Findon High School “Start with a dream, finish with a future”

FinNews Date 21 May 2018 2018 Issue 7

Inside this issue:

From the Principal

1

Pupil Free Day 1

Diary Dates 1

Senior School Report 2

ICT Report 2

Finance News 2

Entertainment Book 3

Principal’s Tour 3

Absences 3

Work Experience at

Findon High School 3

Beacon Collaborative

Classroom at Findon 4

AFLW Academy 5

Yr 12 Biology Excursion 5

Junior School Report 6

Wellbeing Conversation

Parent Session

6

Findon is a BYOD

school

7

Too sick for school? 8/9

Phil Fitzsimons Principal

Important Dates

Year 11 Driver Ed RAP Wed, 23 May

Year 8 River Journey Flinders Uni Wed, 23 May

Careers Expo Years 10/11 Friday, 25 May

Year 8 River Journey Flinders Uni Fri, 25 May

Year 9 Rivers Journey Flinders Uni Wed, 30 May

Parent Information Night Student –Centered Learning Thurs, 31 May, 6.30pm

Pupil Free Day Week 5 Friday, 1 June

Findon High School

Drummond Avenue

Findon SA 5023

Ph: 08 8445 7944

Fax: 08 8345 5401 Email:

dl.0805_info@schools.sa.edu.au

Web: www.findonhs.sa.edu.au Welcome to this week’s newsletter. Student Centred Learning Update Students and staff have been busy over the last two weeks continuing to shape the transformation into student centred learning. Students across Years 8-10 have identified a list of ten electives as new subjects to be offered in Semester 2. Teachers are now writing a brief subject description as a starting point as part of the elective selection process that will begin later this term. This week our student leaders will connect with students from Mount Alexander College in Melbourne and begin, what is envisaged, the commencement of a long term working relationship with students from the Future Schools Alliance (FSA). The purpose of these conversations is for students to start exploring deeper the insights other students have in relation to student centred learning. In future newsletters, students will be sharing their discoveries from these conversations with the wider school community. Visit to Melbourne Later this week, Assistant Principals Steve Atsalas, Dr Richard Leach and I will be travelling to Melbourne to work with fellow FSA school leaders. The highlight of this visit is to work closely in collaboration with Professor Yong Zhao, a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas. Professor Zhao is an internationally recognised scholar whose work focuses on the implications of globalisation and technology on education. He has designed schools that cultivate global competence , developed computer games for language learning, and founded research and development institutions to explore innovative education models. In addition, visits to Templestowe College, Mount Alexander College and Bundoora Secondary College will take place, providing an opportunity to expand our thinking into student centred learning. Coffee Mornings at Local Primary Schools Our visits to local primary schools have continued this term. Last week, staff and students visited Woodville Primary School, and later this week we will be visiting Challa Gardens Primary School. A reminder to all parents and caregivers that the school now undertakes personalised school tours to current and prospective families wishing to learn more about Findon High School. Parent Information Evening The school will be facilitating a parent information evening on May 31,

beginning at 6.30pm in the Seminar Room. This information session will

be an ideal opportunity for parents and caregivers to gain a deeper

understanding of student centred learning and the exciting direction the

school is taking. Peter Hutton from the FSA will be speaking, along with

Dr Tony Pugatschew from Intellecta Technologies, Rob Pippan from Rob

Pippan Productions, Prefect Michael Ivanov and myself. The community

will have the opportunity to ask questions and have conversations with

staff and our invited speakers at the end of the information session.

From The Principal

PUPIL FREE DAY

Term 2

Friday, 01 June

Finance News

Thank you to those who have paid their fees or made payment arrangements. If you are having difficulty paying your fees or have a query, please contact Jen Dawes on 8445 7944 to discuss.

PAYMENT OPTIONS Fees may be paid by: Cash, Cheque, Credit Card, EFTPOS, Internet Banking BPoint Online – Visit our website at www.findonhs.sa.edu.au . Click on ‘Our School’ then ‘Online Payments’ for the BPoint link. Under description please use the student’s name and/or their 6 digit ID number. Direct Debit - From a nominated bank account - forms are available at the school or call us on 8445 7944. Centrepay – Deductions from your Centrelink payments. Forms are available at the school. If paying by Internet Banking our bank details are: Account Name Findon High School Bank Commonwealth Bank – Findon BSB & A/C no 065 107 - 10346962 Please reference payment with your Family ID then contact us to let us know you’ve paid so we can identify the payment on our bank statement. Ph: 8445 7944 or Email: natalie.murray205@schools.sa.edu.au

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Senior School Report

Senior School Report As we approach mid-way through Term 2 and closer to the end of Semester 1 our Yr 12 students are focussing on completing their Research Project. The Research Project is a compulsory subject which only runs for a semester and all students must complete successfully to achieve their SACE, along with their other selected subjects. Structures and strategies have been put into place to assist as best as possible to ensure all our Year 12 students complete their Research Project successfully. If you have any concerns regarding your child and Research Project, please do not hesitate to contact the subject teacher or the school to discuss.

Mr Atsalas Assistant Principal and Senior School Coordinator

ICT Report Findon uses the skoolbag app for quick access to essential information. Through this app you will be able to access notices, events, newsletters, and DayMap. To register follow the steps below. If you already have the app for another child, you can just add Findon High School. Once registered you can apply to become a member of specific groups that will provide you with information specific to your child. Please feel free to contact the ICT Team at the school and we will be happy to discuss any query with you. Our number is 8445 7944 and we can be contacted between 8.30am – 4.00pm on school days or email us at dl.0805.ictadmin@schools.sa.edu.au

STEP 1 Access via playstore or appstore depending on device STEP 2 Search for skoolbag

STEP 3 Install the App

STEP 4 Search Findon High School

Dr Richard Leach Assistant Principal

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Principal’s Tours 2018

Open Day is every day

Contact us for your

personalised tour.

Findon High School will also

be holding Principal’s Tours

on the following dates.

Friday 8 June 2018

Week 6 @ 9.15am

Please phone Ms Kate Gow on 8445 7944 for bookings or further information.

Entertainment Book Findon High School will be selling Entertainment Books again this year, in both digital and hard copies. You will be able to purchase the books by credit card via the following link: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/16p1655. An envelope will also be coming home with students for those who wish to pay via cash. All early bird orders will receive additional vouchers. A sample book will be available to look at in the front office once they are released. Please tell family and friends that our school will be selling them to help our fundraising. For further information please contact: Melissa.Campbell502@schools.sa.edu.au.

Work Experience at Findon High School Students learn the most when it happens in an authentic context, and what could be more authen-tic than experiencing the world of work, first hand? Year 10, 11 and 12 Findon High School stu-dents have undertaken work placements in a wide range of industries over the past month, as part of their studies in Workplace Practices and have gained enormously from their experiences. Most importantly, they had had the opportunity to gain a range of employability skills including effective communication, teamwork and using technology, which transfer to a wide range of employment contexts. Students found the experience incredibly valuable with student Idil Mohamed commenting, “work

experience was so valuable as it gave me a taste of the real world. I felt so proud to complete a task

successfully that I had no idea how to do on day one of my placement.” Idil also said, “I gave work

experience my all and never gave up, even when tasks were challenging.” Since completing her

placement, Idil has gone on to secure work at Enzo’s at Home, where she will be making Italian

delicacies as well as providing the high quality customer service that she learnt on her placement.

James Hoskin worked in the ICT support centre at Findon High School and “loved the experience.”

James proved to be a focused and dedicated ICT support officer, using his capacity to provide at-

tention to detail to create new spaces for ICT equipment and providing student support through-

out the week.

The local community received our students incredibly well providing students with positive feed-

back that they can take into future job interviews as evidence of their job readiness. Students are

back at school now and are reflecting on their experiences with the support of their classmates and

teachers.

Karla Huffa

Workplace Practices Teacher

James Hoskin, ICT Support Officer

Absent from school? Parents are advised that if their child will be absent or late for school for any reason, they are asked to contact the school by 9.30 am. Phone: 8445 7944. Student Records To ensure that all student records are accurate and up to date, could you please ensure that the school is notified of any changes to address, phone number, emergency contact, etc.

Page 4

Beacon Collaborative Classrooms at Findon High School Findon High School has engaged in the Beacon Foundation’s Collaborative Classroom initiative, connecting students with industry and enabling them to learn in a more authentic, real world way in 2018. Year 8 HASS teachers Brenton Kovaleff and Scott Hill paired up with Port Adelaide Enfield Council Environmental Project

Officer, Craig Hughes to design a real world, Problem Based Learning coastal studies unit. Students were exposed to a digital

‘brief’ from Craig which outlined the problem, overcoming coastal erosion, and the factors that would need to drive the

solution they proposed. From there, it was over to the students as they undertook field work and research to create their own

unique proposals, driven by Craig’s industry knowledge. This culminated in a showcase, where Craig was part of a panel

tasked with considering which proposal best achieved the aims of the brief. This real world urban planning experience took

the Year 8s out of their comfort zone through immersion in the work of an Environmental Project Officer. Their ability to work

in teams, use clear and persuasive communication, understanding the values of a local community through rigorous

questioning and develop greater awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses through ongoing self-assessment were

also important outcomes.

Brenton Kovaleff and the Year 8 Environmental Project Officers showcasing their work Teresa Bulmer’s Stage 1 Design class were exposed to the expertise of Graphic Artist, Nathan Elmer from CDW Studios and

saw their designs transformed from page to screen using cutting edge technology. This experience became part of their Visual

Study, an important component of Stage 1 Design and one enriched by this exposure to an industry expert. Teresa established

a culture of inquiry within her classroom, challenging students to tap into Nathan’s expertise as a working Graphic Artist and

pose questions about Design and The Arts as legitimate career pathways. Student Ben Mercer reflected that he now ‘sees

Graphic Art as something that is definitely achievable’ and hopes to pursue this pathway as he continues studying towards his

SACE and throughout his Tertiary education. This experience has prompted students to be more forward thinking about their

futures and see that Design is something real and tangible in the world of work.

Ben and Teresa presenting to staff Brenton and Teresa showcased their work to staff alongside Beacon State Manager, Mandy Rossetto to share the value of their

involvement in the Collaborative Classroom initiative. Student voice was also critical in this showcase and Ben Mercer, James

Kleyer, Rick Peters and Mohsen Amini Parsa, spoke confidently to staff about the benefits they experienced learning in this

way. A number of staff will engage in Beacon Collaborative Classroom training in Semester 2, bolstering Findon High School’s

industry connections, challenging students to pro-actively work towards successful futures and be increasingly job ready

Karla Huffa, Brenton Kovaleff and Teresa Bulmer

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AFLW Academy

On Friday, 18 May, a group of enthusiastic Findon High School female students participated in our very first AFLW (Australian Football League Women’s) clinic. The clinic was run by West Adelaide SANFLW players Lauren Rodato and Melanie Elsegood; as well as Adelaide Crows player, Rachael Killian. Students participated in various drills to develop their handballing, kicking and game awareness. The coaches put our girls through their paces, challenging them to work their hardest throughout the session. This is the first of three SANFLW clinics to be run at Findon High School as well as the Crows Clinic and Crows Carnival in week 5.

Exciting times are ahead for Findon High School as we launch our very own AFLW Academy…. watch this space!

Alice Gee

Student Wellbeing

Year 12 Biology Excursion On Friday, 18 May the Stage 12 biology class travelled to The University of Adelaide Waite campus to participate in a workshop on

DNA extractions and various molecular techniques. The students got the opportunity to experience a university laboratory and

utilise the equipment used in a research laboratory. The workshop was run by Dr. Bianca Kyriacou who described her role at the

university and the research undertaken by her colleagues. The students extracted berry DNA and then isolated the “pepper gene”

using micropipettes and gel electrophoresis techniques.

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Page 8

Junior School Report

Last week the Year 9 students completed three Naplan tests. To support students before the tests, a hearty buffet breakfast

was offered in the Home Economics Centre, followed by relaxation exercises, guided by Miss Gee and Mrs Craig.

This week Year 8 and 9 students will be participating in the River Journey Explorer and Investigator. Flinders University stu-dents present the first session at school during lesson time. Next term the 2 year levels will visit Flinders University experi-encing what a university pathway can offer.

A letter will be sent home providing more information.

Lyn Meynell

Junior School Coordinator

Wellbeing

Our next Wellbeing Conversation parent session will be held Wednesday, June 20 9:30am-11am. This term ’s the topic for discussion is the National Disability Insurance Scheme or NDIS. If you are currently connected and needing support, or need to connect with the scheme please come along to our Parent Session. Spaces are limited so please get in get quick by emailing Kiah.Craig963@schools.sa.edu.au or calling 8445 7944 to book your place.

Student Wellbeing Leader Kiah Craig

Page 9 2018 Issue 7

Findon is a BYOD school!

Why BYOD-Bring Your Own Device? In a 21st Century learning environment technology is an integral part of learning. A personal device empowers individual learning by allowing students to work whenever they need to. By choosing the BYOD model the school has the resources to maintain and improve the school’s ICT infrastructure (better wireless and internet connections, colour printers, classroom displays and specialist computer suites) which would not be possible if the school had to supply every student with a device. The purpose of BYOD is to continue technology rich learning for all students at Findon High School. There will be more opportunities for students to collaborate with others, connect with a global community, receive feedback from teachers, and create products like videos to show their learning. Educational research shows that BYOD leads to many benefits in learning. Some of these benefits are listed below:

Devices such as laptops and tablets are already a very significant part of students' lives. Since these devices are integral to their lives, they should be integral to their learning lives.

Mobile devices are part of 21st century living and integral to learning 21st century skills, which are vital for students to learn and develop.

BYOD allows even further personalised learning for students. BYOD allows learning to be even more collaborative. When students are able to use their own devices, it often leads to increased motivation and engagement in learning. Students can work where they want when they want, with access to their files Students have choice in the device (windows or Mac, Tablet or traditional notebook, screen size etc) as not everyone needs or

wants the same features in a device.

A large proportion of students (over 80%) already bring their own devices to school and are already using them in class to enhance their learning. Our findings from student and parent consultations have revealed that students want to have access to devices in the classroom. The school only has a limited number of loan laptops, and these cannot be taken home, limiting the students access to the technology required for many tasks. As Findon High Schools transitions to the Student Centred Learning Model having their own device will be even more important. What is an acceptable device? Currently FHS supports both Windows and macOS devices - any laptop or tablet purchased in the last few years should be accepta-ble. Our suggested minimum specification is listed below.

You can purchase your student’s device from the retailer of your choice. There are usually great deals available on devices that meet the minimum specifications form any of the larger electronic retailers and a suitable device can be purchased for around $500. When purchasing a device you do not need any additional software as Microsoft provides Office to all students through the Department for Education at no cost. If you need advice in about what to purchase please contact the school.

Support Findon High School’s fundraising efforts.

All funds from each ticket sold is returned to the school.

Get your ticket today @ FHS Front Office