Singleton High School News HONOUR THROUGH WORK 2015 Please be aware that this newsletter contains the name and picture of an aboriginal person who has passed away Term 3 . Week 8 LEAGUE TEAM MAKES THE GRANDFINAL • TOMMY’S DAY SUCCESS • MAX POTENTIAL • MEET THE NEW CAPTAINS Events School Information Inside 8 SEPTEMBER Jo Gray Annie Phillips Principal News YR 7 VACCINATIONS ( AND ANY YR11 AND 12 Principal HT VET Deputy Report MISSED VACINATIONS) Ian Skilton Martin Gray Wellbeing News TYPE ONSIE DAY Deputy Principal Yr 7, 11 Librarian 10 SEPTEMBER Year Reports 7,8 and 12 Rochelle Dooley Jane Johns YEAR 12 SAFE PARTY TALK Captains nominations HT CAPA 14 -18 SEPTEMBER Deputy Principal Yr 8, 12 (rel) Max Potential Tracey Holloway Linda Wilkes GATS IRP PRESENTATIONS Uncle Les Elvin 14 SEPTEMBER Deputy Principal Yr 9, 10 (rel) HT Teaching and Learning THANK YOU YEAR 12 BREAKFAST Kathleen Ballard Japan Trip 15 SEPTEMBER Wellbeing HT Year Advisors 2015 Student Spotlight YEAR 12 END OF YEAR EXCURSION Nicole French Meet a Teacher TOCAL LIVE CATTLE SHOW DAY Assistant Wellbeing Advisor Cindy Koletsis-Tatt & Tristan Chapman Faculty Happenings 16 SEPTEMBER Dayna Cowmeadow Year 7 Melbourne Cup LOVE BITES HT Staff Administration (rel) Margaret Bagnall & Rowen Lewis YOUNG FARMERS CHALLENGE COMPETITION Tommy’s Day News Graeme Lindsay Year 8 17 SEPTEMBER Library News YEAR 11 BIOLOGY EXCURSION Administration HT (rel) Nathan Jones & Jaye Sunerton Careers News 18 SEPTEMBER Margaret Richardson Year 9 Uniform Shop Roster Andrew Somerville & Daniel Mead YEAR 12 FINAL GRADUATION ASSEMBLY Administration Manager Canteen Menu EQUESTRIAN TEAM EVENT David Welsh Year 10 LAST DAY TERM 3 HT English Daniel Higgins & Megan Smith 20 SEPTEMBER Leanne Mullen Year 11 JAPAN TRIP HT Science Bob Collins & Maddie Valentine Kathleen Prudence Year 12 HT Maths UNIFORM SHOP IS NOW OPEN Toby Karakasch P&C Association meets the 3rd ON MONDAYS HT Home Economics (rel) Monday of the month in common room 8.30am to 10.00am Tracey Holloway at 7.30pm and HT Languages Next meeting 19 October 2015 HT Aboriginal Education President, Mrs Salli Avard 3.30pm to 5.00pm Jason Kolatchew Secretary, Mrs Cynthia Mulholland Alternatively place and pay HT Industrial Arts Treasurer, Mr Simon Rock for uniform orders on line and Clemma Mansfield Canteen Coordinator, Tracy Johnson collect from the school office HT PDHPE Canteen Phone 02 6572 2373 any time within office hours Kirsten Strachan HT Special Ed School Office Hours Bruce Withers 8.30am - 4.00pm HT HSIE JO Principal’s Report GRAY Uncle Les Elvin This year had more entries than any previous year. Of the 325 their true leadership value through their detailed organisation The funeral of Uncle Les Elvin was an extremely moving entries, only 19 scholarships were awarded. of this event. experience. Over 1600 people honoured his life last Mr James will travel in America for five weeks from January I do not know of any other schools that so generously donate Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Auditorium, with speeches 1st, investigating farming and teaching methods in farms and their time and efforts to such big events. Thank you to all from many whose lives he had touched. schools across America. students for participation in the talent quest, and also for your The preciousness of those recent paintings hanging in our This is a prestigious award, and Singleton High School has a contribution to the afternoon events. I look forward to hearing MPC, with the accompanying video, are truly priceless and proud history of achievement, with Brian Means and Craig the final amount raised. I know that one boy alone raised over we are so fortunate to have them in our school. For a more Bourne also recent recipients. $1000 in sponsorship for his head shave. detailed look at Uncle Les’ life, please read the article in this Congratulations Mr James for your wonderful achievement. The SRC also ran the BBQ at Bunnings on Saturday to further newsletter written by Sharon Bailey. boost fundraising efforts. What a great team! Our thoughts are with the family of Uncle Les and all those New Captains who are grieving. The process at Singleton High School for selecting captains Year Twelve final two weeks… is the best that I have seen. From the initial letter written by One measure of success at school is how you feel when it Max Potential the students to their interview, and finally to the speeches, comes to an end. A mixture of sadness and excitement are Five of our students graduated from the Max Potential this process is both thorough and thought provoking for the the common experiences of those who have had a meaningful program this week. The program is a wonderful opportunity students. and enriched school experience. Sadness is associated with for our students to benefit from an intensive mentoring The seriousness displayed by the students during their the loss of the day-to-day routines, the close interactions with course. At the end of the program, students display their speeches was impressive, as was the attention of the rest of friends, the conversations, handball games, and even missing project. I was fortunate to attend the graduation at Singleton the school throughout. the teachers who you know have cared so much. Diggers Club, where I was able to discuss the projects with the The calibre of students who put themselves forward this students. Congratulations to Marree, Eliza, Ciarra, Rohit and year was outstanding. I would like to congratulate the 2016 The excitement comes from the new beginning that awaits Logan for their thoughtful, interesting and creative projects. captains, Laura and Zac, and the 2016 vice captains, Ebony and after the HSC. While most of you have had six years at Jackson. They have made an excellent start to the captainship Singleton High and I’ve only known you during your final year, Premier’s Teaching Scholarship of Singleton High School. I would also like to congratulate all it is apparent to me that most of you are facing the future Congratulations to Mr James for being awarded a Premier’s of the nominating students, who showed many admirable with excitement rather than trepidation. This means that your Teaching Scholarship, which was presented to him by Adrian qualities throughout this process. school has assisted you in becoming more confident, forward Piccoli at Parliament House on Saturday. It would be remiss of me not to mention the outgoing looking, resilient and optimistic as you enter a new phase captains, who have done an outstanding job in 2015. Sam of your life. Never before have these qualities been more and Eliza, Teagan and Brayden have shown real leadership important because these are the characteristics necessary to in the last year in many different ways. Their actions both survive in a rapidly changing world. publically and behind the scenes have added to the inclusive and energetic culture of the student body. Thank you all for You are a very fine group of young adults. Enjoy your last two making my introduction to student leadership at Singleton weeks of school and savor your final experiences of something High School so rewarding. you have done for the last 13 years. Good luck in the HSC and beyond. I look forward to meeting Tommy’s Day many of your families at the final assembly. Mr Collins has done an incredible job with the SRC to organise another successful fundraiser for cancer research. Tommy’s Jo Gray, Principal Day, under his leadership, has contributed over $100,000 over the years to this extremely worthwhile cause. The SRC showed IAN Deputy’s Report SKILTON The advantages of being in a large community school this is where a student has non or limited attendance at Thank you for your ongoing support of Singleton High such as ours is being shown through the many activities class, placing them in danger of being unsuccessful. School. that take place, the width of subject selection, welfare Our students are an amazing group of individuals who programs, sporting, cultural and community based Changing of the guard in the leadership of the student work tirelessly to improve the lives of many as well as involvements. One aspect I enjoy greatly is being able body is taking place at the present time. The task of learning life skills. to visit class rooms to see the learning that is occurring selecting our new leadership team for 2015-16 has along with the AHA!!! moments. That is, when a student occurred. The process is equivalent to conducting a state Ian Skilton, Deputy Years 7 and 11 suddenly knows how to achieve at last and then forges or federal election. All students were given a vote after ahead in their understanding of the material at hand. the speeches. Those who were away unfortunately will have to look forward to the 2016 process. Over 900 full I have visited Maths, Home Economics, Technology, preferential votes were counted. That gives you a scale Science and CAPA classes thus far across Years 7 to of how intense, honest, and scrutinising Singleton High 11 in the last month. All classes have been receptive School is in ensuring tradition continues for this school in and inviting to having a new learner walk in the door. our community. Learning is for all of us and it certainly is never too late All candidates were of the highest of standard. They to learn something new each day. Staff, are thanked for make up the Leadership Team, a new concept that ensuring these opportunities are afforded to me. The places the running of certain aspects of the schools’ most memorable was assisting a Year 7 girl cook her student body with our seniors.