BIRRONG BULLETIN The Newsletter of Birrong Girls High School Cooper Road, Birrong 2143 Telephone: 9644 5057 Fax: 9644 8157 Issue No. 4 June 2013 PRINCIPAL’S REPORT It is a well-documented fact that those students who have excellent attendance records are most Dear Parents, engaged with their learning and achieve outstanding results. Athletics Carnival The school‟s Athletics Carnival held at The Crest I remind all parents to make an appointment to at Georges Hall on Wednesday 5 June was a see your daughter‟s teachers so that we can work great success. We had a good level of attendance together to support her learning. and terrific participation from staff and students. Congratulations to all of our talented athletes and Congratulations to: Mrs Lord, PDHPE Head Teacher, and her team of Iman Sayed Mahmoud (School Captain) enthusiastic teachers for such a well-organised and Christina Le (Vice Captain) who represented and enjoyable day. our school at the Student Leadership Conference at NSW Parliament House on 30 May. Emily Webb from Year 10 who represented the South Western Sydney region at the Secondary Lawn Bowls Championship. The 55 Years 7-10 students who were selected to participate in the Battle of the Brains, our regular general knowledge competition, against the young men from Homebush Boys High School. The talented creative writers from Years 7-12 who have enthusiastically grasped the opportunity to extend their skills by participating in the Writer–in–Residence program with Ms Laurine Croasdale. High Jump Inside this issue: Page/s Participation at our carnivals is a mandatory and Principal’s Report 1 - 2 important part of school life. Unfortunately, some students view attendance at these events as Report from the Deputy Principals 2 optional and choose not to attend because they New Teacher 2 do not view themselves as good swimmers or Attendance Report 3 athletes. I believe that by failing to attend these events they miss extremely valuable opportunities Next P&C Meeting 3 to become involved, to have a go and to cheer on Welfare Report 3 - 4 their friends and peers who are prepared to Careers Report 4 - 5 participate to the best of their ability. It is part of the spirit of our school: to support one another; to Environment Team Stall 5 attend every day; and “reach for the Year 12 Applied Mathematics Excursion 5 stars” (Ad astra). Special Visit by Dr Aunty Mavis Jean Robinson 6 SRC Report 6 Term 2 Reports All students will have received their reports in time Battle of the Brains Competition 7 for parents to have read them before the The Chess Club 7 Parent-Teacher afternoon on Tuesday 25 June. Library News 7 Parents are encouraged to carefully review their daughter‟s report and focus on the teachers‟ School Athletics Carnival 8 comments, rather than the marks or grades, as Parent Tips 9 they provide advice, strategies and guidance to School Calendar 9 support students to improve. Also, take careful note of your daughter‟s attendance as every day Fee Exempt TAFE Courses for Parents and 9 of school missed interrupts her learning. Adults „Ad astra‟ – Reaching for the Stars Coming Events Persistence and sheer hard work are important A meeting of the P&C will be held in the ingredients in helping you reach your personal best Common Room at 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. at school. Sometimes you will need to work tough, to All parents are invited to attend and show their push yourself to the maximum. Persist and be support for their daughter‟s education by getting positive even when the odds seem to be stacked involved in the P&C. against you, take risks and have a go. Meet your daughter‟s teachers and learn Success is not a result of luck or an easy marker or about her achievements at school by attending an easy task, it comes from the things you bring to our Parent-Teacher afternoon on Tuesday the challenge – a positive attitude, persistence and 25 June at 2–6pm. Semester 1 reports will have effort. been issued to all students by this time so bring As well as being positive and persistent you need to your daughter‟s report along to discuss her be prepared. Organisation is the key. Here are some progress with her highly committed and dedicated things you can do to help improve your organisation: teachers. pack your bag the night before to make sure that The PDHPE Display on Thursday 27 June you have all the equipment you require in the school hall will be a great opportunity for record due dates for homework and girls from our local primary schools to get a assignments in your diary glimpse of life in high school. For the first time in make sure that you leave plenty of time the long history of the display, local primary to research your assignments and write up your students will watch the achievements in dance responses that our students have prepared throughout hand your homework in on time Term 2. be clear about what your assignments and homework require of you I invite you to contact the school to make an if in doubt, ask your teacher! appointment with me (Tel: 9644 5057) if you have any issues that you wish to discuss about your Be positive, persist and be prepared and you have the ingredients for success not only in school but in daughter‟s education. I hope you enjoy reading all aspects of your life. about the achievements and activities of the Ad astra. school in the following pages. Ms Fletcher and Ms Crossan Jenni Wilkins Deputy Principals Principal NEW TEACHER REPORT FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPALS Eric Blair Music Your school years are the foundation for your future. Positive attitudes to learning and diverse ways of thinking will help you build a successful future. At this point in the term, it is timely for you to reflect on your learning practices and think about whether you are doing everything you possibly can to reach your personal best at school. First of all, do you have a positive attitude to learning? Being positive involves accepting who you are and having the confidence to tackle any problem, no matter how large or small. By having a go and taking a risk, you build on your learning My name is Eric Blair and I'm honoured to step in as repertoire, regardless of whether you get the the music teacher while Ms Corbin is on maternity „right‟ answer or achieve the set outcome. The leave. I'm really excited to get to know everyone and greatest mistake you can make is being afraid of have already felt very welcome by the students and making mistakes. staff at Birrong. I moved to Australia in 2004 from Texas with my family intending to stay for four Persistence is another key to successful learning. years. Those four years turned into eight and we Do you persist in your learning, thinking „I can do now consider Australia our home. I studied music at it‟ rather than throwing your hands in the air and university in America and have been a private music giving up hope? Stretch your thinking, struggle teacher and performer for the last 15 years. I play with the ideas your teachers in a rock band called "2nd" and organise music present to you and succeed! for some community organisations. I'm hoping to Think about Albert Einstein‟s make music fun and to give students the chance to use their talents to perform during my time here. definition of success: 99% I believe it will be a great year! perspiration and 1% inspiration. 2 ATTENDANCE REPORT WELFARE REPORT I am very pleased to report that Student of the Month Awards over the past few weeks I have Congratulations to Riana been organising the Semester 1 Oliver of Year 12 who „Attendance‟ and „No Late Arrival‟ has been awarded the awards. In total I have written Student of the Month close to 700 merit awards for award for February 2013. students across Years 7–12. She has demonstrated Also, nearly 60% of the student population across outstanding dedication Years 7–12 have arrived at school on time every and commitment to the day. These are very important statistics. school community. She is an excellent role Reports will be issued towards the end of this model to her peers, term and include a record of student attendance showing strong leadership together with diligence for Semester 1. Some reports will include and excellence in all aspects of schooling. unexplained absences. If your daughter has been absent from school and you have not returned a Riana has carried out exceptional and valuable text reply explaining the absence then it will be service as a school Prefect. She has been actively recorded on her report. Please reply to the involved in and has proudly represented the absence text message the school sends you school at various events such as the International every time your daughter is absent to avoid the Women‟s Day Breakfast and Judy Carmichael‟s recording of unexplained absences on her report. address at the US Consulate. By replying to the text message, you no longer have to write a note explaining your daughter‟s Riana has talent in music and singing which has absence. been highly recognised through her selection in the Bankstown TAP Program. Attendance mottos to live by: ‘ARRIVE ON TIME AND ALL WILL BE FINE’ and ‘MISSING SCHOOL LEAVES HOLES IN Congratulations to Aditi YOUR LEARNING.’ Jalandhra of Year 11 who has been awarded the Hope to see you at the Parent-Teacher afternoon Student of the Month award on Tuesday 25 June from 2pm.