Page 1 June 2014 Issue

PORT HACKING HIGH SCHOOL www.porthackin-h.schools.nsw.edu.au PHONE: 9524 8816 FACSIMILE: 9540 4815

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend out two recent parent/teacher nights. The online booking system seems to work for almost all users, and it also has produced an increase in the numbers attending, particularly of Year 11 and 12 parents. A couple of parents reported problems which we are chasing up for the future. We have also decided to remove the Years from the two nights, so that next year parents can attend on either night for children in any Year. We have so many siblings in the school that this will prevent numbers of parents having to come on both nights. Some parents asked me why we hold the interviews before reports come out. We do this as it takes until the first week of Term 3 for all reports to be issued, and then the auditorium is used for the HSC Trials for two weeks. This would mean that it would be the start of August before parents and teachers met, which is too late for any effective action. In May the teachers know their students well enough to give good feedback to parents, and it is not too late to force some changes on your kids. The athletics carnival was called off last Friday due to the weather of course. At 6.15am Mr Barlow reported that the field was unusable and the track had water pooling at regular intervals, including the start line. We rarely cancel carnivals, but this was a safety issue. I thank all of you who responded to the SMS and sent your kids to school that day. Alternative arrangements for the trials for our Zone Team have been made. Year 12 are heading into their HSC Trial Exams in the first two weeks of next Term. This is a high pressure time for them: assessment tasks, major works and performances to complete, exams to study for. I will talk to Year 12 next week to suggest ways to organise their study time effectively. They can all add value to their results by staying steady and organised and they should also use their teachers to ensure they understand every part of the course. Greg McGrath Principal

“MESSAGE STICK” OF THE PARENTS’ AND CITIZENS’ ASSOCIATION OF PORT HACKING HIGH SCHOOL

Port Hacking High School

PHHS P & C ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT MR LEWIS BONE 9528 7195

VICE MRS LINDA CASSIMATIS PRESIDENTS MR JOHN COX

9522 3455 9520 9363

SECRETARY MRS CAROLYN STEEL 9583 1887

TREASURER MR BILL LEWIS 9525 8481

We would like to thank the previous students of PHHS who gave of their time at the last P & C meeting. All who attended appreciated their insights and advice about studying, the HSC and life after school. The spring raffle will be coming up shortly, so if you have any goods or services to donate as prizes, your assistance will be greatly appreciated. Due to the Public Holiday last Monday, the next P&C meeting will be held on Monday 16th June at 7.30pm in the School Library. At 8.15pm, Terry Martin, the School’s Careers Adviser, will be providing a presentation on the different pathways and support available to students. We look forward to seeing you there. Kind Regards, Lewis Bone President PHHS P&C

NEXT P & C Meeting

Monday 16 June, 2014 at 7:30pm

in the Library

Page 2 June 2014 Issue

June

13 Yr 10 Reports issued

16-20 Regional Dance Festival Week

20 Yr 9 Reports issued

20 PH Zone Athletics Carnival - Sylvania Waters

23-24 HSC Performance Showcase

6.30pm - Auditorium

26 Year 8 Performing Arts Showcase for Semester 1 10:55am – 12:25pm - Auditorium

TERM 2 ENDS

July

2 - 5 NSW Northern Region Interschools Ski Championship - Thredbo

14 Staff Development Day

15 Students return today

18 Yr 7 & Yr 8 Reports issued

18 NSW CHS/All Schools Cross Country Championships - Eastern Creek

15 - 25 Yr 12 HSC Trials

25 Vaccinations Visit 2: All Yr 7 & Yr 9 Boys

28 Yr 8 (Yr 9 2015) Information Night 6pm

Yr 10 (Yr 11 2015) Information Night 7pm

31 Regional Athletics Carnival - Sylvania Waters

August

1 Regional Athletics Carnival - Sylvania Waters

Important Dates

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Page 3 June 2014 Issue

Dear Parent/student The Department has launched the 2015 new suite of opportunities for HSC students who may be our future teachers in NSW public schools, through the teach NSW website (www.teach.nsw.edu.au). Teacher Education Scholarships Up to 300 scholarships are available to students wishing to train as teachers in subject areas of workforce need (mathematics, physics, English, special education or selected technological and applied studies subjects). These scholarships provide financial assistance to students while they're studying and secure employment as a teacher in NSW public schools on completion of their studies. Teacher Education Scholarships for Aboriginal people Up to 80 of these scholarships are exclusively available for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students to train as teachers in primary or any secondary subject. teach.Rural Scholarships There are also up to 50 teach.Rural Scholarships for talented HSC students willing to teach in rural and remote locations in any subject area. Great Teaching, Inspired Learning Cadetships GTIL Cadets work part-time as operational and educational paraprofessionals under the guidance and supervision of experienced teachers while they complete their teacher education studies. Cadets are remunerated for their time and guaranteed a permanent teaching position on completion of their studies. For more information or to find out how to apply for a Teacher Education Scholarship, teach.Rural Scholarship or GTIL Cadetship, students can visit the teach.NSW website or see Mrs Martin in the Careers office SMH HSC and Careers Expo Congratulations to all Year 10 students who attended the SMH HSC and Careers Expo at Moore Park. I have heard great reports about the information and seminars from attendees and we will continue to visit this event next year. Thankyou to Mr Dal Santo (relieving Careers Adviser) and the PHHS staff who assisted in my absence. Year 10 will be involved in activities leading up to FUTURE DAY- Monday 28th July which involves activities relating to subject selection; University, Private Colleges & TAFE options; Interview Skills and Budgeting for Life. This is an all-day event held at School and ends with Subject Information Night for Years 8 and 10 and their parents in the evening in the School’s Auditorium. Please visit the School's Career website www.porthackingcareers.com for all Careers Information. A reminder, I email a newsletter most weeks to Years 10, 11, 12 students and interested parents. Not on the mailing list? Send a note to my email terry.martin@det.nsw.edu.au and the year your child is in.

Science Seminar Powerhouse Museum

On Thursday 5th June, selected Science students from Port Hacking High School attended the Australian Society of Medical Research Seminar at the Powerhouse Museum. Here students from all around NSW were provided the opportunity to discover the world of Medical Research. The line-up included talks from PhD Student, Mr Ben McIlwain (USdy), beginning research in “neurotransmitters”; Laboratory Director Associate Professor Cynthia Whitchurch (UTS); Dr Patsie Polly (UNSW), who is in charge of educating future medical research university students and her own research in the cells involved in muscular dystrophy and an actual real life Forensic Scientist, Dr Shari Forbes (UTS), with a passion in “decomposition of human tissue”. Each presenter spoke with passion and enthusiasm for their chosen paths. This allowed students to appreciate all stages and possibilities available in a career in Medical Science. The day concluded with a beneficial Q & A session in which students had the opportunity to find out more about the roles and responsibilities at each stage.

Congratulations Louise Samios Year 12 2013 on being awarded the University of Technology Sydney Engineering Cooperative Scholarship. Louise is studying Biomedical Engineering.

Page 4 June 2014 Issue

Hamlet Symposium Excursion

On Wednesday the 30th April, all Year 12 Advanced English students ventured into the city to attend a Hamlet Symposium at the Seymour Centre. This symposium was directed by esteemed director Damien Ryan and was aimed at exploring the deeper issues entrenched in Hamlet by both analysing text and by viewing portions of the play live. Ryan’s contemporary take on this classical piece opened the eyes of the entire cohort and further enhanced our understanding of the play. This symposium has definitely allowed us to examine the play in a different light and will stand us in good stead come the HSC in October. Ben Clark

Make a Wish Day Last term SRC ran a day filled with fun activities to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. It was a huge success and the school donated over $2600 to the foundation. It was a remarkable day because the teachers themselves were all active participants in the activities including being water-bombed. Students fulfilled their dreams flinging over 3000 water bombs at willing teachers raising a substantial amount for the Make a Wish Foundation. Everyone was very enthusiastic and involved in dressing up as their favourite superhero. Even the staff supported the day by also dressing up to be chosen as contestants in the superhero costume competition. The disco was a huge success, we were lucky enough to have our own DJ Jaydin Thomson of Year 12. The atmosphere was pumping and everyone was showing off their best and worst dance moves. The cake stall was very popular with both students and teachers, to the extent that all cakes sold out! We had an array of sweets including cupcakes, brownies, cookies and fairy bread and fairy bread was by far the most popular on the menu. The scavenger hunt was a great activity that was enjoyed by all its participants. Students were sent around to find a certain super hero that led them to a clue helping them find the next super hero. Finally we had a great basketball competition with both the competition and skill level being very high. All in all Make a Wish Day was a very special day for all students and teachers who participated. We want to thank all of our teachers who spent significant amounts of time assisting the running of events. The involvement of everyone was remarkable as well as inspirational. We wish to repeat this activity next year and we are already brainstorming ideas. It was a special experience and from everyone at Port Hacking High School we wish the Make a Wish foundation all the best. SRC 2014

Page 5 June 2014 Issue

YEAR 12 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP TO CAIRNS

Last week 12 intrepid senior Geography students and two teachers left Sydney to undertake 5 days of fieldwork in the Daintree Rainforest World Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef. The purpose of the trip was to reinforce work done in class on 2 core topics- Ecosystems at Risk and People and Economic Activity. We were fortunate to spend 2 days on Fitzroy Island with a marine biologist, Dr Bec Tite, who was able to show us first hand examples of how fish and coral within the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem are at risk because of global warming and associated human activities. Snorkelling through the surrounding coral reef, students were impressed to see first-hand how marine life is affected by agriculture, industry and urban development. After learning how to identify specific species of fish and coral, students collected data for the “Eye on the Reef” research and monitoring project which was then fed directly to James Cook University in Cairns for analysis. A highlight of our time on Fitzroy Island was a visit to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Volunteers ensure that turtles who are injured by boats, caught in fishing nets or who are starving due to loss of seagrasses are nursed back to health. A donation in the name of Port Hacking High School was made to this centre. Back on the mainland we stayed at the Northern Greenhouse Backpackers Hostel in the CBD of Cairns. Early mornings were rewarded by breathtaking walks through the Daintree Rainforest with Harold (Mook), an aboriginal elder who shared with us the secrets of indigenous rainforest medicinal plants and traditional ways of rainforest ecosystem management. A visit to the Daintree Discovery Centre reinforced concepts developed in class on ecosystem vulnerability and resilience. The critical importance of the cassowary in maintaining the species diversity of this ecosystem was demonstrated first hand. A donation of 50 square metres of rainforest in the name of Port Hacking High School was made as part of the World Heritage buy back scheme. The support of the Principal and the HSIE faculty is acknowledged in ensuring this worthwhile and valuable fieldtrip occurred. Cheryl Russell

Students visited by a large goanna Ecosystem lesson with Dr Bec Tite and her intern on Fitzroy Island

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre Fitzroy Island Student wearing traditional indigenous

rainforest face paint

Page 6 June 2014 Issue

Year 11 Study Skills –Part 2 The Study Skills sessions for Year 11 have been completed. Students recapped the importance of nutrition, sleep, exercise, organisation and looked at ways to deal with stress. The study skills looked at included: writing and using notes, practice exams and extra reading. Students also learnt how to create a bibliography on Microsoft Word. HSC Students The Library has many Study Guides that can be used in the Library, borrowed overnight or for the weekend. HSC students should be aware of the different lectures and workshops available for students outside of school hours and in the school holidays. Lectures at Sutherland Library, lectures and workshops at HSC in the Holidays and HSC preparation classes at Sydney University are all on offer. Library Hours A reminder: the Library is open from 8.15am every morning and until 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. PHHS Reading Challenge Keep those Challenge Record Sheets coming in! New novels have just been ordered and will arrive this week! Carolyn Riordan Teacher-Librarian (Acting)

In Memoriam Noel Brunker - School Captain 1963.

Noel Brunker passed away suddenly last week. He is sadly missed by his classmates of 1959, the first year of Port Hacking High School.

Page 7 June 2014 Issue

Band Play–a-thon On Friday 9th May till Saturday 10th May, 27 of our Band Students participated in the Port Hacking High School 4th Annual “Play-a-thon”. Students from Year 7 – 11 played their way through the night working with a half hour on, hour off rotation. Three quarters of the group showed amazing endurance and were still playing strong at 6:30am on Saturday morning. All students involved organised sponsorship to help raise funds for band equipment and resources. We would like to extend a big thank you to parents, extended family and friends, who worked together to help the students raise $1920.00. As well as providing a boost to the band budget another fantastic benefit of the night was the opportunity for the band to rehearse and introduce a large amount of repertoire. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the students at the beginning of the night and was very impressed with the students’ attitude, camaraderie and enthusiasm. It was a fantastic chance for the students to develop and foster friendships, contributing to a feeling of teamwork within the band. On behalf of the students, parents and Performing Arts Staff I would like to extend a heartfelt thankyou to Mr Kevin Skues for coordinating the event, Ms Janelle Vasey for volunteering to help with supervision and to our wonderful groundsman Mr David Ward for volunteering to have a sleepless night with the students and to organise the BBQ breakfast on the Saturday morning. Performance at the Dedication of Miranda RSL War Memorial Two of our talented vocal students, Amy Mifsud from Year 9 and Liam Blackall from Year 10, had the opportunity to sing our National Anthem in the Dedication ceremony of the War Memorial in Miranda. The students sang a flawless rendition with an unfamiliar accompaniment and were excellent ambassadors for Port Hacking High School. Well done. School Spectacular Opportunity For the first time in 10 years Port Hacking High School has been offered 24 places in Schools Spectacular. This allows students in ALL years to audition as there will be a group from Years 7-10 and 10-12. Auditions will be held during the first few weeks of Term 3. So keep year ears open for any details. Schools Spectacular 2014 will be held from Wednesday 26th until Saturday 29th November, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (Qantas Credit Union Arena). It is the last School Spectacular to be held at the Centre before it is demolished in preparation for its makeover. Important Dates for your Diary Monday 23 June & Tuesday 24 June – HSC students’ Performance Showcase – 6:30pm (Auditorium) Thursday 26 June – Year 8 Performing Arts Showcase for Semester 1 – 10:55am – 12:25pm (Auditorium)

Parents are welcome to attend. Mrs Tanya Brain Head Teacher Performing Arts

Page 8 June 2014 Issue

School Cross Country The School Cross Country was held in Miranda Park on 9th May 2014. Listed below are the top three for each age group for both Girls and Boys. The 1st place competitor is the Age Champion of the School for 2014. Boys 12 Years: 1st Ben Johnson, 2nd Kobi Sharp, 3rd Nathan Bradhurst; 13 Years: 1st Callum Redrup, 2nd Luke Sauer, 3rd Lachie Dick; 14 Years: 1st Ben Metcalfe, 2nd Will Eagles, 3rd Rees Hopper; 15 Years: 1st Aaron Hawley, 2nd Matthew Baker, 3rd Jake Wallace, 16 Years: 1st Matthew Donnelly, 2nd Ashlyn Ndlovu, 3rd Sam Neuman; 17 Years: 1st Jack Weller, 2nd Sam Eagles, 3rd Nicholas Bennett, 18 Years: Lachlan Mabbutt, 2nd Kurt Hill Girls 12 Years: 1st Jessica Vandermaal, 2nd Wasana Jung, 3rd Amber Pawson; 13 Years: 1st Marnie Budd, 2nd Ashlyn Geddes, 3rd Jessica Perry; 14 Years: 1st Marley Peterson, 2nd Rachel Hull, 3rd Elizabeth Rigg; 15 Years: 1st Katelyn Clark, 2nd Courtney Fooks, 3rd Phoebe Parry, 16 Years: 1st Katherine Androulis; 17 Years: 1st Georgia Johnson; 18 Years: 1st Emily Blythe, 2nd Alison McAvoy, 3rd Melissa Donnelly

Zone Cross Country The Zone Cross Country was also held in Miranda Park on 30th May 2014. The School sent a strong team which performed admirably. The Boys were Champion School and the Girls finished 3rd. This meant Port Hacking High School finished 3rd overall in the Cross Country. We had a number of Zone Champions as well as many top 10 finishes. All top 10 competitors go on to compete at the Regional Cross Country. Following is a list of top 10 finishers at the Zone Cross Country: Girls 12 Years: 6th Wasana Jung, 9th Jessica Vandermaal; 13 Years: 2nd Marnie Budd, 7th Ashlyn Geddes; 14 Years: 1st Rachel Hull; 3rd Marley Peterson; 6th Elizabeth Rigg; 15 Years: 2nd Katelyn Clark; 10th Courtney Fooks; 16 Years: 4th Katherine Androulis;17 Years: 1st Georgia Johnson; 18 Years: 3rd Emily Blythe, 4th Melissa Donnelly Boys 12 Years: 1st Ben Johnson; 7th Kobi Sharp; 13 Years: 3rd Callum Redrup, 7th Seth Denning, 10th Luke Sauer; 14 Years: 1st Will Eagles, 2nd Ben Metcalfe, 6th Rees Hopper, 8th Zachary Diefenbach; 15 Years: 1st Aaron Hawley, 8th

Matthew Baker, 9th Jake Wallace, 10th Jake Davison; 16 Years: 3rd Matthew Donnelly, 4th Ashlyn Ndlovu, 8th Reece Gledhill; 17 Years: 6th Sam Eagles, 7th Jack Weller, 11th Nicholas Bennett (reserve); 18 Years: 5th Kurt Hill In individual age groups we won several divisions: Girls 14 Years, Boys 14 Years, 15 Years and 16 Years. As a result of these Age Groups winning their Division Courtney Newbon and Samuel Neuman will also have the opportunity to run at the Regional Cross Country.

Knockouts Congratulations to the Girls Open Softball Team who for the second year running were crowned Regional Champions and will compete in Newcastle at the State Championships.

Rugby League The Sharks Knockout was successful for the School in 2014. The 13 Years went through undefeated but were cruelly knocked out on a count back where the format of the competition only allowed for a straight Final. The winner of the event was the team which Port Hacking led for most of the match with them scoring a late equaliser. The 14 Years were also undefeated with the Grand Final of this age group postponed until the last week of term. The 15 Years went through to the Grand Final where they were beaten by De La Salle. An injury riddled team limped on in the Grand Final as big underdogs. An excellent first half saw them take a surprising 4 to 0 lead nearing half time. However the boys fell short with De La Salle playing a strong second half in running out winners. The 16 Years made the Semi Final where they were beaten by eventual runners up De La Salle.

Page 9 June 2014 Issue

Buckley Shield The 14 Years Rugby League have moved into the Semi Final of the Region with a tough win over a strong Heathcote side 12 to 8. All our points were scored by Adam Mortlock with the down side losing Brody Osfield with a broken hand.

Rugby Union The 14 Years team recently competed and won the Southern Districts 7-a-side competition played at Forshaw Park. They ran out winners and will go through to the State Championships in August.

Students achieving outside of School Rachel Hull (Year 9) and Zara Ethell (Year 8) have been selected to represent NSW in Water Polo. They have been selected in the U14's NSW Waratahs to compete at the upcoming East Coast Challenge in Adelaide in July. Congratulations to both Girls.

Page 10 June 2014 Issue

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Page 11 June 2014 Issue