Newsletter Week 11 Term 1 2019 Term 1 has been an incredibly busy and successful term with a large number of whole school events occurring, including: school development sessions, the school dance, camps for Years 11 and 7, VET work experience, Open Night, School photographs, Kindness Week, Parent Teacher interviews and the Cross Country which will be held on Friday. I thank the staff and students for their diligence and hard work in organising and managing so many successful events. P&C I would like to thank the P&C for its continuing financial support. The High Resolves Program would not run at the school without the support of the P&C. Additionally the P&C have funded future-focused learning spaces, teaching resources and grounds maintenance. I strongly encourage all parents to pay the P&C levy and get involved in P&C meetings. There is a guest speaker featured at every meeting who does a special presentation to parents on curriculum, special programs and upcoming events. We are deeply appreciative of the parent community and the support they continue to give the school in these times of change. Senior Program for Year 10 Term 2 will be an important one for Year 10. The Senior Program Information Night (Year 10 into 11) will be held on Thursday 30th May. In addition to the information night a number of activities are planned including visits (taster lessons) to senior classes, table talks with head teachers and parent student interviews in relation to subject selection and future goals. The aim of this program is to help the students choose the best educational pathway in senior school and give them a greater understanding of what it means to be a senior student at The Forest High School. I strongly encourage students and parents to attend the information evening and the interviews. NAPLAN The National testing of literacy and numeracy of all students in Years 7 and 9 will be held in Term 2 on 14th–16 th May. These tests measure each student’s skills and knowledge in these fundamental areas of learning, and enable schools and parents to focus on the areas that are being achieved above the benchmarks and areas where students may need extra direction and support. NAPLAN assesses skills that are developed over time through the school curriculum. NAPLAN is not a pass or fail type test, but rather shows how individual students are progressing in numeracy and literacy skills against national standards for all Australian children. Parents are encouraged to contact the school if they have any concerns and if they have any questions about NAPLAN results after students receive the reports. Staff changes There are two changes in the Mathematics Faculty commencing in Term 2. Mrs Denise O’Donnell is on leave till the end of the year and Mrs Leah Barry has accepted a transfer to the Conservatorium of Music. We welcome Miss Hilary Page as a permanent teacher to the Mathematics Faculty and Mr Andrew Siu is relieving for Mrs O’Donnell in 2019. Miss Bethany Sweeny will be the Learning and Support Teacher for 2019. Principal’s Report
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Newsletter Week 11 Term 1 2019
Term 1 has been an incredibly busy and successful term with a large number of whole school events occurring,
including: school development sessions, the school dance, camps for Years 11 and 7, VET work experience,
Open Night, School photographs, Kindness Week, Parent Teacher interviews and the Cross Country which will
be held on Friday. I thank the staff and students for their diligence and hard work in organising and managing so
many successful events.
P&C I would like to thank the P&C for its continuing financial support. The High Resolves Program would not
run at the school without the support of the P&C. Additionally the P&C have funded future-focused learning
spaces, teaching resources and grounds maintenance. I strongly encourage all parents to pay the P&C levy and
get involved in P&C meetings. There is a guest speaker featured at every meeting who does a special
presentation to parents on curriculum, special programs and upcoming events. We are deeply appreciative of
the parent community and the support they continue to give the school in these times of change.
Senior Program for Year 10 Term 2 will be an important one for Year 10. The Senior Program Information
Night (Year 10 into 11) will be held on Thursday 30th May. In addition to the information night a number of
activities are planned including visits (taster lessons) to senior classes, table talks with head teachers and parent
student interviews in relation to subject selection and future goals. The aim of this program is to help the
students choose the best educational pathway in senior school and give them a greater understanding of what it
means to be a senior student at The Forest High School. I strongly encourage students and parents to attend
the information evening and the interviews.
NAPLAN The National testing of literacy and numeracy of all students in Years 7 and 9 will be held in Term 2
on 14th–16th May. These tests measure each student’s skills and knowledge in these fundamental areas of
learning, and enable schools and parents to focus on the areas that are being achieved above the benchmarks
and areas where students may need extra direction and support. NAPLAN assesses skills that are developed
over time through the school curriculum. NAPLAN is not a pass or fail type test, but rather shows how individual
students are progressing in numeracy and literacy skills against national standards for all Australian children.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school if they have any concerns and if they have any questions about
NAPLAN results after students receive the reports.
Staff changes There are two changes in the Mathematics Faculty commencing in Term 2. Mrs Denise
O’Donnell is on leave till the end of the year and Mrs Leah Barry has accepted a transfer to the Conservatorium
of Music. We welcome Miss Hilary Page as a permanent teacher to the Mathematics Faculty and Mr Andrew Siu
is relieving for Mrs O’Donnell in 2019. Miss Bethany Sweeny will be the Learning and Support Teacher for 2019.
Principal’s Report
The school executive have created a third, school funded, Deputy Principal Position for 2019, commencing in
Term 2. Mr Peter Santamaria was the successful candidate for that position.
Technology - Laptops The school is expending funds on three banks of 60 laptops and charging stations to
provide additional technology for students to use. These will be placed in English, Science and HSIE. More
laptops may be purchased in 2020 if needed. BYOD is still important and students are still encouraged to bring
laptops as needed for lessons.
Technology - Canvas The school has purchased an online learning management system called Canvas.
Canvas will provide a one-stop learning portal for students and staff in 2019 and for parents as well in 2020. It
provides one log-in and will link all the learning management systems that are currently being used in the school
including Sentral, Stile, One Note, Google and Microsoft 365. It should provide ease of navigation and ensure
that everyone can easily access all online learning platforms.
Laptops are being purchased for all teaching staff and training will be provided to ensure that all staff are able to
effectively use all online learning platforms. Canvas and the interactive data technology are available in every
classroom.
We have also designated funding to upgrade a number of classrooms across the school.
Happy Holidays Finally I wish students, staff, parents, carers, family and the community a relaxing and safe
holiday. Monday 29th April is a Staff Development Day. All students return to school on Tuesday 30th April.
Rosemary McDowall, Principal
The primary focus of our staff is to ensure every student is known, valued and cared for. This term has
highlighted the commitment of The Forest High staff to ensure we meet this standard.
Merit Awards We have had a number of students recognised for their outstanding contribution to the
classroom.
Leading Year 7 for green slip merit awards are Ethan Fairbairn, Mariacarmela Falco-Davalos, Jude Gacelos, Mia
Graham, Jai Jacobs, and Leilani Taia.
In Year 9 our green slip merit award leaders are Jesse Heriot, Andrei Olivar, Halle Smit, Kye Sparks and Amelia
Trout.
And finally, our green slip merit award leaders in Year 11 are Ryan Dixon, Amelia Hanson, Logan Jankovski,
Felix Katzen, Johnson Ly and Marcus Vilnis.
School Camps Our Year 11 and Year 7 camps provided an opportunity for students and staff to work closely
together through a range of challenges. When staff and students interact outside of the classroom environment it
deepens the respect and connection they have with each other. Building this trust and rapport pays dividends
when students face their own challenges throughout the school year. Thank you to our Year 11 Adviser Hilary
Page, and our Year 7 Adviser Erin McWhirter, for their commitment to providing the best possible camp
experience for our students. I am looking forward to seeing our Year 9 students on camp next term, and I know
Ms Yam has been busy organising a great experience.
Year 7 Parents Evening Our Year 7 parents evening was a huge success. The evening provided an
opportunity for parents to mingle and introduce themselves to their child’s teachers. It was a beautiful evening in
Deputy Principal’s Report
our main quad, with food and music enjoyed by all. While the speeches from staff covered a range of practical
and organisational points for parents, it was our guest speaker from Relationships Australia that provided insight
into the challenges of raising a high school student. Funny and poignant, I am sure her advice will last long in the
memory of many parents.
Distinguished Achievers Our 2018 HSC Distinguished Achievers (pictured below) returned to celebrate their
success. At a special assembly we were able to share their stories of success with our school community and
demonstrate the myriad of pathways we can aspire to at The Forest.
Stymie Our Welfare Team has gained greater insight into the concerns facing our young people through our
confidential reporting platform Stymie. It can be difficult for students to raise concerns about behaviour in person,
but this new system has allowed us to better monitor what is happening in the classroom and playground, and
put in place strategies to target areas of concern. As a result, we are seeing a decrease in the impact of
harassment and bullying in the school. Thank you to our Head Teacher Welfare, Julian Floriano, and his
exceptional team of Year Advisers and support staff.
Our Tibetan school community The term finished with a presentation by our Tibetan students to their parents
about life at The Forest High School. It was an inspiring afternoon. Congratulations to Cameron Rowland for
organising this event.
Kindness Week Our staff worked tirelessly this term, but we also made time to care for each other. In Week 9
we had our first Kindness Week, where staff engaged in random acts of kindness towards each other. We have
also had a secret dress code theme on a Friday, and enjoyed seeing our students try to figure out the secret
code. While Hawaiian shirts and sports teams were obvious, our retro theme proved more challenging.
Supporting each other ensures we are able to best support your children.
Connecting these stories is the importance of developing strong and resilient mental health. Mental illness is one
of the great challenges of 21st century teaching. To this end, all staff will be engaging in Mental Health First Aid
professional development next term. We are committed to the ongoing development of all our staff and their
capacity to ensure every child is known, valued and cared for.
Mathew Finley, Deputy Principal
This term has been very busy with staff and students fully engaged in learning and extra-curricular activities at
the school.
Open Night Since the last newsletter we have held our annual Open Night with significant organisation by our
wonderful student in the SRC supported by Ms Nicole Murray, School Librarian. This event was again a huge
success where The Forest was showcased to our community. Visitors were able to experience our vibrant and
active school community in action. A survey of 2019 incoming Year 7 parents highlighted that after being in area
for the school, our Open Night was the next biggest factor in parents and students choosing The Forest.
School Uniform With Term 2 heralding the change of season I need to raise awareness of uniform. The Forest
High School parent community determines the school uniform. Uniform is important in terms of Work, Health and
Safety, preparedness for work and school pride. Unfortunately prospective employers and community members
often judge schools by how well the students wear uniform.
Leather Footwear The NSW State Government requires that students wear enclosed leather shoes in order to
participate safely in practical lessons. Trainers and canvas shoes do not provide any protection to students’ feet
in the event of a chemical being spilled in science or when using tools in a TAS or visual arts workshop. Some
students are choosing to ignore this requirement making it impossible for them to participate in learning in
practical lessons.
School Jumpers With the onset of cooler weather in Term 2, we encourage students to wear appropriate
school jumpers. Hoodies are not allowed at school as they present a security issue. The Uniform Shop has a
range of options for students to select, including a warm black jacket. Black tailored pants (not jeans or track
pants) and black shorts are part of uniform for both male and female students. Girls may also wear warm tights
(not leggings) with their school skirt for warmth.
Socks The P&C changed the uniform to black socks in 2018. They believe the black socks complement the
black pants, shorts and shoes. This change was introduced last year so all students should be wearing plain
black socks by Term 2.
Students who are not in the correct uniform may be unable to perform or accept awards on stage during
performances, formal assemblies and events. Teachers may require that full uniform be worn on excursions. We
ask that parents support us in ensuring that their child has the appropriate uniform. Financial support is available
confidentially through the school if required. We will be focusing on uniform in Term 2 to ensure that the students
are safe at school and well presented in the community.
Hoping families have a great vacation and that students return refreshed for the beginning of Term 2.
Cathy Thompson, Deputy Principal
29 April 2019 School Development Day – Staff Only
30 April 2019 Students Return Anzac Day Assembly
1 May 2019 Grade Sport Trials Begin
2 May 2019 Athletics Carnival
6 May 2019 Elevate Year 10 & 11
7 May 2019 Year 8 & 10 Parent Teacher Interviews 3.45pm – 7.30pm
8-10 May 2019 Year 9 Camp
13 May 2019 Elevate Year 8 Meet the Principal 9.00am
14 -16 May 2019 NAPLAN Year 7 & 9
17 May 2019 Year 9 Relationships Australia Workshops
21 May 2019 Elevate Parent Seminar 6.30pm-7.30pm
22 May 2019 Maths Olympiad School Council 6.00pm P&C Meeting 7.00pm
24 May 2019 Zone Cross Country
27 May 2019 Elevate Year 9
30 May 2019 Senior Program Information Night
3-5 June 2019 Student/Parent Interviews for Senior School
6 June 2019 Year 10 Vaccinations
7 June 2019 Zone Athletics
10 June 2019 Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
11 June 2019 Silver Ceremony
19 June 2019 Year 10 Student/Parent Teacher Subject Interviews Maths Olympiad
21 June 2019 Stage 5 Music Night
26 June 2019 School Council 6.00pm P&C Meeting 7.00pm
27-28 June 2019 Visual Arts Camp
1 July 2019 NAIDOC Week Celebrations
1-5 July 2019 Year 10 Work Experience
5 July 2019 Bob Philpott Challenge Cup Yr11 v Yr12 Last Day of Term 2
22 July 2019 School Development Day – Staff Only
23 July 2019 First day of Term 3 – students return
Term 2 2019 Events
What a busy term it has been! High School is a huge adjustment and I am proud to say Year 7 have done a
fantastic job of settling into The Forest High School community. It is wonderful to see Year 7 participating in the
wind and dance ensembles, sporting teams, choir and Interact Club.
Year 7 Camp The highlight of this term would have to be Year 7 Camp. The students participated and
challenged themselves which was amazing to see! Students now have a new group of "camp friends" and
made life long memories. Students completed a range of activities including high ropes, lost world, giant swing,
problem solving, abseiling and the leap of faith. The evenings were just as action packed, with a game of
teachers vs students commando, followed by challenge night on night two. Students also attended an anti-
bullying workshop to help them discover effective strategies in developing relationships and building resilience.
TFHS Extras Do you know that there are so many clubs and activities on offer at The Forest High School?
Beyond the Bell lunchtime Homework Club
Concert Band – Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7.15am
Wind Ensemble – Tuesday morning at 7.15am Jazz Orchestra – Wednesday afternoon at 3pm
Choir - Thursdays at lunch in D1010
Interact Club – meets on Thursdays at lunchtime (fortnightly)
Maths Helpdesk - Friday lunchtime in E1006 - free - all welcome Dance Ensemble – Tuesday lunchtime and Friday at 7.30am in the PAC
Our PDHPE Faculty also run lunchtime sessions in the gym each day
Year 7 Report
Clean Up Australia Day On Friday 1st March our Year 7 students participated in "Clean Up Australia Day" at
the school. During Period 5 our students selected an area of the school to ensure any rubbish in that area was
collected. Well done Year 7s in doing your part to help our keep environment clean.
Peer Support Program Peer Support is coming to an end. I would like to thank our Year 10 Peer Support
Leaders for their work on this project and also Year 7 for their participation in this program.
I wish students and their families a happy and safe break, and look forward to seeing Year 7 back next term.
Erin McWhirter, Year 7 Adviser
Term 1 has been an incredibly busy and rewarding term!
Assessment tasks Many assessment tasks have been completed this term and it has been pleasing to see
that the vast majority of students are organised, prepared and submitting assessments on the due date. Well
done for demonstrating your ability to organise your time effectively and for showing academic maturity in your
approach to study. As assessments are returned, it is important students look beyond their mark and take note
of the specific feedback they have received. Reading and understanding feedback is a great learning opportunity
and students are encouraged to incorporate their feedback into future work. Beyond the Bell will begin again in
Term 2. Students are encouraged to attend if they need extra help with assessment tasks or homework. This is
a great opportunity to make a head start on any work and have assistance of a teacher on hand. Further details
on dates to come! Also, for students requiring maths assistance, the Maths Helpdesk is available every week.
Smashed Project: On 12th March students participated in the ‘Smashed Project’. This was a hard-hitting
interactive multimedia performance that explored risk taking behaviour and the dangers of underage
drinking. Our Year 8 students were able to interact with the actors and were challenged by the facilitators to
offer advice to the characters. Students were encouraged to discover realistic ways to deal with peer pressure,
which empowers them to behave responsibly and make healthy life choices. This was an engaging and inspiring
presentation that encouraged all students to make positive decisions around their use of social media, alcohol
drinking and relationships.
RAISE Mentoring: A number of Year 8 students are involved in the RAISE Mentoring Program which supports
young people to become resilient, capable and connected. Students greatly enjoyed their first meeting and this
program will continue throughout Term 2 in order to further empower students.
Parent and Teacher Interviews: Year 8 Parent and Teacher interviews will be held on Tuesday 7th May (Week
2, Term 2). Bookings can be made on Sentral. This is an excellent way of connecting with your child’s teacher to
discuss how your child is travelling this year.
Kate Board, Year 8 Adviser
Year 9 have maintained their excellent record of earning green slips and a large number of merit certificates
have been given out this term, which is a fantastic start to the year.
Wet 'n' Wild Excursion The return visit to Wet and Wild with Year 10 on Friday 5th April was a great success.
Although it was still a rainy day there was no lightning so all of the rides could stay open throughout the day.
With fewer visitors to the park at this time of year the queues were much smaller so everyone got to have
numerous turns and had a fabulous time. Thanks to Mrs Walsh, Mr Neely, Mr Fisher, Miss Sweeny and Mr
Rowland for attending Wet 'n' Wild with us.
Year 8 Report
Year 9 Report
Year 9 Camp The Year 9 camp will be early next term 8th-10th May which is Week 2 – this should be before
the weather gets too cold. If anyone is intending to go to camp but has not yet paid and returned the permission
and medical forms this needs to be attended to urgently. Students have received a packing list, with the medical
form, which should be referred to whilst preparing for camp. Should you need another copy of the permission
form, medical form or packing list please email me directly: [email protected] I will ask students to
nominate their cabin groups when we return to school in Term 2 and then set the activity groups. The other
teachers attending and I are looking forward to this special time away with the year group.
It has been a busy first term so I hope everyone has a refreshing Easter break. I look forward to everyone firing
on all cylinders ready for Term 2
Georgia Yam, Year 9 Adviser
Thank you and welcome to Mr Fisher and Miss Sweeney Earlier this term I was given the opportunity to take
up the role of Relieving Head Teacher Administration for the remainder of the year. As a result, I sadly, have had
to pass on my duties as Year 10 Adviser to Mr Dylan Fisher. Mr Fisher is being assisted by Miss Beth Sweeney
in this role. I still feel very connected to this group of students, and continue to enjoy celebrating their successes
and achievement, and will always be available to support the students when needed. I will be supporting Mr
Fisher and Miss Sweeney in their new roles, and have complete faith that the students are in very good hands!
I would like to thank them both for stepping forward to look after the year group.
Wet ‘n’ Wild Recently Year 9 and Year 10 went back to Wet ‘n’ Wild as a reward for their hard work throughout
last year and Term 1. It was a great day with small crowds, allowing students to go on lots of rides without lining
up for long. Everyone was well behaved and had a great time.
Peer Support Year 10 Peer Support students have seized the opportunity to develop their leadership skills this
term. These students have successfully helped guide Year 7 students through a range of activities, while
developing their communication, problem solving and teamwork skills. This program has been very successful
and a big thank to Ms Anwar for all the work she has put in.
Work Experience A gentle reminder that Year 10 students have received a Work Experience package from
their careers teacher and should be looking for somewhere to do their Work Experience, which is scheduled for
Week 10 of Term 2. Work Experience is a great opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and skills
allowing them to make an informed career choice when they finish school.
Subject Selection This holiday is a great opportunity to start thinking about what subjects to pick for Year 11
and 12. Term 2 is the start of the senior subject selection process, where students and parents will get an insight
into what Year 11 and 12 classes are like, the expectations involved and what each subject offers. Information
about this process will be coming out early next term.
Parent Teacher Interview On 7th May parent teacher interviews will be held for Year 10. This will be a fantastic
opportunity to meet with teachers and discuss how they are travelling this year and gain advice on future
directions.
Dylan Fisher, Year 10 Adviser
Even after such a massive term, and a long eleven weeks, Year 11 are still the best. The banter is getting better,
the wit is getting quicker. But more importantly, their overall attitude and application in class has been nothing
short of fantastic.
Jerseys The jersey order has gone in and their arrival time should be Week 3-Week 4 next term. The students
voted on the design and have now (finally) chosen their nicknames and this has all been submitted to the factory
for production. We trust their judgement, so much so that we also had them vote for the teacher names!
Mentors We understand that the next two years for these guys can be huge, so The Forest High School has
put in place a mentor system. Students were asked to select a teacher they feel comfortable with, so that if they
ever have any issues, this is their point of call. Students nominated three teachers, just in case one was
unbelievably popular, and the final list will be available to students this week.
Assessment Tasks Please do not forget the procedure for assessment tasks now that we are in Stage 6. If a
student is away on the day of an assessment task, they MUST bring in a medical certificate the following day
that accounts for the absence. Also, all assessment and class tasks must be completed or students may be at
risk of not completing the course or being ineligible for completion. Any issues, please look through the Year 11
Assessment Policy Booklet first, then speak to your classroom teacher, and then myself.
My piece of advice: The earlier you start your assessment/homework/task, the sooner it is finished.
Senior Privileges A reminder that students can arrive at a later time to school (if they have P1 or P1 & P2 off
etc.) and leave at an earlier time (if they have P5 off etc.). However, they are still not permitted to leave the
school grounds in between classes.
Year 11 Report
Keep on brightening up our week!
Hilary Page, Year 11 Adviser
HSC Course We have reached the half-way point of the HSC course. Congratulations to all the students. By
now, they are realising time management, revision of class notes and learning opportunities, assessment task
preparation and seeking feedback are the keys to success in Stage 6. If students have not registered at
Students Online, I encourage them to take some time to get onto that website as there is important University
information and other post school opportunities for their consideration.
VET Subjects Students who are studying VET subjects have successfully completed the second week of
compulsory work placement and most students have completed their second assessment task for each of their
subjects.
Parent and Teacher Interviews Thank you to the parents and students who attended the recent parent teacher
interviews. It was lovely to catch up with so many of you. If parents or students have any further questions or
concerns please contact the subject teacher in the first instance for continued discussion.
During the term break, the Year 12 students are encouraged to continue to read materials, complete past HSC
questions, prepare study notes or syllabus dot point summaries to consolidate their knowledge and prepare for
Term 2 work. It is also a great opportunity for the students to rest, recharge both physically and mentally and
makes plans.
Enjoy the break and see you next term.
Clare Diggins, Year 12 Adviser
re are some lovely examples of our students' recent work in English with comments from Ms Peachman, Head Teacher English
Art Gallery of NSW Visual Arts students from Years 9 and 10 visited the Hermitage Exhibition at the Art Gallery
of NSW on Tuesday 26th February to view works from early 20th Century modernist painters. They were asked
to find their favourite painting and the one they least liked and explain why. Students also looked at the amazing
range of Year 12 artworks from Art Express and we were fascinated by the scale and complexity of the paintings
and sculptures from 19th century European artists. This was a great day for students and for Mr McGrath and
Ms Thompson who accompanied the students.
Year 12 Report
CAPA Report
The Crucible Performance Year 12 Advanced English and Ms May had a great excursion to the Seymour
Centre on Wednesday 6th March to see a performance of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. This is one of the texts
from their HSC course. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed seeing the play come to life on stage.
Untitled; by Felix Katzen, Year 11
In the beginning time is long
We impatiently wait for each day to finish
The seamless eternity of each second
The slow tick of the clock
Each day between birthdays feels like a year
We try and run from day to day eager for tomorrow
But as we run further and further the distance of each day becomes shorter
First a minute is an hour
Then it's a half hour
Then before we know it
A minute is a second
If you blink the entire day will pass you by
Each day catapults past you at the speed of a freight train
Dragging you along for the monotonous ride
And suddenly it will hit you
You'll stop and look at the distance you've travelled
The corners you cut to get there
And you will yearn to go back
When life was simple
To once again feel the hours tick by at a snail's pace
Now there are not enough hours in the day
Documents to sign
Lunches to eat
Deadlines to finish
English Report
Sitting behind the counter
Swiping the products away
Barcode after barcode
Day after day
Sometimes people look back at the distance they ran
And they realise that it's too late
Life has passed them by
Their head wrapped in a false sense of happiness
Driving them forward faster and faster by each second
Blind to what they have missed out on
Unaware of humanity's worst enemy creeping up behind them
Father time
Each finger stretching towards them
As our time comes to an end it begins to get hungry
Waiting for the day he can deliver the finale kiss
The day he can finally take back what you owe him
They day you can repay your debt
What should've been a lifetime but was only a second
Your wasted time
Miss Peachman says:
"This is a wonderful example of how simple language choices, clever enjambment and judicious use of language techniques can have a strong impact. Felix’s brief was to write a poem based on his study of Modernism which explored the notions of time and memory. He has created a sombre, reflective tone through his use of second person and created some beautiful, dark imagery of the way time passes more and more quickly as we grow older."
English Studies excursion On 3rd April, Ms Peachman's English Studies class attended an excursion. This
day, for the module On The Road: English and the World of Travel, was entirely planned, budgeted and
executed by the students. The focus was on travel writing, so the students arranged a Sydney Tourism
excursion, attending Madame Tussauds, Sealife Aquarium and Oz Jetboating around the harbour. It was an
action packed day, full of laughs and excitement, as can be seen from the photos above. Stay tuned for some
student reviews of the experiences.
Sarah Peachman, Head Teacher English
Chiba Keiai High School visit Students and teachers from our sister school Chiba Keiai High School in Japan
made their annual visit again in Week 7. Students of The Forest High School participated in a range of activities
including calligraphy and an excursion to the Aquarium and National Maritime Museum in the city. A sincere
thank you to the families who volunteered to offer home-stay for the visiting students. We look forward to their
visit again next year!
Leo Ye, Languages Teacher
Open Table Tennis Competition On Monday 25th March our Open Table Tennis team, Dale Mapstone, Jono
Davis, Aaron Gurd and Noah Kasmar, travelled to the Central Coast to compete in the Butterfly Shield. Our boys
PDHPE Report
Languages Report
were matched up against a strong Chatswood side in Round One and competed well against the team in our
singles matches. Unfortunately we were beaten comprehensively in the doubles games and did not progress to
the Second Round of the competition. The boys represented the school to the best of their ability and displayed
good sportsmanship against a strong opposition. Great effort boys!
University Shield Rugby League Our Open Rugby League team competed in the University Shield on
Tuesday 26th March. We had a comprehensive victory over Cammeraygal in Round One and a two point loss to
Pittwater in Round Two. We came up against a strong Ryde team with a full bench of reserves in the quarter
finals and beat them comfortably 22 to 10 with only thirteen players. Unfortunately we only had a five minute
break between the quarter final victory and the start of the semi-final and we needed to take the field to play
against a strong Balgowlah Boys High School team. The boys tried their best against the team but were
exhausted by their previous game against Ryde. Stand outs for the day were Roddy Dixon and Moustafa Hill
who do not play Rugby League outside of school and Ethan Munro, Charlie Nesci and Nathan R. Well done
boys!
The Girls Tennis Knockout Team played Narrabeen Sports Academy on Thursday 12th March at Collaroy
Courts. They played valiantly in very hot conditions taking two matches and numerous games off the Sports
Academy Team. Sadly this was not enough to take them through to the next round. However, they represented
The Forest High School proudly through their committed efforts on the court and excellent sportsmanship.
Congratulations are well deserved by these four fine ambassadors for our school who are pictured above (L-R)
Maddie Williams, Anastasija Ljubicic, Halle Smit and Emily Feeney.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Simon Chandra in Year 10 has recently represented Australia in the Jiu Jitsu Pan American
Championships in Los Angeles. Simon took part in an intensive training program in Recife, Brazil for four weeks
before his competition, training three times a day. He had a draw in the first round of the championships and
unfortunately was knocked out by a referee decision. Congratulations to Simon on representing Australia and
The Forest High School. Simon is pictured above competing in Brazil (photos courtesy: IBJJF)
Australian Surf Life Saving Success for Year 9 sisters
We are very proud to report on the amazing results achieved by two of our Year 9
students.
Kimberley and Katelynn Doyle competed at the Australian Surf Life Saving
Championships at Burleigh on the Gold Coast over the weekend of 29th-31st March.
