Term 2 | Week 9 | 30 June 2017 Principal’s Welcome As educators, what we are on about is teaching learning so they can achieve their personal best. No and learning to extend the knowledge skills, matter how Semester 1 went, I ask all students to: understandings and dispositions of young people. As • Attend school each day and arrive to Care Group a staff, we constantly look at improving the quality and subject classes on time. of teaching processes and programs to deliver the • Be organised with all required equipment best outcomes for students. Mostly, though, we see including your charged laptop. all of this from our side of ‘the desk’. Unfortunately, • For each assessment task, be sure that you we rarely get to see this from the student’s understand what it is you have to do to be side. Teachers, in developing their professional successful and how the task will be marked. relationships with students, try to probe what • Plan ahead and record key due dates, such as this looks like and seek feedback about teaching those for draft work and final submission, in your processes and assessment tasks. But does this diary. really enable us to get a true student’s perspective? • Ask your teachers for help when you don’t This week I intend to begin a process called ‘Follow understand. a Student’ and continue this through Term 3 in • Attempt all tasks to the best of your ability and order to initially provide me with a more accurate complete homework regularly. student perspective across Years 8 to 12. This process, which was designed by what was formerly Obviously, students should seek the support of their the Quality Improvement and Effectiveness subject teachers who are key to assisting students Unit in DECD, involves attending classes with an with their learning to achieve their best. However, identified student to observe their learning and students in Years 8 to 10 may also be referred to the to ask questions regarding what they perceive Teaching and Learning Centre for targeted learning lessons to be about, how they believe they are support to assist the completion of assessment going with their learning and how they know this. tasks. Year 11 and 12 students should use the Senior Learning Centre for study lessons where supervising I plan to share the outcomes of this process with teachers are available to assist students with their staff, and use the information to further inform our learning. improvement agenda. As well, in the near future, I plan to offer staff the opportunity to undertake Staff car parks this process. In this way I hope we can collectively Finally, a reminder to parents/caregivers that the gain a much deeper and collaborative insight into school car parks located on the southern side of learning from a student’s point of view, reflect Seymour Street are only for the use of Blackwood on what we learn from this and, hence, refine our High School staff. These car parks are not for student practices if necessary to build teacher efficacy and ‘drop off and pick up.’ I ask for your support with this greater engagement and outcomes for students. to ensure student safety and allow staff access to the staff parking area. Semester 2 I acknowledge that there are limited safe places for This week is the start of Semester 2. Many classes student ‘drop off and pick up’, and that the traffic have started new units of learning. Therefore, it is congestion along Seymour Street before and after important to remind students of the opportunity school is a major concern. I plan to contact Mitcham this provides and the key behaviours and strategies Council to discuss this issue and possible solutions. that will support them to be successful with their Safe Travel on Public Transport The school has been working with Light City Buses to ensure the safety of Blackwood High School students travelling to and from school. Recently, members of the Executive Team have been talking to drivers and students as the buses arrive at the beginning and leave at the end of the day. We have noticed that many students get off the bus in the morning with a cheery ‘thankyou’ and a smile for the driver. Many drivers have commented on this courteous behaviour which reflects positively on the school community. However, recently on some of the buses, there have been instances of concerning behaviour. As a result, we remind students (and families) about the behaviours expected when travelling on public transport: • All students are required to have a current ticket and to validate upon boarding. • Eating and drinking is not allowed as indicated by signage, therefore there should be no litter left on public transport. • Students are to speak quietly so as not to distract the driver and other members of the public. Offensive language will not be tolerated. • Shoes and feet are to remain off seats and on the floor. • Only push the bell for your designated stop. Inappropriate behaviours on buses/public transport can attract significant fines. Light City Buses can also charge the costs for cleaning up or for damage caused by passengers and it is possible for individual passengers to be banned from using buses. All buses are equipped with security cameras which, in many cases, make it possible to identify offenders. Light City Buses would prefer to work with the school community using an educative approach rather than issuing fines. However, students need to be aware that it is possible for fines to be issued. We are proud of our students, the great majority of whom exhibit the school values of care, achievement and respect and are great ambassadors for Blackwood High School. This reputation is on public display when students travel on public transport. Uniform At Blackwood High School it is an expectation that students wear school uniform. The school uniform policy was developed by the school community and is endorsed by the Governing Council, parents/caregivers, staff and students. All students who enrol at Blackwood High school are expected to proudly wear the school uniform because it: • Assists with the safety and care of students by identifying them as Blackwood High School students on the school grounds and while on excursions, and in the community. • Provides appropriate, cost effective clothing for the wide range of teaching and learning activities. • Develops a positive image of Blackwood High School in the wider community. • Contributes to school identity and develops a sense of belonging. • Reduces competitive dressing. • Develops discipline in wearing a prescribed uniform, often required by employers. The student diary and school website clearly state the school uniform requirements. I ask that parents/ caregivers speak to their children about these requirements and ensure that the following are not worn to school: • Leggings or yoga pants • Jeans of any colour • Track pants • Ugg boots • Coloured clothing worn under polo tops The July school holidays provides an opportunity for families to ensure students have the correct uniform attire ready for Term 3. From the beginning of next term students who arrive to school wearing non- uniform items, without an explanation from parents/caregivers, can expect a consequence. If families have questions or concerns about the uniform requirements or require support, please contact the school. Sharon Goldman, Principal 2 Inspiring Achievement and Respect Blackwood High School High Achievers • Congratulations to Tynan Carney, in Year 12, who was selected in the 30 man SANFL under 17 Futures State Squad. He participated in the U17’s Futures Game against WA at Laithan Park in Perth on 24 June. • Congratulations to Jamie Lunn, in Year 8, who will be participating in the Inline Hockey Nationals in Victoria from 25 to 30 September. • Congratulations to Cooper Gilbert, in Year 9, and Kye Dean, in Year 10, who have been selected to represent Secondary School Sport SA at the School Sport Australian Football Championships. The championships will be held in Perth and Mandurah WA from 22 to 29 July. • Congratulations to Amanda Bowne, in Year 11, who was awarded the Dame Roma Mitchell Scholarship. • Congratulations to Jacquelyn Banko and Hannah Haynes, in Year 9, who will participate in the Australian Calisthenics Federation National Championships in Sydney from 2 July to 9 July 2017. • Congratulations to Bailey Dyer, in Year 12, who has been selected to participate in the Secondary School Sport SA Interstate Cross Country Championships held in Hobart, Tasmania from 11 to 14 August 2017. IBMYP News Year 10 Personal Project The Year 10 students are currently working hard towards completing their Personal Projects and from some of the conversations I have had with students, there are some amazing ideas. The overall grade for Personal Project will reflect the assessment of the written report that students are now completing. The journal extracts and the product itself form vital supporting evidence and students include extracts and photographs as appendices. Early in Term 3, teachers will work together to give IBMYP predicted marks for the report and will also mark the task against the SACE Performance standards for the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) so it can be counted towards their PLP. In line with the IBO’s policy, external moderators will mark samples of final projects then confirm the IBMYP final grades given to all students during Term 4. A celebration of the Personal Project will be early in Term 3 where parents/caregivers and friends will be able to view the finished products. Kate Young, Leader, IBMYP 3 The Arts News Term 2 has been a busy one for The Arts, with a few performances and exhibitions across both Performing and Visual Arts.