Court Street GILGANDRA NSW 2827 Phone: 6847 2276 Fax: 6847 1288

PRINCIPAL Mr Neal Reed DEPUTY Mr Joshua Webb HEAD TEACHERS English/HSIE Mrs Fiona Lambell Mathematics Mr Steven Schier Science Mrs Suzie Frost TAS Mr Russell Woollams SUPPORT Mrs Di Irvin (rlg) YEAR ADVISORS Year 7 Mr Andrew McCutcheon Year 8 Mrs Laura Jordan Year 9 Miss Kristy Smith Year 10 Mrs Jessica Reed Year 11 Mrs Stacey O’Neill Year 12 Ms Kristen Skewes P&C President Mr Paul Alchin AECG President Deidrie Naden ARCO Mrs Meredith Schier

Newsletter 5 5th April 2019 Term 1 Week 10

EMAIL: gilgandra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.gilgandra-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Quote of the week

“Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it”

Principal’s report...

This term has again shown what we already know here at Gilgandra High School – the students and staff are committed to learning. With a number of new initiatives commencing this year, from the introduction of new leadership opportunities with our Captains to the Year 11 and Year 7 You Can Do It! wellbeing aspect, we continue to be open to new ideas and ways of focussing on growth. The social, emotional and academic growth of our students only occurs in an environment which is conducive to learning, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr Webb and our staff to promote this learning culture. By definition, learning is an active process. It requires effort, and it also requires a partnership between school and home to make the greatest inroads. If it’s not already a part of your practice, I would ask that assignments and/or homework be used as a relationship building exercise at home. 10 minutes per school day quickly adds up, and the benefits to their social and emotional connections, as well as their literacy and numeracy, will be the stronger for it. Finally I would like to wish you well for the upcoming school break. During

this break we will be commemorating ANZAC Day with a Dawn Service as

well as the 11am Service. Please stay safe these holidays, particularly if

you are travelling on the roads, and I am looking forward to a similarly

energetic Term 2.

Neal Reed

Principal

Science and Engineering Challenge Team

2019 SCIENCE & ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

On 2nd

April 31 students from Years 8, 9 and 10 travelled to Dubbo to compete in the annual Science and Engineering Challenge run by the University of Newcastle with the support of Rotary clubs from Dubbo. Students were split into groups of three or four to complete eight different activities. Most groups completed two different challenges over the day while two groups had all day to design, build and test their creations. One was a balsa wood bridge that was able to carry increasingly heavy loads of “gold” but at the same time be as lightweight as possible, the other was a variety of cardboard furniture that could support two very heavy “pets” made of cement.

The activities are designed to get students to work as a team to come up with creative and practical solutions to problems. The half-day activities included creating a Mars rover that was able to go over bumpy terrain in the shortest amount of time without the loads falling over. Helter Skelter Shelter where students were required to both design and create a model skyscraper that would be tested under static and earthquake conditions, Future Power where students had the aim to supply electricity to the city and make a profit in different scenarios. To make profit students needed to provide power to the city using the most efficient system possible, which required the groups to think carefully about the types of energy sources required (renewable and non-renewable) and how they should be combined. Confounding Communications required students to develop codes using pulses of different coloured light to transmit messages to their teammates when they couldn’t see or hear them. Grasping at Straws had the aim of creating a working “hand” using straws and string inside a rubber glove to pick up different objects and in Stringways students had to complete different scenarios using the least amount of string to connect cities into networks using set parameters.

After the morning session we were ranked first, having won two of the six activities (Confounding Communications and Helter Skelter Shelter) and coming second in two more. Those six groups were sent to complete different activities for the afternoon while the bridge builders and furniture makers continued building and modifying their designs for the afternoon testing.

The day finished with the test of each school’s bridge and a final score update. The Gilgandra High School’s team (Mike Raglus, Blair Keogh, Charlie Banks and Lachlan Riley) bridge design was based on triangles and had been thoroughly researched before the challenge. Although it was the heaviest bridge, which meant we started behind the other teams on points, it was very strong and survived five trips across, one with the empty “gold” trolley and then adding four ingots, one at a time. The final challenge was to carry the “super ingot” across and the trolley almost made it to the other side, unfortunately breaking just before it reached the far end of the bridge. Gilgandra High School had by far the best bridge as the second best bridge only managed the trolley plus one ingot.

Each school was awarded a participation certificate while the final scores were tallied. When they were read out, we were very excited to be told that we had won the day. It wasn’t until after we had been awarded the trophy for winning the event that we were given the details of how our team performed overall. In addition to winning the bridge, our students also won the cardboard furniture building full day activity (Jacob Wilson, Sarah Schier, Ella McAnnaly-Elwin and Ashleigh Carlow) and the afternoon sessions of Confounding Communications, Grasping at Straws and Return to Mars. This meant that we were over 400 points in front of the second placed team, scoring a massive 1358 out of a possible 1600 points. A monumental achievement! We are now anxiously waiting to see if we qualify for the state finals in Newcastle, the five highest scores out of the eight days held in our region will be invited to attend in late August.

The day was a great success with all students working together and thinking scientifically to complete the challenges. The students who participated were:

Year 8: Blair Keogh

Year 9: Charlie Banks, Ashleigh Carlow, Summa Doherty, Sam Duff, Ella McAnnaly -Elwin, Amelia Murray, Luke Nalder, Aliza Purvis, Mike Raglus, Brielle Reid, Lachlan Riley, Sarah Schier, Abby Tate, Jacob Wilson

Year 10: John Bunter, Tymeka Bush, Lucy Davis, Darren Doherty, Lachlan Fairey, Tarah Foran, Rebecca Gaff, Kate Gilmour, Braydon Holland, Nash Marchant, Coen Naden, Marshall Ryan, Kirralah Pracy, Marshall Ryan, Ty Sutherland-Tink, Zoe Welsh, William Wieland.

Harmony Day was a huge success. All students and staff enjoyed an array of foods from different

cultures and performances by some of our students and guests. A special thank you for the Jnr

AECG and Year 10 food tech students for putting on and serving some great food. A big thank

you as well to our Aboriginal Elders and New Zealand guests who put on some great

performances. Kavleen Kaur also was very brave and performed a solo Bollywood dance in front

of the entire school.

Harmony Day Celebrations

Science and Engineering Challenge

Homework Centre

Will run on Monday afternoons, 3.30pm—4.30pm

in D12 at Gilgandra High School. All students are welcome and can bring any

work they need assistance with.

“Hear our Heart”

The “Hear Our Heart” Hearing Bus visited Gilgandra High School. The Hear Our Heart Ear Bus Project is a free service that aims to bring healthy ears education and targeted hearing testing back into schools. Effective hearing is vital for learning so we are very fortunate to have this service visit our school once a term. On Thursday 21st March, two audio metrists worked throughout the afternoon testing the hearing and ear health of 33 students from Years 7 to 11 and one teacher—Year 7 Advisor Andrew McCutcheon. The bus will return in Week 5, Term 2. If any parent has concerns about their child’s hearing and would like their child’s ears and hearing tested, a permission note is available from the school.

New Jackets for Winter Gilgandra High School P&C are purchasing new school jackets for winter this year. The cost will be $60 and jackets will be ordered when payments are received at the School front office. If you would like to view the jackets, they will be on display in the front foyer area of the school. Jackets can be tried on at recess and lunch with prior arrangements with Mrs Schier. Last week all students received a note/order

With the winter months approaching, facilitating new school jackets are Brock Johnston, Jerome Woodrow, Jayda King and Eric Addley.

Year 12 Half Yearly exams We wish all our Year 12 students the best in

completing their half-year exams.

Careers Information Day A permission note has gone home this week

for an excursion to a Careers Information Day

to be held at Dubbo Senior Campus on May

2nd

. There will be at least thirty organisations

present, ranging from Defence Force

Recruiting to large industries such as John

Deere and Fletchers, and a range of

Universities, colleges and academies. This is

a good opportunity for students to explore the

possibilities of life after school. Numbers are

limited, the first 18 to pay will reserve their

seats on the bus. Cost is $12 for the bus to be

paid at the front office and $5 entry fee to be

paid to Mrs Frewin.

Mercedes Thurston and Mr McCutcheon

Our Combined High School state representation swimming team are Oscar Spora, Jacob Wilson, Darcy Neeves, Rebecca Gaff, Kelsey Hutchison, Sam Duff, Oliva McCelland, Sarah Schier and Ashleigh Carlow. Congratulations on making it to Sydney.

Canteen

Medication

Under the DoE guidelines the school is not permitted to supply non-prescribed medication (i.e Panadol) to students. When a medical practitioner has prescribed medication that must be administered during the school day, parents are responsible for bringing this need to the attention of the school. If your child needs to take prescribed medication at school, please contact the school office regarding the paperwork required for the administration to be carried out safely.

Students must not carry medications unless there is a written agreement between the school and the student's parents that this is a required part of the student's health care

Gilgandra Youth Week 2019

The Youth Club of Gilgandra have some great activities organised for school holidays. Monday 15th April—Free “Totem Tour” Skateboarding workshop at Hunter Park 10am to 12noon includes a BBQ lunch. Wednesday 17th April—Free Disco at the Youth Club 6pm to 9pm includes a BBQ.

For more information contact

Year 12 sports coaching

The Year 12 Sport, Recreation and Lifestyle

class completed their assessment task for the

sports coaching and training unit of work by

coaching a skill to the Year 3/4 Emeralds class

from Gilgandra Public School. Our coaches

explained, demonstrated and provided

feedback for the Gilgandra Public Scholl

students in basketball, rugby league tackling,

soccer, footy passing, netball and hockey. The

students did a great job with high levels of fun

Thank you to all our Parents, Carers and Grandparents who have given up their valuable time to volunteer in our Canteen. If you can spare some time in Term 2, please ring the school 6847 2276

Industry Breakfast

Gilgandra High School is hosting a breakfast for industry representatives on May 15

th from

7:30am. Troy Kelly is the School Based Apprentice and Trainee Officer for Senior Pathways, a division of the Department of Education. Troy will make a presentation to interested industry representatives on how School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) work. There are significant government incentives for businesses to take on trainees and apprentices. The school currently has four SBATs in place ranging from physiotherapy to banking services to aged care to the electrical trades. Troy will be available for questions after the presentation. The breakfast will be catered for by the school’s hospitality unit.

Come along and find out if an SBAT will enhance your business. Contact Heather Frewin, Careers Advisor, Gilgandra High School on 6847 2276 for further information

Parent Teacher Evening

Troy Kelly is the School Based Apprentice and Trainee Officer for Senior Pathways, a division of the Department of Education. Troy will be in Gilgandra High School on May 14

th

from 6:30pm to make a presentation to interested parents and students from Years 9 -11 on how School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) work. The school currently has four SBATs in place ranging from physiotherapy to banking services to aged care to the electrical trades. SBATs enable students to complete a traineeship or to complete the first year of an apprenticeship in their final two years of school while they gain their HSC. Troy will be available for questions after the presentation. Contact Heather Frewin, Careers Advisor, Gilgandra High School on 6847 2276 for further

Have a safe and enjoyable school holidays, staff return on Monday 29th April for a staff development day, all

students return on Tuesday 30th April.

Dates for your diary...

Monday 8th HSC Half Yearly exams

Tuesday 9th April

HSC Half Yearly exams Fletchers Visit

Wednesday 10th April HSC Half Yearly exams

Thursday 11th April Under 14 Rugby League

Friday 12th April Last day Term 1

Monday 29th April Staff development day

Tuesday 30th April Students return for Term 2

Wednesday 1st May Civil Engineer visit

Thursday 2nd May Careers information day

Tuesday 7th May Parent teacher night

Tuesday 14th May NAPLAN Test Troy Kelly SBAT staff and Parent talk 6.30pm

Wednesday 15th May NAPLAN Test Troy Kelly SBAT staff industry breakfast

Thursday 16th May NAPLAN Test

Tuesday 21st May John Fleming visit

Friday 24th May Dubbo Show ground, Agriculture team

Monday 27th May Year 11 and 12 Parent teacher night

Wednesday 29th May Coonamble Show, Agriculture team

These dates can change without notice. We do apologise for any inconvenience

this may cause.