped increase the average lifespan of devils by 4 years. A social action project was planned by a Year 11 student (Bella), to fundraise money to allow the school to adopt a Tasmanian devil, and help support the breeding program, Devils@Cradle. Selling 50 Tasmanian Devil Appeal stickers for one dollar each, our school raised in total $120.00 to donate to the Devils@Cradle program. Our school adopted Sabrina (female) and Manina (male), two of the youngest joeys in the litter. Donating $20 extra to support the breeding program continuing for future Devils raised and cared for in the safe hands of the breeding program. In total, to adopt a devil today, it will cost $50 each.

Thank you everyone for your donation towards an important cause. Below are photos of our adopted students.

Ben Miller

11-12 Advisor

Outlearning at Larmenier

It has been wonderful to see our students exploring their interests through Outlearning. Students attending Larmenier have been assisting with a Farm Day program.

Big Picture Learning Guests

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting 40 Big Picture Learning guests from around the world. Our hospitality team planned and catered for the event - sourcing local produce and working alongside a local chef to prepare the meals. Students shared their learning with the visitors and were able to ask about what Big Picture Learning looks like in different parts of the world. Our staff had the privilege of speaking with Elliot Washer, the founder of the Big Picture Learning Design.

Dungeons and Dragons

DND -  Down in the dungeon with the DM

Alaska in 10B is one of the Dungeon Masters during D&D in Active Learning on Fridays. She has a group of students who tune in each week to see what else is in store for their characters in a world that Alaska has poured a lot of time and effort into creating.

Dave: “Alaska, tell me about your campaign”

Alaska: “It is a made up fantasy world set around the industrial era. It started around a crew on an airship trying to see how many people were left after a plague wiped across the world, but they crash landed and now they're trying to find civilisation again. We’ve lost several people to all sorts of things, one of our founding members unfortunately died in the airship crash saving their brother, a person killed themselves while playing the brother of that deceased person on the airship and today I was just following two party members, they found a town, they have been interacting with people and have stopped at a motel.

Dave: “Well it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this, how do you go back creating the world and the story and characters?”

Alaska: “I really liked the aesthetic of airships, the industrial age and swords mixed together, and then I got inspiration from my friend who came up with the idea of a plague based on parasites that infest a person and slowly take control of them and spread like that. I combined the ideas and originally it was essentially going to start with the airship crash, but then I built out more of a plot among the airship, then after the crash landing I built out a lot of the surrounding world and what's really helped me make each area is I like to make a play list which essentially each song encapsulates one moment in their journey through that place, and then with characters I often just fill in the blank of something I want to have, I try to do art on them and whatever happens that becomes the character and then I give them a voice usually in the moment and then it sticks.”

Dave: “Do you have a set path you want the campaign to go or are the players derailing your plans? How are you coping with it?”

Alaska: “I really love how much they derail everything because it means it is stretching my creativity, and the way I built out the world I have a path that I expect them to go down, but the world itself they can technically explore something completely in the wrong order if they wanted to. The biggest issue I've been having is party members reaching a location and then getting stuck there.

Dave: “Do you have any tips for anyone that wants to create their own world?”

Alaska: “The joy is in the creation, a lot of people use pre-made campaigns and they try to run with them. I think it's way better for your creativity if you just find your aesthetics you really like and then try to tell a story out of that, and if you come up with a compelling start idea and then make a few surrounding things in the world, like different factions and locations that you really like, the idea of then you can slowly explore them through stories that grow from those foundations. The joy of D&D is that you set up the story and the players tell the story.”

Dave: “Anything else you'd like to add?”

Alaska: “One of my favourite parts of it is making little knick knacks, small notes they find on dead bodies. various documents for in the wild. I really like making costumes. Every single Friday I come in some sort of military uniform, usually I come in the uniform that the starting party would have been wearing when they were on the airship.”

David Claridge
10A Advisor

Jewellery Making

We have enjoyed our Monday afternoons in Jewellery this term. Chain and wire rings have been popular items to make. Whilst working on our creations and improving our fine motor skills, we have also focused on engaging in conversations and building relationships with our group members. We have set personal goals on what we want to achieve throughout the term and linked them to our learning goals. 

Mel Tyson
Teacher Assistant

Music

Big Picture Distinguisher: 

Distinguisher #11: 

Teachers and leaders are learners too

New ideas constantly emerge as part of the learning cycle process. Teachers and leaders in Big Picture schools and programs regularly attend to new ideas and learn new ways of working. They develop reflective practice and find ways of sharing this learning with others.

Towards the end of Term 2 some of our staff attended Big Picture Learning Workshops in Western Australia. Marianne Olsen attended a 5-day Senior Years Training Course. Participants from across Australia came together to understand the key elements of the design in Years 11 and 12 including senior project, autobiography, social action projects, and Leaving 2 Learn.

Hayley Gangell, Mel Tyson, and Jacqui Leslie attended the 5-day Foundation Training. This included building their understanding of the key elements of the Big Picture learning design, focussing on Advisory, projects, Leaving 2 Learn, narratives, and the Big Commitment.

Staff had the opportunity to learn from Eliott Washor, Co-Founder of Big Picture. Eliott spent time with our advisors when he visited our school on Monday, 12^th and Tuesday, 13^th May.