PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Welcome back to the 2012 academic year. Welcome to the following staff (both permanent and long term temporary). Mr McManus-Science Mr Bannura-careers Mr Newport Science Ms Cook-Science Mr Pham-Maths Mr Eaton-History Mr Jensen-TSO Ms Karavias-History Ms Lee- counsellor Mr Klish-IA Ms Kyriacou-English

Welcome back also to Mrs Marland from leave and a welcome to our newly appointed School Administration Manager, Mrs Julie Burke. Welcome to Ms Chen (replacing Ms Camus for 7 weeks this term). Outstanding 2011 HSC results The staff, students and parents of Picnic Point High School congratulate the HSC class of 2011 on their outstanding academic achievements. Once again the HSC results at Picnic Point High School have been outstanding with record breaking results. Congratulations to Vinh Nguyen with an ATAR score of 98.55 and Stephanie Panovski (named on the NSW Board of Studies “All Rounder” list) with an ATAR score of 98.05. Vinh Nguyen Stephanie Panovski

In the 2011 Higher School Certificate: 7 students scored an ATAR of 90 and over; 18 students scored an ATAR of 80 and over; Students achieved a school record of 38 band

6’s and 201 band 5’s and 6’s; and 35 student results were published on the NSW

Board of Studies “Distinguished Achievers” list. The 2011 School certificate results were just as pleasing. Once again, SC student results at PPHS showed considerable improvement:

In the English Literacy exam 95 % of students gained bands 6, 5, 4 and there were no bands 1 and 2;

In Maths there were (13) band 6’s (the greatest number ever);

In History, students achieved the greatest number of band 6’s (16); and

Overall Year 10 achieved more band 6 s (50) than any other year.

There has been a considerable amount of painting done to the school (corridors and stairwells in B Block and corridors in C block), the Metal work room and class rooms at a cost of over $52 000. The senior study tutorial lesson (a highly successful initiative in 2011) began last week in the school library on Wednesday afternoon and has two teachers allocated to it. It is open to both Year 11 and12 students. Please encourage your children to attend for some extra assistance and a learning space conducive to working independently and or with their peers. Congratulations to Mr Smith (PDHPE) who was named 2011 Australian Baseball coach of the year; an amazing honour. Congratulations to staff and students for an enjoyable (with sunny conditions) swimming carnival. An amazing 10 school swimming carnival records were broken which included 5 by Brandon Grochala (17+ years); 3 by Samantha Abbott (17+ years); and 2 by Jordan Grochala (15 years). The PPHS fifty year anniversary celebration is fast approaching (open day and anniversary dinner is 31 march). There is only a few tickets left for the dinner and the last day to order and pay for paving brick engraving is 20 February. Please find the order form for both in this edition of Pic News.

PICNIC POINT HIGH SCHOOL 61 Kennedy Street Picnic Point

Phone 9772 1700 Fax 9792 3960 Principal Email picnicpt-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au Mr Wolly Negroh Web site www.picnicpt-h.schools.nsw.edu.au B Ed, Dip Teach

PIC-

NEW

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2012

CONTENTS Deputies Report Page 2 What’s on Page 3 Swimming Carnival Page 7 NSW School Immunisation Program Page 10 Industrial Arts Report Page 12 I.01 Report Page 12 Science Report Page 13 Science Faculty Report Page 14 Home Economics Faculty Report Page 14 LOTE Faculty Report Page 15

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Deputy’s Report – Mr Baczynskyj Welcome to 2012 – with the hope and expectations of another great year at Picnic Point High School, the school’s 50th! It has been a fantastic start with the Year 11 camp setting the bonds that will enable the group to work together as they head towards their HSC. Year 11 will soon receive their Preliminary HSC Assessment booklets and particular attention should be given to the expectations, processes and timing for assessment tasks in each of their subjects. Students should develop good senior study habits as soon as possible – creating a home timetable that includes set times to complete schoolwork, revise notes and prepare assessment tasks. The HSC may seem to be a long way away but it will come upon these students a lot faster than they may expect. Year 8 have settled quickly into the new academic year and I am impressed with how much they have matured over the break. I am fortunate enough to now be their main Deputy Principal after some ‘reshuffling’ of the responsibilities between Mr Schomberg and myself. I look forward to a wonderful five years with these students. Year 7 have been welcomed into the school and have been giving me great feedback about how good high school is to them. This is fantastic to hear but unsurprising as we know how wonderful Picnic Point HS is as a result of the fabulous students, dedicated teachers and involved parents and community members. I look forward to meeting as many parents as possible over the next year, especially in the canteen – the best place to get all the ‘goss’. As always the uniform is exceptional for the beginning of the year and highlights clearly how Picnic Point High School sets high standards in every aspect of school life. Please support our good image (and protect the safety of your child’s feet) by ensuring that your child always has the correct footwear. Please remember if you have any concerns in relation to your child’s education, call the school, contact a teacher, a Year Adviser or a Deputy Principal so that we can ensure that your child’s schooling experience is enjoyable, supported, comprehensive and rewarding. Adam Baczynskyj - Deputy Principal

WHAT’S ON

Tues 28/2 Year72013 Information Evening Fri 2/3 Zone Swimming Carnival HSC Preliminary BOS entries close Wed 7/3 Music Concert Thurs 8/3 International Women’s Day Mon 12/3 Regional Swimming Carnival

P & C News Incorporating 50th Anniversary News February 2012 Welcome back to another school year and to all our new year 7 families an extra special welcome from the P & C. The first meeting of the P & C for 2012 has not yet been held so there is little to report, however I have been in contact with our Tastetesting Company Sensory Solutions and will endeavour to organize a tastetest for one evening in March. If you have already returned your form to school thank you. If you are eligible I will definitely contact you. If you still have the form at home please consider completing it and returning it to the school asap as this will assist me in expanding our database of prospective tastetesters. Remember we can raise $1000 very easily for just an hour of your time. Another area in which we are seeking assistance is the school canteen. Thank you to those new Year 7 parents who have already volunteered and been rostered on. We are still at least 8 volunteers short to give the roster adequate coverage. If you are able to assist once a month or even once a term please contact one of our canteen supervisors through the school switchboard or send me an email. Days which are especially short are Mondays and Tuesdays. While the P & C has not yet met the 50th Anniversary committee met last week and our celebration plans are starting to come to fruition. We have almost 500 booked to attend the Anniversary dinner on the 31st March and it is hoped we will have many more attend the school throughout the day when classrooms will be open for viewing and student performances will take place in the quadrangle. There will also be guided tours of the school, a display of memorabilia in the hall and refreshments and 50th Anniversary keepsakes will be on sale. If you haven’t already put in your order for an inscribed brick to go on our Anniversary wall, please do so as orders will close on the 20th February to enable the wall to be completed prior to the anniversary. Our first meeting of the P & C will be held on the 20th February when Mr. Negroh will give a formal presentation on the NAPLAN results for 2011. The meeting schedule for the 20th February 2012 is as follows: School Council at 5 pm, 50th Anniversary Committee at 6 pm and P & C at 7 pm. I welcome any new parents along to the P & C meeting as well as those who regularly attend. Christine Butters P & C President Email: bjcmbutters@yahoo.com.au

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Michel's (Revesby) are proud sponsors of the PPHS 'student of the month' award.

Mondays - Milperra Public School, Pozieres Avenue, Milperra 5 & 6's - 4.30-5.30pm 7 & 8's - 5.30-6.30pm 9 & 10's, 11 & 12's 6.30-8.00pm Ladies 8.00pm Tuesdays - Endeavour Hall, River Road, Revesby 13,14,15 & 1st Year Seniors - 7.00-8.30pm 2nd Year & Open Seniors - 8.30 till lights out Saturdays - Girls Guide Hall, Weston Street, Panania Under 5's - 9.00-10.00am Louise - Secretary - 0415 339 035 Debbie - President - 0404 465 439 Janet - Treasurer - 0405 706 179 Helen - Teacher - 0407 893 967 Kirsty - Associate Teacher - 0422 476 325 Email us - lscastellan@bigpond.com

SPORT A MONTH

. Anyone over the age of 4 years to seniors Please call Bankstown Sports Hockey Club on (02) 9727 8897 to make a booking and present ‘hockey’ coupon (on front page) to enjoy a free trial session Wear shorts, t-shirt and running shoes, and bring a bottle of water and sunscreen For more information about Bankstown Sports Hockey Club, please visit www.bankstownhockey.org.au

Why not visit your local community club 28 Childs Street Panania

Proud sponsors of the Leonard W. Eickenloff Scholarship

to Students of Picnic Point High School

M cQ SM A SH R EPA IR S

17 9 R iv e r R o a d R e v e s b y ( co r n e r U r a n u s R d )

2 4 H o u r To w in g - 9 7 7 1 5 8 2 6 O b l ig a t io n Fr e e Q u o t e s - 9 7 7 1 2 3 3 5

Co u r t e s y Ca r s A v a ila b le CLO SE TO R EV ESB Y STA TIO N GIO R e co m m e n d e d R e p a ir e r

A u t o R o b o t B o d y A lig n e r Sp r a y B o o t h B a k in g O v e n

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ISURF+SCATE Shop 32 Stockton Avenue Moorebank Shopping Village Moorebank

Dr. HAYFA HADI

Shop 2-3/61-65 Eton Street, Sutherland. Tel: 9542 2255

"Specialist dental care for ALL children and teenagers" As a mother of two Dr. Hadi believes in a “Friendly, caring & gentle environment”

Orthodontic treatment o braces at competitive prices, easy payment plan, latest technology, faster working & fewer

appointments o expanders & early intervention appliances

Laser technology for dental treatment & bleaching White fillings & white crowns Preventative care and early detection of decay Sedation, 'happy gas' & general anaesthesia available Emergencies and new patients welcome Ground level, parking at front Our patients enjoy DVD entertainment whilst being treated

Reminder To Parents - Pic News Picnic Point High School would like all Parents and Carers to have regular access to PIC NEWS. To assist in the distribution of the electronic copy of PIC NEWS we ask that Parent and Carers please provide the school with an updated E-Mail address(es) so the school can include you in our PICNEWS distribution list. The school calendar can also be accessed from the school website. You can update the school with your details via the school e-mail address of picnicpt-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au , 02 9772 1700 or via letter.

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Revesby Workers’ Football (Soccer) Club

All ages, male & female

Grade 6 to All Age; Premier League; Over 35’s

Existing Players Register On-Line

www.revesbyworkersfc.com.au Or at the Clubhouse – Marco Reserve Cnr Marco & Homelea Ave, Panania

Sunday 5th February 12.00pm-2.00pm Saturday 11th February 10.00am-12.00pm Wednesday 15th February 6.30pm-8.00pm

Sunday 19 February 11.00am-2.00pm One low season fee – no more to pay!

Early-bird rate before 19th February Free socks, shorts & caps for

all new junior players Registration info at www.revesbyworkersfc.com.au

Club Secretary: Eric Byrne—0402 988 646

Locally based digital t-shirt and garment printing

service & t-shirt online store. Small run, fast turnover available at affordable prices

Creative and Performing Arts Well, here we all are to do it all over again! A new year brings new and exciting adventures. The Creative and Performing Arts staff are busy forming the school ensembles. The Dance Groups, Band, Choir and Vocal Ensemble have all formed. As always, we encourage all students to participate to showcase their talents. Our first school showcase opportunity is in week 7 with the Term One Music Concert. This concert will feature the music ensembles, elective and senior music classes along with instrumental and vocal soloists. Auditions will be coming up so students should listen out for the information which will be given on morning assemblies. The choir already has its first gig. They have been asked by Ms Marquis and Ms Mitchell to sing during the Japanese school visit. The choir will be singing the National Anthem and Waltzing Matilda. The choir has already started rehearsing for this special event. Over 15 new members have joined the choir this year and all students are welcome to join the choir at any time. There are a number of talented students who are involved in external Creative and Performing Arts Programs which are run by the Department of Education. Already, the school has been notified that Laura Cuddy (Year 9) and Nicole Thornton (Year 11) have been accepted into the Bankstown Talent Advancement Program. There will be a number of events which will showcase the talents of our students in the Creative and Performing Arts. We will keep you posted in future issues of PicNews. Mr Andrews Head Teacher - Creative and Performing Arts

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LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF ! As Marcel Proust, a late 19th century novelist wrote: “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”. Volunteer to host an international high school student in July 2012 through Southern Cross Cultural Exchange and prepare to be amazed at the way this unique and rewarding opportunity helps your family to become closer, to understand themselves better and to see the world in a new light. Carefully selected students will arrive in July for one or two semesters from France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. They will attend a local secondary school, arrive with their own spending money and comprehensive insurance cover – all arranged by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. Visit us at our website www.scce.com.au, email scceaust@scce.com.au or call us toll free on 1800 500 501, request our booklet of international student profiles, and capture the spirit of family and friendship.

Thanks and kind regards, Robert Lindsay National Business Development Manager SOUTHERN CROSS CULTURAL EXCHANGE Tel: +61 (0)3 9775 4711 Fax: +61 (0)3 9775 4971 Toll Free: 1800 500 501 Post: Locked Bag 1200, Mt Eliza , Victoria , 3930 Web: www.scce.com.au email: robert.l@scce.com.au

Swimming Carnival In the week leading up to the carnival, it looked like we would have been able to hold it in the streets with the inundation of water from the heavens. However the sun pierced through the clouds and made for a fantastic day of racing and fun. The day attracted competitors from national champions to social swimmers including some interesting characters from year 12. Participation may have been lacking from the junior years however the day was buoyed by the enthusiasm of year 12 who are to be commended on their turn out. We had 10 records broken which included 5 by Brandon Grochala (17+ years); 3 by Samantha Abbott (17+ years); and 2 by Jordan Grochala (15 years). I’d like to personally thank all staff for their dedication to their jobs and making the entire day possible. Congratulations to the following students on receiving age champion: 12 years Chevelle Donoso Nathan Simmons

13 years Georgia Anderson Hayden Probert

14 years Rebecca Hughes Peter Markantonatos

15 years Jordin-Lee O’Connell Jordan Grochala

16 years Rhiannon Welfare Zac Hatzis

17+ Years Samantha Abbott Brandon Grochala

Hankin House - winners are grinners A further congratulation’s goes out to the Hankin House on once again showing their swimming supremacy.

Talented Sport Report The talented program kicks off again this term at PPHS. Sports we are targeting are Water Polo, Touch Football and Cricket. The Open Boys Water Polo squad is training before school on Friday mornings with Mr Sparks and they are working hard to make it through to Raymond Terrace for the State Finals once again. The Touch Football program is in full swing with Mr Smith and Miss Martin training the Open Boys and Girls as well as some of the Year 9/10 squad on a Tuesday afternoon for sport. We have also been fortunate to get coaching assistance from some ex students who were part of our program last year as there are such a large number of students involved. We hope to continue the excellent success we have achieved in recent years in all age groups. The Open Girls cricket team are through to the last 16 in NSW and play the winner of Kelso (Bathurst) and Cowra High schools for a spot in the Quarter Finals. We have a very strong team this year and hope to make it back to the top 4 final series in Bathurst for the first time in 4 years. The last time we made it we won the State Title so we hope to emulate that feat once again. Mr Millican - Talented Sport Co-ordinator

Hankin

757

Doohan

698

Murphy

512

Slater

437

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Picnic Point High School 50th Anniversary Name Brick Facings

**YOUR NAME WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY**

A payment of $35 entitles YOU to have your name engraved into a brick facing as a lasting record of your valued support. The paver will be permanently installed on an existing wall in the School. Simply fill out the form below and return with payment to:

Picnic Point High School PO Box 78 NSW 2213

Offer closes 11 February 2012

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORDER FORM

Contact Name: ....................................................................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................................................................. Phone: ................................................................................................................................................ Engraving details Please print clearly in block letters. Each square represents one letter, number, space or punctuation mark. (34 max)

Payment Options

• In person at the School Payments Office (cash, cheque, credit card, EFTPOS) • By mail (cheque or credit card)

If paying by credit card please provide the following information: Card No: ________________________________ Card Type (eg. Visa/Mastercard)

___________________

Cardholder’s Name (as shown on Card)

______________________________________________________

Expiry date: ____/____/____ Verification No. (last three digits on back of card) ___________________

$35 $35

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Venue: Revesby Workers’ Club

2B Brett St, Revesby Doors Open: 6.30pm (until late) Tickets: $55 each

3 Course Menu plus Guest Speakers Ticketholders must be 18 years and over

(Drinks at Club Prices) To purchase tickets, please complete this form (including the reverse side) and return it to the school with payment.

Contact Name: ………………………………………………………………………………

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………

Phone: ………………………………………………………………………………………... Payment Options

• In person at the School Payments Office (cash, cheque, credit card, EFTPOS) • By mail (cheque or credit card)

If paying by credit card please provide the following information: Card No: __________________________ Card Type (eg. Visa/Mastercard) _________________

Cardholder’s Name (as shown on Card) ______________________________________________

Expiry date: ____/____/____Verification No. (last three digits on back of card) ______________

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* Return post to: Picnic Point High School PO BOX 78

Panania NSW 2213 Names of persons in your group (Please copy if more seats required) 1. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 2. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 3. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 4. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 5. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 6. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 7. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 8. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 9. ____________________________Years Attended ____/____ 10. ___________________________Years Attended ____/____

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The Picn ic Po in t High Schoo l Sw im m ing Carn ival 2012

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NSW School Immunisation Program NSW Health offers all school students free vaccinations recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council [NHMRC]. These vaccines are important and protect students through to adulthood. Year 7 Year 7 students are offered the following vaccines: Hepatitis B – 2 dose course. This is a complete

course. If a child had 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine as a baby, they do not require extra doses.

Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis [whooping cough] – 1 booster dose

Varicella [chickenpox] If a child has already had chickenpox or been vaccinated, they do not need this vaccine

And for girls only: HPV – 3 dose course

All Year 7 families have been mailed information regarding the School Immunisation Program for 2012. Please read the information provided with the consent form to understand the facts about the vaccines that will be offered and the diseases that these vaccines protect against. Please note, ALL completed consent forms must be returned by Friday 2nd March 2012. If you have not yet received a letter and consent forms, please contact Ms Marquis on 9772 1700 during school hours. Nurses from NSW Health will be visiting the school on Friday 16th March for the first round of vaccinations - Hepatitis B and HPV. A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at the clinic. The Year 7 vaccination program will continue next term. Please refer to the schedule below for further information about this program. Year 10 Nurses from NSW Health will visit the school on Monday 30th July to vaccinate Year 10 students against Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough. All Year 10 families have been mailed information and consent forms regarding this vaccination. All complete consent forms must be returned by Friday 2nd March 2012. Any student who does not return a completed consent form will NOT be included in the program. If you have any questions about this vaccination please contact Ms Marquis on 9772 1700 during school hours. Vaccination Schedule for 2012: Year 7 Friday 16th March: Immunisation Day 1

HPV and Hep B Wednesday 6th June: Immunisation Day 2

HPV and dTpa [Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough]

Monday 30th July: Immunisation Day 3 Varicella Friday 26th October: Year 7 Immunisation Day 4 HPV and Hep B Year 10 Monday 30th July: Immunisation Day 1 dTpa [Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough] Please remember that this immunisation program is NOT compulsory. Students may receive these vaccinations from their local doctor as an alternative. In addition, parents who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason can do so by

writing to the Principal. If you have any questions about the immunisation program, please contact Ms Marquis on 9772 1700 during school hours or the Immunisation Unit, Public Health on 9515 9420. Ms K Marquis Immunisation Co-ordinator

Best Buddies at PPHS- 2012 Episode 1

“To get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."

~Mark Twain

Introducing Best Buddies Best Buddies Australia is a fantastic non-profit organisation which pairs people who have an intellectual disability with volunteers in order to create wonderful friendships. The Best Buddies organisation spans across 50 countries and works tirelessly to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

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Establishing the Best Buddies Chapter at PPHS ~ The PPHS Chapter was established on the 1st of December last year and the pairs of best buddies were formed a week later. The Buddy pairs get involved in everyday activities together, building mutual respect and understanding. We are ready to begin our friendship journey in 2012! Our school Chapter is supported by a leadership team including: Chapter President – Caleb Trindall Year 9 Vice President - Kate Smalleyfrom Year 9 Treasure - Sam Mourad Year 8 Media Co-ordinator – Mikayla Davis Year 9 Secretary - Haley Soban

Clockwise from the top left: Nicholas Sim with Jeffery Young, Jayden Hawkins with Bayley Kemp, the team of buddies in training wi Kim Williams, Samantha Micheletto-Harte, Kate Smalley and Taylor Dawson, Alisha Cole, Angela Patsiavas and George Alam. From the school Best Buddies program co-ordinators: Mrs Irmgard Heap, Ms Kirsty Ewell and Mrs Monika Andrzejewska

Take up the challenge. This year is the National Year of Reading and Picnic Point High will be out to smash last year’s record number of reading Olympians who finished twenty or more books in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. Any student in Years 7 to 9 can enrol and will have until August to show their reading prowess. There are hundreds of books on the list both fiction and non-fiction, so readers can improve their skills in every subject as well as indulging in reading for pleasure. Check out the list for High School by clicking on the bookworm below: Just ask a school librarian to “sign me up!” Marion Aranjo – School Librarian

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Industrial Arts 2012 sees the introduction of a new members on the Industrial Arts staff at Picnic Point we welcome Mr Klish 2012 is shaping up to be a very exiting year with in the Industrial arts department with many excellent programs and projects being run. We have 3 HSC classes this year Industrial Technology, Engineering and VET Construction, we look forward in seeing excellent results from theses students. NSW Occupational Heath and Safety regulations state that students are not permitted into a workshop area unless they have closed toe leather shoes. This is a reminder for all students undertaking any Industrial Arts subject that they are required to wear the correct footwear. All student undertaking and Industrial Arts subject are reminded that it is a requirement that they wear an apron during all practical activities. Some Dates on interest for Industrial Arts include the due date for the YR 12 Industrial Technology timber students. The Major Projects are to be handed into the school no later than 9am on 13th August 2012 I am looking forward to an exciting and productive year. P. Burgess - HT Industrial Arts VET VET subjects continue to grow at Picnic Point High School. This year Construction, Hospitality and Entertainment all have increased numbers with classes being taught in both year 11 and 12

I would like to congratulate the many students who received excellent results in the HSC last year with students from each framework receiving excellent results. All VET students are required to undertake 70 hours of mandatory work place learning. Year 11 students will be attending work placement early next term. A reminder to any Year 12 student that has not completed the 70 hours of work placement they need to see Mr Burgess as soon as possible. If you require any information regarding and VET subjects please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards Paul Burgess - Vet Coordinator

Sport Sport has begun again for another year. The format for Grade sport this year has changed as we have four new schools who have entered our Zone. We have Moorebank, Punchbowl Boys’, East Hills Boys’ High Schools who have joined us for Grade sport on Tuesday afternoons and for carnivals and Birrong Boys’ who have also joined us for carnivals. With the new schools Tuesday afternoon sport will now be played with each sport at a central venue, rather than the usual home and away. We are looking forward to seeing how this new format works and congratulate the students who have made it into a Grade team. C. Worthington and T. Northall - Sport Organisers

I.O1 Report Welcome back to our existing students and welcome to PPHS new students! The term has started at a fast pace as usual and our Yr. 7 students have settled in very well. Chad, Matthew and Christine have become very familiar with their new surroundings very quickly. Thanks to the parents for supplying the students with their equipment so real learning could start straight away. We now have 9 students in the class spread across the 6 years. Our senior students Lara and Blane have been accepted into TAFE and will start on 15th February. They are

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attending Campbelltown TAFE studying Retail. This course will run until the end of the year and the students will learn to travel independently to this campus which is a very important skill. We are very proud of these students; they were accepted into the course based on their maturity and their exemplary behaviour at work experience. Our class went to camp again at the end of 2011, too late for the last edition of Pic News; once again it was a fantastic experience for both the students and the staff. We would like to thank Wayne Clay for giving up his time to accompany us and for his tireless help, the camp would not run as well as it does if it was not for Wayne’s input.

The students Ms Todd-McInerney and Ms Goovan thank him very much. We had extra students with us as well this year, 3 students from Mr Northall's class were invited, and their contribution was fantastic, their leadership and maturity was very beneficial to the group. We are hoping we will return to Wooglemai Environmental Centre again this year. There are some great photos of camp in this edition.

Our students are doing a variety of practical classes again this year and we ask parents to encourage their student to pack their own bags for these subjects. It is important the students develop independence and are responsible for their own gear. We are looking forward to participating in our community access visits later in the year; these are important outings, teaching the students to travel on public transport safely, road safety, social skills money handling and money management.

Notes will come home outlining these excursions. Other excursions will also take place throughout the year. Parents will receive an invitation to the Support Unit information afternoon on 15th February shortly, this is an informal afternoon for parents to ask questions and learn more about our Unit and our plans for the year. We look forward to seeing you all there. Ms Todd-McInerny and Ms Goovan

Welcome to Year 7 Welcome Year 7 to Picnic Point High School. We hope that you have enjoyed your first few weeks of high school, meeting many new friends and teachers and learning new subjects. Correct school uniform must be worn at all times and all other information on school procedures can be found on the ‘Helpful Hints’ yellow sheet and in the front of the school diary. Congratulations to all students who participated in the recent Swimming Carnival. There are some keen athletes amongst us! Year 7 Camp notes, including the Medical Consent Form and Risk Assessment and payment of $245, must be returned to the front office by March 5, 2012. It is crucial that all forms are filled in correctly, with all applicable details. Please contact the school office or Ms Mitchell if you have questions or concerns. Ms S. Mitchell – Year 7 adviser

Science Faculty This year we would like to welcome two new teachers, Mr James McManus and Mr Nicholas Newport to the Science Faculty. Mrs Jessica Cook will also be rejoining us in 2012 on a part time basis with Mrs Warner. Mrs Warner will be here on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and Mrs Cook will be at school on Thursday and Friday on her classes. We would like to congratulate the outstanding results of the Year 12 top achievers at Picnic Point High School in 2011. Vinh Nguyen achieved this school highest ATAR result with a Band 6 in both Chemistry and Physics. Stephanie Panovski and Claudia Alamein achieved a Band 6 in Biology. Angela Meek and Tessa Fraser achieved Band 6 in Senior Science.

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Congratulations to all students who studied Science in the HSC in 2012 for their excellent results. The Biology cohort achieved excellent results with an overall result above state average. Homework in Science All students in Years 7-10 will be given a homework booklet for completion throughout a unit of work. These booklets are designed to supplement the content being studied in class whilst increasing literacy and numeracy skills. Each class will have a specific lesson where they need to have completed a specified number of worksheets, and hand the booklet to the teacher. Any student who seems to misplace this booklet will be able to go to the PPHS website and visit the Science page and then the Junior Science page where they will be able to access all homework booklets for printing. Year 7 this term have begun learning about safety and equipment in the laboratory. They are completing a unit of work called “Being Scientific” and have been given a homework book to supplement the activities they are completing in the classroom. All Year 7 students are required to have a copy of Active Science 1 which was part of the school book pack. Any students who do not have a copy will need to arrange to purchase this book. In Week 5 most classes will begin studying a unit of work that looks at Cells. Students will receive their first assessment task during this topic that will require them to complete research at home and present a poster. At school they will be asked questions based on the information in their poster. More details will be sent home in a notification prior to the task. Year 8 this term are studying a unit of work on Astronomy titled “Our Neighbours in Space”. Students are able to continue to use their Year 7 Active Science text book that has a chapter on this topic. Year 8 will be completing their first assessment task at the beginning of Term 2 which will be a practical task. Year 9 students are currently studying either “Savage Earth” or “Nervous & Endocrine Systems”. Students will have been given a homework booklet for their unit of work and they will be receiving notification of their first assessment task in the middle of the term. Their first task will be a research task on these topics. More information will be sent home in a notification prior to the task. Year 10 students are currently completing units of work on Chemistry or the Environment. Their first assessment task will be early Term 2 with a notification coming out at the end of this term. Most students have now completed their mandatory Stage 5 independent research project that was taught at the end of 2011. All students that have not submitted their task still need to get it to their teacher from last year as letters will be going home for non-completion. We will be holding an assembly to announce the highest performing students in the research project later in the term. The ICAS Science Competition will be held on 6th June this year. Students will receive notes in Week 5 of this term if they wish to participate. The test is a valuable way for students and their families to assess their understanding and level

compared to other students within Australia and Internationally. Mrs N. Sherry - Head Teacher Science

Home Economics Faculty Report Welcome back to school for 2012 and a special welcome to Mrs Alaina Marland (nee Mackay) from leave. Congratulations to 2011 HSC students who received pleasing results, especially the Band 6 students in Textiles and Design, Community and Family Studies and VET Hospitality. In addition, there were an increase number of Band 5 results in the faculty. The Home Economics faculty has some exciting plans for this year, including the publication of the 50th Anniversary Cookbook. The cookbook will contain recipes from staff and tried and tested recipes used in the practical lessons from Year 7 through to 10. The Anniversary Cookbook will be on sale at the Open Day in March from the Home Economics rooms. The 50th Anniversary celebrations in Home Economics faculty will include Devonshire Tea being served in the kitchens, textiles workshop on various surface decorations and a digital media presentation the computer room. Make sure you visit the Home Economics faculty in B Block on this day. In the classroom, students have settled in well to the start of the year. The Year 12 Textiles and Design students are into the designing and constructing stage of their Major Textiles Project. They were inspired by their visit to the Whitehouse Institute of Design held last December, which allowed students to spend time, one on one, with a current designer, to gain valuable feedback on their design ideas. Year 11 Hospitality students have been fitted for their chef’s uniform and we require that students make full payment to the front office. This is a mandatory requirement of the course and work placement. Year 10 and 11 Textiles and Design students will be undertaking an in school workshop on surface decoration in early Term 1. This will give them valuable hands on opportunity to explore their creative skills to support practical projects on the next few years. In Year 9 Information and Software Technology, with thanks to the P&C, we have introduced Robotics to the program. They are currently being trialled and we hope to be fully operational in Term 2. This year has seen the introduction of “Masterclasses”. Masterclass will occur once a fortnight and student will watch a demonstration of various food preparation techniques and enjoy tasting the final product at the end of the demonstration. The idea behind this initiative is to give students a tastier of food preparation skills that happen in higher grades and to engage students more in their food choices. As always, we look forward to working with the students this year, and if you have any questions relating to your child’s progress in the faculty, please contact me during school

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hours. Also, can I remind parents that subject contributions are now due and if parents are experiencing difficulties, please contact Mrs Burke to organise a payment plan. I look forward to a highly successful year in 2012. Mrs Cheryl Wardrop - Head Teacher Home Economics

LOTE Faculty Welcome back to all our language students – we are looking forward to an exciting, fun and rewarding year in the LOTE faculty. A special welcome to all Year 7 students, many of whom are studying another language for the first time – we’re confident you’ll enjoy learning Japanese! We’d also like to wish our Year 12 students all the best with their studies this year as they work towards their Higher School Certificate. Currently, our junior classes are continuing to work through the Hai! Japanese Language series. The students are constantly learning new grammar, vocabulary and Japanese script whilst building on their listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. Our senior students are diligently applying themselves as they work through their Preliminary and HSC Wakatta! Course. We remind our students of the importance of regular revision and homework. 2012 School Fees Below are the school fees for Japanese, 2012. Please check if you have paid these fees. All fees must be paid by Friday, 24 February, 2012. Year 12 Continuers $15 Language Perfect Licence Year 11 Continuers $28 Wakatta! 1 Workbook $15 Language Perfect Licence Year 10 $15 Language Perfect Licence Year 9 $52 Hai! 4 and Hai! 5/6 Workbook Oki Gakuen Visit On February 20, 2012, Picnic Point High School will welcome 40 students and 3 teachers from Oki Gakuen, Fukuoka, Japan. The Japanese students, along with 7E Japanese and the Year 10, 11 and 12 students studying Japanese will participate in Australian and Japanese cultural activities, including sport, calligraphy, origami and singing. We look forward to this exchange and trust it will be a valuable opportunity for all involved. Year 9 to Nihongo Tanken Centre 2011 On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, the Year 9 Japanese class visited the Nihongo Tanken Language Centre, located in the grounds of Kirrawee High School. The students were immersed in the Japanese language while completing a variety of activities and games to assist them to improve their language skills. Below is a report from Katelyn Middlemiss. On the November 30, the Year 9 Japanese class and Ms Mitchell went on an excursion to the Nihongo Tanken Centre at Kirrawee High School. We met at Padstow station and

caught the train to our destination. The experience inside the house was very different to our usual life. Once in the house, we were exposed to Japanese culture and language. The instructors spoke to us entirely in Japanese, making it a little hard for some of us to keep up – thankfully a lot of what they said was accompanied by hand actions so it was easier for us to understand. The class was divided into separate groups based on the four seasons of Japan; we used these groups to play numerous games, some to help us recognise hiragana, katakana and kanji and others involving us answering questions. We even created profiles on the computers. We were served a Japanese obento lunch containing chicken, sushi, other Japanese foods and a slice of orange! We were also given some snacks and juice to go along with our meal. The Japanese experience was rather overwhelming to begin with but as the day went on we became accustomed to it and really enjoyed the experience. Thank you to Ms Mitchell for taking us on this excursion. Katelyn Middlemiss.

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Year 10 and 11 to Australian National University 2011 On Thursday, December 8 and Friday, December 9, 2012, the Year 10 and 11 Japanese classes visited the Australian National University, Canberra for two days of Japanese language activities. This excursion was a great opportunity for our students to further develop and enhance their Japanese language skills with students from all over NSW and the ACT. Below is a report from Tony Bui. On a rainy Thursday morning, Ms Marquis and Ms Mitchell took a group of year 10 and 12 students to our nation’s capital, Canberra. It was a long 4 hour bus ride before we arrived at the Australian National University. It was there that we participated in a Japanese workshop. The workshop went for 2 days and consisted of many activities relating to Japanese culture. The first day of the workshop was exciting. When we arrived at ANU, we were all placed into different colour groups. These colour groups allowed us to meet new people and learn new things together. Following various activities, everyone had lunch together. We had bento boxes, which are Japanese packed lunches. An algorithm march [popular Japanese dance] followed lunch. Although the march was embarrassing to perform, it was a fun experience. Once we practised our algorithm march, everyone embarked on a long treasure hunt before dinner. After dinner, everyone gathered in the lounge room for a movie night. We watched a Japanese 1992 comedy, ‘Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t’. It was funny and everyone found it enjoyable. Following an entertaining night, lights were out at 10:30pm. The next day, everyone woke up at 7:00am and did some exercise before breakfast. It was a daily Japanese routine, which involved us listening to a radio broadcast and performing various stretches. After

doing our exercises and eating breakfast, everyone resumed class in their colour groups and reviewed ‘Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t’. Following group activities our day continued with many lectures and the unforgettable algorithm march. The algorithm march that everyone practised the day before was performed, recorded and uploaded onto YouTube. Ms Mitchell took various embarrassing photos, whilst Ms Marquis looked upon us and couldn’t stop laughing. The Canberra Times also stopped by to take a quick photo of our performance. By the end of our performance, everyone was quite tired and weren’t looking forward to anymore activities. By 4:00pm, we took a final few photos and headed off to Maccas for dinner, before going home. Overall, this workshop was a fun and great experience for everyone. Many thanks to Ms Marquis and especially Ms Mitchell [who drove the bus!] for their hard work and efforts for making this trip possible. Tony Bui. HSC Results 2011 Congratulations to our three HSC Japanese Continuers students on their fantastic results in 2011. A special congratulations to Kelly Xiao who achieved Band 6 and a mark of 95. JENSYS Program 2011 Congratulations to Tayla McGregor of Year 12 who received a scholarship to travel to Japan as part of the JENSYS Program 2011. Tayla was selected from hundreds of applicants across Australia. Tayla stayed with a Japanese family for 10 days and visited many cities in her travels, whilst completing additional language study. これからも、楽しんでください。 Ms Marquis and Ms Mitchell