Freshwater Senior Campus ~Monthly Newsletter Issue 10
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FRESHWATERFOCUS SENIOR CAMPUS ~MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 10 PHOTOGRAPH BY MONICA BALLESTEROS 18 FRESHIE IN FOCUS 02 CONTENTS PRINCIPAL 03 YEAR 12 DEPUTY 04 YEAR 11 DEPUTY 05 YEAR 12 ADVISERS 06 YEAR 11 ADVISERS 08 10 HT SECONDARY STUDIES 11 SCHOOL COUNSELLORS LEARNING SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR 12 CAREERS ADVISERS 13 LIBRARIAN 14 VISUAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS 16 SPORTS 19 KEY DATES PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHANIEL DUNWELL FRESHIE IN FOCUS 03 PRINCIPAL MR FRANK PIKARDT We continue to have a really positive start to the year. I remain impressed with the general attitude of our new Year 11 group and on speaking to many of them, am delighted to hear how much they enjoy being at the school. Year 12 students are in the process of preparing Cambodian Village. Both these programs are for their half yearly exams in the majority of making a real difference to young people’s their subjects. Again, I have been pleased with lives and I urge you to spend a little time the amount of effort many of the students are researching what they already have achieved. putting in to their study. While they probably Our Students Take Action (STA) team who do not need reminding, their assessment are all volunteers do a wonderful job in tasks make up fifty percent of their HSC raising money for these charities and use score so the upcoming exam period needs to our mufti days as major fund raiserers. We be prepared for in a constructive manner. It will have two of these a Term and ask all is important to get the balance in one’s life students to bring in a donation on that day. right so the exam period is definitely a time to Your support will be very much appreciated. eat well, sleep well, exercise and study hard. This year as a school we have decided to change our focus around our global citizenship and charity program. For many years we supported a school in Tanzania by providing them with internet access and technology infrastructure. This had a profound effect on the school and the local community who will be eternally grateful to the Freshwater Senior Campus community. Our previous Principal, Mr. Brian Leonard, initiated that program and continued to administer it after his retirement. I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge all his hard work and thank him for his support. Our charity focus moving forward will be both local and international. We will be supporting Bear Cottage and the Happy Days 04 FRESHIE IN FOCUS YEAR 12 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL MR CHRISTOPHER MORTIMER At an assembly earlier this year, I mentioned the concept of personal leadership. This means there is a personal a trajectory is set where improvement accountability and responsibility for people is tracked and monitored over time with to do the right thing for themselves and milestones and points identified where where there are deficits or shortfalls, develop the result of strategies and improvement a plan of action to address the problem. measures have been implemented. Personal leadership doesn’t involve wearing People work best when they are accountable a badge or being elevated in status, but and I would advise all students to generate rather it is a frame of mind where confidence a relationship with a family member is visible, goals are identified and things are or close friend, where they can report moving in the right direction. Attitude is back and discuss improvements positive, support is recognised, lifestyle and from earlier interventions. These organisation is relatively tidy and the person scheduled conversations should be is being driven by ambition and clarity of reflective, supportive and positive. these factors combining to form an outcome. I would like to wish all students every success through the exam period and The half yearly exams will shortly provide to both students and families a happy all students feedback on their knowledge Easter and look forward to another of course work and skills in their subjects. busy Term of school after the holidays. Great people react to this and positively make changes, rebuild key sections of knowledge and make every effort to refine skills such as essay writing. In addition, FRESHIE IN FOCUS 05 YEAR 11 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL MR DARREN PERCY It was lovely to meet so many parents at the ‘Welcome to new parents” evening – the feedback from the teaching staff mirrored the positive tone I observed on the night. Events such as these have a significant, Assessment tasks have began in earnest cumulative impact on the teaching and will continue over the coming weeks and learning in the classrooms so adhering to timelines and maintaining through the conversations they open dialogue is really important in these promote around the dinner table. somewhat stressful periods. If you have any concerns or feel we may benefit from your From my perspective, the students have sharing of information, please contact your transitioned beautifully into the their new child’s Year Advisor or myself regarding this. school, making strong connections with their peers and teachers and demonstrating I hope you have an enjoyable, safe a high level of maturity in their diligent Easter and school holiday period. approach. Crossroads and the Week 11 activities have been designed to support this continued growth and give students an opportunity to meet and interact with others to achieve a common goal. 06 FRESHIE IN FOCUS JENNI BRADSTREET DAVID KIM WATKINSON HAMILTON YEAR 12 ADVISERS Year 12 are approaching a busy time in their HSC year with half yearly exams scheduled to start in Week 9. Student numbers at Homework Club on these, especially in terms of not carrying Mondays have increased, as they have mobile phones on their person. Students most afternoons. This is a positive sign need to remember that having their mobile that students are taking advantage of phone in an exam could jeopardise and the school resources available; checking disqualify their responses. With the first in and clarifying with teachers to draft half yearly exam being English, on Thursday practice responses and best prepare 29th March, students will then have the for their examinations. Ms Chetty, our Easter long weekend before exams resume new librarian has been busy introducing in weeks 10 and 11. We advise students to herself and offering students targeted use the four day break over Easter wisely, help in their subject areas. Consequently, so as to do their overall personal best. That we wish to remind Year 12 that our way they will feel deserving and justified in librarians are a wonderful resource relaxing, resting and recharging over the as they can direct students to a range school holidays in readiness for Term 2. of wide and extension reading, as well as new technological learning tools. HSC examination rules were explicitly addressed to Year 12 during last week’s assembly in preparation for their half yearly exams. It is vital that students abide by FRESHIE IN FOCUS 07 SNAPSHOTS FROM SWIMMING CARNIVAL PHOTOS BY NATHAN BUTLER 08 FRESHIE IN FOCUS JANELLE WHITE CHARLOTTE GREEN SHANNON COOPER YEAR 11 ADVISERS It has been wonderful to see Year 11 establishing themselves as contributing members of the school community. They have done so by joining their interest Our Year 11 Crossroads program is coming groups enthusiastically attending their up in Week 11. There are three compulsory year meetings and actively supporting in-school days where students learn about their Year Advisers and those who perform a range of issues affecting their wellbeing. musical items as well as building the We are very much looking forward to ranks of the STA group. We are very our celebration days too! All Year 11s pleased with their participation and energy. will be heading to Long Reef Surf day on Thursday 12th April and Luna Park fun Our Year 11 students are now starting to day on Friday 13th April. Both days will receive the first of many Assessment Task provide the students with the opportunity notifications. At Freshwater we believe to meet other students in the year group, to in ‘chunking’ which involves breaking unwind from a big Term 1 and to have fun! assessment work into small tasks. In so doing, seemingly ‘huge’ assessment We would like to welcome Mr Edwards tasks can become manageable. To help to our Year 11 team. Ms White has had a with these, students are encouraged to great time meeting you and, while happy utilise the school library to complete to hand the reins to Mr Edwards, will their work in a supervised, supported still be around to support you as needed environment. The Library is open from 7am - you can’t get rid of her that easily! until 5.15pm each day so that students can make use of the resources at their Thanks so much for making my short disposal. Our lovely teacher librarian stint as one of your Year Advisers so much Ms Chetty, is also very happy to help all fun - you are a joy to be around. Ms W students with their studies, so we would love our Year 11s to introduce themselves to her and ask for help when it is needed. FRESHIE IN FOCUS 09 SNAPSHOTS FROM SWIMMING CARNIVAL PHOTOS BY NATHAN BUTLER 10 FRESHIE IN FOCUS As I write this I can’t help but be amazed by how fast this Term has passed. Already we have Year 12 preparing for a significant assessment period during the half yearlies. This is a great opportunity for students to significant changes and challenges in work on their organizational and study their lives. An exciting program has skills.