Term 3, Week 8

NEWSLETTERGUNNEDAH HIGH SCHOOL

R E S P E C T • R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y • S U C C E S S

Sapphire-inspired danceThe recent Schools on Stage

production featured a selection of Gunnedah High students.

Miss Sarah Hickey co-ordi-nated a girls’ dance group who danced to ‘Land of a Thousand Dances’ from The Sapphires.

The Massed Choir was accompanied by the Combined Schools Band which was con-ducted by Ms Emma Kersley, ex-student of Gunnedah High.

Band members representing Gunnedah High were Jacob Bush, Amity Cleal and Joshua Green.

James Hogbin and Taylor Smith performed the Welcome

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to the Country. James also shared MC duties.

The theme for the event was

‘Let’s Go to the Movies’ and it was well-attended by the com-munity. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 6

CRAZY HAIR DAY FUND-RAISER

Raising funds for little AdelaideGunnedah High was awa-

sh with colour and crazy hairstyles on Friday, Septem-ber 2 as we raised money for four-year-old Adelaide Gurr, who suffers from leukaemia.

Adelaide’s mum, Kirran, was a teacher at our school last year.

More than $300 is head-ing to the Gurr family to help them through this challenging time.

Thanks to everyone who participated and donated.

WHAT’S NORMAL?Life is hard when things change. We often

feel loss and grieve especially when families change or people die.

Helping students to see what is normal and cope with these significant changes is the focus of ‘Seasons for Change’.

This group program focuses on strengthen-ing students social and emotional wellbeing, social support and communication skills while exploring the stages of grieving.

Students made these great collages of seasons, reminding us that life also has its seasons.

Christie, School Counsellor, and Sue, School Chaplain, are running the group at GHS and welcome any questions.

– SUE ORTIGER, SCHOOL CHAPLAIN

morning teaCHAPLAIN’SOn Friday 26 August Sue Ortiger, our

School Chaplain, invited the ‘Chaplaincy Sup-port Team’ to morning tea at Cafe Optime.

This group of locals have raised over $10,000 so that we can have a chaplain at Gunnedah High.

How did they raise the money? A ‘Risen’ movie night at the Civic, Hymnfest and sup-port from all of our local churches.

Their support means Sue is here for 10 hours a week all year.

Under the guidance of Ms Rachael Adams, Year 12 cooked delicious treats for the cele-bration of their first visit to GHS – some hav-en't been here since they were students!

If you'd like to join them, leave a message for Sue at the front office.

Talented HSC students who are passionate about a career in teaching can receive finan-cial support from the NSW Department of Education to help kick-start their careers as teachers in NSW public schools.

The department has a number of scholar-ship and cadetship opportunities available for HSC students to become teachers in a NSW public school in a high-demand subject or location.

Scholarships provide students with ongo-ing financial support while completing their teaching studies and, on successful comple-tion, scholarship recipients will be appointed

as a permanent teacher to a NSW public school in an agreed location.

HSC students are eligible for the following programs:

• teach.Rural scholarships provide $6000 per year of full-time study + $5000 appoint-ment allowance + PERMANENT teaching position

• Teacher Education Scholarships provide $5000 per year of full-time study + $3000 appointment allowance + PERMANENT teaching position

• Teacher Education Scholarships - Abo-riginal (available to Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people) provide $5000 per year of full-time study + $3000 appoint-ment allowance + PERMANENT teaching position

• GTIL Cadetships provide a part-time job while studying + experience in a school + PERMANENT teaching position.

For further information students should visit the teach.NSW website or contact the Scholarships Team via scholarships@det.nsw.edu.au or phone 1300 301 435.

Applications will close on Friday 16 Septem-ber 2016, so please apply quickly or you may miss out.

Teacher scholarship opportunities for HSC students

Thank you to our wonderful School Administrative and Sup-port Staff (SASS) who are essen-tial to our school community.

We are so fortunate to have a

friendly, dedicated and caring SASS who work tirelessly to ensure our school runs smooth-ly every day.

Thank you for all that you do!

SASS Recognition WeekAugust 29–September 2, 2016

SCHO

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Critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, dancer, singer, and didgeridoo player, Sean Choolburra visited Gunnedah High this week.

Sean’s comedy is uniquely and truly Aus-tralian. He blends popular culture, dance, comedy and hip hop in a high energy, feel good show.

The students lucky enough to watch Sean were overflowing with excitement.

Here are some mini reviews from our students.“Sean was very funny!’’ - Hanna

“Sean was a very funny man. I like the way he was rapping about the bad kids and the good kids. He had so many funny faces.” - Torri

“Sean was amazing. We would like to see him again.” - Larna

“Sean was very funny. I would recommend him.” - Kalila

“An amazing show. He’s a great comedian.” - Tennaria

“Great performance.” - Jonathan

“It was a cool show.” - Tara

Live and DeadlySE A N C HO OLBUR R A

Critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, dancer, singer, and didgeridoo player, Sean Choolburra visited Gunnedah High this week.

Sean’s comedy is uniquely and truly Aus-tralian. He blends popular culture, dance, comedy and hip hop in a high energy, feel good show.

The students lucky enough to watch Sean were overflowing with excitement.

Here are some mini reviews from our students.“Sean was very funny!’’ - Hanna

“Sean was a very funny man. I like the way he was rapping about the bad kids and the good kids. He had so many funny faces.” - Torri

“Sean was amazing. We would like to see him again.” - Larna

“Sean was very funny. I would recommend him.” - Kalila

“An amazing show. He’s a great comedian.” - Tennearia

“Great performance.” - Jonothan

“It was a cool show.” - Tara

Year 10 students travelled to Narrabri re-cently to participate in the Science and Engi-neering Challenge.

It is a one day competition that takes stu-dents out of the classroom for an exhilarat-ing day of creativity and discovery. Students participate in hands-on activities that chal-lenge traditional stereotypes of what it is to be a scientist or engineer.

Through the Challenge, students experi-ence an aspect of Science and Engineering which they would not usually see in their school environment.

The Challenge aims to inspire students in Year 10 to consider a future career in Science and Engineering by choosing to study the enabling sciences in year 11 and 12.

Gunnedah High Agriculture students attended the National Merino Show and Sale (wether trial) in Dubbo on August 23-24 with six Merino wethers.

Students had been preparing the wethers for this show since Term 1. Show preparation involved teaching the wethers to lead and trimming their hooves, learning about wool qualities and how to judge a fleece, and the nutritional requirements of animals. The nine students that attended presented the wethers extremely well which allowed Gunnedah High to receive a third and sixth place in the production class.

Students also participated in junior judging, assisted in the shearing of the wethers and com-pleted a knowledge test based on the Australian sheep industry.

These wethers were kindly donated to Gunnedah High by Bocoble Merino Stud, Mudgee.

Ag students earn their fleece

Email: admino.310sqn@aafc.org.au

to secure you attendance at an up and coming Recruit Presentation Night.

310 SQUADRON CITY OF TAMWORTH

The Australian Air Force Cadets is one of the premier youth organisations of

Australia. The local Tamworth Squadron is now recruiting for 2016

CONGRATULATIONS to the Goodwin Kenny Opens Division 2 team on winning their netball grand final last weekend. The team features six Gunnedah High staff. Great effort, ladies!

Gunnedah High students Amity Cleal and Joshua Green competed in the 2016 Hunt-er Regional Solo and Ensemble Champion-ships held recently at Rathmines.

Both students were awarded a number of awards. They are as follows;

Amity’s results: 1st - Under 15s Cornets & Trumpets, 2nd - Under 15s Slow Melody Cornet, 2nd - U19s Bb Cornet, 3rd - U19s Slow Melody (any brass instrument). Amity also received two perpetual trophies for U15 Solow Cornet and U15s Champion Brass.

Joshua’s results: 1st - Under 15s Slow Mel-ody Cornet, 2nd - Under 15s Cornet, 3rd - Under 19s Cornet.

Year 10 Art students spent their class time outdoors recently creating eye-catching landscape paintings.

Each student had the same view but the results were wonderfully varied.

Art

SUCCESS AT HUNTER REGIONAL SOLOS

X

What is White Balloon Day? Held during National Child Protection Week 4th-10th September 2016

Friday 9th September White Balloon Day is about helping kids to keep safe.

Child sexual assault is a crime which is, for most part preventable if Australians in all corners of the community step up to make a difference.

1 in 5 children in Australia will be sexually harmed in some way by their 18th Birthday. That’s 59,000 Australian children each year.

By participating in White Balloon Day on Friday 9th September you’re taking a big step towards making Australia the safest place in the world to raise kids.

White Balloon represents a symbol of hope for survivors and encourages them to break the silence by speaking out.

The humble White Balloon works to protect today’s children against sexual assault.

In 2015 White Balloon Day helped educate more than 106,000 children on personal safety and supported more than 3,700 kids and their families with specialist services.

Since its inception White Balloon Day has helped educate over 600,000 children across Australia.

Gunnedah Family Support is endeavouring to assist White Balloon Day and Bravehearts to raise awareness and fundraise in our local community of Gunnedah and surrounds.

Gunnedah Family Support will distribute 2 White Balloons and an activity pack to local schools & child care centres on Wednesday 8th September.

Any local agencies and businesses wishing to participate please contact us at Gunnedah Family Support on 6742 1515

We are encouraging families, educators and carers to have the conversation with their children of Ditto’s Keep Safe rules:

We all have the right to feel safe with people. It’s okay to say “NO” if you feel unsafe or unsure.

Nothing is so yucky that you can’t tell someone about it.

We are asking for a monetary contribution be made in exchange for the balloons to support Bravehearts.

On behalf of the children of Australia we thank you.

Visit: whiteballoonday.com.au / www.gunnedahfamilysupport.org.au

Last week students from Years 9, 10 and 11 had a special guest visit to dis-cuss living positive and healthy lives.

Craig Hamilton is an ABC Radio com-mentator who became an ambassador with beyondblue and has represented

the organisation in assisting to de-stig-matise with mental health education.

After being diagnosed with bipolar dis-order in 2000 Craig has travelled Austral-ia and delivered keynote presentations in a variety of forums.

Students were able to participate in a forum hosted by Craig followed by ques-tions in small groups.

Students enjoyed the morning with positive feedback gained from the session.

On the afternoon of August 31, selected students and stu-dents from the IM, MC, RC and Tutorial Centre had the oppor-tunity to see Shannon Noll and the Street Warriors perform at Donnelly Fields in Gunnedah.

Students were also lucky enough to meet some visiting NRL stars at the event.

Although it was a wet after-noon this did not dampen the fun.

Students and staff would like to thank Miss Small for organis-ing the afternoon.

Shannon Noll and the Street Warriors

GUEST SPEAKER: CRAIG HAMILTON

 

          

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This Saturday, the P&C is holding a fund-raising bar-becue outside v from 8am.

We are in need of vol-unteers to help run

the stall. An hour or two of your time would be greatly appreciated.Please contact

Chris on 0428 295 119 or Gai at the canteen if you are able to assist.

P&C NEWS

Win $100 worth of scratchiesTickets available from the canteen or front office

DRAWN SEPTEMBER 21

P & C R A F F L E

$1per t

icket

HELPNEEDED

The next

P&C MEETING

will be held at

Tuesday, October 25 from 6.30pm

Come along, have dinner or a drink

and support a vital part of our school.

We’d love to see some new faces!

Dear Parents/Caregivers,Term 3 is drawing to a close. Staff are working to complete the final report Year 12 students will take from Gunnedah High and they will be presented with this at the graduation ceremony which will occur on September 22. I invite friends and family to join us for this ceremony, I hope the weather is kind to us again as the format of the Year 12 graduation ceremony is something unique and very impressive at Gunnedah High.

CLASS STRUCTURE & STAFFINGThere are several important pieces of

information I wish to communicate to the community regarding class structures and staffing.

Firstly, class structure. The Special Educa-tion faculty at GHS will have another class from 2017 onwards. This class is designat-ed as a Multi-Categorical class. This class had been temporarily allocated to GS Kidd and after a department of education process being followed the class has now been allocated to the high school. This will give the high school the ability to better meet the needs of families and students. At a meeting recently with Departmental officials, a decision was made that will give the collective of Gunnedah Princi-pals and schools the opportunity to have greater input into special education class

R E S P E C T • R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y • S U C C E S S

PHONE 6742 0155WEBSITE www.gunnedah-h.schools.nsw.edu.au EMAIL gunnedah-h.school @det.nsw.edu.au

GUNNEDAH HIGH SCHOOL

placements. This is a good outcome for our learning community.

Secondly, a word on staffing. The substantive Deputy Principal position allocated to Gunnedah High was held by Lyn Thomas, who had been seconded to District Office for quite some time. She has moved on and this position has been filled by transfer. Wayne Woods, who had been seconded from Tamworth High last year, has transferred into the Deputy Principal position. I welcome Wayne back to GHS. He will move into the Deputy Principal role Graham Jones had been operating in.

The chain reaction of this is that Graham Jones will return to his position of Head Teacher, PDHPE and Adam Mooney, who had relieved as HT PDHPE, will return to being a classroom teacher. I’d like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Graham, Adam and casual teacher, Rhiannon Lud-low, for all the work that they have done in these positions for the past 18 months, or so, in the time that they relieved.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Shane Kelly Principal

Call the front office on 6742 0155 or email your address to

alyssa.barwick@det.nsw.edu.au

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P & C R A F F L E

Win $100 worth of scratchies$1 ticket

Tickets available from the canteen or front office

Welcome backWayne Woods