16th December 2016, ISSUE NO. 20

Another Successful Year

Congratulations to all students who put in such a big effort at school this year. A number of

students represented the school in statewide competitions, both academically and in the

sporting arena. Our CAPA students performed extremely well at Eisteddfods and drama

competitions. Our students were involved in community activities such as Clean Up Australia

and the Red Cross Appeal, where several students made themselves available to help with

the door knock appeal. TAS students prepared a banquet for the Year 6 students at Frank Partridge and

our Entertainment students worked on the dance concert that was recently held in the performance space. It is this type of

involvement that shows the commitment of NHHS students not only to school but to the wider community. Students have

attended excursions to enhance their learning and also camps as year groups to become acquainted with one another. The

Duke of Edinburgh program saw three students complete the program and receive their Gold Level. With funding we were

able to upgrade the Ropes Course at the back of the school and train teachers. This is a fantastic piece of equipment and

we are lucky to have the course at our school. We also see the retirement of two teachers this year. Mr Stephen Steward

from the TAS Department and Ms Elle Holliday from Visual Arts. Both teachers have been a major part of our school and

will be greatly missed, but I’m sure they won’t have any trouble filling up their free time. To everyone - have a safe and

happy holiday, come back relaxed and ready for a bigger 2017.

Principal’s Report

In my final report for the year I would like to acknowledge and thank the teaching and non-teaching

staff of NHHS. I am very appreciative as a Principal and parent to have such a cohesive and willing

staff who come to work each day to provide all students with wonderful educational experiences.

We have once again had many successes outside of our school in the academic and sporting

fields. These students were acknowledged at our Presentation morning. As I constantly say to all

students - you are the creator of your future. If you come to NHHS willing to participate to the best

of your ability your high school education will be a successful, productive and enjoyable one.

This year we have utilised a large part of our GONSKI money on providing our Year Advisors with an allocation in their

timetable that enables them to regularly check in with, and on, their year groups. A part of this process has been that

each student at NHHS has completed a Personal Learning Plan or PLP where each student has sat down with their Year

Advisor and set short, medium and long term goals. Parents and carers have also been an integral part of this process. I

believe that this initiative has had a huge positive impact on our school and I would like to publically thank all of the Year

Advisors for the care and compassion they have shown towards their year groups.

We will continue this initiative in 2017 and I would ask all students to spend sometime in the holidays thinking about what

your short, medium and long term goals were in 2016 and did you achieve them or are you on the way to achieving them

and what they will be in 2017?

We have two staff members retiring this year, Ms Elle Holliday and Mr Steven Steward. We wish them well in their

retirement. We also have a number of casual staff moving into other positions. Mrs Kerry Lennox who has been a long

term temporary teacher at NHHS will still be with us on a casual basis, but I would like to publically acknowledge the

diligent work Mrs Lennox has done in the TAS, mathematics and other faculties over a good number of years. Mr Brock

Janssen will be taking up a position at Toormina High. Ms Hannah Campbell has been relieving for Ms Holliday during

2016. She has imparted in her students a love of art and desire to stretch creative boundaries in the classroom.

I would like to conclude by wishing all staff, students and the wider community a safe and relaxing holiday and I look

forward to seeing everyone back in 2017.

Simon McKinney

Principal

Excellent 2016 HSC Results

Well done to our 2016 HSC students on their terrific results. Three students received Band 6’s which is over 90% for their subject. Haydn Shannon in music, Sophia Blair in Visual Art and Lucy Bush in Textiles.

The school also received 29 Band 5’s which is a mark over 80% for their subject.

Ancient History - Anna Daley

Maths Gen 2 - Lucy Bush, Sharlotte Hoffman

Business Services - Katelyn Mackney , Morgan Robins

Hospitality - Lucy Bush, Amanda Cheers, Zahra Hocking

Textiles - Kaitlyn-Maree Robertson

Advanced English - Anna Daley, Sharlotte Hoffman

Biology - Lucy Bush, Ashley Ferguson

Business Studies - Anna Daley, Sharlotte Hoffman, Jenevieve Kennedy

Design &Textiles - Sophia Blair

Visual Art - Natalya Byrt, Anna Daley, Levi Griffiths, Sharlotte Hoffman, Jenevieve Kennedy, Morgan Robins

Music - Natalya Byrt, Levi Griffiths, Jenevieve Kennedy

PE/H/PD - Zahra Hocking

Senior Science - Zahra Hocking, James Weimer

Calendar

DATE ACTIVITY

30th January 2017 First Day Term 1 (for students)

1st February Annual School Swimming Carnival

9th February Lions Youth of the Year Interviews

14th February Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Dinner

The 2016 Presentation Day was held on Wednesday 14th December. A large number of students and family members

gathered to celebrate the fantastic results of NHHS students. Senior academic awards were presented to Ian Henstock

and Olivia Langley and Junior academic awards were presented to Flynn Franklin-Baker and Molly Langley. Olivia also

received her Gold Level Duke of Edinburgh Award and Sportsperson of the Year after representing the school at State

level in Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country. Other recipients of sporting awards were: Isaac Hodnett-Daly, Beau

Langford, Xanthe Ronan, Isabella Ronan, Deklan Cutmore, James Britnell, Ella Williams and Brooke Hallett and the

Champion House of the Year was Gordon. Academic and Special Awards went to: Jonah Edwards, Mia Kelsey, Keeley

Waters, Joeshua Bromley and Freya Locke. Georgia Dent received her Gold Level Duke of Edinburgh Award and the

Year 10 Drama Team (Flynn Franklin-Baker, Lucy Harvey, Riley Hayden, Georgia Hoffman, Oran Muir-Wren) also won

awards. There were also a number of students who received their Silver Level Duke of Edinburgh. A huge Thank You to

all of our sponsors for their generous donations and support of our school. A full list of sponsors are in the eNewsletter

and on our website. More photos of the Presentation are on the website.

Ms Elle Holliday has been a member of staff at NHHS in the Art department since

1994 and we would like to acknowledge and congratulate Ms Holliday on her

tireless efforts for our school. Ms Holliday is a passionate Visual Arts teacher who

instils her love of her subject in each of her classes. An example of Ms Holliday’s

passion for art was her leading and organising of the NHHS light-sculpture floats in

the inaugural Nambucca River Festival in 2014.

Whilst at NHHS Ms Holliday was also the women’s contact for the NSW Teachers’

Federation and she has supported her colleagues in this position for a good

number of years.

On behalf of the school we would like to thank Ms Holliday for all she has done for

NHHS and wish her all the best in her retirement.

Farewell Ms Holliday

Presentation 2016

Frederick Henstock Olivia Langley Flynn Franklin-Baker Molly Langley

Following on from the many successful musicals performed by Nambucca Heads High School

2017 will see them reprise the fantastic “Back to the Eighties”. The story is based in a

London nightclub, Disco Inferno, Jack meets Lady Marmalade - a femme fatale and associate

of the Devil. Dreaming of becoming successful, he makes a pact with her, trading his soul to

fulfil his wildest fantasies. Jack soon becomes an international success, making appearances

on radio and television shows, but he finds his

success hollow. Jack now has the fame and

fortune he's always dreamed of but loses his

devoted girlfriend, Jane. As his situation

worsens, Jack wishes only to get his life back

to the way it used to be. Come along and listen

to all the hits of the 80’s such as Celebration, All

Out of Love, Ballroom Blitz, Some Girls and

many, many more. Try to keep your feet still or,

if you feel like it, sing along.

Look out for dates and more information in the

New Year.

Year 10 students recently held an End of School dinner at the Urunga Bowling Club to mark the end of their Junior

years and the beginning of their HSC course. Year Advisors, Mrs Mel Waters and Mr Gary Cattanach, congratulated

the students on completing this part of their education but reminded them that the hard work now starts. It was a fun

night with both the girls and boys dressing in their finest.

Year 10 Dinner

Sporting and Community Notices

Once again this year, as part of the end of year celebrations, the School of Origin competition was held. Students

compete as part of a team. Teams are determined by which Primary School you attended. The past two years have

seen the team of Frank Partridge VC Primary School students come out as eventual winners. Again this year the

“Green School” came out winners. Three years in a row! Great effort. The day is, of course, all about fun and it was

such a hot day none of the students minded the “Run the Gauntlet” where you had to run through a course and have

wet sponges thrown at you. There was a suggestion that perhaps there should have been a teachers team run the

gauntlet - maybe next time!

Nambucca Cinema

Nambucca Cinemas will be running a host of kids movies over the Christmas break.

For more information and session times please go to: http://

www.majesticcinemas.com.au/Page/Home or phone 65686677

School of Origin

Valla Fair 2017

The Lions Club of Valla Inc. will

be holding the Valla Fair on

Sunday 1st January, 2017 at the

Lions Reserve, Ocean View

Drive, Valla Beach commencing

at 8am. For more information

please ring Robin Parker

on 0439 440 020

The Staff of Nambucca Heads High School would

like to wish the whole community a Safe and Happy

Christmas, a Healthy New Year and a relaxing

holiday. We look forward to seeing all students on

30th January, 2017