Newsletter July 2017

MasterChef comes to SDEHS! Elena Duggan, the winner of MasterChef 2016 generously donated her time and efforts to guide and assist the Years 11 and 12 Hospitality students in our own Mystery Box cook off. Kim McJannett had created a range of mystery boxes containing 6 ingredients that each student used to create their own gourmet treat, with suggestions and guidance from the MasterChef herself. The dishes created ranged from a cauliflower confit to chicken croquettes with chicken crackling and parsnip slivers. The eventual winners were Lachlan See for his macadamia crusted salmon as a main dish and Taylor Sickards for her dessert of strawberry trio. A great day was had by all! Senior executive message What’s on I wish to publicly thank all of our staff for their dedication, passion and commitment Monday 31 July to providing quality education to our students. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the • Years 7–10 Excursion to efforts of our Year 12 teachers as they prepare their students for the Trial examinations Self Defence Centre and their final push toward the HSC. Wednesday 2 August I am always in awe of the work done by so many of our students as they complete their • Year 11 Biology Excursion to Australian Museum and Royal coursework and assessments and prepare major works in many subjects. I was most Botanic Garden impressed to see the work-in-progress of some amazing HSC Textiles and Visual Arts projects. The standard, creativity and skills shown through these pieces are a credit to Monday 7 August the students and their teachers. • Years 7–10 Excursion to Sydney Self Defence Centre To get the most out of learning through distance education it is really important that all students communicate regularly with their teachers. Maybe some of the work you Friday 11 August are doing doesn’t make sense, maybe you want to clarify a concept, perhaps you don’t • Year 11 Physics Study Day know where to begin or just can’t get focused. Then you need to ask your teacher for help – remember, that’s why we are here! It’s really easy to contact us. You can call, Monday 14 August email or send us an elearning message. We are here to help you with any aspect of your • Years 7–10 Excursion to Sydney Self Defence Centre learning. • Year 11 Mathematics Study Day • SRC Meeting for Term 3 Similarly, parents and supervisors are encouraged to contact the school to keep us up to date. If your child has been sick or for some other reason not able to engage in Tuesday 15 August their schoolwork then you must let us know. Remember that the weekly submission of • Stage 4 Visual Arts Study Day schoolwork is a condition of enrolment in distance education. If you want to have a chat about how your child is progressing, if you have concerns about workload or questions Friday 18 August about expectations, please call your teachers. For additional support, not specifically • Year 11 Industrial Technology related to coursework, please contact your Year Adviser. Multimedia Study Day

As always, our newsletters provide a small snapshot of the many varied components of Monday 21 August the richness of learning at SDEHS. If you have something you would like to share about • Years 7–10 Excursion to Sydney your own experience with us please let us know. We would love to hear from you. Self Defence Centre Wishing you all a fabulous Term 3! Monday 28 August • Years 7–10 Excursion to Sydney David Tracy Self Defence Centre Deputy Principal Wednesday 30 August • Year 12 Chemistry Study Day Excursion Monday 4 September Year 11 and 12 Ancient History Excursion • Years 7–10 Excursion to Sydney Self Defence Centre On the 9th of June Year 11 and 12 Ancient History embarked on an excursion to the • Year 12 Earth & Environmental Maritime Museum to see the Escape from Pompeii exhibit. We had a tour guide who Science Study Day provided great information on the artefacts and history of the exhibition. The exhibit contained artefacts from the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum which were Thursday 7 September destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The many intriguing artefacts • Year 12 Senior Science Study Day included the casts of people and animals who were covered in ash, as well as gold jewellery and statues. Altogether, the day was enlightening and enjoyable for all of Friday 8 September those involved. • Year 12 Community & Family Studies Study Day Alexander Hopkins Tuesday 12 September • Year 12 Mathematics Study Day

The two amphora pictured Thursday 14 September were found in a shipwreck near • Year 12 Mathematics Extension Pompeii and Herculaneum. 2 Study Day Amphora were generally used to carry wine or oil.

2 Study Day CAPA News Preliminary and HSC SLR Study Day The CAPA Faculty has been very busy this term with a whole range of activities students have been able to get involved in. Innovative as well as unprecedented, we had some novel learning and teaching tools, built around the important skills Stage 5 and 6 Visual Arts Excursion to of application and self awareness. The day was split into three the Brett Whiteley Studio sessions which focused on two specific areas: how to answer exam style questions; and athletics and coaching. Brett Whiteley is one ’s most celebrated artists of the 20th century. The Brett Whiteley Studio, located in Surry Hills, is Online and other sources of help for SLR students are extremely where he lived and worked from 1988 to 1992. The studio offers limited, which only added to the value of the day. visitors a unique insight into the artist’s life, passion, artistic It was also of course a chance for students to meet each other, journey and prolific body of work. and bond with their teachers while learning new motor skills. In Term 2, Year 10 and Year 11 Visual Arts students were taken All students that attended were granted some credit in some on an excursion to the studio to undertake a practical workshop. coursework. Additionally, some learning tools were emailed to Throughout the workshop, students gained insight into Brett students as a complement to the practical work in sessions two Whitelely’s artmaking practices. They explored his creative and three. processes and drew inspiration directly from his artworks that Time seemed to fly by and students left around 1:30 with their adorned the studio space. The workshop allowed students muscles limber, their heads full, and their confidence topped to take a walk through the studio space and to engage with up! Whiteley’s love of birds, a reccurring feature of his work. Observation skills and drawing techniques were developed as Thank you to Natalie and Louisa students explored Whiteley’s artworks and his unique approach from the PE Faculty for organising to drawing. the day; and Mandy and Sophia for being amazing coaches. We The students’ would also like to thank parents and experience at the supervisors for support. We can’t studio allowed wait for the next study day. them to immerse themselves in the works of the renowned Brett Whiteley who has left a legacy for us all to enjoy. Stage 5 Visual Arts/Visual Design Study Days We have had some exciting Visual Arts and Visual Design study days at school over the last term. These days have been hugely popular, successful, and thriving in creativity. Marie Tacon ran the Mixed Media Workshop and Rachel Angus ran the Visual Design Skateboard Graphics workshops. The students were totally engaged in both days and created some amazing artworks. Well done to all the students who attended! Keep your eyes open for Visual Arts/Visual Design study days coming up next term!

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Girls’ Day – Card and Jewellery Making Thursday 29 June 2017 A group of our amazing girls got crafty this term exploring the world of card and jewellery making. We turned our library into a creative haven where girls got to learn some new skills, explore their creativity and hang out with friends. We were so impressed by the design ideas that each girl came up with and we had fun getting to know one another. If you would like to be involved in any future girls’ events/excursions contact Rebekah Cowie, Supervisor of Girls.

4 Library News

CBCA Children’s Book Week 2017 The illustrator Freya Blackwood, winner of three categories in the CBCA book awards in 2015, has designed the poster artwork for this year’s theme. Freya explains, ‘The slogan, Escape To Everywhere, immediately made me think of the fantastical … I decided I’d like to take my love of drawing people doing everyday things and show them escaping their ordinary lives to a parallel place of wonder.’ (CBCA, 2017) Follow this link https://cbca.org.au/short-list-2017 to view the shortlisted books for 2017 and let us know here at SDEHS library what your favourites are. Library contact details can be found in your Guide for Students and Supervisors, or call 9383 0270 to speak to library staff. Escape to your imagination through reading with: • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak • The Invention of Hugo Cabretand Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick • Inkheart by Cornelia Funke • The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg • Guys Read: Terrifying Tales edited by Jon Scieszka. These and so many more are currently available for loan in your school library. 2017 Premier’s Reading Challenge information For students participating in the challenge this year this is a reminder to log your books into your online reading record by the 25th August. Contact the library if you would like assistance.

Attention Parents/Carers

Have your family or child’s circumstances changed recently? Often things change in our lives and we think nothing of it. Below is a summary of changes that we at Sydney Distance Education High School need to know about: • Medication • Anaphylaxis and allergies • Contact information • Emergency contact information • Permission to publish To update your details please call 9383 0200 or even better write an email to [email protected]

5 Science News Preliminary Senior Science Excursion: Royal Botanic Garden An excursion was arranged for Preliminary Senior Science students to support the topic Water and Living Things. The day started with the completion of activity sheets in the Succulent Garden where students studied the various adaptations that enable some plants to survive in very low rainfall areas. Our focus then shifted to sampling water quality at several locations in the Garden. The technique used on this occasion was to use the Streamwatch Water Bug Survey. This makes use of the knowledge that water bugs have different levels of tolerance to adverse water quality. By measuring which organisms are present, and in what level of abundance, an assessment can be made of any pollution which may have entered the waterway. In the photo on the left the group is sampling water at one of the ponds. Above right is Julieanne Longley. We appreciate the support of the Royal Botanic Garden in providing an education officer who supervised the water sampling, and The Australian Museum which provided preserved samples and identification sheets to support the survey. Further information about the event can be obtained from Michael Marusic or Renato Ramsay, Science Teachers.

Citizen Science Experience During Term 2 Emily Fewster, Science teacher, participated as a citizen scientist in a project called WildCount managed by the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage. This was as part of her professional learning as a Science teacher. Background WildCount is a 10-year fauna monitoring program that uses motion-sensitive digital cameras in 200 sites across 146 parks and reserves in eastern NSW. WildCount looks at trends in occurrence of animals at these sites, to understand if certain species are in decline, increasing or stable. Volunteers help deploy and retrieve cameras as well as identify the species of the A wallaby with her joey sniffing animals that pop by for a selfie in front of the cameras. the peanut butter lure. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/wildcount.htm What Emily did Despite the very wet weather, she had a very interesting and enjoyable time which included: • bush bashing on foot through some beautiful NSW National Parks by day and staying in country towns at night • working one on one with a very experienced ecologist who has worked on some amazing projects both around Australia and overseas • using maps and GPSs to find and retrieve sensor cameras that had been set up on trees in front of lures (full of peanut butter and oats) to take photos of the different species that frequent the area • downloading and looking through the photos at night to see what had been in the area. If you are in Year 9 you can learn more about citizen science and how to get involved during our National Science Week web lesson coming up in August. Removing a motion-sensor camera from a tree. 6 Keeping Facebook private At a glance • Google your child’s name, then search for them on Facebook. See who has access to what information. • Make sure your child sets their privacy options so only Cyberbullying prevention – tips for parents genuine friends can find them on Facebook. At a glance • Having hundreds of Facebook friends isn’t proof of • Talk to your child about cyberbullying before it happens. popularity, just proof privacy is not being taken seriously. • Be aware of what your child is doing online. • What goes on Facebook can become public and • Locate the computer in a shared or visible place in the permanent – the good, the bad and the soul-destroyingly home. embarrassing. Future employers will probably search for • Don’t simply ignore cyberbullying. your child’s name on Google and Facebook. • Watch for changes in mood and behaviour in your child. • Emphasise to your child that they should never agree to meet with anyone they have “met” on Facebook (or any • Report abuse to the relevant authorities. other internet-based social network), without a parent or • All schools have anti-bullying policies – ask about yours. responsible, trusted adult present. To read the full version, go to To read the full version, go to http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/technology/cyberbullying/ http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/technology/cybersafety/ say-no-to-cyberbullying using-facebook-privacy-settings

Health Myth Busters Feeling cold causes a cold It’s winter and most of us will get a cold at some stage. A ‘cold’ is actually a virus which can turn into a bacterial infection if we are unlucky. For example: we get a cold then a throat infection. Most of us will know how to treat a cold, but not how to prevent it. In other words, how do you catch a cold? There is only one way to catch a cold and that is through direct contact with the ‘cold’ virus. We are more prone to that in winter because we are simply indoors more often and in close proximity to each other so the virus spreads. However (and this is important), being cold does stress the immune system and makes you more likely to catch and keep the virus than someone who is warm and less ‘stressed’. So do stay warm but also be sensible and wash your hands often, and eat lots of fresh foods. If you are sick, you must stay at home in bed so you do not infect others.

7 Be the first SDEHS student to correctly answer the following FIVE questions and email your responses to: [email protected]. Sport Trivia The first correct entry received wins your very own Sydney Distance Education High School COFFEE MUG!

1. What was “a low point for Australian cricket”, according (C) A New Zealander won to Steve Smith? (D) All of the above There was a lot to choose from, but one moment stood out as a real stinker for Captain Smudge in 2016. 4. Who will end the year as Australia’s top-ranked (A) The 5-0 ODI series loss in South Africa women’s player? (B) The second-Test demolition by South Africa (A) Samantha Stosur at Bellerive Oval (B) (C) The 3-0 Test series loss in Sri Lanka (C) (D) David Warner’s ads for his TV (D)

2. Which Matilda won the AFC women’s player of the year 5. How long had it been since in 2016? the Chicago Cubs last won HINT: Her name is not Matilda. the World Series before (A) this year’s title? (B) Katrina Gorry (A) 50 years (C) (B) 62 years (D) Samantha Kerr (C) 86 years (D) 108 years Answers to the questions from 3. What was unusual about this year’s Dally M medal? the last newsletter were: (A) A forward won (B) Two people won 1. B 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. B

Students, parents, carers, supervisors, staff and members of the wider school community are invited to School suggest improvements to school policies and procedures. Suggestions may be emailed to the school at [email protected] and will then be Policies and forwarded to the senior executive. Procedures SDEHS Learning Hubs Learning Hub Location Opening Time Central Coast Peninsula Community Centre, 93 McMasters Road, Woy Woy 9 am – 3 pm Tuesday Lower Blue Mountains 1 Ross Street, Glenbrook 9 am – 3 pm Thursday SDEHS Inner City Library Seminar Rooms, SDEHS, Forbes Street, Woolloomooloo 10 am – 2 pm Friday South Western Sydney Ingleburn Community Hall, Corner of Oxford Road and Cumberland 9 am – 3 pm Tuesday Road, Ingleburn Book online via the SDEHS home page. For further information contact Hub Coordinator Duncan Gerdes phone 9383 0235 email: [email protected]

1800 55 1800 Contact Address: Forbes Street, WOOLLOOMOOLOO NSW 2011 Postal address: Locked Bag 5000, POTTS POINT NSW 1335 Phone: 02 9383 0200 Fax: 02 9383 0222 Email: [email protected]