EMAIL: narromine-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

www.narromine-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Academic Excellence Late last year, some of our students participated in the

international PISA assessment program, which aims to

provide governments with system-level data with which they

can examine the effectiveness of their school systems.

Congratulations to Year 11 student Jonathan Simmons who

gained outstanding results on the paper-based and computer

based literacy assessments. Carlie Fee was also ranked very

highly in mathematical literacy. Many of our participants

were well above average when compared to other Australian

students of their own age.

Dedicated and Caring

These words describe the staff of your local community high

school. In this newsletter, you will read about several extra

curricula activities, none of which could have taken place

without the generosity of staff. I thank them on your behalf.

Excellence in Dance

Our warmest congratulations are

extended to Dwayne Anderson

who is continuing to excel in

Aboriginal dance. He performed

in Sydney last week and at the

opening of the Western Region

Principal‟s Conference on

Tuesday. Dwayne and his family

moved to us from Nyngan High

School where staff were sorry to

lose him from the student body.

Major Facility upgrade The long awaited $200000 upgrade to the boys and girls toilets will commence on

Monday 18 March. Portable toilets will be installed by the end of this week. The

completion date for the project is 27 May.

A Fitting Tribute

Last week, Mrs Sharron Bulley and I joined with officers from Orana Local Area

Command and members of the community to commemor ate the life of James

(Jimmy) Nyrang who was employed as a tracker by the NSW Police Force between

1900 and 1902. He played a prominent role in the tracking of Jimmy Governor in

the investigation of the deaths of the Mawbey family at Breelong, near Gilgandra,

on 20 July 1900. On his death in 1928 he was placed in a grave in Narromine

cemetery marked with a simple wooden cross. At the ceremony a headstone was

unveiled as a fitting tribute to the work Jimmy did for our local community.

PRINCIPAL:

Angela O’Callaghan M.Ed.,BA.,Dip.Ed

DEPUTY:

Lisa Bennett B. Arts. Dip.Ed

13 Merilba Street NARROMINE NSW

2821

Phone: 6889 1499

Fax: 6889 1553

HEAD TEACHERS:

English

Ms Cathy Reynolds

Mathematics/HSIE

Miss Jennifer Downey

Science/PD

Mrs Susan Bodiam

TAS

Mr Phil Rufus

Teaching & Learning

Mrs Chris Quigg

(Acting)

YEAR MENTORS:

Yr7 Mr Hoyle

Yr 8 Mr Garner

Yr 9 Miss Althofer

Yr 10 Mr Thakur

Yr 11 Mr Walker

Yr 12 Mrs Wallace

Newsletter 3

15 March 2013

Term 1 Week 7A

MERIT ASSEMBLIES 2013 Term 1

Wednesday 27 March Term 2

Tuesday 18 June Term 3

Wednesday 4 September at 11.30am

Multi-Purpose Hall

Developing Study Skills A big thank you to Mrs Sue Wallace who gave up her time to drive a

group of Year 12 students to Sydney last weekend to attend study

skills and subject specific workshops at the University of Sydney.

Students reported that they learned a great deal from the lectures, and

they are implementing tips into their preparation for the Year 12 half

yearly examinations.

Mrs Michelle Lyons is overseeing the school‟s study skills program

this year. Please don‟t hesitate to contact her, should you wish to

seek advice about this important subject.

Our Partnership with Charles Stuart University

Thanks to our strengthened ties with CSU, our students enjoyed a

day at the Bathurst campus, where they participated in student life for

a day. The aim was for them to strengthen their understanding of the

academic rigour as well as the opportunities offered at university.

Engineers of the Future

Congratulations to Mrs Bodiam and our participants in the annual Rotary Science and Engineering

Challenge, held last week in Dubbo. We were one of nine schools who competed in a range of tasks which

challenged students to use skills and knowledge gained in science in practical applications.

Safety First

Well done to Year 11 students who participated in the annual Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program, held

in Dubbo recently. Participants are to be commended on giving up their time to learn important aspects of

driver safety, a very relevant topic for young people.

Some Great Performances

Well done to our girls and boys who played soccer against Gilgandra High School last week.

Congratulations also to our swimmers, many of whom have been selected to participate at state level. Thank

you to Mr McCabe for coaching our students.

Student Feedback

SRC students have been asked to provide feedback on a draft anti-bullying policy which will be placed on

our website early next term. They are also providing advice about how the school should respond to students

who are often out of uniform without a valid reason.

Youth Worker to Be Appointed

Interviews will be held on 19 March for the position of youth worker. Panel members will include

representatives of the Good Beginnings organisation, based in Sydney, and overseeing this important

initiative for our students.

Please Contact Us

Please don‟t hesitate to contact me about any matter of

importance to you. Once we know there is a problem we

can work with you to solve it.

Angela O‟Callaghan

Principal

NARROMINE HIGH SCHOOL

P&C AGM

Monday 25 March 2013

At 7pm

Venue: NHS Staff Common Room

All positions declared vacant. Parents

and carers new and old are welcome.

General meeting will follow.

Enquiries please phone

Julie Gleeson on 6889-1214.

Dubbo Science and Engineering Challenge

On Thursday 8 March, 18 Year 9 and Year 10 students travelled to Dubbo to compete against other small

high schools in the annual Rotary Science and Engineering Challenge. Students participated in several

activities such as building a catapult, designing eco-friendly homes and constructing electricity grids for

towns.

Narromine High won the prestigious „building a bridge‟ category led by Ellie-Shae Turner and Rianna

Barnes.

The Challenge enables students to participate in science engineering based activities that provide a sneak

peek into career possibilities for budding young scientists.

SCIENCE

Year 7

Year 7 students have just finished their „Famous Australian Scientists‟ assessment task. As part of this task

they are interviewing their buddy scientists in terms of their individual research during morning tea

conversations. Students will be wearing the costumes of their chosen scientist representing him/her and their

field of study. They will be discussing the benefits to society the scientific research brings.

Later in the term students will be conducting a practical investigation on rotocopters. They will be

researching how the length of the blades affect the flight time of the rotocopter. Students will be applying

their designing abilities and will be able to predict & test the outcome of their investigation as their own

„hypothesis‟.

Year 8

Our heart is the main organ of circulatory system. The other day, students embarked on a journey where they

completed dissection of a heart as part of their body systems program. Students identified different parts of a

heart.

Students have completed the digestive system where they have identified different parts of this system. They

are confident enough to state that digestion starts in the mouth. At the moment the class is working on the

skeletal system.

Year 9

Year 9 students are working on their research assessment task about sustainability using Bloom‟s Taxonomy

matrix. Students have to apply their designing and creative skills along with their research ability.

Most of the class is halfway through this task as it is due on 21 March. Students are encouraged to submit

this task on time to avoid losing marks.

Year 10

Year 10 students are studying acids and bases. They are identifying reactants and products in a chemical

reaction. Students are studying about six types of chemical reactions which include precipitation and

combustion. As part of this program, students prepared hydrogen gas in the laboratory and tested it. This is

also known as the pop test.

In Week 9, students will be completing a practical assessment as part of chemical world program. They will

be identifying the reactants and products in a chemical reaction and will be commenting on the properties

and uses of different metals.

MATHS

Mathletics

At Narromine High School all students studying mathematics at any level have access to the internet based

computer program Mathletics. This program can also be used at home if students have access to the internet.

Mathletics is the next generation in learning, helping students enjoy maths and achieve outstanding

results.

Mathletics is Australia's most used educational website!

It is trusted and used by more than 700 A schools and over 250 000 students.

The full curriculum covers the kindergarten to year 12 Australian maths curriculum.

Mathletics responds to your child‟s strengths and weaknesses.

Students instantly know if they are on the right track and they can improve at their own pace.

Step-by-step animated support guides students through concepts. It‟s like having a maths tutor 24

hours a day!

Students are captivated by Live Mathletics the mental arithmetic game arena. They challenge each

other in real-time in games of speed and skill.

The mental arithmetic skills have on average increased by more than

130%.

ENGLISH

Writing in the secondary school – The Senior Years

Achieving success in secondary school (and beyond) means being able to handle an increasingly diverse

range of writing tasks. If you have looked at some of the assessment tasks your children bring home you

may have noticed this. Students are expected to be able to use the technical language of subjects and choose

the appropriate way to respond in writing. Particular subjects, such as Science and Design and Technology

have specific text types which students need to master. This is the way language works. Different types of

language are needed for different purposes and contexts. While students are at very different stages with

their ability to control the language and structure of different texts, syllabus documents are written assuming

a particular level of skill in writing at different stages.

Writing remains a central way that teachers assess students in all subjects. Nowhere is this more evident than

in the Higher School Certificate. By this stage of their education students are expected to be able to

understand and write a wide range of sophisticated texts for different purposes. They are meant to produce

polished, high quality writing which is successful at expressing complex ideas and concepts. They can

experiment with and apply skills and strategies to improve their writing and demonstrate an awareness of the

context and social purposes of a wide range of texts.

This is the writing that will be asked of Year 12 in their upcoming half yearly

exams. To do this they need to be thoroughly prepared and to PRACTICE the

skill of writing essays. In English, students will complete two papers. The Area

of Study paper will require them to write a narrative and an essay, while the

second paper will be also an essay, based on the work covered in Term 4 last

year. Students have been issued with a revision guide to help them prepare

for these exams.

Geography Competition

The Australian Geography Competition is a contest for Australian secondary school students, assessing their

geographical knowledge and skills. The competition aims to encourage student interest in geography and to

reward student excellence.

It consists of multiple-choice questions testing geographical knowledge and skills. The answer sheets are

centrally marked and all participants receive results and certificates – high distinction, distinction, credit or

participation. Students are graded at three age levels – junior for students 13 and under; intermediate for

students 14 and 15 years old; senior for students 16 to 18 years old.

Outstanding students at each age level win prizes - depending on the level, books, medals, money, and for

the highest-scoring students an overseas trip.

Narromine High School will be competing in the competition for the first time, this year. Selected students

from Years 7-11 will be competing during Weeks 9 and 10 this term. This opportunity has been sponsored

by the HSIE faculty.

CAREERS

Skill Fix – Charles Sturt University - Bathurst

On 25 March, ten Year 11 students will be attending a day at Charles Sturt University to improve their study

skills. The sessions will include:

• Literacy Building: create the perfect paragraph

• Know Your Learning Style: use it to your advantage when studying

• Time Management: learn to cope with your study workload to avoid stress

• Effective Research: find the info you need the first time

• Exams and Study Tips: university students share their secrets to success

Permission notes and money need to be returned to the school office ASAP.

MyDay –Exercise Science/PDHPE

Five students travelled to Bathurst last week to gain an insight to studying

Exercise Science/PDHPE at Charles Sturt University. Students took part

in activities that demonstrated the latest sports equipment used in

biomechanics, stability testing and performance enhancement. Students

listened to a presentation from current students about the opportunities

and their experiences about living and learning at university.

School Based Traineeships- Commonwealth Bank Carlie Fee has been selected to complete a 2 year traineeship

with the Commonwealth Bank in Dubbo. These traineeships

offer students an insight into the workplace and finance

industry. Carlie works one day a week in the Dubbo branch

whilst also completing a Certificate 11 in Financial services.

Jack Dolton-Measuring his fitness

Carlie Fee signing her contract with representatives

from MGET, TAFE, NHS and GTES.

CAREERS

Defence Force Work Experience Program

Secondary students have an opportunity to complete work experience with the Department of Defence. Any

interested students are to see Mrs Davison or visit the following website.

www.defence.gov.au/workexperience

Electrical Apprenticeship - Dubbo

A local switchboard building business is looking for a keen applicant to start an electrical apprenticeship.

You must have the ability to use tools in the workshop and be willing to learn new skills. This position may

involve overtime.

Essential:

Reliability, trustworthy

Enthusiastic

Willing to learn and take direction

Applications Close: 20 March 2013

Contact: Sharon Balmer

Apply by calling 6884 8100 or enquire at Skillset Suite 3,207 Brisbane Street, Dubbo

www.skillset.com.au

Careers Expo’s - Sydney Morning Herald and Western Sydney

Any students interested in attending a Careers expo – please see the school website for more information or

visit the following websites: hscandcareers.com.au or westernsydneycareerexpo.com.au

Opportunity for Year 11/12 Aboriginal Students (Dare to Lead School)

The Work Exposure with Government Program (WEX) 2013 is a government initiative that will provide an

invaluable opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to observe activity in a

Parliamentarian's office in a Parliament sitting week (17 June - 21 June) and in a Government or APS

agency. The program is part of the government's commitment to increasing Indigenous employment within

the public service and the overall objective of „Closing the Gap‟ in outcomes between Indigenous and

mainstream Australia. The program also provides a valuable opportunity for well-engaged Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander students to experience political life first hand and to learn about the variety of

employment opportunities available in the public sector. Travel and accommodation costs will be met by

the Federal Government. Please see me for more information.

Jan Davison

Careers Adviser

TAS

Industrial Technology

Year 11 industrial tech are working on their double rail planter boxes which involves students cutting a

range of, mortise and tenon joints. The planter boxes are made from radiata pine and maybe lacquered or

painted. They will hold a pot plant about 250mm in diameter and suit an indoor area or outside in protected

area depending on their final finish.

Year 12 students have embarked on their major projects. Jack Dolton is building a wall unit with sliding

doors with the top level being a display cabinet. Matthew Carter is building a table with a combination

timber look from radiata pine and cypress pine.

VET Constructions and Metals

Year 11 and 12 students are actively engaged in their studies on a range of school projects. They are

revamping the existing tables and making 10 covered tables that will be relocated throughout the

playground. This activity allows for a number of skills to be developed from basic measuring to planning a

number of processes to ensure a completed table is turned out in a week and a half.

VET metals students are cutting and welding RHS for the frames while construction students are

resurfacing, painting and fixing the timber slats for the table tops and seats. Overall the exercise allows

students to plan, measure, cut and fix all materials so that it‟s cost effective and there is minimal wastage.

The tables have been well received by the student body.

PDHPE Report

Year 7

Year 7 PDHPE students are currently completing a theory unit on developing their sense of self and the

impact that bullying has on the individual. During practical lessons they are starting tennis and will be

learning the forehand hit.

Year 8

This fortnight Year 8 PDHPE is learning about lifestyle diseases and positive lifestyle choices. They have

participated in class discussions and role plays to learn the topic. Year 8 students have just finished fitness

testing completing various tests such as the beep test and sit and reach test.

Year 9

Year 9 students have been learning about personal growth and developing resiliency skills. In practical

classes they have been playing touch football and Oz Tag.

Year 10

Year 10 PDHPE students are currently learning about drugs and alcohol. They have been analysing impact

of the drug and alcohol abuse on the individual and community. Year 10 have been learning a range of

football codes, they played gridiron, soccer and touch football.

Year 9 PASS

Year 9 PASS they are learning about the relationship between sport and the Australian Identity. During

practical lessons they are learning the skills and rules of AFL.

Year 10 PASS

Year 10 PASS students are learning about the body systems of the body and participating in various

movement labs to improve understanding. During practical lessons they have been participating in various

court games such as basketball and tennis.

Year 11 Rotary Young Driver Awareness

On Monday 4 March, Year 11 students from Narromine High School

participated in the Rotary Young Driver Awareness (RYDA) course in Dubbo.

RYDA is a program designed to teach students about the importance of safe

and responsible behaviour on our roads.

The course included a variety of activities ranging from information sessions on road

hazards to a poignant road accident story told in person by a crash survivor. However, it seemed that the

most popular session with students was the lesson on stopping distances. This demonstration allowed a

handful of lucky candidates to actually sit in the passenger seat and experience the effect that speed has on a

driver‟s ability to stop in an emergency situation. The facilitators of each session commended Narromine

High students on their attentiveness and willingness to participate.

RYDA is an initiative that Narromine High School will continue to be a part of in the years to come and we

hope that the valuable knowledge and skills learnt through this course will help our students to use the road

safely during their first years of driving and beyond.

Tim Walker

Year 11 Mentor

EVERYONE2DAY

Attendance every day that the school is open for instruction is a legal requirement and a major responsibility

of parents/carers. Do not keep your child away from school for the following reasons as they are not

considered to be acceptable:

Birthdays

Shopping

Minding other children

For routine check-ups or care such as hair cuts

Minor family events

Medical and other health appointments for your child with specialists such as dentists or doctors should

be made either before or after school or during the school holidays

Regular appointments (i.e. private swimming or music lessons during school time) which require

students to leave school early

It is important to understand that the Department may take further action where children of compulsory

school age (6-17) have recurring numbers of unexplained or unacceptable absences from school. Some of

the following actions may be undertaken.

Attendance meetings and compulsory attendance conferences - Parents (and sometimes their child) can

be asked to go to a meeting with school personnel and other regional officers. The aim of the meeting is

to help identify strategies to support the child and family. Other agencies may also be invited along to

help, if parents agree.

If the school and other regional officers have tried to help improve a child‟s attendance, without success,

parents (and sometimes their child) can be asked to go to a compulsory attendance conference. The

conference will be run by a trained conference convenor. The aim of the conference is for the school,

parents/child and other identified agencies (“the parties”) to further identify the issues which are

impacting on a child‟s attendance.

The outcome of a compulsory attendance conference is for the parties to agree to undertake certain

actions to improve the child‟s attendance. These actions are written in the form of undertakings.

Applications to the Children‟s Court – A Compulsory Schooling Order. Legal compliance can be sought

through an application to the Children‟s Court for a Compulsory Schooling Order. The aim is to assist a

family and/or child to address the issues which are preventing satisfactory school attendance but has the

added enforcement of a Court‟s powers.

Prosecution in the Local Court - If all attempts by schools and regional support staff fail to improve a

student‟s attendance, action can be taken in the Local Court and the result can be fines up to a maximum

of $11,000.

Monday TAFE program

The boys group hard at work replacing the sleepers that surround the garden bed near B block. They are

also mulching, installing an irrigation system and planting some shrubs. It is looking wonderful. Well done

boys.

The girls group learning self-defence.

STUDY SKILLS TIP FOR MARCH: How much sleep is enough?

We all know that sleep is important for general health, for growth and development and for emotional well-

being. You may also know that important memory processes take place while you are sleeping, ensuring you

retain what you are learning and studying.

Perhaps you have heard that teenagers need between nine to ten hours of sleep per night. But where does this

come from and how valid is this claim? In 1980, Mary Carskadon of Stanford sequestered a group of

adolescents in the university's sleep laboratory for several days, letting them sleep for as long as they

wanted, up to 10 hours. She found that the teenagers slept just over nine hours, with very little variation.

This single "naturalistic" study is the primary basis for the adolescent sleep recommendation. However some

researchers argue that just because teenagers slept nine hours when left alone does not mean that this is the

best thing for them, just like letting people eat whatever they want is not necessarily the best thing for their

health. So there is no definitive answer at this point in time.

The amount of sleep needed by teenagers is most likely very individual, just like it is for adults. It is

probably safe to assume that adolescents need more sleep than adults and that the average for most people is

at least 8 hours of sleep per night. Pay attention to the signs and have students listen to their body. If they lie

down in bed and fall asleep instantly, this is a sign they are not getting enough sleep for their body. It should

take at least 15 minutes to fall asleep. If they wake up in the morning and are feeling exhausted, then check

all lifestyle factors: are they getting enough sleep, eating healthily and getting enough exercise?

If teenagers are sleeping in for many hours on a weekend, unfortunately this does not mean they are

“catching up” on their sleep. According to University of Texas Southwestern sleep specialist Dr. Gregory

Carter, when we think we're catching up on sleep, what we're really doing is messing with our circadian

cycle -- the body's internal clock which dictates sleep patterns. Excessive sleeping in is in fact a signal that

during the week students need to go to bed earlier. The aim is to work out the optimum bed-time so that the

need to catch up on large amounts of sleep on the weekend is eliminated.

There is nothing wrong with having a power-nap in the afternoon when students get home from school, as

long as the nap is no longer than 40 minutes. A short nap can help students regain their energy levels and

allow them to focus on the work they have to do that evening. However, a longer nap will also disrupt

sleeping patterns for that night.

Our school’s subscription details to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au are -

Username: narrominehs

Password: 161results

Western Swimming Carnival

On Thursday 7 March 16 students from Narromine High attended the Secondary Schools Western

Swimming Carnival in Dubbo. Of these 16 students, 12 were successful in gaining qualification for the state

public schools finals at Homebush in April. All students competed enthusiastically, showing great team

spirit. Caitlin Bayliss progressed with strong breaststroke and backstroke swims in the individual races. Two

(male and female)six person relay teams progressed to state, with the boys six man relay team ending

Cowra‟s twelve year dominance of that event. A special thanks to the parents of students who attended on

the day and helped organise and motivate the team.

Open Boys and Girls Soccer

Last Wednesday 34 students from Narromine High travelled

to Gilgandra to compete in an open soccer knock-out. The

girls team was compiled largely of Year 7 and 8 girls.They

played a team of Year 11 and 12 girls who physically

dominated them. To their credit they held the older girls to a

nil all draw at half time , before conceding three goals in the

second half, going down three nil.

The boys open side started off slowly and at half time were

down three nil. To their credit they never gave up and rallied

in the second half eventually winning 4-3. Jack Healey and

Matthew Saunders both scored a pair of goals,

with Jacks header from a Saunders corner kick

definitely the goal of the day. Scott Harding

continually put his body on the line preventing

several goals being scored in the second half with

fearless goal keeping.

All students behaved well and represented their

school in a truly sportsmanlike manner.

Open Boys Basketball versus Cobar

In Week 4 of this term, 7

boys from Years 10-12

represented Narromine

High School in basketball.

The match started in full

swing with Cobar scoring

first and leading the first

quarter. After their heart

rates were up and the sweat started to drip, Narromine strengthened their

defence and made a strong come back in the second quarter. The final two

quarters saw a little bit of fatigue creep in on both teams. With the inclusion

of some very talented young players, Cobar

presented a tough contest and took a strong lead

later on. Despite Narromine missing some

key players due to injury, the

Narromine team made Cobar

work hard for all of their

points. Final score 31 Cobar,

20 Narromine. The U15 girls

and U15 boys will play against

the winner of Gilgandra and

Cobar in Term 2.

Please be reminded that all students who participate in PDHPE, PASS, or SLR should wear

appropriate footwear for practical lessons. Leather cross-trainers meet the requirements for both the

school uniform and sport lessons. Skate shoes are not acceptable.

Safe Unsafe (unacceptable)

A Matter of Extreme Importance

It is of critical importance that aerosol cans are not

brought to school. This is because we have people

on site who have severe life threatening reactions to

aerosol sprays. Students have been advised of this

policy. Failure to comply with it may result in

suspension.

‘Narromine We Run‟ is holding their inaugural run - walk - ride event.

This year raising awareness, support & much need funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

10km Run/Walk or 5km Run/Walk/Ride.

Narromine Little Athletics Club

20012/2013 Presentation Night Thursday, 4 April 5.30pm at Payten Park

Presentation to all athletes and winners of perpetual trophies

Free sausage sizzle and normal canteen available.

Please bring along a chair. Wet weather venue is the Golf Club.

NARROMINE PRESCHOOL SHOPPING NIGHT

Friday 5 April 2013 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Come along for a night of fun and shopping with a range of local stall holders and help raise funds for our preschool.

Drinks and nibbles for just $5 a person with lots of great raffles throughout the

night.

Only $20 per stall. Interested stall holders please contact Louise Woods on 0428 898349 or Becc Cullen on 0406 594344.

A Reminder

Narromine High School is

peanut free. Your support

is appreciated.