GRIFFITH SITE 88 Coolah Street, Griffith NSW 2680 PH 02 6969 9300 WADE SITE 1-39 Poole Street, Griffith NSW 2680 PH 02 6969 9300

E murrumbidgee-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au W https://murrumbidgee- schools.nsw.gov.au

TERM 1 – WEEK 6 – 2020Principal’s Update WHAT’S ON AT MRHS?

TERM 1 -

WEEK 7Monday 9 March*Wade site - Yr11 Biology excursion - Darlington Point *Griffith site - Yr10 Sue Lawson Author TalkTuesday 10 March*Griffith site - Yr12 Yanco Ag HS Farm VisitWednesday 11 March*Open Boys Basketball - Leeton*Big Day In - Careers Excursion Yrs 9-12 - WaggaFriday 13 March*Open Girls Cricket - Leeton*Wade site - EAL/D Learn to swim lessons

WEEK 8Tuesday 17 March*Open Girls League Tag - LeetonWednesday 18 March*Open Girls Basketball - Narrandera*Griffith Site Best Start - LiteracyThursday 19 March*Open Boys Soccer vs Yanco Ag - Griffith Leagues Club* Yr6 Parent Information Night - Exies Friday 20 March*MRHS Harmony Day Celebrations-being held at Griffith site*Wade site - EAL/D Learn to swim lessons

WEEK 9Monday 23 March*Start Naplan Mandatory Practice window opens 23 March to 9 April Tuesday 24 March*Marie Cornish Cricket Gala DayWednesday 25 March*Canberra Uni TalkThursday 26 March*Pasifika Movie Premiere Fundraiser - The Legend of Baron To’a - 6.30pm - 8.30pmFriday 27 March*Open Boys and Girls Touch - Griffith*Resilience & Well-being presentation Yrs 9,10,11 & 12

Dear Parents and Caregivers Parent Teacher NightParent Teacher night for MRHS Griffith site is on Tues 31 March from 4.00 - 7.00pm.

Parent Teacher night for MRHS Wade site is on Wed 1 April from 4.00 - 7.00pm.

You will be receiving information from the school about our online booking system. We found this to be very time effective for both staff and parents last year.

As a way of giving parents and care-givers notice of school events we print the calendar in the newsletter three weeks in advance. We hope this allows you to have the notice you need. We all live busy lives and we appreciate your involvement in the life of the school. BYODThe BYOD school subsidy of $200 per Chromebook finishes at the end of term 1 (April 9). If you need financial assistance to get a laptop for your child please contact the school in the next month so that we can assist your family. So far the school has assisted more than 120 families to purchase Chromebooks for their children. MRHS Athletics CarnivalThe MRHS Athletics carnival will be held on Wednesday 8 April, the second last day of the term. We have changed the date to avoid a date clash with the NSW CHS Swimming championships. We have a large team of students repre-senting the school in Sydney.

AttendanceRegular attendance at school for every student is essential if students are to achieve their potential. Schools in part-nerships with parents are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students. While parents are legally responsible for the regular attendance of their children, school staff, as part of their duty of care, record and monitor part and whole day absences.

It is important that parents set an expectation that their children will be at school every day. It will come as no surprise that academic research has shown that when students improve their attendance they improve their academic performance.

It is my role to work with parents and students to improve the attendance of students at school. Parents can assist in many ways by: •Scheduling medical appointments outside of school hours•Not condoning absences from school•Promoting the value of being at school every hour of every day

All the best

Mr Peter KingExecutive Principal

Parent Teacher Interviews Semester 1 2020Dates: Griffith site - 31/3 Wade site - 1/4Time: 4pm-7pmParent Portal links can be found on the school website, under School Links.Year 7 students - Family registration information will be sent home.Family registration for new students in 8-12 are required to contact the school.If you require assistance please call our Front Office staff.

Parent Teacher bookings are open from 16/3 and will close at 1pm the day prior to interviews.

2

Introducing new staff .....

Name: Rebecca JensenWhere have you come from to be at MRHS? Wollongong.

What are some of your favourite hobbies? Gym, Zumba, Lego, video games.

What do you like about living in Griffith? Relaxed, country town atmosphere and brilliant Italian food.

What do you like about being at MRHS? The science faculty have been extremely welcoming and supportive..

Name: Thomas ChapmanWhere have you come from to be at MRHS? Born in Griffith, re-turned from Wollongong after finishing uni.

What are some of your favourite hobbies? Sports - cricket, soccer, NRL, Exercise - gym, hiking, video games.

What do you like about living in Griffith? The Italian food and lack of traffic.

What do you like about being at MRHS? I am excited to be back at my old high school, the nice new science labs and the opportunity to continue to learn.

3

Year 8 Advisors Report A warm welcome back to the new school year!

Students started off the term by participating in the swimming carnival in Week 3. It was fan-tastic to see so many students involved and have a go in all of the races!

Congratulations to all of the stu-dents who are moving onto the Riverina Swimming Carnival.

This term we have some great events to look forward to. All Yr 8 students will be participating in Harmony Day at Griffith site in Week 8. Students will be able to participate in all of the cultural activities, watch the Harmony Day Concert and browse different stalls.

Term One also brings our an-nual Athletics Carnival on April 3 (Week 10). All students are encouraged to come along for the

day to participate in the events to help with their house points and earn PBL tickets. Students are also encouraged to come along in their house colours to support their sports houses. Debating is up and running again with Miss Ridgway and Ms Not-tingham coordinating teams at the Griffith site and Mrs Elwin at the Wade site. Debating helps stu-dents improve their research and critical thinking, explain ideas and speak persuasively without getting caught up in emotion. Debating boosts confidence and team work skills – according to Forbes magazine, debaters are the leaders of tomorrow! Yr 8 is a great year to start debating and we encourage interested students to come along to the next meet-ing and get involved. We are flying fast through Term One and would like to remind parents and students that assess-

ment tasks are only a few weeks away. Now is the time to ensure students are up to date with class work and to seek help from their Teacher or Year Advisor if re-quired.

MRHS’s transition into a BYOD school this year opens up plen-ty of opportunities for students to access work through Google Classroom for parents to be invited to join. Allowing parents access provides insight into what’s happening inside the classroom and how students are engaging and interacting digitally. In-corporating 21st Century skills into educational programs is an excellent fit with BYOD and helps teachers better prepare students for employment in the informa-tion age.

Ms Karen NottinghamYear 8 Advisor Griffith siteMs Sara WylieYear 8 Advisor Wade site

2020

COMMUNITY SURVEY 

Take the survey onlinewww.griffith.nsw.gov.au/communitysurvey2020

or hard copies from Council Chambers or Griffith City Library

We want your feedback!Complete our survey for the chance to win an Apple iPad

4

Mathematics Reportdents are settling into senior school and encourage them to create life-long habits of study. Mr Galla-gher’s Yr 11 Extension 1 class have enjoyed learning about probability using Permutations and Combi-nations. The Mathematics classes have been fur-thering their knowledge on Algebraic Techniques, Equations and Inequalities, and our Mathematics Standard classes have been learning more about ways to earn and manage money followed by ma-nipulating algebraic equations. All Yr 11 classes will complete their first Mathematics assessment task in either Week 8 or 9 of this term, so now would be a good time for them to start revising their work if they haven’t already.

Juniors at Griffith site Our new Yr 7s are settling in well and enjoying ex-panding their knowledge of whole numbers through the use of technology and written exercises. Yr 8s have been working with integers and learning index laws, whilst Yr 9s have learnt about ratios and rates, financial mathematics and integers. Yr 10s have been expanding their trigonometric skills, learning about calculating taxation payments or measure-ment, depending upon the Stage 5 level that they are studying. The laptop trolley has been well utilised so far this year. Students are also encouraged to reg-ularly complete topic summaries and to seek help, if needed, from their teachers when completing homework and assessments.

The Mathematics departments of Murrumbidgee Regional High are continuing to work well together as they collaborate about content and teaching strat-egies as well as assessments and marking. We had many successes in 2019 in regard to combined ini-tiatives and are looking to build on these this year.

Year 12 News At the end of last year, we held a joint Trigonometry Assessment task for Standard 2 at Lake Wyangan. All students had a great day measuring a variety of areas and the height of trees. They are now studying Rates and Ratios. Mathematics Standard 1 also held a Trigonometry task where the same calculations were created at each site. In the future they will be studying Statistics. Mathematics Advanced are un-dertaking an investigative assessment about Finance and Investments. They are studying more Calculus and how to maximise or minimise problems. Ex-tension 1 students have looked at Trigonometry and Vectors and will be assessed on their ability to use Mathematical Induction to prove statements. We are very excited to be offering Extension 2 at MRHS this year. They have investigated Complex numbers and the mandlebrot set and fractals which are found in nature. We are studying the nature of Proof and extended the skills of Mathematical Induction.

Year 11 News In the Mathematics Advanced and Standard course the teachers of all classes are pleased with how stu-

Yr 12 students taking measurements during their Lake Wyangan Trigonometry Assessment.

Yr 9 measuring a range of shapes at the school basketball courts to further their understanding concepts relating to measurement.

5

Mathematics Report continued ....

Juniors at Wade site Students from any class are welcome to bring lunch and complete homework in B3. They can ask questions or study prior to an assessment. Students are reminded that each topic is assessed after completion so that re-teaching can happen prior to the Semester Examination. Yr 7 have been covering the basic Numeracy skills. Yr 8 have studied percentages. Yr 9 have been looking at rational numbers. Yr 10 have been investigating Con-sumer Arithmetic and Trigonometry.

Joint initiatives Last year, we had great success in the Australian Mathematics Competition and the Computer and Algorith-mic Thinking Competition. Students interested in joining the competition may contact Mrs Tregea (Wade) or Mr Gallagher (Griffith). Mathletics is being utilised across both sites and students who are new to this pro-gram are encouraged to explore what it has to offer. Students are expected to bring a laptop to complement textbook or Mathletics activities, workbook to take notes, pens to write with and a calculator. Both sites are using the same calculator – the CASIO fx82AU plus. There has been a price rise on these calculators and they will now cost $22 from our Administration Offices, which is still considerably cheaper than most retailers.

Mrs Leanne Tregea & Mrs Kym SteinHead Teachers – Mathematics

CALCULATORSCalculators are available for purchase

at the Front Office. Cost = $22.

2020YOUTH SURVEY 

Take the survey onlinewww.griffith.nsw.gov.au/youthsurvey2020

or hard copies from Council Chambers or Griffith City Library

We want your feedback!Participants can go in the running to win two free movie tickets.

6

Our Club cares about the values of Rugby, Family & Your Kids

Age groups:

U6’s – mixed touch - $100 per player

U8, 10, 12 – mixed tackle - $110 per player

U14, 16 – boys tackle - $110 per player

U15, 17 – girls tackle - $110 per player

U10, 13, 16 – mixed touch - $80 per player

Training is held on Friday nights at Jubilee oval from 6pm followed by a free sausage sandwich for the kids and $2 drinks.

Active kids voucher can be used for registration and there is a family discount for 3 or more children registered at the same time.

On-line registrations are open now - To register, please go to myaccount.rugby.com.au and select Rugby Portal. For more information or assistance with registration please contact our registrar via email registrargjruc@gmail.com

Come and be a part of the most successful Junior Rugby Union club in the Southern Inland Rugby Union region

Griffith Junior Rugby Union Club

CLEANERS REQUIRED IN GRIFFITH AREA

Training and uniform provided Award Wages

Please email your résumé to: careers@jossgroup.com.au

Or for more information contact Charmaine

Ph: 0428 606 009 between 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday

A Working with Children Check is required

Buses that run from the Wade site include: Penguin Bus 4 3:33pm departs Wade site

3:37pm arrives Griffith site

Rhino Bus 2 3:35pm departs Wade site

3:40pm arrives Griffith site

*$1.20 bus fare applies if you do not hold a current

bus pass

7

Library Report - Griffith siteWelcome to the MRHS Griffith site library. We are here to support student and staff in all areas of your educational and recreational needs. We hope the library provides a friendly and safe space for every-one to enjoy.

The library is open every day at lunchtime. We wel-come quiet reading, talking, listening to music andstudying. Students may also make use of the com-puters provided in the library for assessment tasksand homework. Students also enjoy playing chess, Uno and other appropriate card games.

Our library opening hours are:*8.30 am to 3.45 pm every day.*Closed to juniors each recess and open every lunch time. *Seniors are welcome anytime.

New ResourcesThe Library is always purchasing new books for the students to enjoy. We try to select a range of resources that will complement the curriculum and increase the student’s interests and their enjoyment of reading. Graphic novels and Manga are always popular, and we try to cater to everyone’s tastes.

Accelerated Reader programThis program is designed to build and encourage students to become lifelong readers and learners. This term the Yr 7s have completed their initial testing and are well underway to achieving their targets. It is pleasing to see so many Yr 7s coming to the library during lunchtime to read and test.

Chess ClubWe are entering a team into the NSW Country Schools Chess team competition. We have had 38 students competing at lunchtimes for a spot in the team. The final team will be announced soon.

Passion ElectiveThe library is hosting The Book Club passion elec-tive. With students enjoying reading and exploringdifferent genres, book trailers and authors.

Seniors*Senior students using the senior study area are to sign in to the book which is located at the front entrance.*All senior students can access the senior study during study periods each day.*Students in the senior study are to work quietly.*No food or drink to be taken into the senior study.

Mrs Fiona PaintingTeacher Librarian - Griffith site

8

Library Report - Wade siteWelcome back to the Library at MRHS Wade site! We are looking forward to supporting our students in any way we can in 2020. Please feel free to come in and talk to us so we know how we can help you throughout the year.

A few reminders when using the Library:We are open each morning before school from 8:30am and most recesses and lunches.

With the building of our new space well underway, the school is short on some large indoor spaces so the current library will be used for different meet-ings, training, and other activities from time to time. Be sure to check the sign on the library door to see what is happening during the breaks. The sign will go up each Monday morning but may have a few last minutes changes as the week progresses so keep checking!

The Library is a device free zone during recess and lunch. We want to see you connect with your friends not the internet.

Library HappeningsWe have seen a busy start to the year with a lot of activity happening in the library already:*February is Library Lovers Month and we started the year with a display of a number of the books our students have loved reading.

*Our Distance Education and Aurora students are settling into their study lessons in the library.*We have had our first Chess games of the year with the new team members getting ready for their first competition match in Week 7 of this term.*All Yr 7 classes have started their weekly Acceler-ated Reader lessons. Students are borrowing books regularly and should be reading them at home throughout the week.

Senior study: *All senior students can access the senior study during study periods each day. *Smart phones are not to be used in the senior study. *Students in the senior study are to work quietly.

Computers: *Are available to use for school work purposes only during class times. Students playing games or using the computer to waste time will be asked to log off. *Classes booked in to the library to use the com-puters have priority over senior students using the computers during unscheduled lessons.

Resources We are constantly developing our library catalogue and we encourage everyone to suggest books you would like to see added to the collection. When you have a suggestion let us know and we will endeav-our to get it in for you during the year.

Get lost in a book this term!

Ms Nadine Cox Teacher Librarian - Wade Site

9

SCHOOLWEAR& EVERYTHING ELSE

VIP EVENT FOR ZERO & REWARDS CARD HOLDERS

ONE DAY ONLY - 12TH MARCH

ORIGINAL PRICES

DON’T HAVE A CARD? APPLY IN-STORE OR ONLINE & START ENJOYING THE BENEFITS. *T&C’S APPLY.

*Offer available instore & online, ends midnight (AEDT) 12/03/20. Must use Zero or Rewards card to receive discount. Excludes Gift Cards & schoolwear lay-bys. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other

offer, no rainchecks.

STAY TUNED - ONE DAY ONLY - 12TH MARCH

R E WA R D S C L U BGREAT BENEFITS / ZERO INTEREST