Bridges to Higher Education Launch 1

The Horsley Drive Principal: Mr. R. Mulas B.A. Dip Ed FAIRFIELD 2165 Deputy: Mr. M. Sargeant Email: [email protected] Relieving Deputy: Mr. G. Jarvis Phone: 9727 2111 Facsimile: 9724 3496 Web Address: www.fairfield-h.school.nsw.edu.au Volume 3 September 2012

Contents

Diary Dates 3 I – Science 49 – 50

Bell Times 4 Industrial Technology 51 – 52

From the Principals desk 5 – 6 Itrack 53

Cabramatta Police 7 Future Directions Network 54

Railcorp 8 Creative & Performing Arts 55

Year 7 report 9 Hospitality 56

Year 8 report 10 Medieval Day 57 – 58

Year 9 report 11 – 12 Canberra Excursion 59 – 60

Oztag 12 Knit Wits Group 61

Year 10 report 13 Our Eco Friendly Sustainable School 62

Year 11 report 14 – 15 Jewish Museum 63

Year 12 report 16 Police Justice Museum 64 – 65

Support Unit report 17 - 19 Gerard Willems – Piano Masterclass 66

Kip McGrath 20 Hospitality 67

Students of Term 21 – 25 Chess Comp 68

Specsavers 26 40 Hour Famine 69

Welfare Team 27 Ruler 70

Welfare report 28 - 30 Textiles & Design 71

National Partnerships 34 - 44 Sport report 72 - 73

Wood Fire Ovens 45 – 46 Basketball 74 - 75

Multicultural Day 47 – 48 Change of Student Details 76

DIARY DATES

TERM 4 2012 First day Term 4 8-10-12 Year 8 Group Excursion 27-11-12

Our Faces 11-10-12 Year 8 Swim School 30-11-12

Year 8 Science Prac Exam 12-10-12 Year 7 Swim School 3-12-12

HSC Exams 15-10-12 to 8-11-12 Year 6 Orientation Day 5-12-12

Year 7 Swim School 15-10-12 House Picnic 5-12-12 Year 9 & 10 Group Year 8 Swim School 16-10-12 6-12-12 Excursion Blood Donations 18-10-12 Year 8 Swim School 7-12-12 Year 10 Exam results Year 7 Swim School 22-10-12 10-12-12 online Blood Donations 24-10-12 Year 10 Final Assembly 14-12-12

Year 8 Swim School 26-10-12 Sports Awards Assembly 17-12-12 Presentation Day Year 7 Swim School 29-10-12 18-12-12 Ceremony Blood Donations 30-10-12 Last day for students 19-12-12

Our Faces Exhibition 1-11-12 Staff Development Days 20 & 21-12-12 Year 7 Swim School 5-11-12 TERM 1 2013 Year 8 Swim School 9-11-12 Staff Development Day 29-1-13

Year 12 Clearance 9-11-12 Years 7,11 & 12 return 30-1-13

Zone Blues Presentation 9-11-12 Years 8,9 & 10 return 31-1-13

Year 7 Swim School 12-11-12 Last Day Term 1 12-4-13

Year 10 Exams 12-11-12 to 16-11-12

Year 8 Swim School 13-11-12

ESSA online Exam 13-11-12

Blood Donations 15-11-12

Goals Closing Ceremony 15-11-12

Year 7 Swim School 19-11-12 Victor Chang Award 20-11-12 Ceremony Blood Donations 21-11-12

Year 8 Swim School 23-11-12

Year 7 Swim School 26-11-12

Change to Bell Times for 2012

PERIOD MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1 8:50 – 9:35 8:50 - 9:40 8:50 - 9:40 8:50 - 9:40 8:50 - 9:40

2 9:35 – 10:20 9:40 – 10:30 9:40 – 10:30 9:40 – 10:30 9:40 – 10:30

Roll Call 10:20 – 10:35 10:30 – 10:40 10:30 – 10:40 10:30 – 10:40 10:30 – 10:40

Recess 10:35 – 11:00 10:40 – 11:00 10:40 – 11:00 10:40 – 11:00 10:40 – 11:00

3 11:00 – 11:45 11:00 – 11:50 11:00 – 11:50 11:00 – 11:50 11:00 – 11:50

4 11:45 – 12:30 11:50 – 12:40 11:50 – 12:40 11:50 – 12:40 11:50 – 12:40

Lunch 1 12:30 – 12:50 12:40 – 1:00 12:40 – 1:00 12:40 – 1:00 12:40 – 1:00

Lunch 2 12:50 – 1:10 1:00 – 1:20 1:00 – 1:20 1:00 – 1:20 1:00 – 1:20

5 1:10 – 1:55 1:20 – 2:10 1:20 – 2:10 1:20 – 2:10 1:20 – 2:10

6 1:55 – 2:40 2:10 – 3:00 2:10 – 3:00 2:10 – 3:00 2:10 – 3:00

plants have been placed in these areas. The Karan community in particular has been active with the garden and I thank them for their work. As well as the Special Education Unit garden we will have a very successful garden bounty this year. New water tanks should help with watering this garden.

Welcome to our Term Three, 2012 newsletter. This term has been busy for many sections of Work Skills students building BBQ our school. Many successes have been The Work Skills students have also been very accomplished by our students and teachers. active with their work experiences with the The highlight of staff training and development Trade Tutors. In particular, a new BBQ area is was our recent Staff Conference with the being constructed with our students in the theme of ―Planning into the Future‖. Activities Community Garden area. were focused on school and faculty plans and Our Trade Training Centre in Metals and how we evaluate our processes. Engineering is getting closer to a start in Term Our Parents Café continues to power along Four. A demountable will be moved in during with many activities for our parents. We have the holidays which will allow for the expanded the Café to include an initiative with refurbishment of K Block into a new facility for Pacific Community parents. This has been our students. Our students and TAS Faculty coordinated by our HT Student Support, Ms. will benefit greatly from this makeover. Sayed-Rich. Activities have expanded to a special project with some Samoan and Tongan Youth Workers and a school group of our boys. Our CLO, Haitham Jaju continues to oversee many activities with our parents each day. An excursion to Canberra with Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre was a particularly successful activity. The Community Garden has also continued into Elizabeth Thouch – Hospitality student some new areas of the school. Many new

Educational leadership and management across Our School 5

Links with TAFE continue with our Retail university attend the ceremony as well as the students being taught by TAFE teachers. This Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Mr successful exercise will continue into 2013. As Chris Evans, who attended to officially Vocational Education at Fairfield High School acknowledge the start of the program. Mr Guy grows we are seeing many student successes Zangari – our local State member also in this area. In particular I would like to thank attended the launch. Elizabeth Thouch and Vi Nguyen who provided me with a fantastic morning tea and lunch recently as part of their Hospitality course. Hospitality is a key success area with students and parents at Fairfield High School.

Bridges Program Launch Our Vocational Education team also celebrated with Esho Youkhana, Year 12, being acknowledged as the best VET student in IT for the SWSR at the VET Awards ceremony. This is a great win as our VET subjects have grown over recent years and more students have taken advantage of these courses. As well, TAFE has been supporting our school with the teaching of Retail for Year 11 and Year 12 Vi Nguyen – Hospitality student classes. This has brought a special link with Fairfield High School and TAFE (SWS Institute). Our major event this term was the launch of Sebastian Acosta continues to develop his skills the ―Bridges to Higher Education‖ program. in athletics and has been rewarded with a This program links the five major universities – number of significant wins at various sporting Sydney, UWS, UTS, Macquarie and ACU and links over this term. The school is proud of his provides valuable links for the students of achievements and we look forward to further South Western Sydney. Our students will successes. benefit from a range of scholarships that are As this newsletter is handed out we officially available as part of this program. We were say farewell to our 2012 Year 12 students. We lucky to have had the Vice Chancellors of each wish them every success in the HSC and their future lives. We look forward to sharing their successful results at the end of Term Four this year.

Bridges Program Launch

Educational leadership and management across Our School 6

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YEAR 7 REPORT WITH Ms Molina

Year 7 have continued to grow and develop a given the opportunity to design and build our range of skills and knowledge. This semester, own bridge. A great time was had by all. Year 7 have changed context areas in their Year 7 Science classes have been working TAS classes. Students are being offered a diligently throughout this term on The Frog range of skills in: Pond Project. Students were asked to research Jewellery making: in this context area, and submit a suitable design for our school students are engaged in researching, designing pond. The winning design will be used to and making three jewellery items that have a construct this wetland habitat. The project is special significance to them. involving Stocklands and Bunnings. Textiles: Year 7 are asked to research, design It was fantastic to see Year 7 enjoy their first and construct a personalised utility organiser to Multicultural Day at Fairfield High School. hold products of their choice and which can be Congratulations, to the 7 Kenyon boys who stored in their bedroom. performed wonderfully at the Talent Quest and Graphics: Using the basis of a kitchen, received 3rd place. Jessy Jade and Emiliano students use software to design a kitchen or Felipe from Year 7 were fantastic helpers in suitable products for this environment. running the South American stall. It was also Timber: Students are given the opportunity the first year in which our food stall WON!! to make a kitchen utensil using timber. YEAH! Week 8 of Term 3, Year 7 were involved in Gala Day, a day in which students compete in a selected sport of their choice against other schools. We formed boy and girls teams in OZ- Tag, netball, basketball, soccer. Gala day was a great experience in meeting and competing against other students from schools in our area. It has been a full and exciting term, I would like to take the opportunity to remind Year 7 to continue ―having a go‖ and never giving up. I encourage them to keep up with ALL class, 7 Prospect students building bridges homework and assessment work. Next term will be a busy term filled with yearly Earlier on this term, 7P and myself were examinations and assessment. Good Luck. involved in the Building Bridges day with Sydney University. We spent the morning Ms. Molina learning about bridge designs and then were Year 7 Advisor

Supporting Our students through pastoral care

YEAR 8 REPORT WITH Mr Jackson

Is that a collective sigh of relief I hear as Term Term 3 recently saw our annual Multicultural 3 slowly trundles to an end? It is generally a Day Celebration take place. As usual it was a ‗heavy term‘ as students have been grinding colourful and fun-filled affair with the official away for over half a year at learning new program of flag ceremonies, performances and concepts and skills and then grappling with speeches given to mark the occasion in the assessments designed to test these skills. The auditorium. Meanwhile, next door in the gym end of Term 3 also means that there is now the Talent Quest took place to the enthusiastic only one term left in which the students will be cheering of many year groups. Lunch time ‗the Year 8 group‘! As a consequence, it then took on a flavour of its own as many appears to be a good opportunity to reflect on different scents and aromas vied for the the successes of the year group as well as attention of student tastebuds. considering what students may need to At the time of writing two events were still on improve upon in the lead up to being Year 9 in the horizon for Week 8 of Term 3. Firstly, Year 2013. 8 Gala Day in which all students in the year group get to pit their sporting talents against other schools in a variety of different games. Secondly, a university experience day in which 50 students are able to get a taste of university life for a day at Sydney University thanks to Fairfield High‘s ‗Compass Program‘. In considering how the special events mentioned above are intertwined into the normal curriculum at Fairfield High, it appears timely to reflect on what allows this to happen and continue; namely the good behaviour of students and the opportunities that are presented because of this behaviour. As students start to see Year 9 appearing on the horizon, it is time to reassess the study habits and effort put into class work and to decide if these aspects of school life are a strong focus for you as a student or if some improvement might be needed.

Year 7 & 8 Assembly Brooke Luketic Supporting Our students through pastoral care

YEAR 9 REPORT WITH Ms. Lykourezos

With the start of a new semester and another School and our own Year 10‘s. I wish them school term already gone, let us take a look at better luck next year and want to thank their the accomplishments Year 9 have achieved. debating teacher Ms Bajic for taking on the A program titled iScience has been running for role and looking after the girls in every debate. the past term and is soon drawing to a close. The program consists of the top 10 Year 9 science students, chaperoned by Ms Gallagher attending Sydney University every few weeks to conduct fun and interesting experiments. Their final experiment will be judged on a final presentation night with the top experiment being awarded a special prize. They didn‘t achieve first or second, though congratulations to Joseph Habib and Jonathan Cooper for achieving the ‗People‘s Choice Award‘! Best Buddies Training Day

Best Buddies is almost starting once again this year. Best Buddies is a program where students pair up with other students from the Support Unit and communicate with each other by doing fun activities. It is a good way to learn good communication skills, a good way to make new friends and another way to have fun. I have planned an end of year excursion to Jamberoo to reward the students for making it through the year and also to let them have fun outside of school. I only have 55 spots though, Joseph Habib and Jonathan Cooper ‘People’s Choice Award’ in order for students to attend they must pay a deposit of $48 to the front office as soon as Debating for our Year 9 students has sadly possible and hand me the receipt attached to concluded. They did not progress to the next the permission slip if they want to attend. round, but did manage to beat Bonnyrigg High

Supporting Our students through pastoral care

The Legacy Public Speaking Competition has students are paired up with employees from also occurred this term. Representing our many business companies such as MLC and school at Canley Vale High School were Stocklands. They come together once a month Deveena Kumar and Amy Tran. Deveena talked to discuss business related topics. So far Year about our South Western Region and how we 9 have talked about W-WOW (What, when and are underestimated, while Amy talked about how), Setting Goals, Communication and Fun the ageless character Mario and the link he has with Finance. It is a good way to broaden their to the unimaginable world of gaming. Sadly we knowledge and learn new life skills which will didn‘t advance to the next round, but good job help them in the future endeavours. girls! A new merit system has been developed to improve how we reward our students. Now in order to obtain a special award, students must collect 12 merits from each of the four categories of the C.A.R.E code in order to be awarded. The categories of the C.A.R.E code are: Community, Achievement, Respect and Environment. The GOALS program has also commenced this term. GOALS is a business program where

GOALS Program Launch 2012

Supporting Our students through pastoral care 12

YEAR 10 REPORT WITH MR singh

Once again Term 3 has been extremely busy, about the workforce that related to logistics. In kicking off with ―Try a Trade‖ at Prairewood addition to this, various other activities took High School which involved both senior and place for example; WOT Opera, Year 10 Study junior students. Also, i-Track students went for Skills Day organised by the University of their second face to face meeting with their Sydney (Compass Program), iTrack, Fast mentors at the AMP building at the Circular Forward, University of Western Sydney- Quay. This involved students interacting with Parramatta Campus, and Science Sydney their business mentors to exchange ideas and University Excursion. Year 10 end of year vies on communication and lifestyle. Students excursion is once again Jamberoo Theme Park also went to Sydney University to participate in and will happen on the 6th December and is informative lessons which the University was open to all Year 10 students, however limited kind enough to host. Some students visited spaces are available and the first 50 students Boehringer Ingelheim in North Ryde for a with signed permission note and full payment Careers Day teaching them interview skills. On will be attending this excursion. the 31st of August, forty students went to a company in Minto called MIST. This was an Mr Singh informative excursion as the students learnt Year 10 Adviser

i-track students preparing to meet their mentors

Supporting Our students through pastoral c a r e

YEAR 11 REPOrt WITH Mr. honyak

Another jam packed term with Year 11 dance groups, and talent quest performers. I‘d students getting involved with activities around like to thank all those students who gave up the school. their time to participate in Multicultural Day to Miss Maric and students have been fund raising make it the success it was. Congratulations to for our Year 12 formal which will be held in Pauli Mafi and the UCC group on winning their November next year. Our formal will more than third consecutive Talent Quest. likely be held at Curzon Hall. Many boxes of Year 11 Work Skills students have been chocolates have been sold with the majority attending the TAFE Taster Courses. Students being sold to yours truly. Thanks to all the have been accessing TAFE teachers who come students who have helped with the fund into the school and give courses on Floristry, raising. We have raised a decent amount and Hairdressing, Introduction to Construction and with more fund raising next term we should be Horticulture. able to lower the formal ticket price even Year 11 students and teachers attended a further. Piano Masterclass with famous Australian and International Pianist Gerard Willems. This was Pauli Mafi – Multicultural Day well received by all students and teachers as Gerard discussed the importance of Music, Humanity and Life. He was able to instil in all of us the importance of love in our lives expressed through the power of Music and the Arts in general. Year 11 students took part in the Ryda Safe driving course this term. A sensible course for any young driver. My wife thinks I should go on one . Thank you to all the blood donors who gave blood this term giving back to the community. Have you thought of giving blood? I wish you all a very happy and peaceful holiday. When you come back you will be starting your very important journey of Many of our students took part in Multicultural entering Year 12. Rest up and see you Term 4. Day and Talent quest. Our students were involved in food stall preparation, multicultural My Honyak Year 11 Advisor

Supporting Our students through pastoral care

Florestry

Beauty

Hairdressing

Bricklaying

Hairdressing

Beauty

Florestry

Bricklaying

Horticulture

Horticulture Florestry Hairdressing

Developing Our student skills through Work Skills Trade Tutors 15

YEAR 12 REPORT WITH MR Haythornthwaite

Well, here it is; the final page of the ‗Fairfield days; to making gardens, constructing High School‘ chapter for Year 12, 2012. It has memorials, painting murals and sculptures, been a chapter jam-packed with action, and giving blood, cooking and serving lunches and congratulations are due to all of our students coffees, helping in the canteen or coordinating for the effort they have made to get to this gym clubs; these students have made a lasting point, and the contributions they have made in impression on the school, and the school their time at the school to help make it the community. We are incredibly proud of them. colourful and vibrant community that it is. So, the final term in the classrooms of Fairfield Year 12 have recently submitted their High School ends for the Class of 2012 with participation records which will be used to their Graduation Ceremony on Thursday 20th write their school references and it has been September. The final push to the end remains, amazing to read the many ways in which they with HSC examinations in mid- have involved themselves in school life. From October/November, but they will get there! representing the school in conferences and Best wishes, well done and congratulations programs on the national and international Year 12, 2012. stage, in sports teams and carnivals, debating We‘ll see you at the formal! teams, chess teams, youth leadership conferences, art exhibitions, music, drama and ―If we are facing in the right direction, all we dance performances; to participating in and have to do is keep on walking.‖ mentoring in reading and art programs, gala- Buddhist Proverb days, multi-cultural days, charity fundraising

Year 12 - 2012

Supporting Ou r students through pastoral care 2010 – looking good 16

SUPPORT UNIT REPORT WITH MS SOARES-DAMIAO

Term 3 has gone fast and the students are blossoming as the spring. Students have been completing their work experience this term and employers have given outstanding feedback, we are happy to see the students also being offered jobs after completing their work experience and demonstrating dedication, competency and maturity in their given roles.

Work Experience at Hoxton Park Industries

310 work experience Kmart Work Experience at Hoxton Park Industries Gardening

Best Buddies Meeting

Partner writing task Scientific Investigation

S1 working hard. 313 Woodwork

Supporting Our students through pastoral care 17

Here is a taste of some of the English work Jenny could pull out her eye and hold it in her students completed this term, enjoy! hand. This is how she scared people. Welcome to S3‘s Nightmare with Mrs. Bryce By: Nada Talya This term we have been scaring our school socks off while exploring the HORROR genre in The World‘s Scariest Story English. One night my step brothers and I went to a We have looked into the red eyes of monsters haunted house and we heard a tip tapping and heard the howling of werewolves at night. noise. The house was small and old. It was on We have listened to eerie music and stories a flat road opposite the church. All of the with terrifying twists and turns. If you dare to windows were broken and the roof was be scared, you can read some of our own cracked and falling down. creepy horror stories. Boo! We ran out of the haunted house because we heard a creepy noise coming from the Sam the Skeleton basement. Then we were more scared because Once upon a time there was a skeleton named we saw a scary ghost and a black demon with Sam. He was the deadliest skeleton of them glowing blue eyes. all. He was freaky, scary and he lived in the My stepbrother got dragged and possessed by dark woods. People didn‘t know he existed, so the demon. His eyes were blue and glowing in if they visited the dark woods they would pee the dark. their pants. Sam would be in the trees or He could have killed me, but I run away. I hiding behind things. He would jump out and never ever saw my stepbrother again. scare little kids. He wore a giant, silky, blue By: David Johns. shirt and had a long head. He had four sleeves for his arms. He couldn‘t even fit his own shirt. The Girl Who Could See Everything One day he couldn‘t find any little kids to One upon a time there was a girl who could scare. So Sam started to cry his eyes out. see the dead. Her name was little Rosa. She After a while he got tired of sobbing, so he was only six years old. The people would laugh decided to give up scaring people and he went at her when she told them that she could see home. After this, kids stopped going to the dead people, so she would go outside and into dark woods because there was nothing the woods and wander around by herself. interesting there anymore. Sam started to get Then one morning the laughing people found lonely and his bones went away and no one her dead in her bed. A ghost had come at saw Sam the skeleton ever again. night and taken the little girl‘s soul. Her By: Manjeet Singh parents started crying. They took her to the grave yard on the edge of the town. The dead The Girl Who Could Pull Out Her Eye girl was now a ghost. She stood at the grave This is a story about a girl who lived in a yard looking at her mum crying. She was trying haunted house. Her name is Jenny. She is to talk to her mum, but her mum couldn‘t hear two years old. Jenny is dead. her. Over time, the little girl kept trying to Jenny was so lonely living all by herself in the contact her mum. But, one night they heard scary, haunted house. She slept all day and her yelling, ―Help me‖. Now she comes to visit scared people at night. her mum every night and every day. By: Zeinab Nemeh

Supporting Our students through pastoral care 18

Now, to lighten up the mood a little: Answers: Have you heard the one….? Shane‘s answer: T, get it? alphabeT Jokes, Riddles & Puzzles by S1 Jonathan‘s answer: A red scorpion. Bill‘s answers: the police or a hacker Shane‘s riddle: What is the last letter of the Mrs Bryce‘s answer: A towel alphabet? Alexis‘ answer: Because it didn‘t rain. Jonathan‘s riddle: In Galaxy world which insect has pinchers and a sting? What colour is it? Pssst! More news… Bill‘s riddle: I am smart, but only on Best Buddies computers. I go on websites, but only to find The Best Buddies program has welcomed many their secrets. What am I? new main stream students this term and Ms. Mrs Bryce‘s riddle: What gets wetter and Newman is planning a BBQ in term 4. wetter when it dries? Mr. Grech wants to thank Mounties for their Alexis‘ riddle: A man lived in a country where generous donation to the Support Unit this rain was common. He walked home after term and we will be planting new crops in the going to the bar. There was no cover when he garden. was going home. Why didn‘t he get wet? Answers: Have a good break everyone! Shane‘s answer: T, get it? alphabeT

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Supporting Our students through pastoral care

A Brighter Future

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YEAR 7 STUDENT OF TERM Guillermo Perez Guillermo Perez has consistently displayed outstanding conduct across all of his classes. He is a model student who has not failed to follow the school C.A.R.E code. Even though he has faced many challenges with his school work he is working well to achieve his personal best. I am very proud of the efforts this fine student has displayed this year in Year 7. Guillermo is making steady progress in his classes and is a well- liked and respected individual by both his peers and teachers. Guillermo has participated in a range of school based activities which have been offered to Year 7 this year. Keep up the good work.

Ms Molina Year 7 Advisor

YEAR 8 STUDENT OF TERM Shiraz Malik Congratulations to Shiraz Malik who is Student of the Term for Term 3. He has consistently shown leadership qualities in the classroom by being a positive influence on the learning environment with his class. He is a polite gentleman who is courteous to others without fail and has impressed his teachers for the way in which he gets on well with others. Shiraz has also been regularly noted for his work ethic and has set himself up as an example to others for what hard work and persistence can achieve. As we draw closer to the end of this year, it would be wise for others in the year group to reflect on whether they too are making their best efforts to be not only a student who is improving academically, but also a student who is developing strong social values that will allow them to work well with others. Nurturing those social values of leadership, cooperation and concern for others is a large foundation block for future success and satisfaction in life. Well done Shiraz.

Mr Jackson Year 8 Advisor

Acknowledging academic success of all Students 21

YEAR 9 STUDENT OF TERM Joseph Habib

This term Year 9 has been well behaved and has been working productively. One student in particular comes to mind. Joseph Habib has shown dedication and commitment to his studies. He is very well- mannered and shows reliability in all he does. With Joseph‘s hard work he has gained numerous merits, awards and the title of student of the term. Congratulations Joseph!

Ms E Lykourezos Year 9 Advisor

YEAR 10 STUDENT OF TERM Tania Younan

Tania Younan has been a pleasant, cooperative and dedicated student who takes pride in her school work. She is always in her full school uniform and an excellent role model to the year group. Tania did an outstanding dance item on the subject selection night and always exhibits outstanding social and educational qualities within the cohort. In addition to this, Tania has improved a lot in her social, communication and technological skills including Dance over the past four years and it has been a pleasure to have her in the year group. Congratulations Tania Younan

Mr Singh Year 10 Advisor

Acknowledging academic success of all Students 22

YEAR 12 STUDENTS OF TERM Mr Haythornewaite

Year 12 Advisor

SUPPORT UNIT STUDENT OF TERM Manjeet Singh

We would also like to congratulate Manjeet Singh for the excellent work she has done this term and also for her excellent behaviour in class and during excursions. Manjeet has accomplished fantastic results and always strives to achieve in every subject, well done Manjeet!

Ms Soares – Damiao Support

Acknowledging academic success of all Students

ATHLETE STUDENT OF TERM

Langi Suli Ruka

Langi is an all-round athlete, who excels in any sport he puts his mind to. Langi this term has excelled in both the Rugby League and Athletics arena. Langi will compete in September at the Combined High School Athletics Championships in Sydney Olympic Park as part of the U15s Boys 4 x 100m Relay. In addition to this Langi has been selected as part of the U16s Rugby League Tour of France, in which he will spend two weeks playing Rugby League over the September/October School holidays. In this tour, Langi will play a number of games against international teams. We wish Langi all the best in this tour and his future in Rugby League. Well done Langi.

Mr Johnson - HT PDHPE

BASKETBALLER STUDENT OF TERM Jamie-Lee Ladewig

Jamie is a very talented basketball player. Jamie has represented in both the under 15‘s and open school knockout basketball teams, she performed outstandingly in both scoring many of the teams points. Jamie also plays in the lunchtime basketball competition and is a regular at the after school training sessions. During our lunch competition Jamie often helps with the scoring, timekeeping and has even given the thankless task of refereeing a go, all of these tasks and more are done with a smile. A very well mannered, deserving young lady. Congratulations Jamie!

Ms Hudson - Coach

Acknowledging s p o r t i n g success of all Students 24

TEAM OF TERM U15 Boys 4 x 100m Relay The U15‘s 4 x 100m Relay Team finished 2nd overall allowing them to compete at the Combined High Schools Athletics Championship. The team consisted of Langi Suli Ruka, Henry Vo Tran, Ali Al Saady and Sebastian Acosta. Westfields Sports High School won the Relay so the boys are to be commended on the effort at the Regional Athletics Championships. All the boys will compete in the Combined High Schools Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park on the 6th – 8th September. Good luck boys.

Mr Johnson - HT PDHPE

Langi Suli-Ruka Henry Vo Tran Ali Al Saady Sebastian Acosta

Acknowledging s p o r t i n g success of all Students

FHS Fundraising Opportunity

AT NEETA CITY

Will donate $10 to Fairfield High School for every eye test. If you, a friend, family member, aunt, uncle have their eyes tested by Specsavers at Neeta City and mention Fairfield High School, Specsavers will donate $10.00 back to the school. Look after your eyesight – have your eyes checked. The cost is bulk billed to Medicare, so it won’t cost you anything, mention FHS, and the school will be given valuable money towards sports equipment, computers or other worthwhile necessities for our school.

Relieving Deputy Deputy Head Teacher Welfare Head Teacher Student Support Graham Jarvis Mark Sargeant Daniel Brown Mrs E. Sayed-Rich

Year 7 Year 8

Year Advisor Assistant Year Advisor Assistant Lillian Molina Nick Domenicos Cameron Jackson Megan Hayes NI Advisor Assistant Cameron Jackson Megan Hayes

Year 9 Year 10

Year Advisor Assistant Year Advisor Assistant Ellena Lykourezos Lee Ferguson Ajendra Singh Ms. Stanislawczyk sistant

Year Year 12 11

Year Advisor Assistant Year Advisor Assistant Patrick Honyak Sonya Maric Tom Haythornthwaite Katie Rosewell

Counsellor Counsellor Careers Advisor Careers Advisor Pam Dunn Simon Tam Sue Bicanic Karen Tyler

O u r Welfare team supporting learning for all students 27

Term 3 has been great for the Welfare Team NAIDOC Performance following a variety of programs and events 2012 National NAIDOC Week Theme running throughout the term that the students The theme for NAIDOC Week 2012 is Spirit of have found thoroughly enjoyable and the Tent Embassy: 40 years on. beneficial. About NAIDOC R.A.G.E Program A special program for Years 7 - 11 called ―RAGE‖ is running at Fairfield High School this term. ―RAGE‖ is a social skills and Anger Management program, which promotes self- confidence, self-control, self respect and encourages goal setting in regards to their schooling. The program is still running on fortnightly sessions every Monday, and will NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across continue until the end of 2012. Australia each July to celebrate the history, NRMA ‘Safe Schools, Safe Community culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Grant Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is On Tuesday 4th of September, Fairfield High celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, School hosted a FREE BBQ for all students and but by Australians from all walks of life. The staff which was provided by the NRMA ‗Safe week is a great opportunity to participate in a Schools, Safe Community‘ grant in conjunction range of activities and to support your local with the Fairfield Police. This was followed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander an afternoon Parent Information session lead community. NAIDOC originally stood for by Senior Constable Alan Claphman, with over ‗National Aborigines and Islanders Day 50 local parents/community members in Observance Committee‘. This committee was attendance. This program has focused on once responsible for organising national crime prevention and the various aspects activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym involved in building a safer community, and has since become the name of the week itself. has done so by: providing students with crime Find out more about the origins and history of prevention tips and knowledge of how they can NAIDOC Week. Each year, a different city hosts contribute to a safer school and community; the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony and targeting at-risk students and providing them Ball. The host city, National NAIDOC Poster with strategies and skills to deal with Competition and the NAIDOC Awards winners challenges; increasing knowledge amongst are selected by the National NAIDOC parents and carers of the role of the Australian Committee. Local community celebrations Police, and our rights and responsibilities as during NAIDOC Week are encouraged and safe citizens; informing parents/carers of how often organised by communities, government to access assistance for legal advice and court agencies, local councils, schools and procedures; and providing opportunities for workplaces. police and youth dialogue and positive relationship building.

Our Welfare team supporting learning for all students 28

On the 25th of July Year 7 and 8 students were the importance of NAIDOC week celebrations. involved in a performance by RYKA ALI, who THE CYBER BULLY Performance performed Aboriginal cultural dances, songs On the 16th of August, Years 7 and 8 watched and storytelling while informing the students of a Drama performance called ‗The Cyber Bully‘. The play was an entertaining play that explored the serious issue of cyber bullying among young people. The play looked at the misuse of texting, social networking sites and unauthorized use of pictures and footage. There was a de-brief session offered after the performance where the actors addressed important issues that are raised during the play and occur due to cyber bullying. School Persons of the Week, Term 3. Week 4 – Damien Morgan (Year 8); Who handed in a school laptop. NAIDOC Performance Week 6 – Athor Shemoon, Aolevya Rofaeel and Samar Mohammad Saeed (Year 12); Who handed in a wallet and mobile phone.

Damien Morgan Athor Shemoon

Samar Mohammad Saeed James Stanley Year 7 Aoevya Rofaeel playing the Digeridoo

Our Welfare team supporting learning for all students 29

AWARDS in Term 3 Congratulations to the following students who received CARE awards this term; The following students received a COMMUNITY BRONZE Award for helping with the NRMA Free school BBQ; 1. Mohammad Hussaini 3. Salesi Kaufusi 5. Joshua Currie 2. Colin Dith 4. Pulonga Kavaefiafi 6. Ahmed Zreika The following students received COMMUNITY BRONZE Awards for assisting with the Education Minister Visit to Fairfield High School; 1. Sosefina Liku 9. Jenny le Tran 17. Arta Rufati 2. Natasa Djukic 10. John Le Tran 18. Alexandra Sebial 3. Agnes Fifita 11. Jessica Lieu 19. Dianne Sengmany 4. Raniya Hadi 12. Luke Lovero 20. Paige Taylor 5. Talha Khan 13. Brooke Luketic 21. Amy Tran 6. Hanna La 14. Lily Mansani 22. Phuong Ngoc Tran 7. Anthony Ladewig 15. Sandra Mose 23. Vandia Vilavong 8. Jamie Ladewig 16. Julie Mose 24. Delon William The following students received COMMUNITY SILVER Awards for assisting with the Education Minister Visit to Fairfield High School; 1. Nihad Azary 4. Thalita Marciano 7. Selma Tursunovic 2. Willyn Carrascal 5. Elvis Mousa 8. Dino Zagic 3. Cassandra Chea 6. Elizabeth Thouch The following students received COMMUNITY GOLD Awards for assisting with the Education Minister Visit to Fairfield High School; 1. Paulo Greaves 2. Leanne Trinh 3. Helen Drake

Paulo Greaves Leanne Trinh Helen Drake

Our Welfare team supporting learning for all students 30

... helping parents teach their Learner driver

As a parent you may be a good driver; but being able to teach your Learner is not an easy task.

A recent national survey of more than 1,250 parents of Learner drivers found that almost half (45.5%) were nervous or apprehensive when they began teaching their teen how to drive. keys2drive is a federally funded program that has been developed by the Australian Automobile Association which aims to take the drama out of learning to drive. It helps parents to prepare for their role as a supervising driver and to ensure that any time spent in the car with their Learner is successful and effective. keys2drive is a free lesson (involving theory and on-road) delivered by an accredited professional driving instructor to any Learner who is accompanied by their supervising driver – most often a parent.

This program, the single largest Learner driver safety program undertaken in Australia, represents a unique and valuable experience for parents and their Learner drivers.

To register for a free lesson or to learn more, visit www.keys2drive.com.au

The Australian Automobile Association constituent members are the motoring clubs in each State and Territory ______Centrelink Fairfield – Sessional Interpreter Service ** Please Note: This information is current as of 31/5/2011 and may change at any time.

Language Day Time Arabic Monday till Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm Assyrian Monday till Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm Chaldean Monday till Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm Chinese Monday 8.30am – 5.00pm Chinese Tuesday 8.30 am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 4.15pm Chinese Wednesday & Thursday 8.30am – 12.30pm Chinese Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm Vietnamese Monday 8.30am – 5.00pm Vietnamese Tuesday 8.30am – 4.30pm Croatian Friday 9.00am – 12.00pm Serbian Friday 9.00am – 12.00pm Bosnian Friday 9.00am – 12.00pm Spanish Wednesday 8.30am – 11.30am Spanish Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm Italian Wednesday 8.30am – 10.30am Khmer Wednesday 10.00am – 2.30pm ** Please note that if an interpreter is unavailable, staff access Centrelink’s Interpreter phone service** Customers are able to access Centrelink Multilingual Call Centre: For Assistance and information in other languages (incl making appointments) – 131202.

Inter-school Debating/Public Speaking Debaters and Public Speakers at Fairfield High School have now completed inter school competitions for the year. My thanks to Ms Ajla Bajic for taking on the Year 9 and 10 debaters. These teams have enjoyed an enriching experience, not only competing but having the opportunity to be part of the audience for state finals. The girls have enjoyed the chance to represent their school and learnt a great deal Amy Tran & Deveena Kumar about forming a sustainable argument, which is to accompany these ambassadors of the school essential to debating. to such a competition. Teams for this year have been: SmartArtz Workshop Year 7 - Emily Grover, Luke Lovero, Lily At the time of printing of this newsletter, Masani, Valasi (Eliza) Sulusi SmartArtz will have workshopped the last Year 8 - Jovana Alavanja, Clodia Kifarkis, drama day at our school. The company will not Dianna Matti, Marni Stanley exist in its current form after this term. Year 9 - Christina Carol, Deveena Kumar, Amy Hopefully, it will reform under a different name Tran and Tara Rowley and our association with this group will be able Year 10 - Adriana Cortellazzi, Natasha Djukic, to continue. All Year 7 classes and most Year 8 Agnes Fifita, Rania Matti classes have been given the opportunity to Year 11 - Caitlyn Acosta, Zorana Alavanja, spend a day expressing themselves under the Trish Tran, Leanne Trinh theatrical direction of Murray and his team. Year 12 - Anna Tran, Sadina Tursunovic, Selma We very much appreciate this creative service Tursunovic, Elaine Yeo that has been supplied at no cost to us. The Amy Tran and Tara Rowley of Year 9 also films these classes have produced under this trialled for the zone debating team. All of these program can be viewed on the school website. students are to be commended for representing their school with pride. Amy Tran and Deveena Kumar of Year 9 also competed in the Legacy Public School Competition hosted by Canley Vale HS. Both girls spoke with confidence and commitment. Amy delivered a humorous speech centred around the figure of Mario and Deveena addressed the audience regarding what it means to be a student in South Western Sydney and pride in her school. It is a pleasure SmartArtz Workshop

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success 34

Many staff members were involved in 2 days of intensive collaborative professional dialogue at the recent Staff Development Conference. Held at Liverpool Catholic Club over Friday and Saturday (17-18th August) teachers and administrative staff from both the mainstream and IEC examined the theme Transformational Change mapping out ideas and priorities for the school beyond 2014. Focus On Reading Staff Conference Focus On Reading (FoR) During the course of 2012 key Year 7 teachers have undertaken training in the first phase of FoR, a series of strategies and teaching ideas which aims to demystify learning and allow students an inroad into a variety of comprehension strategies which can be used across different key learning areas. This training is also occurring at Fairfield Primary School and we have forged strong links with the primary school under this banner and the The whole school conference is a recent common language of instruction. addition to the professional learning calendar. We hope to continue this training and include Through the vehicle of National Partnerships more staff in 2013. these have been held during the months of NAPLAN Results for Years 7 and 9 May and August in 2011 and 2012. This At the end of this term, the National weekend forum allows for planning, reflection Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy and evaluation whilst building staff cohesion. (NAPLAN) results will released to schools Fairfield High School strives to develop life-long across Australia. Every student in Years 7 and learning as a core value amongst our students. 9 will receive an envelope to take home to Participation at the conferences (which are parents explaining their results and comparing held outside of normal school hours) the ranking bands on a school and state level. demonstrates staff commitment and dedication As these tests were conducted in May across to student learning outcomes and the ever the nation, your child needed to be enrolled in growing success of our school. an Australian school at this time in order to have sat for the series of tests, held over three days. Early in Term 4 Mrs Weber, Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, will explain the school's results at a special session of Parent's Cafe. If any parent requires further information regarding the NAPLAN testing process or Staff Conference assistance in understanding results, please contact Mrs Weber during school hours. Amanda Conray Ms Weber Head Teacher National Partnerships. Head Teacher National Partnerships.

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success 35

students at Fairfield High School students possess. Building a bridge to UNI: Thousands to benefit from new program A bold $21 million initiative designed to reach over 100,000 school students and boost the participation rates in higher education from low socio-economic status communities, was Our HSC Work Skills Floristry Students presenting students unveiled today in Greater Western Sydney.

The Bridges to Higher Education project Term 3 has been an exciting one with many was launched by the Federal Minister for important initiatives growing and community Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and partnerships strengthening. Fairfield High Research, Senator the Hon. Chris Evans at School is recognised for its strong work in the Fairfield High School. various University programs and organisations The four year project was initiated by five aimed to increase the participation of Low SES Sydney-based universities in a unique Schools in University. Fairfield High School was collaboration to create new aspiration-building chosen as the school to launch the BRIDGES programs and build on existing programs TO HIGHER EDUCATION Program on the 2nd targeting school-age children and 175,000 August, 2012. The article from UWS Website parents. detailing the day is provided below. A most successful day was had at our school with a formal assembly, engineering construction activity enjoyed by Year 7 and over 100 guests attending to support a joint launch of this important agenda-investing in our future and raising expectations of all students. Five Chancellors from some of the largest universities in NSW committed to a unified approach to meeting the new target to increase numbers of students gaining a university This innovative project will work with primary placement to 40% by 2020. We thank our and secondary schools and community partners partners for choosing Fairfield High School and in Greater Western Sydney to engage young in particular the extensive work of Bridges people who previously might not have Management Team for their coordination of the considered higher education as an option. More day. I look forward to working together with than 1.8 million people live in the region which the five new assistant coordinators on staff, of has traditionally been under-represented in the numerous university programs that we are higher education participation rates. engaged in, and to increase the number of The Bridges to Higher Education project is a students from Fairfield High School attaining a unique collaboration bringing together the university placement each year. Thanks to all of collective resources and experience of the the staff at Fairfield High School contributed to widening participation, equity and social making the day a great one for our school. inclusion programs at the University of Western Thanks to Leanne Trinh, Paulo Greaves, Helen Sydney, The University of Sydney, the Drake, Sally Mohan and our SRC who show University of Technology, Sydney, Macquarie cased the high levels of leadership skills which University, and the Australian Catholic University.

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success 36

$150 million national low SES support scheme. The Bridges to Higher Education project will also receive contributions from the five collaborating universities and other partners. Using the combined resources of the universities and their partners the project aims to improve academic outcomes by improving student‘s abilities in reading, writing and numeracy as well as in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Senator Evans with Fairfield High School students who are building a bridge using plastic straws

The program will also draw on the existing partnerships the five universities have with significant education, government and non- government organizations including the NSW Department of Education and Communities, TAFE NSW, Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), AFL NSW/ACT, The Smith Family, and Tutoring Australasia. Senator Evans announced the project in front Senator Evans with UWS Chancellor Professor Peter Shergold of an audience of more than 300 higher education providers, partners, community Other programs such as visits to university stakeholders, parents and school students from campuses, summer schools, mentoring and Fairfield Public School and Fairfield High School. work experience are designed to raise ―In order to achieve greater national awareness and improve aspirations. The project productivity as well as build greater social will also work with teachers, careers advisors, equity, Australia must break down the barriers community liaison officers and Aboriginal to lower representation in higher education of education officers, providing training and people with low SES backgrounds," said professional development. Senator Evans. The initiative will also develop new, innovative ―We have invested an unprecedented $1 billion and integrated programs that draw on over the next four years to profoundly change academic strengths of the respective partners, the landscape of higher education in terms of maximizing the use of the virtual environment inclusiveness, diversity and accessibility,‖ he through activities such as virtual visits and said. connected classrooms, community TV ―The Australian Government is committed to programs, and other web-based and online building a stronger, fairer nation and more initiatives accessible higher education is integral to A Staff Development Session on Positive achieving our goal,‖ said Senator Evans. Education /Psychology with Dr Suzy Green and The Bridges to Higher Education project has an introduction to the New Economics been funded with $21.2 million from the Foundation‘s Five Ways to Well Being Commonwealth Government‘s Higher Education Dr Suzy Green introduced the topic at the Participation and Partnerships program (HEPPP) August Staff Conference on the 19th August, – highest level of funding for a project in the 2012 held at the Liverpool Catholic Club. The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success

Suzy is a well- known clinical psychologist and the key messages shared with staff thus far. lecturer at Sydney University. This field of For further resources and assessment tools psychology is growing world-wide and is adopted by corporations and schools across Australia as a powerful science based approach to improving educational learning outcomes.

such as questionnaires are listed below as well. There are a wide range of approaches to making great places to work that positively contribute to people‘s health and happiness – from flexible working to changes to work culture, the physical design of workplaces and opportunities to learn and progress. One route that organizations can take is to improve understanding and knowledge about happiness and well-being among employees.

Dr Suzy Green

At our staff conference, Positive Education was introduced with a follow on session on Saturday on the topic of Staff Well Being and its importance in the context of Education. The Understand cutting edge science on resilience, New Economics Foundation‘s evidence based happiness and well-being. NEF, a UK based research was shared with all of the attendees. organization provide the following workshops. The NEF Five Ways to Well Being strategies Future areas that could be explored include were presented to all staff. A resource pack NEF workshops. The aim of these sessions is to was also issued to all staff at the conference create the space for employees to learn about and I would like to thank our supporters for this their own well-being and share ideas with session from the NSW Teachers Health Fund colleagues. The design of these interactive for their donation of bags, Health Magazine and sessions has been tailored to a workplace writing materials. Thanks to Mr Peter Randall context with the aim of identifying actions that from Teachers‘ Health for his continued support employees can take individually and collectively of this important initiative. Thanks to Ms to improve happiness and well-being at work. Tenille Zekas Student Support Officer for her At the end of the sessions, those who have development of the staff Yoga classes and to taken part are able to: Ms Soares Damiano from the Support Unit. Reflect on the Five Ways to Well-being in Yoga classes are a great opportunity for staff to their own lives engage in activity that is good for the bosy and Understand what the science says about the mind. Also, thanks to 24/7 Fitness at how and when the changes we make go the Fairfield for connecting with our school and distance offering all staff a free one week pass to the Develop ideas for improving happiness fitness studio and special corporate rates to and well-being in the workplace Fairfield High School staff. (See 24/7 Fitness Identifying barriers and opportunities to offer) Below is further information to reinforce increasing Five Ways to Well-being activities

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success

Develop action plans that specify the Education Scholarship funded by Men of priority individual, collective and organizational League changes that will contribute to happier working Thanks to Mr Corey Payne from Future lives. Directions Network and Mr Ray Beattie from http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/ Men of League Manly for their invaluable Default.aspx support of Langi Suli-Ruka. As Langi embarks http://thepositivityinstitute.com.au/ upon an exciting opportunity to play http://www.well- representative football in Paris this September, beingatwork.net/index.html@page_id=29.html he also has had a large investment made to TED Talk by Martin Seligman ensure that he fulfils his future education plan www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_st to complete year 12 and further study and ate_of_psychology.html training. Congratulations Langi and we wish SWSR Regional Ambassador you well in all of your sporting and educational Congratulations to Natasa Djukic Year10 on the endeavours. completion of the SWSR Regional Ambassador‘s Also see Sebastian Acosta-Vazquez Year 10 Program. Natasa embodies the values of our Outstanding High Jumper and Athlete in this school‘s CARE Code and has developed into a newsletter Congratulations to Helen Drake in Year 12 for completing the UNSW Winter School Residential Program during the July school holidays. We wish her well in her endeavours to achieve a university placement. Congratulations to Andrs Mousa in Year 9 who has gained a place in the University of Newcastle‘s Live it UP Program. Andrs will spend an exciting week at the end of the year participating in a range of exciting academic

Natasa Djukic and outdoors learning activities to enhance extend his knowledge about University life and highly capable advocate on student and youth pathways. We wish hime well on this exciting Issues. Well Done Natasa program. Inspired By Business Nominee

Langi Suli-Ruka Sebastian Acosta Helen Drake Andrs Mousa

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and s u c c e s s 39

Angela Dao Applied Science (MRS) Diagnostic Radiography Howra Al-Badri Nursing (Advanced Studies) Jessica Nevsimalova Visual Arts U@UNSW Year 12 nominees 2012-2013 Congratulations to the following students for completing the U@ UNSW Program. The U@UNSW program focuses on improving access to UNSW for low socio economic or educationally disadvantaged background students. As part of the program senior High school students attend 2 x 3 day conferences at UNSW and participate in university style lectures and tutorials and engage with the university environment through fun interactive Indigenous Job Market activities. U@UNSW Ambassadors assist at this Our indigenous Senior Students and Kari conference and perform a range of tasks from Scholarship holders for 2012 attended the assisting in class activities, facilitating a variety Indigenous Jo b Market held at Mount Druitt on of confidence and leadership building activities the 21st August, 2012. Great information was with students as well as assisting with the disseminated on the day on apprenticeships, logistics of event management. Volunteer TAFE and Higher Education. Students had the ambassadors develop skills in areas of opportunity to access more information from leadership, communication, teamwork, and over 50 employers and education providers. community engagement. Through being Sydney University E12 Nominees 2013 involved, students also become aware of The E12 scheme identifies students who have difference and disadvantage in our community. the potential to succeed at the University of It is these differences that become the driving Sydney, and offers them the opportunity not force for change, and community development. just to gain admission, but to take the first step Year 12 2012 on their path to lifelong learning and a Lisa Ho successful career, Congratulations to the Amir Ali Hosseini following nominees. Anh-Cuong Kah Eh Soe Gay Zu Education (Primary) Youtam Mamo Safa Obeid Arts Ly Nguyen Ameer Saeed Visual Arts Aleksandra Popovic Sasi Chaiyotburana Animal and Veterinary Paulina Tang Bioscience Sadina Tursunovic Betty Lieu Animal and Veterinary Selma Tursunovic Bioscience Roody Warda Kimberley Vo Arts Regina Yun Tony Letran Science Dino Zagic

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success

Other enrichment activities around personal strengths and future choices Thanks to our UWS Partners for providing our students access to a great opportunity and program. Anjila Abduljabbar Rana Dayil Rafi Elia Steven Huynh Laila Jodeh U @ UNSW Year 11 nominees Rony Khoshaba These students will be attending their Reta Khoshaba first university conference during the Hanna La upcoming September school holidays. Salam Shamoon 1. Noor Dayil Shameran Shamoon 2. Marina Yokhanna Lucy Sukandar 3. Karoline Stojcevski Jason Travis 4. Sarah mohammad Andy Ye 5. Beisan Qaddoura Daniel Yokhanna 6. Leanne Trinh Parastoo Zahrooni 7. Zorana Alavanja Year 10 Fast Forward Students 2012 8. Safa Mohammad 9. Sainan An 10. Mary Nguyen 11. Trish Tran 12. Lucia Daluz 13. Paulo Greaves Sead Aslani 14. Thi Kim Ngan Vu Melissa Garibovic 15. Caitlyn Acosta Junior Jacky Trinh 16. Laeth (Leigh) Jameel Jessie Keedle 17. Peter Khuu Finehika Tuuta Hannah Salah Sebastian Acosta Vazquez Quintin Aloese Julian Yousif Vennesa Adamz University of Western Sydney- Fast Homework hotline and study support for Forward Program Fast Forward students Year 9 Skills Day 14th September, 2012 A new offer for students on the Fast FORWARD Congratulations to the following year 9 Program students on their continued engagement in the It is with great pleasure that we offer another UWS Fast Forward Program. exciting opportunity for Fast Forward students. Year 9 activities are focussed on: Each student is now eligible for free access to Matching your interests to your future direction, the Online Homework Centre, including aspirations and overcoming barriers ‗yourtutor‘ and ‗SkillsBuilder‘. UWS has Familiarity with a uni environment including an arranged this with the support of Australian ‗Amazing Race‘ campus tour Government funding.

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success 41

What is yourtutor? We thank UWS for the great support afforded yourtutor is out-of-school-hours, on-demand to our students in 2012. access to homework and assignment help from real-life Australian teachers and tutors; for guidance in English, Maths, Science, Business Studies, research, and study skills. Just like a school‘s homework centre, yourtutor offers Future Directions Network guidance and develops critical thinking skills in Thanks to FDN for providing free an ethical, secure environment. All the online bus transport to the Sydney University Open teachers and tutors have been cleared to work Day in August, 2012. Our students has an with minors and are subject to ongoing outstanding day and gained a substantial performance assessment. amount of information to support them in their When a student needs help with homework or future university aspirations. study, or gets ‗stuck‘ on a problem, he or she can connect to yourtutor using a Fast Forward access card. The student participates in a live, one-to-one online conversation until he or she is confident to move on with independent study. yourtutor encourages each student to think independently, focus on what needs to be done, and avoid the frustration that can lead to ―I give up‖. yourtutor can be accessed from home, the school library or anywhere there is internet access, Sunday to Friday 3-10pm. yourtutor has been running for nearly a decade and is delivered through public libraries, schools, private colleges etc, with some of the Open Day at Sydney University –Leggo highest use nationally within Greater Western Exhibition at the Nicholson Sydney. It has helped many thousands of MuseumCompass USYD Year 8 Visit students with their homework and academic Congratulations to the 50 Year 8 students who performance. Student feedback is consistently attended the Year 8 Experience day on the 5th high due to the experience of the online staff, September, 2012. They had a great day and the quality guidance offered. engaging with a variety of faculty based What is SkillsBuilder? SkillsBuilder gives Fast Forward students 24/7 access to thousands of practice, curriculum- based, and expertly-written questions in English, Maths and Science. Students can use activities. They also showed exemplary Skills Builder for independent study and before behaviour and did our school proud. Thanks to exams, or to complete online tasks set by Mr Jackson and Ms Sullivan for their supervision teachers, the school, or Fast Forward staff. of the students. The vision is that early Where teachers have set questions, exposure to university experiences would allow performance data is delivered back to them students to see what is available to them for immediately for analysis of individual and their future study plans. group.

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success 42

UTS Indigenous Programs heart of gold and is so very supportive of our WELCOME TO HOW BIG A R E YOUR students. DREAMS? Pacific Communities Program How Big Are Your Dreams? is an innovative Our Pacific Communities Boys‘ Program program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait commenced this term. Welcome to Mr Joe Tau Islander people. We think of How Big Are Your –Youth Worker and Mr Albert Vaka, who teach Dreams? as a dressing room where you can try the BEACON (Be BEACON Be Energised Achieve on all kinds of ambitions and possibilities an Change Overcome Negativity) Program. The unfamiliar classroom where you learn by doing group comprises of boys from a Tongan, Maori and experimenting a stage from which you can and Samoan backgrounds across years 7-12. tell stories that you care about a tall ladder that The boys group has bonded well and students offers fresh perspectives and new highly receptive to the programs messages and opportunities, and a warm home away from aims. Joe was awarded a Blacktown Council home where you will find a supportive network Australia Award earlier this year for his work of young people, and adults who are with young people and community building committed. Congratulations to Jacob Mooney programs. A special thank you to Joe Tau, for his engagement in this outstanding Keisha Tausala and Alex Bello (Photos below) Indigenous program through UTS. A big thank from Community Care NSW who also you to Ms. Nicola Sinclair Project Manager, contributed a substantial amount of money to How Big Are Your Dreams - Australian Centre support Langi Suli-Ruka much needed financial for Child and Youth: Culture and Wellbeing support for his upcoming trip to Paris to play Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University representative football. of Technology Sydney Kuring-gai Campus. Nicola never ceases to amaze me. She has a

Pacific Communities Program

The National Partnerships Team – supporting student learning and success

Celebrating National Science Week – The Sleek Geeks Go Regional, 9.30-10.30am on 8th August 2012. The Sleek Geeks are two of Australia's best loved science broadcasters, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer. They connected to classrooms across NSW on 8th August 2012. Regardless of whether you are in outback New South Wales or in the centre of Sydney, Adam Spencer and Dr Karl engaged with students across 14 schools and their classrooms to ask ―How are you celebrating Science Week this year?‖ They answered fantastic questions from students in primary and high schools from Video Conference Lightening Ridge, Lucas Heights, Nambucca High, Stanwell Park Public, Heads, Coonabarabran, Lord Howe Island and Fairfield High. An array of interesting questions were asked like-: Why Does ice float on water? Is it safer for a cat to fall out of a 32 storey building than a 7 storey one? How do we measure intelligence? How does the Universe keep expanding? Will the world end in 2012? Can you grow out of asthma? Why are orbits circular and not elliptical? How do you get blue eyes? Both Year 9 Maths 1 and 10 Science 1 students I look forward to another exciting term and were excellent participants at the Video take this opportunity to wish year 12 all the Conference. Thanks to Ms. Hannigan and Mr. best in the upcoming HSC exams and beyond. Kritikos for their assistance and involvement in Have a safe and restful holiday break. the session. Ms Sayed-Rich Head Teacher Student Support National Partnerships

The National Partnerships Team – s u p p o r t ing student learning and success 44

Thanks to Vesuvio Wood Fired Ovens for their help in supplying our new feature in the community garden area.

Year 7 Year 9

Celebrating our Multicultural backgrounds

Celebrating our Multicultural backgrounds 48

This year ten lucky science students from Year students would go for lunch at the university 9 had the chance to participate in the I-science food court. program. These students were: At school a few science lessons and a lot of *Christina Carol large pieces of cardboard later… the students *Jonathan Cooper had decorated, planned and finalised their *Cassandra Gabrijan posters and on the day of presentation the *Jessica Grover students travelled to the University looking *Joseph Habib very flash in their school blazers. At the end of *Isabella Kim the night Joseph Habib and Jonathan Copper *Deveena Kumar had won the People‘s Choice award with their *Tara Rowley solar panel experiment! Each student received *Isabell Schaubert a science magazine and certificate…. Gladly *Amy Tran shown off to Ms Hudson‘s camera! These students had the chance to go and work The students all agreed that I-science was a with students from other schools at the Sydney fun and educational program and should be University. The students paired up together run every year for students doing well in and then were put into groups with other science! Amy Tran said ―I thought it was great! schools. Each pair of students chose a subject I had heaps of fun and loved the people I was that they would like to do and were assigned working with‖. Another said ―It was a great two mentors. Throughout the weeks that I- experience to do hands on experiments, great science was run all groups had to answer their way to meet new people and learn about new research question. After each session the things‖. By: Jessica Grover and Tara Rowley

Preparing posters and equipment for displays

Developing student Science skills through our university links

5 6

Photo 1 Mrs Gallagher with students outside Faculty of Education Sydney University. Photo’s 2,3,4,6 Students show casing their work. Photo 5 Students with their achievement certificates.

Developing student Science skills through our university links

Developing our students skills in woodwork

HSC Major Projects: time being completing projects, my project has By Daniel Toma, Eric Ing & Sue Skaros come out the way I wanted it. I really Industrial Technology Timber students from appreciate the bond and incentive from my Fairfield High School have come up with their fellow class mates as they are all keen and own designs and sketches of what they interested on what I am doing. I get a lot of intended to design as their HSC Major Project. feedback from those who have seen my project Student‘s had constructed projects such as; and it has helped me to improve my project as Chess Board Coffee Table/Coffee Tables, well. I would like to thank everyone for helping Kitchen Bench, Dressing Table, Corner Table & me and motivating me and showing interest in Computer/Study Office Desk. These students what I have accomplished.‖ – Daniel Toma enjoyed working on their projects through the ―It‘s has been a fun year in designing and help of two teachers, Ms. Johnston who had building my project from recycled timber. The just left this year & Mr. Singh. help and motivation that I have received The Students who had created the projects throughout the construction of this project has are; Daniel Toma (Chess Board Coffee Table), been greatly appreciated and honoured. My Kitchen Island Bench (Sue Skaros), Recycled fellow peers have also helped and motivate me timber Coffee Table (Eric Ing), Dressing Table throughout this project. Industrial technology (Silver Yadago), coffee tables (Mohamed and timber is a fun subject, anything is possible to Youssef Salah), Table (Franchesco Jazzar), build you just have to think of it and be Multimedia Universal Table (Shayan Athari), positive with all your decisions.‖ – Eric Ing Coffee Table (Jonathan Townsend), Study ―Throughout the project there have been both Table (Joshua Munoz) & Computer/Study ups and downs the teachers have helped me Office Desk (Jasmin Susic) & Haris Rakovic produce my project, it was not an easy process Storage cabinet, when my project fell and cracked on me but On behalf of our Year 12 Industrial Technology the final product turned out as I wanted it to. Timber Class we would like to thank the My class mates also helped me along the way teachers Ms. Johnston and Mr. Singh for when it came to lifting as I am a girl and am spending their valuable time with us to help us not very strong. Nothing is impossible if you complete and finish our Major HSC projects. follow your dreams and think outside the box.‖ ―Both teachers have helped us a lot during the –Sue Skaros

Daniel Toma Eric Ing Sue Skaros

Developing our students skills in woodwork 52

In December 2011, 10 students were chosen lunch, when students and mentors informally by the Career‘s adviser Ms Dunn and the Year chatted. Adviser Mr Singh for the iTrack Mentoring The following students were involved with Program sponsored by the Smith Family. iTrack; These students were interviewed by the 1 Sai Kollimarla career‘s adviser and then they were paired up 2 Anthony Chon with a mentor to participate in an online 3 Mohammed Al-Kathmi mentoring program. This program is to give 4 Vincent Au the students insights into a broad range of 5 Sharmiel Francisco careers and to assist them towards a 6 Wendy Banjamin successful future career path. 7 Sara Al Saberi In Term 2 of 2012, these students along with 8 Valentina Dawood Ms Dunn, went to Morgan Stanley Smith 9 Brenda Cervilla Barney, a multinational investment company 10 Christopher Po located in Chifley Square in the City, for a face- The program will run until October, with the to-face meeting with their mentors. The students talking on-line every Thursday for one students were able to interact with their hour with their mentor. There will also be two mentors, taking part in warm – up/getting to more face-to-face meetings before October know you activities. This was followed by when the program concludes.

1 2 3 4 5 6

10 7 8 9

Developing Our student skills through partnership with the Smith Family 53

The guest appearances of in the future, hopefully studying a course in Future Directions Network Engineering and possibly combined with a degree members at Fairfield High in Commerce. I specifically enjoyed and appreciate School have been very inspiring, how the speakers were from south western Sydney and it is a privilege that I have themselves and grew up around our area, and been given the chance to attend seeing how successful they had become. Especially these sessions. The sessions how the speakers were quite down to earth and that I‘ve been involved with really believed any student, if they put work and have given me a great insight effort into it, could attend tertiary education. These on, not only university life, but sessions have added to my determination and focus also the various career prospects and opportunities to excel in my HSC course and get into University, that university has to offer. The perception that I, and I am appreciative to have been given the and many other senior students have on university opportunity to attend the FDN sessions. is quite a frightening scenario – with very limited Paulo Greaves Year 11 Student knowledge of what university is like; however, the FDN provided some very useful FDN team are able to provide relevant and new and inspiring presentations that information and allow for open questions, which have motivated myself and my further increases my anticipation for university. My peers. It gave us great insight future goal is to study a Business Degree at into the great career possibilities university, although, I have not yet decided on a by exposing us to the successful particular field within Business because I found out presenters who were also from there were so many options available. The FDN south-west Sydney. My friends team have encouraged and inspired me, through and I were quite impressed by their very engaging and interactive sessions, to the individual successes and the personal stories of pursue my goals. I think it is extremely important the presenters. The sessions were therefore quite for students in my area of South-Western Sydney motivating as it positively reinforced our ambitions to be exposed to programs like this, because there to finish our education with the best possible are many students who feel frightened and even results. They were also fun and entertaining. The hopeless to pursue their goals, due to the area that particular session with the ambassadors from the they live in. Also, since FDN speakers are from the University of Sydney allowed us to look at surrounding SW Sydney area, it definitely further pathways into university and the final group task motivates and inspires students to attend university with my friends was a challenging but fun game. and improve their future quality of life. The sessions also emphasized the scholarships that Leanne Trinh Year 11 Student are available to us, and without FDN, I wouldn‘t The FDN sessions were have even known of a scholarship that I am extremely inspiring and currently applying for. Therefore, it has increased provided such a large amount our accessibility to scholarships. All in all, the FDN of quality information. These sessions were very motivating and inspiring to sessions reaffirmed my myself and my peers. aspirations to attend University Elaine Yeo Year 11 Student

Developing Our student skills through a partnership with Future Directions Network 54

Creative and Performing Arts August has been a busy time for staff and students leading up into Multicultural Day and then quickly followed by the Art Exhibition. We showcased some excellent work alongside the IEC, having digital displays, animations, ceramics and outstanding HSC work to name a few. A special thanks goes to our catering team who volunteered to prepare food for the opening; Maria Yousif, Hanna Salah, Caroline Loka, Angela Sultana and Pamela Grego. Mr Honyak in Music had a guest, Gerard Willems, who is a classical pianist and associate professor at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, come to the school for a piano workshop. Mr Willems gave a stunning performance and offered some personal insights into music and creativity. Atunaisa Lasolosi of Year 12 has been chosen to perform at the School Spectacular. This is a great achievement for Atunaisa. We wish him all the best with his performances.

Some of the work on display at the Art Exhibition

Developing Our student skills in the Creative and Performing Arts 55

On Thursday 31st August, 2012 eighteen staff members were invited by the Year 12 students for a three course meal as part of their practical exam. The students put their heart and soul into their dishes which was reflected in their plating and presentation upon service to their invited teacher. Staff members were amazed and thrilled at the quality and presentation of each dish that they were served. All students involved had a great day and were very proud of themselves. Their tireless efforts did not go unnoticed, whereby teachers had only positive things to say to their students.

Developing Our student skills through VET Hospitality

―Living history is an activity that integrates knights. The students were asked to join the historical tools, activities and dress through an teachers in medieval dress by dressing in interactive presentation that aims to give a heavy armoury and chainmail. Although the sense to observers and participators a sense of sight of students wearing armoury was overly stepping back in time.‖ amusing, it was clear by the amount of On Monday, the 3rd of September, Year 8 questions posed by the students to the Living participated in a unique opportunity to witness History Australia team, that this fancy dress history come alive. The cohort, who have been peaked student interest in medieval history. studying medieval history throughout Term 3, Upon their return from recess the students were greeted by the enthusiastic history filed into the hall, eager to see what the Living teachers dressed as princesses, wizards and History Australia team had in store for the rest everything in between. The Year 8s were then of the afternoon. In the second session, ushered into the hall where the Living History students were given the chance to freely Australia team, Matt and Rolland, had on interact with the artefacts whilst listening to display an array of medieval artefacts. The the narration of Matt and Rolland who students walked in, seemingly curious by the continued their discussion on medieval history. bevy of swords, shields and armoury. They The teachers also excitedly took part in this were unaware of what the rest of the day had opportunity to engage with the artefacts and in store for them… Ms Razko remarked: ―By interacting with the shields, swords (all of which were props, of course) and other artefacts, the students were able to empathise with the lives of the men and women who lived during the medieval times. This incursion, as the company promised, brought medieval history alive, which allowed the students to develop a greater understanding of the unit.‖ The students were once again dismissed for lunch and returned back to the hall where they learned they were to participate in something that most of them have never tried before— archery. Many of the students were Matt and Rolland began by setting the scene apprehensive about trying something so out of for our students by discussing everyday the ordinary. However, when listening to the medieval life. In order to effectively do this, instructions of Matt and Rolland, it was clear they asked for volunteers who were that the students were buzzing with positive transformed to medieval peasants, squires and energy, eager to try archery.

E xpanding student knowledge through guest speakers 57

After listening to Matt and Rolland‘s instructions, the students and teachers took to the field in an ordered fashion. Lined up in teams behind a bow and arrows, the students listened carefully awaited the Living History Australia team‘s okay before they began aiming for their target. The teachers walked around each team, monitoring the student‘s behaviour and it was clear that the students were pleased with this activity. One student remarked, ―I have never tried archery before so I was very scared at first! But I finally hit the target upon my third try and I was very happy‖. As the afternoon wound down, the tired students, for the last time this day, filed once again into the hall to bid our guest speakers farewell. Our students and staff thanked Matt and Rolland and they continued to answer student questions. The success of Medieval Day can be measured by the enthusiasm the Year 8 students have brought into the classroom the following week.

Expanding student knowledge through guest speakers 58

Year 9 enjoyed the WW1 displays as it consolidated their understanding of the Gallipoli experience and the ANZAC legend. They gazed in awe at the simulated WW2 bombing run and marvelled at miniature Japanese submarines, full scale helicopters used in the Vietnam War and the range of paintings, models, medals and diaries that recounted soldier‘s experiences. Before we all left, we took the opportunity to visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was a humbling and reverent experience. A quick photo outside the Memorial, and then off to Questacon. Shocked faces… 6.15am rendezvous @FHS Year 9 loved Questacon's focus on providing Very early on the 22nd of June, Year 9 awoke hands-on workshops and activities to support from their slumber to put on their uniforms and technology education. At Questacon, a kind of meet at school at 6.15am. Despite the bed hair interactive science museum, they promote a and sleep deprivation, they were all eager to greater understanding and awareness of get on the coach and travel to the nation‘s science and technology within the community. capital to see the Australian War Memorial and They are committed to making experiences Questacon. Ms Razko, Ms Trinh, Ms Fang, Ms fun, interactive, and relevant. And we had fun. Matty and Mr Petrakis also braved the cold to So we pushed and pulled, we dangled and accompany the young scientists and historians. dropped, we sat and swung…and that was just The trip south, initially, was quiet as most tried trying to get through the entry turnstile. to return to a state of semi consciousness. And so 3.00pm arrived and it was time to head However the peace soon departed as students back home. Predictably the iPhones, heard Jason, the bus commandant, announce headphones and laptops once again appeared that we would stop and pay homage to in the anxious laps of the Year 9 trekkers on McDonald‘s – Sutton Forrest. The treats were our trip north. Even long after the sun had set, rich and saucy and so too were the stories and we had entered the hustle and bustle of about the sighting of Ivan Milat‘s nephew. On Sydney, the radiant smiles of 14 and 15 year to Canberra. olds was still visible. A great day out! First stop, War Memorial.

Supporting classroom learning through excursions 59

First stop War Memorial Photo op outside War Memorial

Fighter planes – War Memorial Tomb of unknown soldier Groovy.

―On the road again…can‘t wait to get on the road again‖ Questacon

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Supporting classroom learning through excursions

“Knit Wits” Group meeting Wednesdays… Lunchtime in small court yard between L, K (Industrial Arts) and E Blocks(Visual arts) to . Hand in knitted squares . Collect more wool & . Get help with your knitting. YOU should come too!

On Friday 3rd August 14 students from Fairfield This is a community service volunteer group High travelled with Mr Haythornwaite who enjoy supporting others while they (P.E.Faculty) and Ms Ayoubi (Support Unit) to develop craft skills. You can join this group- the ABC Knit-in. They met at 7-00am at you do not have to be a knitter- someone in Fairfield station to travel into the ABC Building the group will help you learn to knit and supply in Harris Street, Ultimo. By 8-00am the foyer, you with needles. Come on a Wednesday. which has a high vaulted ceiling, had over a 1000 knitters sitting on chairs, sitting on the floor and standing. These enthusiasts had brought with them the squares they had made, many 100s of them already joined up in groups of 28 to make a blanket. Our team of Knit-wits took out the blanket they had and donated it with the other 1000s of blankets to be sent to refugees. The people who organize this knitting orgy call themselves ―Wrap with love‖. There are 1000s of people across Australia who knit to help supply blankets for refugees. All the blankets are collected by the ―Wrap-with-love‖ Knit-wit students meeting at Fairfield Station to organisers who organize distribution, usually to travel to ABC studio at Ultimo. overseas needy people.

The Fairfield High Knit –wit Group are meeting on Wednesdays in the courtyard between L and E block when the weather is good. The knitters call in, sit for a while, bring their knitting to show off their latest square, hand in completed squares and collect more wool from

Mrs Dunn. Knitters who have ―dropped stitches‖, or have an inexplicable glitch in their knitting seek help from the more experienced. Thanks to Mrs Dunn who continually supports us develop our skills to help our community.

Supporting Our community with knitting skills

On Wednesday, the 12th of September, eight composting, reproduction of plants, recycling students from Protect Our World (POW) and of worms and cans and the chemistry involved the Support Unit went to Belgenny Farm, in creek water. Camden, with Ms Elmir and Mr Ozturk. This We thought that these projects would be ―Sustainable Schools‖ excursion was to raise perfect to implement in our school to make it our awareness about environmental more eco-friendly and sustainable. sustainability. We participated in workshops Overall, we had a very good day and we thank demonstrating how to use resources Mrs Dunn for organising for us to attend this conservatively and to inspire us to take action wonderful excursion. to protect the environment. We learnt about Reporter: Sai Kollimala Year 10

Right to Left - Phoebe Saunders, Henderson Gabrijan, Rania Matti, Diana El Zeyat, Litia Tuuta , Manjeet Singh, and Nathan Carlson Developing Our student skills to Protect Our World

Year 11 Modern and Year 10 Elective History Expedition to the Sydney Jewish Museum ―We were packed like sardines in cattle vans. We had very little space and we all had to stand, some of us were lucky to sit down.‖ Many of our students graciously thanked Yvonne for sharing her story and we were split up into two different groups to be guided by two tour guides named Harry and Helen. Harry, an ex-principal, spoke from a very objective perspective and he engaged with the many artefacts at the museum. Ms Trinh who was in Harry‘s group remarked that, ―Harry spoke in depth about all the points from the On Tuesday the 4th of September, Year 10 Elective Year 12 Modern History Syllabus and it is clear that History students and Year 11 Modern History the students were aware that the content was students embarked on a historical expedition to the extremely relevant to their studies‖. Sydney Jewish Museum. At 8:25am, the students Helen, on the other hand, was a subjective speaker were waiting at Fairfield Station in full school as she was born in a ghetto in 1945. In detail, she uniform and buzzing with energy as they waited for discussed the experiences of her mother, who was their teachers, who were not as punctual, to arrive. unaware she was pregnant with Helen at the time, Both classes had studied the Holocaust in term 3 and how her mother struggled to ensure her and throughout their study of the Holocaust their survival. A student remarked, ―it was very teachers, Ms Trinh, Mr Petrakis and Ms interesting to see how the war made such an Buenaventura, remarked the students‘ maturity impact on how she lives her life today‖, as Helen throughout their study of the Holocaust. Ms discussed conferences she attends for child Buenaventura was quoted to say ―the Year 11 survivors of the Holocaust. students demonstrated an outstanding empathy Overall, it was an enriching experience. Students towards the plight of the Jewish people‖. were given the opportunity after the tour to roam The train ride to Kings Cross Station was quite around the museum and take a second look at the packed and many of the students and teachers had artefacts. Many of the students and the staff no room to sit and had to stand until we reached members felt a personal connection to the stories Central Station. Little did we know that this of the Holocaust survivors. An example of this is Mr experience of being packed into a small space Petrakis, who came across a photograph of a would help us understand Yvonne‘s story and the Holocaust survivor who has a striking resemblance experiences of the Jewish people during the to him. Holocaust. After the visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum, the Yvonne, who reminded many of us of our own group split to have lunch at either Oporto or grandmother, shared her plight with such pride and McDonald‘s where discussion about the trip to the dignity, ―my father asked me to promise him that I museum continued. Mr Petrakis, who led the troops would survive. I told him that ‗of course I‘ll survive‘, to McDonald‘s, reflected on the overall success of not aware of what I had to survive‖. Yvonne was the day, ―Students were well-behaved, respectful to very accommodating and answered our questions the staff at the Sydney Jewish Museum and judging with great detail. However, upon looking around by the enthusiastic discussions on the train ride the room, it was clear that the students were back to the homestead, enjoyed the day.‖ stunned into silence by her story. Lastly, to conclude this narrative of our historical expedition to the Sydney Jewish Museum, we wish to leave you with a quote by Edmund Burke that was presented to us on the day:

Supporting classroom learning through excursions 63

On this fine spring day, Fairfield High School‘s Year 9 Elective History class of 2012 embarked on a journey to Sydney‘s historic Police and Justice Museum. Located in Sydney‘s Circular Quay, the Police and Justice Museum served the purpose of housing some of our city‘s most historical criminal records and artefacts.

9:00am-Purchasing our tickets 11:00am- Lunch in the park 12:30pm- At our arrival to the Police & Justice Museum, we were seated in one of Sydney’s oldest court rooms

Our tour of the museum started. Here are some of the mug shots of the criminals

1:30pm- We were briefed on the mystery of “The Pyjama Girl”. Students listened intently as our tour guide Victor gave us clues to the case.

Supporting classroom learning through excursions 64

2:00pm- We were placed on trial. Students were to play out the court case of the Linda Agostini’s murder using the evidence they were given. Students dressed up and played the role of the judge, guard, lawyer, accused, foreman and the jury.

Justice was served when we discovered that Antonio Agostini was convicted of manslaughter of his wife Linda Agostini- the Pyjama Girl. As a part of our Crime and Punishment unit, students studied how law and order governed our society in history. The Police and Justice Museum gave students insight into how criminal cases were handled during the late 19th century up until the 1960‘s in Sydney. Students enjoyed the day immensely. We all learnt that Linda Agostini was an abusive partner and Antonio Agostini was a wife beater.

Teachers favourite part of the day? The ride home =) 2:20pm – The day ended and we were on our way home.

Supporting classroom learning through excursions

Students and teachers attended a Piano Beethoven and Chopin. He also gave a special Masterclass with famous Australian and masterclass to Annie Nguyen in Year 12 talking International Pianist Gerard Willems. This about expression and interpretation. was well received by all students and teachers We look forward to next year with the as Gerard discussed the importance of Music, possibility of Gerard giving another masterclass Humanity and Life. He was able to instil in all to the students of Fairfield and the South of us the importance of love in our lives Western Schools. expressed through the power of Music and the Patrick Honyak - Music Teacher Arts in general. He performed works by

Developing student performance skills through visiting mentors

"On 30th August, Year 12 Hospitality class cups with berry compote for dessert. We cooked for the Parents‘ Café where thirty welcomed the parents at twelve thirty and the parents were invited for our final practical service started right away. The room went assessment. Everyone was in their full chef quiet as we served the entrée and all of us uniforms. At eight o‘clock, we started our Mise were so excited to see our food being enjoyed en Place for our entrée and main. While others by the parents. The main dish had many were working on Mise en Place, others were elements to plate and it was important to preparing the room for the function. After we ensure all the meals looked the same as they finished our Mise en place, we divided our went through the pass. The guests had a tasks so we could serve the entrée, main and meeting to go to and took their dessert with dessert in time. We had a Table la dote menu them. It was a great day shared by all, we with antipasto plate for entrée, alternate would like to thank all the parents who came service of chicken and beef for main and and shared the experience with us." cheese cake parfaits and chocolate brownie Mr Ferguson

Developing Our student skills through VET Hospitality 67

In the latest instalment of the showdown After the mental exertions, the contestants between intellectual giants, Zaia, Aodi, Ramil, were provided with lunch before going back Khaled, Andy and Steven pitted their chess like into battle. Fairfield High‘s Chess team has minds against other schools at Holroyd High. improved since the introduction of the outdoor The air was tense with anticipation as chess setting the quad. onlookers waited to see who would be the new chess master. The event lasted all day and every conceivable strategy was employed to outwit their opponents. We had some near misses and some memorable victories as the search continued for the next Garry Kasporov.

As was evident from the day‘s results and the astounding triumphs of Jimmy Nguyen, Fairfield High has become a mecca for aspiring grand masters. Well done to the Chess team! "Thanks to Ms Trinh and Mr Petrakis for taking us to the Comp at Holroyd High"

Developing student skills through competitions 68

"Thank you to all those who participated and been donated online and collected already is sponsored participants in the 40 Hour Famine fantastic. Michelle Ha was our highest online this year. Participants gave up all sorts of participant and Amy Tran deserves a special things for 40 hours from funiture, technology, mention for raising over $160 including both speaking to food. We are still waiting for some online and cash collections. Well done all. " money to be collected, however, what has

Michelle Ha Amy Tran

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Supporting our community through fundraising 69

Mohamed Safadi

This term one of our special extracurricular painted by the Visual and Performing Arts projects was a giant wooden ruler to be department. A plane was used to take the displayed in the garden in front of the office. sharp edges off of the timber and then hand The following Year 10 students helped in sanded. A big thank you to these students sanding, shaping and preparing the timber for again, for their help in this co-curricular painting and display; Mohamed Safadi, Omar activity, and contributing in such a positive way Ayoubi, Walid Zahrooni and Ferdi Suna. These to the wider school community. As a beginning students had to dress in full personal protective teacher starting three weeks ago in the TAS equipment to work with these materials and faculty I had the privilege of doing this project also assisted the teacher with the orbital and I thoroughly enjoyed it. sander, using different grades of sand paper to Mr Sellen, TAS Teacher get the timber in a state where it can be

Mohamed Safadi Omar Ayoubi

Walid Zahrooni Ferdi Suna

Developing student skills in teamwork 70

The HSC Major Textiles Project is the final task exceeded even their own expectations for their in Textiles and Design and takes place over finished projects. Thank you for making my job three terms. Many of these students started easy. For another group of students in the the Preliminary course last year without any class (yes, you know who you are), time sewing skills, and had no idea how to use a management skills took a little longer to sewing machine. While a few students in the develop – like, on the last weekend before the class were unprepared for the number of hours projects were due to be handed in!!! While you needed to successfully complete their folio and didn‘t exactly make my job easy, you did give practical work, the Major Projects have finally me the most laughs, and excuses, and grey been completed and submitted for marking by hairs, and sleepless nights, and … and… and… the Board of Studies markers. Congratulations However, you also managed to complete you to those students who proved themselves to be projects and for this I am very thankful. independent workers. These students were Congratulations to each and every one of you very dedicated to the task, had fantastic time- and good luck for the HSC. management skills and in some cases

Developing HSC skills in textiles and design 71

Term 3 has been a busy but successful term in In Week 8, Combined High School Athletics regards to Sport. Championships was held at Sydney Olympic It started Week 1 Thursday with the U15s Boys Park. Our Boys U15s Relay team finished 3rd Soccer playing their Round 4 Game of the Bill overall in their heat, but due to the technical Turner Cup. The boys had won some tough aspects of the batten changes were games but came up against Westfield‘s Sports unfortunately disqualified. Sebastian Acosta High School, and unfortunately lost. Well done completed in 6 additional individual events in to the boys for getting that far. Friday saw The which he excelled in each event. Sebastian U16s Rugby League playing in the Parramatta won the U15s Triple Jump and High Jump, School Boys Knockout. The boys played a placed 3rd in the Long Jump and was a finalist number of games over the day. The boys won in the 100m, 400m and Hurdles. This allows one game, drew one game, and lost two Sebastian to compete at the Australian All games. Well done to the boys on their Schools Championship and the Skins Athletics consistent effort in 2012 in Rugby League and Championships. We wish Sebastian all the good luck in 2013. Friday also saw Masudi best both these meets. Elongo (Year 12) compete in the Combined High School Cross Country Championship. Masudi ran the challenging 6km course at Easter Creek, finishing in the top 80 runners in the state for his age group. Well done Masudi. It continued into Week 3, with Regional Athletics being held Wednesday and Thursday. We took approximately 20 competitors over the 2 days with some outstanding results. The U15s 4 x 100m Relay Team finished 2nd overall allowing them to compete at the Combined High Schools Athletics Championship. The team consisted of Langi Suli Ruka, Henry Vo Tran, Ali Al Saady and Sebastian Acosta. As well as being a part of the Relay Team Sebastian had an outstanding meeting coming 1st in U15s Boys Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Hurdles, 400m and 100m. All the boys will compete in the Combined High Schools Sebastian Acosta Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic th th Park on the 6 – 8 September. Good luck boys.

Developing Our students sporting skills through competition 72

Langi Suli Ruka has been selected as part of the U16s Rugby League Tour of France, in which he will spend two weeks playing Rugby League over the September/October School holidays. In this tour, Langi will play a number of games against international teams. We wish Langi all the best in this tour and his future in Rugby League. Well done Langi. Megan Hayes PDHPE Teacher

The NSW Premiers Sporting Challenge Medal is intended to acknowledge one student in each school for their outstanding commitment to fair play, achievement in sport either as a participant / umpire / trainer and / or sports leadership. In 2012 Safa Obeid from year 12 has received this award for her commitment, dedication, and peer leadership in the lunch time fitness club. Safa is an outstanding role model to both male Langi Suli Ruka and female students in the fitness club , She shows expertise and knowledge beyond her years and has been an enormous help to the smooth functioning of the facility. Adam Johnson Head Teacher PDHPE

Safa Obeid & Mr Johnson

Developing Our students sporting skills through competition 73

Under 15 Girls Knockout Basketball what a game that was. We all enjoyed the On the 8th of August the under 15 girls team game and got some McDonalds at the end. had a great game and played against Bass We all enjoyed playing basketball and having High. The girl‘s worked tremendously hard as an awesome coach and next year most of us they were only Year 9 and 8. Bass High had a will still be under 15‘s next year to take on the team of mostly year 10 girls which made it next game but much better! really challenging for us. The girls arrived at Bankstown stadium, they were so excited but also nervous to be there. For some girls it was their first time actually at a real stadium. The under 15 girls team were having fun while practicing throwing shots at the hoop. The girls throw nice shots, then one time Jamie Ladewig threw a shot from half way and got it in she was so happy. We arrived there pretty early so we had a lot of time to practice but as Bass High came, we all stopped shooting and watched them as they were walking in, we were all nervous. While Bass High was walking in the stadium they were so Team: Jamie Ladewig, Dianne Sengmany, big and tall. Isabella Kim, Jennifer Luangrath, Amy The game started and everyone was pumped Tran and Vika Feinga  but still nervous, they hardly ever trained. Bass By: Jamie Lee Ladewig!!! High scored 2 shots at the start and kept going. Then Amy quickly got the ball and shot The latest lunch time competition has come to it in. Then quickly Vika had a chance and got it a conclusion running over Term 2 and 3. I in. The first half we had 4 points and Bass High would like to congratulate all the players who had 18. helped to make this competition a success. The In second half everyone knew what they were results are as follows with the next competition doing and had an idea of how to play. We got running over Term 4 2012 and Term 1 2013. in to gear and started to play basketball. At the A special thank you must go to our consistent start of second half Amy quickly got the ball helpers, Leanne Trinh, Paulo Greaves, Nelson and took a shot, same as Isabella, Jamie and Phan and Peter Khuu who were always there Vika. We were on a role the other team made to score, timekeep and referee. Thank you also only 3 shots in the second half. At the last to the staff that played and to those that second Jamie took a 3 pointer shot and got it supported the competition in other ways, Mrs in but sadly we didn‘t get enough points to Galagher our number one spectator, Mr win. The score was 26-19. Bass High won and Petrakis our cook, Mr Sargeant our referee.

Developing Our students sporting skills through competition

Team Players Player Top Point Scorer Foulest Player From Children to Vagabonds Christopher Girgis Christopher Girgis Peter Khuu Unknown Skills Kenny Arshak Francis Amit Husain Al-Jaber Flying without a License Samir Ghamrawi Adrian Arceo Abbas Al-Ameri Henley‘s ≠ 2 Colin Dith Sebastian Acosta Sebastian Acosta Bazinga Belmin Redzepagic Mohammad Al Maqini Mohammad Al M Lek Moooooo Quintyn Aloesei Jamie-Lee Ladewig Nelson Phan Superior Intellect Paulo Greaves Paulo Greaves Daniel Tualaulelei Daniel Tualaulelei Arm Wrestle Challenge Dino Zagic Dino Zagic Roody Warda Chalkies Mr Conlan Mr Prica Mr Prica

Congratulations to the competition winners Arm Wrestle Challenge and runners up Chalkies.

Arm Wrestle Challenge Chalkies

Developing Our students sporting skills through competition 75

THIS INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO BE ACCURATE

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If a student has changed address, they may be entitled to a bus pass. If they currently have a bus pass and the address has changed, a new bus pass application must be completed (this is free of charge). The applications are available from the front office.

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MOTHER/GUARDIAN

Name: ______

Home Address: ______Home No: ______Mobile No: ______Work No: ______

FATHER/GUARDIAN

Name: ______

Home Address: ______

Home No: ______Mobile No: ______Work No: ______

EMERGENCY CONTACT 1. EMERGENCY CONTACT 2.

Name:

______

Relationship to student:

______

Home No:

______

Mobile No:

______