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We are a Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Successful School

Caswell Street, PEAK HILL NSW 2869

P: 02 6869 1304 E: peakhill-c.school@det.nsw.edu.au

W: www.peakhill-c.schools.nsw.edu.au

Peak Hill Central School

Newsletter

PHCS Leaders & SRC for 2021

Term 1 Week 7 - Friday, 12 March 2021

Leadership Induction Ceremony Congratulations to the Peak Hill Central School Captains for 2021 - Tijuana and Goran and our Primary School Captains - Taliyah and Bailey. Congratulations to our Student Representative Council for 2021 - Sharntelle, Leon, Bailey, Taliyah, Cooper, Bindi, Tia, Goran and Tijuana.

2021 SCHOOL LEADERS

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Principal Mr Peter Neilsen Deputy Principal Mrs Catherine Doyle Assistant Principal Miss Grace Stewart Secondary Head Teachers Mr Joshua Brown Miss Lucy Dempsey Ms Brenda Stewart Head Teacher Western Access Program Mrs Crystal Stanford Aboriginal Education Officer Mrs Vicki Sharah Administration Manager Mrs Tanya Stanford P & C Committee President Ms Kim Dern Vice President Mrs Kelly Dart Secretary Ms Kim Dern Treasurer Miss Renae Keed Mrs Kelly Dart

Deputy Principal’s Report

It was so special to be able to invite Parents and Carers into the school to be part of this beautiful ceremony and then join our newly elected Leaders and Staff for refreshments in the Library, following the ceremony. Parents and students were beaming with pride and our whole school community join in sharing this joy with our school Leaders and their families. A sincere congratulations to each of our new School Leaders. Peak Hill Central School is in good hands with young, strong leaders who are passionate about representing and supporting their peers. Leadership is such an important part of a successful school and the skills and capacity is developed and nurtured in every student from Kindergarten to Year 12 @ PHCS. “Success through Effort” at PHCS Congratulations to students who have been experiencing success through their positive attitudes and hard work this term. It has been outstanding to see the large number of students receiving awards for: Student of the Week, Russell Winners and our PBE Deadly Awards. We are very proud of our students and the consistent effort they have been making to improve every day. Well done to each and every one of you! Communication @ PHCS – Open, Honest and Respectful At PHCS we pride ourselves on our sincere commitment to improving the wellbeing and learning for every student, every day. From raising my own beautiful four children as a single parent, I know that my children’s success at school was because I worked closely with the school to ensure that the children got a consistent message and a genuine respect for education and school. If you ever need to talk, please make a time to come and chat with either your child’s teacher, Mr Neilsen or myself. We are all here to ensure the success of every child in our care. Attendance Matters @ PHCS Regular school attendance is the most single important gift that you can give your child. When your child is away from school they miss valuable learning time, fall behind, then are reluctant to come back to school. Coming to school everyday is a great way to prepare your child for life after school. School gives our lives a focus and routine. Being at school develops social skills and friendships that help make students more resilient. While you think a day here or there may not matter – it really does add up. If you need any assistance or support getting your child to school please let me know. HOMEWORK CENTER @ PHCS – Kindergarten to Year 12 For any student in Kindergarten to Year 12, who would like to have any extra support or assistance with their classwork, homework or assessment tasks, teaching staff are available to work with students each Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3.30pm to 5pm. Next week we welcome Mrs Pauline Allen back to school as a tutor. Mrs Allen will also be attending the Homework Centre to support students, particularly anyone who may need some extra help with Mathematics. ALL students are welcome!

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COVID School Activities Update This week the Department of Education announced the easing of restrictions in schools, with the following activities being updated: · Parents and Carers are able to enter school grounds, but should continue to follow COVID-safe practices, including social distancing between adults of 1.5 metres. Visitors must also check in using the Service NSW QR code. · P&C meetings and events are permitted with a COVID Safety Plan. · Parents and Carers may attend school sporting events. School sporting events should align with requirements for community sporting competitions and training activities in NSW. · There are no recommended limits on singing groups in schools, including for in-class educational activities such as repetition, chanting, recitation, or singing activities. Five metres is recommended between a group of performing singers and other people, including the audience and conductor, where practicable. · Dancing activities – including dance classes, formals and social events can proceed, but organisers should comply with any venue restrictions. · Events held on school sites will need to limit guests based on the physical distancing requirements as per the relevant square metre rules.

Full details: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families? fbclid=IwAR2w22mrtZOY_4PJV4I5xtEV9rau2_QBISHFm2Fat8L6vfsvVlQScAYJGjw What is BATYR? BATYR focuses on understanding the needs of the school community and forming a partnership that complements the wellbeing strategy and aligns with the school vision. Since its inception in 2011, it has run batyr@school programs in 352 high schools and reached over 200,000 young people.

• 82% rated the program as highly engaging.

• 70% said they were more likely to seek help for their mental health. This is three times the national help-seeking average!

The BATYR Team works with students on their level, to embed positive attitudes towards help-seeking and wellbeing and create a culture of openness within the school. The Team from BATYR will be coming to Peak Hill this term to support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of our students and community.

Deputy Principal’s Report Continues

Please note the dates and times below and please note that we will be distributing flyers to families with further details as they come to hand. Monday 22 March 5:30pm - 7:00pm: Community and Parent Forum Tuesday 23 March - Year 9 & 10 from 10:00am - 11:30am Tuesday 23 March - Year 11 & 12 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm Thank you everyone for your positive attitudes, hard work and enthusiasm over the past fortnight. Take care and have a wonderful weekend! Mrs Catherine Doyle Deputy Principal

Head Teachers’ News

Work Experience How great are the students at Peak Hill Central School! Last week Tijuana, Wayne and Goran completed their work placement for Hospitality and Construction respectively. All three students received glowing reports from all employers! Thank you to these students for representing Peak Hill with such pride and displaying your hard-working nature!

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Head Teachers’ News

Western Swimming On Thursday 11th March, five students from Secondary competed at the Western Swimming Championships at Dubbo Aquatic Centre. India, Ruby, Brent, Zac and Jacob represented the school with pride, and competed well in each of their races. Bangarra Dance Workshop On Wednesday 10th March students from Year 7 to Year 12 began their participation in the Secondary Aboriginal Dance Workshops. Throughout the series of workshops, tutors from Bangarra Dance Theatre will provide students and teachers with a contemporary Indigenous repertoire with opportunities for schools to incorporate their local cultural dance styles and stories. Miss Lucy Dempsey Head Teacher

Assessments in Secondary The past few days have seen Secondary Students receive notifications about up coming assessments in Mathematics, HSIE, English and Science. If you have any questions regarding assessments, please contact the school. Homework Centre Homework Centre is staffed every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity for students to work one on one or in small groups with teachers to further develop their skills and understanding. With assignments coming up this provides the perfect platform for students to excel. If you have any questions, please contact myself at the school on 6869 1304. Mr Joshua Brown Head Teacher

Reading Circles New things have been happening at Peak Hill Central School in Reading Circles. Reading Circles have been introduced successfully across the school. It is amazing to hear both staff and students discussing the books they have been reading. Some of the books are easy reads, while others help young people discuss many of the issues they face in their lives today. The students have told me they love hearing their teachers put on funny voices as they read the words of the different characters in the books they are reading. This week and next week we will be collecting the ideas the students and teachers have about the reading

Year 7 Best Start All students in Year 7 have now completed their Best Start Year 7 Testing. Students in Year 7 all start high school with a range of skills and abilities in literacy and numeracy. It is important that we as teachers have as much information as possible about our students, to better plan teaching and support out students. If you would like to discuss your child's Best Start results, or progress overall so far in Year 7, please contact the school to make an appointment. Pirru Thangkuray - Dreamstrong Excursion On Tuesday 9th March students from the Pirru Thangkuray - Dreamstrong program supported by the AECG attended an Excursion at Dubbo TAFE. Students were given a "Day in the Life of a TAFE Student" tour, visiting the different faculties and subjects available to study at TAFE. This excursion gave our students an idea of what to expect if they decide to attend TAFE once they complete their schooling.

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Head Teachers’ News Continues

Some more of our wonderful readers earning themselves awards for completing MacqLit levels with Miss Kelly and Mrs Edge. Keep up the great dedication and hard work! Mrs Lyndal Edge Literacy

Lyndal’s Literacy Lounge

circles so we can continue encouraging and developing students’ reading abilities. One spin off from the groups is that students have become more engaged in their class work reading as their confidence and knowledge of vocabulary is improving. Here are some photos of the groups. While the teacher reads the students can be encouraged to draw what they visualise in their mind the images the author creates. The teachers also encourage students to explore and learn new vocabulary in different ways, such as discussing word meanings and creating what is called a Frayer Model around a new word.

Writing Literacy Initiative As part of our review of our literacy data we have identified writing as an area for growth. Our Reading Circles are aimed at improving students reading, vocabulary and comprehension, and our writing program for Stage 4 students is aimed at encouraging students to have confidence in sharing their ideas in writing. I have two sessions a week with a Year 7 group and a Year 8 group. Here are some photos of one of our lessons. I am hoping the students will be able to publish some interesting stories for others to read. Later in the year we will target other text types of writing. As part of the Writing Group work students entered the local library Valentine’s Day competition and two of them won for their letters.

On another note, watch this space for news of the Paint the Town Read later in the year. I have heard so much about this event from both students and staff, and I am looking forward to meeting up with Pam Keed and Rhonda Brain and other interested community members and organisations in planning the day, which will be later in the year. The theme is Healing, in line with the NAIDOC theme for 2021. Ms Brenda Stewart Head Teacher Student Growth and Attainment

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PBE and Deadly Awards Our Positive Behaviour Expectations model is centred on focusing on positive behaviours we see around us and acknowledging those at every opportunity. Our positive incidents have already increased this term with all staff and students having consistent understanding of what positive behaviours look like. We had our mid-term Acknowledgement Day last week, where all students were allocated an extra 15 minutes play at recess. Following the SRC Induction, the SRC will consult with students to determine what kind of celebrations they would like as part of their acknowledgement days, which are our large events at the end of each term. Congratulations to our Deadly Award recipients for the last two weeks. We are so proud of each of you. Gugaa (Goanna): Regan Barlow, Jacob Bell, Taliyah Keed-White, Ruby Bell Gagalin (Fish): Aarna Patel, Dhakota Hando, Mason Annetts, Tijuana Keed, Liam Westcott, Ace Bell, Samuel Gregson Galinbalganbalgan (Dragonfly): Airlie Atkinson, Cassiusm Solomon, Jaleesa Saddler-Keed Badyar (Black Ant): Azaria Dargan-Miller, Jackson Westcott, Sharntelle Schnitger, Teece Cohen-McNeill, Zak Hawksworth, Jackson Leedham, Lilly Gavin, Clair Sellers, Ida Gavin – Dinawan (Emu): George Westcott, Harrison Kennedy-Naden, Jada Redpath, Lillianna Bendeich, Hunter Judd Miss Tiarne McLeod PBE Coordinator

Deadly Awards

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What Works Best

What Works Best This fortnight, we have looked closely at how to best build staff capacity to ensure we are teaching successfully and exceeding our own potential to ensure your child’s success. We have researched high-impact teaching and Professional Learning to support this, and identified an opportunity to train our staff in the process of Quality Teaching Rounds. The process involves teachers working together to observe and analyse lessons in each other's classroom. As teachers observe and discuss teaching, they become more aware of their strengths and what they can improve to help their students learn. In Week 3 of Term 2, a small team of staff will be undertaking a two-day online workshop in Quality Teaching Rounds facilitated by the Quality Teaching Academy in partnership with the University of Newcastle. Last week, staff submitted Expressions of Interest to complete the training, and Mitchell and Tiarne are currently undergoing the process of selecting successful staff. This should be announced within the next fortnight. "QTR empowers teachers to enrich student learning through collaborative, teacher-driven analysis and refinement of practice. Research has shown QTR improves student outcomes by up to 25%, lifts teacher morale and positively impacts school culture." If you do have any feedback on programs or initiatives you would like to see within the school, please always feel free to contact us or provide feedback. We love working with you to ensure our school works best for your children. Miss Tiarne McLeod and Mr Mitchell Thomas What Works Best Coordinators

Stage 1 ACTIVATE Dance

The Village People and Michael Jackson had nothing on Stage 1 and Mrs Edge last Wednesday. Moving and grooving will be the order of the day every Wednesday, so if you hear the hall rocking, you’ll know why! Mrs Lyndal Edge Classroom Teacher

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Leaders & SRC Induction Ceremony

Whole School Captains Goran and Tijuana with their Mum’s.

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Leaders & SRC Induction Ceremony

Primary Captains Bailey and Taliyah with their Mum’s.

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Kindergarten News In Kindergarten we have been working really hard on learning our sounds. This week the students enjoyed learning the sound ‘l’. They learnt the sound waves chant ‘lizard like lollipops’ and decorated their very own lizards and ate lollipops to practice ‘l’ sound and action. In writing, we have been focusing on sentence writing and practicing writing from left to right. In Mathematics, we have been focusing on dice pattern recognition and how to subitise. We created our very own dice with the 6 different dice patterns. Kindergarten now have weekly homework and readers. Homework is encouraged to be returned on Friday’s and reader as much as possible. Thank you for all the Parents and Carers who attended the Best Start Information session at the park. If you missed this and wish to have a chat with us, please contact the school to arrange a suitable time. Mrs Georgia Watt and Miss Elsie Woodley Classroom Teachers

Kindergarten with Mrs Georgia Watt & Miss Elsie Woodley

Hello from Year 1/2! It has been another exciting fortnight for us. During Reading Circles we have have been reading “Mad Magpie” by Gregg Dreise. We have discussed positive and mature strategies Guluu learns to respond to bullies and how we could apply this to our own lives. We have begun some beautiful artworks that replicate the front cover of the book. We completed directed drawing of magpies, dot painted circles and will be painting beautiful textured backgrounds by mixing our own colours. In Mathematics we have begun learning about Length and the different units we can use to measure it. We have learnt correct language to use during Measurement and processes to ensure we are measuring efficiently. It was spectacular to meet with Parents and Carers at the Learning Conversations in the Park and I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know you and your child more deeply during our PLP conversations. If you have not yet joined me for this, please feel free to call the school to book a time that works for you. I look forward to seeing what exciting learning adventures are ahead in the next fortnight! Miss Tiarne McLeod Classroom Teacher

Year 1/2 with Miss Tiarne McLeod

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What’s Happening in 3/4M 3/4M have been working really hard with their spelling and literacy activities. We have big smiles every morning finding “Success through Effort” in our classroom! We have also been enjoying sport every week. John Moriarty Soccer and cricket have been great favourites among the whole class! Keep up the great work 3/4M! Miss Lyndal Matthews Classroom Teacher

Year 3/4M with Miss Lyndal Matthews Year 5/6 with Miss Jordan Pollock

This Fortnight in Year 5/6 PCYC: This week 5/6 attended PCYC in Parkes and had a blast playing bubble soccer. At the end, the kids enjoyed a sausage sizzle and sang on the bus trip home.

Multiplication: In class, 5/6 are focusing on building their multiplication knowledge. We have a multiplication chart, and our goal is to reach their 12 times tables by the end of the year. Repetition is important, so 5/6 have been practising their times tables every morning. We have already made a large improvement. Ask your child about their progress. Miss Jordan Pollock Classroom Teacher

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Stage 5 Art with Mrs Lyndal Edge

I have had the privilege of being with Aunty Vicki in Wiradjuri lessons each week. We have Year 7 and they are such a lovely group of students. So far this year they have been learning Wiradjuri greetings and the names for various plants and animals important in our area. Additionally, students have created little shields where they expressed their ideas for their future lives. After exploring the different types of shelters First Nations people built, students are making dioramas of a chosen style. It is so important Wiradjuri language is taught in our school, and students can learn about their culture in such a supportive environment. It is something we can all be proud of, and encourage students and ourselves in every opportunity we get to learn the language of this proud Nation. Ms Brenda Stewart Classroom Teacher

Stage 5 Visual Arts students and Mrs Edge are so proud of their successes in silk screen printing last week. It took a lot of patience and careful cutting before mastering the printing process. Mrs Lyndal Edge Classroom Teacher

ACTIVATE Wiradjuri with Ms Brenda Stewart

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English with Mr Michael Labone

Science with Mr John Grubb

Stage 4 This Term students have been reading the novel Holes and have now started watching the film adaptation. Holes tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a young boy who is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility. It explores ideas of resilience, friendship, perseverance and destiny and so far our students have really enjoyed the story. Students went out to Area 3 to estimate how large a five foot hole would be, well done to Clair for having the diameter of her hole be the closest to five feet.

Stage 5 Stage 5 have been reading the collection of stories “Swallow the Air” by Wiradjuri writer Tara June Winch. We have been analysing her writing and now students have the opportunity to write their own short stories to express their own ideas and experiences. I am looking forward to seeing the tales that our students come up with. Mr Michael Labone Classroom Teacher

Both Stage 4 and 5 are now working on assessment tasks which will be due before the end of Term. They will get two to three lessons in the Technology Room to work on this. However, the library is open at lunchtime twice a week if they would like to check out the additional links on Google Classroom or do some research. I will also be available to help with the Homework Centre from 3:30-4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Library. Stage 5 Years 9 & 10 have just finished a Biology topic on DNA and Genetics and they have chosen one form of Gene Technology to research for their assessment task, to outline how it works, the positives and negatives and ethics involved in the use of this technology. They will now be moving on to look at the Chemistry of the Periodic Table.

Students will also have the opportunity to take part in the Science and Engineering Challenge in Dubbo later in the month, working in teams to build things like bridges, hovercraft and towers that can survive an earthquake. Stage 4 Year 7 and 8 have just wrapped up a topic looking at particles and the states of matter and have begun looking at cells under the microscope, including their own hair. This week they will begin an assessment task where they have the choice of making a poster, PowerPoint or an edible Plant or Animal cell. Stage 4 Tech Mandatory: The Fast & the Curious Are working through a unit looking at the technology involved in future cities and smart technology. Last week they put together the gear box and chassis for a solar car which they will finish building this Term and race.

Riddles: What month of the year has 28 days? You see a boat filled with people, yet there isn’t a single person on board. How is that possible? What is missing in the last grid? Mr John Grubb Classroom Teacher

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School Calendar

P&C Information Easter Hat Parade

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Community Information

Soccer

Peak Hill Spurs Under 10: Training at Peak Hill oval on the Kids Soccer Field at 4pm, starts Tuesday, 23 March. How To Register: Register with active Kids Service NSW for your FREE $100 voucher, then register with playfootballnsw.com.au, Orana Spurs Under 10. If you need more information please contact Crystal Stanford, Tanya Gavin or Karen Robinson.

Hearing Screening

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Café Russell