6 December 2019

Bellingen High School

NEWSLETTER Telephone: 02 66551 315 Fax: 02 66552 630 Website: http://www.bellingen-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

Philosothon Success Again!!

Great News! Bellingen High School has come first place in the junior Northern NSW

Philosothon for the second consecutive year! Students were required to form groups

known as 'communities of inquiry' to solve ethical dilemmas and debate prescribed

philosophical topics, there was even a session requiring students to role play solutions to

ethical problems. The students heard from engaging and inspiring motivational speakers,

and even had free time for a dinner generously provided by Bishop Druitt College. Public

and private schools from the Queensland border to as far south as Port Macquarie

participated in the event and our students had a great time meeting their peers from other

schools.

Thanks goes to our

students: Jessie O

Connor, Lillie Ridgley,

Elroy Mackenzie and

Lohani Davis from Year

10; Eve Pullinger, Lily

Targett, Sam Borget

and Merryn Staheyeff

from Year 8; Marlo

Gunning, Jorja

Browning and Sam

Hely from Year 7. All

of our students

represented the school

proudly and conveyed

highly developed

conceptual thinking

skills throughout the

day, they were both

persuasive and polite in engaging with their peers in discussions. Special thanks to Sue Paff

the Convener of the NSW Philosothon and to Bishop Druitt College for hosting.

Sam Cross

Debating and Philosothon Co-ordinator

Tea in the Library

On Friday December 6th, Bellingen High School and Ms

Ramirez welcomed a special Japanese teacher to a Library

special event at lunchtime. Mrs Janine Boyd, also known as

Sensei, arrived dressed in a traditional Japanese Yukata

(summer kimono) with 12 iron teapots and a variety of green

tea flavours to sample.

The Japanese tea ceremony normally happens on the floor, so

a few students were keen to try kneeling (Japanese “seiza”

style) on the floor cushions (zabuton) while sipping their tea

(ocha). Ouch, Japanese people must be so flexible as no one

could last very long sitting like that!

Green tea is traditionally made using boiling water, a bamboo

whisk and a small scoop of powdered green tea called matcha.

It is served in a decorative teacup without handles and the tea

has a slightly bitter taste. Japanese people don’t add milk or

sugar to matcha but off-set the bitterness with a tiny, but very

sweet snack served on paper with the tea.

During the ceremony the pattern of your cup must face out

to the rest of the tea party, so Sensei taught us how to twist

the cup carefully before drinking to show-off the

personalised patterns that we’d painted on our paper cups.

After the tea ceremony, we made origami paper cranes.

Sensei told us a true story about a young Japanese girl called

Sadako who suddenly became sick from radiation exposure

12 years after the bombs were dropped to end World War

2 (see Nihongo Report).

Sadako’s friends banded together to attempt to

make 1000 origami cranes as a get well gesture.

Japanese tradition says that the crane (tsuru)

represents long life and hope for the future.

Unfortunately, Sadako passed away before they

finished. The city of Hiroshima was so moved by

the gesture that they finished off the 1000 cranes.

The Council of Hiroshima then made Sadako’s

story part of the City’s official symbol for World

peace. There’s even a giant tsuru at the Hiroshima

International World Peace Park.

We can all do with some peace in our lives, so the

students and teachers at Bellingen High are on our

way to making as many cranes as possible. Even

if you missed the tea ceremony and origami

event, feel free to drop in and have a look at how

many cranes we have made so far. There are plenty of students at Bellingen High with

amazing origami skills who will help you add to our collection if you’d like to try. Ms

Ramirez has paper to share and many books to borrow. Come in and help us reach our

1000 piece goal.

Haridian Ramirez

Teacher Librarian

YEAR 12 ASSESSMENTS – TERM 4

WEEK SUBJECT/TASK

9

Engineering Studies – Task 1 hand in

English Advanced

English Standard

Maths Advanced

Maths Standard

10

Chemistry

Community & Family Studies

Industrial Technology – Industry Study

Mathematics Standard

Mathematics Advanced

Mathematics Extension 2

Primary Industries – Cluster 4 & 7

Society & Culture – PIP proposal hand in

Nihongo

Report

Over the last two weeks, Year 9 Japanese has been studying “Nihongo Daijobu Unit 9.”

Three of the phrases studied were:

Doko no kaban desuka Where does the bag come from?

Motto ikaga desuka Would you like more?

Domo arigato gozaimasu The polite form of thank you.

We have also been making origami paper cranes after

learning about Sadoko Isesaki. I encourage you to read about

Sadoko. She lived through the atomic bombing of Hiroshima,

Japan in 1945.

There is a legend and it goes, “if you make 1,000 cranes, one

wish will be granted, health will be achieved and world peace

will occur”.

Now, that sounds like a good legend. Maybe some rain to put

out the fires, and for our pastures to grow.

Sayounara Sayounara Sayounara

Boido Sensei

Bellingen High School – P&C Meeting

Monday 9 December 2019

6pm Staff Common Room

Come along – all welcome!

Down at the Ag Plot

Dorrigo Show Report

The Cattle Team has just returned from

a successful Dorrigo Show, held over the

weekend of the 22nd to 24th November.

The team consisted of 20 keen students

showing 11 head of cattle, 4 Silver Pencil

Wyandottes and 4 dozen eggs, in the

pavilion.

The students have worked hard this

year, improving their cattle preparation

skills. All our animals were presented for

showing in a professional manner.

Now for the results:

Open Single Yolk Eggs 2nd

Schools Single Yolk Eggs 2nd

Silver Pencil Wyandotte Hen 1st

Silver Pencil Wyandotte Rooster 1st

Dairy Paraders - 13 to Under 15 Years

1st Taylor Harris

2nd Oliver Cornall

Dairy Paraders - 15 to Under 19 Years

1st Emily Sutherland

2nd Chelsea Nolan

3rd Pixie Hill

Overall Dairy Paraders Champion

Emily Sutherland

Beef Paraders - 13 to 15 Years Finalist

Chloe Booth

Beef Judging - 11 to Under 13 Years

3rd Evie Quennell

Beef Judging - 15 to U19 Years

2nd Chelsea Nolan

3rd Demi Bowd

Red Poll Female Under 12 Months

1st Bell-Hy Queen

2nd Bell-Hy Qurindi

Red Poll Female 16 to Under 20 Months

1st Bell-Hy Pennelope

Square Meater Female 16 to 20 Months

1st Maryvale Pixi

2nd Maryvale Pcdes

Square Meater Female 24 to 30 Months

1st Maryvale Nerida

2nd Maryvale Nelly

Square Meater Grand Champion

Maryvale Nerida

Square Meater Reserve Champion

Maryvale Pixi

Champion Exhibit Presented by a School

l 1st Bellingen High School

2nd Bellingen High School

3rd Bellingen High School

Thank you to Tony Dixon and Peter Goode for helping transport the students on Friday

morning. A special mention to Mrs Quennell for looking after the welfare of the students

and keeping them organised, dressed and under control. Thank you to Steven Quennell,

who set up camp, enabling everyone to be as comfortable as possible, in difficult, smoky

conditions. Thank you to Krista Nolan, for supplying much appreciated dessert on Friday

night, and for checking our students’ health, especially with so much smoke around. Thank

you to Amanda Lockman who helped feed and water the cattle, while all enjoyed the

spectacular Dorrigo Rodeo. Thank you to Rodney Maher, for driving the cattle truck back

to school and finally, thank you to everyone who helped clean the bus and pack the

equipment away. An amazing team effort, and very much appreciated.

That’s the last show for the year. Now is the time for the Show Team to rest, reflect and

learn some new skills.

Looking forward to 2020, and attending the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the first time.

Bellingen High Sheep Shearing

Last week Nick Hiller, our previous Agriculture teacher, visited the school to shear the

sheep. He gave a great demonstration, with many opportunities for students to try

shearing. The sheep seemed very happy to lose their long, woolly coat, as summer is

certainly upon us.

Second Year Laying Hens $10

One Ewe $100

Two Lambs $100

Silver Pencil Wyandotte Hens $20

Silver Pencil Wyandotte Pullets$20

Young Future Farmers Award

Chelsea Nolan has won the High School Section of the

prestigious “Young Future Farmers Award”. She

received her certificate and prizes in Dorrigo on

Thursday 21st November. The award was presented by

Mr Pat Conaghan, Member for Cowper.

Chelsea had to explain “what the future of farming

meant to her” in 50 words.

Sarsie Tumsithi was also recognised as a finalist and

presented with a certificate and prizes.

Well done Chelsea and Sarsie.

Stephen Boyd

Agriculture and Primary Industries Teacher

Year 9 Girls Day

Last week most Year 9 girls spent

the day at the Youth Hub. We

participated in bouldering,

beauty, friendships and

relationships, dance and vision

boards. It was a great to hang out

with girls in our year group, learn

new skills and learn more about

ourselves and each other.

Morning tea and lunch were

delicious.

Thanks to all who made it possible

especially Magda, Kellie, Mon, Cindy and Eliza who ran the workshops. Hope we can do

more next year!

Emily Sutherland – Year 9

PRINCE OF PEACE ANGLICAN CHURCH

RALEIGH CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Saturday 30th November

Mini Fete 10.00am Church Gounds

Sunday 1st December

Church Service 10.00am followed by a Celebration Lunch in the Raleigh Hall

Further enquiries 66551475 or 66555342

Youth between the ages of 16 and 18 inclusive, who reside in the Bellingen Shire (includes Bellingen, Urunga, Mylestom, Repton, Raleigh areas) are invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Urunga Sailing Training Club, cnr Bellingen and River Streets Urunga on Sunday 15th December at 10am.

‘What’s in it for me’? If you would like to enhance your prospects for entering tertiary education and gaining employment, develop new friendships and networking opportunities, optimize your leadership and citizenship qualities; you are encouraged to participate in and enjoy some of the challenges this program offers, along with other like-minded students. Applications to participate in this exciting opportunity will be available for completion at the meeting. The meeting will outline the details of the Youth of the Year Program, which is being hosted by the Urunga Lions Club. Wiinners wlil proceed to Region, District State and National Finals. Contacts: Peter Brotherton 0435 721409 Jo Brotherton 0401 516779 or call into the Urunga Washing Well Laundromat, Morris Arcade 8 Bowra Street Urunga

Bellingen High School Presentation Day

Assembly 2019

Friday 13th December Stockton Hall

10 am

All Parents, Family and Friends Welcome!