Hunter Sports High
Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
A Message from the Principal
We have hit the halfway mark in the 2016 school year! Term 2 has gone very quickly and we will celebrate the many achievements of our students at our end of term formal assembly tomorrow. Parents and carers are welcome to attend. Students will be issued with their half-yearly reports following the assembly and if absent tomorrow their reports can be collected from the Student Services office on return next term. There will be an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress at Parent Teacher interviews early in Term 3 – further information will be distributed after the holidays.
In what has been a very eventful fortnight, we have celebrated NAIDOC Day this week, learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture as all students participated in a series of presentations and activities throughout the day. We will share more about the NAIDOC Day celebrations in our next newsletter.
Hunter Sports High has generously supported several charities over the past few weeks, donning beanies for Brain Cancer Awareness Day and the Mark Hughes Foundation, and red noses for SIDS awareness too. Thank you to our Student Representative Council, staff and students for their work in organising these events and for showing the strong community spirit that we are very proud of at Hunter Sports High.
After many weeks of rehearsals our school choir took to the stage at Star Struck on 17 & 18 June. It was an incredible experience for our students to be a part of this regional creative showcase. We’ve also had another Transition Day with Year 6 students from our partner primary schools at Windale, Wiripaang and Mt Hutton coming to Hunter Sports to experience high school drama and history lessons last week.
Top: Some of this term’s academic achievers who will receive awards at tomorrow’s end of term assembly. Above: Emma Bradford is Year 10 subject selections are coming up early next term (for presented with the winner’s trophy by Wallabies star Nick Cummins at students who will be in Year 11 in 2017). Information evenings the Rugby Sevens State Championships in Sydney earlier this week. for students and their parents will be held during Week 2 (25-27 July) from 7pm – on Monday at Wyong Golf Club, Tuesday at OUR SCHOOL VALUES: Muree Golf Club (Raymond Terrace) and Wednesday at the school. This will be followed by individual student interviews in Week 3 (parents are welcome to attend these too) where they RESPECT will finalise their subject selections. A letter has been distributed RESPONSIBILITY to all Year 10 students/families with further details. The holidays present a good opportunity for students to think carefully about SUCCESS their interests and possible career goals and what subjects they might like or need to study to help them towards these goals. Hunter Sports High School Pacific Highway Enjoy the winter break and have a safe and happy holiday. Staff will return to school on Monday 18th July for a staff development Gateshead NSW 2290 th www.huntersports.com.au day and all students will return on Tuesday 19 July for a great Term 3 at Hunter Sports High! Please note the new T: 4943 5755 canteen menu at the end of the newsletter with new daily F: 4942 2565 specials. E: [email protected] Rachel Byrne – Principal
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Upcoming Events Ms Byrne Meets the Minister
DATE EVENT Fri 01 July Last Day of Term 2 Term 2 Formal Assembly, 11.35-12.45pm in the Stadium
Wiripaang Reading Program
SHINE Program
Aboriginal Dance
Mon 04 July – SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Mon 18 July Mon 18 July Staff Development Day Tues 19 July Students Return: First Day of Term 2 Wed 20 July Brospeak GIO & Buckley Shield RL @ New Era Stadium Cabramatta Mon 25 July PBL Lesson Year 10 Subject Selection Evening
@ Wyong Golf Club Tues 26 July Year 10 Subject Selection Evening Our newly-appointed Principal, Ms Byrne, attended the NSW @ Muree Golf Club Secondary Principal’s Conference in the Hunter Valley from Wed 27 July Year 10 Subject Selection Evening 14-16 June, where she was officially inducted as a Principal @ Hunter Sports High by NSW Minister for Education Mr Adrian Piccoli (pictured Fri 29 July P & C Trivia Night above). The conference had a focus on future-focused Tues 02 August P & C Meeting, 6pm learning with international researchers and experts Parent/Teacher Interviews, 5pm-8pm presenting about reforming education and optimising Thurs 04 August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait learning outcomes for young people. Islander Children’s Day Mon 08 August – Trial HSC Exams Fri 19 August
Transition Day
Year 6 students from Wiripaang, Windale and Mount Hutton primary schools visited Hunter Sports High School on Tuesday 21st June for a combined HSIE and Drama day. These lucky students got a taste of high school life as they engaged in a drama workshop with Ms Sykes, enthusiastically participating in a number of drama games. They also explored the world of ancient Japan with Ms Parish and returned to school with some origami samurai hats that they made themselves.
Huge thanks go to Ms Sykes and Ms Parish for delivering such entertaining workshops, to their intrepid helpers from
the University of Newcastle, and to Mrs Beckett for organising the day.
The primary students will participate in more transition days later in the year as they prepare for their graduation to high school. These activities allow our incoming students to familiarise themselves with Hunter Sports High School and to meet new friends from other schools before they commence high school next year. Ms O'Brien, Year 7 Year Advisor 2017
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Hunter Sports Helping Charities The wild and windy weather last week made it perfect timing for Hunter Sports High to get behind Beanies for Brain Cancer Day to raise funds and awareness of the Mark Hughes Foundation. Over $200 was raised by Hunter Sports High with many staff and students donning their winter woollies to support the worthwhile cause. Thanks to the
HSHS Student Representative Council for their initiative and their generous support of others. Beanies were swapped for red noses last Friday in support of SIDS and Kids with a fundraiser organised by Mrs Meisenhelter’s Year 9 Child Studies class raising an amazing $769. The class has been studying Newborn Care this term and the fundraiser was a fitting end to the unit with money raised from the event going towards saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. Mrs Meisenhelter acknowledged the great teamwork that went into the event. “We were very fortunate to receive lots of support from our local families and the community. We would like to thank several people for this: Whitebridge Butchery; Repco Gateshead; Woolworths; Coles; Nikki Lee Lalor's Grandma; Shanae McIntyre's mum for all the bread, sauces and napkins; Mr Kennedy for manning the BBQ; Mrs Smith for picking up all of our supplies and her support given to these students; Ms Wilson for cooking and all the students from 9CHIY for lending a helping hand on the day. It really was a great team effort.”
Library Lends a Hand Our library staff have been busily emptying their shelves over recent weeks as they work to reduce the collection ahead of the redevelopment and temporary relocation of the school library later this year. The majority of old and outdated stock is being culled to make way for a very modern 21st Century learning space in the new school. The new library will house a more modern, but smaller, collection of print resources along with a more innovative and progressive style for delivering information to our students. iPads are already being used to deliver digital newspapers and links have been established with Newcastle City Libraries to help supply online ‘e-resources’ such as journals and e-books. Regarding the books that have been culled, rest assured that many have been passed onto groups within our own community, such as St Vincent de Paul, the Sudanese community of Mayfield, a Bible group at Karuah, an indigenous school at Raymond Terrace and even overseas to Tonga. A number of containers left at the end of May for earthquake ravaged areas of Tonga. On board there were quite a number of boxes of our older books. This could not be possible without the assistance of Mrs Marie Maloney, a long-time community volunteer from Mayfield, who distributes the books on our behalf. Peter Gordon - Librarian
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
FACULTY NEWS: TAS
Metals & Engineering
Our Year 12 Metals and Engineering students have been working hard this term to re-design and manufacture a light weight portable vice as part of their 6B assessment unit. In this unit the students are aiming to provide evidence of performing manual production assembly and sheet and plate assembly. The project has taken almost two terms and has contributed towards providing evidence of the students’ knowledge of reading technical drawings and the ability to re- design or modify a design to improve its capabilities.
Associated processes involved in the manufacture of this project include lathe work, MIG welding and applying quality procedures to complete a multi-component engineering product.
Year 7 Technology
This term our Year 7 students have carried out research on an animal’s natural habitat and enclosures at a range of zoos. They then planned and sketched up designs to meet the animal’s needs and worked in groups to create a full zoo model. The students have found the Lego a fun and interesting way to show how their designs would work giving a 3D perspective to their sketches and plans.
Design & Technology The Year 9 D & T class were set a collaborative design team challenge to create signage for the school’s new innovative learning space. Students have embraced the new learning spaces where they get to learn in new surroundings, work on beanbags if they wish or pull tables together so they can collaborate within a group.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Students Rub Shoulders with the Best of the Best!
Hunter Sports High students got up close and personal with some of Australia’s most high-profile leaders at a day-long event held at Merewether Surf House last week.
Accompanied by Ms Byrne, our students got the chance to learn important life skills about goal-setting, overcoming adversity, personal finances and health and fitness, with presentations by Australia’s Biggest Loser trainer Shannan Ponton, Paralympian Kurt Fearnley and financial guru Peter Thornhill.
A motivational speech by Kurt Fearnley and a personal training session by Shannon Ponton were highlights of the day with students taking away invaluable advice from the day about surrounding themselves with positive people, believing in themselves and never giving up.
Year 10 Big Picture student Tegan Allen shares her recount of the day: “The day was called “Rubbing Shoulders with the Best” and was run by Catholic Care. The presentations covered topics such as: Goal Setting, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Finances plus Health and Fitness. The day consisted of heaps of activities that got us thinking and moving. We also got provided with morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Kurt Fearnley talked about his story and tips to help us set and achieve your own goals. Peter Thornhill had a chat with us about how to manage your finances, make money go further and practical ways to set saving goals. Shannan
Ponton spoke to us about how to stay fit and healthily both mentally and physically. Shannan got us involved in some fun and tiring activities on the beach. Altogether the day was amazing with lots of activities, photos, prizes and presentations with Australia’s most high-profile leaders.”
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Hunter Sports High Confirms Status as a Sevens School
Hunter Sports High School confirmed its’ status as one of the best Seven's schools in the state, walking away from the NSW Rugby State Sevens Championships in Sydney on Tuesday with some sensational results.
The Boys Under 18's overcame a rocky start to finish 4th in the state. Some close losses and a hard game against Hills was book-ended by a hard fought win against the fancied Westfields, which at times looked like Fiji taking on Samoa Our rugby seven’s teams celebrate their success at the State with ball skills galore on display. Championships earlier this week, posing for photos and selfies with rugby stars including Wallaby Nick Cummins, Australian 7’s player Greg
Jeloudev, and Waratahs star Jed Holloway. The Girls Under 18's were dominant in pool phases, and shaken by eventual winners Matraville in a close game in the finals. The girls recovered to take the Plate final against Westfields to finish third in the state. NSW Blue Belle's Tennis News: representative Synetta Manns set the tempo for the team with ferocious defence and inventive attack. The past two weeks have seen some wonderful tennis achievements for the students of Hunter Sports High The Girls Under 16's team avenged their second place from School. Both the Open Boys and Open Girls Hunter Team 2015 to become the 2016 State Champions, backing up their trials were undertaken at District Park Tennis Centre, 2014 effort. Undeterred all day, the girls showed attacking Broadmeadow on the 21st June and 28th June. Nine of the prowess and defensive maturity to put on a clinic in the pool best tennis players are selected from the region each year phases. The final against fellow Novocastrian's St Pius X to form the Hunter Tennis Team and three of our talented was a pure game of football, with pulsating action seeing try students have cemented their spots in these teams. for try until midway through the second half when Hunter Sports applied the thumbscrews. Congratulations to our Matthew Abbott, Breanna Blick and Laura Saxon performed neighbours for putting on such a tough contest. with outstanding results and are to be commended on their sportsmanship and representation of our school throughout NSW 7's and Australian 7's coaching staff were on hand to the trial. Matthew will now travel to North Parramatta from identify talent and Hunter Sports students were mentioned August 23-25 for the Boys State CHS Carnival while many a time. The day has proved that Seven's is a serious Breanna and Laura will compete in Grafton at the girls event option for players, and Hunter Sports High is indeed a from September 16-19. We wish them all the best for an seven's school. exciting and successful venture.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Pasami Scores a Win for the Blues Girls Softball:
Year 12 student Pasami Saulo proudly represented NSW in last week’s Under 18 State of Origin clash in Queensland, helping the Blues to a resounding 26-0 win. Congratulations On a blustery cold Tuesday and Wednesday last week, Pasami on this awesome achievement and experience! eight girls took to the softball fields of Mayfield to represent Hunter Sports High in the NSW State Finals for girls’ softball. Each year the two top teams from each region Girls Soccer Stars: across the state meet to battle out the final 16 and decide the winner of the Teacher’s Mutual Bank Shield. Some may recall that we are past champions and runner up for this prestigious award. My thanks go to the girls who braved the
harsh conditions and represented the school with a smile on their faces and with great sportsmanship. A big thank you goes to Year 11 student Nathan Corrigan, our Australian Schoolboys softball player who coached the team. Well done to Jade Hemaridis, Jessica Corrigan, Nell Gibson, Breanna Daymond, Tara Hobbs-Ladd, Jessica Hanson, Grace Ballagh-Woodstock, Natasha Telfer and Coach Nathan Corrigan. Baseball News: A number of our players have either just returned or are about to embark on travel, either interstate or oversees, to The 2016 FFA Girls Under 17 NTC Challenge took place at play in representative teams and to further their experience the AIS in Canberra from the 8th-13th of June. in Baseball or Softball. Nathan Corrigan and Jade Hemaridis The NTC Challenge is a talent identification and selection have just returned from the Combined High Schools Softball opportunity for individual players for junior national team Nationals which were held interstate, where Nathan was representation. selected in the Australian Schoolboys Team. Each state played a round robin to showcase individual Brandon Tangaroa (Year 7) has just competed in the talent and determine which state would be named national Australian Little League Championships where his team champions. After four wins, two draws and only one loss, was second overall, just missing the trip to the USA World Northern NSW took the crown for the first time in the history Finals. Jake Amos has secured a spot in the Australian All of the competition. Schools squad and should fly off to Arizona later in the year. Next week he will be off to the talent camp held each year at The team consisted of nine Hunter Sports High girls Surfer’s Paradise. including: Annie Grove, Sophie Buller, Tazmyne Luschwitz, Skye Pullman, Georgia Minors, Indianna Asimus, Renee Mitch Ellison Yr9 is about to set off for a baseball trip to Pountney, Ashlee Brodigan and Bree Steadman. Korea and lastly Jordan Andrew Yr7 has an East to West trip of the USA as part of this year’s Razorback Squad from Ashlee and Annie were named in the Australian All Star the Central Coast. select team for their performances in the tournament. Annie On behalf of the school we wish these ball players all the was also named goalkeeper of the tournament, an amazing best and those going overseas a very safe passage. achievement for a 14 year old, and a fantastic effort from all the girls. Peter Gordon
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
STUDENT WELFARE at HSHS: Keeping Our Students Safe
This student welfare his page lets students, parents and carers know about some of the great programs and support services that are available to students and their families at Hunter Sports High School and in the local community. We hope you find it helpful and informative.
Live Learn Drive Quote of the Week:
Outstanding Attendance Congratulations to all the students that have a 100% attendance record for this term. Twenty students will be recognised at the formal assembly tomorrow for 100%
attendance in Semester 1.
Last Friday was a great day to be at Hunter Sports High Wired Production listening to the Road Safety talks presented by NRMA to our Year 11 and 12 students. Each student was provided The Brainstorm ‘Wired’ production held recently for Year 10 & with a keypad for the duration of the presentation to enable 11 students covered topics including anxiety, depression, the interactive component and engagement throughout. resilience, goal-setting, motivation, and mental health. The session was informative and each student who participated in the Live Learn Drive program received a Smart Phone wallet.
SMART Program The Eastlake Youth Centre’s SMART Program has finished as we reach the end of term. Students have developed resume-writing skills and gained employability skills. Students were involved in painting the back of the Windale Shops and have gained community consultation, team work, leadership, organisation and painting skills. Many thanks to JJ for her leadership and participation in this fabulous program.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 10
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
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