The View November 2012
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The View Mount View High School’s Newsletter Delivering excellence, innovation and success 1106 Mount View Road, Cessnock NSW 2325 T (02) 4990 2566 F (02) 4991 1728 E [email protected] Issue 8 November 2012 DATES TO REMEMBER Mon 26th Nov cont. University promoting careers in Maths and Science Mon 5th Nov Year 10 Assessment Period (all week) Tues 27th Nov Jump Start Program/Year 6 Transition Wed 7th Nov Year 7, 8 and 9 Exams (Wed, Thurs and 9am – 11.30am Fri) 11.15am – 1.00pm Cessnock Community Thurs 8th Nov Year 11 Maths students – Guest Speaker Of Great Public Schools Photo Shoot 11.30am – 12.30pm Fri 9th Nov Year 12 Responsible Service of Alcohol Wed 28th Nov Year 8 Drugs and Alcohol Workshop (RSA) Course Tues 4th Dec 7T Pace Presentations – Library Pd 1 and 2 Mon 12th Nov Year 10 Assessment Period Wed 5th Dec P&C Christmas Dinner – 6.30pm (all week) Fri 7th Dec Year 7 Reward Excursion -Battlezone and Year 12 Responsible Conduct of Gambling Ten Pin Bowling 7.45am – 3pm (RCG) Course Year 8 Reward Excursion – Hunter Ice 9.30am - Remembrance Day Ceremony Skating 9.00am – 3.00pm Tues 13th Nov Re-Engineering Australia (REA) State Mon 10th Dec TVET Work Placement (all week) Finals at University of Technology Year 11 Geography Excursion – Glenrock Sydney 9.00am – 3.00pm Jump Start Program/Year 6 Transition Wed 12th Dec Presentation Assembly - Year 7 and 8 9am – 11.30am (Stage 4) 9.30am Wed 14th Nov Year 7 and 8 Netball/Cricket Gala Day 6.30pm – P&C Meeting Re-Engineering Australia (REA) State Fri 14th Dec Presentation Assembly – Year 9, 10 and 11 Finals at University of Technology (Stage 5 & Prelim. HSC) 9.30am Sydney 6.30pm - P&C Meeting Wed 19th Dec LAST DAY OF TERM 4 (for students) Thurs 15th Nov Year 12 Formal – Lindemans Estate Thurs 20th Dec School Development Day Arrive at 6pm for Dinner at 7pm Fri 21st Dec School Development Day Fri 16th Nov Year 7, 8 and 9 Reward Excursion - Luna Park 7am – 5pm FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Sun 18th Nov Senior Leaders – Halogen Conference, D. Pfeffer Sydney Mon 19th Nov Senior Leaders – Halogen Conference, I would like to begin by congratulating Year 12 2012 on their Sydney conduct and achievements throughout the final days of Year 8 – Using Electronic Devices and classes and at the Graduation Assembly held late last term. It Social Media Workshop (Kim was wonderful to see a large number of parents attending the Smith – School Liaison Police assembly and joining with the school in acknowledging the Officer) achievements of a wonderful group of young people. The Tues 20th Nov Year 8 - Essential Secondary Science HSC examinations are progressing well and no doubt the Assessment (ESSA) students are looking forward to their formal on Thursday 15 Wed 21st Nov Year 8 - Essential Secondary Science November. Assessment (ESSA) Fri 23rd Nov Year 6/7 Orientation Day Year 11 students completed their Preliminary courses at the Mon 26th Nov Years 7 and 9 – Smart Show. Newcastle end of Term 3. They have now commenced their HSC studies in earnest and I would like to remind them that their Page | 1 Issue 8 November 2012 assessment marks from this term count towards their final have been published. This is to allow students to draw marks. To achieve their best results it is imperative that they attention to any errors that may have been made, for example work with sustained effort and diligence and attend all a name left off one of the lines. There will be no changes of lessons. The Board of Studies sets strict guidelines for the electives at this time. It is essential that there is a “no change” successful completion of HSC studies which must be adhered period so that class lists can be established and that spaces to by all schools, and all students. If a student does not apply for the inclusion of new students can be clearly identified. themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks Head Teachers, class teachers and students have been provided by the school, an “N” warning letter is sent. Please advised that class requests for placement in core classes do not ignore these letters as failure to address the issue can should be followed up at an individual level. The staff have result in a student being “N-determined” for the course and been advised that they should outline the specific ultimately not fulfilling requirements for their HSC. requirements that a student must meet to be placed at a Unfortunately a number of Year 11 students still have work to certain level. Students need to follow up this advice when it is be completed before they can officially proceed into their HSC given. I would encourage parents to seek this information if studies. the students do not pass it on, or if parents feel that the requirements are not clearly explained. Mr Conroy and Mrs Smith have both written about the change from the old “School Certificate” to the “Record of School Week 11 of Term 4 Achievement (RoSA).” A letter will shortly be posted to all As is noted on the school calendars Presentation Days for parents of Year 10 students outlining the recent changes in Years 7 to 11 will be held during the second last school week legislation about the age at which students may leave school. of the year. This is the week ending Friday 14th December. It It is most important that the New School Leaving Age is expected that students from these years will attend school legislation is strictly adhered to. until Wednesday 19th December, the last day of the student year. The school has organised meaningful learning Year 10 students recently participated in “Project 10” experiences for the students for the last three days of the presentations. Many community members joined the interview year, Monday 17th December to Wednesday 19th Wednesday. panels and have commented on the very high calibre of work Considerable effort will be put into the organisation of these that our students presented for discussion. days and it is hoped that parents and students will be most I am currently involved in an action research project at the supportive of these efforts. school and have the pleasure of working with a team of wonderful teachers - Mr Russell, Mrs Doherty, Ms Alder, Ms Charity Days Conn and Mrs Death. The team focus is “How do we give Schools are very similar to homes and businesses. We effective feedback that will most improve engagement and regularly receive requests for support from many deserving learning outcomes for high achieving students?” We are charitable institutions, however we are unable to respond concentrating on Year 10/11 students for the purposes of our favourably to all of these requests. Sometimes parents and research. They have already provided some information students feel that the failure to offer support reflects a lack of through an initial survey and focus group meetings and will interest or an unfair prioritising of one group over another. start to do an online survey next week. I have been so This is untrue as it is impractical to continually give and to impressed with the insightful comments made by these have multiple out of uniform days. Agreement has been students in regards to their learning and in this, and other reached that the school will hold four special days each year, projects across the school, am so excited about the one per term. Each day will result in a generous donation to a opportunities to incorporate student (and parental) opinion deserving charity. The charities appreciate the efforts made into our school‟s direction. by the students. The new school leadership team is encouraged to consider alternate fund raising methods to the traditional out of uniform days. Possibly parents could offer FROM THE DEPUTY’S DESK – Years 8, 10 & 12 suggestions to the students about school appropriate P. Conroy approaches to fund raising. Year 8 to Year 9 (2013) Scholarships The elective subject selection process has now been Year 12 students are currently completing their HSC exams. completed. As was explained on the evening of the selection The students have approached these with reserved presentation, the process takes considerable time and confidence and we wish them well. Possibly the last thing invariably requires some slight modifications of student they would want to do as the exams draw to a close is to choices as less popular subjects are eliminated and new consider filling in more forms. However I would encourage the students are included in the choice process. The choices students to be aware of the many scholarships that are available. The Cessnock Mayoral Scholarships are an Page | 2 Issue 8 November 2012 excellent local initiative that enables local students to access so that students can set individual and achieve able learning significant amounts of money from generous local goals. organisations. Students should make themselves aware of the many different options available from the council. Mount View High School‟s P and C Association has agreed Universities also offer a wide variety of scholarships, many of with the introduction of the new certificates and see this as a which go unfilled. Even if they are unsure of their future, positive and productive step in the public celebration of students should apply on a broad scale. The school would be student achievement. happy to endorse applications from our many deserving Coupled with this new certification is the reinforcement with students.