M a r s d e n M a i l Term 1 Week 4 Our HSC results from 2013 yet again demonstrate the Marsden is effective at guiding and supporting students to achieve their personal best with excellent academic results. Our top performing student was Dong Jin Jo with an ATAR of 98.25. We had a large number of students matriculate to university, accessing courses as diverse as Architecture, Engineering, Teaching and Health Science. In the last week I have emphasized with senior students their importance as role models for younger students and of the importance of ensuring the Marsden name stands in good repute in the community. This is achieved by ensuring that students’ conduct is at all times reflective of the standards we and the community expect. I want students to be proud of the fact that they attend Marsden High. Equally, I want the parents and broader community to value Marsden High. A case in point last week was the outstanding behaviour of one of our Year 11 students who gave assistance at a crash scene. This was well publicized in the Northern Times. Not only did the student bring credit to himself and his family, he brought great credit upon the school. Marsden High School had great support from the community last year. I am very confident that we will receive an equal measure of support this year. I look forward to working with you in 2014 and achieving excellent student learning outcomes. We have had quite a few staff changes. Some of these are as a result of retirement, higher duties, various kinds of leave and temporary positions. These include: New Staff for 2014 New staff Replacing Mr Akbani Ms McNaughton Ms O’Connor Ms De Palma Ms King Ms Symons Ms Nakhoul Ms Giddings Ms Grigorian Mr Najdek Ms Graham Ms Hunt Ms Hoy Ms Swinkels Mr Kelly Mr Aguilera (PE) Ms Lim Mr Tonkin Mr Moore Mr Ma Ms Nair Mr Aguilera (Sc) A formal welcome to Ms Symons in a new role after many years of outstanding service as the school’s Careers Adviser and Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, who this year has taken up the position of Deputy Principal (Year 11, 12 and International students). Gus Vrolyk Principal th Our next P&C meeting is on Tuesday 25 February in the Library at 7:30pm School holiday dates: February 17-24 Hanol visit Term 1 2014 17 Bridge to Employment Launch Last day of term Fri 11 Apr 20 Swimming Carnival 27 School Photos Term 2 vac Students start Tue 29 Apr March Last day of term Fri 27 Jun 5 Zone Swimming Carnival 6 School Photos Term 3 18 Regional Swimming Carnival Students start Tue 15 Jul 20 Cross Country Last day of term Fri 19 Sep 21 Yr 11 & 12 VA & Yr 12 PDI excursion to Art Gallery Term 4 24-4 Yr 12 half yearly exams Students start Tue 7 Oct 24–26 Yr 7 Camp Last day of term Wed 17 Dec April 7-8 CHS Swimming Carnival May 13-15 NAPLAN 21 Zone Cross Country 28 Athletics Carnival June 12 Regional Cross Country 18 Zone Athletics DPs Report What a dream job – Deputy Principal, Years 11 and 12 at Marsden High School. This year we have restructured the Deputy positions to focus on our junior and our senior school. My background in Careers Education working in both Regional and State Office for the NSW Department of Education has certainly provided me with the experience and skills to support our senior students. I have very high expectations of what being a senior student at Marsden High School means. It means showing the junior students how to value their education. It means being respectful and working at all times to the best of your ability. Nothing less is acceptable. Last Friday we had our first senior assembly where I outlined the expectations for senior students at Marsden. I know that our senior students will be dedicated to their HSC studies and I look forward to working with them to help them to achieve their goals. Also at the Assembly, Year 12 were issued with their half yearly exam timetable. I would expect that all students would already have commenced study in preparation for these exams which begin on Monday 24th March. Thank you to the dedicated students and committed parents who attended the Year 11 Information Evening last Monday evening. Understanding the rules and regulations that govern the HSC pattern of study is paramount to success. All Year 11 students should have received their purple Assessment booklets by now. Please read these booklets as we spend a great deal of time making sure these booklets provide you with every detail you need to understand the rules around the HSC and to organise your study time. Our Years 11 and 12 students are very fortunate to have two wonderful Year Advisers in Mrs King (Year 11) and Mrs Train (Year 12). Students, parents and guardians should contact their Year Adviser if they have any special needs throughout the year. I would like to thank the entire Marsden staff who are such a cohesive unit and who have made my transition from Head Teacher to Deputy so easy. It is such a pleasure to work with such a dedicated staff who take on all tasks so willingly and so expediently. Parents/guardians and students please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or if I can help in any way. Have a great year! Sheryn Symons Deputy Principal, Years 11, 12 and International students An introduction to Marsden IEC When New Year 7 students come to Marsden High, they often wonder about a particular group of students in the playground who can’t speak much English. These students in fact have a lot in common with Year 7 students because they are also new to the school and share much the same feelings of nervousness, uncertainty and excitement. They are all new arrivals in our country and as such need our help to learn English and get used to our school system. At Marsden the help is provided by the Intensive English Centre (IEC) which also accepts new arrivals (mainly Years 7 to 11) from other local high schools for an intensive English language preparation course across key learning areas lasting about three terms. Three terms to teach someone a new language so that they can cope with the curriculum demands of a normal high school is a big task, but the combination of experienced teachers, motivated students and intensive teaching methods have proven to be highly successful at Marsden IEC. The success of IEC students is also attributable to the fact that the IEC operates as an integral part of the school, even though IEC classes are completely separate from regular high school classes. As soon as they are enrolled, IEC students are immersed in the daily life of a typical Australian high school with recesses and lunchtimes providing highly productive open-air lessons in playground language, body language, inter-cultural awareness and successful communication strategies in general. This learning process is, of course, a two-way street where all students at Marsden have a unique opportunity to not only help but learn from representatives of over fifteen different cultures on a daily basis. All that is needed is just a smile, no language required! General information Marsden IEC is part of a network of fifteen IECs located throughout the Sydney metropolitan area whose main role is to prepare migrant students from a non-English speaking background for high school studies in Australia. Although the focus of this preparation is obviously to improve students’ English language competence, the centre also provides bilingual welfare support in order to assist students to overcome social and cultural difficulties during the crucial period of transition to life in a new country. The bilingual support staff at Marsden IEC also provide interpreting and translating services in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Persian to facilitate communication with all parents at Marsden HS. In addition, an IEC is the first point of contact for all newly arrived migrant students who require English language competency assessment and subsequent placement into their local high schools. Marsden IEC mainly places students into Marsden High School, Carlingford High School, Cumberland High School, Epping Boys H, Cheltenham Girls High School, Riverside Girls High School, Cherrybrook Technology H, Castle Hill High School and Galston High School. For more information, please have a look at the Marsden IEC video posted on the Marsden High School website. Mr Nhan Nguyen Head Teacher IEC Student Leadership at Marsden in 2014 - You can make a difference The Marsden SRC team are a busy, active group within the school, coordinating school events, fundraising opportunities and representing our school in the wider community. SRC events that are currently being discussed and planned for Terms 1 and 2 include: Valentine's Day Rose Drive, MARSFESTcelebrations as part of the Marsden Showcase week, Leadership Training and World's Greatest Shave for a Cure. We are currently open to any new members, from Years 7 - 12, who would like to play an active role in the SRC team. The SRC meets every Thursday at lunchtime in the Common Room. We would love you to come along to our meetings and see how YOU can make a difference at Marsden. Ms Bernyk & Mrs Swinkels SRC Co-ordinators Sports Fees Dear Parents and Guardians, I would like to take this opportunity to explain the 2014 Sports Fees at Marsden High School.