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Term 3 Week 4 (B)

Week 4 Starting 10 August

Monday 10/08/20

Year 12 – Trial HSC Examinations Year 11 - Earth and Environmental Science Assessment Task – P1 Year 9 – Science Assessment Task (9-3 P4, 9-4 P6)

Tuesday 11/08/20

Year 12 - Trial HSC Examinations Year 9 – Links to Learning - P1/P2 Year 8 – Visual Arts (8-4, 8-5 & 8-6) Assessment Task - P2

Wednesday 12/08/20

Year 12 - Trial HSC Examinations Year 11 – Visual Arts Assessment Task – P3 Year 9 – Top Blokes – P1/2; Commerce Assessment Task – P3 Year 7 – Maths Exam (7Q, 7R) – P3, (7N) – P4

Thursday 13/08/20

Year 12 - Trial HSC Examinations Year 9 – Commerce Assessment Task – P2 Year 7 –Maths Exam (7E) –P1; (7C, 7U) – P2, (7O) – P5; Special Religious Education

Friday 14/08/20

Year 12 - Trial HSC Examinations, UOW Early Admission Applications close Year 8 – Visual Arts (8-1, 8-2 & 8-3) Assessment Task – P3

Term 3 Week 5 (A)

Week 5 Starting 17 August

Monday 17/08/20

Year 11 – 2021 Captaincy Team nominations open Year 9 – Virtual Student Recognition Assembly Year 8 – Virtual Student Recognition Assembly Year 7 – English – in class Drama performances

Tuesday 18/08/20

Year 12 - Year 12 English Advanced Workshops: 3:00 – 5:00pm Year 10 – Subject Selection interviews Year 9 – Links to Learning - P1/P2 Year 7 – English – in class Drama performances

Wednesday 19/08/20

Year 9 – Top Blokes – P1/2 Year 7 - English – in class Drama performances

Thursday 20/08/20

Year 11 – Work Placement - Hospitality Year 10 –Science Assessment Task (10.2- P1) Year 7 – Special Religious Education; English – in class Drama performances

Friday 21/08/20

Year 7 - English – in class Drama performances

Term 3 Week6 (B)

Week 6 Starting 24 August

Monday 24/08/20

Year 11 – 2021 Captaincy Team nominations due Year 10 – Subject Selection interviews Year 11/12 Basketball Campbell Cup – Beaton Park;

Tuesday 25/08/20

Year 12 – HSC Oral Spanish Continuers Exam, English Advanced Workshops: 3:00 –5:00pm Year 11 – 2021 Captaincy Team successful applicants notified Year 10 – History Assessment Task – P3 Year 9 – Links to Learning P1/P2; Mathematics Assessment Task – P1 Year 6 into 7 Transition – Unanderra PS

Wednesday 26/08/20

Year 10 – History Assessment Task – P1 Year 9 – Top Blokes – P1/2

Thursday 27/08/20

Year 11 – IT Metals and IT Timber Major Project Assessment Tasks– P3 Year 7 - Special Religious Education Year 6 into 7 Transition – Figtree PS

Friday 28/08/20

Athletics Carnival Wear it Purple Day

Year 12 Purple Year 11 Olive Year 10 Blue Year 9 Red Year 8 Green Year 7 Orange

Thoughts from the

Principal

Trial HSC examinations

Year 12 students are currently in their first week of their Trial HSC examinations.

I cannot praise Year 12 enough. They have faced such disruption this year yet show such a strong spirit and positive attitude. They are taking their Trial examinations seriously and putting in the necessary study time to do as well as they can. We will be using their Trial HSC results to identify areas for revision or emphasis between now and the HSC. The NESA website is an excellent resource to assist HSC students (and Year 11) with their study. Past examination papers, the various subject syllabi, marking guidelines, standards packages, practice multiple choice questions and exam workbooks as well as HSC Markers feedback from the Marking Centre in previous years, all exist on this high quality site.

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Term 3 Week 3, 7 August 2020

Address: 2 Gibsons Road, Figtree NSW 2525 Phone: 02 4271 2787 Email: figtree-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au Fax: 02 4271 6626

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As a means of entry to this web resource, students should click on the students online tab and then the Studying for the NSW HSC tab. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind our Year 12 students to take regular breaks to refresh and relax. Please see page 19 which has ‘Tips for Managing Exam Stress’ from https://au.reachout.com/

On behalf of the school community, I would like to wish our wonderful Year 12 students all the very best in their Trial HSC examinations. These tests are good practice for both their level of challenge and writing under examination conditions that mirror those of the HSC. I also wish to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our outstanding Year 12 teachers who have supported their Year 12 students so well through unusual teaching and learning conditions through 2020 and continue to do so. CoS Numeracy Strategy On Tuesday 4 August we held a Figtree Community of Schools (CoS) Numeracy Strategy meeting. The objective of this meeting was to develop a common CoS Numeracy Strategy, with a focus on Number Sense and Algebra (Fractions, Decimals and Percentages). The sharing of knowledge, practices and resources between key staff across the CoS was a key component of the meeting. Our Community of Schools is made up of a wonderful group of schools:- Unanderra PS, Lindsay Park PS; Mount St Thomas PS; Mount Kembla PS; Figtree PS; Figtree Heights PS; Nareena Hills PS and Figtree HS. This collective, cross-school strategy will continue to be strongly promoted by me, as Principal, as it greatly enhances community bonds and enhances the continuity of teaching and learning at one of the key transition points, Year 6 into Year 7. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for all participating leaders to strengthen their understanding of data, track the learning outcomes for their students and unearth areas for future focus within their school.

The meeting on Tuesday afternoon proved to be most productive as it allowed foundations to be laid for a strong CoS Numeracy Strategy - the team is set to meet again next month. I would like to acknowledge Mr Dodhy and Mrs Glasgow for driving this crucial teaching and learning project.

Cross Country The Figtree HS Cross Country Carnival is always a rousing event and the 2020 tale was no exception. Held on Thursday 23 July on a cloudless and warm winter’s day, there was a huge number of students participating. School spirt was soaring, especially so when our Year 12 students were afforded a standing ovation from their junior peers, who were positioned above them on the sloping hill overlooking the lower field. All participating students were pushed through a challenging 4 km course which looked as pretty as a picture. Starting on the top oval, the route moved through lush neighbouring paddocks, a crossing at the nearby creek saw kids run through shin deep water and then across more lush green pastures, to the finish line on the bottom oval. With 'sick’ music blaring - assembled by our resident DJ, Mr Malouf and the Year 11 Entertainment students - and an inviting barbeque run by Year 12 students and their Year Advisers, Mrs McCarthy and Mrs Parr (Laverne and Shirley), everyone appeared to be having a great time, with the afternoon celebrated as a super success! My congratulations to all competitors and great thanks to all teachers for their contribution, in particular Mrs Markham and Ms Harlor for their exceptional energy and organisation.

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Subject Selections by Year 8 and Year 10 Year 8 and Year 10 are currently moving through the process of selecting their subjects for their next two years of study. Students at Figtree HS are fortunate in the wide range of subjects and courses we offer. Across all Key Learning Areas, students’ interests and abilities are catered for as well as opportunities to pursue tertiary and vocational pathways. Here are some tips for helping your teen select their secondary school subjects:

1. Discuss which subjects they do or don't enjoy.

2. Look at the subjects in which they do best and the ones they struggle with.

3. Assess the options available at our school. 4. Are there subjects they must study: either

because they are compulsory, or necessary to qualify for their desired tertiary course or career?

5. Chat about their interests and talents outside

of school. Although you want your children to look to the future and choose subjects that will help them towards a career they are interested in, they should also consider what they are passionate about. A student is far more likely to succeed in these subjects than in those they feel they 'must' study.

6. Encourage your child to talk to their teachers, especially those who teach the subjects they are interested in. This will help them get a feel for what the course content includes.

7. Discuss the range of subjects your child is considering. Will it keep their career options open in future?

NESA and UAC also provide advice for choosing HSC subjects. Google NESA subject selection and UAC HSC Subject selection, if you want to look at this information.

Grade and Recreational Sport Following many conversations with numerous staff and students over recent weeks, one thing echoed to me by nearly everyone was how much they had missed either coaching or playing sport over the past few months. It has been wonderful this term to have both our Grade and Recreational sports start up again and our staff and students have been so excited to get back on the park. Our Grade teams are taking on Woonona, Corrimal and Kiera High Schools in Basketball, Soccer, Touch Football, Netball, Capture the Flag and Ultimate Frisbee. As usual, our students have displayed exceptional sportsmanship and been extremely competitive - Figtree remains the school to beat! A small number of students have also elected to engage in recreational sports like Laser Tag, Ace Tennis, Beach Walking and ReKreate Gym. No matter the choice of sport, it is marvellous to see our students and teachers out and about, having fun and being active.

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Daniel Ovens

Principal

Expectation of the Week

WEEK 4: BE SAFE – Playing Fields/Playground Play appropriate games in active play

areas

WEEK 5: BE A LEARNER - Toilet Use the toilets before school and at

breaks

WEEK 6: BE SAFE –Corridors/Ramps/Lifts Keep left on stairs and corridors

Deputy Principal Report

Year 7 Semester 1 reports have been distributed earlier this week. Parents are encouraged to have a discussion with their child about their progress in the report. Parents are more than welcome to contact their child’s classroom teacher if they would like more specific information on how their child is performing in specific subjects. Year 7 will start to have more assessment tasks in the next few weeks. It is important that they are prepared for the tasks. A list of these assessment tasks has been placed on the page 1 of this school newsletter. Year 8 This is an exciting time for Year 8 students where they get to choose their elective subjects. All parents/carers and students were sent an email this week which included the links for a short video presentation about students choosing their electives for Year 9 and 10 (2021/2022). The closing date for submitting the elective choices is 14 August at midnight. It is important that students print off their subject selections page, have their parent/carer sign the form and then hand this form to Ms Morgan by 18 August. All student choices are important and decisions about elective choices are not made on the basis of students being first in when submitting their elective forms. Please take the time given to consider as a family the best choices as these decisions will determine the subjects that will be studied for two years. Year 9 There are a range of assessment tasks approaching in the coming weeks for Year 9 students. It is important that students plan ahead to ensure they are giving themselves enough time to produce their best work in these tasks. Developing and practising study skills now will assist students for assessment tasks that are examinations.

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Year 9 Semester 1 reports will be issued to students in the next few weeks. It is important for students to reflect on their achievements and set some goals for improvement for this semester. Year 10 All parents/carers and students received a virtual subject selections information session link via email at the start of the term. Students have now completed choosing their subjects online. The next step in the process is the creation of subject lines based on the choices students have made. Interviews about subject selections with students will take place in week 5. This will provide students with their pattern of study in 2021. Students have started to be interviewed regarding outstanding N warnings that they have not yet resolved. It is important that if your child has two or more outstanding N warnings in any one subject they complete the task to resolve the warning. As the students have been told – it is much harder to do this at the last minute. Year 11

Students are in the final term of their Preliminary studies. In most courses, there is only one assessment task remaining, the Preliminary course examination. This examination period will be held during Weeks 9 and 10 of this term. In preparation for these examinations, Year 11 students have been participating in study skills sessions during lessons over the past 2 weeks. These sessions have been developed by Mrs Glasgow, our Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, and are being delivered by the Year 11 class teachers. These sessions will continue over the next few weeks. Students need to put into practice now what they have learnt about developing their organisation skills for study and revision. The preliminary examinations will assess the learning across the whole course, which is a lot of content to revise if students leave their study and revision until the last minute. It is very important that any student who has an N Warning letter completes the outstanding work that needs to be submitted. An N Determination in a preliminary course will make a student ineligible for the HSC. Ms Donovan will be meeting with any

student who is at risk of an N Determination in the next few weeks to ensure that students understand the work that is required of them to meet course requirements. The Ms Donovan will also be in contact with parents/carers of any student who is at risk of an N Determination in the Preliminary course.

Year 12

Year 12 students have started their Trial HSC Examinations this week. They are to be congratulated on their focus during this time. These examinations continue in Week 4. The school wishes Year 12 students the best of luck during this exciting but challenging time. Ms Morgan met with students prior to the examinations to encourage their study as well as to discuss the rules and regulations. At the end of Term 2 students were issued with the rules and procedures as well as their examination timetable. Mrs Glasgow provided students with some examples of study timetables to assist students with their organisation. Early Entry applications for University of Wollongong are upcoming and students need to be aware of the date so that they do not miss this opportunity.

School Uniform – All Years

The Deputy Principals have visited and emailed students this week to remind them wearing the correct school uniform, and the items that are uniform and those which are not. Of concern have been shoes, jumpers, undershirts and pants. There are three school uniform options that can be worn by students to keep them warmer in the winter. The navy and white sports tracksuit jacket, navy soft shell jacket and navy sloppy joe. These uniform items all have the school emblem. Students in Year 11 and 12 can also wear their senior jacket if they purchased one. School shoes need to be ALL black and leather. Lowes, Figtree Grove is the supplier of our school uniform, and the school pants available at Lowes are the pants that students are expected to wear. An extract about uniform from our 2020 FHS Information Booklet can be found on pages 16 and 17 of this newsletter.

Jemma Lawson – Years 7 and 10

Trish Morgan – Years 8 and 12

Ellie Donovan – Years 9 and 11

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CAPA/Languages

Faculty Report

For this newsletter we have created a snapshot of engaged and creative learning in Creative Arts, Performing Arts and Languages in Term 3 Week 3. VISUAL ARTS OPERATION ART The Visual Arts department is excited to announce Tobias Moore, Emily Stephens, Ruby Tozzi and Caitlin Rodrigues have been selected for Operation Art 2020. Operation Art is the premier state-wide visual arts exhibition for school students from Kindergarten to Year 10. The fantastic artworks can be viewed at the Armory Gallery, Sydney Olympic Park and the Art Gallery of New South Wales later this year.

Ruby Tozzi - Year 8 Animal Drawing

Tobias Moore - Treasure Hunt - 10 Photographic and Digital Media

Emily Stephens - Long Exposure - 9 Photographic and Digital Media

Caitlin Rodrigues - Year 10 Still Life Drawing

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VISUAL ARTS CREATIONS

All Stages are midway through their artmaking projects and are currently engaged in the process of creation. We also look forward to seeing our HSC Visual Arts Body of Work students complete their work later this term. Year 7 have been learning about the Pop Art movement, investigating artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Students took inspiration from these artists to design their own Pop Art posters.

Year 8 Visual Arts students have been creating an expressive painting capturing our local landscape, including Mt Keira. The artwork is based on a series of en plein air drawing lessons. The focus of this unit is observing and understanding the natural connections and patterns in nature.

Year 9 Visual Arts students have been developing their drawing skills, working with pen and ink to resolve a self-directed Zine. Student were given themes such as imagination and identity as their creative spark. From this theme they were able to creative impressive works.

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Our Year 10 Visual Arts are currently creating a series of prints using a dry point etching technique. The theme of this series is inspired by Port Kembla’s industrial landscape. Students are currently collaborating to develop their prints.

Year 11 Visual Arts students are currently learning about contemporary artist practice and a mixed media approach to painting. Students have also been painting after school on Monday afternoons to maximise their studio time. We are pleased to see such a mature approach to this sophisticated style of artmaking.

PHOTOGRAPHIC AND DIGITAL MEDIA

Year 9PDM have been studying the conventions of portraiture. They have created a series of low-key lighting portraits using studio lights, DSLR cameras and tripods. Here are some photographs of students in the studio and their resolved portraits.

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Year 10PDM have just completed the Everyday Renaissance unit. In this unit students investigated historical artworks and appropriated their own inspired works. Students enjoyed recreating traditional artworks and placing themselves in the position of the sitter.

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MUSIC

Music is powering on at Figtree High School and our Stage 4 students have been busily engaged in learning on a variety of instruments, in performance work, learning a range of classical music tunes and melodies on both keyboard and guitar. Year 7 have recently finished learning about the orchestra and are now learning to perform keyboard arrangements of the melodies from the classical era of music. Guitars are also a part of the Year 7 learning scope and students enjoy exploring these instruments.

Year 8 have recently finished a topic on Popular Music and can typically be seen practising energetically, often in small groups, in our music rooms.

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Year 8 students rehearse their pop music pieces for their

performance task - learning about melody.

Year 8 Music students are also being equally challenged in studying Film Music, and experimenting with Electronic Music Software, learning to compose for a film or trailer.

STAGES 4 AND 5 POP BAND

Monday afternoons means band practice! Students from Years 7, 8 and 9 enjoy practising and rehearsing a range of rock and pop songs. The band is slowly building a repertoire and a range of performance skills under the tutelage of Mr Walsh, Ms Gibson and Mr Malouf. We are particularly proud of our singers from Year 7 who are doing a tremendous job holding their own amongst the confident instrumentalists from Years 8 and 9.

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

In the Entertainment Industry course, students are learning with the latest equipment. We have recently installed a Jands CL24 Digital Lighting console and an Allen & Heath QU24C Digital Audio console. Students (and teachers) are enjoying the challenges of integrating these state-of-the-art technologies into their learning.

Luka Odak-Flanagan and Joshua Cole of Year 11 becoming familiar

with the Digital Audio Console during an Entertainment Industry

class.

Peter Hewitt

Head Teacher CAPAL

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FIGTREE HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

On Thursday 23 July we ran our School Cross Country Carnival. This was a great way for the students to get back into some school activities as well as compete for age champions. While the students will not progress to further events it was great to see so many students taking part in our carnival. One of the highlights was the junior school standing and applauding the senior runners as they ran past the football hill. This will be a lasting memory for many of our Year 12 students.

Congratulations to the following students who are

the Age Champions in 2020:

Boys

17+ years Logan Mathie

16 years Zane Howarth

15 years Thomas Panayiotou

14 years Kurt Ninness

13 years Jimmy Skarvelis

12 years Samuel Villarey

Girls

17+ years Jessica Buffett

Sariah Wilson

16 years Ella Giles

15 years Zali O’Brien

14 years Brodie Betts

13 years Tahlia O’Brien

12 years Clara Cuttill

Congratulations to students in Jerrangaugh (green house), the winning house. The following students won the participation award: Ellie Rada, Alex Bourgeois, Jacob Morris, Tayla Robinson, Prince Mazirungu, Harrison Armitt, Jack Hadfield, Sarah Ng, Jessica Buffett, Kayley Mungovan, Brodie Betts, Caleb Shailer, Declan Bunyan, Grace Bunyan, Payton Kyriacou, Axel Piper.

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YEAR 12 FUNDRAISER

Year 12 students assisted in the Fundraiser BBQ

held on Cross Country day to put funds towards the

Year 12 gift to the school for 2020. Supported by

Mrs McCarthy and Mrs Parr their Year Advisors.

The students were dressed in fancy dress and had

fun encouraging the rest of the school to take part

in the event. Sausage sizzle, drinks and cupcakes

were sold on the day. This will be the last Cross

Country carnival that the year 12 students will

participate in.

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WEAR IT PURPLE “WE ARE THE CHANGE” represents us, as a

generation, implementing productive and inclusive

changes in society. Now, more than ever, is a time

to incorporate safety, inclusion and empowerment

in schools to fight adversity and marginalisation.

As part of Wear it Purple day we are encouraging

students on the 28 August 2020 to wear something

purple. This also coincides with our Athletics

Carnival. Students who purchase food from the

Year 12 BBQ will also be given a free wrist band.

FIGTREE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Our Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 28 August 2020 on the school grounds. This is a normal school day and attendance is compulsory for all students.

WHEN: Friday 28 August 2020 WHERE: Figtree High School grounds TIME: Roll Call - 8:40am (in usual Roll Call rooms)

Assembly – 8:45am

Carnival to begin at approximately 9am.

Students will be dismissed from school at 2:58pm.

CANTEEN: Will be available as normal. Year 12 will

also be running a sausage sizzle, cake stall and selling drinks.

EVENTS: All students are encouraged to

participate in all events. We will also be running some special events for Year 12 so they can celebrate their last school carnival.

Students are to remain on the school grounds at all times. We are encouraging students to wear a splash of purple for “Wear it Purple” day as well as a colour from their sport house. NO midriff tops, singlet tops or thongs are permitted to be worn. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the health and safety requirements, there will be no parent/community spectators allowed at the carnival this year.

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