Appletree NewsWest WAllsend HigH scHoolTerm 3 - 2018 - Issue 1

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Book week was embraced by staff and students alike, the week culminated with a fashion parade under the COLA, where the winners of the staff and student competitions were chosen. The science staff took out the faculty prize, with CAPA coming a very close second. Student entries were inally narrowed down to Hagrid, an Oompa Loompa, Steve Irwin and a Dinosaur!

Bunnings BBQ

Congratulations to the GaTS and SHOUT students, staff and their families who ran the Bunnings Community BBQ earlier this month, we had a very successful day fundraising for our GaTS program and SHOUT student projects. A very big thank you goes to everyone that helped, especially the parents who shared their expertise, with some really great tips on getting those sausage sangers out really quickly when the queues got really long!

A special mention goes to Amy Blakemore and Emily Owen, who were absolutely amazing, putting in a full day!

Performing Arts goes from strength to strengthOur dance students have been busy performing at the Hunter Dance Festival and again with our singers and musicians at Charlestown Square for Education Week. Thanks go to Mrs Smurthwaite and Ms Lomas for all the work behind the scenes that makes this possible for our students.

This newsletter is available online at www.westwalls-h.schools.nsw.edu.auEngaged Learners + Passionate Teaching = Success

NAIDOC Ceremony 2018

Our NAIDOC Ceremony celebrated this year's theme of ‘because of her we can’. It was the first performance of our ‘Yidaki’ group, who were followed by a haunting dance performance by Tyreece and very moving speeches by our special guests Annissa Harwood from the Awabakal Elders Group and Community Elder, Aunty Laurel Williams. Uncle Perry provided the humour and delighted with his skill on the ‘yidaki’. The Aboriginal education team are to be congratulated on organising a delicious breakfast and truly memorable ceremony.Technology and STEM flourishing

Photo credits Carlee Lomas

STEM - Year 8 Crazy Contraptions students have been experimenting with a wide variety of equipment in their “Tinker Stations” to learn about electricity and micro-controllers. Activities have included creating controllers using ‘Makey Makey’, inventing with Little Bits, solving Snap Circuit problems and designing Electronic Cards using simple circuits. Students will expand the knowledge gained in these activities to design their own interactive museum display that will light up, make noise and even move based on user interactions. Watch this space for some amazing projects! Year 9 Information & Software Design are making film clips, while the Year 8 technology mandatory class are learning to code.

Lowes Glendale Uniform StockistLowes at Glendale is carrying all items of WWHS uniform. There is also the convenience of online ordering at http://www.lowes.com.au/CampusCategories.aspx?depid=977

Principal Dr Fiona Walsh PhD. Phone: 4953 2111 email: westwalls-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Diary Dates:Tuesday 4 SeptemberYr 12 HSC Art Expo in the library 3:30-4:30pm all welcome17 - 21 September Year 11 ExaminationsWednesday 26 September Whole school ‘Cancer Sux’ walkathonThursday 27 SeptemberInvestiture 2019 School Leaders, Year 12 Graduation Ceremony 9:30am in the MPCFriday 28 SeptemberLast day Term 3Monday 15 OctoberDay 1 Term 4, students in Years 7-11 return to schoolThursday 9 October - Friday 9 NovemberYear 12 HSC Examinations

C o m m u n i t y C o r n e r P & C FundraisingThank you to everyone that supported our McDonalds Edgeworth fundraiser. A very big thank you goes to Karen McKay and her team who volunteered at Brickfest which was a very successful event for our P&Cs fundraising.Reminder: Entertainment books can still be ordered from the canteen or online at the link belowhttps://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/

SHOUT - Our student action team have been really busy, they supplied delicious baked treats at our parent teacher evening, which was a huge success with staff having over 300 interviews with parents. SHOUT also ran a very successful Jeans for Genes day and are expanding their recycling program at the school, collecting plastic bottles, cartons and cans. The money collected goes towards their first major project a chilled water fountain for students.This team of students is having a really positive impact on the school and learning some great organisation skills as an added bonus. New members are always welcome!

Sir Joseph Banks High SchoolThe team from Sir Joseph Banks High School came and spent a day with staff and students at our school, to learn about some of the programs offered at WWHS, including GaTS, Step-Up program for Seniors, teacher professional development, positive behaviour for learning (PBL) and much more. The day was a great success and is the start of a close collaboration that both our schools are keen to foster.