Issue No. 15 24 September 2012

Woonona High School E X C EL LEN C E IN N OVATION S UC C E SS

PO Box 155 Woonona NSW 2517 Ph: 4284 1513 Fax: 4285 1485 Web: http://www.woonona-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Email: woonona-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Delivering excellence, innovation, opportunity and student success

UPCOMING EVENTS Date Event Oct 8 First Day of Term 4 for all students Oct 15-19 Yr11 Hospitality Work Placement Oct 19 National Leaders Day—New School Captains Nov 2 Elevate Leadership Day for Year 11, 2012 Nov 5-9 Yr11 Construction Work Placement Nov 12-16 Yr11 Metal & Engineering Work Placement Nov 13-14 ESSA Tests Nov 19-23 Yr10 Work Experience Nov 26-Dec 7 Library Closed—Stocktake Dec 5 Yr7 2013 Orientation Day—9.30am Dec 13 Presentation Evening Yr7-11—7pm Dec 19 Last Day of school 2012 - for students Dec 20-21 Staff Development Days

Principal’s News

We have had a very successful Term 3. Our students have

learnt so much and had such diverse experiences. We have

seen students engaged in Chess, Athletics, Excursions to

Sweeney Todd and Ansto – just to name a few. I hope all

students take advantage of the possibilities that they are

offered at Woonona High School.

Our Community of Schools has been gaining strength

through the initiatives revolving around learning and our

willing and enthusiastic teachers from all three schools.

Numeracy has been a key focus area this term and our

Mathematics teachers have presented lessons and students

from Stage 3 have been engaged in Taster lessons. Even

more taster lessons are planned for next term.

The Year 12 Graduation was exceptional. I am so proud of

our Year 12 students who demonstrated dignity, respect and

lots of fun in the last days this term. The Captains of 2012,

Brodie Petrolo and Melissa Smillie have been wonderful role

models for the entire school and I am privileged to have seen

the growth in their confidence and management skills. I wish

Year 12 all the best for their HSC examinations next term.

Our SRC Representatives for Year 12 2013 were announced

to the school at the Year 12 Assembly. Our School Captains

are Dean Cambourn and Tiana Stevens, our Vice Captains are

Tara Bain, and Thomas O’Brien and our Secretaries are

Renee Schwarze and Taryn Yates. I congratulate these

students on their election and know that they will enjoy the

next year working together.

I wish the students, parents and staff a safe and enjoyable

holiday.

Mrs Susan Pike

Relieving Principal

CANTEEN HELPERS

Mon 8 Wayne Regan

Tue 9 Help Needed

Wed 10 Stephanie Cotterill

Thu 11 Ida Rasch

Fri 12 Help Needed

Mon 15 Margaret Elphick

Tue 16 Help Needed

Wed 17 Helen Rouse

Thu 18 Help Needed

Fri 19 Help Needed

New SRC Renee Schwarze, Tara Bain, Dean Cambourn, Tiana

Stevens, Thomas O’Brien and Taryn Yates .

Delivering excellence, innovation, opportunity and student success

Page 2

Aboriginal Discovery Program

Excursion

Friday the 14th September saw 16 intrepid young Woonona

High School students venture up Macquarie Pass to a

National Parks and Wildlife Discovery Program in the Morton

National Park. These students were representatives of the

Woonona High School indigenous community from Years 7

to 10. Upon our arrival, Jacob, the indigenous Discovery

Ranger led our party into some magnificent bushland and

showed and explained how the traditional owners of the

area used to live, getting food, medicine and other

necessities from their local environment. All students

showed a keen interest in both the culture and traditions of

these ancient peoples and were more than willing to sample

all bush tucker that was on offer. A return to the Fitzroy Falls

Visitor centre had all students totally absorbed in Jacob’s

informative session on developing an understanding of the

importance of protecting and respecting indigenous culture.

A great day was had by all with all students representing

their culture and school in an outstanding fashion.

Uniform Shop - Term 4 Opening Hours The Uniform Shop now has an email address. To contact Renae or Jackie for any enquiries regarding uniform orders please email them at woononahs.uniforms@gmail.com.

The Uniform Shop is now open each Thursday & Friday from 8.00am—9.30am.

Chaplain’s Corner

The Year 8 ‘Girl Talk’ groups have been going really well. This fortnight we talked about self-care, sexual health, the laws about sexting, dealing with stress and anxiety and relaxation techniques. The girls are very responsive and we enjoy having chats about some of these important issues.

Free breakfasts on Thursdays 7:30am-8:25am continue, with many students and staff coming along to enjoy free pan-cakes, cereal, toast, milk and fruit. Another big thank-you to our supporters below.

A reminder that students can make an appointment to have a chat with me during class, pending approval from their class teacher; or can chat with me on the playground at recess and lunch Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. I am not a school counsellor, but am at school to listen to students and staff when they just need someone to talk to. I’m here to provide a listening ear and a caring presence for kids in crisis…and those who just need a friend. Stay safe over the holidays, and I hope everyone has a nice break. It will be great to catch up with all the staff and stu-dents in Term 4 - I feel so blessed to be part of the WHS com-munity!

Kind regards,

Rowan Keyzer School Chaplain Brekky Club Supporters:

Delivering excellence, innovation, opportunity and student success

Page 3

Career News

Good luck to all of our year twelves as they begin their HSC Examinations. They are a superb bunch of individu-als and the whole school community is proud of them.

TAFE Illawarra

With the recent news surrounding public sector cut backs TAFE Illawarra will be affected and this has made for some re planning of 2013 at TAFE. The following key dates are correct at time writing.

Course information for 2013 is to be available by mid-October.

Information sessions will be held the week of November 10 and they are highly recommended for anyone wish-ing to attend TAFE Illawarra.

There are two types of course at TAFE “Apply Now” and “Enrol Now”.

The Apply Now courses are mostly the more popular courses which are competitive to enter and you will need to apply for them in November.

The Enrol Now course applications will need to be com-pleted by 5 December.

TAFE counsellors may be reached on 4229 0535 to make appointments on course selection..

University Information

Thirteen of our year twelve students have applied for “Selective Entry” To the University of Wollongong and have their interviews coming up. Good luck!

University applications through UAC close on the 28 September. You can change your preferences until 4 January 2013.

Remember the “Careers Advisory Service” of the De-partment of Education and Communities is available on 1300 300 687 from 20 December to 24 December 9am to 5pm. This could be very useful to students with an unexpected ATAR score.

Similarly the University of Wollongong will host and Op-tions Day on the 3 January 2013 for students that wish to change their course selections before the 4 January deadline.

Year 10 Work Experience

Work Experience for year ten is coming up week seven of term four; 19-23 November. Students may use the September holidays to seek out prospective employers. Work readiness lessons will be held in the first six weeks of term four in PDHPE classes.

It is the responsibility of students to find their own placements, However the Careers Office is here to assist student finding this difficult.

John Chamberlain

Bulli Show

A number of Visual Art students successfully exhibited their

works at Bulli Show this year.

Year 10

Emma Brown 2nd Mixed Media

Samantha Eardley 2nd Landscape

Kate Stewart 3rd Landscape

Year 8

Chloe Jackson – 1st Drawing

Paige Walker – 2nd Drawing

Lachlan Court 3rd Drawing

Mikayla Sargeson - Highly Commended

In the photography section, Tyler Jordan Yr 9, won an

award for every photo he submitted – two firsts, a second

and a third place.

Dimitri Tolias’ Yr 11 had to compete in the adult section

and he gained a 1st place, a 3rd place and two highly com-

mended.

Congratulations to all the students who submitted their

work.

Lisa Armstrong Visual Arts Teacher.

Advice to Parents

PSA Stop Work Meeting

The Public Service Association is calling a stop

work meeting for the first day of Term 4, 8 Octo-

ber 2012 from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm. This meeting

has been called to discuss job security and work-

ing conditions.

Please take into consideration that our Office will

have a skeleton staff to manage any enquiries

you may have.

Lessons will be as normal for all students on our

first day for Term 4, Monday 8 October 2012.

Susan Pike

Relieving Principal, Woonona High School

Delivering excellence, innovation, opportunity and student success

Page 4

IFLY 4 KIDS ILLAWARRA FLYTREE TOP WALK

For four days only the Illawarra Fly will become a Winter Wonderland. We will create a snow play space with a small two lane tubing hill and a snow ball target throwing area. The space will be fenced off and entry for pre-booked ticket holders only. We will offer six pre-booked hour long sessions per day, with fifteen minute turn around between each one. Each session will hold approx 100 children. Session times: 9:30 | 10:45 | 12:00 | 1:15 | 2:30 and 3:45pm from September 26 to 29.

BOOK NOW 1300 362 881

Would you like to become a lifesaver?Austinmer surf club needs help for the 2012-2013 patrolling

season. Two fast track Bronze Medallion/Certificate II in

Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) courses will be run at the start

of the season.

When?

1. Four Sundays- 14th, 21st, 28th Oct & 4th Nov (including optional IRB crewperson certificate)

2. One weekend- 17-18th Nov

What does this involve? · Safety and wellbeing · Surf awareness and skills · The human body · Resuscitation · Defibrillation and basic oxygen · First aid · Radio operations · Communications · Rescue techniques · Carries and supports · Patrols

Why get involved? Patrolling is a great way to spend a summer’s day with friends and help keep the beaches safe. Surf Life Saving also enables people to become competitors in the various surf and sand sports including Surf Boat Rowing. Austinmer is one of the most successful clubs when it comes to competition, winning several Gold Medals at the National Titles over the last few years.

Prerequisite: Candidates must be a minimum of 15 years of age. Fitness level - Ability to swim 400m in nine minutes or less.

Contact: Gunther Enthaler- Ph: 0416 064066 Michael Idstein- Ph: 0407 255872 Jackie Gregory- Ph: 0467 709263