4 May 2015 Issue 1 – Term 2 – Week 3 Keross Avenue Barrack Heights NSW 2528 T: 02 42963055 F: 02 42972817 E: [email protected]W: http://www.warilla-h.schools.nsw.edu.au Warilla High School Newsletter Page 1 Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge Principal’s Message It is with much pleasure that I welcome you to Term 2! Can I start by sincerely thanking Mrs Raison who relieved as Principal during the 2 weeks I was on LSL prior to the Easter break. We are indeed fortunate to have outstanding educators and leaders across our staffing roster so that when absences occur, the schools smooth operation continues unabated. Prior to the holidays, TAFE NSW-Illawarra Institute – conducted its Faculty of Human Services, Tourism and Hospitality 2014 award ceremony to recognise outstanding achievement. Five of our students were awarded the TVET Certificate 111 in Health Services. They were: Chantelle Cvetanoski, Caitlin Hattenfels, Alexis Mallia, Montannah Murray and Jazmine Widdup. To top the afternoon off, Alexis Mallia was presented with the TVET Health Services Outstanding Achievement Award. Alexis was the only recipient of a special achievement award and was selected from 15 high schools in the region…a fantastic result! On a more creative note, several students have been successful in their applications to be part of the African Drumming Ensemble, a regional group that will perform at a number of venues around the area. Again, the depth of student achievement and the talent being nurtured and provided with opportunities at this school is nothing short of outstanding. In the last Newsletter I made reference to the 2014 Annual School Report. This 44 page document is a rich and accurate chronicle of our work in 2014 with detailed reports about every area of endeavour across the entire school. I am pleased to advise you that it is now on our website for your perusal. Alternatively, hard copies are available upon request from my office. I commend this wonderful report to you. Perhaps the most important aspect of the start of this term is the fact that we are now embarking on our strategic journey 2015- 2017. Every public school in the state, working in conjunction with their school community-and after exhaustive data analysis and benchmarking- have developed a School Plan that reflects need, context and priority. Our 3 key focus areas are: 1. 21st Century Learning 2. Quality Systems and Practices 3. Excellence for All. Every aspect of our operation will flow like tributaries to enhance the attainment of these priorities, with each of the Deputy Principals working with an executive portfolio team to ensure those nominated milestones alluded to in the plan are achieved. A full copy of the plan is on our website and will be regularly critiqued at our Parents and Citizens meetings, held on the second Tuesday of each month in the school library, commencing at 7pm. Finally, there have been a number of inquiries related to what “device” students need to purchase as part of our 21 st Century learning drive. Some of our more enterprising students have nominated laptops to parents, some of which are in the vicinity of $1500 to purchase. These are not required and I direct you to the information from our Technology Committee attached to this newsletter, which will provide all of the detail and rationale for the device we recommend you to purchase. I think you will find this information helpful and a means of saving money! With my kind regards John Hambly Principal
Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge
Deputies Report
We would like to commend the majority of our students for the start that they have made to Term 2. There has been a sustained period of inclement weather and it has been pleasing to witness the fantastic behaviour of our students during this time. Year 11 Half Yearly Examinations begin on Monday 4th May. All students must be in full school uniform and ensure that they prepare appropriately for each exam. If your child is absent from any exam contact must be made with the school on the day of that exam and appropriate documentation such as a medical certificate will be required. Year 12 completed their Half Yearly Examinations at the end of Term 1 and are currently being notified of their results. It is vital that your child seeks feedback from their teacher in each subject. The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy ( NAPLAN ) will be conducted in schools between 12-14th May. This will involve Year 7 and Year 9 students at Warilla High School. Information relating to NAPLAN has been sent in the mail to all parents/ carers with students in those respective year groups. An important reminder that if you have recently changed address or your contact numbers that this information needs to be passed onto the school. In the case of a medical emergency for instance it is obviously vital that the school is able to make contact with parents/carers immediately. Unfortunately, there have been a minority of students who have been displaying inappropriate behaviour on social media this term. We would like to ask each parent/carer that they take the time to monitor their child's activity on social media and ensure that appropriate measures such as privacy settings are activated. There are several useful tips and advice on the eSmart link on the schools website.
Deputy Principals
Mrs Raison and Mr Stanizzo
P&C Office Bearers 2015
I am pleased to announce that at the P&C AGM held on Tuesday 10 March, the 2015 executive was unanimously voted in. They are:
1. President Jill Boothman 2. Vice Presidents Jane Newton Natasha Saltalamacchia 3. Secretary Alison Rogers 4. Treasurer (P&C) Richard Sharp 5. Treasurer (Canteen) Erene Devall
On behalf of our school community I thank our executive P&C team for the time, effort and commitment they have made to your children and this school.
Mr Hambly Principal
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4 May 2015 Issue 1 – Term 2 - Week 3
Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge
Coming Events Week 5A
Week 3A
4 May
4 – 11 May
Yr12 Workplacement (Backup WK)
Yr11 Half Yearly Exams
5 May White Card Course – Mr E Orth
7 May AIME Core Program Yrs 9 - 10
8 May Yr12 Business Studies Excursion –
Taronga Zoo – Mr Jones and Mr Spooner
Week 4B
11 May Yr11 Half Yearly Exams
12 – 14 May
12 May
NAPLAN
Yr10/12 Illawarra Coal Careers Expo –
Mrs Hicks
P&C Meeting
13 May West African Drumming Ensemble -
Mrs Neden
18 May Yr7 Vacinations
African Drumming Ensemble
19 May Yr12 Future Directions Conference
20 May Athletics Carnival
21 May AIME Core Program Yrs 9-10
22 May Yr9 Drug and Alcohol Workshop –
Mrs Clune
Week 6B
25 May Yr11 Biology Excursion – Minimurra
River
White Card Training
26 May Workskills Seminar – Mrs Gaynor and
Mrs West
27 May Motivational Media Big Screen
Presentation – Mr Smart
28 May AIME Core Program – Yrs 9 – 10
Extension History Study Day - Mr
Raftery
Week 7A
4 June Yr7 CAP University Visit
AIME Core Program Yrs 9-10
5 June Future Directions Yr10 – P3 Library
Yr11 HSC Boot Camp P5 Library
Special Provisions for the HSC 2015 The Board of Studies will allow students who have a “disability” to use special provisions for the HSC. They are practical
arrangements designed to help students who can’t otherwise make a fair attempt at the HSC exams. The provisions are
determined based on the way in which the student’s performance is disadvantaged during exams.
The definition of the term “disability” is very broad, examples of disability include learning disability, literacy difficulty, and fine motor
skill issues, medical problems such as diabetes, severe asthma, chronic back problems, physical disfigurement, and mental health
such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar, neurological and sensory such as scotopic sensitivity or hearing loss.
Special Provisions available can include readers, writers, extra time, rest breaks, separate small group supervision.
Applications are lodged electronically by Warilla High School staff. Documentary evidence is required as supporting evidence and
must be submitted to the school for inclusion with the application.
The application process is lengthy. It is advisable to begin the application process as quickly as possible to avoid delays.
Applications generally close at the end of Term 1, 2015. Applications may be lodged later in the year, even during the HSC exam
period.
Information regarding Disability Support is available on the BOSTES website.
Should you wish to find out more about Special Provisions please contact Ros Gaynor at school on 4296 3055.
Ros Gaynor
Learning and Support Teacher
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4 May 2015 Issue 1 – Term 2 - Week 3
Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge
Year 12 Visit to NSW Art Gallery
During Term 1, Year 12 Visual Arts had the opportunity to visit and
explore the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This was a fantastic day as
students were able to experience the 'Pop into Popism' Exhibition of
Pop Artists from America, London, Australia and Europe! By chance
the Artexpress exhibition was on; this is a showcase of Body of Works
from the highest achieving Visual Arts students from across the state.
This exhibition was truly inspiring as our students saw what it takes to
achieve absolute excellence in their own Artmaking practice in areas
ranging from textiles, painting, film and animation, 3D Digital printing to
sculpture. The final exhibition that the students explored was the Asian
Perspectives gallery where students were able to see the Artworks of Ai
Wei Wei (their favourite Case Study Artist) in person, alongside the ceramic work of Ah Xian and fellow contemporaries. The
Creative and Performing Arts faculty are looking forward to more excursions in 2015!
Student success at Annual Mosman Youth Art Prize! There were over 300 entries for the prestigious Youth Art Competition run by
the Mosman Council with 185 being selected for exhibition. Two students from
Warilla High School, Dylan Tubaro Year 12 and Lachlan Gromek Year 9 were
both chosen to have their work displayed for the exhibition. Lachlan Gromek
received a $200 prize for his oil painting “My Auntie Jill”. We would like to
congratulate both boys on this wonderful achievement and wish them all the
best in the future pursuits in Visual Art. The challenge is out for other students
to participate in this competition next year.
Artwork: “My Aunty Jill” by Lachlan Gromek, Year 9 2015
Encore 2015 On Monday March 9, Year 12 Music students joined with Oak Flats, Albion Park and Illawarra High School Year 12 Music students
travelling by coach to the Sydney Opera House to hear HSC 2014 band six performances and compositions. Dressed for the
occasion, the students were very impressed with the high quality of performances, given insight on how to improve their
performances and compositions were they undertake their Music HSC exams later this year.
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4 May 2015 Issue 1 – Term 2 - Week 3
Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge
Diverse Drumming Workshop The Diverse Drumming Arts Initiative returned in 2015 and Warilla High School was lucky enough to be a part of this great program.
The program aims to foster the development of talented students and teachers in instrumental music and provide performance
opportunities in order to encourage the pursuit of excellence in this art form. It began in 2011 as the South Western Sydney
Drumming Initiative and was expanded in 2012 and 2014, in various venues across the state. In 2015, the initiative took on a new
challenge - West African Drumming Circles.
Under the professional guidance of Yacou Mbaye, our students Daniel Seery, Daniel Perek, Brandon O’Brien, Dylan Tickle and
Laura Lees mastered a number of rhythms on the djembe African drum.
Our student’s skill and dedication was recognised by Yacou when he personally selected a small number of students including
Daniel Perek, Brandon O’Brien, Dylan Tickle and Daniel Seery to attend the NSW Public School West African Drumming Ensemble
in Sydney. This involves a rehearsal in Lewisham and a concert in the Sydney Town hall in May. We wish the boys all the best as
they participate in this wonderful performance experience.
3D Immersion Day
From the Visual Arts Staff Development Day held this term, Warilla High school has been awarded a 3D Immersion Day valued at $500 thanks to Miss Brewer. A date is yet to be confirmed and we will provide a report and pictures in a future newsletter.
Student Art Exhibition
Opening night with free food and drink, Senior and HSC artworks on display for 1 weekend only in a professional gallery space. Set
off the street in an open and grassy courtyard, surrounded by other artist studios and next to a café.
Karen Unicomb Relieving Head Teacher CAPA
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4 May 2015 Issue 1 – Term 2 - Week 3
Our School’s Core Values: Care for your environment Embrace honesty Respect others and value yourself Seek knowledge
Year 10 Formal Recently the school has fielded inquiries from parents related to a Year 10 Formal.
I would like to make it very clear that the school does not support, organise or play any part in so called Year 10 formals.
The official school leaving age is 17 and as such, a school formal at the end of Year 12 is the official ceremony sanctioned by the
school- along with our graduation and merit assemblies. Please feel free to contact my office should any clarification of this position
be required.
Mr Hambly
Principal
Make Online Payments
From the 21st July it will be possible for parents to make online payments to the school for amounts owing for students, via a secure
payment page hosted by Westpac. Payments can be made using either a Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card. The payment page
is accessed from the front page of the schools website by selecting $ Make a payment
Items that can be paid include voluntary school contributions, subject contributions, excursions, sales to students and creative and
practical arts activities (these include band, drama and dance). There is also a category called “other”, this to cover items not
covered in the previous heading. ‘Other’ can be used to make a complete payment of a school invoice.
When you access the $ Make a payment you must enter:
the students name, and
class and reference number OR
the students name, and
date of birth.
These details are entered each time you make a payment, as student information is not held within the payment system.
This is a secure payment system hosted by Westpac to ensure that your credit/debit card details are captured in a secure manner
and these details are not passed back to the school.
You have the ability to check and change any details of the payment before the payment is processed. Receipts can be emailed
and/or printed.
Details of the payments are passed daily to the school where they will be receipted against your child’s account. As a receipt has
been issued from the payment page a further receipt will not be issued by the school.
For any enquiries regarding the Online Payment process please contact the office staff on 02 4296 3055 or alternately email;
