One of our long term SLSOs , Chereyll Beard,...the format, including moving the Open House night...

Term 1

Week 10

Thurs 5 to Thurs 12 Apr Year 12 Pre Trial Exams

Week11___________________________

Tue 10 Apr Macleay Regional Robiotics Challenge

Fri 13 Apr ANZAC Ceremony

Term 2

Week1____________________________

Mon 30 Apr Staff Dev Day

Thurs 3 May VET Work Readiness induction

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Last week Melville held our annual Open House event where we show case the school to prospective parents and students. The effort that went into making this evening very successful was enormous and it highlighted the amazing staff and students we have at Melville High School. We made some significant changes to the format, including moving the Open House night into Term 1 and providing comprehensive tours of the school led by our senior school leaders. The displays of our PIPS (personal interest projects) and Clubs that are run with Year 7 and 8 were very well received and the feedback we have received has been extremely positive. On the weekend two of our support unit students, Jacoba and Kaylea, went to the Royal Easter Show to compete in the Riding for the Disabled Events. Both students did exceptionally well, with Jacoba entering the trotting event for the first time and Kaylea entering the lead class. The fantastic opportunity for these students to compete is made possible by the support of parents and staff and, of course, the eagerness of the students.

One of our long term SLSOs , Chereyll Beard, dedicated her weekend to support the students and she noted that many other parents commented on the beautiful manners our students displayed. Some of your children may have made mention of the big push we are making to ensure students attend school in the correct uniform. We strongly believe this works toward being on the same team and makes students easily identifiable in the school. Jumpers are often the main concern particularly as the colder weather begins. Our current process is if a student comes with a note explaining why they are out of uniform they are excused from a detention. If the students comes to school for a long period of time, more than a week with a note, they are asked to please explain and asked to attend a detention the following day if out of uniform again. If students are out of uniform without explanation they attend a recess detention. Students are repeatedly asked if they require assistance with purchasing a uniform or would like to be given a second hand uniform. Please don’t hesitate to contact the office if you require assistance with this. We now have a Headspace Outreach worker, Jade, working in our school on Thursdays. Headspace is a fantastic service that is based in Port Macquarie and after much campaigning by myself and many other proactive members of our community they have commenced this outreach service. Jade will supplement the already fantastic wellbeing team we have working within our school. Mark, our outreach Drug and Alcohol Counsellor also works in the school each Thursday. We also have school counsellors, Peta and Bernadette, to work with your young person if you think they need support. They are registered Psychologists. For more information about how your child can access these services please contact your child’s year advisor or Deputy Principal. For more information about Headspace please go to https://www.headspace.org.au/

https://www.headspace.org.au/

Thursday, 12 April 2018 Melville Matters

We celebrated the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Harmony Day last Wednesday. The Welfare team, with the assistance of the SRC, provided a BBQ and made positive affirmation cards that were tied around the school. It is always a successful day. Please remember if your child reports to you they are being bullied please contact the school for support and refer to the available websites for assistance. One of the most common forms of bullying occurs on social media during and after school hours. I would strongly encourage all parents and carers to screen shot any evidence your child has of this, encourage them to report it to their Year Advisor and to disable their accounts and turn off their phones/iPad/laptops so they cannot see these harmful comments. In my time as Deputy and Principal there has been a significant increase in screen and social media addiction in the students I work with. With parent support and encouragement to limit online time and set challenges to see how long they can go without accessing social media this addiction can be beaten. Further information on this is available at https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/nationalday and Cybersafe strategies can be found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/ . Please enjoy a safe and happy Easter break. Victoria Staunton Principal

SCIENCE MATTERS QUESTACON VISIT On Monday 18th June Questacon will be visiting our school. There are 2 Science based shows on offer. Years 9, 10 and Year 11 Investigating Science will have the chance to attend during Periods 1 and 2, and Years 7 and 8 during periods 3 and 4. Students have now received information notes for this incursion. If you would like your child to attend please have them pay their $5 to the Science staff room over the coming weeks. 2018 SCIENCE ICAS COMPETITION Melville High will again be participating in the Science ICAS competition this year on

Tuesday 29th May. Cost is $9 which needs to be paid to Mr Mavin (Head Teacher Science) by the last day of Term 1 – Friday 13/4/18. This competition requires students to complete 45 multiple choice questions in 1 hour. Whilst we achieved several “Distinction” level results last year, I am sure we could get even more in 2018. Results are available several weeks after completing the competition and provide a detailed analysis of student strengths and areas for improvement in their Science studies. Further details can be obtained from website https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/science HONEYWELL ENGINEERING SUMMER SCHOOL In December last year, Fergus Hanss of Year 12, attended the Honeywell Engineering Summer School for a week in Sydney and visited various industry worksites and universities. This opportunity has certainly opened his eyes to the different paths that a career in engineering can take. His involvement was kindly sponsored by the Rotary Club of South West Rocks. The picture below is taken at the March meeting of the SWR Rotary Club where Fergus provided a presentation to members about his trip.

Fergus Hanss with SWR Rotary President

Diana Clark Mr I. Mavin Head Teacher Science

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/nationalday

https://www.esafety.gov.au/

https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/science

https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/science


ENGLISH FACULTY This term in English we have been focusing on creative writing with many of our assessment tasks requiring students to write their own pieces. Year 7 has been working on poetry portfolios and writing alternative endings to the novel they have been studying in class. In addition to this many of our Year 11s have been developing their own narratives and poems as part of their Reading to Write unit. It has been amazing to watch the creative processes of our students and to be able to provide feedback and guidance. A big congratulation goes out to Monique Abrahamse who received a certificate for her entry in the Hilarie Lindsay Short Story Competition in 2017. It’s great to see our students putting their creative pieces out there for the world to see. The competition is running again this year and there are some monetary prizes up for grabs. Entries are sought for the following year groups; SECTION 1: Years 10, 11 & 12 (max lines 60) Prize $200 SECTION 2: Years 7, 8 & 9 (max lines 40) Prize $175 Entries must be student’s own work, unpublished and not have won any competition at the time of entry. Normal competition conditions apply. Closing date for the competition is 31st August 2018.

Korrin Chennell English Head Teacher

SUPPORT FACULTY As the end of term draws near, students finish the book study on “Smelly Feet” by Paul Jennings, conclude our PDHPE topic of “Absolutely Everybody” which looked at Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment and wrap up “My Place” our Geography topic which looks at Local environment and the Kempsey Shire. This will conclude with our end of term excursion to Sea Acres National Park Rainforest Centre.

Students are also doing their bit for the environment and the school, collecting bottles, cartons & cans from the school grounds and taking them to the exchange depot. We would like to extend a huge thankyou to Carpet Court Kempsey for donating the “Car Track” mat for use by Support Unit Students

Shenayde Smith depositing bottles into the

recycling depot

Jake Kelly, Jacoba Rudder, Shenayde Smith accepting our “Car Track” mat from Janine at Carpet Court.

Leanne Weatherhead Head Teacher Support


HSIE NEWS AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHY COMPETITION It is that time of year again where we wish to engage students on an academic challenge – the Australian Geography Competition. This is a contest for all Australian secondary school students which assesses their geographical knowledge and skills. The Competition aims to encourage student interest in Geography and to reward student excellence. For the students there are a number of advantages:

to receive certificates and results sheets

for their portfolios,

to compete for prizes given to the

highest-performing geography students

in each State and Combined Territories

in each year level (books and special

certificates and, for the highest in

Australia, medals),

to be selected to participate in

Geography's Big Week Out on Kangaroo

Island, South Australia,

to be selected to represent Australia at

the International Geography Olympiad.

Selected Geography classes from Melville have been entered in this competition which is being held in May. We wish good luck to all these students. ANZAC DAY CEREMONY This is also a reminder that Anzac Day Ceremony will be on the last day of Term, 13th May, and all are welcome to attend. The ceremony will start at 10 am. This year we will be focusing on the end of World War 1 in 1918. A special emphasis will be on Villers-Bretonneux – a major battle of the war. It is also a time to reflect on lives lost and sacrifices made like that of a local soldier – Leonard Hastings Dornan who was killed at Villers- Bretonneux in 1918. Jacqui Richmond HSIE Head Teacher

SUPPORT ROLE OF SENIOR TUTORS AT MELVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR YEARS 11

AND 12 What the Senior Tutors offer The role of the Senior Tutors at Melville High School is to support and encourage students in their academic endeavours during Years 11 and 12. Allister Gee and Susie Lord are experienced teachers who work with individual students in the library during study periods to support learning outcomes. This support includes assisting completion of classwork and assessment tasks, preparation for exams and work placement experiences. They are also available before and after school, recess or lunch, as students require. Tutors work closely with both students and their teachers to facilitate improved learning outcomes and positive educational experiences. Melville High continues to fund this additional support which enables our school to respond to the needs of our students and assist them in gaining their Year 11 and Higher School Certificates. How we can be accessed This support can be activated by a request from teaching staff, parents or the students themselves. Wherever we can, we try to visit as many senior classrooms and study sessions as possible to offer our assistance to students. NOTE we can also be ‘booked’ for specific support (example a major assignment, homework completion or a ‘directed’ tutorial on a subject task or learning area). See Susie / Allister for booking or direct your request through your Classroom Teacher or the LaST Office. We also encourage all MHS students to make good use of their classroom teachers, Head Teachers and other senior staff/support staff in their learning.


Introducing Allister Mr Allister Gee is a Kempsey lad and has a background in Farming, Education and Field Science (worked 15 years as an Environmental Scientist/Field Ecologist in roles including Community Support Officer - Macleay Land Care, Terrestrial Officer - Northern Rivers Catchment Management and Kempsey Shire Council – Environmental Officer), Ranger/Environmental Educator (Tasmanian and NSW NPWS) and Secondary High School Teaching. He has taught (17 years) in many parts of Queensland and more recently in the Macleay Valley as well as in Shanghai (China) and Canada (Vancouver, B.C) – covering Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Marine Biology, Geology), Geography, Mathematics and English as a Second Language. In his spare time he enjoys Natural History, Surfing, Bushwalking, Caving, Music, Art, family, friends and his local community (..and chipping thistles). Matthew Smith Head Teacher Learning and Support

MATHS MATTERS Textbooks If you have any textbooks from last year or previous years, can you please return them. We promise we won’t bite. We may even give you a chocolate. Please help us by returning any old textbooks that you have borrowed in the past to help study for exams.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is fast approaching and is on 15th to 17th May (Week 3, Term 2). During Maths, students will start looking at past papers and preparing themselves for the tests. Below are two band 8 questions to attempt. There are prizes for the first 3 correct answers given to Mrs Rabie in the Maths staffroom. NAPLAN EQUATING TEST On the 2nd May 2018, 26 Year 7 students and 26 Year 9 students, will be randomly selected by ACER to sit for the NAPLAN EQUATING TEST.

Lauren Rabie Head Teacher Mathematics

YEAR 7 CAMP Week 8 saw an excited and eager group of Year 7 students head off to Yarrahapinni for their first high school camp. Their spirits were high, their sense of adventure was keen and after an initial downpour of rain, the weather was superb. The three days were filled with groups rotating through various activities that included beach games, team challenges, board walk, water slide, flying fox and horizontal bungee. Students had a wonderful time exploring the camp environs during the day, were entertained with games at night and then bunked down for a good night’s sleep, although some reported that it was difficult to sleep because of all the excitement and their chatty roommates. We hope they had an amazing experience and enjoyed participating in the range of activities. Many students overcame some personal challenges, made new friends and established some valuable bonds with other students and staff while having fun in the process. We extend a huge thank you to the Year 10 peer leaders


who capably supported the Year 7 students, the Year 11 and Year 12 Hospitality students who prepared the delicious meals and the staff who came along for the incredible journey. Year 7 comments My favourites were the boardwalk and the waterslide. The boardwalk was good because you could socialise and see the sights. The waterslide was fun and refreshing. Overall camp was a good experience. Elle 7J The waterslide was really long and you went on a foam mat that was really fast. The hospitality was awesome and the food was pretty good. If you ever have a chance, go. I thought the Year 7 camp was amazing. Dash 7J The good food that Year 11 and 12 students cooked was amazing and really delicious. The best part of camp was having fun and enjoying ourselves with friends. Sophie 7J In the team challenge you had to work together to make it through the challenges and in the first part you have to wire walk and use ropes but the person in front of you throws you the new rope and you throw yours back to the person behind you. The next part was the sketchy bridge which had a see saw and table you had to crawl through and other fun activities. Zack 7K On the board walk you came to an Aboriginal cave and then you walked up a big hill to a lookout over the beach. I had so much fun I wanted to do it again. I hope I will remember the camp at Yarrahapinni for life. Stephen 7K My favourite activity was the flying fox. On my first go, I ran up and then zoomed down the line and then when I hit the braking system I got launched back. On my second go I went upside down. It was enjoyable and amazing and sometimes we did things we might have thought we couldn’t do. It felt good to overcome fears. Khayl 7K On the horizontal bungee it was fun because you had to try and run and throw soft balls into a

hoop. There was a red and blue team and the red team won. There was also a swing on a tree and it was funny when we saw a goanna. It was so much fun at Yarrahappini camp. Tameira 7M

Beach games

Exploring the local caves


VISUAL ARTS FACULTY On the 8th and 9th of March Year 12 Visual Arts students attended an overnight excursion to Sydney. Students participated in a “Street Art Walk” through Newtown on Thursday to explore the variety of styles and techniques used by the artists as well as the concept of art beyond the gallery. On Friday students went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales to see the Art Express exhibition as well as the permanent collection followed by a visit to the Brett Whiteley Studio. The Art Express exhibition has inspired the students in their own Body of Work art making for the Higher School Certificate. These works in progress where on display during the Open House evening. The Open House evening had Art Room 1, 2 and the workshop in between on display. Samples of students’ work from Art Club, Year 7 Elements of Art program, Year 8 Sign and Symbols, Year 9 Wearable Masks, Year 9 Photography, Year 11 The Human Form Expressing Social Beliefs and Year 12 Body of Works were exhibited. Parents and future students also participated in a continuous line drawing challenge. They had to draw the outline of the old telephone using on long line and without lifting the pencil off the page. Sara Morgan Visual Arts

Drawing: Jhon Suzara

Censored – Chelsea Peet

Fantasy - Noellen Rowley


PDHPE & SPORT FACULTY Dance - In week 8 Bryhana Reilly and Ms Kerr took 4 students to Coffs Harbour for the Bangarra Dance Workshop. It was a full day and the girls loved it. The girls were Temeka Fathers, Jodie-Lee Luland, Eryka Robinson and Jorja Egar-Hoskins. Temeka Fathers was selected for the shortlist for the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company in collaboration with the Bangarra Dance Theatre. She was 1 of 5 girls selected out of 85 girls from that particular workshop. 75 students are usually identified around NSW on the shortlist and they cut that down to 30 in the final round. The following Year 9 students have been successful in obtaining a position in the 2018 Years 7-9 Dance Workshop with the Sydney Dance Company through the Schools Sports Unit: Mia Hudson, Stevie Tout and Amielle Watson-Arditi. Congratulations LNC Open Soccer - North Coast Trials for Open Boys and Girls Soccer were held in Port Macquarie on Friday 16th March. Max Palise, Joshua Hughes, Sam Applegate and Tyler Wyatt represented the boys and both Sam and Tyler were selected into the North Coast team based on outstanding performances on the day. Amielle Watson-Arditi, Hannah Bannerman, Georgia Lynch, Honey Kassel, Serenity Clancy and Alyce Morn (pictured below) all represented the girls in the LNC team. Serenity was selected into the North Coast team and Alyce was chosen as a shadow. Congratulations to all who represented MHS for LNC and we wish the NC players well in their next matches.

Golf - Congratulations to Maddison Butterfield on making the North Coast Golf team. Maddison is getting very experienced at this level and we wish her well in the next round. Rugby League - At the recent league competition there were some excellent team and individual performances resulting in selections for the following age divisions: LNC 15’s Rugby League - Jacob Webster, Tim Bull, Thomas Donovan, Richard Dixon, Justin Kelly LNC Open’s Rugby League - Jack Murphy, Jack Walsh-McKiernan, Selwyn Smith, Jordan Roberts, Zach Calleja, Miles Mongta. The boys will represent the Lower North Coast team in Macksville on Monday and will be trialling for a position in the Southern North Coast team. Under 15 years AFL - The LNC trials for AFL were held at Gladstone on 13/3/18. Congratulations to Tim Bull and Noah Warwick on your selections into the North Coast AFL team. We wish you great speed and skills in the next level of competition.


Netball - 46 students attended the Netball NSW Schools Cup carnival on 21/3/18 in Kempsey. Although the 7/8 team didn't get through, Ms Sherriff was really impressed with their effort & teamwork: winning 2 games out of 4. Congratulations to Coach Ms Aspiotis and to the following teams, Year 9/10 Girls Division: Melville High School Green Year And the 9/10 Boys Division : Melville High School Lightning from the competitive divisions that will be progressing on to the Regional Finals Day to be held in Port Macquarie on the 28th June.

Shelby Mitchell, Kendyll Cooper and Kirstyn Winn

Pelay Inglis Relieving Head Teacher PDHPE

CLONTARF SUPERSESSION Academies from Chatham High School in Taree, Hastings College in Port Macquarie, Kempsey High and Melville High trained together in a wet weather early morning session.

Angus Baillie Director Melville Clontarf Academy

One of our long term SLSOs , Chereyll Beard,...the format, including moving the Open House night...

Documents

Transcript of One of our long term SLSOs , Chereyll Beard,...the format, including moving the Open House night...