No 7 – 31 July 2015 Welcome to Term 3 As we start the third term of the 2015 school year we are welcoming a number of new staff. This includes Ms. Joy Boath – teaching Mathematics and Science Mr Nick Hurcombe – teaching Drama and Home Economics Ms. Laura Packard – teaching Netball and Physical Education CALENDAR Dr. Lucas Johnson – Laboratory Manager Tuesday 4 August Mr. Paddy Power – ICT Trainee Piipal Tous 9a Ms. Lynette King has taken leave for Term 3. Ms Bianca Reddy and her husband had the safe Governing Council Meeting arrival of their daughter, Olive Joy on 17 July. 7pm On 14 August we will be farewelling Ms Katrina Holmes who will be taking leave for the birth of Thursday 6 August her first child. Himeji Cultural Exchange arrive SATAC information evening Holiday construction 6.30pm in PAC During the school holidays work commenced on the courtyard area between the two storey Friday 7 August buildings. Concept plans for the outdoor space will be developed to ensure the area is Year 10 Science Alive multipurpose including for teaching, performance and student relaxation. Excursion Monday 10 August Staff award nominations 2016 Subject Counselling Over the holidays a number of staff were nominated for Tuesday 11 August awards. Ms Lindy Bartlett for the DECD Lifetime Ushiku Homestay parent Achievement Award. Mr Sam Thomson was recognised at meeting 7-8pm in Conference the Schools Ministry Group (SMG) conference on 21 July for Room his 25 years of service at Blackwood High School as the Friday 14 to Monday 17 August Dance Star National Trip Chaplain/Pastoral Support Worker. Sam has been an integral member of our school supporting students, families and Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 August staff, and is the longest staff member of the school. Year 10 Ski Trip Week Monday 17 August Upcoming events Himeji Cultural Exchange This term we are looking forward to some significant events for our students. On Friday 31 July depart our Year 12 students will have their Formal at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The evening Tuesday 18 August always proves to be a great occasion when our students and their partners join together to Ushiku Study Tour arrive celebrate. Thursday 20 August Four dance teams will travel to the Gold Coast from 13 to 16 August to compete in the 2015 Southern Science Expo for selected Year 8-s National School Dance Stars Competition on the Gold Coast. Tuesday 1 September The Year 10 IBMYP Personal Projects were exhibited from 27 Principal Tour 9am to 29 July displayed the range of personal interests our Friday 4 September students have pursued through this year. Importantly, they SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY recorded their reflections on their work and understanding Monday 7 September of their personal strengths. Right is a student’s work of art of STUDENT FREE DAY a Plover’s Nest The annual Year 10 Ski Trip will occur from 16 to 22 August with studets takig to the slopes o skis o snowboards. During National Science Week there will be three teams of students participating at the Southern Science Expo on 20 August. Year 7 students from our six Mitcham Hills Partnership schools will have the opportunity to see and hear about the application of Science, Mathematics and Technology. (continued on page 2) NEWSLETTER NO. 7 – 31 July 2015 Later this term, we will be hosting students from Himeji, with our students travelling to Himeji in the Term 3 school holidays. In preparation for 2016 school organisation, student selection of their courses will occur by 10 August. A number of parent information events have been held to support students in this process. Once students have completed their selections we will start constructing the 2016 timetable. Should parents/caregivers have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school. Science and Engineering Challenge at Flinders University On Thursday 23 July twenty three Year 9 & 10 students and teachers Rachelle Defazio and Joy Boath won the Uiesit of Neastles “cience and Engineering Challenge at Flinders University. The students and teachers were all very excited. Their excitement was palpable and they were very proud of their achievements. This is the first time that the school has won this award which is a great achievement. Blackwood was one of only two state schools in the competition of eight schools. Joy and Rachelle both said that the students were brilliant representatives of the school and worked together extraordinarily well. Difference between street art and graffiti In this newsletter on page 13 I have included an article on the difference between street art and graffiti. The City of Mitcham wants the community to be aware of what it is doing to deal with graffiti and what we can all do to ensure that our community remains attractive to ensure that council rates are spent on purposeful things for the community. Indigenous Australian Engineering Summer School (IAESS) Year 11 and 12 Indigenous students have the opportunity to participate in the 2016 IAESS at the University of Sydney. The event is from 10 to 16 January. Successful students will have all costs associated with the week long program covered including accommodation, flights and meals. Further information from Michael Winter or Nick Kusmanoff. Nature Foundation SA The iaugual Teasue Hut fo Natue eet ill e held at Elde Pak o August fo a util p. A number of Treasure trails encompassing the North Terrace, Migration Museum, State Library, SA Museum, Art Gallery, Adelaide University, Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Zoo, River Torrens, Adelaide Oval and the Festival Centre will occur. This event is a free family event. For further information visit wwww.naturefoundationsa.org.au or call 8340 2880. Offie of the Childre’s eSafety Coissioer The Australian Government recently announced the appointment of the eSafety Commissioner. The Government recently passed legislation Enhancing Online Safety for Children Act 2015 designed to enable children who experience serious cyber bullying to contact the eSafety Commissioner to have content removed from Social Media. Schools may have a role in working with the eSafety Commissioner to address cyber bullying concerns. A website www.esafety.gov.au has a range of resources available that are useful for children and their families. I would urge families to do to the website. There are useful hints and tips for people to stay safe online and how to report cyber bullying if social media companies do not take down inappropriate or offensive material. Marion Coady, Principal STUDENT VOICES FROM THE CLASSROOM Stage 1 English Communications This year we have found Year 11 English Communications with Mr Brookes to be a highly engaging subject and have learnt a wide variety of skills. Through our Recount Writing assignment, we explored our personal histories and analysed the events that influenced our beliefs and understanding of humanity. I, Molly, chose to revisit a family trip through the streets of Bali. Reflecting on this event, I analysed how the experience shaped me as an individual and taught me a valuable life lesson in never taking my state of health or the place in which I was born for granted. Wee also opleted a fe assigets foused o tet aalsis. This ioled us aalsig the iteal eaig of influential films and novels, such as The Shawshank Redemption and Of Mice and Men. In these studies we were asked to interpret how the director or author of the text used techniques (e.g. juxtaposition) to explore certain themes (e.g. the importance of hope in the confines of prison). I, Hiromi, decided to contrast the films Good Will Hunting and Stand By Me for my Connected Texts assignment. Viewing and analysing these two films was an incredible learning experience as it allowed me to not only understand different perspectives, but it also affected how my morality dictates the manner in which I perceive new ideas, such as the way in which history shapes our character and future. This subject has given us the skills to understand and empathise with a variety of diverse perspectives and produce structured and highly sophisticated in-depth responses to text. It has also ensured smooth transition into Year 12 English and further study. Molly McCarthy and Hiromi Hill 2 NEWSLETTER NO. 7 – 31 July 2015 BLACKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL HIGH ACHIEVERS Congratulations to Blake Higgins Year 8 and Bailey Dyer Year 10 who have been selected to represent South Australia in the Australian Cross Country Championships in Melbourne from 28 to 31 August. Congratulations to Kate Westphalen Year 11 who has been selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) in January next year. The NYSF is a two week camp held at the Australian National University where students experience working in laboratories and meeting leading scientists. Congratulations to Madeleine Winter (member of Raunchy Sugar Band) and Chris Williams (member of Artisan Rabbits Band) who were interviewed and featured in articles about their success and future careers in the music industry, in the Adelaide Street Magazine B Side which is distributed across Adelaide. LAW IS MORE PROGRAM AT UNISA O Jul, I as hose as a ie of Ui“As Law is More competition. Twenty students, ten winners and ten runners up took part. It was run by the UniSA Student Association in The UniSA School of Law, located in a heritage- listed building on the corner of George and Hindley Streets. To start off, we were welcomed by the Dean of the Law Faculty, Professor Wendy Lacey, followed by some ice-breakers. We then fortunate enough to take part in an interactive courtroom activity, where I was part of a fictional liets defee tea.