16 SEPTEMBER 2016 Term 3, Week 9 Meeting the Educational Needs of Girls P&C Meeting - Wednesday 2 NOVEMBER at 7.30 Pm
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Mackellar Girls Campus Newsletter 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 Term 3, Week 9 Meeting the educational needs of girls P&C Meeting - Wednesday 2 NOVEMBER at 7.30 pm EMAILING THE SCHOOL— Please use ONLY the [email protected] email address for correspondence. TEXTING THE SCHOOL—Dedicated SMS NUMBER for absences & late arrivals only - 0427 459 133 PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Book Week - Mackellar has many events that bring the school together with a real community feel. Our Book Week Parade is one of these very special days. The program highlighted students’ love of reading, with students and staff parading as their favourite book characters, prefects singing about the joys of reading, and students being fully engaged in a gamut of reading genre. On National Indigenous Literacy Day, Mackellar certainly joined in the celebration of reading. Year 12’s last days - Year 12 students are in their last moments of formal schooling. It is a sad time for them and yet an exciting time to be finishing school. It is very easy to become distracted in this time because of the activities, functions and emotions involved. The need to maintain a focus is important. Students should organise a plan for study that is systematic. They should ensure they eat properly, take regular exercise, have regular sleep and engage in some enjoyable activities. They should practice those things that reduce stress for them. This should avert the need for high stress, panic-driven study during the HSC. The teachers of the school have enjoyed the opportunity to teach this wonderful group of students over the last six years. They are fine people and we will miss them and their contribution to the school. I wish them all well in their future. Yearly Examinations - The Yearly Examinations are an important event in the academic progress for each student. They provide a measure of each student’s learning for the year, and provide valuable information for the teaching and learning in the following year. It is therefore important that all students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 sit their Yearly Examinations. Unless students will be absent from the examinations due to school commitments, all students must sit their examinations at the specified time. It is inappropriate for students to take leave during their examination period, and examinations will not be rescheduled for absent students. Our examination schedule for the year is Year 12: HSC Half -Yearly examinations and Trial HSC examination Year 11: Preliminary HSC Half-Yearly and Yearly examinations Year 10: Half-Yearly (in some subjects) and Yearly examinations 24-28 October 2016 Year 9: Yearly examinations 7-11 November 2016 Years 7 and 8: Yearly examinations: 31 October – 3 November 2016 Attendance of students - All students, excepting Year 12, will be required to attend school up until the last day of teaching, Friday 16 December 2016. School Visitors - As a school we have a duty of care of our students. As such, all visitors to the school must firstly go the office, and if their visit is appropriate beyond the foyer area, sign in as a visitor and be given a visitor’s badge to wear for the duration of their stay in the school. This applies to parents who come to the school to see a teacher or student. It is not appropriate for parents to email any staff directly. Staff will not respond to any email they receive directly from a parent. Parents are welcome to either write a letter or send an email to the school email address, where it will then be forwarded to the teacher, Deputy Principal or Principal. Freshwater Community Bank is Director General’s Award for Turning Potential into Performance the proud Community Sponsor Director General’s Award for Excellence in Girls Education of Mackellar Girls Campus Director General’s Award for Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education Manly Vale Director General’s Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Programs Change of family details - If you change address, telephone numbers (including mobiles), email address or name it is important to notify the school office, either directly or by sending the information with your daughter to hand in to the office. Congratulations for high achievement to: Olivia (Y9) who gained 4th place in the Australian CrossFit Open and won the 13-15 yrs CrossFit Gosford Riot competition. Clare (Y11) for winning the NSW All Schools 16yrs Orienteering Championships Mackellar All Stars Cheerleading Team who won the State All Stars competition and the Senior Level 3 were 2nd Jasmine (Y10) for her 13th in the snowboard giant slalom in the Australian Snowsports Championships CHS Athletics medalists: 1st for 13 yrs Relay team, Piper (Y8) 1st in the 1500m and 3000m and 3rd in 14 yrs 800m; the 16yrs relay team was 4th and the 14yrs 6th the hockey team for their 9th in NSW CHS Knockout competition Ruby and Jasmine (Y10) for their qualifying for the NSW State Snowsports Interschool Championships Djirri (Y11) for her performances in the NSW State Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company Talia (Y8) and Katerina (Y9) for their participating in the State Wind Ensemble at the Opera House Alyssa , Pihuka and Jenna (Y10) and Mya (Y9) for being in the final cut for the NSW U17 Softball Squad Brianna (Y8) for attaing Bronze in the Education Perfect Mathematics Competition Isabella (Y8) for winning the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature The waterpolo teams that were placed 3rd in the NSW Waterpolo local competition Bella (Y9) for winning the Hawkesbury JDS tennis tournament Chelsea (Y7) for being in the winning U13 Softball team in the NSW Championships Samara (Y10) for competing in the National Club Gymnastics Competition Christine Del Gallo, Principal The P&C AGM will be held on Wednesday November 30 2016 (previously held on March). Please be aware only 'current members' ( those that have attended a previous meeting during the year and have paid membership fees - $2) can stand for a position or vote. The next general meeting will be Wednesday November 2 - all newcomers warmly welcomed! W@M REPORT - 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 YEAR 7 - Earlier this term, Year 7 participated in ‘In Rhythm’, an African drumming workshop that allowed them to work as a whole year group and assess their teamwork skills. As well as this, they also had a lot of fun! Their powerful beats could be heard around the school and signalled them growing into a cohesive and supportive year group. The end of Term 3 is a very exciting time at Mackellar, as our Year 12s leave us and celebrate six years of memories and education. The last day of school is a great opportunity to show our support to these students and consider their legacy. Year 7 are just beginning their journey here, and we hope they begin to think about what footprints they’d like to leave behind. The final day at school this term is also filled with marvellous events – both the Formal Year 12 Graduation Assembly and the Talent Quest. What a wonderful way to celebrate another great term. Miss Hawes & Miss Coles 2 YEAR 8 - It’s been a busy term for Year 8 who has participated in both High Resolves workshops and KYDS workshops focusing on resilience. We are looking forward to beginning planning for our charity in Term 4, Bandanna Day. We wish the girls a safe and relaxing holiday. Miss Secrett & Mrs Peachey YEAR 9 - This term, we have been inundated with the number of nominations by teachers of Year 9 students who have been demonstrating the Values of Cooperation and Participation. As Year Advisors, we are very proud of these students and continue to encourage all Year 9 students to do the right thing and be a role model within and outside of school. Recently, there has been an increase in students who have not been coming to school in the correct uniform and wearing makeup. If your daughter is not in the correct uniform, they are required to have a note from you explaining the reason and obtain a Uniform Pass from one of the Deputy Principals. Failure to follow this may result in consequences such as an After School Detention. Please help to support the school by ensuring your daughter is in the correct uniform and makeup free before leaving for school in the mornings. As previously reported last term, all students in Year 9 have completed their Personal Learning Goals to reflect on Semester 1 and setting goals for Semester 2. As we are near the halfway mark of Semester 2 and with the Yearly Examination approaching in Week 5 Term 4, now is a good time to discuss with your daughter to check whether they are working towards their goals for Semester 2. Following the Study Skills Workshop completed earlier this year, we continue to encourage the girls to implement a regular homework and study routine to reduce stress and anxiety that can be caused by poor time management. Miss Reeves & Miss Leung YEAR 10 - Year 10 recently gained an excellent insight into the importance of being responsible drivers and passengers at the BStreetSmart demonstration in Week 6. With Term 3 coming to a close it is important for all Year 10 students to be preparing thoroughly for Yearly Examinations which will take place in Week 3, Term 4. We wish you all a safe holiday. Mrs Griffin & Mr Snow YEAR 11 - Year 11 is completing the Yearly Exams in Weeks 9 and 10. These are important Preliminary HSC exams that will inform the content students learn in Year 12. Study hard to achieve your personal best, Year 11! A regular study routine is always more effective than cramming the night before.