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2015 Excellence Assembly Edition
RECOGNISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FROM 2014
PRINCIPAL’S EXCELLENCE ASSEMBLY ADDRESS Good morning. Over the course of this assembly you will see the continuing achievements of the school as just over 200 awards are presented. The continued success of our students in the academic, performance, citizenship and sporting life of the school underpins much of the ongoing success and reputation of this school in the wider community. Please thank our staff and acknowledge their outstanding achievements as a group in 2014? In 2014, we returned to the core PERSIST value of Excellence – which we define as doing a personal best. I believe we achieved some outstanding cultural and learning benchmarks. We successfully implemented many of the innovative learning platforms and projects that we designed in 2013 and our overarching mantra (shared with our Learning Neighbourhood school partners) to lift the expectations,
capacity and achievement of the school was delivered. Working from identifying our strengths and then building on them we continued to transform the school, not by narrowing our focus but by applying best practice research about learning in secondary schools. The result was a positive change in the learning trajectory for over 90% of our students. The fact that many students arrive at Rooty Hill High School 2 - 3 years behind the state average in academic performance did not, and will not stop us from achieving our promise of working together to make a difference. Together, we deliver our moral contract with students and their families – to give every student the opportunity to do his or her best. Student highlights • Achieving above state average results for the first time in the Year 10 Essential Science skills test;
(continued from page 1) • Excellent HSC results, particularly in PDHPE where there were three Band 6 performances and above state average results; • Literacy data showing that 80% of Year 8 students improved their reading from the start of Year 7 by 3 years or more; • Winning both the Boys’ and Girls’ CHS championships in Volleyball and Felipe Zapata Castro winning the CHS VAL Lembit award for the best male athlete in the state in 2014 and, • As you will hear today. we had outstanding performances in other sports, competitions, debating and creative arts. As promised, we asked ourselves three questions each day – How much have we done? How well have we done it? Have we made any difference? In a few weeks we will publish our Annual School report and it will contain detailed evidence of our success as a school. It will include being asked to be a leading school in implementing new DEC school planning and evaluation tools. School highlights • As part of this work, we prepared detailed reports each term to go to our School Council that tracked our progress on a wide range of “metrics” showing significant improvement. • We were also asked to be a leading school in implementing new DEC school planning and evaluation tools. • A significant result of our work was our selection by Social Ventures Australia as a Powerhouse School – one of seven innovative and highly performing schools chosen to lead a major social policy change strategy.
• We were also one of only 2 public schools in NSW recognised by the government as being able to deliver endorsed professional learning for teachers at every level of the teacher standards. • Our results on the state wide Tell Them from Me survey completed by students across NSW showed that the quality of the personalised learning culture of our school was more highly rated by our students than those in other schools in NSW. • Our staff designed and delivered an outstanding literacy program, new thinking platforms and new programs for Years 7 -12 based on a capability driven curriculum. Not since 2007 has the school had such a successful year on such a wide range of measures. Thank you to our partner schools in the Learning Neighbourhood, our project partners and our parents and community partners for their support and confidence in the school. Thank you to our students and staff for their energy, commitment and drive to find new solutions. Our success in 2014 has allowed us to start 2015 with key learning, relationship and digital platforms in place. In 2015 our core PERSIST value is creativity. Congratulations to Year 7, 87% of whom already have a computer connected to our Google Classroom and who, by the time they leave Year 12 in 2020 will have seen the revolution that is occurring in schools and in our world realised. The digital world of Ask Google, 3D printers, robots and computers that connect and solve problems is fast replacing many jobs. The jobs that are emerging require employees to have the same high quality literacy, numeracy, team and interpersonal skills of the past and also to be creative and
collaborative thinkers and learners. As the famous philosopher Max DePree once said: In the end it is important to remember we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are. A personal note This will be Richard Amery’s last Excellence Assembly as he is retiring as our local state member at the next election. We wish him and his wife Lorraine every joy in the future. This will also be my last Excellence Assembly as I intend to finish my role as principal of the school during this year. I cannot think of a better time for others to take the school forward and to stand on the shoulders of those who came before. I thank Malcolm Leaver, the previous principal for the legacy that I inherited from him in 1997. He left a school that was recognised across the state for its innovative leadership and learning programs. I have been deeply privileged to have been principal of this wonderful school and hope that I leave a school that is still recognised for its leadership, learning and commitment to innovation. Best wishes to you all and congratulations to all our award winners. Christine Cawsey AM 6 February 2015
DUX OF THE SCHOOL 2014 ADDRESS - CAITLIN THICK Good morning, My name is Caitlin Thick and I am extremely grateful and honoured to have the opportunity to speak here today as DUX of Rooty Hill High School for 2014. Year 12 was the most challenging yet rewarding year of my school life. It involved countless hours of study and much stress during exam periods; however, it was also the year where some of the best memories were created and these will last a lifetime. In all honesty, I would not be standing here today without the incredible support of my family, teachers, year advisors, and everyone here at Rooty Hill High. You were the ones who bought out the best in me and guided me in the right direction. You helped me through the roller coaster of highs and lows, provided endless support and ensured I was focused. To my Year 12 teachers, Ms Haigh, Mr Kumar, Mr Fowler, Ms Chaudhry and
Ms Vuki, your dedication and commitment towards teaching here at Rooty Hill High and ensuring we all reach our potential is amazing, and for this I am forever grateful. I am extremely lucky to have attended Rooty Hill High School since the beginning of Year 7 in 2008 where I was fortunate to secure a much sort after position coming from an out-ofarea primary school. In 2011 with the senior years of high school approaching I was given the choice by mum and dad of whether to stay at Rooty Hill or to move to a senior high school. For me there was no choice, I felt that Rooty Hill was going to provide me with all the opportunities I needed. What a great decision I made!! My family.....mum, dad and Daniel, thank you for being the stability, support and encouragement to always strive for the best. My sister, Tenielle, you were my rock throughout 2014. Your constant support, encouragement and the ability
to study together meant that Year 12 was an easier road to travel. Throughout 2014, I learnt the importance of giving your personal best in everything you do. You don’t get far by simply wishing for success; in order to be successful you must work for it and strive for it in everything you do. This is something that I will remember as I begin my Batchelor of Health Science at UWS later this month. Remember that throughout your schooling life you will make mistakes, sit difficult exams, and face many o b s t a c l e s . H o w e v e r, i t i s b y overcoming these challenges that you learn your most valuable life lessons. Wi t h g u i d a n c e , s u p p o r t a n d determination, together with your eye on success, the sky’s the limit! I wish current students, especially Year 12, all the best for 2015, and remember, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Thank you.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS LEADERSHIP FOR LEARNING AWARD Mr Aaron Prestridge P&C ASSOC. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Mr Lincoln Jurd PRINCIPAL’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT Francesco Demasi – University of Sydney National Computer Competition High Distinction Kyle Pont – NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company Member Jason Ma – ASTA & NZASE Education Perfect Science Championships Silver Award Jason Ma – Australian Mathematics Competition High Distinction Rachelle Rativo – Western Sydney Representative to State Championship Debating Team James Sinclair – AFL Indigenous Academy Leadership Juan Felipe Zapata Castro – CHS Sports Association Val Lembit Memorial Award Recipient REPRESENTATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR Open Boys Volleyball Team
BAND 6 HSC RESULTS Breayla Harding – Business Studies Breayla Harding – PDHPE Caitlin Thick – Business Studies Caitlin Thick – Food Technology Caitlin Thick – PDHPE Tenielle Thick – PDHPE
BETTY ANDERSEN MEMORIAL PRACTICAL SCIENCE AWARD Utkarsh Raj
ANDY MCKAY VET STUDENT OF THE YEAR
CHIFLEY SCHOOL SERVICE AWARD Year 7 – Maja Zlomislic Year 8 – Morwarid Faiz Year 9 – Harsha Kumar Year 10 – Nash Wiseman Year 11 – Tristan Filio Year 12 – Jay Edwards
Jaydon Carling - Entertainment Industry
SPORTS CHAMPIONS Junior Girl – Natalie O’Connor Junior Boy – Jarred Wright Senior Girl – Taissa Pereira Senior Boy – Juan Felipe Zapata Castro AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCES LONG TAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK AWARD
Year 10 – Rachelle Rativo Year 12 – Reece Morris
JAN VAN DOORN PERSONAL BEST AWARD Year 7 – Paris Staal Year 8 – Brianna Pelayo Year 9 – Gino Maceda Year 10 – Alisha Charlton Year 11 – Caitlin Rough Year 12 – Stephanie Batchelor
VISUAL ARTS ACQUISITION PRIZE Jahziel Furaque
SCARF AWARD FOR SCHOOL SERVICE Tiana Edwards CALTEX BEST ALL-ROUNDER Tyrrell Mc Carthy DUX YEARS 7-11 Year 7 – Narisha Prasad Year 8 – Joanna Gevero Year 8 – Imico Pablico Year 9 – Sabrina Zaman Year 10 – Suzy Tang Year 11 – Sokkhim Katherine Khov DUX OF THE SCHOOL Caitlin Thick STUDENT OF THE YEAR Breayla Harding