PARENT BULLETIN AUGUST 2012 PARENT BULLETIN AUGUST 2012 FROM THE PRINCIPAL for the NSW Training Awards), Andrew Upcoming Events Term 2 ended with another successful Loomes (selected as a member of the school musical. It was great to know that SWS Region Student Representative 14 August P&C Meeting over 70 students were involved in this Council), and Erin Middleton and 25/26 Aug Penrith Show year’s production of ‘Singing In the Rain’. Lachlan Macdonald who were School 26 August Rural Olympics Congratulations to everyone involved! Education Directors for a Day during 26 August Dance Blitz Education Week shadowing Mr P Smith, Eisteddfod We start this term by welcoming some School Education Director, Macarthur. new staff members. Ms C Golden was 26 August Tournament of successful through merit selection in We were also very proud of our Year 12 Minds obtaining a teaching position in our TAS debaters, Kahli Bailey, Suzanna 29,30,31 Aug SWS Drama Home Ec faculty. Ms Golden comes to Moschetti, Alicia Sullivan and Mitchell Festival our school with a wealth of experience in Christie, who competed in the 31 August Mind Marathon the Textiles and Design field. Mr G Premier’s Debating Challenge. Their 4 September Yr 10 Vietnam Stanley was appointed as our school achievements to the State semi-finals Performance chaplain as a result of our successful were recognised by our Regional 5 September D of E Bronze application to the Commonwealth Director, Mr Dizdar. I have included his afternoon government. Ms Crossingham was also comments that were part of recent 6/7 Sept CHS Athletics successful in gaining the head teacher message to all schools in SW Sydney: 7 September Dance Spec PDHPE through merit seleection and she 2012 officially started in the position at the “Premier’s Debating Challenge Years 11 & 10 Sept Yr 11 Prelim end of term 2. As a result Ms Chanter has 12 – Elderslie High School Exam Week taken up the role of Year 9 Year Adviser. 11 Sept P & C Meeting We also welcomed back Ms Symkowiak, Congratulations to Elderslie High School on reaching the last four of the Premier’s our Year 7, 9 and 11 Deputy Principal. Debating Challenge. There are many During her leave Mrs Amos and Mr Burke benefits of debating programs in our schools See back page for more details shared the DP role, and we would like to for our students including: thank them for all their hard work and Development of rigorous and critical dedication in completing all the tasks thinking associated with this important role. Development of mental and emotional maturity There have been a number of events, Effective communication and persuasion since our last bulletin, within the Region, skill development Inside This Issue State and Interstate where our students Fostering analytical and research skills were selected to showcase their skills Enhancing listening and note taking skills Principal’s Report 1-2 Student Premier’s Award 3 and talents. I have had feedback from To progress through several knockout DEC staff and community members rounds to reach the final four schools in Pat Farmer Visits 4 expressing their appreciation and NSW is a great achievement and one that Textiles 5 recognition of our students’ behaviour, our staff, students and Meredith Fawcett, School Musical 6 commitment and performance. The Principal, Elderslie High School should CAPA Update 6-7 following students have been recognised rightfully be proud of.” SPORT 8-9 and are to be congratulated: Kara Careers 10 Valente (selected as EHS’s Public Elderslie High School was also Welfare 11 Education Ambassador); Todd Thurlow recognised in NSW Parliament. Notice Almost Famous 12 (NSWPSSA Hockey Trials umpire and was given on 31 May 2012 by Chris Science Week 12 selection as the NSW umpire for National Patterson, Member for Camden in Proposed Calendar 13 Trials to be held in August); Jamie-Lee relation to our Royal Easter Show Turner (who performed at the South Achievements. The notice as stated in Western Sydney Regional Awards Night parliament is on the next page. Elderslie High School Educating all students to achieve their personal best Page 1 PARENT BULLETIN AUGUST 2012 SED For a DAY Phtotographs Trade Training Centre The Construction facility (part of the Macarthur Trade Erin Middleton (Year 10) and Lachlan Macdonald (Year 9) Centre) was handed over to the school during week 1. with Mr Peter Smith, School Education Director, Macarthur. Shortly our Students will be using this facility, along with students from Elizabeth Macarthur and Camden High Schools. This state-of-the-art facility is a valuable asset for our school communities and I would like to acknowledge the work of Ms L Kenny (SWS VET Consultant and ex-EHS staff member for her hours of commitment and support in the application process), Ms A Hughes (SWS Quality Teaching Consultant, Vocational Education), Ms M Allan (Principal Officer, Trades Training Vocational Education in Schools Directorate), our staff (including Mr Buckley, Mr Clipsham, Ms Wheeler) and the Principals and staff of Camden and Elizabeth Macarthur High Schools. Here are some photographs of the new facility. Mrs Fawcett, Principal P&C MEETING ATTENTION PARENTS Our next Parent Meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 August 2012, 7.30pm in the School Library. At this meeting we hope to reform our Elderslie High School P&C. Please come along and give your most appreciated support. Elderslie High School Educating all students to achieve their personal best Page 2 PARENT BULLETIN AUGUST 2012 The Premier’s Student Volunteering SOCIAL SCIENCE REPORT Award The Social Sciences Faculty would like to congratulate a Now is the time for all Year 9 and Year 10 to get on line number of students who received Certificates of Merit in and register all of their volunteering hours. During the the recent Australian Geography Competition. The exams if you were a reader or writer, get those hours competition takes place in three levels, Junior for Years 7 logged. Did you referee or umpire at the Primary Schools’ and 8, Intermediate for students under 16 in Years 9 and Gala Day? Get those hours logged. If you mentor, tutor, 10, and senior for students over 16 including Years 11 and SRC or raise money, get logged on. Are you involved in 12. any activity which you donate your time to help others? Mara Aplin, Joshua Coleman, Mai O-Regan, Emily Burden, Get registered and log the hours. Lauren Caines, Emma Creasey, Georgia Mazurkiewicz, Two students this year have achieved their Diamond Matthew Murphy, Brooke Murray, Jordan Pieri, Taylor Award, 80 hours, 2 have reached the Gold standard, 2 the Krmac, Paulo Locano and Abby Moroney received Credit Silver and 4 the Bronze. Many others have not registered, certificates; Jordan Berrell, Christopher Mazurkiewicz, it is easy and it will look great if you are keen to apply for Oscar Dell, Sean Lewis and Emily McCarthy received a job in the future. Distinction certificates; Andrew Gardner and Alex O’Flynn received High Distinctions. So if you are in Years 9 or 10 see Mrs Rouen, Ms Zammitt, Mr Kafartaris, Tim Hiron or Lachlan Arundall to sign you Congratulations to all the students who participated. The up and get your hours counted. school had a large 45 percent of students who attempted the Australian Geography competition awarded with Meet Our School Chaplain Merit Certificates. Last semester two groups of students took part in Hi, my name is Gary Stanley, and I Fieldwork days for Geography. Both days were highly have recently been appointed in the successful and enjoyed by the students. Year 10 role of chaplain at Elderslie High Geography students went to Warilla Beach to examine School. Let me introduce myself, I am the management of a Coastal area and Year 9 students 25 years of age and originally from visited Pyrmont Ultimo to examine a community that has, England, I have been in Australia since and is undergoing rapid change because of Globalisation. 2007. I am married to Lauren and All students gained enormously from being able to see in together we live and work at Teen Ranch Australia – a real life what we have been teaching in class. The value of Christian campsite just down the road in Cobbitty. I have these experiences cannot be underestimated in helping over 7 years’ experience in working with children and students to understand how the world around them is young people in different contexts; church, sport and in changing and what role they can play. outdoor education. I am currently working towards a diploma in theology. I’m really excited about combining Below are some of the photographs taken on the day, the two roles, both at Teen Ranch and chaplaincy at including a beach managed to protect houses from storm Elderslie High School. damage rather than for recreation. What will I be doing? Chaplains have long been involved in the Australian landscape, through emergency services, hospitals, the defence forces and even professional sports teams. As a school chaplain/youth worker I am there to offer the school community an additional dimension of care and support. I will be available to students dealing with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness to drug abuse, grief or other crisis situations, to access the support they need. I am at the school to provide a listening ear and a caring presence for students in crisis and those who just need a friendly chat. I am not there as a counsellor but am able to provide referrals to professionals such as school counsellors. My role will also be to provide a reference point for addressing social, religious or spiritual issues.