Singleton High School News
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Singleton High School News HONOUR THROUGH WORK 2015 Term 4 . Week 6 FIRE CADETS GRADUATE • YEAR 12 FORMAL • ROADWHYZ • WE REMEMBER Events School Information Inside 16 NOVEMBER Jo Gray Annie Phillips Principal’s Report P & C MEETING Principal HT VET Wellbeing News Ian Skilton Martin Gray 19 NOVEMBER Deputy Principal Yr 7, 11 Librarian Year 9 Report EES EXCURSION Rochelle Dooley Jane Johns Opal Card 20 NOVEMBER Deputy Principal Yr 8, 12 (rel) HT CAPA Learning Assistance News SRC LUNA PARK EXCURSION Tracey Holloway Linda Wilkes Deputy Principal Yr 9, 10 (rel) HT Teaching and Learning Fire Cadets 23-24 NOVEMBER Kathleen Ballard Year 12 Formal YR 11 ROADWISE Wellbeing HT Year Advisors 2015 Roadwhyz Nicole French Remembrance Day 24-26 Assistant Wellbeing Advisor Cindy Koletsis-Tatt & Tristan Chapman UPPER ALLYN EXCURSION Dayna Cowmeadow Year 7 Meeting of the Minds HT Staff Administration (rel) Margaret Bagnall & Rowen Lewis Sports Report 25-27 NOVEMBER Tim Merrick Year 8 SURF CAMP SRC Report Administration HT (rel) Nathan Jones & Jaye Sunerton Careers News 27 NOVEMBER Margaret Richardson Year 9 YR8 AND 9 OZ TAG Administration Manager Andrew Somerville & Daniel Mead Canteen News YEAR 9 END OF YEAR EXCURSION David Welsh Year 10 WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES KOORI STYLE HT English Daniel Higgins & Megan Smith Leanne Mullen Year 11 HT Science Bob Collins & Maddie Valentine Kathleen Prudence Year 12 HT Maths UNIFORM SHOP IS NOW OPEN Toby Karakasch P&C Association meets the 3rd ON MONDAYS HT Home Economics (rel) Monday of the month 8.30am to 10.00am Tracey Holloway Next meeting 16 November and HT Languages President, Mrs Salli Avard HT Aboriginal Education Secretary, Mrs Cynthia Mulholland 3.30pm to 5.00pm Jason Kolatchew Treasurer, Mr Simon Rock Alternatively place and pay HT Industrial Arts Canteen Coordinator, Tracy Johnson for uniform orders on line and Clemma Mansfield Canteen Phone 02 6572 2373 collect from the school office HT PDHPE any time within office hours Kirsten Strachan School Office Hours HT Special Ed 8.30am - 4.00pm Beau Berman HT HSIE JO Principal’s Report GRAY Day/Bell Structure 2016 New Bell & Period Times for 2016 will remedy teaching and learning time Normal Day Monday Week B deficit Roll Call 9:00 am – 9:05 am Roll Call 9:00 am – 9:05 am In 2016, Singleton High School will alter its bell times and period lengths. These changes are one part of our commitment to school improvement and are imperative so that our school will more Period 1 9:05 am – 10:08 am Period 1 9:05 am – 10:08 am than meet the necessary teaching and learning time indicated by the Board of Studies. Period 2 10:08 am – 11:11 am Period 2 10:08 am – 11:11 am The existing arrangements were not adequately meeting recommended times and the necessary changes for 2016 were designed in consultation with the staff and P&C. Recess 1 11:11 am – 11:41 am Recess 1 11:11 am – 11:41 am Period 3 11:41 am – 12:44 pm Period 3 11: 41 am -12:44 pm The new arrangements are just one part of our plan to improve the academic success of students. The changes are summarised below: Period 4 12:44 pm – 1:47 pm Lunch 12:44 pm -1:14 pm • Increase the period length from 55 minutes to 63 minutes. Lunch 1:47 pm – 2:17 pm Period 4 1:14 pm -2:17 pm • Alter the start time of period 1 from 9.45am to 9.05am. School finish time will remain the same, except for Monday of week B, when school will finish at 2.17pm. Students waiting for Period 5 2:17 pm – 3:20 pm Staff PD 2:17 pm buses will be supervised during this time. • The 20 minute roll call/DEAR will be abandoned in favour of greater face-to-face teaching If you have any queries regarding these arrangements please phone the school to discuss. time. The morning roll mark will occur at 9:00 am and be preceded by a 5 minute warning bell. I would like to welcome Mr Beau Berman to Singleton High School. Beau started this week as our new Head Teacher HSIE, replacing Mr Bruce Withers. He comes to us from Callaghan, These changes are necessary to bring Singleton High teaching time into line with best practice Waratah. We will be featuring Mr Berman in our next newsletter. in comparable schools and to more than exceed the Board of Studies indicative hours for senior courses. The additional teaching time will allow teachers and students to more effectively cover ATAR Discussion course content in preparation for the Yr 11 preliminary course and HSC. Any parents interested in attending an information session on ATAR calculations are welcome to join us in the school library on November 24 at 5.30pm. Academic success in senior years is built on establishing good work habits, having high expectations and adequate teaching and learning time in the junior school. Changing the school Looking forward to an exciting 2016! bell/timetable/period structure is just one part of our improvement planning. Invigorating student learning and teacher professional development that has already begun will be continued next year and thereafter. The 2.17pm finish every second week allows for regular Jo Gray, Principal staff professional development. The table sets out the new arrangements. KATHLEEN Wellbeing News BALLARD This term we have begun the powerful and proactive Year 9 girls’ program entitled information. ‘Beautiful?’ Many young women are facing extraordinary pressures. Powerful media driven messages about body image, relationships, intimacy and sexual decision- Wellbeing Friday making; this is leaving many girls confused, isolated and at risk. Wellbeing Friday for week six focused on SMART goal setting. Developing sound goals is critical to managing your own performance. The Beautiful program will instil in girls self awareness and critical literacy skills to A S.M.A.R.T. goal is defined as one that is specific, measurable, achievable, results- combat the role of media and advertising are having in their lives. The program will focused, and timebound. expose the effects that a highly sexualised media culture that fragments the truth and richness of human personhood into the objective commodification of body parts. It Kathleen Ballard, H/T Wellbeing will help the girls examine ways to help navigate the turbulent years of adolescence and to evaluate the messages that seek to undermine their sense of self and capacity for healthy relationships in the future. In conjunction with the Year 9 Girls’ Program we are also running ‘The Men We Need’ program for the boys. This is a four day program that gives schools a comprehensive resource for positive change in the lives of young men. Some issues that are now being faced by our young men include: • Classroom disengagement. • Violent or aggressive behaviours • Increasing rates of depression and anxiety. • Sexting. • Internet addiction causing problems such as fatigue and reduced attention spans. • Healthy and respectful relationships. This program aims to create a new culture of manhood where young men are given the information, encouragement and opportunity to address the issues above and become all they were made to be. End of Year Activities A reminder that as we move towards the end of the Term 4 year advisors will be coordinating fun, engaging and team building activities for their year groups. We always hope to see as many students as possible participate in these events as they are a great way for the year to build stronger relationships whilst having fun, however, some may not be able to attend due to outstanding fees etc. Please be aware that the school does have a student assistance program and payment plan system for all who need assistance in these areas. Contact the Head Teacher Wellbeing for further How is it prevented? A free varicella containing vaccine (MMRV) is now recommended for all children at 18 months of age. Students in their first year of high school who have not previously received varicella vaccine and who have not had chickenpox are offered a varicella vaccine. The Varicella vaccine is recommended for all non-immune adolescents (>14 years) and adults. This involves two doses, at least 1 month apart. It is especially recommended for people at high risk, for Communicable Diseases Factsheet Chickenpox is a common viral infection example, health care workers, people living with or working with small children, women planning a that can reappear later in life as pregnancy, and household contact of persons who are immunosuppressed. shingles. Vaccination is recommended People with chickenpox should avoid others (and not attend childcare or school) until at least five days for all infants and non immune adults. after onset of the rash and all the blisters have dried. Chickenpox and Shingles People with chickenpox should cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, dispose of soiled tissues, wash their hands well and not share eating utensils, food or drinking cups. Last updated: 22 April 2014 Pregnant women should avoid anyone with chickenpox or shingles and should see their doctor if they have been around someone with these illnesses. Children with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or who are receiving chemotherapy What is chickenpox? should avoid anyone with chickenpox or shingles as the infection can be especially severe. Chickenpox is a viral illness caused by the herpes zoster virus (also known as the Varicella-Zoster virus) In children it usually causes a relatively mild illness. How is it diagnosed? Chickenpox in adults and immunosuppressed people can be severe.