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 2014 Issue 17
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT As I eluded to in the last newsletter, the highlight of this past fortnight has truly been our Year 12 Graduation. The night was a beautiful mix of formal recognition of our students’ achievements with a joyous celebration of their talent and school experiences. The Year 12 Adviser, Mr Scott Carpenter, and his team set the scene by transforming the school hall into an elegant venue, with Mr Ted Killeen’s cake decoration being a talking point for many guests. Armistice Day for 2014 was commemorated at Cowra High with a student lead school assembly that acknowledged the sacrifice made by so many young men & women over the years so we can live our lives in safety and freedom. The assembly was a moving tribute to service men and women from all wars with our students displaying the high level of respect that such an occasion warrants. Cowra Bus Services have sent a letter informing schools that they will no longer allow students to travel on school bus runs with skateboards, scooters, bicycles or unicycles. Although I have informed students of this rule at our school assembly, if it affects your child please ensure they are aware of the situation and alternate arrangements are made. On Tuesday we welcomed our 2015 Year 7 students for a whole day orientation. I was extremely impressed with the level of enthusiasm and positive energy displayed by the students throughout the day. It made it extremely clear in my mind the benefit students receive from access to our regular weekly orientation program. Students were confident in their activities as they moved about the school and with their interactions with the older students. Our ongoing orientation program has been running now for more than five years and I am pleased to say it is an outstanding success. It prepares students both emotionally and academically for their transition into high school. My teachers and primary teachers regularly report that by utilising the specialist high school teachers to deliver Stage 3 syllabus units of work the students enter high school with a deeper understanding of these areas, while also having already been prepared & orientated for the high school routines which often occupy so much time in the first part of Year 7. In effect they receive a head start in their high school careers ~ a win for everyone involved.
Friday 14 November, 2014 REMEMBRANCE DAY Cowra High School paused on Tuesday morning to hold a ceremony to observe Remembrance Day. The ceremony was presented by some of our Year 11 students ~ Caitlin Devery, Drew Johnstone, Goldie Oliver, Matthew Rowston, Patrice Sharp & Joanna Treasure. The solemn ceremony, organised by Mrs Meiklejohn, included an explanation of the significance of Remembrance Day (which is to mark the signing of the armistice to end WWI, which occurred at 11am on 11 November 1918); some readings of accounts from the trenches and a reading of the poem “In Flanders Fields”. Drew played an appropriate musical item on the acoustic guitar, while Mr Doug Hughes performed the Last Post and the Reveille on the bugle. It was pleasing to see that the Cowra High students showed respectful and responsible behaviour befitting the importance of this important ceremony. Readers may be interested to look at some amazing pictures featuring poppies at the Tower of London which was organised to mark Remembrance Day. This is called “Rivers of Blood” – go to: www.viralnova.com/war-poppies/
Have a great fortnight Charles Gauci 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 celebration & humour ~ we feel good about ourselves
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER LAST HSC EXAMS FOR 2014
At 4pm on Wednesday 5 November the HSC was finally over for another year. Cowra High only had three students sitting for two different examinations in the final session of this year’s HSC timetable. Bianca Riggio was the sole student doing Entertainment Industry, a subject she has studied through the Dubbo School of Distance Education. At the same time, two students, Andrew Dedoncker & Tristan Slattery sat Information & Digital Technology – Web and Software Applications, a subject they studied through Cowra TAFE. Both subjects in this final session were VET courses. Bianca, Andrew & Tristan were certainly happy to then be able to join the rest of Year 12 in relaxing, especially as some of their classmates finished their HSC exams two weeks previously.
Award and Jemma Banham the shield for the best Year 12 results from an Aboriginal student. The night ended with the viewing of a fantastic slideshow prepared by Jessie McLean revealing how the students had changed from Kinder to Year 7 to the wonderful ladies and gentlemen they are today. Cowra High wishes the graduating students all the best for the future.
Lucas and Sarah cutting the Graduation Cake
YEAR 12 GRADUATION The Graduation function for the Year 12 class of 2014 took place in the school hall last Friday night. The girls looked stunning in their formal gowns of every colour and the boys scrubbed up really well too, looking dapper in suits, ties & waist coats. Year 12 Adviser, Mr Carpenter, and his band of helpers performed an amazing transformation of the hall, using thousands of black & white balloons. The Quarry catered the delicious meal and Cliff Dykes was on hand to take photographs. Lucas Martin-Edgar & Sarah Scott-Smith had the honour of cutting the superb graduation cake, which had been made and decorated by TAS teacher, Mr Ted Killeen. In addition to receiving their framed Graduation Certificate, a number of students received prizes for coming first in a subject or services to school sport. This year, the graduating students received a special present from the school – a handball in many different colours, which signified Year 12’s love of playing handball at recess and lunch. Three students received special awards ~ Dana Hannan the Caltex Best AllRounder Award; Dylan Oliver the ADF Long Tan
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
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YEAR 8 LOCAL HISTORY PROJECTS
YEAR 10 GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK EXCURSION
Year 8 History students have just handed in their major assignment on an aspect of local history, which was the result of 10 weeks of research. As in previous years, written material was accompanied by an array of creative presentations, including models, cakes, books, paintings, pamphlets & calendars. Mr Tapscott has organised a display of the best efforts in the vacant shop window formerly occupied by Dynamic Travel in Kendal Street. These include Olivia Perkins’ magnificent book about the Seikei Student Exchange program; Kodee Chilstone’s model of the Peace Bell; Georgia Lewis’ painting of the POW Camp; Jemma Pokoney’s boards about the POW Camp; and Janae Hinderager’s model of Europa Park. When you are down the main street, make sure you have a look at the work of our talented Year 8 students.
On Tuesday, students from 10B & 10D Geography completed their fieldwork on waste management in the local area. This involved visiting three sites ~ the old tip which was located behind the Japanese Garden until 1998; the Waste & Recycling Facility on Glen Logan Road and the Sewerage Treatment Plant. Thank you to Cowra Council for their assistance. These students now have an assessment task to complete which focuses on comparing waste management in the past with present methods, in addition to making suggestions for future improvements.
Kodee Chilstone
YEAR 11 DRAMA Year 11 Drama were privileged to represent both Cowra High School and the Western Region in Sydney recently as part of the NSW Public Schools State Drama Festival. As the recipients of $1,000, we were lucky enough to see Children of the Sun at the Sydney Opera House, before being audience members at the drama festival.
Janae Hinderager
Olivia Perkins
We were very inspired and have so many ideas ready for our HSC Drama performance next year. It certainly was a highlight having dinner in Circular Quay and seeing the Harbour Bridge at night! Thanks to Mrs Buckley & Mrs Rowston for coming with us. Year 11 Drama
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
DEFENCE FORCE RECRUITING VISIT
MOBILE DENTAL CARE VISIT
A group of Aboriginal students from Years 10 & 11 had the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in the Australian Defence Forces on Friday 31 October. Lance Corporal Natalie Whyte is a member of a specialist team which aims to recruit more Indigenous people into the Army, Navy & Air Force. Lance Corporal Whyte hails from the Cape York region of Queensland and earlier this year returned from an eight month posting at the Al Minhad Airbase in Dubai. She provided a PowerPoint presentation, had lots of pamphlets and answered questions about career opportunities & entry requirements.
For two days last week a huge van belonging to the Australian Mobile Dental Care Service was parked in the school grounds. In January this year the Australian Government introduced a new dental scheme called “Grow Up Smiling” in order to provide high quality oral health care to schools, aged care facilities and Aboriginal communities by bringing the dentist to you. The service’s motto is “Innovation With A Smile”. This service is means tested and is covered under Medicare for eligible clients. Services include check-ups, cleaning, x-rays, fillings & extractions. Students requiring further treatment not covered by the service are then referred to their local dentist. As the entrance to the van was quite high off the ground, students particularly enjoyed the ride on the remote controlled hydraulic lift which was required to get them up to and down again from the vehicle.
Students were amazed to learn that there are opportunities to do apprenticeships & university courses and there are a wide range of careers within the defence forces such as drivers, electricians, communications, information technology, engineering, security & management, in addition to being a soldier, sailor or pilot. A big thank you goes to Linda Barron and Cowra Council for organising & hosting this visit and providing morning tea for the students & staff. JAI IS FOLLOWING HIS LEAGUE DREAM Last week, Year 9 student, Jai Doolan, began what he hopes will be the start of a promising career in the NRL with the Penrith Panthers. Last Friday Jai began a four day camp at Narrabeen for Indigenous rugby league players. Following this he started pre-season training with the Penrith Club for the Matthew’s Cup competition which is for Under 16’s in the NRL. Jai, who is 15 years old, is among a group of 25 talented young rugby league players who have been selected to train, some of whom will be culled before the Matthew’s Cup competition begins early next year.
COWRA SINGING STUDIO The Cowra Singing Studio’s annual concert is on Saturday 15 November, 7:30pm at the Cowra Services Club ~ a gold coin donation going towards Driving Miss Jacy.
Use the new CHS App to explain your child’s absence. Cowra High School wishes Jai all the best in following his dream.
All absences - part or whole day MUST be explained by the parent/carer.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au