GUNDAGAI HIGH · Aaron provided a historical overview of the farm and ... benefits to productivity...

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GUNDAGAI HIGH Friday, 2 August 2019

NEWSLETTER

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Welcome back to Term 3

As I start the first term in my new permanent role

of Principal, I would like to thank everyone who

has wished me well and congratulated me on my

appointment. Gundagai High School is a

wonderful place of learning, we have very good

facilities across all subject areas, and a great mix of

staff that continue to add value to classroom

activities across the school. It is with great honour

and what I regard as a tremendous privilege to

lead Gundagai High School into the future.

As always school life is very busy and term 3 is no

different. Year 12 students enter their final term as full time students at GHS, Year 11 students will be

completing their Preliminary certificate courses and students in junior year groups may have had

mandatory course changes in HSIE and Technology. Students in Yrs 8 and 10 will also be learning about

subject selection choices and electives for 2020.

We have our school photos on Tuesday 6 August and an information session for parents regarding

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) on Wednesday 7 August at 4pm. School excursions and

educational experiences have already started with Yrs 7 & 8 students experiencing Poetry in Action, Yr 9

participating in National Tree Day and senior Biology students gaining on the job experience at Wagga

Base Hospital. With many more excursions and opportunities being planned.

GHS presses pause on the annual Variety Night Show

Small student participation numbers, the vacant music teacher position and the need to reinvigorate

performing arts at the school have all been considered, when making the hard decision to press pause

on this year’s performance night. Whilst very disappointing for the students who were looking forward

to showcasing their talents, the decision has been made so every effort can be made to rebuild

performing arts in the school with a focus on broadening the musical capacity of students which will

allow for a diverse Variety Night in years to come.

The staff at GHS recognise that performing arts is an important part of whole school culture, and the

role it plays in developing students into confident, resilient and creative individuals.

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2019

Our school calendar is now available anytime

online through Sentral at: https://gundagaihs.sentral.com.au/webcal/calendar/1

AUGUST

Tuesday 6 School Photos

Wednesday 7

Parent information session- Youth

Awareness of Mental Health (YAM)

4pm

Wednesday 14 Selwyn Ski Day

Monday 19 Year 12 Trial Exams start

https://gundagaihs.sentral.com.au/webcal/calendar/1


It creates and builds upon teamwork and cooperation skills and can allow students to express their

emotions and talents in a variety of ways.

The school is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Music Teacher who will start at the beginning

of Term 4. Mr Joel Fuller is currently working in Griffith and is looking forward to building the talents of

the local students when he arrives. In the meantime our current staff members with musical talents have

stepped in and taken on music classes to build the students’ skills and confidence. Ms Campbell is

taking Year 7 classes, Mr Palmer and Mr Crane will be working with the Year 8 classes, Mrs Pearce is

teaching the Stage 5 elective music class and Ms Jedda Decker is back with us to work with the senior

students during Wednesday afternoons.

The staff at the school have been in discussions around a myriad of ideas to get performance back into

the culture of the school setting. In the coming weeks we will be encouraging students to perform at

weekly assemblies, setting up a permanent band practice space, have lunch time performances and

developing a choir group. More initiatives will follow in the future.

Variety night may not be with us in 2019, but it will be back.

Welcome Mr Byron Roberts

Mr Roberts joined Gundagai High School on Monday 22 July. He is our new Head Teacher

Technological and Applied Studies (TAS). Mr Roberts will be supporting the staff and students in Metal

& Wood technics, Information Technology, Hospitality and Textiles. He comes with a wealth of

experience in schools and TAFE NSW. We look forward to working with Mr Roberts into the future.

Farewelling staff members

Ms Catherine Nash has been at Gundagai High School since October 2017, working in the vacant music

teacher position. Ms Nash has taken up another teaching position at Lockhart Central School, which is

much closer to her home. Gundagai staff and students wished her well for the future and farewelled her

on Friday 26 July.

Mr Scott Smart has been working with our staff and students as a School Learning and Support Officer

(SLSO) for the past few months. His local knowledge and ability to relate to the students has been an

asset in the classroom and playground. He has also been a valuable staff member for the Rugby League

teams in various competitions this year. Scott leaves us at the end of week 2 to take up another career

opportunity.

School Uniform

The P&C have been working with Lowes over the past months to develop a new school jacket that can

be worn underneath the ALL weather jacket and add warmth to the uniform in the chilly winter months,

but also provide a lighter alternative during those cool mornings in the warmer months of the year.


As a result we now have a new jacket on the shelves at Lowes in

Wagga. Students were given the opportunity to vote during term 2 on

designs and then later in the term two SRC students wore sample

garments for the day so students could vote the preferred jacket. It

was great to have the students involved in the process and take some

ownership of the end product. The jacket is now available from Lowes

in Wagga or online for $59.95.

Enjoy Term 3 and make sure you keep up to date with daily activities

on our school Facebook page ‘Gundagai High School – Strive to Serve’

Mr Simon Bridgeman

Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

Education Week is a statewide, annual event to celebrate NSW public education, which is held 5-9

August 2019. The week communicates the achievements of public schools, their students and the value

of public education. You can check out Education Week videos, information and activities by following

#EdWeek19 on social media. Our school is joining the celebration by airing Education Week videos and

putting on a whole school BBQ.

Parents are invited to the school at 4pm Wednesday 7 August for an information session on Youth

Awareness Mental Health (YAM) which is a program being run with Year 9 students.

The following week is Science Week which this year has the theme Destination Moon: more missions,

more science, in recognition of 50 years since man landed on the moon. This theme is a way for

teachers and their students to discover past missions to the Moon and space programs that have

solved some of the seemingly unsolvable problems—and current and future space programs,

operations and missions. As part of our celebrations we are hosting a community screening of

Scinema. SCINEMA is the largest science film festival in the southern hemisphere, showcasing the best

science feature, short, documentary, animated and experimental films from filmmakers around the

world. The event is to be held at 6pm on Tues 13th August at school, in the staff common room

(upstairs above the office).

Parents are reminded that the start of the new term is a good chance to check with your child that they

have appropriate equipment such as enough books, pens etc for the term. Black leather shoes are also

required to be worn to protect student’s feet. Student’s who are continuously out of uniform will have

letters sent home in the early part of the term.

Sometimes students arrive late or leave early. It is expected that students have parental permission and

an accompanying note or verbal contact with the school. If this doesn’t happen, then the student is

marked with an unjustified absence and this is shown on their report.

Ms Allison Appleby

Relieving Deputy Principal


YEAR 11 AGRICULTURE STUDENTS FOCUS ON ‘FERNY HILL’

As part of their HSC studies Year 11 Agriculture students are required to undertake a farm case study to

provide a framework for their learning.

Aaron Nicholls very kindly allowed the students to spend the day at ‘Ferny Hill’ on the Burra Road

looking at the farm as a holistic integrated system. Aaron provided a historical overview of the farm and

its current management practices. He was able to give students a perspective of farming ranging from

plant and animal husbandry to financial and management processes and a philosophical point of view

of the future of the Primary Industries.

Students then toured the property observing the management practices in action and discussing the

benefits to productivity and sustainability.

I would like to thank Aaron for taking the time to assist the students with their studies and for allowing

them to use ‘Ferny Hill’ as the basis for their farm case study.

Mr Dale Chadwick

Agriculture Teacher

Year 11 Students conducting a soil pH test.


STATE CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL – Friday July 26

Congratulations to Indiana Cooper and Caleb

Piper for their cross country achievements.

Both students represented Gundagai High

School at the NSW CHS Cross Country

Carnival at Eastern Creek on Friday 26th July.

Indiana and Caleb competed against students

from NSW government, independent and

catholic schools in their respective divisions.

Well done to Indiana who placed 1st in her

division and will now represent our school at

the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships in Wollongong at the end of August.

Mrs Casey Norden

Sports Coordinator

GOLF CHAMPION TROPHY

Tom Sharman is the new Gundagai High School golf champion after

winning the stroke play competition held at the Gundagai Golf

Course on Wednesday 24 July. Runner-up was awarded to Harry

Jones. Twelve students entered into the six-hole event under the

coaching of Mr Crane and Gary Begg from the Gundagai Golf Course.

Mr Crane noted that many of our students showed potential to

improve their golf with ongoing practise.

The students would also like to thank Mr Ross Sharman for

volunteering his time on the day.

Golf will continue for sport in term 4. This will be open to all students

in Years 7-10 wishing to learn how to improve their golf.


YEAR 9 STUDENT LEADERS ATTEND LOCAL BOOK LAUNCH

Year 9 Student Leaders and members of the school

writer's group, Tazmin Makeham, Adam Morris and

Annika Smith were invited to attend a local book launch at

the end of term 2. Former Gundagai High School student

Helen Castles successfully launched her novel Scoop

McLaren Detective Editor at Gundagai South Public School

in front of students, teachers and community members

including local MP Steph Cooke and Mayor Abb

McAllister.

The students listened to Helen as she told them about her experiences writing for newspapers

and magazines, and now a publishing house. She explained the processes of editing and how much

time passes between writing and publication. We wish student Helen great success with her Scoop McLaren novels.

TEACHER LIBRARIAN WORK PLACEMENT AT THE CSU LIBRARY

During the two week school holiday break in July I was very

fortunate to be placed at the Charles Sturt University Library in

Wagga Wagga for the final work placement of my Master of

Education (Teacher Librarianship) degree. Over the 10 days I

experienced a range of roles at an academic library including

frontline services, research support, academic staff support, and

acquisitions and collection management. The first week was

very busy with the distance education students attending their

compulsory on-campus residential school. The second week

involved spending a lot of time with the collections team at

Bathurst campus and learning about the software and systems

that support academic staff and students at CSU. I spent the

two weeks working with a vibrant team of librarians. I would like

to thank the Division of Library Services for hosting me in their

workplace for 10 days. The experience enabled me

to reflect on the ways we support our students in

the school library, in particular the development of

digital literacy.

Casey Norden


COMMUNITY NEWS


REASON FOR ABSENCE

Student ______________________________ Year _______ Roll _________

was absent from school on _________________________________________

(dates student absent)

Reason: Sick_____________ Medical/Dental Other_____________ Appointment Signed: _______________________________________ Parent/Carer

Relationship to student __________________________ Date: ______________

REASON FOR ABSENCE






REASON FOR ABSENCE






GUNDAGAI HIGH · Aaron provided a historical overview of the farm and ... benefits to productivity...

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