Our Mission: To provide a quality comprehensive and inclusive educational environment where all students can achieve Newsletter also on the web at cowrahigh.net Principal: Charles Gauci B.Ed., Dip.T. Deputy Principal: Paul Bullock B.Sc., Dip.Ed. Deputy Principal: Ian Pattingale B.App.Sc., Dip.Ed.
Volume 2015 Issue 4
Friday 20 March, 2015
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Congratulations to Jemma Pokoney who was selected as Cowra Youth Ambassador for the Festival of International Understanding. I was very proud to see so many Cowra High students involved in the festival and nominating for Youth Ambassador. Our two official candidates, Alan Read & Maddison Johnson, did a fabulous job here at school raising awareness of their nominated charity Save the Children Fund. This has been particularly important as Save the Children Fund is working hard helping victims of Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. Our thoughts and prayers go to all those affected by this disaster.
again looking at the progress made in the development of the School Plan for 2015 – 2017. Millennium portal access has been enabled for all parents/caregivers who have supplied the school with an email address ~ if you have any issues with access please contact the school. If you have not supplied us with an email address please do so as this will give you access to your child’s data. Have a great fortnight. Charles Gauci
Cowra High School played a strong role in last week’s Festival of International Understanding. 8A Geography’s colourful entry took out first prize in the secondary schools section of the shop window display. A festival highlight was the parade & carnival held on the Saturday afternoon. Cowra High had a number of staff & students march in the parade. The Cowra High Dance Group, prepared by Alison Buckley, was one of the many groups who performed at the carnival held at Brougham Park. By now every Cowra High family should have received a letter requesting up to date information for our records. We ask for this annually to ensure addresses, contact details etc are correct. Similarly we ask for confirmation of permission to publish. Even if details haven’t changed, we need you to please complete these forms so we can validate our records. A reminder to notify the school of any changes throughout the year. Our last P&C meeting coincided with the P&C AGM. It was pleasing to see all the executive positions filled by members of the school community willing to contribute to our school: Mrs Trisha Long ~ President Mr Glenn Johnson ~ Vice President Mrs Louise Dale ~ Treasurer Mrs Gai Gauci ~ Secretary I encourage all parents to get involved in our P&C as it is a great opportunity to be involved in the direction of our school. At our next meeting (1 April, 7.30pm at the Services Club), we will be
Jemma, Maddison & Alan with Missook Cho, Vice President South Korean Friendship Society
☼☼☼
School Social Wednesday 25 March 7.30 - 10pm
Theme ~ Back to School ABCs Come dressed in something starting with A, B or C
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au We value continuous improvement ~ we can get better
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
COWRA HIGH WELCOMES A NEW SEIKEI EXCHANGE STUDENT On 4 April we welcome our new exchange student Rie Kamiyasu from Seikei High School. Rie will join us for twelve months, enjoying all that a rural community like Cowra has to offer. We look forward to having her in our school. Megan Perkins Seikei Exchange Co-ordinator RIE’S SELF INTRODUCTION My name is Rie Kamiyasu. I’m 15 years old and in Seikei Junior High School. There are five in my family ~ father, mother, brother, sister and me. My father, Hajime, is an Orthodontist who practices in his own office in Tokyo. My mother, Eri, is an Orthodontist too but she usually does housework. My brother Kent is 19 years old and is trying to enter college. My sister, Mai is 17 years old in Seikei High School and she loves animals. I love animals too so we have many pets ~ two dogs, reptiles and fish. I like playing sports especially volleyball which I’ve played for three years. Also, I like listening to music. I’m looking forward to coming to Cowra. Rie Kamiyasu ☼☼☼
complete. It will be administered during school hours between 26 March & 2 April ~ participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey has been sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by 26 March. ☼☼☼ LIONS YOUTH OF THE YEAR QUEST ZONE FINALS Sunday 8 March saw three outstanding young women contest the Zone final of the Lions Youth of the Year Quest in Grenfell. They were Cowra High’s Maddison Johnson; Kate Kelly from The Henry Lawson High School, Grenfell and Lauren Jenkins from Hennessey College, Young. The girls had to submit a resume of their achievements in the academic, sporting, cultural & community service fields, before being interviewed. Then before an audience of Lions members and family supporters, they answered two impromptu questions, finishing with their prepared speeches. Maddison’s prepared speech titled The Road not Taken (about decisions and one’s conscience) was delivered flawlessly, entirely from memory. After lengthy deliberation by the judges, the contestant from Young was named as the winner and will proceed to the District final of this quest.
THE Tell Them From Me STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY I am delighted that this term our school will participate in a Department of Education & Communities initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey aims to help improve student learning outcomes and measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement & other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement & effective teaching practices. More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information -for-parents The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide our school with valuable & quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help improve the way we do things. I want to assure you that the survey is confidential and school staff will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to
Congratulations Maddison on a superb performance.
☼☼☼ SCHOOL PHOTOS Cliff Dykes Photography has extended the ordering period without a postage/ handling fee until midnight on Sunday 22 March ~ from Monday 23 March there will be a $7.95 postage/ handling fee added.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER MERIT SCHEME NEWS Year 11 & 12 students who achieved a Gold Medallion in 2014 were awarded their Gold Cards at last week’s assembly. They enjoyed a morning tea afterwards as part of the privileges of being a Gold Card holder. Students who were absent due to other school commitments will receive their Gold Cards at the assembly in Week 10. Year 11 students included Taylor Allen, Reece Buckley, Lucy Clements, Jade Darcy, Clover Riches-Farrell , Alana Ryan & Cameron White. Year 12 students were Sarah Alcock, Taylah Bugeja, Allison Buttigieg, Sally Cooke, Caitlin Devery, Paige Ellis, Isobel Fragar, Brooke Gillard, Alyssa Hindmarch, Drew Johnstone, Madeleine Jones, Nidal Komi, Alexander Lazarou, Kate Lewis, Bede Leyland, Jessica Meyers, Ari Mouzakis, Caleb O'Connor, Goldie Oliver, Luke Reid, Laura Rowston, Matthew Rowston, Patrice Sharp, Sean Simpson, Kimberley Smith, Anna Steel, Joanna Treasure, Georgie Tucker, Georgia Waters, Vivienne Wells & Ben Wilson. Already this year quite a number of Service Eagles have been achieved ~ for the Aboriginal Dance Group, participation in the Lions Youth of the Year, AWD swimmers from the Support Unit, boys and girls representative cricket & representation at the Cowra Festival for International Understanding. Certificates can be awarded at an assembly, Year Meetings or distributed by coaches. Students must earn at least one Service Eagle during the year to qualify for a Gold Medallion. For students in Year 12 busy studying for the HSC a Service Eagle achieved in Year 11 will be considered.
Page 3 Week 9 assembly is lining up to be very sporty with the presentation of badges to our House Captains, Swimming Carnival Age Champions awards and the latest news about our very talented representative sportspeople. Family members and caregivers are most welcome to attend assemblies. Please note our new starting time of 9am which is being trialled for the rest of this term. ☼☼☼ BLACKFELLAS HANDS EXCURSION As part of the cultural element to the Breakaway Program, on Thursday 5 March students & staff went on an excursion to an ancient Aboriginal ceremonial area located in the Wolgan Valley near Wallerawang & Lithgow. They visited the rock art site known as Blackfellas Hands, where under an overhanging rock formation stencils of ancient art can be seen. Upon arrival near the site, everyone experienced a ceremony of respect performed by Aunty Gloria Rogers, an Aboriginal Elder from Raglan. This was followed by a smoking ceremony performed by Aunty Gloria. After lunch, the group climbed the steep, rocky path to the art site, carefully entering through the ‘gateway’, two trees close together, known as the Two Brothers. Later, the group walked to an open campsite area, where there were lots of nooks and crannies to explore in the stunning rock formations. This was a special day, where students and staff experienced first-hand evidence of Aboriginal occupation and aspects of culture.
Early next term there is the opportunity to qualify for a Service Eagle by representing Cowra High in the ANZAC Day March. With the 100 Year Anniversary of the Landing at Gallipoli it would be great to see a large number of students marching with the school on what will be an historic occasion. ASSEMBLY NEWS School assemblies have been very busy this term. The year opened with a presentation of certificates and a viewing on the big screen of the Aboriginal Dancers segment from last year’s Schools Spectacular. The 2015 Enid J Langfield scholarships have been awarded, Prefect inductions, presentation of Gold Cards & Service Eagles, announcement of SRC reps and lots of SRC news plus a farewell to our Japanese exchange student Yoshi which included a very moving performance by Yoshi of Amazing Grace accompanied by Year 11 Music students. PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER JOB JUMP
Cowra High has jumped onboard with the majority of the schools in NSW and subscribed to this relatively new Careers website Job Jump, which has been created by past Careers Advisers. It has been designed for students & parents to access up-to-date and relevant careers information. Below is some information on what Job Jump offers and what you will find once you have registered. It is a very comprehensive site which has been designed to be a 'one stop shop' as much as possible when it comes to career research. Students & parents are encouraged to sign up to Job Jump using the following details: Login ~ is your preferred email ie: fred.flintstone@det.nsw.edu.au Password for CHS ~ co (then you create your own) After signing into Job Jump, you will receive: Student Career News sent directly to student’s home email address on any of their chosen careers for which they have registered A comprehensive digital ATAR and University course sorter that works hand-in-hand with the UAC Handbook making it easier for students to search for their chosen courses A full directory of the top 140 sites students need to access quickly and easily Job Jump will have topical careers news each month that spreads across all 100 career fields from Employer Organisations Bonus points across all Universities in NSW and their links. Earnings across 300 careers Find my Career quizzes ……and much, much more! How to get the most out of using www.jobjump.com.au Find a listing of the Menu Items that appear across the screen from left to right. This is how you use each item. Login ~ you can now Register to receive the latest Careers News on your chosen careers from now through to the year after your HSC. If you change your mind, you can unsubscribe at any time. You can select new careers at any time and have as many as you want. My Career ~ Click on the name of a career that interests you. The 4 coloured buttons now become active. If you now click on 'Read the News' all of the current news is ready for you to act on with the active links.
Click on 'Watch a Video' and you can enjoy a tour of your chosen career. Click on ‘Check I'm Suited?' and you can complete the chart to show you have the personal qualities desired by a future employer. When you click on 'Go For It', 5 choices appear: o 'Can I prove to a boss I'm the right person?' gives you valuable and quick information on how to improve your chances for an employer to hire you in this career. o 'What subjects should I study?' gives you the subject advice on subjects in NSW you could consider. o 'What courses should I study after school?' gives you the quick advice and the direct links to many of your Tertiary options at University, TAFE and private colleges. o 'Where can I find the jobs?' gives you the real job vacancies, employer organisations and exactly how to find the names, addresses and phone numbers of companies you can contact yourself from the Yellow Pages. o 'How do I present to an employer?' gives you all you need to be able to call an employer with an easy script on what to say and a Directory Sheet to list all of the companies’ names and contact details. There is a sample letter and a resume that guides you line by line what you need to write to an employer. There are handy quick tips on what you should do and what to take with you whenever you visit an employer. If you have any problems, please see Mrs Williams or Ms Klinger in the Careers Room. So now you know about Job Jump, jump onto the career pathway that could take you anywhere! The world is your oyster!! CAREERS NEWS Throughout 2015, the University of Wollongong (UOW) will be communicating with Year 12 students about University admission, important dates, their Early Admission Program etc. All students who registered for the UOW Discovery Days (with a legitimate mailing address) will automatically receive this information in the mail. Any students who did not register for Discovery Days and would like to be included in UOW’s mailing list should log onto www.uow.edu.au/future/school and click the ‘Register for Updates’ tab in the top right of this page. This will be a very quick form to fill in with mailing details etc. If you are the parent of a Year 12 student and would like to receive information each month about UOW programs and upcoming events, please join ‘Parents Future Students’ by registering at www.uow.edu.au/future/ school/advise/. Click the purple ‘Sign up Parents ENews’ tab to complete your details.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER UOW Information Evenings for Students & Parents In 2015, we will be holding 18 Information Evenings for students in Years 10 - 12 students & their parents throughout NSW! The nights will be held in: Young ~ May 3 Orange ~ July 16 At a UOW Information Evening, you can expect to learn about: Choosing Subjects (for interested Year 10 students) Important dates and key things to remember for UAC applications UOW Early Admission UOW’s Accommodation Guarantee The degrees and opportunities available at UOW Options for students who don’t receive the ATAR they need What university life is like from a UOW student perspective Head to the UOW Events Page for more information and to book a seat! ☼☼☼
Page 5 PCYC COWRA Mixed Basketball ~ PCYC is looking to get Monday night mixed basketball under way after the April school holidays with games to be played at the Binni Creek Road building. This will be an open age competition. Nomination forms are available at PCYC’s Young Road complex and need to be completed and returned to PCYC by Thursday 2 April. Cost will be $5 per player per game. Players must be current PCYC members to participate. Sports Ability Training ~ run by Office of Sport & Recreation with two main aims. To provide those working in a physical activity & sport setting with more ways of including people with disabilities To provide a medium for the integration of people with & without disabilities to interact in a sporting environment Participants will develop techniques, strategies and the confidence to adapt & modify any activity while playing the Sports Ability activities. It’s on Monday 30 March 2015 at PCYC, Young Road between 11am – 2 pm and is free ~ register by Wednesday 25 March. For further information please contact Darrin Yates of Sport & Rec on 6362 6623 email darrin.yates@sport.nsw.gov.au, or Shane Budge at PCYC 6341 2035 – email sbudge@pcycnsw.org.au You must be a PCYC member to participate in any of the PCYC activities. Yearly membership is $5 for under 18’s and $10 for ages 18+.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER COWRA vs CAMDEN 2015
Day 1 Wednesday 27/05/15 1.30 - 2.00
CAMDEN ARRIVES
2.00 - 2.30
WELCOME ASSEMBLY
2.30 - 3.00
BILLETS DISTRIBUTED
5.30 - 6.30
Junior Rugby League ~ Rugby Fields Hartley Street
6.30 - 7.45
Senior Rugby League ~ Rugby Fields Hartley Street
Day 2 Thursday 28/5/15
Junior Girls
Junior Boys
Senior Girls
Senior Boys
8.55
9.20 - 10.30
Soccer (Football Oval)
Volleyball Open (Hall) Volleyball Open (Hall) Soccer (Football Oval)
11.40 - 12.50 Netball (Hall)
Day 3 Friday 29/05/15
10.25 - 11.30
Junior Debate (Library)
Girls Super 8 Cricket (Tennis Courts)
Soccer (Football Oval)
Senior Debate Preparation Hockey Open (Hockey Field)
Boys T20 Cricket (Rodwell Park)
Senior Debate (Library)
Social ~ School Hall
Junior Girls
Junior Boys
Senior Girls
Senior Boys
Other 1
Other 2
Muster Basketball (Hall)
Senior Mixed Touch (Hockey Field)
Soccer (Football Field)
Chess (Library)
Tennis (Tennis Courts)
Junior Mixed Touch (Hockey Field)
Basketball (Hall)
Softball Open (Football Field)
Junior Super Quiz (Library)
Tennis (Tennis Courts)
Softball Open (Football Field)
Basketball (Hall)
Senior Super Quiz (Library)
Tennis (Tennis Courts)
11.30 - 12.35
12.35 - 1.15
Girls Super 8 Cricket (Tennis Courts)
Boys T20 Cricket (Rodwell Park)
8.55 9.20 - 10.25
Junior Debate Preparation
Netball (Hall) Hockey Open (Hockey Field)
Basketball (Hall)
2.00 - 3.10
7.30 - 10.00
Other 2
Muster (Quad)
10.30 - 11.40
12.50 - 2.00
Other 1
LUNCH
1.15 - 2.00
FAREWELL ASSEMBLY
2.00
CAMDEN DEPARTS
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Education & Communities
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tendance Information for parents
Compulsory School Attendance Information for parents Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options. NSW public schools work in partnership with parents to encourage and support regular attendance of children and young people. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children. What are my legal responsibilities?
What if my child has to be away from school?
Education in NSW is compulsory for all children between the ages of six years and below the minimum school leaving age. The Education Act 1990 requires that parents ensure their children of compulsory school age are enrolled at, and regularly attend school, or, are registered with the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards for homeschooling.
On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:
Once enrolled, children are required to attend school each day it is open for students. The importance of arriving on time Arriving at school and class on time:
Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine
Give students time to greet their friends before class
Reduces classroom disruption
being sick, or having an infectious disease having an unavoidable medical appointment being required to attend a recognised religious holiday exceptional or urgent family circumstance (eg. attending a funeral)
Following an absence from school you must ensure that within 7 days you provide your child’s school with a verbal or written explanation for the absence. However, if the school has not received an explanation from you within 2 days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence. Principals may decline to accept an explanation that you have provided if they do not believe the absence is in the best interest of your child. In these circumstances your child’s absence would be recorded as unjustified. When this happens the principal will discuss their decision with you and the reasons why.
Principals may request medical certificates or other documentation when frequent or long term absences are explained as being due to illness. Principals may also seek parental permission to speak with medical specialists to obtain information to collaboratively develop a health care plan to support your child. If the request is denied, the Principal can record the absences as unjustified. Travel Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, discuss this with your child’s school Principal. An Application for Extended Leave may need to be completed. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year. In some circumstances students may be eligible to enrol in distance education for travel periods over 50 school days. This should be discussed with your child’s school Principal.
Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER an interpreter? Interpreting services are available on request, including for the hearing impaired. The Telephone Interpreter Service is available 24 hours a day,
If a student misses as little as 8 days in a school term, by the end of primary school they’ll have missed over a year of school.
If a
seven days a week on 131 450. You will not be c
My child won’t go to school. What should I do? You should contact the Principal as soon as possible to discuss the issue and ask for help. Strategies to help improve attendance may include a referral to the school’s learning and support team or linking your child with appropriate support networks. The principal may seek further support from the Home School Liaison Program to develop an Attendance Improvement Plan. What might happen if my child continues to have unacceptable absences? It is important to understand that the Department of Education and Communities may be required to take further action where children of compulsory school age have recurring numbers of unexplained or unjustified absences from school. Some of the following actions may be undertaken:
Compulsory Conferences
Schooling
You may be asked, along with your child, to attend a Compulsory Schooling Conference. The conference will help to identify the supports your child may need to have in place so they attend school regularly. The school, parents and agencies will work together to develop an agreed plan (known as Undertakings) to support your child’s attendance at school.
Application to the Children’s Court – Compulsory Schooling Order
If your child’s attendance at school remains unsatisfactory the Department may apply to the Children’s Court for a Compulsory Schooling Order. The Children’s Court magistrate may order a Compulsory Schooling Conference to be convened.
Prosecution in the Local Court
Further information regarding school attendance can be obtained from the following websites: Policy, information and brochures: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/goto school/a-z/attendance.php The school The school leaving age:
School and Department staff remain committed to working in partnership with you to address the issues which are preventing your child’s full participation at school. In circumstances where a breach of compulsory schooling orders occurs further action may be taken against a parent in the Local Court. The result of court action can be the imposition of a community service order or a fine.
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/leavi ngschool/index.php Do you need an
What age can my child leave school?
For further advice and questions contact your educational services team
All NSW students must complete Year 10 or its equivalent. After Year 10, and up until they reach 17 years of age, there are a range of flexible options for students to complete their schooling.
Do you need an interpreter? Interpreting services are available on request, including for the hearing impaired. The Telephone Interpreter Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 131 450. You will not be charged for this service.
T 131 536 Learning and Engagement Student Engagement & Interagency Partnerships
Working in Partnership The Department of Education and Communities recognises that working collaboratively with students and their families is the best way to support the regular attendance of students at school. We look forward to working in partnership with you to support your child to fulfil their life opportunities.
T 9244 5129 www.dec.nsw.gov.au © February 2015 NSW Department of Education and Communities
student in a school term, by the end of primary school